Chapter 5 - The Name That Must Not Be Spoken

Remus left later that day after dinner and Sirius was finally left alone with Antoine. Bambi was already in bed asleep and Sirius hoped that she would stay that way until morning. Sirius had managed to learn very little about Antoine so far as he had only laughed along to the stories and jokes shared between Sirius and Remus throughout the night but now that they were alone and would be for quite some time, Sirius was determined to get to know this stranger he was putting his goddaughter at risk of.

"So, tell me a bit about yourself Antoine (An-to-win)." Sirius insisted, handing him a whiskey.

"Well, firstly - its An-to-one. Don't worry, lots of people make that mistake. My mother was a witch and my father a muggle. I was born in Mozambique but we did not stay there long so I don't really remember living there. My father had abandoned my mother after finding out she was a witch so she moved us to France where she had spent most of her childhood living. So I grew up in France, until I turned eleven and attended Beauxbatons Academy Of Magic. I presume you attended Hogwarts yourself?" Sirius could hear the French accent in Antoine's voice. He had only heard of Beauxbatons in a textbook somewhere whilst writing a paper for professor Binns.

"Uh yes of course, Dumbledore was the headmaster. Sometimes I wish I could go back. My parents were both Purebloods and they would make sure EVERYONE knew that. They did not like me mixing with "half breeds" or "dirty blood" as they called them." Sirius explained, feeling awkward and embarrassed to be associated with them, for some reason Sirius felt drawn to get Antoine to like him. "So, I've never been to another wizarding school - what is Beauxbatons like?"

"Oh, it was a beautiful school, it's a big castle surrounded by magical fountains and gardens in the mountains. At christmas there would be big ice sculptures in the dining hall that would never melt! It was truly a sight to see." Antoine explained, his eyes big with wonder. "Of course, I have been to Hogwarts myself plenty of times, ever since Dumbledore visited whilst I was in 5th year I have admired the man and tried my hardest to firstly move here and then find the right social circles to get closer to the man. I worked as an auror up until now, though I took a few years out after…"

Antoine froze, seeming overwhelmed, Sirius felt awkward and decided to speak for him: "your daughter? Was You Know Who the one that cast the killing curse? If you don't mind my asking."

Antoine started shaking his head and looked up at Sirius: "my daughter is still alive, but her loyalties are with Lord Voldemort now."

Sirius gasped, he had only ever heard Dumbledore say that name out loud. "You… you aren't afraid of the name?"

"A name is a name, Sirius, sticks and stones may break my bones but words cannot harm me." Antoine explained, Sirius' respect for Antoine increased the more he got to know him. "I heard about your friends and I am very sorry for your loss. What you are doing for their daughter I respect you for doing. I am not sure that many would have done the same. This girl in particular is very important and I intend to protect her until my dying breath if it means that, heaven forbid, if Voldemort should return she can take him down once more."

Sirius blushed, to be complemented by a man he respected was a great honour to him:

"So, do you have any other children Antoine?"

Antoine smiled glumly to himself: "unfortunately not, my wife died whilst giving birth to our daughter Helena. Helena was 17 when she left 2 years ago, they are very impressionable at that age. The last I heard was that she has gone into hiding since your lovely Goddaughter rid us of Lord Voldemort. I am not quite sure where I went wrong in raising her."

"Oh no, don't blame yourself; I told you what my parents were like and I turned out the complete opposite. If you ask me the parents don't have a whole lot to do with how the children place their loyalties." Sirius tried to reassure him, with that he looked up at the clock and saw that it was past midnight. "I can show you where you will be staying now if you like."

Antoine rose out of his seat and smiled appreciatively at Sirius and picking up his single bag: "Thank you Sirius - lead the way."

On their way through the corridor and up the stairs to the first floor Sirius noticed Antoine eyeing the severed house elf heads and was reminded that he would have to do something about them. Antoine would be staying in the spare room on the second floor, Sirius had partially tidied up in there but he still felt embarrassed by the cobwebs and dark objects on display. Antoine stepped into the room, looking around curiously before sitting on the double, four poster bed. As he sat down a layer of dust was disturbed and flew up into the air. Antoine pretended not to notice this.

"Will this room be okay?" Sirius asked Antoine, feeling insecure about the state of the room. "You are welcome to decorate it however you like and throw out any weird things you find in here."

"This room will suit me just fine." Antoine reassured him politely, "We can speak tomorrow about how we can make this house a little more baby-safe. Goodnight Sirius."

Sirius nodded in agreement: "Goodnight."

Sirius ended up in Harriet's room once again for the night; whilst Antoine seemed respectable and genuine so far he didn't feel he could completely trust him just yet so for now he would not leave Bambi's side unless he was in a position where he could see what Antoine was doing.

For a moment Sirius considered any kind of protective spells he could cast over Harriet but it was late and he could not think straight and instead leaned back in the rocking chair and closed his eyes. When his eyes closed he saw Bambi screaming in her crib again, her cries of "MAMA" playing on repeat in his head. He opened his eyes and felt relieved to see Bambi still peacefully sleeping in her cot. He thought about Antoine's daughter Helena and how she had not had a mother. Would this lack of a mother figure affect Bambi? Also who would she go to when she needed a woman to speak to? He would have to get Ruby to come and speak to her about puberty in a few years time. Sirius didn't like the thought of Bambi hitting puberty, to him she would always be the little baby daughter of his best friends, the lost fawn he would protect no matter the cost.