Victoria smirked behind her scarf as she helped Sirius walk up the garden path to her parents home in Northumberland. Just before they get within earshot of the door she lets Sirius in on why he's dressed in the same outfit as yesterday, "Do you remember your attitude when we took Harry bra shopping the other month? Yesterday was payment for that. Today is partly because you're not practicing your wandless enough, and partly to show my mother the outfit."

"You know, I could have got out of this in a second if I had my wand."

"Oh, I know. But where is it again?"

"It's in that box on the mantlepiece."

"It's only locked with a first-year spell."

"But still."

"Didn't you try to prank me when I gave your wand back yesterday?"

"Yes, but you cheated."

"Conjuring epoxy around the opening of your wand holster isn't cheating."

"Gah! I will get you back."

"Oh, I'm sure. Just not until you start using wandless magic. Anyway, that's my dad, so no more magic talk. Hi Dad."

"Hello Victoria, you look dapper today."

"Thank you, I'd like to introduce you to my fiancé Sirius Black. He was taking his own sweet time in proposing to me, so I got some of his friends to ambush him and I proposed yesterday. I figured that Mum would like a good look at the dress after she sees the video."

"Congratulations, I'm looking forward to it. I know you wanted to put your career first, so I'm glad you've now found someone."

"Daad!"

"You know I'm kidding. Your brother and his family are staying over Christmas, so they'll be happy to see you. Come on through both of you, the kids are in the Billiards room, everyone else is in the Parlour."

They're led through the house to a comfortable looking room with large windows looking over the countryside with the nearby town in the distance.

"Hi everyone, this is my fiancé Sirius Black. Sirius this is my dad Garfield, mum Louanne, my older brother Jared, and his wife Denice. And this is the Video of my proposal."

Jared stands up and takes the video before shaking Sirius' hand, "I'm glad to see that someone finally managed to catch my sisters eye. Let me get this in before mum grabs you, she was a costume designer for the Palace Theatre in London for 40 years until she retired 10 years ago."

Once they'd finished watching the video Louanne was out of her chair like a shot, "Well, stand up and give me a twirl."

Reluctantly Sirius stood up and tottered around in the dress.

"Yes, yes, excellent draping, I note you didn't include any forms."

"I didn't want to make him a woman, I wanted him to be in the woman's role."

"Yes I can see that, and this is clearly your work. I can see you still have trouble with the seams at the back. Still, for a non-professional working in silk and chiffon you've done really well. You've got a good colour match with his eyes, did you do the make-up for him?"

"I did."

"Maria would be so proud. I always said you should have stayed in the theatre, but you wanted to follow in your fathers footsteps. How's that going?"

"I'm a full Ambassador now, but I've signed the official secrets act so that's all I can tell you."

"Oh well done dear. Lift your right foot so I can see your shoe dear. Oh that's lovely, custom made for his size and they have a good arch, you really spared no expense on your fiancé. I can tell you love him."

Victoria quickly lends Sirius her shoulder as Louanne unceremoniously lifts his foot when he's too slow.

"I do, I met him just after he'd been given asylum here after escaping false imprisonment."

"Oh my, I knew I recognised the name. I understand the terrorist is still at large."

Sirius swallows hard, "He is, I'm working with the British police to help bring him to justice."

"So what are you doing for money these days? Oh I love these petticoats, where did you find the lace detailing?"

"I'm actually living off the family estate and the compensation from the government. I'm thinking that I'm going to be happy enough supporting Vicki with her career."

"That will be good dear, Garfield was a diplomat, and I couldn't just move from the Palace, which put a lot of strain on our relationship. Thank god he never got a permanent posting otherwise one of us would have been miserable. Vicki dear, you haven't answered my question."

"I made it.", Victoria says quietly.

Sirius grins, "She's really good even though she's only just started. You should see some of her embroidery though, that's really special. Don't you carry it with you all the time these days?"

Victoria pinches Sirius' bum hard as her mum lets him go, "Oh really, you must show me. Bring your bag to my work room and we can spread out."

Victoria gives Sirius a look as her mother drags her off with her bag.

Jared walks over with a glass of wine, "You know she's going to get you back for that."

"Yeah, well that's for getting me in a dress two days running. She didn't even let me bring a change of clothes today."

"Oh yeah, that's my sister for you. I remember having to play living doll for both of them when we were kids. It's why I went into backstage rather than costume. Denise did her placement year there in the accounts department and we met over drinks a few times before we started dating. Now we live in Kingston-upon-Thames where I work at the local theatre and look after the kids, and she brings in the big bucks. So how did you get here today?"

Sirius smiled and launched into the prepared story, "Victoria got us a ride on a small plane, and then we got a lift here. When we're ready to go she needs to call and they'll arrange for us to be picked up. One of the upsides of her work, and the downsides too. I really didn't want to spend my Christmas signing documents, but that's what I was doing most of the morning before she proposed."

"Ah, OK, mum never did sign those even though they wanted her to. Privately I think it's one of the reasons dad was never on a permanent posting."

"I was offered more than a few, and that wasn't a sticking point. It just meant I couldn't deal with the more classified stuff. Most ambassadors and diplomats never even see something that's covered by the official secrets act. So Sirius, what does your family do?"

"Real estate really, we own land all over the world and lease most of it out to other people. We also used to dabble in politics, even though we've not used our seat in the house of Lords for a few centuries. I'm pretty sure that it's lapsed though even though we still have our title."

"Oh?"

"It was just a Barony, however I seem to remember there's rules about needing to be a citizen of the UK to keep your seat."

"True, true. Though as you say, it doesn't stop you working in politics, just not in the firing line."

Conversation continued for the rest of the day in the manner of adults who have no common interests manage to do.

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Karen stumbled back as Lyasa ran into her with a hug, "You're back, why do you have to leave for so long?"

Karen stokes her hair, "Shh, yes I'm back, and you know why I'm gone so long. It's been less than a day for me. I know, but other mum misses you so much, and I'm still trying to get to know you."

"Well, one day maybe you can come and visit me. Though you will think that the time there is too short if you do."

"What do you mean?"

"Consider that if you stayed there for 3 weeks, 21 days, one cycle of your largest moon will have passed here."

"What like Azaria has?"

"Sort of, though because she's an adult she's been able to head into the dream occasionally. Though our healer has currently banned her from travelling too far so that her child isn't harmed."

"Oh, OK. But wouldn't she have done the same to you?"

"She tried, but there's no way I'm going to be parted from Tunie for that long. Anyway, this is for you."

Karen hands Lyasa a bag filled with a few of the more interesting toys, like the etch-a-sketch, and a rubiks cube, all bought from Hamley's.

"None of those are allowed out of the house, do you understand?"

The shout of "Yes earth mum. Mum, Mum! Look what earth mum brought me." Echoes through the house as Lyasa looks for her other mothers. Smiling she heads into the house after her so that she could give Garund the rest of the stuff and also talk to him about what she can do to help.

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Harry looked out over the Great Hall as the students that were returning from the holiday started to trickle in from the train ride up. He was taking a day or so as a boy now that his period was finally over to just get reacquainted with it, and for Hermione's happiness too. Turning to look at Hermione he asks, "Hermione, I don't recall us ever looking it up, but what does the charter say about how students are supposed to get to and from the school?"

"Oh, it doesn't, it just says they need to arrive on the 1st of September and depart at the agreed upon years end, unless they wish to pay for a private room. At which point they can stay over the summer."

"Huh? Students can have private rooms?"

"Apparently. Madam Pince says it's due to the fact that the non-magicals at the time could be very unfriendly. Couple that with the occasional attacks by Sidhe who kidnapped magicals by preference for some reason."

Harry looks ill, "Probably for entertainment value."

"Ugh, I didn't need that image. Thanks Harry."

Soon enough it's time for the evening meal to start. The hall goes silent as Karen stands up and conjures her lecturn.

"Good evening everyone. I hope you all had a good Christmas break, whether it was spent with friends and family or here in the school. I've only got one announcement this evening. All first years, and any second years that are in the mediation class. Instead of mediation class, there will instead be a taster of the additional lessons that Hogwarts house has. This is completely voluntary, and will take place in the same place as your meditation lessons. If at the end of the week you still want to join the Hogwarts house we will be running the lesson for that at the weekend. You need to remember that if you attend that lesson you will move from your current house into the Hogwarts house, and you will need to complete all of the extra work that members of Hogwarts house already do. If you're interested we will give you a parental waver form at the first taster lesson. No waver, no membership.

"With that out the way, I'd like you all to welcome the first year transfers from the Emerys academy, and we also have a transfer from Beauxbatons in France, so please be kind while they learn English. Additionally, Fleur Delacour will be joining us for this term as an exchange student at the request of the French Government as they evaluate our new practices. You may even see their father, the ambassador, around occasionally. Though I believe that the United Kingdom Government has given them a house in Little Whinging while they're undergoing talks. Christopher Lancaster volunteered to be the exchange student as he's already a qualified Warlock. So, without further ado, please welcome our new students."

As there were only four transfers, the sorting didn't take long and the only notable change was the girl that shared a name with Fleur went into to Hufflepuff. This left Fleur standing in the middle of the Hall looking nervous. Harry noticed that some of the boys near her were starting to pay more attention than he would have expected. Smoothly transitioning to a girl, she stands up and steps over to stand next to Fleur. Her eyes widen in surprise, and then widen again when Harry takes control of the magic in the area, and prevents whatever effect she was exuding from affecting the students. While this was going on, Minerva took the sorting hat up to the teachers table and plonked it on Karens head.

Karen stands up at the table with the Sorting hat grumbling about not sorting someone, "Thank you Harry. Fleur Delacour, you have come here as an exchange student. I understand that you volunteered for this. In your own words, please tell me what you volunteered for?"

"My Father, he was French ambassador to ICW. Last year he found out about Warlocks, and that you were changing the school. Not mean much at the time, but then new magical country formed in United Kingdom. After being briefed about the cause, he starts looking deeper. He got copy of Minerva's memory and showed me. I then volunteered to learn to be Warlock and learn here to see how different from before. Gabrelle is here to see long term. Sorry if explaining badly."

Karen looked down at her with sympathy, then had a brief exchange with Fleure in French to get clarification on her motives and what she wanted, before she switched back to English for the benefit of the rest of the school.

"Fleur, from what I understand you are here to see how the new courses are changing, and how we're teaching students to be warlocks. Do you realise that you will be excluded from the event next year?"

"Oui."

"Very well, until you pass the test for being a member of the Hogwarts house you will be staying with the Hufflepuff house, as that's where Mr Lancaster started. Apprentice Clearwater please stand up. Penelope will be your personal tutor while you're here. Additionally, we expect you to attend the same meditation classes as the new first years. When you're ready we will show you what you need to do to progress. Over the easter break you and Penelope will both be undergoing personal accelerated training by all of the qualified Magi in the school so that we don't interrupt your Newts. Penelope you will also be tasked with ensuring that Fleur's natural abilities don't affect the student population. Please take a seat at the Hufflepuff table with your sister. You have been provided plate and cutlery for this evening, but starting tomorrow morning you will be expected to conjure your own at every meal."

Once Fleur had sat down Karen started again, "Gineva, Dudley, Luna, and Nicole, please stand up. New first years, these will be your meditation teachers until Easter. You will have classes in the morning, meditation for an hour first thing in the afternoon, and then the rest of your day will be spent in structured play. I'm sure that the rest of the first and second years will help you get up to speed quickly. Now I think that's everything, so unless someone else has something to add… Go ahead Madam Pince."

Madam Pince stands up at the invitation, "Miss Delacour, would you be willing to teach a French language club a few times a week after classes?"

"Oui?"

"Thank you, in which case I will be the staff sponsor for this class. Fleur and I will work out a schedule and let Madam Hooch know for those who would like to join. That's it Headmistress."

"Anyone else? No? House Elves, would you please serve the food?"

As the food appeared, the Hall devolved into the good natured chaos of a Hogwarts mealtime.

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Fleur gulped as she saw Penelope waiting for her in the Hufflepuff common room.

"Good morning Miss Delacour."

"Fleur please Miss Clearwater."

"Very well Fleur, please call me Penny. I have your timetable here, I'm afraid that we don't offer Enchanting or Spell design here, so you have been put down for Runes and Arithmancy instead. If you find that they don't cover everything you need to know, just let me know. If you ever need any help and I'm not around just call out to Hogwarts, as in call the name Hogwarts, and say that you need to see me. If I'm on the grounds I'll be there within a few minutes. Let me show you the way to the Great Hall, and I can fill you in on the rest of the details as we go."

As they were walking up from the Cellars, Penny casually says, "You know, I don't know whether to love you or hate you for coming here this year."

"Oh?"

"We're both going through the accelerated program at Easter. Karen said that we're going to have the undivided attention of all the qualified Magi."

"So?"

"Ah, well, you know that Karen is a Magi."

"Oui."

"Well so are Minerva, Beth, and Septima. Azaria and Tonks are a little iffy as they're both certainly qualified, I just don't know if they're Magi. Pince and Pomfrey are both well on their way to becoming Magi. Then you've got the table of students, who may or may not be qualified Magi. That's Harry, Daphne, Hermione, Luna, Dudley, Gineva, and Nicole. Finally, there's Ambassador Victoria."

"Mon dieu, madam is a Magi?"

"She is, though around here you'd probably be better off calling on a Goddess, as Selene has been known to pop by."

"Merde. I must write my father."

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll see him soon, or you can do it at lunch."

Penny's expression brightens, "I just thought, Celia will probably join us in the training. If you know her, you probably know her as Lady Greengrass. That means that the best case is that there are 2 teachers and 3 students."

"Why are you so worried?"

"Oh, I saw what Minerva was like at the end of her two weeks, and I've spoken to the rest of the staff about how their training went. The final exam is 24 hours long, culminating in a running battle against the teachers across the whole school."

"I don't understand."

"It will make more sense once we've unlocked your magic and you move onto the next step."

"May I ask, why are there dementors around the school?"

"Politics and idiocy. Sirius Black escaped from prison, and he's currently living in Little Whinging. I think that he's been found innocent by the ICW and the Magical United Kingdom. However, the Ministry of magic are still dragging their heels about removing the Dementors from the school. I think we've got around 30 or 40 in the armoury for target practice at the moment, that's down from 100 that we caught when they tried to invade the school during a Quidditch match last year. Though we haven't let the students know that happened."

"Are you not worried about students getting caught?"

"Not really, the only person that is ever there alone that can't defend themselves is the history teacher Mr Lupin, as he's a werewolf. Everyone else that has free access to the Armoury can defend themselves."

"Everyone knows the Patronus Charm?"

"Not exactly. It won't make much sense until we start training you. Right, before we go in, do you know Occlumency?"

"Oui, both myself and my sister do, though we're forbidden from practicing it without Papa's permission."

"Damn, we need to speak to Healer Gosling before we get breakfast, as you'll both need to be examined by a mind healer to ensure that you don't have any irreparable damage as we can't take your word for it. What I need you to do is focus on the first part of Occlumency, the part where you find your magic. Most people do the bare minimum at that stage, but we need you to spend at least an hour a day just on that aspect. It will be obvious when you've done enough. I also want you to start embroidery with just levitation. While you're using your wand it's ok to hold the needle while you thread it, and then hold the work while you use the needle. But you'll see that most of the first years are now levitating the whole thing. If you look at the Hogwarts and Magi tables during breakfast, you'll see that they all have a project on the go. Well, let's go in and talk to Gosling, and then you can make your own place settings and enjoy breakfast. If you ever want something that the elves don't serve yet, just let them know and provide the recipe. We've discovered that they really like being thanked in recipe books too."

Before Fleur could respond she was walking through the doors to the Great Hall.

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Astoria was fair vibrating in place after lunch, as this was their first sample warlock lesson. Finally she had the chance to learn the same stuff as Daphne. As she looked around she noticed that apart from Roberto and Goyle, everyone else here were kids that had played with Azaria when she was having trouble last year. Looking back to Goyle, she shook her head in sympathy as he reached for the sword that wasn't there. From what she'd heard in the common room, he'd had it hard over Christmas. A devious smirk graced her lips as she made her way over to the pair.

"Goyle, do you mind if I talk to you for a moment?"

"Greengrass, what do you want?"

"I just wanted to tell you what happened when my Warlock sister, Daphne, came home from school for summer last year."

"Go ahead, not sure that it will help."

Astoria relayed the story of what her father did, leaving out the illegal spells, and how she then just stepped out of the bedroom in front of her.

"And so you see, if you're diligent you could protect yourself the same way by doing the warlock training. I'm sure that Azaria will give you a new sword when you explain what happened. Though, you may need to stop her from killing your father though."

"You really think I could do that?"

"So what if it takes a bit longer for you to learn it than it does other people? It's just a skill to learn, it's not like arithmancy, chemistry, or critical thinking and philosophy."

"Yeah, I was doing alright at combat cos I didn't need to remember words or numbers."

"See, and I know Roberto's been helping you where he can."

"Thanks Greengrass."

"You're welcome."

By the end of the lesson she was absolutely certain that they were trying to kill her, but she wasn't going to let that beat her.