Author's Notes. 

Hi everyone.  I'm sorry that I missed my last post-date, but unfortunately, Lil Lupin, my hardworking Beta reader, fell ill recently and was unable to get chapter nineteen back to me in time.  Apologies for the delay but it couldn't be helped.  She's feeling better now and has returned chapter twenty to me, so there won't be any delay in next weeks update.

~Voltora~

 

Chapter Nineteen: Darkness Brewing.

It was the longest journey Sirius had ever undertaken. At least, that was how it felt.  A dark churning sensation was growing steadily in the pit of his stomach as the scenery rolled past the window.  Sitting in the backseat of the Ministry car, Sirius closed his eyes, dreading the arrival at their destination. 

Orion sat in the front passenger seat next to the driver.  Several times, he looked over his shoulder at his son, perhaps about to speak, but remaining silent.  His grey face tired and worn, Orion felt as drained as Sirius.  Neither had spoken to the other since early that morning, when Orion had contacted the Ministry.

Learning that Sirius had been found, officials from the Law Enforcement patrol immediately dispatched officers Adler and Sanders to fetch him.  They had arrived at the cottage with a Daily Prophet reporter in tow, equally curious as to where Sirius had been all this time. 

Sirius hadn't said a word to anyone.  He simply glared when a question was directed at him, and refused to acknowledge any of them, leaving his father to explain, although Orion's explanations were primarily evasive comments, insisting that Sirius needed to be taken home.

Sirius got into the back of the car beside Sanders, still maintaining a verbal strike towards his father, and try as Orion might, the wall between father and son held fast.  Sirius hadn't so much as looked at him after their earlier conversation.

The journey could go on forever for all Sirius cared.  He didn't want to go home and he didn't want to be with his father.  Anywhere else was fine with him.  Just to be away from everything and everyone.  Sanders seemed far too cheerful for Sirius' liking.  Given Sirius' complete lack of cooperation, Sanders' attempts at making pleasant conversation were rapidly thwarted.  Alder, concentrating on driving, scowled his disapproval of Sanders' friendly approach.

It wasn't fair.  Why couldn't Sirius stay with Orion?  He was his father; why did some legal court preceding have to give the okay for them to live together?   Then Orion 'promising' to investigate Richard through a legal system – Richard was a Muggle, what in Merlin's name could they possibly find?  The git's too smart to get caught, Sirius thought savagely.  Not that you'll accept any proof, even if it's bruises on your own son's body!

Sirius' gaze drifted to the back of his father's head.  The twisting in his gut seemed to be affecting his heart too.  It felt unnaturally dark and heavy.

I trusted you, Sirius whispered bitterly inside his mind.  I thought you'd help me – but you're just like everyone else. 

Orion shifted uncomfortably, as though he could feel Sirius' angry glare upon him, burning a hole in the back of his head.

Who else was I going to turn to for help?  I can't go to Mum … I can't go to my friends … you were the only one left.  You promised me you'd help; how is sending me back to that hellhole helping?  I told you what he did!  I showed you what he did to me!  Don't you believe me?  Oh, no, of course not; I'm just a bratty teenager, of course I lie about everything and cause trouble for everyone!  So what – I don't give a rat's arse if you don't believe me; no one else does. Why did I expect you to be any different?  Oh, that's right, you're my father!  Why the hell don't you trust me?

Sirius clenched his fists, digging his nails deep into his palms.

You never did anything to help us, did you?  You made all those promises to Ursa and me - how many of them did you actually keep?  Did you just say them to make yourself feel better?  Because I don't recall you keeping all that many.  Work, work, work; that's what's important to you – never mind your kids; we obviously come second.  Always have done.

Squeezing his eyes shut, Sirius could feel his whole body shaking. The fury and frustrations pent up within were taking a joyride with his emotions, a pounding headache mounting rapidly.  And, at that moment, he just didn't care.

You lied to me.  All this time, I thought you were the greatest; I believed you could solve anything, all I had to do was tell you and you'd find a way to make it okay again.  Shows what a damn fool you've got for a son, doesn't it?  Why else would I have come all this way to find you? 

The mental diatribe refused to let up.  It carried on and on, screaming silently through Sirius' mind to the point where he wanted more than anything to open his mouth and let it all out.  His father deserved to know what his son's opinion of him was. 

You can do something about this, you just don't want to!  Sirius accused him. 

His father, unsettled by the prickling feeling of being watched, cautiously turned his head.   A cold stare met his eyes.  The ice-blue eyes of his son blazed with a cold fire; a furious turmoil of hurt, confusion and anger all evident in that one momentarily glare before Sirius pointedly turned away, staring back out of the window.

I can't even stand to look at you, Sirius said silently, wishing that his father could read minds; at least then he'd know exactly how he'd made Sirius feel.

As it was, Orion didn't need to read minds, or to hear those any of those words aloud.  The message in Sirius' eyes was more than clear.

Between exasperation and bitter self-doubt, Orion felt torn.  What on earth was he supposed to do now?  What Sirius had told him was the last thing he'd ever expected to hear.   And to turn down a plea for help was the last thing he'd wanted to do, but that's clearly how Sirius had taken it.  

Orion swore under his breath, cursing himself. 

No.  Before he did anything, he needed to speak with Andromeda – find out more about this Richard.  Orion's jaw clenched.  Those marks on Sirius' body and the horrific stories – Sirius wouldn't make up such a sick joke; there had to be truth in it.  There had to be.

The prospect of meeting Richard played on Orion's mind.  He pondered for a while whether he'd be able to keep from ramming his fist down that sadistic bully's throat if Sirius' claims were indeed true.  Not that he didn't completely believe what his son had told him; it merely felt justifiable if there was more concrete proof to be found.  Then they'd have him.  Orion would honour his promise. 

Yet his heart sank at the accusation he'd seen in Sirius' eyes.

I'm not abandoning him, Orion told himself sternly.  I'm doing what's right by law.

By law.  Orion wondered fleetingly if doing something 'by law' was equal to what was 'right'. Orion upheld the laws.  Laws were there to protect people and keep them safe.  They were there to be followed.  What was right was law, and what was law was right. 

Right?

The shadow of doubt creeping through his thoughts, Orion stole another glance at his son, sitting perfectly still on the backseat, his gaze fixed unseeingly on the roadside scenery.  If he sensed his father's gaze, he didn't turn to look.  The coldness in his pale eyes and the set jaw outwardly projected his thoughts.

Sirius clearly saw a difference.

If only his father could see it.

*

All Ministry of Magic cars were equipped with Camouflage Charms to keep them hidden from Muggle eyes.  Were a Muggle to look at one, all they would see was an ordinary Muggle police car, which may explain why so many people living close to the Black residence were peeking curiously out from behind their curtains as one such car pulled up outside number twelve.

Sirius gazed balefully up at the neighbours' houses, noting the twitching curtains. 

'Great,' he muttered.  The last thing he wanted right now was an audience.

As Adler climbed out of the car, the front door of number twelve flew open.  Andromeda, her expression border-lining between fear and hope, hovered uncertainly in the doorway, her eyes searching for a familiar face.

Feeling like his limbs were made of lead, Sirius opened the car door and stepped out.

Barely an instant after his foot touched the pavement, there came a strangled cry of relief and the pounding of running feet.  Nearly knocking him over, Andromeda threw her arms around Sirius' neck and burst into tears, whispering his name over and over.

Temporarily startled, Sirius hesitantly returned the embrace.  From somewhere by his shoulder, his mother croaked hoarsely, 'Oh Sirius, thank goodness you're safe … you're alright …'

'Yeah,' whispered Sirius, half-heartedly.  'I'm okay.'  He glanced up at the house.  A small figure was at one of the upstairs windows, yet before Sirius could think to raise a hand to wave, the net curtain was sharply pulled down and the figure disappeared. 

Sirius didn't have time to contemplate this as his mother chose that moment to release him from her death-grip hug.  Face wet with tears, she turned a watery smile towards Sanders and Adler … until she realised who else was with them.  A dark look settled in her eyes and her smile faded in an instant.

'Orion,' she acknowledged curtly.

Orion didn't answer.  He simply nodded a hello.  Sirius looked between them, not liking the sudden tension, and subtlety backed off.  He could almost hear the warning bells. 

Adler quickly stepped in between them, as though he knew exactly what Andromeda and Orion's timeframe for polite conversation was.

'Ms Black,' He tipped his hat politely, diverting her attention from her ex-husband.  'I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that your son is unhurt and none the worst for his little adventure.'

Andromeda nodded fervently.  She turned to Sirius, her expression still troubled. 

'But where were you, Sirius?' she asked, wringing her hands.  'I was worried sick.'

Sirius opened his mouth uncertainly, but Adler cut across him.

'He was discovered late last night by his father.  The poor lad was wandering around in a dreadful storm from what I understand.'

At this, Andromeda's sharp stare snapped back to her husband, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

'You found him?' she repeated.  Sirius blanched.  He did not like the sound of that tone one bit.

Orion's expression hardened ever so slightly, an equally cold light sparking in his eyes.

'Yes, I found him,' he said softly, meeting her stare.

'Why wasn't I informed?' she demanded, hands on hips.  'I was only a Floo channel away.  You could have at least have let me known that my son was okay.'

'Sirius was ill,' Orion explained placidly.  'He turned up on my doorstep in the middle of the night, soaked to the skin.  He needed medical attention first.'

'Did you call a Healer?'

'No, I - '

'Why not?'

'Andromeda, I'm quite capable of taking care of a sick teenager,' said Orion, making every effort to reign in his temper.

Andromeda was less than impressed.

'You're hardly qualified,' she sneered.

'I'm his father,' Orion growled through gritted teeth.

'And that counts for what, exactly?  You had no right to keep him from me like that.'

'Keep him from you?' Orion repeated incredulously.  'I'm not the one responsible for making him run away from home.'

Andromeda's expression could only be described as disgusted.  Open-mouthed, she fixed him with a stare that would have made a Basilisk envious.

'Run away?  I think not -'

'Sirius told me all about your new partner,' said Orion in a deadly whisper.  'What he did to him.'

'Oh, he did, did he?' Sirius took another step back as his mother swung round to look at him.  'What have you been saying about Richard?' she hissed.

'That he's a vicious bully,' said Orion angrily, coming up behind her.  'I don't suppose you've seen what that thug has done to our son?'  

Andromeda spun back around, a dangerous look in her eyes.

'What right do you have to come here making wild accusations about my fiancé?' she spat.  'I cannot believe you, Orion – do you have any proof?  No, of course you don't, because Richard has done no such thing.  If you wanted to come over here to stir up trouble, then you can leave.'

'I'm not going until I've got some answers,' said Orion.  'I want to know why this has been going on for so long; why you've never done anything about it- '

'About what?  There's nothing going on here, Orion.  At least nothing that is any of your business.'

'My son's welfare is my business.  If you've been turning a blind eye -'

Andromeda let out a derisive snort-like laugh.

'Now you see fit to lecture me on parenting?  A bit late for that Orion, I've raised these kids by myself for the past three years.  You've never once done anything more than what the courts asked you to do.  But then, that's a legal procedure, isn't it?  Just another aspect of your job; only do what falls in your in-tray and nothing else.'

'Hey,' Orion stuck a finger in his ex-wife's face, both of them scowling with equal dislike, 'don't you start that again!  I would do anything for my kids and you damn well know it.  Unlike you who can't even bring herself to abandon a stupid cauldron for two minutes unless it's to flutter your eyelashes at some ruddy Muggle -'

SMACK!

Orion jerked back, stunned.  Andromeda raised her hand again.

'How dare you,' she hissed.  Taking a step forward, Andromeda was halted as a large hand gently, but firmly, took hold of her wrist.

'Ann, please calm down, there's no need for that.'

Sirius would have backed up even further if it hadn't meant stepping out into the road.  On the other hand, maybe it wasn't such a bad alternative.

Richard firmly lowered Andromeda's arm, taking her hand in both of his.  That forced smile was back on his face as he turned to Orion.

'Ah, and you must be …'

'Orion Black,' he said curtly.  'Sirius' father.'

'Indeed.' Richard's lip curled.  'Well, it's a pleasure to meet you at last.'

'Can't say the same, I'm afraid,' said Orion coldly.  Andromeda's eyes narrowed into slits, flashing ominously.

Richard didn't appear affected in the slightest.  Another phoney smile flittered over his features as he spotted Sirius skulking by the car.

'And here's the little rascal,' said Richard coolly. 

Sirius shot him a warning glare.  One that clearly stated 'Don't come anywhere near me'. 

Beaming smile in place, Richard strode over him and flung an arm round his shoulders.  Face contorting with revulsion, Sirius braced himself and stared determinedly at the ground.  But Richard's 'friendly' gesture applied a lot more pressure than what could be considered normal and forcibly steered Sirius towards the house.

'Come along now,' Richard boomed cheerfully, for all the world sounding like he was thrilled at Sirius' safe return,  'let's get you inside.'

Shaking off Richard's arm was no easy task.  Sirius tried to pull away but the grip on his shoulder tightened painfully.  He didn't try a second time. 

Casting a baleful look over his shoulder at his father, Sirius dejectedly allowed himself to taken inside while his mother thanked Adler and Sanders.  Orion paid her no mind, watching Sirius as he disappeared inside the house, the door closing behind him.

Once out of sight and in the safety of the hallway, Richard shoved Sirius away from him in disgust. 

'Now you listen to me,' growled Richard, pointing a fat finger in his face.  'Don't think for a minute that you are going to get away with that.  If you so much as say another word – one word – to anyone, then I will rip out your lying tongue and nail it to the porch railings; do you understand me?'

Backed up against the wall, Sirius just looked up at him with hollow eyes, neither submitting nor challenging.

Footfalls stormed up the path.  Seconds later the front door was flung open and Andromeda stomped over the threshold, her face like a thundercloud.  Slamming the door shut with an almighty bang, she stood poised, hands balled into fists and breathing heavily through her nose.

Genuinely frightened by the immediate realisation of where her anger was focused, Sirius wished he knew a spell that would make the earth open up beneath his feet and swallow him.

'How dare you,' Andromeda whispered, her tone as sharp as a knife.  Sirius quickly dropped his gaze to the floor as his mother's rage broke.  'How dare you!  You take off without a word, scare me half to death with worry, thinking you'd been kidnapped - or murdered - or I don't know what!  I had no idea if you were safe or even if you were alive!'  Storming over to him, Andromeda put her screaming face right up to his, forcing Sirius to look at her.  Shaking, Sirius winced in fear and shame as she ranted on.  'Then I find out you've gone to see your father,' (she spat the word like it was something vile) 'and all this time you were perfectly safe!  All this time Sirius and you didn't think to let anyone know?  What were you thinking?  Were you even thinking at all?'

Her eyes brimming with angry tears, Andromeda paused to draw a ragged breath but didn't stop.

'What were you doing running to your father and telling him such malicious lies?  I certainly didn't bring you up to behave like this, Sirius and it's gone far enough!'

'But Mum -' Sirius croaked out hoarsely.

'I don't want to hear it!' she shrieked.  'I don't want to hear any excuses, Sirius.  Just - just go to your room – get out of my sight.'

'But if you'd just listen,' Sirius shot back, choking back tears of bitter fury, 'I can explain – I swear I didn't - '

'I don't care what you have to say for yourself, just go!'  Tears streaming down her face, she pushed past him and stormed into the kitchen, slamming the door.

'But - '

'NOW!'

Staring almost unseeingly at the closed door, Sirius barely noticed when Richard brushed past him, shooting him a cruel smile as he followed Andromeda into the kitchen, closing the door behind him.  Furious noises of things being shoved around and cupboard doors slamming accompanied the enraged voice of his mother.

For a while Sirius remained frozen in the hallway, his resolution crushed.  The notion of following his mother and making her listen to him was quickly spurned.  She wasn't going to listen to anyone, not while in that tempestuous frame of mind. 

Quietly, he started up the staircase.  He was so lost in his thoughts Sirius almost didn't notice the lone figure at the head of the stairs.

Sensing a presence, he glanced up.

'Ursa!'  The relief evident in his voice was drastically short-lived.  His little sister just looked down at him, a cold blankness in her eyes that gave Sirius a very bad feeling.  He offered a small, uncertain smile. 'Are you okay?'

'What do you care?' said Ursa, so coldly that Sirius stared at her.

'Ursa?  What's wrong?' he asked, taking a step closer.

But his sister turned her back on him and marched off.  Confused, Sirius hurried after her, grabbing her by the shoulder.

'Ursa, what -'

'You lied!' Ursa cried, spinning around and smacking his hand off her.  'You lied to me!  You promised and it was nothing but a lie!' she shrieked.  Sirius froze in shock.  Never before had Ursa screamed at him with such anger … such hatred.

'You left me here alone when you promised me you wouldn't,' she said, her eyes full of tears.  'You just took off – you didn't tell me anything – you never said a word, you just vanished – I thought you were hurt, that Richard might have done something to you … but you were fine, all this time and you never thought to let me know?'

'Ursa, I wanted to -'

'But you didn't,' she snapped, cutting his statement short, her eyes blazing and Sirius saw, more than anything, that they contained hurt.  Betrayal.   'You didn't.'  And she stalked into her room and slammed the door shut. 

Sirius hurried after her and rapped on the door.

'Ursa, please, I didn't mean - '

'Go away!' she shrieked.  'I don't want to talk to you again!   Ever!'

'But -'

Sirius jerked back as a muffled thud sounded on the door, like something had been thrown against it.

'Just go away,' came a miserable little voice from within.

For a while, Sirius stood there staring at the door, frozen in shock.  The feelings of deepest shame swept over him as the truth of what Ursa had said sunk in.  The words reverberated through his mind as he dejectedly turned away.  They stung, they cut deep, and he couldn't think of any reason or argument that did not justify that statement.

He'd lied.

He'd broken his promise.

He'd betrayed her.

Just stay away, that's all you can do, his mind seemed to be telling him as he stole quietly across the landing to his room.  You're nothing but a troublemaker.  Always have and always will be.

But I didn't mean to, Sirius argued silently, pitifully.

That doesn't matter.  The fact is, you did.  You made your bed, now lie in it.

Grasping the door handle, Sirius slowly opened the door, as though afraid the room might start yelling at him as well.

Sitting in the middle of the floor, his tail curled neatly round his feet, was Cosmic.  Resigned, Sirius stood aside and held the door open.

'Go on,' he murmured, jerking his head to the doorway.   Cosmic blinked his large green eyes, giving Sirius an almost confused look, but didn't move.  'Go on,' Sirius repeated, more firmly.  Still Cosmic stayed where he was. 'Fine then.'

Sirius shut the door, and, ignoring the cat, went to his bed and lay down face first on the pillows.  He closed his eyes and buried his face in the pillow, trying desperately not to think … just wanting to go to sleep, anything to avoid thinking about it … he didn't want to have to go over it all again.

Something soft and wet touched his ear making Sirius jump.  Cosmic mewed and reached up, trying to rub his head against his master's.  The little cat's supportive gesture, silent and simple, was almost too much for Sirius to take. Wrapping an arm around his pet, Sirius drew Cosmic into his arms and lay down on his side, not caring that his eyes were starting to water. 

'I don't know what to do,' he whispered miserably.  Cosmic snuggled closer to him, and started to purr.  Sirius needed him to purr.  'Everything I do just makes things worse … and no one believes me.'  Sirius sniffed, then scowled.  'Dad lied, he doesn't care about me; if he did he'd have let me stay with him.  He doesn't a give a …' Shaking, Sirius tightened his grip on Cosmic, though the cat continued to purr louder.  'I should have gone to Prongs, or Moony … or just …' Sirius trailed off.  It had crossed his mind a couple of times while he'd been travelling, yet he'd always pushed the notice aside, firm in his believe that his father could help him.  He hadn't given much thought to running away permanently … never to see his family again.  

No.  He couldn't do it.  The part of Sirius that made him a Gryffindor said no.  If you run now, you're only proving what a coward you really are, the spiteful voice in his head said.  You know that running away doesn't solve anything.

Oh, and staying here is doing me a hell of a lot of good, isn't it? Sirius argued back silently.

'I don't care anymore,' he said aloud.  Cosmic had stopped purring, watching Sirius with mournful eyes.  Sirius attempted to swallow the lump in his throat but it felt like a Quaffle was lodged in his throat.  'I don't care.'

But he did. 

Wishing bitterly for this wretched feeling to go away, a part of him readily welcomed the despair.  It was so much easier than fighting it.  Was there really any point in trying?

Resting his head on the pillow, Sirius closed his eyes, still shaking and feeling utterly miserable.  It was a long time before he finally drifted off, but when he did, Cosmic stayed by his side, mournfully watching his young master endure a restless sleep.

*

Early next morning, Sirius jerked awake, escaping another nightmare about Richard coming for him in the middle of the night.  Wiping the sweat from his brow, Sirius was surprised to find Cosmic still curled up beside him.  The little cat looked up, closed his eyes and purred. Unbidden, a smile tugged at Sirius' lips. 

The clock on the bedside table read seven forty-five.  A weak ray of sunshine peeked through the curtains, a patch of yellow creeping over the bedspread.  Hoping that it was still too early for anyone else to be up, Sirius crept out of his room and carefully made his way down the stairs, leaving Cosmic behind.  The prospect of having breakfast alone wasn't an altogether pleasant one, but he didn't feel ready to face everyone again after yesterday, at least not until he was sure what kind of mood they were in.

As he approached the kitchen, however, muffled voices came from inside, drifting through the open door.  Sirius halted in the middle of the hallway, hesitant.  Richard and Andromeda were already up, and, by the sound of it, in slightly better moods than yesterday.

'It's a wonderful opportunity, Ann,' Richard was saying insistently.  'Why shouldn't you go?'

'Because I'll only end up making a fool of myself! I can't stand up in front a few hundred people and not panic!'  Andromeda's voice snapped irritably, her footsteps pacing round the kitchen.  Sirius could hear her rustling some paper.  'Besides, I've hardly got enough notice to prepare for it.  If it were in a week's time or something, then maybe – but tonight?  No, I can't.'

'Ann, you'd be the guest of honour!  How can you turn down an invitation like that?'

'Very easily actually.'

'How long have you had that invitation, exactly?' asked Richard, in a very shrewd tone.  Andromeda didn't answer him at first.  Then she mumbled something quickly.  'A fortnight?' said Richard, sounding both stunned and confused. 'B-but isn't this what you wanted?  I though you would have been thrilled to be invited!  There must be plenty of people out there in your profession who would give anything to attend one of these conventions.'

'Then they can invite somebody else – I'm not going!'

'Why ever not?'

Andromeda let out a ragged breath.  She sounded very tired and nervous.

'Look, medical research is my area of expertise … standing up in front of hundreds of people without panicking, is not.'

'So … you're not going on account of stage-fright?'  Richard barked out a laugh.  'Oh, Ann, it can't be that bad, surely.'

'Want to bet?  The last time I was invited to one of these things, I froze up – right before I was meant to present my findings I ran and locked myself in the bathroom!  They organised a search party and ending up breaking down the door because I was too busy throwing up to unlock it myself – it's not funny, Richard!' she cried indignantly as Richard struggled to refrain from laughing.

Sirius was about to turn around and go back upstairs.  But he hesitated.  Curiosity getting the better of him, Sirius tiptoed a little nearer and listened in.  Peering through the gap, Sirius could see a small slice of the kitchen, and Richard standing off to his left, looking across the room at Andromeda who was out of sight.

'I'm sorry, Ann,' Richard said, once the chuckles had eventually subsided.  'But if you think about it, it's really not worth getting so worked up about.'

'I have thought about it, more than enough times.'

'So you've had one bad experience -'

'Two,' Andromeda grumbled.

'Okay, two.  But surely it's worth it to have your research given the recognition it deserves.  If these people have shown an interest in it, then why not take a chance and show them what you've accomplished.'

'One of the others could go,' said Andromeda thoughtfully.  'Amelia or Donna; they know what they're doing.'

'Ann,' Richard whined.  'Don't let them take all the credit for your work.'

'I'm not.  We all worked together as a team -'

'But you are the brains behind it all!  You've poured your heart and soul into this project; I know you have.  You've done so much work for this and it's time that the heads of your organisation saw that.  Don't let a little thing like stage fright scare you off.  You deserve a moment in the spotlight.'

'Oh, I don't know,' she sighed.  'In all honesty I'm not sure if the formula's entirely ready.'

'Does it not work?' Richard asked, frowning suddenly.

'It's not that it doesn't work, it's just whether it's safe to use and whether it'll work the way it's supposed to on a sick person …'

'But you said a while ago that you'd figured it out,' said Richard.  'You'd worked out what was wrong with it.'

'Oh, I discovered why it wasn't working, and I concocted a similar formula which seemed promising, but in all honesty it's yet to be tested on a human.'

'But you've tested it?  It does work?'

'On the samples, yes, it works fine.  It's very exciting to watch a living cell completely restore itself to perfect health.'

'Which is a treat you can share with the convention,' said Richard cheerfully.  'Come on now, say you'll go?  For me?'

Andromeda whined mockingly in indecision, then sighed as Richard drew her into a hug.  Sirius glared murderously at Richard, wishing he could hit him with a Bat Bogey curse or something equally disgusting, or preferably something extremely painful.

'So, are you going to go?' Richard asked a few moments later, lifting Andromeda's chin, smiling down at her. 

'I suppose I'll have to … seeing as you aren't going to leave me alone until I say yes,' she said, grinning happily.

'Ann, you make it sound like I'm forcing you!' said Richard in mock-offence. 

'Yes, well, as punishment you can watch Sirius and Ursa tonight.  These things can go on for hours; I'll be lucky if I can get home by tomorrow morning.'

'Then book into a hotel; it's not a problem,' Richard insisted.  'I'm perfectly capable of keeping an eye on them both.'

'I know you are.  It's just …' she trailed off.

'Just what?'

Andromeda sighed.

'Sirius.'  She sounded exhausted all of a sudden.  Sirius' stomach turned over.  Slowly, he crept a step closer. 

'I just don't know if I'm going to come home and find he's run away again.  Maybe even taking Ursa with him.  I hate to say it but I don't feel as though I can trust him anymore.  I know he's growing up and the teenage years are supposed to be a difficult time but these past few weeks have been ridiculous.  I just don't know what I'm supposed to do about it.  He won't listen to a word I say; everything just seems to go in one ear and out the other.'  She sniffed.  'Where did I go wrong?  Am I a bad mother, is that what it is?'

'No, no,' Richard's voice was soft yet firm, wrapping his arms around her again.  Turning her head slightly, Sirius could see how upset she was.  'Don't you ever think that.  You are a wonderful mother, just look at Ursa.  She's a lovely child; you've never had any trouble from her.  Don't berate yourself just because Sirius has such a rebellious streak.  I doubt he got that from you,' he added.

'That's another problem,' murmured Andromeda miserably.  'He misses his father, I know he does; but Sirius doesn't seem to understand how much I want to move on from that life, that I want nothing to do with Orion.  I had hoped that the divorce would be the end of it; the house, custody of the kids, child-support, it was all sorted.  I thought it was over.  Instead, these old wounds just keep been torn open whenever they go to see him.'

'Well, you can't really expect either of them to simply forget about him, the way you want them to.  He is their father,' said Richard begrudgingly.  In a more positive tone he said, 'You know, this place must hold a lot of memories … too many memories … have you ever considered moving house?  Starting afresh somewhere else?'

Andromeda was silent for a moment.

'No,' she said slowly, mulling it over.  'I never have.'

'Perhaps it would be an idea to consider it.  I know of a lovely place in America,' he said, as though suddenly recalling a pleasant memory.  'We could start a whole new life together, you, the kids, and me.  Wipe the slate clean and start all over again.'

'America?' repeated Andromeda, astounded, pulling out of Richard's embrace and stepping just out of Sirius' line of sight.   'But – that's a lot further than I thought you meant.  What about my job?  Ursa and Sirius are still at school, what about them?'

'There's ways around these things,' said Richard cheerfully.  'You can easily find another job.  The field of science over there is huge, and with your expertise all the companies would be fighting over you!  As for the kids, well, there are planes after all.  They can always fly back over for term time.  Or if that's too awkward they can always transfer to another school, can't they?'

'Richard … I don't know.  It's a big decision … I'd have to think about it.'  But judging by the tone, she was clearly open to the suggestion.

'Well, I wasn't expecting you to run upstairs and pack your bags this instant.' Richard chuckled.  'Just mull it over and if you like the idea we can talk to the kids and see what they think.   Say, shouldn't you be getting ready for this convention?  You need to get your research sorted out, don't you?'

'I think I could do with a nice hot bath before I think about anything else.' Andromeda sighed.  'I haven't been up an hour and already I'm exhausted.'

Footsteps approached the kitchen door.  Silent as a shadow, Sirius quickly slipped across the hall and into the living room, out of sight.  Flattening himself up against the wall, he stayed still as he listened to his mother and Richard walk past and make their way back upstairs.

The moment he heard the door of the master bedroom shut, Sirius closed his eyes and slumped against the wall.

America. 

He could not be serious.

If they went to the U.S, he'd never be able to see his father again, or any of his friends.  He'd have to leave Hogwarts.  It was the poison on the knife, the knowledge that his mother was going to consider it; he'd heard it in her voice.

She wouldn't agree, would she?

Sirius didn't feel hungry anymore.  As soon as he felt the coast was clear, he sneaked back upstairs and returned to his room.

*

That afternoon, Andromeda called Ursa and Sirius downstairs to the kitchen, to tell them where she was going.  Sirius tried to look surprised and pleased to hear the 'news' that her medical research had been brought to the attention of Dr. Barbara Suture, a highly acclaimed medi-witch who discovered some of the most successful vaccines for the wizarding world, and had taken 'a personal interest' in Andromeda's latest findings.

'I honestly can't believe she wants me there,' said Andromeda for the fourth time, pacing round the kitchen and wringing her hands.  'Richard's right, I'd be mad to turn this down … but I'm so nervous!'

'You'll be great Mum,' said Ursa.  'I've heard that if you freeze up on stage you're supposed to imagine that the entire audience are in their underwear.'

Andromeda raised a questioning eyebrow at her daughter.

'How in Merlin's name is that supposed to help?'

'I dunno.' Ursa shrugged.  'I guess you can't be scared if you're too busy laughing.'

That got a smile out of Andromeda, who shook her head.

'Thank you for the advice, Ursa, but I think I'll stick with my time-honoured tradition of running around like a headless Diricawl before I go on; try and get it out of my system.'

'That's the spirit,' said Ursa.

Sirius did not join in the light-hearted banter.  He merely sat at the table, glumly staring off into space. 

'Right, Richard is cooking dinner tonight so I want both of you on your best behaviour.' Andromeda started pointedly at Sirius as she spoke.  Sirius acknowledged it with a half-glance in her direction.

'Mum, I'm sixteen, I don't need a babysitter,' he muttered under his breath.  His mother heard him and frowned, hands on her hips.

'Sirius, unless you start acting like a mature young adult, I will have to carry on treating you like a eight-year-old,' she stated coldly.

'I can take care of Ursa by myself,' he said stubbornly, before he could think to just shut up and keep quiet.

Andromeda's features darkened.

'Sirius, I do not want to consider the possibility of coming home to an empty house,' she said in an increasingly angry tone.  'For all I know, you're planning to skip out again, maybe even taking Ursa with you. I just can't trust you anymore, Sirius.  Richard will be here to baby-sit and I don't want to hear a single complaint when I come home, is that clear?'

Sirius nodded, looking down at the table.

'I said, is that clear?' Andromeda repeated a little louder.

'Yes, Mum,' said Sirius, listlessly.

Satisfied, Andromeda resumed preparing for her presentation.  Sirius glanced over at Ursa.  She was watching him, curiosity in her gaze.  Did she believe what their mum had said?  That Sirius would take her with him if he ran away again?  It was hard to tell what she thought of that, if anything. 

For a few moments they looked at each other, both longing to say something but remaining silent.

Ursa was the first to look away.   Resigned, Sirius excused himself as soon as was polite to, glumly preparing himself for yet another 'fun' night in Richard's company.

*

Dinner was an almost silent affair.  Sirius toyed unenthusiastically with his shepherd's pie, moving it around on his plate while eating very little.  Ursa ate in silence, her eyes stealing swift glances at her brother.  Richard wore his game face, forcing cheerfulness as he smiled amiably round the table.

'Well, I know it isn't the sort of culinary delights you're used to,' said Richard, eyes flicking in Sirius' direction.  'But I'm afraid I haven't had much practise.'

'It's fine,' said Ursa, politely.  'Look, it's not burnt at all.'

'Which can only be a good thing,' Richard laughed, but it sounded forced and it faded quickly.  Sirius didn't look up.  He continued to stab at the mashed potato.  Clearing his throat Richard said, 'Are you eating that or playing with it?'

Sirius slowly glanced up from his plate.

'I'm not hungry,' he muttered.  'May I be excused?'

Richard considered him, a smile that appeared to be little more than a grimace contorting his face.

'You're excused,' he said shortly.  'Go to your room.'

Dropping his knife and fork on the plate with a loud clatter, Sirius screwed up his napkin and left the room, without another word.  Two pale blue eyes followed his departure, silently condemning him again for leaving.  Ursa glumly looked back down at her plate.  She didn't feel particularly hungry either.  Placing her cutlery down neatly on the plate, she sat back in her chair, staring at her lap.

'Aren't you hungry either?' asked Richard, in a more concerned tone.  'Do you feel okay?'

'I'm fine,' came the monotone response.

'Then there's no need to look so down,' said Richard, smiling.  'I don't suppose your mother said anything about moving before she left, did she?'

Puzzled, Ursa looked up.

'Moving?'

'Yes, she told me that she might like to go to America.'

'America?' Ursa repeated.  'You mean, like a holiday?'

'No, sweetie, I mean permanently.  How would you feel about that?  America's a beautiful place.  Your mother's thinking about finding a new job over there.'

Ursa blinked and shook her head.

'Mum didn't say anything to me …' Thinking it over in her mind, Ursa did not like the conclusion she was met with.  'I wouldn't be able to see my dad or any of my friends again, would I?'

'You'll make new friends,' Richard explained, still with that beaming smile fixed in place.  'It would be a new start for all of us, but especially for your mother.  She needs to get away from here, to be honest.  It's no wonder she's been struggling with her work lately; there's too much pressure on her here …' Richard gazed off into space, a dreamy look on his face.  'She's so intelligent … really, Ursa, you must be so proud to have her as your mother.'

'Yes, of course,' said Ursa quickly, though she didn't appear to be entirely focused on what he was saying.

'She's a miracle, she really is, discovering all these medicines and things.  Working tirelessly even at home …'

Feeling distinctly unsettled, Ursa shifted around on her seat.  She could sense Richard's cool gaze on her.  Hesitantly, she met his stare.

'Funny thing,' he mused.  'I've never actually seen her working here … not once …' The benign smile widened, yet all pleasantness was subtly swept away.  Ursa, a nervous shiver swarming over her skin, cautiously moved ever so slightly to the edge of her seat.

'I don't suppose you've seen it?'

'S – seen what?' said Ursa.

'Why, her laboratory of course,' said Richard.  'I've never had the pleasure of seeing where she works.  I don't understand why I've never noticed it before.'

'Mum doesn't like people meddling with her things,' she said meekly, casting nervous glances to the door.

'Oh, I don't want to meddle,' Richard insisted.  'I only want to see it.  Come now, where's the harm in that?'

Ursa didn't answer.

'Do you know where it is?'

Ursa swallowed nervously.  Something was very wrong, she could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice.  But it wasn't the only thing she could hear.  As though a voice were whispering in her ear, Ursa recalled what Sirius had told her not so long ago.

'Ursa, I want you to promise me something.  Promise me that you'll never do anything that Richard asks you to do if you aren't comfortable about it.  You don't have to tell him or show him anything if you think it's wrong, okay?' 

She'd promised.  But Sirius had made a promise too, and he'd broken it.  What was the point in making a promise if you didn't intend to keep it?  Not five minutes ago, he'd gone and done it again. 

'Ursa?'

Jerking her out of her reverie, Richard leaned across the table, gently stroking her long black hair, tucking it behind her ear.

'Such a clever girl,' he murmured softly, tracing a finger slowly down her cheek.  'You can show me where it is, can't you?'

Her whole body tensing, Ursa struggled to make some audible sound out of her open mouth.

'M-Mum won't like if I -'

'Your mum's not here,' Richard countered, smoothly.  'She doesn't have to know.  I won't tell if you won't.'

Numbly, Ursa shook her head, perplexed by his shark-like demeanour.  The cold, emotionless eyes narrowed; the smile, however, stayed more or less in place.  Swiftly, he reached out and took hold of her upper arm.  Frightened, Ursa emitted a small whimper and tried to slip away off the other side of the chair, but Richard tightened his grip. 

'Now where do you think you're going?' he asked, ignoring the fear growing in her wide eyes.  'I trust you'll show me?'

Shaking, Ursa had but one thought in her head.

What would Sirius do?

*

Lying stretched out on his bed, Sirius lay on his stomach, dangling a length of string over the edge.  Wriggling on his back, Cosmic eagerly batted at the string, trying to bite it.

'America,' Sirius muttered to the cat, even though he knew Cosmic wasn't paying much attention.  'I can't believe Mum would even consider it.  Hey, why not move across the Atlantic away from everything we know: yeah, great idea, when do we leave?'

Cosmic paused briefly, blinked his large green eyes uncomprehendingly, and then went back to mauling the string.

'Why America?' Sirius grumbled.  'They don't even play Quidditch!  They play some stupid game called Quadpot – what is that, eh?  Chucking an exploding ball around?  Doesn't compare with Quidditch …'

Sirius lapsed into silence.  Of course the real issue wasn't Quidditch at all, but it was adding to his long mental list of 'reasons not to go'.  What kind of power did that git have to make his mother think that moving to another continent was such a great idea?

'I'm not leaving Hogwarts,' Sirius stated firmly.  Cosmic allotted a moment's attention to his master before rolling onto his front, abandoning the string, which Sirius was neglecting to shake for him.  'They can't make me.  I've got two years to go, my NEWT's are coming up.  Mum's always going on about how important they are – I don't even know if they have anything like that in the U.S; their system's different, isn't it?'

Noticing that his audience was completely preoccupied, Sirius reached out and dangled the end of the string in front of Cosmic's nose.

'Not that you have to worry about that sort of stuff, do you?' said Sirius morosely as Cosmic raised a paw and clawed at the string once more.  A sudden thought dawned on Sirius, causing him to swear vehemently.  'Oh no, those stupid quarantine laws!' he hissed, shaking the string harder in his anger.

Cosmic ducked and slunk out of the way of the flaying string.  'You'd be locked away in a cage for months!'

Cosmic seemed to understand that the comment was being directed at him.  His ears pricked up and he cocked his head to the side in a quizzical manner.

'I wouldn't be able to see you,' said Sirius angrily.  A look of fierce determination settled on his features, casting a dark shadow in his eyes.  'That's it; I'm not going.  I'm not leaving, I don't care what anyone else decides, I'm staying right here.'  He folded his arms across his chest, scowling.

A loud grumbling sounded.  For a second, Sirius thought it was Cosmic, but realised a moment later that it was his stomach, which promptly repeated the noise. 

'Oh, be quiet,' Sirius complained to his stomach.  It answered back, announcing its request loud and clear.  Sirius couldn't ignore it for much longer.  He was starving.

Getting off the bed, Sirius went to the wardrobe and rummaged through the junk at the bottom.

All the food he'd previously hidden away was gone.  He must have finished it off and forgotten to stock up again.  Sirius sighed in defeat.  Now he'd have to go back downstairs.

In spite of knowing he wasn't likely to get a pleasant reception, Sirius had to get something to eat.  His stomach wasn't going to let him sleep otherwise.

He opened the bedroom door and set off across the landing.  A moment later, Cosmic followed, trotting at his heels.

It was at the foot of the stairs that Sirius paused, hearing voices from the kitchen.  Something wasn't right; the nasty familiarity in Richard's tone of voice sent a chilling shiver up his spine, and the fear in his sister's voice was all too clear.  Without thinking, Sirius ran down the hallway, his mind set on the fact that his sister was in there – alone with Richard.

The kitchen door flung open as he rammed his shoulder against it, sending it into the wall with a crash.  Sirius skidded to a halt inches from running into the table, eyes sweeping the room.  They saw, to his horror, Ursa backed up against the wall, cowering in fear with Richard looming over her, his huge hand raised, as though about to strike her.  Startled, both were temporarily frozen by Sirius' sudden entrance, as was Sirius by what he saw, but his voice was not similarly hindered.

'Ursa!'

Ursa ducked under Richard's arm and tried to run, but Richard was too quick for her.  Grabbing her from behind, Richard hoisted Ursa off her feet and pinned her to his chest.

'Sirius!' she shrieked, right before a huge hand was clamped over her mouth.

'Let her go!' Sirius yelled, moving swiftly round the table.  But Richard just smiled and shook his head.

'I don't think so,' he said.  'You take another step and I promise you Ursa will know exactly how you felt after your 'disciplinary' punishment.'

Sirius stopped dead.

'That's a bit more like it,' said Richard, smiling ever more broadly.  'Following orders at last.  It's good to see that you can learn when you put your mind to it.  Of course, you've always needed to have some sort of incentive, haven't you?'

Sirius scowled darkly but he couldn't mask the distress at seeing his sister trapped in the tyrant's clutches.  Eyes wide with fear, Ursa desperately tried to speak, wriggling frantically.  Not impressed, Richard tightened his grip.  Squeaking in pain and fright, Ursa stopped it.

'Leave her alone,' Sirius growled, taking another step forward.

'Ah, ah, ah,' said Richard, almost like he was wagging a finger at him.  'Are we forgetting something?  What did I just say?'

Sirius didn't move.  A small movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention, but it was drawn swiftly back to his sister as she let out a squeal of agony as Richard pulled her head back roughly.  Gritting his teeth, Sirius took a step back.  Almost immediately, Richard relaxed his hold on Ursa, a grim smile on his thin lips.

'There we are,' he said with some satisfaction.  Dropping his gaze, Sirius backed up a little further.  'So long as you remember who the authority is in this house we'll get along just fine.'

Turning his face away with a grimace, Sirius spotted something out of the corner of his eye. Lurking in the doorway, Cosmic peered into the kitchen and, eyes narrowed at the sight of Richard, went into a crouch, as though preparing to spring.  Quickly, Sirius looked away from him.

Richard smirked triumphantly as he watched Sirius take another step back, looking defeated.

'Now then, let's -'

'HHHIIIISSS!'

In a flash of black fur, gleaming eyes, teeth and claws, Cosmic came hurtling into the kitchen and, using Sirius like a springboard, leapt up onto his master's back and propelled himself, spitting and slashing directly at Richard.

Opening his mouth to yell, Richard got a face-full of claws as the cat wrapped itself round his head.  Releasing Ursa in an instant, Richard went crashing into the sideboard then staggered into the table, arms flailing, bellowing all the while.  Ursa screamed in terror, ducking and scrambling out the way, running straight into Sirius' arms. 

'Come on!  Run!'

Grabbing her hand, Sirius turned and they ran from the horrific screams as Cosmic slashed Richard's face to ribbons, alternatively hissing and biting.

Fleeing into the hallway, they ran for the front door.  Sirius grabbed the handle and pulled – but it didn't open. 

'It's locked!'

'Where are the keys?' Ursa cried, looking over her shoulder to the kitchen.

'No time – upstairs, go!'

Pushing her ahead of him, Sirius caught a glimpse of Richard though the kitchen door, still screaming like a madman, finally get a grip on the savage feline and tear the cat away from him.  With a roar of fury, he threw the little animal with all his strength.  Yowling indignantly, Cosmic twisted in mid-air, slammed against the wall and dropped to the floor, slightly dazed but unhurt.  Hackles raised, the cat hissed menacingly, showing brilliantly white, needle-sharp teeth, stained slightly with blood.

'I'll kill you!' Richard screamed in a fury.  'I'll kill you!'

Cosmic bolted as Richard stormed across the room, eyes blazing and grasping hands reaching for the little creature's throat. Running swiftly down the hall, the cat twisted elegantly at the foot of the stairs and sprang up the stairs.  Reaching the landing, the cat dove through the gap of Sirius' open door, his master slamming it shut the moment Cosmic was safely inside.

'Quick!  Barricade the door!'

Seizing Sirius' desk, Ursa and Sirius yanked it across the carpet, and shoved it up against the door.  Taking a step back, both of them jumped out of their skins as something pounded on the door, sending the desk back slightly.  Ursa squealed and leapt back in fright.  Sirius dove forward and threw his weight against the desk, slamming the door shut. 

'COME OUT OF THERE!' Richard bellowed, pounding on the door with his fists.  'OPEN THIS DOOR!'

'Not bloody likely,' Sirius growled.  'Ursa, help me!'

Hurrying back over, Ursa added her slight weight to the barricade, pushing hard.

'Can you hold it for a moment?' Sirius whispered urgently.

Eyes wide, Ursa stared at him.

'I – I think so. But what are you - '

'This won't hold.  We need more weight.'  Pulling away, Sirius darted across the room and pulled his bed away from the opposite wall. 

BANG!

Ursa squealed as the door opened up an inch, the desk sliding away.

'You can't stay in there forever!' Richard yelled, throwing his shoulder into the door again.  The door opened another inch as Ursa fought to close it.

Muscles straining, Sirius gave his bed another heave and dragged it closer to the door.  Vaulting over it, he shouted to Ursa, 'Get out of the way!' and shoved hard.

Scrambling out of the way, Ursa scrawled on the carpet as the bed slid across the doorway, knocking the desk aside.  The door slammed shut on Richard's hand, which had just reached through the gap.  Another enraged bellow echoed through the house.

Dropping to his knees, Sirius wrapped his arms around his sister.  She clung to him, shaking and crying.

'What do we do?' she wailed, wrapping her arms round his neck so tightly he was in danger of being strangled.

'We're getting out of here, that's what,' said Sirius, sounding slightly less panicked as the incessant pounding on the door failed to shift the bed barricade.  An urgent meow drew their gaze to the window.  Cosmic stood perched on the sill, pawing at the glass.  Ursa's eyes widened.

'What?  No, I can't - '

'Yes, you can, now come on!'

Pulling her to her feet, Sirius led her over to the window.  Cosmic hopped down onto the carpet out of the way.  Pushing the window up, Sirius knelt down, scooped the cat up in his arms and all but threw him out onto the roof.  Cosmic darted away over the tiles, waiting at the edge of the guttering.

Ursa mouthed silently.

'Siri, I can't!  I'll fall!'

'No, you won't,' Sirius insisted as gently as he could.  'I'm right here, I won't let you fall.  Here.' Sweeping her off her feet, Sirius carefully slid her legs through the open window.  'Just scoot forward a bit,' he instructed.  'That's it.'

Shaking with fright, Ursa slowly edged out onto the roof.  The dark night sky above was alight with stars, adding light for them to see by.  A dark cloud drifting through the sky obscured the moon that should have added its glow.  The garden below was a hazy blue-grey in the half-light.

Holding onto the window ledge, Sirius hoisted himself up and scrambled through, spurred on by the screams and pounding behind him.

'Come on, follow me,' he hissed, crawling past Ursa.  Reaching the guttering, Sirius leaned forward, peering at the ground below.  It seemed a lot further away than it did in the sunlight, mysteriously enough.  No, Sirius told himself.  Don't worry about it, you've done this enough times, it's not that big a drop.

Taking a few deep breaths, Sirius got as close to the edge as he dared, then slowly turned around.  Ursa's face paled significantly as she watched.  Securing firm holds on the guttering, Sirius moved first one leg, then the other over the edge.  Pushing himself backwards, Sirius' felt his legs drop away from him, almost losing his grip.  Waiting for a split second as his arms took the strain, Sirius let go.  Dropping several feet to the ground, he fell backwards and rolled onto lawn.  Jumping to his feet, he looked back up at the roof.

'Ursa!' he called.  'Come on!'

A pale face slowly peered over the edge. 

'I can't!' Ursa repeated fearfully, staying back.  'I'll fall!'

'No you won't,' said Sirius firmly.  'Just do what I did; back up, push your legs over and drop – you'll be fine, I promise!'

Ursa hesitated, looking back over her shoulder at the window.  She quickly turned back, her hair whipping round her face.

'He's stopped trying to get in!' she called.

Sirius swore under his breath.  Was Richard still up there?  If not, where was he?

'Ursa, come on,' he said, more insistently.  'We've got to go.  We don't have much time.'  But still, she hesitated; scared.  'Come on.  You'll be perfectly safe.  Trust me!'

Finally, slowly, Ursa crept closer to the edge.  Relieved, Sirius kept calling out instructions and encouragement.

'That's it, a little nearer, just a little more … now turn around, don't be scared, just turn around slowly … that's the way …'

Whimpering in fear, Ursa grabbed hold of the guttering with a death grip.  Closing her eyes, she slowly moved her legs backwards.  But as soon as the roof disappeared and she felt nothing but air, she jerked them back.

'Ursa!'  Sirius' voice called from below.

'I told you, I can't!  I'm scared!'

Trying to refrain from sighing in exasperation, Sirius tried another tactic.

'Okay, turn around, sit on the edge of the gutter with your legs over the edge, come on, quick!'

Ursa did as she was told.  The ground looked such a long way down.  Sirius took a step back, head tilted back to see her better.  He spread his arms.

'Okay, now jump!'

'What?'

'Jump!  I'll catch you!'

'No!'

'Ursa, you've only got two choices, okay?  One; you can trust me and jump, or two, stay up there while I go and get help.  But from where I'm standing, I only have one choice.  I promised I wouldn't leave you and I know I've broken it twice already … I don't want to break it a third time.'  Taking a small step back, Sirius raised his arms again.  'But I need to know that you trust me.'

The night breeze whipping her long hair across her face, Ursa took a deep breath, and slowly moved a little closer to the edge.  Shifting nervously, she closed her eyes.

'Okay,' she whispered.  And she jumped.

For one horrible moment, Sirius' heart went and lodged itself in his throat and froze.  Not even thinking about it, he sprang back, just managing to wrap his arms around his sister as she slammed into him, sending them both crashing to the ground.  Tumbling backwards, Sirius had the sense to tuck his head down before it could smack against the ground.  She gave a squeal, half out of fear, and half out of relief.  Scrawled on top of her brother, Ursa clung to him for a moment, before realising that she was unhurt, and scrambled to her feet.  Feeling his heart drop out of his throat and back down into his chest, Sirius quickly did the same.

'Come on,' he said breathlessly, grabbing her hand.  Together they ran down the side of the house.

'Where're we going?' Ursa panted, as they raced round the corner and out onto the front drive.

'I don't think you're going anywhere,' a voice snarled out of the darkness.

Sirius abruptly came to a stop.  Ursa, still holding his hand, staggered.  Drawing her to him, Sirius wrapped his arms around her protectively, trying to move her behind him, shielding her.

Standing not five feet away, between them and the front gate, was Richard.

Richard, with a wand in his hand, pointed directly at Sirius' heart.

*

To Be Continued.

*

Please review this chapter.  All comments and constructive criticism are greatly appreciated. 

*

Author's Notes.

Ta-dah!  Yeah, okay, for a few people that last bit won't come as too much of a surprise – some of you I know have had suspicions on that possibility for a while.  But has anyone figured it all out yet?  No?  Good!  You shouldn't know everything until the final chapter; I swear there's a rule!  *Voltora flips through her fanfic rule book* 

MorganD -  True, JKR does makes mistakes too.  Certainly makes me feel better! ^_^   Although with the Veritaserum, didn't she note in GoF via Snape that the use of it is controlled by very strict guidelines?  As it's so powerful, I doubt the wizarding world would allow it to be used on every suspect in a crime investigation.  And I hope that, despite the fact some people are feeling some animosity towards Orion, that maybe they'll understand, and maybe feel a bit warmer towards him after the opening paragraphs.  It's got a bit more of his point of view than the last chapter, which reflected more Sirius' initial despair.

Mononoke – Yeah, sure, Orion's more than a bit ticked off, but he was rather in shock when Sirius first told him.

Nie Starwhistler – As I just said to Mononoke, Orion was kinda in shock when Sirius broke the news to him; the anger built up and shows a bit when he meets Andromeda and comes face-to-face with Richard – not a lot of anger there, but he's having a quiet rage of sorts.    Richard finding out about Andromeda?  Maybe that last sentence of this chapter will give a hint as to what he knows. ^_^  Sorry, can't post any faster.

Christy – Sorry, Orion's fallen onto the 'disliked character' list, maybe that opinion will change by the end.  Only one chapter left now – where did the time go???

TiniTinuviel – Well, I did have a bit more of Orion's view at the start of this chapter, just to show that he isn't blindly sending Sirius home without believing him; Orion's just feeling rather trapped by his position and unsure of how to proceed.  He wants to help his son, get to the bottom of what's going on, find out the truth and (if he can justify it) punch Richard's teeth in! ^_^   

Enna seawave – Thanks again for reviewing!  Hope you liked the chapter.

Zorro x – Hey, hold up, he never meant to imply that he didn't believe his son, it's simply that he works by the law, and lives by the law, thus he wants to be sure of the truth and facts.  Sirius took it the wrong way too, but Orion does mean to help in any way he can.

Marauders Gal – Ah, I love to read all the nasty comments on Richard!  So amusing some of them. ^_^  Breaking his spine, bone by bone, with an axe is my favourite suggestion of torture so far.  The fic won't be much longer, in fact, there's only one chapter left!  Next week's shall be the last, then I'll be posting some short fics before another really long one (We're talking forty or so chapters long for the next one!).

Sirius' sweetie – Thanks for reviewing!  Sorry, he had to go back unfortunately.  Stay tuned for the final chapter!!

Black Rose9 – I was tempted to send him to James, but Sirius won't be going to James' house – got something better planned!  Or written, as it's already finished. ^_^

Sophodes – Oh, good, you are still among the living!  I know, some people got so mad about Orion!  But I'm very glad you can understand his reasons for why he felt compelled to take Sirius home against his wishes (both their wishes to be completely honest.)   The fic should conclude fairly nicely in the next and final chapter (still can't believe it's nearly done) Though if there's any unanswered questions, I may write answers to reviewers comments at the end of my next piece – should a be a short songfic and will be posted in December if I ever get to write it out.  Again, sorry for missing last Friday's post, but the chapter was still in the hands of my poorly Beta reader; she did manage to get it done by Monday but it seemed pointless to post it when everyone expects a Friday update, so I decided to wait.

NightSpear -  *Voltora runs screaming from the lynch mob to find a better hiding place!!*  NightSpear, don't scare me like that! ^_^   Will this fic end dark?  Hmm, shall I tell, or not? Nope, not saying a word!  Expect; you'll have to wait until next week for the final chapter! (I've typed 'final chapter' so many times and I still can't believe it.)

Stagger – You hope that Richard dies?  You're not the only one! ^_^ Sorry, I can't promise that Sirius won't get hurt – he's mine for one more chapter before I have to return him to JKR. 

WallyTheWhale – I don't know why I suddenly thought about adding that little bit about Sirius being sick when he was little – that wasn't in the original draft.  But hey, if someone liked it, then great!  Certainly your new theory was better than the poltergeist – what did you think of that last moment, eh?  I know it's not a huge surprise for some – certain people were guessing a little too closely to the truth, far too early on!!  I had to be careful not to comment in case I let it slip before we got even half way through the fic!  Just wondering if anyone can work out all the details before the next chapter is uploaded – 200 points to the House of whoever figures it out!!!

Yoda – LOL!  Thanks Yoda, I'm really pleased that you're enjoying this.  Ah, Richard-torture gets another vote!  There's only one chapter to go – it's a bloody long one, but I hope it rounds off the story well enough.  Keep those mad and wild eyes on fanfiction!  And I still want to see what you're working on for your next fic!  I vaguely remember reading the chapter you sent via e-mail but I'd like to read it again!  Write it faster and post it!!  ^_^

I – LOL.  Thanks for reading!

Semmel – Gryffindorks?!  Oi!  ^_^  Well, you deserved them, I was so impressed!  And I guess you can now be sure of at least one of your statements.  The final chapter (I'm writing that damn phrase again!) reveals all!!  *drumroll*    Ah, that last bit, so depressing, I'm glad you liked it and could actually imagine yourself in his position – that's a fabulous comment to give any author, I'm blushing!  *spies Semmel's instruments of torture nervously*  Er, what are you planning to do with those??  *Voltora hastily backs up and dives into her hiding place*

Calimora – As far as I know, Lil Lupin is feeling better now (she's passed the bug on to someone else, I believe!). Thank you for asking.

Quietona – Okay, you have a lot of questions, and unfortunately I can't answer most of them, as the story will give them to you by itself.  However, I can answer a few; the fic was planned to cover the summer holiday, so you won't see Sirius going back to Hogwarts.  Will Ursa play a huge part?  Well, she does have a part but it's not really huge, though she features more here than in the earlier chapters.  As for Sirius telling his father about being an Animagus – I always felt it was a secret that the Marauders kept between themselves (and Lily in my version, although maybe not in JKR's, we don't know for sure) and never revealed to anyone else.  Certainly doesn't seem to be the sort of thing you'd tell your law-abiding father.  'Hey, dad, guess what?  I'm an illegal Animagus at the age of fifteen!  Aren't you proud?'   Nope, just can't see it.  ^_^   The Marauders will make a brief appearance in the final chapter.

As for Orion's reaction, a lot of people commented that they felt he should have gone mad at hearing about the abuse, but my view was that Orion was more stunned at first, trying to get his head round it before he started to feel the anger.  Start of this chapter we see him getting worked up a bit and learn a little of what he felt and thought about the situation.  It's simply that I couldn't get his view to sit comfortably in the previous chapter which was more focused on Sirius, so Orion's had to wait until the opening of this one.

And thank you very much for reading and reviewing 'The Greatest Gift', that was very nice of you!  I'm glad you liked it. ^_^   (There were quite a few mistakes because I didn't have a Beta at the time and was writing at top speed to get it done in time for Christmas – the final chapter was written the day I meant to post it!  Hence some very silly grammar mistakes.)  ^_^

Prongs4 – I know it's upsetting to have a character being beaten so much but child abuse is a nasty subject so I won't go easy on a character to whom it's happening.   Still, I can feel the hate for Richard!  That's great!  Keep it up! ^_^