All rights for Harry Potter reserved for J.K. Rowling and WarnerMedia.
Chapter 2
And So, Life Moved On
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of Number 4, Privet Drive would love to tell you they were perfectly normal, not that it is anyone's business. They were hardly the type of people to be seen taking part in anything, odd, strange, or just plain out of the ordinary.
Mrs. Petunia Dursley would love nothing more than to discuss her blossoming agapanthus garden. Mr. Vernon Dursley would love to talk on drills and the local political scene for hours on end. And both Mr. and Mrs. Dursley would waste the days away talking about their son, Dudley, who in their eyes, was nothing less than the finest lad in all of England.
However, the Dursley Family was not completely normal, at least not in the way they hoped to be. The Dursley family had both a secret and a problem, and both coincided with a certain member of their household, but one they barely considered family.
For the past eight years, the Dursleys have housed a very peculiar boy who would best be classified as the anti-Dursley. That boy was their nephew, Harry James Potter. From his darker skin, unkempt hair, round glasses, the boy was a great contrast to the overtly neat and clean Dursley clan.
Beyond appearances though, the Dursleys knew there was another reason the boy was not like them, the same reason Lily, Petunia's good-for-nothing sister, and her equal good-for-nothing husband was not like them. The magic that flowed through Lily and James' veins flowed through Harry. They knew this, they saw it every time something odd and unexplainable happened when Harry was around. Something randomly breaking or floating, and even an instance where Harry ended up on top of the roof.
They determined to stamp it out, to end this madness by any means necessary. Which was proven difficult by three nosy neighbors who happened to know Harry. The Blacks. Sirius and Severina Black, their offspring, Cassie Black, as well as their friend, Remus, had established themselves as the bane of the Dursley's existence. Every attempt to normalize and indoctrinate Harry as a civilized member of society failed because of those threes' interference. They were forced to give up Dudley's planned second bedroom because Sirius burnt Vernon's mustache when he found his godson in a cupboard. Harry got better grades than Dudley all because Severina threatened to turn Petunia into an octopus if she ever told Harry to get worse marks for something so petty.
But the worse was Cassie. Harry Hunting, a favorite pastime of Dudley and his gang, was usually cut short by the appearance of Cassie. While Dudley was not above hitting a girl, Cassie would always find ways to take the brute down one way or another. Dudley debated what was more humiliating, the time Cassie kicked him in the stomach for punching Harry or the time she stopped a beat up by screaming, help, help, these boys are attacking me! Petunia lost count of the times she called the Blacks furiously, only to have it end with a snarky comment by Severina.
Harry, on the other hand, loved his Auntie Sev and Uncle Sirius, as well his big sister Cassie. He was a constant fixture at their home and had spent every Christmas, Halloween, and Easter with the Black Family. Whenever the Black family went on holiday, they brought Harry along, creating some of his fondest memories. Harry had even on more than several occasions asked if he could live with them, only for them to kindly rebuff Harry's offer, though they did so with remorse. The Black family was Harry's favorite family, although Uncle Sirius and Auntie Sev were mysteriously absent every full moon.
All in all, with the Dursleys and the Blacks, Harry felt he had somewhat of a mixed bag in life. A mingled sense of happiness and misery, although Uncle Sirius told him one day everything would change.
Today, Harry was on his home from school. However, he was dreading his walk home. Cassie was forced to stay after and therefore was unable to walk with Harry home and therefore, it was open season on Harry Hunting. With added dread and caution, Harry took a tentative step out of the schoolyard and onto the streets of Little Whinging.
The first half of the journey was a semi peaceful one, although the over quietness of the neighbor only heightened Harry's growing anxiety. However, after ten minutes, Harry was halfway to Number 4 Privet Drive, Harry was beginning to feel slightly at ease as he snuck through the playground.
"Hey Little Orphan Annie," said the familiar taunting voice of Dudley Dursley.
"Yeah, Annie," said Piers Polkiss trying to sound tough.
I spoke too soon, signed Harry in his thoughts. Turning, he saw the mass that was his cousin, Dudley, his lieutenant, Piers, and Malcolm, all smiling wicked smiles. Harry stared blankly at them. He notices that both Gordon and Dennis were missing. But then, his arms were pulled together, and Harry felt a force push him back. He now knew where Gordon and Dennis were now, they were to hold him down.
"Didn't want to take any risks," said Dudley looking anxious. "I've been waiting to do this for a while."
"That girl ain't here to help you out this time," taunted Piers.
Harry was surprised by a lot of things at the moment, but one was that Dudley seemed less inclined to insult him some more. He must have really wanted to beat up Harry, as he had a mad glint in his eye, like a predator about to sink into the neck of his prey. Harry was struggling to free himself, and to Harry's shock, Gordon and Dennis were finding it difficult to hold him.
"He's really squirming," grunted Dennis.
"Punch him below the belt or in the stomach, he'll go down easier," said Gordon.
"No," disagreed Dudley. "I want to enjoy this."
"But they'll see his face is he has a black–" argued Dennis, who was stopped by Dudley.
"No," Dudley said as he approached Harry. "I want to enjoy this."
Soon Dudley was face-to-face with Harry, inches away. It had been a while since Dudley actually caught, as Cassie had scared him away many of the times. Today, Dudley felt like Captain Ahab having caught Moby Dick, though he would no idea who those two were as he did poorly in English, like most subjects. He was gonna enjoy this, this will be a day he and Harry would never forget. He was right, but for other reasons.
Harry knew what was about to happen. The fear in Harry's eyes only made Dudley's smile grow. Dudley curled up his fist, drew back his arm, and a second later he felt his fist hit something, but it wasn't Harry. In the nanosecond that Dudley had thrown his fist, Harry had broken free and slipped downwards. His face missed Dudley's punch by lesser than an inch.
When Harry got up from the ground, he saw Dudley, Piers, Gordon, and Malcolm with dumbstruck and dumbfounded expressions plastered on their faces, as Dennis was hurling in pain on the ground, clutching a newly swollen eye as he wailed. When he got up, he did something Harry thought he would never do. He pushed Dudley.
"What was that for," screamed Dennis.
"I was aiming for him," said Dudley straightening himself up and pushing Dennis in return. "Don't ever push me by the way!"
"What," said Dennis as he got up. "You mean like this."
Dennis pushed Dudley once more. Dudley in response lunged at Dennis, and soon a small fight broke out, with Dudley getting Dennis into a headlock, as Piers, Malcolm, and Gordon watched, unaware of what to do. Finally, Piers, Gordon, and Malcolm were forced to separate the two as the fight if you could call it that since Dudley was clearly the stronger of the two.
Finally, the fight broke apart when someone called out. "What are you two doing!" called Cassie Black.
The five bullies all stared at the older girl, who had her arms folded and resembled her mother for a brief moment in how stern she appeared. Panic, fear, and disappointment all crossed Dudley's face as he looked at her. In the same fashion of how his parents viewed the Black family, Dudley viewed Cassie in the same compacity. She was the greatest thorn in his side, always around to stop his bullying habits and always getting away with it.
He was surprised by himself, in his amusement at Dudley and Dennis' fight, he had not slipped away, but instead, stayed and watched the two brute's struggle. It was only when Cassie appeared that he realized this.
Harry stood beside Cassie, his big sister as he liked to refer to her. She looked older for her age, she was ten, about two years ahead of Harry, but she appeared eleven or twelve. She was tomboyish, always wearing jeans and a jacket and always having a cut or band-aid on her person. However, despite these factors, she was a very pretty and cute girl, having inherited the best traits and features of her parents. Her father's deep grey eyes, her mother's face, and both their raven black hair.
"You," said Dudley pointing his grubby finger at her. "What are you doing here. You supposed to be held back."
"You realize I stayed after to help pick up. Unlike you, I don't solely stay after because I got detention," smirked Cassie.
Dudley's face grew rapidly red. He advanced on Cassie, only for her to stare daggers at him, causing him to stop. "Well, well," Dudley sputtered, "well–"
"Well, is that all you can say," she replied.
"Well what kind of man gets his defense from a girl," Dudley said at last, proudly.
"What kind of man is scared of a girl and gets beat up by one," retorted Cassie, casing Dudley's smile to falter.
Now she'd done it. Dudley's mind was scurrying to think of some comeback, some remark to break Cassie, but he knew in his limited intelligence that nothing he said would work. Now he was more furious than ever, and Cassie knew this.
"Dudley, this isn't going to end well for you, it never does. Just leave me and Harry alone, and we'll leave you alone," said Cassie.
She didn't wait for a response from Dudley, she turned and with Harry began to walk away. If she and Harry had looked back, they would see Dudley having a furious tantrum as his prey slipping away for such foolish reasons. Harry and Cassie simply ignored him, though they could hear his ranting.
"What happened?" asked Cassie as they walked.
"Well," began Harry, "they cornered me, and Dennis and Gordon held me down. Dudley was ready to punch, when he was inches away I broke free, and he hit Dennis instead."
Cassie burst out laughing. "Really."
"Really," said Harry, laughing a little himself.
"Then what happened then," Cassie was able to get out through her laughs.
"Dennis was so upset he pushed Dudley, then Dudley pushed him, and next thing I knew they were both fighting."
Cassie couldn't take it. They had to stop as she had fits of laughter. Harry laughed along with her until a realization hit him. "You know he'll tell Aunt Petunia, right."
This stopped Cassie's laughter and she gave out a loud sigh. There was a reason Harry never fought back beyond Dudley's friends and strength, there was no winning in fighting back. Dudley would just run home to Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, and they'd believe whatever lie he told them, and they, in turn, would punish Harry and complain to the Blacks. While there were times Uncle Sirius and Auntie Sev would intervene, there were times when they couldn't intervene, and Harry would be punished severely. Usually, this was when Uncle Sirius and Auntie Sev were at their mysterious jobs no one knew about.
Cassie placed a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. "You can stay at my house for a bit," she offered.
"Thanks, but I don't know if your parents are home or not."
"Strangely enough, my mom is usually home on nights like this. Always on the full moon, though she is really not partial to having company on these nights," replied Cassie as they took a turn towards her own house.
"Then shouldn't I go home," said Harry worried.
"Nah," Cassie shrugged off. "She loves you, I'm sure she'll make an exception for you. Besides, my dad should be home soon anyway. He'll convince her."
They reached Number Twenty-Three, Privet Drive, the home Cassie, and the Black family resided in. Opening the door for Harry, he felt the warm glow of homeliness. Just as the Black family was more a family to Harry than the Dursleys, the Black House, as Harry called it, was more a home than Number Four, Privet Drive. While Auntie Sev liked to have things clean and orderly, like Aunt Petunia, there was more style and flair here that would make Aunt Petunia sick. Instead of solely pictures of Cassie, the walls were draped with a mix of Harry, Cassie, Uncle Sirius, Auntie Sev, Uncle Remus, and even Harry's parents and the shelves were filled with various books.
This is home, Harry thought.
"Mom, we're home and I bought someone," called out Cassie.
"Cassiopeia Severina Black!" Auntie Sev called back angrily. "I have told you! I do not like…." Auntie Sev entered the room and stopped when she saw the guest was Harry.
"Look who it is," Cassie said with a grimace.
She hated her name, Cassiopeia, and preferred solely to be called Cassie.
"Hello, Harry," Auntie Sev said claiming down at once.
"I can leave if it's too much," asked Harry.
"No, no, you can defiantly stay," Severina said at once, turning to her daughter. "Let me guess, the Dursleys, primarily Dudley."
"Who else," replied Cassie.
"Come in then. I'll fix you some dinner, but I must warn you, tonight is not a good night, we'll be busy for most of the night," said Severina entering the kitchen.
"Why are always busy on nights like this?" asked Harry.
"Personal reasons," replied Auntie Sev sternly.
The rest of the day seemed so peaceful that Harry almost forgot about the Dursleys. He and Cassie talked for hours on end about all their likes, and when Uncle Sirius arrived, he had dinner with his favorite family. Although, he did notice Auntie Sev did give Uncle Sirius knowing glances.
It was peaceful until a loud knock on the door was heard. Looking out a window on the upper floor, Severina saw an entourage of the Dursley, all three of them were present. Vernon Dursley's face was already a deep shade of puce, and for once, Petunia Dursley looked as angry as her husband, as she comforted a supposedly crying Dudley in her arms.
"They're here," said Severina expectedly.
"Should I deal with them or should you?" asked Sirius.
"I'll go out," said Harry getting up.
"No," Sirius stopped him.
"But-" Harry began.
"Your Uncle Sirius is right," said Severina. "I and him will go first."
The two adults got up and walked to the door. With stoic and impartial expressions masking their angry, they opened the front door to reveal the Dursley clan.
"Why Vernon, Petunia, what do we owe this pleasure," said Sirius in false pleasantries.
"Don't act so innocent with me!" snarled Vernon nearly spitting on Severina. "Where is my brute of a nephew."
"Probably with the bully of a daughter of theirs," said Petunia still holding Dudley.
It was at the moment that Dudley gave out a false wail, forcing his mother to comfort him. This only increased Petunia's angered stares.
"Why don't you come inside," offered Severina.
"I'm not letting my wife or son set foot anywhere in that house," Vernon barked loudly.
Sirius and Severina were curious if the Dursleys were marking a scene so that the neighbors could hear. Starting to get annoyed, Sirius took out his wand and waved it in front of Vernon and Petunia. They paled at once at the sight of it.
"I don't want to use this, so why don't you come in," said Sirius calmly.
Vernon seemed to be conflicted. With a great grunt, he gestured for a hesitant Petunia and Dudley to come in. Petunia made sure Severina got the nastiest of looks from her. She truly hated Severina with a burning passion. So superior, Petunia thought bitterly. For Severina brought back the petty jealousy that Petunia felt towards Lily, a constant reminder of her own life's failings. Severina, despite not being a few years younger to Petunia, still kept much of her beauty and only seemed to get better with age, with no gray hairs or blemishes, even her body seemed to look better with age. Just the mere sight of her was enough to make Petunia's blood boil. Any attack Petunia did upon Severina had no effect on her. Any rumor Petunia started was countered. Once when Petunia tried starting the rumor that Severina and Sirius were getting a divorce, somehow everyone got wind that Dudley was being suspended, which unlike Petunia's rumor was true.
However, Petunia was momentarily pulled from her hate by another whimper from her son, which made Severina inwardly grown. "There, their diddy darling," Petunia said.
Sirius and Severina brought the Dursleys into the living room, where Harry and Cassie were already waiting. The fury of the Dursleys only increased when they saw the two children. Harry and Cassie were surprised by quickly all the adults present reacted to them. Uncle Vernon rounded on Harry and Cassie, Aunt Petunia clutched onto Dudley acting like a human shield, and both Uncle Sirius and Auntie Sev stood in front of Harry and Cassie, anticipating the coming storm.
"You freak! HOW DARE YOU ATTACK MY SON! YOU UNGRATEFUL…." Vernon's rant was cut short by an angered and powerful look from Sirius.
"You will not speak to my godson or my daughter in such a fashion IN MY HOUSE," said Sirius through gritted teeth.
This did nothing to change Vernon's mood or who his anger was directed at. Rather he resigned himself to the center of the room to continue his spouting, almost like he was a great performer in a grand play. An overweight Macbeth.
"WE BRING HIM OUT, RAISE HIM, FEED HIM, CLOTH HIM, AND THIS IS THE THANKS WE GET!" raved Vernon. "Trouble all the time incites a fight between two sweet boys."
While his wife nodded agreeing, all the rest in the room listened with half an exhausted ear to Vernon. Although Harry was interested in the last part. He assumed Dennis would tell his parents it was Harry who punched him, but clearly, that was not the case. Still, Uncle Vernon and Aunt
Petunia would never, ever even consider the idea of their precious, little angel taking part in anything violent.
"Harry didn't incite anything," defended Cassie.
"Yes…they…did," cried Dudley, though if so many adults were not present, he would have shot Harry and Cassie an evil grin.
"My poor baby," sniffled Aunt Petunia.
"Cassie is telling the truth," said Harry.
"Don't lie!" grunted Aunt Petunia.
Sirius and Severina observed the situation. Severina looked at the two.
"Harry, Cassie, why don't you take Dudley into…."
"I will not leave Dudley alone with-with those two," said Aunt Petunia firmly.
"Well, I'm not having Cassie or Harry be left alone with Dudley, not that seems to be any match for Cassie anyway," said Sirius snarky.
This was it. This was the nail in the coffin, or more descriptively, the match that set off the dynamite. The fury within Vernon grew as his face contorted and turned a deep shade of purple. Aunt Petunia's lips were so purse, they lost any color. Dudley, taking advantage of his parent's anger, wailed his fake tears some more.
Severina shot her husband an annoyed look, while Harry and Cassie hid their sniggers. Sirius for his part, looked slightly proud with himself and partly abashed when he saw his wife glaring at him.
"I'll reiterate. Cassie, Harry, go wait for us in the kitchen. The grown-ups need to discuss a few things," said Severina.
It was not a request. The two marched into the kitchen. When they looked back, they could have sworn that Dudley's false sorrow was faulted, and he had an angered disappointment written all over him.
In the kitchen, the pair of Harry and Cassie sat in silence for the most part. The screams and angered of Uncle Vernon, and occasionally Aunt Petunia, followed by a cry from Dudley could be across the street. Both children tried to listen in, though, with the volume from Uncle Vernon, it wasn't hard.
"Wait, did Uncle Vernon just say magic," said Harry surprised.
"I don't think he did," said Cassie looking a bit worried.
"By the way, I never thanked you for helping me out," said Harry.
"And you never have to. You're a brother in all but blood. Besides, why are you even thanking me, I did absolutely nothing. You did most of the work," replied Cassie. "Surprised you were able to break free this time."
"Weirdest thing was it wasn't hard. I sensed danger, and my reflexes kicked in. Almost like Spidey-sense."
"You not gonna start swinging from buildings, are you," joked Cassie.
The two shared a laugh. "By the way, you never told me why you were staying after?"
"My English teacher picks random students to help clean after class, although I wonder if she singled me out. Still thinks I'm responsible for the thumbtack incident."
"You are," replied Harry.
"Yeah, but she still can't prove it," replied Cassie with the slyest of smiles.
It was at that moment another one of Uncle Vernon's rants began, this one louder than the last, as his whole speech of clear even through the walls.
"How much trouble you think I'm in?" asked Harry.
"Harry, that's the thing," Cassie replied sympathetically. "You are always in trouble with them."
"I know," Harry said sadly.
Cassie reached out her hand and comfortingly took Harry's own hand. "But you have me, and my folks, and Uncle Remus."
"Thanks," said Harry. "By the way, where is Uncle Remus. He's never around towards these nights?"
"Says he has a busy schedule," replied Cassie.
"He's a tutor, how busy can he be."
Their conversation was cut short when the slamming of the front door echoed throughout the house. The pair were silent once more for a moment. Then, the kitchen door, revealing a very flustered Uncle Sirius and Auntie Sev. The couple looked annoyed and frustrated, a feeling shared by Cassie and Harry anytime they too dealt with the Dursleys.
Taking in large breaths, Severina turned to her daughter and godson at the table. "Harry, you're allowed to stay with us for the night, seeing is how your guardians aren't going to cool over till tomorrow."
Harry was stunned. Despite their closeness, Uncle Sirius and Auntie Sev never let them stay over on the full moon. Though judging by the expressions on their faces, there were strings attached.
"However," Auntie Sev continued, "I have some prior commitments I need to attend to for most of the night."
"What are you attending to?" asked Harry innocently.
"Lady stuff," replied Severina.
She knew this was enough, as Harry gave a squeamish look. Cassie took a little humor in his discomfort.
"So, I'll be out for most of the night. While I am gone, your Uncle Sirius is in charge. Remember, this is a privileged young man," said Severina.
Her expression shifted to that of caring and supportive when she saw her godson's worried look.
"You didn't do anything wrong," Severina said, "and despite inheriting your father's troublemaking ways, you didn't do anything wrong either, Cassie."
"Your defended Harry and Harry, I'm proud you stood up for yourself, and in a way that avoids confrontation. However, I must ask that Cassie walk with you home from now on," said Sirius.
The two children nodded. They held back smiles for the fun they were to have. And it was fun. Although Auntie Sev had to excuse herself just as the sun was setting, Harry was reminded just how much he loved the Black family. They played games, have an amazing dinner, and even watched a movie. When Harry entered the guest bedroom, he fell onto the bed, a wide smiled plastered on his face as he drifted off to sleep.
THE MORNING
A black wolf walked through the passage under the Black House. The night had not been as promising, though considering what she had had to deal with in the day, it would have to do. The wolf's companion, Padfoot, was unable to accompany her and she had to run about through the parks, small forests, and even backyards of Privet Drive, though to make Lily's son happy, it was worth it.
The passage was almost cave-like, magically build by her husband after they moved in. It leads right to the back entrance of the house, through the kitchen. Reminded her of her and Lily's Hogwarts days, and at the thought of her lost friend, the Black Wolf, nicknamed Ravenmane by her husband, dropped her head in sorrow. Even after all these years, Lily's death still brought her to her knees.
However, looking back out the window, at the approaching sun, she rushed through the house and into her room. Thankfully, the children were still asleep at this hour. She reached the Master Bedroom in the nick of time, as once the door was closed, she had begun to change.
Severina was now immune to the slight pain, and a second later she was standing in her bedroom back in her human form.
"Morning, Ravenmane," Sirius said, sitting on the bed.
"Morning," replied Severina.
Sirius didn't make another reply, he was now fixated on his wife's completely unclothed body. There were times he couldn't believe how lucky he was that he had married someone like her, in both beauty and mind. He felt like an immature schoolboy right now, after just found his first Playboy. Age only improved her beauty, and Sirius was taking in every inch of her natural form.
"You're staring," she said.
Although she was unembarrassed and or unannoyed. They had been married for years, had a child together, and had each other naked that it almost felt like a second skin to Severina at this point.
"Most wives are angry when husbands stare at other women, not at them," replied Sirius huskily.
"I'm just tired. Long night and long day," replied putting on a robe.
"I know," said Sirius, regaining his senses as his wife covered up. "I really was expecting Vermin Vernon to have a panic attack."
"Aren't you a little old for childish nicknames," said Severina.
"I've heard you call him and Petunia worse."
"I said childish nicknames, but truthfully ones," she replied slyly.
"You are right, Petunia is a bitch. Sometimes I wonder if she was adopted, mean her and Lily," Sirius stopped when he saw his wife's grim expression. "I'm sorry, sometimes I forget."
"It's alright, actually, that is what I wanted to talk with you about. I wanted to talk about Harry?" asked Severina.
Sirius sat up straighter. "This isn't about the Dursleys."
"No. He's getting older, and I was thinking, maybe, the time is coming to tell him everything."
Sirius looked excited. "Finally, I've been waiting to tell him for years. But you and Dumbledore."
"I didn't want to overwhelm him. While I agreed the Blood Protection is the best protection we have, I wanted him to have as normal a childhood as he could. He and Cassie," said Severina firmly.
"I know, and you've done a great job," said Sirius. "But he's eight. In a few years, he'll be getting his Hogwarts letter, Cassie in a year. We told Cassie when she was younger, and give the girl credit, she hasn't told Harry by now."
She sighed in defeat as she knew he was right. She had known this day would come when she would have to reveal everything to Harry. She had tried everything, everything in her power to make Harry's childhood as normal and happy as possible, despite the Dursley interference.
"Your right. We'll tell him today. I just hate the idea of him dealing with all that fame, all those people trying to talk to him," lamented Severina.
Severina looked up and saw her husband placing a hand on her face, caressing her beautiful features. He brought her in her a deep and loving kiss, a kiss he hoped to convey a multitude of emotions and comfort. Then he saw it, the smile. A genuine and uplifting smile, rarely seen on Severina Black's face.
"Thank you," she said as she embraced her husband.
"If he's anything like me or his father, he'll be resilient," recurred Sirius.
"If he's anything like you or James he'll be a troublemaker," said Severina sharing a laugh.
A minute later, however, Severina pushed back, concern back to being the dominant feature.
"That's not all," she said.
"What else?" he asked, taken aback.
"You remember how I said Cassie has been showing signs, the same signs Lily showed when she was her age."
"Oh, yeah," said Sirius. "Those signs. We've already discussed this, we even had talks with Dumbledore and McGonagall about how to"
"Not just her," it seemed to take a lot out of her to say it, maybe she was just tired. "Cassie said Harry sense Dudley was attaching and his reflexes kicked in."
"So, whenever I'm out on the field and in a dangerous situation, my reflexes usually kick-"
"It's still similar to Lily," she replied staunchly. "It could be possible."
She didn't need to say more. He already knew what she was talking about.
"I thought only women could be therions?" he said.
Severina gave him an odd look. "Despite the fact that Lily and I were the only therions in existence, I don't think it is solely chosen by gender or sex."
"Can you blame me, my information on the topic is just as limited as yours," he said?
"No, but still. If Cassie is showing the signs and her only link is being my daughter, then being a therion could be hereditary. There have been cases of lycanthropy being passed down to the generations."
Sirius knew she spoke the truth, that she had a valid point. In honesty, this was an idea that has crossed his mind on occasion more than once. The possibility that Harry could inherit his mother's own furry little problem. Worry overtook him, the same worry his wife was feeling. While years with his wife had taught him being a therion was more a gift than a curse, this was only going to give Harry more unwanted attention.
"We should discuss this with Dumbledore," Sirius said, noticing the tired expression on his wife's face. "But first, you should rest."
"I'm fine, I-"
He stopped her protests. "Trust me, you need it."
Strangely, she didn't argue, she didn't feel like arguing. Throwing the robe to the side, Sirius was taken by the urge to ravage her once he saw her nakedness again, but he reframed. Reaching out an arm, he pulled her close as she slid under the covers. He kissed the top of her forehead.
"I love you, Ravenmane," Sirius said.
"I love you too, Padfoot," replied Severina.
Soon, she was asleep in his arms, every stress, problem, or anxiety drifting away.
LATER ON THAT DAY
Harry was a little worried. That was actually an understatement, Harry was nerve-racked. He knew it was never good when adults said they wanted to talk, it usually meant that he was in trouble. Maybe they were moving away, leaving him with the Dursleys, he thought. All he could do was sit there, waiting for his Uncle Sirius and Auntie Sev to come downstairs.
Harry's day had started out so peaceful. He's woken up in his favorite house, had an amazing breakfast with his favorite family, and watched Saturday morning cartoons with Cassie. Then, Auntie Sev in a serious voice, told him they were going to have a talk in fifteen minutes. The tone of her voice made Harry's heart sink at once. Already, his mind began planning out the worst scenarios. The minutes moved slower, and it had been fourteen minutes since Auntie Sev said she wanted to speak to him.
However, he was taken out of this nervous state when Cassie came in, looking positively gleeful and excited. She was carrying a large stack of books that looked like fantasy novels.
"What are you so happy about?" asked Harry.
"Just glad I won't have hidden it anymore," she said.
Now Harry was confused. If this was bad, wouldn't she be more upset? What was she talking about, and why was she so excited about rearranging the bookshelf? Harry looked closer and got a glimpse of some of the titles. Hogwarts: A History, A History of Magic, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard, were just a few. Harry could have sworn he saw the title Light and Dark: Potion Making by Severina Black-Snape.
Before he could inquire more, Uncle Sirius and Auntie Sev walked in. When Severina Black saw he daughter stacking magical books on the shelf, a stern gaze fell upon her.
"What are you doing young lady?" she asked sternly.
"Adding some books," Cassie said innocently.
"I thought we told you to wait," said Sirius.
"He's about to learn, I didn't think it would matter," said Cassie.
"Cassiopeia," Severina said at once, "we said you could stay, but not if you cause any problems."
Cassie, as per expected, grimaced, at the usage of her true name, but frowned at the look of her father. Whenever Sirius Black looked stern, it meant this was serious. She got up and took a seat in the Living Room next to Harry.
When the two adults turned to Harry, they looked worried but caring.
"Harry," Auntie Sev began. "First off, you are not in trouble."
"Are you moving?" Harry asked.
"No, we'd never leave you behind," this actually made Sirius smile. "No, what we wanted to talk to you about is a good thing. Great, actually."
"Are you having a baby?" asked Harry.
Cassie couldn't help it, she burst out laughing. While Severina shot a reprimanding look at her daughter, Sirius gave a slight laugh to her.
"No, no, we're not having a baby," chuckled Sirius.
"Harry," said Severina, wanting the conversation back on track. "I knew one day I'd have to tell you; I knew one day I'd have to sit you down and explain. Harry, do you remember how your parents died."
"Yes," answered Harry. "Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia said they died in a car crash, but you explained they were killed."
Severina couldn't help but sneer, not at Harry or anyone else present, but at the memory. The memory of finding a devastated Harry crying after his so-called guardians told him his parents were layabouts who died drunk in a car crash. Although she did get a get out of the revenge Sirius took, placing a curse that forced Vernon and Petunia to lay around the couch for three days. Who was the layabout now, Severina thought.
"Yes, well I never told you who killed them. Harry, have you ever noticed odd things happen when you were around, things you couldn't explain?" said Severina gently.
"Well yeah, actually," Harry was going back to the instances when odd things happened and found they were quite a lot.
"Well, Harry, the reason you couldn't explain them was that they were done by magic," said Severina matter-of-factly.
Harry froze, trying to understand if he heard that correctly. "w-w-what?" he sputtered.
"Harry," Auntie Sev said softly. "You're a wizard. Like your parents, like me and your Uncle Sirius, and even like Cassie."
"How?" Harry asked after a long moment of silence.
That one word, that one question, lead to all sorts of answers. Harry was surprised when he realized they had all been talking for hours. Life at Privet Drive was all about to change.
Next Chapter
Signs
A little thing about this chapter. I'm planning to post every two weeks, gonna try to go for every Saturday. The only reason this was submitted in this time span was because Chapters 1 and 2 were supposed to be one whole chapter, but it got too long and did not make sense structurally and narratively. That's why, like chapter 1, this feels more like set-up again.
The next chapter will go more into Harry becoming therions and be more character driven, focusing on his relationship with Cassie and a few others.
Still, hope you enjoy and be sure to leave a comment.