Chapter Title from "Sara" by Fleetwood Mac. Full Title "When You Build Your House, Then Call Me Home..."

It was the night of August 2nd, and Rhiannon was once again in the library with her three birds, alternating between her attention to their happy chirping and the sixth year potions book she had found high atop one of the bookshelves in the Black library. It had Sirius's name scrawled on the inside cover, and it was was one of the very few volumes there not falling apart. It appeared as though it had barely been touched. Rhiannon had laughed upon discovering it, remembering Snape's comment about her lover's attention issues during the class. It all made perfect sense— Sirius was much too lively and physical to exceed in Potions. Rhiannon understood— it was her only less-than-stellar mark on her E.A.G. , for that same reason. She figured she better get a head start on studying so hopefully Professor Snape's assessment of her own skills would be a bit more forgiving.

Rhiannon had spent more and more time alone in the library over the past week, as the meetings of the Order of the Phoenix had become more and more frequent. She understandably was not allowed to attend the meetings; she'd only known everyone for less than a month, her magical education rendered her the equivalent of a rising fifth year, and of course the unfortunate fact of her parentage. Sirius of course requested for her to attend, being the open book that he was, but the answer from the others was a resounding no. He had kissed the top of her head gently and assured her that she would be a member someday, promising to fill her in if anything concerned her safety or decisions for her future. And he always did — Sirius shone when it came to being thoughtful, attentive to her feelings, and responsive to her needs. He was the perfect boyfriend and perfect gentleman.

Hermione Granger, Ron and Ginny's friend from school, had arrived to Grimmauld Place about a week earlier, officially transferring Rhiannon into Sirius's room so Hermione could share the lower level room with Ginny. Rhiannon loved spending nights with him now instead of just random trysts, curled in his warm embrace, incredibly safe and cared for. She had never really felt that way before. Sometimes the tables would turn though; Sirius would wake up frantically from a nightmare about Azkaban. Rhiannon would hold him and smooth his hair until his racing heart calmed down. Each night that they grew closer together, and each day that the reality of Hogwarts inched nearer, the delicate balance of excitement and sadness seemed to shift. Rhiannon was going to miss him desperately.

Sirius had shared with her that one of the Order's growing concerns was the terrifying army Lord Voldemort was assimilating— not just winning wizards and witches to his side but all manner of magical creatures with the power to destroy. In addition the Ministry had begun to mount a smear campaign challenging the Order's cause, denying Voldemort's return and discrediting Sirius's godson Harry as a liar and a disruptor of the peace. Rhiannon saw this for herself as she poured through the house's discarded editions of The Daily Prophet, trying her best to understand the ins and outs of this new world. Harry Potter was on almost every front page, the words scathing and the propaganda strong.

Sirius hated this. Rhiannon had learned that he held the magical gift of the Animagi— able to turn himself into a large, curly-haired black dog at will. But whenever Sirius read something that insulted or threatened Harry, he seemed more like an angry bear.

The attendees at the multiple Order meetings varied. Of course Lupin had been absent from some, while the moon was full. Dumbledore rarely attended. In fact, she recalled only seeing him once. He didn't speak to her, but did acknowledge her presence with a warm, grandfatherly smile.

The same could not be said for Professor Snape, who had attended two meetings since his visit to deliver the potions. Each time, including tonight, he had whizzed past Rhiannon in a billowing cloud of black, his gaze straight ahead at the dining room doorway, never looking in her direction. All manner of feeling in her body still pooled in her center whenever he was within the vicinity, and she still hated it. She had begun trying to discipline in her mind in preparation for her upcoming journey to Hogwarts, actively trying to segment her normal self from the persona he seemed to create within her. She would have to channel that strength in her dealings with him, because she refused to let him keep his upper hand. She was not a child; she was a woman — a witch, and a naturally powerful one. Severus Snape would have to respect that for their arrangement to have any chance at success.

The cursed grandfather clock struck 8:00 p.m., finally doing its intended duty of telling time now instead of slinging daggers at passers-by. Remus had finally gotten around to magically repairing it following his return from isolation yesterday. After tonight's meeting, he and Tonks were scheduled to return to America in the morning, beginning their work crafting Rhiannon's alternate past. Tonks had not revealed much; Rhiannon got the distinct impression that they would be flying by the seat of their pants on this one, so to speak. It sounded like a thrilling adventure, and Rhiannon was more than a bit jealous that she didn't get to participate in this creation of her own life story.

8 p.m. was unusually late for an Order meeting to still be in session. Normally they would have adjourned for dinner. Rhiannon's stomach was telling her something was amiss. She peered into the hall. The library door was just outside the dining room, and it was possible to hear muffled voices if one listened. She normally tried to be respectful and not eavesdrop, but her curiosity was getting the better of her.

...Dementor attack...Little Whinging...Muggle...Harry...

Rhiannon recalled reading about Dementors in Defense Against Dark Arts, but she had always thought of them like a storybook creature— far removed, not an actual threat. This sounded like they had actually threatened Harry. Sirius would be livid.

She heard whispers and footsteps from the floors above her. A glance up the staircase revealed Ron and Hermione attempting to listen as well. Hermione gave her a sheepish wave before ushering Ron back into one of the bedrooms. Just as they disappeared, Rhiannon heard the front door creak open. She jumped back into the library, wand ready. She needn't have worried — she soon heard Mad-Eye Moody's gravelly voice ushering in more members of the Order. Leaving the library door open, she moved back to her place at the desk so not to look suspicious. She watched for their approach, hoping to hear a bit more when they opened the dining room door, but was soon shocked to see Molly Weasley exit the meeting and embrace none other than Harry Potter.

Rhiannon slinked back further so she was out of sight. She had a feeling Sirius would want to introduce her to his godson in his own time, although she hoped that time was sooner rather than later so she could leave her hiding place to get some food. She watched as Molly whisked Harry upstairs to find his friends before returning to the closed-door gathering.

A few minutes later Rhiannon looked up when she heard Hermione's cat in the hall, attacking what looked like an ear attached to a string. She laughed — that had to be one of the Weasley twins' inventions. It wasn't much longer until the dining room door opened a second time, Snape the first to stalk out and immediately depart the premises. The others slowly adjourned, as the teenagers came down from upstairs. The house was now the fullest she had ever seen it, absolutely buzzing with activity. She watched Sirius come into the hall and embrace Harry, wide smiles of relief and love spreading across their faces.

"We'll be eating down in the kitchens," Molly announced. "Who wants to help me get it ready?" Most of the house's occupants followed, but Sirius put an arm around Harry's shoulders and escorted him into the library. Rhiannon and her ravenous stomach breathed a sigh of relief.

Harry smiled and looked at her quizzically. "Hi, I'm Harry Potter." He extended a hand and she shook it, a bit surprised at how nervous she felt. His pictures had filled the papers nonstop over the past week, so she felt like she was meeting a celebrity — and one that happened to be like a son to the man she loved.

Yes, loved. Seeing the way he embraced Harry, the way he looked at her now, so proudly and adoringly, she felt the weight of her heart tugging at her mind, and it became harder to question its demands.

"Harry, this is Rhiannon Aspenfell, my girlfriend."

Harry looked at him with wide eyes and a chuckle. "What? Congratulations! But how...?"

"Sometimes life brings us happy surprises," Sirius answered, extending an arm out to draw Rhiannon to his side. "Rhiannon dropped onto my doorstep almost a month ago, quite like you did tonight, and for both I am forever thankful. This horrid house will be a home soon enough." He slung his other arm around Harry and led them toward the stairs, where the aroma of baking meat pies and sautéed cabbage with onions was beginning to float through the air. Sirius gave Rhiannon a quick wink and shake of the head, which she interpreted as his decision to withhold her parentage and the plans for her future for awhile. Harry had suffered quite a bit in the past few hours, meeting Dementors for the first time; the news of her connection to Voldemort was better left for the light of day.

"So what do you want to do today, Harry? We could go to the garden, or the library, the kitchen, or tackle the cleaning out of the drawing room — possibilities are endless," Sirius joked. "But I must say it's still far better than Azkaban."

"Shouldn't we ask your girlfriend what she'd like to do?" Harry replied.

"Good answer, my boy! You'll make a young witch very happy some day with that line of thinking. But no, Rhiannon has gone shopping with Tonks for a bit— Muggle stores, of course, for her safety. She needs quite a few things before she leaves for Hogwarts."

Harry's mouth gaped open and his mind was so clearly full of questions about Rhiannon and Hogwarts that he couldn't even manage to get one out.

"Oh don't worry, Harry, she's nearly 19," Sirius said with a chuckle. They had settled on the parlor for now, Sirius ushering him to sit down. "I don't want you to think ill of me."

Harry blushed a little but nodded. "I'm afraid I don't understand, about Hogwarts, I mean. And also, about something else." He hesitated before continuing. "When I shook her hand yesterday, I felt like I knew her. But not really. More like...like I should know her. I hope that's not weird. I don't quite know what to make of it."

Sirius looked at his godson thoughtfully. He should have suspected there would be some kind of connection, as there always seemed to be with Harry and all things Lord Voldemort.

"Harry, have you still been having those dreams?" Sirius asked with concern.

Harry nodded, miserably. "It's like I'm him. But I'm not. I'm still me, but I see things from a different view. I don't know if he is seeing it or I just imagine what he sees. It doesn't happen all the time. But when it does I have this feeling I can't explain. Similar to when I met Rhiannon last night. I wasn't frightened by her though, just confused."

"Harry, you know I'm honest with you. Too much, as Molly pointed out last night, when I told you about Voldemort's latest movements. And I'll be honest with you now. Rhiannon was brought here by Dumbledore, for her own protection, and to finish her education at Hogwarts. She was removed from her school before her sixth year, once Dumbledore feared Voldemort's imminent return. She lived as a Muggle until her mother died, then Dumbledore brought her here, to us."

"But why? Why does Voldemort want to hurt her? Is she like me?" Harry seemed worried and like he wanted to spring into action. He was so much like James.

Sirius patted his godson's back and shook his head. "We don't even know if the Dark Lord knows she exists. But he would undoubtedly be interested in her if he did. You see...Rhiannon...well, she is Lord Voldemort's daughter."

Harry looked horrified, and Sirius knew he shouldn't dismiss those feelings outright. They were valid, and ones he'd had himself until he had laid eyes on her. "But...Sirius...how can you trust her, knowing what she is? Is she a Slytherin? Does she speak Parseltongue?"

"Do you?" Sirius returned. "You do, and we still trust you. But I don't know if she does. And no, she's not a Slytherin. She's a Thunderbird, from the American school, Ilvermorny. The house of adventurers, and of the soul. The three of us will have grand adventures together, Harry. Nothing holding us back. The whole world at our fingertips— you'll see."

"I'm happy for you, Sirius. I truly am. But it will take awhile for me to trust her. I can't help that."

"I understand, Harry. You're a smart boy, and your experiences have earned you the right to be wary."

"So...Hogwarts. She'll be a sixth year?"

"Yes and no. Dumbledore feels it's necessary to keep her identity safe for the time being. Only you, Hermione, the Weasleys, and the rest of the Order know of her existence. Rhiannon will be studying in private lessons with...with Snape." The words tasted bitter on Sirius's tongue; he summoned Kreacher for tea in hopes of banishing the foul taste.

"Oh. Poor girl." Harry laughed a little.

"Indeed."

"Snape, then— we heard him here last night. He's a member of the Order. How can that be possible, Sirius?"

"Some things we just cannot understand, Harry. Dumbledore trusts him, so we cannot think on it too long or we'll go insane. He is your teacher, and you've done well. I have to hope the same for Rhiannon. And she is a brilliant, powerful witch."

"Yeah, but Snape is truly awful."

"Truly." They both laughed over their tea, and Sirius was relieved to have the heavy conversation out of the way. The waning days of summer were spiraling toward a great deal of sadness for him, as the two things he held most dear were to be swept away. He wanted to make the most of the time they had.

"Garden?" Sirius suggested. "Or a visit to Buckbeak, perhaps?"

Harry smiled. "How about both?"

"Ah, we might not have time for both— we're very very busy you know. So many places to be."

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny joined them in the hall, quickly followed by Molly, who made the executive decision that they would spend the day removing doxies from the drawing room.

"Oh, joy," Sirius muttered.