Chapter 42 – Before the Storm

Wolf Den

Aria couldn't help the smile that spread across her face as she looked around the room. Yesterday had been the final dueling competition for the tournament, Durmstrang versus Beauxbatons. After Durmstrang had thoroughly trounced their French competitors there had been a surprise event where the highest scored duelists had competed for the top individual spot. This final event had been a free for all, with all six of the top scored competitors dueling at once. Durmstrang had certainly had the advantage in this individual event. They had four duelists that had gone undefeated, though only three of those had been chosen for the final test, Ilya among them. Hogwarts had two competitors, both Slytherins, the captain and assistant captain: Grace Wiatts and Sebastian Brinkley. Grace had gone undefeated, while Sebastian had been chosen due to his superior point count. The lone Beauxbatons competitor was also chosen due to being undefeated with a high enough point count. The one undefeated duelist not in the final competition had barely won both of his duels and was, in terms of points, outclassed by a number of other duelists who had been defeated during their duels.

As much as she would have liked to see it, Hogwarts did not have the champion of the dueling competition; that fell on the young shoulders of Ilya Prakenski. The young man had speed on his side; he had dodged and ducked so well he rarely had to shield and had taken out both of his schoolmates and the Beauxbatons duelist in the event. Grace had placed second, taking out Sebastian before falling herself to Ilya. Third place had gone to the Durmstrang captain. The wolves were extremely pleased that Ilya had won, and Grace had placed second.

Gavril had attended the final dueling competition so he could watch his son compete. The pride the Russian wolf felt seeing his son win was indescribable; he seemed to vibrate with it. The man looked most at home with a scowl on his face but watching his son receive highest honors for his dueling prowess saw a smile on his face for the rest of the day. It was still there.

With Gavril in town, Aengus had decided to have an impromptu meeting with Remus; the Irish pack leader invited himself to the Wolf Den but had yet to actually bring up any business. Aria suspected that he had felt a bit left out before Greyback's fall; the other packs had these sorts of meetings often, usually with their closest geographical pack, and the Irish pack had been stuck with Greyback located between them and any other respectable pack. He now seemed to use anything and everything as a reason to visit and chat with Remus.

Hearing someone knocking, she slipped out of the room and left the men to their discussion on dueling techniques. Ilya and Remus had the same idea about the best way to duel, combining shielding with mobility and unpredictability, while Aengus was a staunch believer in shielding and overpowering opponents. Gavril just kept switching sides to make the discussion that much more confusing while Fay played the cheerleader for her boyfriend and 'father.' Aria honestly wondered why Aengus tried; Remus was a defense master and Ilya had just beaten a duelist who thought as Aengus did, but leaders could get stuck in their ways.

Opening the door, she froze. Standing on her doorstep were the last people she expected to see after their last parting.

The woman was a strawberry blonde, though Aria could see the gray peeking out at the roots. She was small, like Aria but had a curvier figure. Where Aria was athletically built, the woman before her was the definition of an hourglass figure. The man was of average height for a man. His hair was light brown and peppered with silver. His features were sharp and his build slim, on the way to being too skinny. They were older than the last time she saw them, and she wasn't nearly as intimidated as she used to be by their presence.

"Are you going to let us in?" the woman asked, rolling her eyes, her tone annoyed and dripping with disappointment.

Aria blinked and stepped slightly to the side without even thinking about it. She regretted the action instantly. "What are you doing here?"

The woman brushed past her, purposely bumping Aria with her shoulder, while the man managed not to run into anything while he entered her home. "Is that any way to speak to a guest?"

The redhead fought a scowl, "I think it is a perfectly reasonable question and in a reasonable tone considering how our last meeting ended. What is it you said?" she asked but did not give either of them the opportunity to answer, "Right, you wanted nothing to do with a monster. That is how you worded it, isn't it, mother?"

Remus stepped into the entryway at that moment, "There you are," he wrapped his arm protectively around his fiancé, "Aengus seems to think you can help him win his argument for some reason, and was wondering what was keeping you." He looked toward the couple, "Can I help you?"

"It is you I came to see," she said, giving Aria a rather smug look, confusing the couple. "I saw the announcement of your engagement and the date of your wedding and knew I needed to warn you before you made a horrible mistake."

"Our engagement was in the papers months ago and we will be married in a little over two months' time, why come now?"

"You ask about my timing but not about what I could possibly be warning you about? I would think a professor of Hogwarts would be more concerned about what his marriage might do to his reputation."

"That sounds suspiciously like a threat."

"No," she tossed her hair with a twitch of her head, "I want to save you from the young woman, that is all I want."

"And what, pray tell," Aengus growled as he stepped into the entryway, "could you possibly have on her that would make us think poorly of her."

Remus could hear the recognition and disgust in the older werewolf's voice. Gavril stood behind him, his customary scowl back on his face. Ilya stood to the left of his father, purposely positioning himself in front of Fay, who peaked at them from behind his arm.

"If you must know, this woman, if you can call her that," she glanced at Aria as though she was garbage, "is a beast. She should be caged."

"We have already had this discussion," Aengus all but roared. He would have continued but stopped when Remus gave him a look.

"And why should my fiancé be caged?" he asked in a calm voice, though Fay and Aria could hear the thinly veiled rage behind his words.

"I would think you of all people would agree, considering who your parents were. They had very clear opinions of what should happen to these disgusting creatures," she waved a hand at Aria. "Werewolves should be caged, then killed; otherwise you get murderers like Greyback running around."

"What proof do you have?" Gavril asked quietly, his own anger held in check by sheer force of will.

"She is our daughter, we would know. It's why we had to face the disgrace of removing her from Beauxbatons."

Remus studied the pair, pity and indifference now all he would allow himself to feel for them. He could not change such deep routed opinions and allowing his rage out would fix nothing. "You say you came to warn me because of what my parents stood for and yet you are nothing like my parents. Over time my parents' ideas on werewolves changed; while they once believed that genocide was the only option, they changed their tune when the met a four-year-old child who had been turned. The child was no different than any other child except when he changed. They decided that death wasn't the only option and that as long as the individual didn't act like Greyback, then they should only be caged during the full moon, a protection for those not inflicted with the disease and the werewolf themself. There are very few who suffer this life who actually want to force others to live it too." He sneered, in a way very reminiscent of Severus, "What gives you the right to pass judgement when you don't know what it is like?"

"You are a defense professor at a school, and you think you can just shack up with a werewolf?"

"I am a bodyguard of a minister," Gavril said casually, "and I am a werewolf."

"You know exactly who I am, your sorry excuse for a parent," Aengus rumbled, the man flinched while the woman only glared back at them harder. "I am a highly successful businessman, who is respected by many and yet I am also a werewolf and lead a pack."

"You think I deserve to be caged?" Fay asked, purposely making her voice small. She was right around the age Aria had been when she was turned. "Do I not get a chance to grow up?"

"You're a beast too? Then you deserve a cage. Your parents should have just killed you."

Fay glared at the pair, "You sound so much like my mother, and she was forced to flee the country because of how she treated me. There are powerful people who would fight for me no matter what you said. They would fight for Aria too; that includes powerful people in the DMLE."

Remus stepped forward, done with this, "I had asked Aria if she wanted to include you in our wedding and she told me no with absolutely no hesitation, and I understand that now after spending only minutes with you. You may have thought that you were coming to warn me about her infliction to help me but I have been a werewolf since the tender age of four; I have never bitten anyone and was the one who took Greyback down. I am an Alpha wolf, who is respected by other packs and has the trust of officials in the ministry. I attended Hogwarts, as a werewolf, with full knowledge and permission of Albus Dumbledore. He also approves my position as professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts. My students are well taught and score well on their OWLs and NEWTs." He grabbed Aria's had and kissed the back of it tenderly, "Aria is my mate, my other half. She grounds me, supports me, challenges me and has shown me that I do not have to fear the future. She will be the mother of my children," he turned to her, "I hope sooner rather than later. If my parents were still alive, I think they would have approved."

"I wish I could say the same," Aria leaned into Remus but glared at her parents, her father shifted uncomfortably under her judging gaze. "But obviously my parents can't accept me, so I doubt they would approve of the werewolf I am going to marry, no matter how powerful or respected he is."

"Could we sick uncle Sirius on them?" Fay asked, still behind Ilya; the young man had forcibly pushed her behind him to ensure she was covered.

"As amusing as that would be, I think a word of warning is all that is necessary," Remus gave his full attention to the intruding pair. "I am going to give you some advice. Mathias, Lenore," he saw that they were shocked that Remus knew their names, "it would be in your best interest if you continued to keep your silence about Aria's infliction. It would also be societal suicide were you to go to anyone about my own status. I am a close friend of Lord Black; in fact, I have been friends with him since he was eleven. I am an honorary uncle to Harry Potter. Amelia Bones knows exactly who and what I am, and the ministry is in my debt for what I did to stop Fenrir Greyback. I have an unblemished record and am a favored professor at Hogwarts. My secret may not be well known within Hogwarts but there is not a single professor who would speak against me. The students who do know would fight for me and most who don't know would fight for me as well; I have taught them for nearly two years, and they would be sad to see me go."

"Added to that," Aengus stepped forward, "you would be angering the major pack leaders of Europe were you to damage Remus's standing."

"And Japan," Gavril added.

"Yes, and Japan. Remus Lupin is the best example of what we could be. Using the wolf to protect life and impart knowledge. He controls the werewolves of Great Britain; without him they could run free the way Fenrir allowed and encouraged. Do you want that?"

When they didn't respond, Aria sighed, "Was there anything else you wanted?"

For the first time the man spoke, "Congratulations Sweetheart," he placed a hand on his wife's shoulder and physically started to direct her out the door, "I am sorry I couldn't be the father you deserved but you know who I am. I can promise that nothing about any of you will be revealed by us; she will be far too afraid of what Lord Black could possibly do to her and that is not just a fear for her reputation. She still thinks of Lord Black as the Dark Lord's right-hand man despite the evidence on the contrary." He looked down at his feet as his wife swept out the door and then stood on the stoop, tapping her foot impatiently. "I wish you all the best and if you happen to send a picture or two my way, I will cherish them."

Aria looked down briefly, "I don't think I can forgive you, but I can try to have a civil relationship with you." She took a step forward, that was as far as Remus would allow her, "If you can keep her away, you can come to the wedding but just be aware that there will be a very large number of 'beasts' in attendance."

"You're my daughter, I could never see you as nothing but a beast. Your mother and I have had problems since the night of the attack, and I am honestly done. She is going to stay with your aunt in France while I have moved into a flat in London. I wanted to kill her after she read that article in the prophet about the attack in Diagon Alley. She was angered that you weren't killed."

"She almost got her wish," Aria shook her head, "Riddle cast a killing curse at me and the only reason it didn't connect was that a goblin blocked it by shifting the cobblestone."

Mathias jumped forward and hugged his startled daughter, neither noticed the others tensing behind them. "I for one would have been devastated had you died. I may have been your mother's punching bag over the years, but I am done letting her rule me. It may be too late, but I plan to do what fathers are supposed to do, I am going to support and protect you with everything I have. I love you, baby girl."

He was out the door before Aria had managed to get her mind around what her father had said. She hadn't heard those words from her father since she was a teenager. It made her think that perhaps there was hope for wizards after all.

Now, they just needed to live long enough to see the rest of them change too.

Grimmauld Place

Sirius sat in his chair in his favorite den, a beer in his hands, staring at his best friend. Remus sat in the chair opposite him, a glass of whisky in his hands, staring back with a blank face. For some reason, Severus was also in the room, sitting to Remus's left and nursing a glass of very expensive wine from the Black wine cellar; he looked more bored than anything.

"Tell me about Liz."

"I thought we were here to talk about you and Aria? Isn't it crazy her parents showed up like that?"

"We talked about that at dinner, Siri."

"Oh, then we are here to talk about Severus and Cissy. Why else would he be here? Isn't she about ready to pop?"

Severus raised an eyebrow, "The baby isn't due until the end of September, as you well know. I certainly hope I am in the room when you tell Narcissa that she looks like she is nine months pregnant instead of five and a half. Do you want to be castrated in the most painful and public way?"

The Black head winced, "Okay, not what I meant. Um… Harry and Hermione sure are cute, aren't they?"

"Yes, they are," Remus agreed, "but I know you and you know me. I will not be so easily distracted, that was always you. Tell me about Liz. Tonks has been sharing all sorts of interesting things when she comes by to check in. She says the brothers Nott mock you relentlessly. Something about you acting like a giddy school-girl"

"Do I really need to be here for this gossip session?" Severus rolled his eyes before Sirius could answer.

"There is nothing to tell really," Sirius shrugged after a moment's pause, "and no, you don't need to be here unless you want to tell us about how you and Cissy are doing on the romantic front while she is pregnant and moody." He paused for a second, his face settling into a look of horror and disgust. "No, wait. I don't want to hear about any of that."

Remus and Severus smirked as the other man shuddered. "Cissy really does love it when I kiss that spot behind her ear…" Severus started.

This instantly caused Sirius to plug his ears with his fingers and start singing loudly, "La la la la, I can't hear you!"

Remus raised an eyebrow in a way that made Sirius think of Severus. He pulled his fingers from his ears slowly, making sure Severus didn't start up again. "I think the two of you have been spending far too much time together. You make the same facial expressions and plot the same way." He glared somewhat playfully at Severus, "I won't let you steal my best friend. If you try, I will duel you."

"Then lose to me?"

Sirius squinted at him, "Probably, but I wouldn't go down without a fight." He looked at Remus, "I should get some SIRIUS points for that," he winked. "I admitted that he is a better dueler and I didn't call him names!"

"You should stop trying to change the subject," Remus took a sip of his whiskey, savoring the burn as the alcohol ran down his throat. "I am not going to let you leave this room until you talk to me about Liz. Come on Siri," he leaned forward, "you used to give me every sordid detail of every date you ever went on. You're starting to make me worried because you won't talk about anything."

"Are we going to ignore the horrible pun?" Severus wondered. "He was very obviously placing his name in that sentence instead of the word serious."

"We never acknowledge Sirius versus serious puns. It just encourages him." He narrowed his eyes at his friend, "Talk."

The Grimm animagus pouted, "Moony, you are mean the day before the full moon." He crossed his arms over his chest and waited but started feeling nervous when neither man said anything but continued to stare at him. "I don't really know what to say, Remi," Sirius sighed. "I have been out with her twice, three times if you count taking her and her kid to ice cream the day we met. In fact, I haven't been alone with her yet as Chris has been there each and every time. Our schedules haven't really been open enough for more, not her fault, I just have too much nonsense to attend to right now."

"And you're okay with that?"

"Of course, Moony!" He knew his friend was talking about the lack of alone time as opposed to his busy schedule. "I love kids and Chris is great. I just wish I had more time to see them."

"Is this just about the kid?" Severus wondered.

Sirius shook his head, "No. I like Liz. I sent her a mirror and we talked. Merlin, we actually talk every day for at least a few minutes. She hasn't had it easy and neither have I, just in very different ways. I don't want to pressure her and I actually really like getting to know her. I tell her about my mistakes, about Harry, about trying to fix the Black family and our world. She talks about Chris, her late husband, her mum and her worries about moving Chris away from the world he knew so she could take care of her ailing mum. The best part is, she calls me on my crap. Girls in our world tend to just ignore my many mistakes because I am the Black of House Black."

"Are you going to go out with just her?"

"And I thought you didn't want to be in on this gossip session," Remus smirked at Severus.

"I blame Harry. The kid is turning me soft." He raised an eyebrow at Sirius, "Even though I am currently disgusted with myself, I would still like an answer."

"Friday. We are going out Friday. I need to be there for Harry on Saturday and we don't know what exactly is going to happen so I couldn't ask her out Saturday or Sunday, but I also didn't want to wait until after the end of the tournament just in case all hell breaks loose like we all think it could." He ran a hand through his hair and downed the rest of his beer. "We took Chris to the arcade this afternoon and I think I had more fun than he did. I am apparently terrible at Skeeball because Liz and Chris both trounced me. Then Liz challenges me to pinball and I am somehow worse at that than Skeeball and I swear I used to be really good at it. I mean I used to beat you and James all the time!" He shook his head, "I know mums aren't always in mum mode but the fact that she can let go and goof around with me and Chris is a real turn on." He looked at Severus, "And we all know that Harry has nothing to do with the fact that you are going soft and everything to do with little Roddy and the future sprog."

Remus, ignoring the last bit, smiled at his friend, "Siri, you were never very good at pinball, James and I were just worse than you. If you remember, Lily used to laugh at how bad we all were. As for Liz, it sounds like she grounds you but still allows you to have fun. Where are you taking her on your date?"

"I'm not sure," he scrunched up his face in thought. "I want to impress her but I don't want to come off as a pretentious arse. She's also interested in magic but I want to ease her into the magical world; you know how people are. As much as I like the Copper Spell or the Silver Chalice, I would rather not put Liz through me being hounded by the prophet or meeting some political ally who wants to talk shop even though I am obviously on a date."

"Sound reasoning," Severus nodded. "I would also suggest that when you do introduce her to the magical world, that you don't have the first place she sees be the Leaky."

"She's seen the outside," he frowned. Had he screwed up already?

Remus chuckled, "I think what he meant was that you don't stop in the Leaky. Walk her through the pub and then go directly to the alley. Take her to the one store you think she will be most interested in and then to a café for some food."

"Flourish and Blotts, she loves books." He grinned, living this idea, "Oh, I could take Chris too, he's magical after all, and then take them to Fortescue's!"

"Before you start planning your next family outing, perhaps you should make sure you don't mess up your date?" Severus smirked when he saw the panic cross Sirius's face.

"What am I going to do? I am really good at messing up dates! I did it all the time back in school. My money and smile only go so far!"

"I never thought I would see Sirius Black be insecure about dating," Severus mused. "The arrogant toe rag I remember used to flaunt his prowess with the finer sex."

"Well," Sirius scowled, "that arrogant toe rag spent a decade in Azkaban for being a bloody idiot. I promised myself if I ever got out, I would actually try to think before acting. The fact that I got treated by healers for mind and body means I can actually do that. I will be around to see Harry become a man. I am going to be the best man at Moony's wedding. I'll see him have cubs and go to Harry's wedding, hopefully to Hermione because that girl is good for him." He got up and started pacing, "I want to see the joke shop the twins want to open and watch Draco figure out what he wants out of life now that he isn't a mini Malfoy. Most of all, I want a chance at a family of my own."

Sirius leaned against the mantle and kicked a piece of wood that was waiting for a fire to be started. "I took so much for granted after Hogwarts. I thought we were invincible, that nothing could touch us. I was so sure that once we won, I would find a girl and settle down after having some fun. Eventually we'd have a kid or two and they would go to Hogwarts in a world that someone like Voldemort could never exist in."

Remus stood and moved to his friend, placing a hand on his shoulder, "Most twenty-year-olds think like that Siri. It's the failing of youth to not realize that life is fleeting."

He shook his head, "But I grew up in this house. I knew that the young didn't necessarily live to see adulthood and that even crotchety old men can live longer than their grandchildren. We had lost so many friends by that point that I shouldn't have still been thinking that way. If Gideon and Fabian could be cut down together then any of us could, whether we were alone or in a group." He turned and studied the Slytherin in the room, "I bet Severus didn't think that way. He's paranoid now but I bet he was worse in the heat of it."

Severus shrugged, "I'm probably more paranoid now but I did live my life expecting to die at any time during the war. I carried three wands and various poison laced daggers with me at all times. I trusted almost no one and had to ward my home heavily before I could allow myself to close my eyes, and my main job for the Dark Lord was to brew potions. But there were those around me who did think they were invincible. So many of our classmates or those a few years older, thought there was no way they could possibly die despite the danger they were putting themselves into. You were not alone in you thinking. The fact that you survived and now know that you could die just means you aren't the idiot you used to be."

Sirius blinked at him, "That is one of the nicest insulting compliments I have ever received. Well done, I should take lessons from you."

"And there is the idiot," Severus rolled his eyes, "I take it back, you haven't learned anything."

"Moony, the Slytherin is being mean!"

"And this is why I can't leave the two of you alone in a room," Remus sighed. "You did that to yourself Siri, don't say stupid things if you don't want Severus to blast you with sarcasm and insults. Sev, you don't have to be so...so…" Remus struggled to find the word he wanted.

"Condescending?" Sirius suggested.

"Superior?" Severus countered.

"Arrogant."

"Correct."

"Rude."

"Helpful."

"And that is the end of that. I really can't leave you alone. Back to topic," Remus cut in before they could say anything damaging, "Sirius, you should probably take Liz to a nice muggle restaurant to start and then ease her in like we talked about. I will get you a list of restaurants and you can decide from there. I am going to go; the moon is full tomorrow and I honestly want to hex both of you right now so I am going to take Severus back to Hogwarts and let Narcissa deal with him."

"Love you, Moony," Sirius called, watching his friend shove Severus out of the room, "Later Sni...Severus." He sank back down into his chair, and looked at his empty beer. "I will not screw this up."

London

Sirius held Liz's hand securely in his as he walked her to her door. It had been an amazing evening. While he wasn't quite ready to take her into the magical world because of who he was and the attention he got, not to mention Riddle being out there, he could still take her out for a nice meal. He had taken her to a nice quiet restaurant that Remus recommended and it really was perfect. Low light, quiet music, candles on the table and good food.

It wasn't the food he would remember, it wasn't the music, or the atmosphere, it was the conversation, the company. Sirius Black was a goofball who used humor to hide his insecurities and he knew it. He always had used humor to hide what he was feeling so that no one could use anything serious against him. The amazing thing was, Liz realized that and didn't let him go too far down the rabbit hole. When he started going dark with his humor, she would give him a look and redirect the conversation. He knew it and appreciated it.

After dinner, they had walked through London, enjoying the warm evening and watching the moon rise higher into the sky as they strolled hand in hand. When they reached her door at last, he thought the night had gone far too quickly.

Sirius looked down at his feet for a moment before returning his attention to her face, "I guess this is where I leave you."

Liz squeezed his hand, "I had a lovely time. Thank you for taking me out." She laughed softly, "Chris was quite put out that he couldn't come too."

"We'll take him out next weekend," he grinned, "that is if I haven't completely screwed this up and I haven't died."

"Siri," she grabbed his free hand so she was holding both of his hands in hers. "You can't think like that. I expect you to take me and my son out next weekend, perhaps to see something magical," she winked. "But most importantly, you need to have faith that everything is going to work out."

"My life doesn't work out like that. If something can go wrong, it will."

"While I appreciate Murphy's Law, you can't live your life like that; you would end up never leaving your house. Additionally, I think you have had more than enough bad luck for a dozen lifetimes. The universe should be on your side for once, and even if it's not, you have planned and trained so hard for this. You talk about what you are teaching the kids to help them in a fight but you also told me all about the extra training you are doing yourself." He shrugged but didn't speak, allowing her to continue. "Two hours of dueling every night with different partners depending on who is there. Research into new spells, raiding your armory and buying up body armor. What more could you have possibly done?"

"I haven't found a way to keep Harry safe," he whispered, not daring to meet her eyes.

"But you gave him the tools to get himself to safety."

Sirius looked into her eyes, his expression lost, "I can't lose him, Liz. I could survive just about anything at this point but not losing him. I have made my peace with the losses I have already suffered and have resigned myself to the possibility that someone else could die." He ran a hand through his hair, "As terrible as it probably sounds, I could come back from all but two deaths, but if I lose Harry or Narcissa, I won't be able to bounce back."

"What about Remus?" She asked knowing just how close the two were.

"Remus and I have talked about that possibility a lot, actually. We would both rather sacrifice ourselves than let someone we care about die. Remi and I have been through so much both together and separate. He has already gone through losing me and can survive it if he has Harry, Aria and Fay. I know I would miss him, mourn him, but I could bring myself to live for him. I could pick myself up and protect our shared family if he was gone."

She grabbed his hand and led him to the bench seat on the porch.

"As much as I used to hate him, I would miss Severus. I know that he is in more danger than just about anyone because of his past and his skill. He will put himself between one of us and the enemy if he can. We may never be best friends, but I respect him and I will always be thankful for what he has done for Narcissa."

He started playing with the fingers on Liz's left hand and laughed humorlessly, "Toujours Pur. Always Pure; the Black family motto. The House of Black doesn't really need me, but it needs her. I don't want history to remember us the way they have for the last hundred years. I want them to remember us for the good we did. For bringing equality while still honoring tradition. For helping to bring down the dark lord and making a difference. Instead of Always Pure referring to blood, maybe I can make it mean Always Pure of Heart. While I can't do that without Narcissa and her guidance, that isn't why I can't lose her. Narcissa used to be my best friend when we were kids.

"Our parents were horrible. Their expectations were impossible and we only had each other. Bella was nuts and the apple of everyone's eye, even though she was and still is certifiable. Andy was playing at being the perfect daughter but would protect us because we were younger. Narcissa and I used to run around our Grandfather's manor like it was our own playground, causing mischief and mayhem constantly while my little brother ran at our heels." He sighed, "Hogwarts changed that. Narcissa was a few years ahead of me and she had to play her part. She lost the fun in all the expectations and then lost her fire when she was married to that moron Lucius. Now, with Severus, my cousin is back. A little more sarcastic and terrifying but still my cousin. I don't have many fond memories of my childhood, but the ones I do have involve Narcissa. Reconnecting with her has helped me survive and without her I would be lost."

"I think you are forgetting that Narcissa is pregnant."

"No, I'm not. It makes me worry for her even more. She is so much more vulnerable right now."

"No, she really isn't."

"But…"

"No, Sirius, being pregnant isn't a handicap the way most men think it is. Sure, toward the end we are swollen, irritable and we usually waddle just a little but early on, we are the same as always," she shrugged, "maybe just a bit moodier. You also have to remember that mothers are fierce. We can and will take on the world to protect our children and I think Narcissa is that kind of mum from the way you talk about her. I may have never met her, but I can see who she is when you talk about how she treats her son, how she treats Harry, Fay and Hermione. You can correct me if I am wrong, but I see Narcissa as a momma bear prepared to rip someone's throat out if they threaten her children."

Sirius smirked and shuddered all at once, "No, you're not wrong, I would have said a nesting dragon but the momma bear thing works just as well."

"If she is forced to fight, she won't go down without taking an army with her, you yourself said she is a formidable opponent and she will be all but surrounded by you and your friends."

"I know you're right up here," he pointed to his temple, "but in the dark, in my sleep, I can't help but see everyone I care about fall. Inevitably, I wake up gasping for breath after watching Harry, Remus, Narcissa, Hermione, and everyone else get killed one by one by Riddle and my psychotic cousin Bella. Bella shouldn't even be in my head because she is rotting in a cell a few down from my old one cackling like a lunatic but as I still hear her mocking me as I try to convince myself that it was all a dream."

"There is nothing you or I can do about your subconscious fears except continue to remind you that it hasn't happened. All we can do is hope. I may not know your family, but I want to get the chance to meet them and get to know them soon."

"So I haven't messed this up?"

"Not by a long shot," she smiled and kissed his cheek.

Sirius leaned in to kiss her properly but paused when he heard a soft bang on the window behind Liz's head. The pair turned just in time to see Chris and his grandmother duck down below the windowsill. "How long do you think they were watching?" Sirius smiled into her hair and then kissed her temple.

"Hard to say; mother can be quite the snoop."

"And Chris isn't?"

She chuckled under her breath, not needing to answer because they both knew the boy demanded to know what was going on at all times.

"I supposed we really have to call it a night now," Sirius sighed, "I don't think I could give you the attention you deserve knowing they are looking over our shoulders."

She nodded, "I need to get him to bed, seeing as my mum has failed to get him there."

"Can I take you out again?"

"You better," she stood with him, one of her hands still in his. "I also expect you to contact me tomorrow night to let me know that everyone is alright."

"It might be late."

"I won't be able to sleep anyway, knowing just how paranoid you and your friends seem to be."

They stood directly in front of her door, barely a breath between them. "I was thinking that it might be fun to take you and Chris to Diagon Alley next weekend."

Liz closed her eyes, drinking in the sound of his voice, "We would love that."

"Maybe I could take you out again next Friday night?" Sirius leaned down as he spoke.

Instead of answering, Liz closed the distance between them and pressed her lips to his. I wasn't a deep kiss, being their first official kiss, but it was full of meaning. It was sweet and full of promise. Hope for what could come.

The pair broke apart in laughter after hearing a gleeful yes shouted from the house. Obviously, Chris did not have a problem with Sirius kissing his mum.

"Good night, Liz," Sirius squeezed her hand one last time as she opened the door.

"I will talk to you tomorrow, Sirius," She smiled as she pulled her son into her arms and closed the door.

Sirius Black turned away from the house with the biggest grin he had worn in years. Perhaps things could turn out alright after all.

Hogwarts Dungeons

Narcissa leaned against the door to Roderick's room and smirked. Severus stood looking out the small window, the baby boy held securely in his arms. "He isn't going to disappear if you take your eyes off him," she pushed off the doorframe and walked into the room. Placing a hand on Severus's arm, she looked down at the snoozing baby. "Between you and Dobby I barely get to hold him," she pouted.

Severus pried his eyes off the boy to look at his love, "It's not that I think he will disappear, it's that I am afraid I won't live long enough to see him get any bigger than this."

She closed her eyes, hiding the pain that statement caused. With practiced ease, she took Roderick from his arms and placed him back in the crib so that she could drag Severus from the room. Because the living room was closer, she led him to the loveseat in front of the fire and sat down, pulling him with her. "I won't let that happen."

"I have to protect you and the kids."

"I don't need protection, but I do need you."

"He will be coming for me, probably harder than he comes for most, no matter what form he is in. I betrayed him. I actively oppose him."

"And you are not the only one. So many have refused to fall back in line."

"But they don't fight the way I do. They aren't training Harry Potter or destroying his Horcruxes."

Narcissa placed a hand on his cheek, "While that is all true, it doesn't take into account just how capable you and our allies are. Do you really think there are many who still follow Riddle that could take you in a fight? Do you think there are many who could take Remus, Sirius, Bill or me? While we don't use the killing curse, we are formidable and have an arsenal of spells at our disposal."

"But he is so far beyond our power."

"And you think Albus will just let him come and attack his students and teachers without stepping in? He may be suffering from dementia but he is not useless. Albus Dumbledore is still extremely powerful. He still knows all of those complicated and destructive spells he used to defeat Grindelwald. It is his choices in everyday life that are suffering, not his instincts in combat."

"I need you to survive."

"And I will." She held his gaze, making sure he could see just how sure she was. "Everyone knows that you don't face off against a mother, especially when she is protecting her child. We are terrifying creatures and not even Riddle is stupid enough to try to kill a pregnant witch from the House of Black. I think the only person alive who would think I was an easy target is the one who should know just how deadly I can be, and she is rotting in Azkaban."

Severus snorted and shook his head, "Is it wrong that I think it would be very interesting to watch your sister try to kill you? I can picture you tearing her to shreds while she laughs."

"That certainly sounds like Bella."

"Will you promise me you will be careful?" Severus placed a hand on her cheek as he spoke.

"Will you give me the same promise?"

Severus lowered his forehead to hers, "I can promise to try. If one of my students is in danger, or you are in danger, I won't be able to stop myself from stepping into the middle. I can't let the kids get hurt if I can do something about it. If it looks like he is going to escape, I won't be able to stop myself from challenging him in the hopes that I could put an end to him. I would die defeating him rather than allow you and our children to live their lives in fear."

"I can understand that and I can promise that I will be as careful as I am able. While I am a Black and pregnant, he still holds a grudge against my family. I will fight to run so that I can meet our daughter," she placed her hand over his, both resting on her slightly rounded stomach. "Now, it is time for bed. While the task may be later in the day, we still need our rest."

Severus rose to his feet pulling her with him, "As my lady wishes."

Narcissa rolled her eyes, "You are lucky I love you."

"I am indeed."

Severus held Narcissa in his arms throughout the night, unable to sleep for fear of what they would face the following day.

Gryffindor House

Harry lay in his bed, staring at the curtain fabric overhead. The dread that had been building in his stomach all week was boiling over, keeping him from sleep despite his exhaustion and knowing he needed the rest. The next day would be the final task and he KNEW that something big, bad and probably both was going to happen.

On a normal night, it would be the snoring of his roommates keeping him up but he couldn't even hear it over the beating of his own heart. What he did hear was the door to their dorm room slowly opening.

A moment later, the curtains on the right side of his bed opened to reveal his girlfriend. Hermione, in her red pants and imitation Potter jersey, quickly lifted his covers, crawled into his bed and pushed the curtain back into the closed position.

"I couldn't sleep," she whispered as she snuggled into his side, placing her head on his shoulder. "I kept picturing you getting hurt by Riddle and a zombie version of him."

Harry wrapped his arm around her and turned his head, burying his nose in her hair. "I can't seem to turn my brain off either." He sighed, "Something is going to happen tomorrow and it is going to be a lot worse than last year with Greyback."

"I assumed as much." She closed her eyes, trying to get rid of the mental images that statement created, "You've been on edge all week."

"If you're going to shag, make sure you put silencing charms around your bed," Seamus called much louder than necessary considering the hour.

Before either Harry or Hermione could respond, Seamus let out a grunt, "OW. What was that for Dean?"

"Wasn't me," Dean yawned.

"Neville?" Seamus asked, irritated.

By this point all five boys had opened their curtains, "Wasn't me," Neville shrugged. "I was debating what I was going to do to you though."

Everyone turned their attention to Ron, who was missing a pillow, the same pillow clutched in Seamus's hands. "What? We all know that Hermione would never even think of that. Just because it is something Seamus would do, doesn't mean that Harry and Hermione would. Seamus deserved to be hit for that comment but I didn't feel like getting up so I threw my pillow at him," he shrugged and started to lay back down, "it's not my fault he doesn't close his curtains and I have a direct line of sight on him."

"It was a joke!"

"And it wasn't funny." Ron sat back up and held his hand out for the pillow, "First, Hermione would never want her first time with Harry to be in the dorm room with four other guys there. Second, she isn't that spontaneous, and neither is Harry for that matter. She probably has a plan on when that might be acceptable; which, if I am not mistaken, isn't viable until at least sixth year if not after we graduate entirely."

"All true," Seamus agreed, "But it was a JOKE!"

"One that was bound to get you hexed," Dean rolled his eyes despite the fact that no one could see it due to the low light.

"Merlin, none of you can take a joke." Seamus grumbled, threw the pillow back at Ron, and started to close his curtains, "I am going to sleep, where people laugh at my jokes."

"Pretty sure not even dream Harry and Hermione would laugh at that, mate," Dean sighed, also closing his curtains again.

"Good Night, Hermione!" Ron grinned cheekily before closing his curtains.

"What were you going to do to him?" Neville wondered.

"Put him in a body bind and then hit him with tickling jinxes for half an hour."

"And I would have silenced him," Harry shook his head, "He is less likely to put his foot in his mouth if he can't make noise."

Neville nodded, "That would have made him think twice; being tickled but unable to move or ask for help is torture. Are you going to be alright?" His face took on a look of concern. While asking that, he flicked his wand three times, casting silencing charms around the other three beds in the room. Harry and Neville were VERY good at silencing charms.

"I think I'll be able to sleep now," Hermione smiled weakly.

Harry nodded as Neville's attention turned to him, "I will try to sleep, I'm just not sure if I will be able to for long. The stress of what is coming is getting to me. Hopefully, Hermione is able to keep the demons at bay."

"It's all going to work out," Neville insisted. "We have been through too much and trained too hard for this to allow our lives to be destroyed. No matter what happens, you have your friends and teachers behind you, prepared to take on your enemies and help you bring them down."

"But who is going to get hurt or killed in the process?" Harry tightened his arm around Hermione.

"We don't know." She leaned into him. "We hope for the best and plan for the worst. We all know our orders. If we are attacked, we have to do our best to cause as much damage as possible while running away. We won't run into danger unless that is the only exit available."

"We've got your back Harry," Neville said with clear determination. "Now, sleep. If you can't, mirror Remus, I am sure he could get you a Dreamless Sleep potion to get you through the night."

Hermione pressed a hand to Harry's shoulder and pushed, telling him without words to lay back down. "Your demons better be scared, no one haunts my Harry or they will see the business end of my wand."

Harry snorted as his girlfriends settled herself back onto his shoulder. "Good night, Neville."

The curtain around Harry's bed closed and Neville knew Hermione had cast a silencing charm, not to hide anything inappropriate but to keep the snores of the rest of the room away. "Good night," he whispered to the quiet room. "Hopefully we live long enough to see another day come to an end."


Here it is everyone. I know, it's kind of filler but we all know what is coming next - the end of the Triwizard tournament. The next chapter is written and being edited now. chapter 44 is in progress (with two different versions). I am taking a week off work starting whenever I get off on Saturday so hopefully I can get that one completed and whatever comes next during that time.

As always, thank you Draconin for your assistance with editing my chapters!

Until next time,

Wolf