Harry Potter and the choices we make chapter 2
A five-year-old Percy squealed with joy as he chased the gnomes in the garden. Gnomes were potato-like creatures that dug holes to mess up gardens. They had to be dealt with by swinging them by the ankles and tossing them out. His twin brothers, Fred and George, were following him and trying to pick the gnomes up and throwing them over the fence. Ron, being the youngest, was being fussed over by their pregnant mother.
Percy heard a squeak from behind him and surprised, he turned around to see a rat.
"Are you trying to talk to me?" asked Percy in wonder.
The rat squeaked again and then chittered at him.
"What's that, brother?" asked Fred and George, seeing the rat.
"It's a rat and I think that it wants a home," explained Percy.
"Careful! It might bite you," warned Fred, eyeing the rat's long teeth.
"I think that it should be ok as it hasn't tried to attack me," retorted Percy and he opened his hand to the rat who ambled up and stepped onto his fingers and squeaked at him, "Come on, I want to show mum what I found."
A pregnant Molly Weasley was in the kitchen cooking and the boys' mouths watered at the smells. Mr. Weasley was trying to feed Ron his dinner while he was secured in his highchair with a sticking charm. Bill and Charlie were out trapping and releasing creatures. Charlie enjoyed the outdoors more rather than being cooped up inside.
"Mummy! Mummy! Look what Perce found," sang Fred and George Weasley in unison.
"Now what are you talking about, boys? Arrgh!" she shrieked in revulsion seeing Percy walk in carrying a rat, "Percy Ignatius Weasley! Throw it away at once!"
"But why? Mother, it's a tame rat as it hasn't tried to attack me," whined Percy.
"Rats have diseases and can bite, son," snapped Mrs. Weasley.
"But I can give him a bath and feed him," protested Percy, "Dad always said…...," he went on before remembering that it wasn't proper to mention their family's lack of finances, especially in front of his parents.
Molly blinked at the rat and the hopeful look in her son's eyes. They couldn't afford a lot with Arthur being the sole breadwinner supporting seven children and a wife but she couldn't say no to her son, "Alright, give him a bath but keep your rat out of my kitchen!"
"Listen to your mother, Percy. We can't have animals in here," added his father.
"Ok, and can he have some bread and cheese?" asked a smiling Percy.
"Wash him first! Then we will see," ordered Mrs. Weasley.
Ron interrupted by starting to cry and Mr. Weasley started trying to soothe him.
An excited Percy took the rat upstairs and was busily bathing him. The rat was docile as Percy soaped him in the tub in front of Fred and George.
"Wash behind his ears," advised George, remembering something their mum would say.
"You look better," said Percy to his new pet. The rat squeaked in agreement.
"What will you call him, brother?" asked Fred.
"Scabbers, as his claws make a scabbing sound," explained Percy seriously.
"That's not a word, Perce," complained Fred.
"It is so!" retorted Percy and his ears turned red.
The brown-furred rat chittered in amusement as if he could understand Percy and Fred.
Two years later: The Auror Office on a Thursday afternoon
"Frank! Frank! Get in here at once," yelled a familiar voice from his office.
"Oh, is someone in trouble with Alastor?" said a sardonic voice coming from a nearby cubicle. Its owner was currently leaning back on his chair with his usual elegance.
"Well, I don't think so, Sirius, but I better see what the old grump wants," Frank replied with a smile. He got up from his cubicle which contained a few photos of his wife Alice and their infant son. He walked to Alastor's office and waited outside before being waved in impatiently by his mentor and boss. Several Sneak-o-scopes and mirrors could be seen on the desk and the wall.
"Shut the door! I don't want anyone hearing this conversation," Moody growled loudly from his spot behind his desk. He then cast secrecy spells preventing any eavesdroppers from hearing them.
"What is the issue, boss?" asked Frank
"I need you to go on a mission for Albus and me. Your wife must not know about this," announced Alastor, a scarred and grizzled man who inspired devotion from the Aurors who worked under him, but fear from their enemies.
Frank had heard that he and James had pushed Dumbledore into accepting the Minister's job after the brutal deaths of Bagnold and her successor Hereward. Albus had then made him Head Auror, much to the protests of Crouch and his ally Scrimgeour.
"How come?" asked Frank with a worried but curious look.
"It is not strictly aboveboard. Albus received a letter from a Death Eater who wishes to defect," Moody explained. "I think that it is hogwash, but Albus assures me that he has a treasure that we need."
"Treasure? What treasure is he referring to?" questioned Frank.
"In the letter, the defector says that he can bring us the name of the mole that Voldemort has within the Order and the Ministry," Moody replied softly. "According to him, he has been there for years. I agree with Albus that we need to identify this leak and plug it."
"His information is out of date! It was Wormtail who was the mole within the Order. He got Lily and many other good people murdered." Frank protested. The idea of a secondary mole within the Order who consisted of people that he knew and liked was too much.
"According to the defector, Wormtail was not the only traitor within the Order. I never believed that Peter of all people would have the nerve to approach Voldemort and ask to spy for him," Alastor shook his head. "So, this spy could have recruited Wormtail for his foul Master. This is only one of the theories that Albus and I have."
"Will I have a backup in case this is a trap?" Frank requested.
"I will ask James and Sirius to provide backup should something unfortunate happen. They will be under his invisibility cloak. Hopefully, they won't be needed." replied Moody
Frank's mind was swimming. If there was a secondary mole within the Order who had been leaking their plans to Voldemort for years, then he needed to meet with the Death Eater who was offering this information and prove it to stop any more deaths.
"Alright. I will accept the mission. Where do I meet the supposed defector?" Frank asked
"He says that he will meet you at a café in Reading," Moody answered. "If you are not there by 9 pm tomorrow, then the deal is off."
"Okay. I will be there to listen, but I do have reservations about keeping this from my wife." Frank said before heading towards the door.
"That's all we ask," grunted Moody.
"Yes, sir," Frank said from the doorway.
"Come back alive. We need good men like you on our side." With that, Alastor passed Frank a written note.
Friday in Reading - 8:30 PM
Frank walked into the café with purpose. The dark sky matched his dark mood. His wife, Alice, had protested about his secrecy at dinner. After explaining that it was a secret mission for Dumbledore, she had calmed down some but still had had a scowl on her face.
He had to resist a laugh at the idea of his plump wife delivering on some of the threats that she had promised to Moody should he be injured or killed. He saw some muggles out drinking and laughing. He remembered doing something like that with his friends during his Hogwarts days.
He then saw the sign for Nibsy Café and saw one man waiting inside. He sighed and walked in.
"What's the time," asked Frank, giving the code phrase that they had agreed to.
"I haven't got a watch on me," replied the other man. He was wearing a black hood and his accent was foreign in Frank's opinion.
"So, what can you offer Dumbledore?" Frank growled. "I will not have my time wasted."
"I have several secrets to give to him. Yes, Wormtail was the Secret Keeper for the Potters before the Dark Lord broke him," replied the hooded man. "I heard that someone else suggested him to the Potters knowing that he would do anything to survive after being kidnapped by the Lestranges."
"And the name of that person is?" asked Frank, feeling rather excited. He could have the name of the person who was secretly laughing at them by betraying them to Voldemort.
"That's for us to know and for you to never find out, Auror!" sneered another voice. With that, one of the masked individuals undid the disillusionment charm that was hiding him and several others.
"You think that you can escape our Master. He was onto you from the beginning, traitor!" snapped a Death Eater at his treacherous comrade.
"My comrade, you've got it all wrong," protested the hooded man. "I was not going to tell Longbottom anything believable."
"I don't believe you, Igor. More importantly, the Dark Lord is tired of your cowardly behaviour," growled one of the Death Eaters.
"Well, I am arresting you all in the name of the Ministry of Magic. Anything you might say will be used against you at your trial," Frank announced. He wondered how a Death Eater hit team had found them so quickly. He thought he had been careful shaking off any tails.
"Yes, you and what army," sneered one of the previously silent Death Eaters. This one looked like he was known for his muscle rather than his brains.
"Has your old fool of a Master taught you how to count, Longbottom? There are four of us and one of you," chortled another in a supercilious voice.
"Dumbledore is not my Master! I would rather work with him than for a monster like Voldemort," snapped Frank, now stung.
"How dare you use his name, blood traitor!" snarled one of the masked Death Eaters in a low voice.
"Enough talk! The Dark Lord commands that this traitor must die," growled the leading Death Eater in a haughty voice.
"Right you are," agreed one of the Death Eaters with a shake of his head. "My brother and I were just getting to that part."
"You won't be getting to that part today or ever," snarled a new voice. Frank sighed in relief. James Potter had arrived. Although, he wondered how he had gotten there.
"Have you come to save me, Potter?" questioned Igor Karkaroff.
"No," James scoffed. "I would rather see you and the Death Eaters wipe each other out, but Frank is my friend, so I am getting the both of you out."
"If the Death Eaters wipe each other out then it saves us from doing the paperwork," commented Sirius who had also arrived. He took in the situation and drew his wand.
"Can you be serious for once in your life? " complained James.
"I am always serious, mate," replied Sirius. He had his plan to help out his true comrades, the Death Eaters. Sirius could recognize his cousins-in-law, the Lestrange brothers. The one with the disdainful voice giving the order for the defector's execution was probably Lucius and lastly, the muscular Death Eater was likely that thug, Crabbe.
A duel then commenced. James and Frank worked together against the Lestrange brothers. Curses and hexes could be seen as bright lights of different colors. Sirius was supposed to guard their backs and so far, he had disarmed one muscular-looking death eater who was aiming at Potter's back.
"I am no longer your minion, Potter," whispered Sirius softly. Instead, he made the defector fall over with a wordless tripping jinx, knocking him out as it made him hit his head against the wall.
Rabastan was fighting Frank. He grinned, seeing Sirius helping them out by making Igor fall over. The Dark Lord was right about Black.
"A little help, Black," Rabastan requested in a whisper. "To take Longbottom out of the game."
"But not to kill him," Sirius replied softly.
"Not yet," replied Rabastan, whispering so the other Aurors couldn't hear him. "Being immortal, our Master wants to play with the Order like how a cat plays with a mouse."
"A dangerous plan, I like it," replied Sirius gleefully. Finally, he could reveal himself to Potter and Longbottom and by extension, that pathetic Order.
"You and Bella were always insane," grumbled Rabastan.
Sirius grinned at his cousin-in-law, then pointed his wand at Frank and whispered the cruciatus curse. Soul-shaking yells came out of Frank's mouth, and he began writhing in pain.
"Sirius, what are you doing? Did Lestrange put you under the Imperius curse? " questioned a shocked James.
"You make me laugh with your naivety, Potter. I am not bewitched," replied a laughing Sirius. His laugh was no longer the happy laughter that James had remembered, but one filled with spite and malice.
"You are the other mole within the Order," said a furious James. His shock soon turned into anger. "My wife and son are dead because of you and Wormtail."
"Lily should have been my wife, not yours," complained Sirius.
"Why marry a mudblood?" Crabbe grunted. "When they steal magic from purebloods."
"Shut it, Crabbe!" hissed Sirius.
"Why did you betray us, Black?" James growled. "What did Voldemort promise that was worth my life, your godson's and Lily's?"
"Did you ever wonder why Lily never agreed to date you until you played the hero to save Snivellus from Moony in our sixth year? " Sirius asked. "It was because she was my girl."
"You and Lily? " asked a shocked James.
"Yes, you who claimed that we were brothers had no idea about our relationship. What does that prove about our so-called brotherly relationship? " Sirius replied. His long-suppressed venom was now rising to the surface. "Yes, she went for you. It made me die a little more inside seeing you lot fall in love and get married. I had loved Lily until that point and then I wanted to see you and her die."
"You have proven to be just as treacherous as the rest of your family, Black!," Frank grunted from his place on the floor. "How were you not marked? " he asked as he got to his feet and trained his wand on Sirius.
"Well, maybe you are right, Longbottom, but you are the ones following orders from a feeble old man who puts his faith in a so-called prophecy made by a drunk," Sirius shrugged. "Besides, it was me who suggested Wormy to the Dark Lord because I knew that Pettigrew would do anything to survive, even betray Prongs, so that there would be no suspicion on me."
"Pettigrew played his role beautifully," taunted Lucius, "as beautifully if the Dark Lord had been pulling his strings directly," he smirked at James.
"Although the rat trying to frame me was uncalled for," snapped Sirius, not quite seeing the hypocrisy in his words, "To answer your earlier question Longbottom, I insisted that I should not be Marked so that my cover would be preserved should Dumbledore or worse, Moody, try to check my forearms."
"Where is my son's body, Black? Tell me so that I can bury him properly. Is there no decency left in you? " questioned James while snarling in anger.
"I have had enough of this drama," interrupted Rabastan with a hiss. "Avada Kedavra."
There was a sound of a human collapsing. Igor Karkaroff, who had been crawling away to avoid the arguing wizards, was now as dead as a doornail.
"Time to go, boys," Lucius announced. With five loud pops, the Death Eaters disapparated.
This was not a good day for the Order, as one of their strongest allies had been unmasked to be a servant of evil, thought Frank, as he accompanied James to make his report to Dumbledore.
A week later in Godric's Hollow:
James and Remus were throwing photographs of Black and Wormtail from their school days into a magical bonfire in the garden and watching them burn in the flames.
"We are the last marauders left, Moony," spoke James, watching the flames consume the photographs of their former friends, one dead and the other a deadly enemy.
"I agree now that Padfoot is a traitor, being a dog of Voldemort's," replied Remus stiffly.
"Padfoot is the last person that I would have expected to turn to Voldemort," mumbled James, "Wormtail was always a little weak and scared at times but Padfoot was like a brother to us at school."
"We never expected a lot of things from Padfoot," replied Remus firmly, "We never expected him to help Voldemort kill Lily and Harry or to lead the Death Eaters to Wormtail," he said, feeling rather lightheaded. Where had it gone so wrong? Of the Marauders, two had converted to the Death Eaters, although Wormtail was believed to be dead in an explosion that killed 30 muggles. What in Merlin's name had happened to the oaths of friendship that they had sworn to each other as boys? Or the pranks they had played on the Slytherins?
James smiled sadly at him as if sensing his thoughts before he spoke with a determined expression.
"Soon, Black and his filthy Master will pay for murdering my beloved wife and son," promised James.
"I understand your feelings, Prongs," spoke up Remus, "but as a wise muggle once said, if you go looking for revenge, you had better dig two graves as trying to kill Black or Voldemort is not going to bring Lily or Harry back," he then cautioned, looking seriously at his last remaining friend.
"I am glad that you're here with me, Moony," said James gratefully.
"Where else would I be?" asked Remus.
"Now, will you come inside and share a glass of red wine? I have an excellent vintage shipped over from my family's vineyard in Bordeaux. We can toast to Lily's memory," offered James.
"Lead the way, Prongs," replied Remus and he followed his last remaining friend inside, watching him cautiously.
Later that night at number 12 Grimmauld Place, The Black family home:
A small dark-haired baby cried in his emerald-green cot but no one cared enough about him at his new home to try and comfort him.
"Will someone stop that terrible noise? " snapped a female voice from one of the bedrooms, "Kreacher! I order you to deal with that at once! " she commanded.
"Yes Mistress," croaked the bullfrog voice of an elderly house elf. He went into the bedroom and the small being with a bulbous, snout-like nose picked up the baby and rocked him to sleep much as he did for young Master Regulus when he had been a baby. Finally, the baby quietened down.
"That's better!" praised Walburga from her room, "It's bad enough that I have to accept this half-blood brat into the House of Black at the Dark Lord's insistence but listening to him cry for his mudblood mother is inexcusable," she hissed.
"Now, dear Sirius has done excellent work and has finally proven himself to be a true Black by infiltrating our enemy's stronghold under the crooked nose of that senile blood traitor Dumbledore," replied Orion Black reprovingly from his portrait in the hallway. His eldest had finally won his respect by spying for the Dark Lord in contrast to his younger son Regulus who was still having a difficult time in the Death Eaters according to his niece Bellatrix.
"It must be the Dark Lord's doing, husband! He has brought our Sirius back to us and cleansed his head of the blood traitor filth lurking within it! " Screeched Walburga joyfully.
"If you say so, my dear," agreed Orion, "This new grandchild of ours will be given every advantage that a Black expects, even if he is a half-blood."
The dark-haired elderly woman glared at her husband's painting but knew better than to contradict him.
The following morning in Greenwich, at 6 am:
As she sometimes did, Emmeline lay in bed thinking in the early hours of the morning. They had gone to bed soon after finishing their steak and roast potatoes, but they had been overcome with passion and had missed dessert because they were too busy ripping each other's clothes off before making love. But memories of Lily had surfaced in her consciousness, and she would go through them, remembering her dear redheaded friend from school. Dorcas was awake almost at once. It was as if she had a sixth sense and could always tell when Emmeline was troubled.
"What's wrong, darling? " Asked Dorcas, raising her eyebrows in concern.
"I just really miss Lily," Emmeline's eyes welled up with tears. "How could she not be with us? After everything she did for us, we didn't even get the chance to pay her back." Dorcas wiped the tears from Emmeline's face.
Many of their pureblood classmates, especially the Slytherins, had been angered and shocked when they had gotten together in their seventh year. While queer wizards existed, it was something that had existed only within the confines of their bedroom. Publicly outing one's sexuality was looked down upon, and in pureblood society, it was the worst sin one could commit. Lily had defended the couple when had they decided that their love for each other should not remain a secret, and Remus had welcomed them as unofficial Marauders because he had known what it was like to be socially outcasted. After graduation, James offered them a place to stay, but both of them had worked hard and bought an apartment in Greenwich.
"I wonder how Bla and Peter could have turned on their best friends. What did all their years together even mean?"
"To think that even Dumbledore was fooled by Black. Black should have been expelled for that awful prank involving poor Remus," pointed out Emmeline. "He can't control his transformations!"
As a Ravenclaw, she could not understand why Dumbledore did not reign in the Marauders' crueler pranks. Although Lily had been able to tame James for a while, Black had gotten worse as the years passed.
"Lily was what kept us all from falling apart. Poor James, the last time I saw him at the Order meeting, he looked like he had aged 100 years."
"You don't mean that, Dorcas!" Emmeline gasped but was laughing regardless.
"It's true! Well, not on the outside, he's still the same lovable idiot; but on the inside, his mind is still in shock."
"Well, I'm sure I'd be even worse off if I ever lost you," Emmeline gently kissed Dorcas.
"I'd be insulted if you weren't," Dorcas said. They grinned at each other.
"On a serious note, if I do die, I want you to move on. You deserve everything, even when I'm not the one giving it to you," Dorcas added.
"You're my one and only, Dorcas. I could never want anyone else." The usually unaffected Dorcas turned a deep red. Dorcas tried to change the topic. "Anyway, all this serious talk is making me hungry. Do we have leftovers from yesterday?"
"Because we didn't touch my apple pie, I'd say we have plenty of leftovers," Emmeline said grumpily.
"Hey, I was pretty full eating out something else. I'm pretty sure you were full too. Full of-"
"You complete that sentence, you die," Emmeline was gushing. She knew the exact reason why her pie had not been eaten, and while their time together yesterday had been incredible, she did not want that to be the first thing on her mind in the morning.
"I got some groceries on Thursday, but we need to hurry. The Order meeting is today."
"Right. Of course," Dorcas folded their blanket, putting it away.
"We should also shower separately," Emmeline said, nonchalantly.
"You know me too well," Dorcas laughed affectionately. While Emmeline stepped into the bathroom, Dorcas rushed to their kitchen and started making some eggs.
After twenty minutes or so, she came out with a towel wrapped around her head. As she stepped into the kitchen, she could not help but admire Dorcas's elegant form in her yellow dressing gown. Even with bed hair, she was stunning.
"It's your turn," Emmeline told her partner and sneaked a piece of bacon from Dorcas's plate.
Dorcas sighed. "Did you at least leave me any hot water?"
"Of course I did," replied Emmeline, and she went downstairs after a quick kiss.
A while later, Dorcas stepped in with her Healer's robes just as Emmeline began to pour coffee into her mug. "How long is your shift today?"
"The regular 5 hours. Andromeda Tonks is the Head Healer now, so I've been transferred to the incurable diseases ward."
"Be careful, Dor. I don't want you to get sick in there," warned Emmeline in between bites of her cereal and fresh apples.
"I will be all right love, I always am."
"Typical Gryffindor foolhardiness."
"Typical Ravenclaw overthinking."
Emmeline laughed. After locking their home with a simple charm, they said their goodbyes and apparated away to their workplaces.
Later that evening in Riddle Manor, Little Hangleton:
Inside the murky halls of Riddle Manor, malevolent plans for murder and destruction were discussed. Raids on mudbloods and the blood traitors were given last-minute fine-tuning. People were changed forever.
Locked away in the dining room, Lord Voldemort was surrounded by his most trusted henchmen, all willing to kill or die and even face the dreaded prison of Azkaban for him. To Voldemort's right sat Sirius Black, who was one of his most lethal weapons. Bellatrix stared jealously at her old place at the Dark Lord's side being usurped by her younger cousin and was trying to prove herself with a viciousness that was truly alarming to the wizarding world. So, the Dark Lord thought that he had won all around by this turn of events.
"My lord, we have persuaded several of the Ministry officials to put the Anti-Werewolf bill into place," Lucius was saying in the smooth tones of a politician.
"Good! With the Ministry cracking down on werewolves, we should see more of them and other dark creatures join our army," answered Voldemort gleefully.
"Why do we need those filthy animals? Greyback is bad enough!" complained one of the men in a wheezing voice.
The Dark Lord gave a malicious laugh and pointed his yew wand at the heckler, "I find your lack of faith most disturbing, Nott!"
"I am sorry, my Lord! I was not thinking," wailed Nott, knowing that he was about to be in a world of pain at the wand of his old school friend. The Dark Lord cast the cruciatus curse. The man screamed in agony as soul-shaking yells issued from his mouth, but no one dared to move and help him for several long minutes before their Master lifted the curse.
"I hope that teaches you a lesson not to doubt me, Nott," hissed Voldemort.
"I am your most humble servant and thank you for correcting me, my Master," groaned Nott, now getting to his feet and wincing as he retook his seat.
"Good! Good!" praised Voldemort, "Is there any other business to discuss?"
"We still haven't found Wormtail, My Lord," said Snape.
"Rats like him always find a place to hide, Snivellus!" barked out Sirius, "Besides, he is a coward and a treacherous fool, so why do we need him?" he asked.
"He almost managed to trick you, Black, although I wouldn't have expected that from him with his limited intelligence," hissed Snape. He didn't know which one out of Black or Wormtail he hated more. Black for his treachery and psychotic behavior or Wormtail, for his cowardice and for causing the death of the woman he loved. He hid his feelings for the deceased redhead behind his Occlumency shields.
"Let me find and kill Wormtail for you, My Lord!" interrupted Bellatrix.
"As inspirational as I find your bloodlust, Bella, I will decide what to do with our errant friend," hissed Voldemort dangerously.
"Yes, Master," a chastised Bellatrix replied.
"I understand Wormtail very well and the coward will be back once he sees that we are the only ones who can protect him from Potter and Lupin," said Voldemort with a chuckle.
"Yes, Wormtail always wants to be with the big friends who can protect him. It used to be me, Potter, and Lupin during our school days," advised Sirius nonchalantly.
"Lupin is my next target. Greyback wants him recruited into his pack," replied Voldemort.
"It would be very difficult, my Master, when this particular wolf is loyal to Dumbledore beyond question," answered Snape darkly.
"You would know, Snape, having spent your time sitting comfortably teaching the brats Potions," sneered Crouch Junior, who had recently escaped from prison to re-join his dark Master. Bellatrix smiled at her protégé criticizing the greasy half-blood who was shirking his duty to their Lord and Master by hiding at Hogwarts teaching Potions for the old fool, she thought.
"I have information on Dumbledore rather than your useless reminiscences about Azkaban!" replied the sarcastic voice of Snape. Crouch was another of those he hated and the arrogant pup had shown a disturbing streak for cruelty that Snape knew had been cultivated by the Lestranges and the Dark Lord.
"No one's loyalty is beyond question. Isn't that right, Black?," said a gleeful Voldemort and the others chuckled maliciously at his joke. He thought that watching his servants fight each other to try and please him was rather entertaining. "Black, you and Greyback will make the arrangements to speak to Lupin! The rest of you, out! Oh, Lucius, you and Black will stay a moment," barked Voldemort.
The others fled their Master's presence apart from Lucius and Sirius.
"How is your ward, Sirius?" asked Voldemort
"Very well. Thank you, Master, he is currently being looked after by my mother and our house-elf, Kreacher," replied Sirius.
"Good! Your mother is an example to us all! I am sure that she will instruct young Harry properly," praised Voldemort.
"My wife's Aunt Walburga is known to keep a proper house with her elf," added Lucius, not wanting to be left out of the conversation, "Also, my son Draco can serve as the boy's companion along with Nott's son and possibly Anton Zabini's nephew as they grow up," he offered.
"Precisely! I will not have him become another James Potter to cause trouble," hissed Voldemort, "Speak to Nott and Zabini, will you, Lucius? Tell them it's their Master's will that they are to take their sons to meet young Harry tomorrow morning," he then commanded.
"Yes, my Lord," answered Lucius, "According to Severus, one James Potter is bad enough as it is!" the blond man then scoffed.
"Yes, that's true but Harry is my son now, not that blood traitor's," warned Sirius, hiding his look of displeasure at Snape's name being mentioned. He was with Bella on this. Snivellus could not be trusted an inch, he was thinking. But he noticed that the Dark Lord was glowering at him as if he sensed his beliefs about Snape.
The next day at the Tonks' residence:
"Has Sirius gone crazy? I thought that we were going to be the family rebels together!," wailed the woman. She had heard the news from Molly Weasley, who had heard it from her husband, who had heard it from Frank Longbottom and his wife.
A red-eyed, dark-haired woman was being comforted by her husband with pale skin and sandy brown hair. Andromeda thought that his kindness and good looks were very attractive since their school days despite her current misery.
"Now, dear Black fooled us all and must've been secretly laughing at us along with your insane family," comforted Ted, "His running away to the Potter's must've been some performance ordered by his foul Master."
"Sirius can't have been that good of an actor. Something must've happened to him to make him side with You Know Who," replied a sad Andromeda, now drying her eyes.
"We don't know what happened darling, and we may never know why Black chose to do what he did, but if the situation wasn't so tragic for Potter, I would nominate the traitor for best actor at the Academy Awards," replied Ted wisely.
"A what?" asked a confused Andromeda.
"A foreign muggle award," explained Ted.
"Mummy! Mummy!" said a new voice, belonging to their daughter, who had a pink hairdo and had come running into the study.
"Yes, Nymphadora?," questioned Andromeda, "What did your dad and I tell you about running in the house?
"Don't call me Nymphadora!," retorted an angry Tonks, "Is it true that cousin Sirius is serving You know Who?," she then asked, worriedly.
"Who told you that?," asked her mother sharply, too shocked to tell her daughter off for her tone.
"Was it that Weasley boy or his older brother?" asked Ted sharply.
"Charlie is my friend and he said that he overheard it from his parents," explained Tonks.
"Yes, it's true but don't think about it too much," advised her dad.
"Ted! She is too young to hear about that!" reprimanded Andromeda, "Overhearing your parent's talk is also very rude! So, remember that, my girl."
"I can't believe it after all the stories that you told me about him, Mum!" replied a stunned Tonks.
"I guess that one doesn't always know a person," replied her mum, "Now, go and study for school. I want to see improvements in your grades for Potions and Transfiguration, daughter."
"But Mum! Snape only favors the Slytherins and treats the rest of us badly," protested a 13-year-old Tonks.
"Then work twice as hard to get good marks in your class with him. If your mum and I receive another letter from Professor Sprout saying that you and Charles are breaking rules, Molly and your mum will send you both Howlers. You don't want that right?" recommended Ted.
"Yes Dad," said Tonks softly before leaving.
In front of a cottage in Wales, one wizard and several werewolves apparated.
"Lupin is here according to our Master's spies," said Sirius, hiding his displeasure at the half-mad wolf man that was being used by their Master as a terror weapon.
"Shall we peel him for his insolence, Alpha?" asked one of the men to his leader.
"Not yet! Although, I am displeased that he is trying to live like a pathetic wizard and not like one of us," growled Greyback.
"Well, it's time for Moony and me to catch up!" said Sirius gleefully before blowing the door open with a blasting curse. The younger werewolves scurried in and held Remus down as their alpha loped in followed by Sirius who swaggered in.
"Moony, the years have not been kind to you," said Sirius mockingly, taking a look around the humble cottage with a sneer of distaste on his dark and aristocratic face.
"Get out of my house Black and Greyback!," growled Remus, but two of Greyback's men had secured him by holding his arms behind his back and one had a grip on his sandy brown hair, pulling his head back, making Remus yelp in pain. The final one had handed his wand to Black. He was unfortunately unarmed and helpless.
"The Dark Lord is willing to give you one last chance to be with your kind. You're not a wizard, no matter how much you pretend to be one. The latest Anti-Werewolf bill from the pathetic Ministry proves that the wizarding world doesn't want you or any of us," snarled Greyback.
"Greyback is right! The Dark Lord demands punctuality and results. You will find that he is more than generous to those who serve him, Moony, and will offer you protection," added Sirius, trying to sound persuasive in contrast to Greyback's snarls.
"Don't call me Moony, Black!" shouted Remus, trying to shake the thugs off. Merlin, where was the Order? Surely someone would come, he hoped, if Snape had told Albus of Voldemort's plans. "The Padfoot I knew died long ago," he snapped.
"Why not? I am only looking out for you, Moony, more than Dumbledore and Potter ever did. If you were so important then they would be here right now trying to save you from me or Fenrir," mocked Sirius.
Remus realized that Black was probably playing a mind game, "What have you become Black?" he asked, trying to turn Sirius's jeers back on him. He knew that an angry Black would make mistakes.
"I am what Potter has made me," growled Sirius.
"That's a downright lie! You are not honouring your supposed love for Lily but are revelling in her death," taunted Remus, "We both know that she would despise the man that you've become," he added. He knew from Prongs about the past relationship between Black and Lily. Everyone had loved Lily for her kindness and sweetness, although Black had taken it way too far by turning to Voldemort due to unrequited love or something.
"Then, shall I take it that you will continue your defiance of the Dark Lord, Lupin? Despite my gracious offer," asked Sirius crossly, trying not to let his former friend get to him.
"I will not betray my friends!" roared Remus and Sirius pulled out his wand and aimed it at Lupin.
"Crucio!," said Sirius and Remus screamed in pain for several agonizing minutes until the curse was lifted, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Lupin! It makes no difference to me."
"Stop playing around with Lupin and finish him, Black!" barked out Greyback. Before Sirius could reprimand Greyback for daring to give a Black an order, a hex was thrown at the elder werewolf, forcing him to retreat. To Remus's joy, the sounds of running feet could be heard and a duel ensued.
Sirius blocked a curse from one of the Aurors, "Come on Fenwick you can do better than that!," he taunted.
"Let Moony go, Black!" ordered James, pointing his wand directly at his former friend's head.
"Just kill Black already!" called out one of the Aurors, "Crouch has given us permission to use lethal force against the Death Eaters," he reminded James.
"Have you forgotten that you don't give me orders, Potter? This isn't Hogwarts!" jeered Sirius, before he cast the killing curse at Benji Fenwick. Greyback and his werewolves fled to fight another day, followed by a laughing Sirius as James glowered at him.
"Until next time gentlemen," he sneered as he disapparated.
"Now, do you understand Potter? Black is beyond any redemption as he killed Benji and many others!," said one of the Aurors.
"How dare you, Ferguson? I want Black to face the Dementor's Kiss for what he did to my wife and son," growled James.
"Could someone assist me? I think that I am injured," requested Remus trying not to fall over.
"We better get Remus to St. Mungo's," said James to the Aurors. He was thanking his lucky stars that Snape had given Albus a warning of what was going to go down.
"I don't think a dark creature deserves to be treated at St. Mungo's," muttered one of the Aurors to himself and James glared at him.
Narcissa waited for her cousin along with Mrs. Nott, the young wife of one of her husband's associates, and Anton in the drawing room. Their children, or in Anton's case, his young nephew was playing upstairs at no. 12 Grimmauld Place, being watched over by Kreacher. She had a proposition for Sirius.
The man himself soon arrived and began to take off his cloak and putting his bone white mask away.
"Ah cousin, how was the mission?" asked Narcissa.
"Potter interfered so the Dark Lord won't be happy about it!" growled Sirius, in no mood for small talk, "Mrs. Nott, you are looking ravishing as ever," he then flirted as the young blonde giggled.
"Cousin, we must speak!" Narcissa interrupted, frowning at Mrs. Nott, who blushed and looked down at the ground. Anton snickered at the sight. The Italian wizard was a recent recruit to the Dark Lord's ranks and was hopeful that he could use his nephew to gain a promotion within the Death Eaters.
"Firstly, where is Harry, my ward?" asked Sirius.
"Upstairs, playing with Draco," replied Narcissa, "As the Head of the Black family, it's time for you to take a wife."
"Narcissa, I don't need one as I have an heir," snapped back Sirius.
"I think what you need or want is irrelevant or have you been a blood traitor for too long? It's your duty as the eldest member of our family to sire an heir and a spare to preserve the Black family's legacy," said Narcissa icily.
"Fine! If it would get you off this topic," replied a grudging Sirius, "Is there someone suitable that you have in mind who could help raise my boy?" he thought that having a wife to keep house and raise his son wouldn't be so bad as long as she was attractive.
"Yes, as it happens," said Narcissa, "Celine Dumont. She is from a good family, being a distant cousin of Lucius'," she went on to explain to her cousin.
"I will take a look at her as soon as she is available and if the Dark Lord is in favour of the match," promised Sirius.
"That's all I can ask for. Lucius will invite her to the next family gathering. I must say, she's wealthy and sympathetic to the Dark Lord and will do her duty as your wife," replied a relieved Narcissa.
"Good! I will look forward to meeting her if she is everything that you say, cousin," responded Sirius and he went upstairs to check on his ward.