He told her everything that night. Of the younger brother who had been everyone's favorite and fulfilled the Black family legacy of servitude to the Dark Lord. Of the younger brother in another universe who'd died at the hands of his own chosen companions. And Annikaya understood the guilt and hurt, for she was an older sibling too and knew the responsibility and sense of duty it confers.

She shook her head regretfully. When they got home she was personally going to see to it that Sirius Black had a much deserved vacation. On a beach, not trapped in his house seeing everyone else work. Maybe they could go to Hawaii or Fiji or something. But first...

Annikaya slipped out of the room, careful not to wake Sirius who had fallen asleep on the couch last night. She made her way back to the Headmaster's office and stood nervously outside. Should she just go on up? Was there some way to knock?

Just then she noticed Dumbledore coming down the hall toward her, a pair of very strange slippers on his feet. He noticed her look and smiled proudly.

"Grindlylows."

"Oh." she said and let it go.

"Would you like to talk Miss Horn?"

She accepted the invitation gratefully and began to fill in her tale, unsure just how much he knew.

"The Veil of Lethe here is quite safe at the Ministry of Magic. You should be more than fee to allow young Sirius to deal with his brother. If that is what you think best. I will not refuse any extra help in that particular endeavor." The wizard said, eyeing her intently.

Annikaya nodded. "Thank you sir. I think he'll want to help. My sister made a prophesy."

"I am quite aware of your sister's rather formidable talents. But now I believe Sirius will be wondering where you are."

Annikaya stood, smiled gratefully at the very kind Headmaster, and headed back to find Sirius.

Although Sirius was usually the type to brood-he had over fifty different plans on ways a certain rat should die-he was in a relatively good mood when Annikaya found him wandering rather aimlessly down the halls.

"Come on. I'll give you that tour you wanted." He told her.

Annikaya acquiesced and didn't bring up her conversation with Dumbledore, not wanting to ruin Sirius' mood. Besides, it could wait.

Sirius pulled her into the library, grinning as her eyes lit up and her fingers began to twitch hungrily.

"I could stay in here forever." she proclaimed dreamily. She scanned the shelves eagerly and reached out to grab the spine of a thin little blue book Sirius recognized.

"Uh, don't touch that one." He stopped her.

She looked at him curiously.

"A bunch of first years hexed it awhile ago. Snape never could figure out how he kept breaking out in orange boils." His expression was one of artful innocence.

"And you wonder why the man doesn't like you." she replied dryly.

Something caught her attention and she went to the window and opened it. Thoughtfully she regarded the summer rain storm just beyond the sill.

"Let's go outside."

"It's raining out Annikaya." he said, knowing perfectly well that she knew. He also knew perfectly well that she was going to get her way so he didn't protest too much as she led him out onto the lawn. Why she wanted to be out in such weather she still hadn't divulged.

Annikaya plopped down on the wet turf and pulled off her shoes and socks, wiggling her feet contentedly as fat raindrops fell on them. Her hair was rapidly becoming plastered to her head. She had pulled out her ponytail and the wet strands framed her face as she looked up at Sirius.

"Take off your shoes." She demanded.

"Why?"

"Because it's fun." she said, getting up and then she began to twirl around in circles with a delighted laugh painted on her face. "I haven't done this in years!"

Sirius shook his mop of hair out of his face and weighed his options. "Oh well. When in Rome..." The large black dog joined Annikaya in her romp.

After a bit Annikaya dropped breathlessly to the shining green. She dug her toes into wet grass, watching the water roll off onto her feet and to the earth. The dog sat down beside her, tail wagging.

She wrinkled her nose. "You smell like wet dog!" He barked.

Annikaya laughed and lay back with her eyes closed, letting the raindrops fall directly on her face. "I promised myself once that I would never grow up. I'm glad I remembered."

Sirius returned to his human form. "I'm glad too."

"No surprise there. You don't relax often enough." she told him, hoping he'd recognize the truth of that and go easier on himself in the future. He didn't say anything and she hoped that meant he was thinking about it.

She could feel her feet starting to go numb as the chill from the rain worked its way into her. "I think it's time to go in." she said after a bit. "We can get the house elves to make us some fudge."

Sirius shot upright like he'd been shocked with a red hot poker. "Fudge!"

"Wha-"

Sirius pulled her to her feet and took off running toward Hogsmead. "Tell Dumbledore Regulus is going to kill the Minister!"

Annikaya decided to ignore him and follow him instead. They passed a startled Hagrid as he came out of his hut and Annikaya yelled the message to him. Hagrid, used to strange women yelling about death plots, took off for Dumbledore. Sirius and Annikaya ran further and apparated to the Ministry of Magic, only hoping they got there in time.

The attack was taking place as they materialized on the front steps. They ran past the shattered and pitted façade of the building, ducking colorful curses from both sides. They tried hard not to look at the hand that stretched out from beneath the rubble of the ceiling imploringly, the dark spots on the already dark wood floor, or the many still shapes on the ground.

With all the rubble on the floor and the blood and other things Sirius was forced to stop and transfigure them a pair of shoes or risk serious injury. The two darted out from behind the shelter of some debris and raced over the hole that had been the wand registration desk.

There was a smoking black crater where the lift had been. They raced to the stairs, pulling open the heavy door just as someone managed to catch Sirius with some sort of curse. He fell to the floor, his eyes rolling back in his head. Dimly he could hear Annikaya.

"Finite Incantatum!"

He wondered where she'd learned that one. She pulled him to his feet, much as he'd done for her earlier and they took off, not bothering to fire a return volley at Sirius' assailant.

They raced over the stairs, pausing at each corner to make sure there were no ambushes. There was one on the fifth stairwell landing that Sirius broke up with a gravity spell that pinned them to the ceiling. Before they could come up with the counter spell Sirius and Annikaya were two flights away. He didn't even know if they had been Death Eaters or just ministry workers trying not to get killed themselves.

The two would-be-rescuers ran out on the floor of Fudge's office. There were papers scattered all over the floor and a scorch mark on one wall. Cautiously Sirius and Annikaya peered into Fudge's office. A dark haired woman was sitting in his chair, shoes up on the desk, with a glass of alcohol clearly from the Minister's own stores.

"Ah. Cousin. So good of you to join us." She put her feet on the floor and stood, her dark Death Eater robes clinging tightly to her.

"Bellatrix." Sirius ground out. "Where's Fudge?"

Bellatrix smirked. "With Regulus. They're making a visit to the Unspeakables."

"Thank you." He paused. "Oh, and Bella? Morganella Moranii!"

A look of shock crossed the woman's face and she toppled over. Her wand, which had been secretly aiming for him, clattered onto the floor.

"Do unto others." Sirius said and Annikaya remembered it had been the Bellatrix of their world that had gotten Sirius into this whole mess in the first place. Apparently there were a few vindictive feelings on Sirius' part.

They raced back to the stairwell, hoping it wasn't too late to save the Minister's life. Even if Sirius did think he was an idiot.

Although there had been more activity on the stairs as they raced for the Department of Mysteries, level nine was itself as still as a tomb-which Sirius chose not to dwell on. The floor echoed their steps betrayingly no matter how quiet they tried to be. Long shadows danced fitfully across the floor and walls. Sirius, having been in the Department of Mysteries all too recently, led Annikaya unerringly. They froze as they heard voices ahead.

"Now Minister Fudge we won't be disturbed."

Fudge could be heard blubbering.

"My Lord is very disappointed in you Cornelius. You told him, promised him, that the vote would go through. So what are we going to do now, hmmm?"

"He doesn't understand! Dumbledore messed it up! I couldn't do anything!"

"My Lord is very disappointed. And He doesn't like disappointments Cornelius."

Fudge went back to babbling incoherently, trying to beg for his life.

Sirius and Annikaya crept closer.

"I'm sorry Minister but perhaps your replacement will be more competent."

Sirius stepped out before the other man could cast an irreversible curse. Sirius didn't say anything; he didn't need to.

Regulus looked up, the veil fluttering menacingly behind him, Fudge crouching at his feet. "Come to join in the fun, Sirius? I'll even let you do the honors." He gestured to the pathetic groveling Minister. "I know how much you hate him."

"You have to stop Regulus. Even now reinforcements are on their way."

"Dumbledore's precious little Order? Don't be ridiculous. By the time they get here I'll be long gone."

"Not if I stop you Regulus. You know this isn't right. You've become our father."

The younger man grinned darkly and he looked so much like his brother. "That's low, even for you. But I'm nothing like father. He never had what it takes. I do." He leveled his wand at Sirius, who remained unmoved. "How about a duel for old time's sake? You won't stop me with a silly rectusempra this time."

Sirius said nothing, standing cool and collected. Fudge was watching Regulus and a look of comprehension crossed his face. He scrambled to the side of the room and what he hoped was out of the way.

"Incendio!" Regulus shouted. And the battle began.

"Confundo!" Sirius shouted as he dodged.

"Diffindo!"

"Furniculus!"

Fudge began edging toward the door.

"Flagrate!"

"Densaugo!"

"Losing your touch Sirius? Those are all children's spells."

"Locomotor Mortis!" The leg-locking spell clipped Regulus and he spat out the counter spell, ducking the next hurled curse.

Annikaya caught sight of Fudge trying to sneak out the door. "Oh no you don't! Petrificus Totalus!" The Minister went down like a sack of potatoes and Annikaya silently thanked Tumbleweed for teaching her a few spells. "I don't trust you." She told the Minister and promptly sat on him to keep him from going anywhere. Then she stuck his wand down her shirt for good measure. ************************************************************************ The battle between Sirius and Regulus waged on. Sirius was sporting some nasty burns from the blue bell flames spell and Regulus was limping.

"Where's Dumbledore to save you now?" Regulus taunted.

"I could ask the same of Voldemort." Sirius ground out. "Do you think he would ever try to save you if you were in trouble? Look what he does to those who need help!"

"You'll pay for that! Dissendium!"

Sirius dodged a hair too slow and the edge of his robes became even more shredded.

"Engorgio!"

Annikaya turned to her prisoner and jabbed him sharply in the chest. "If Sirius gets killed because of you I'm going to make sure you don't outlive him." She threatened. Too bad they hadn't known he was working for the Dark Lord when they'd run to the ministry to save him.

Both men were cut and bleeding, little spots of slippery blood lying treacherously on the floor.

"How does it feel to be second best at everything?" Regulus taunted, long black hair swinging around his face.

Sirius didn't answer, in much worse shape than his younger brother. He just turned the other's knee caps inside out.

"Maybe once I've finished you off I'll take care of that mudblood Tonks."

"You're just jealous because her parents loved her!"

That comment pushed the Death Eater over the edge and he shot off a quick spell, knocking Sirius to the floor.

"Avada-"

"Silencio!" Followed on the heels of the first spell Sirius yelled out something more and Regulus froze in place, unable to speak the rest of the Unforgivable Curse or move.

Sirius stood wearily, wincing as his injuries made themselves known. Annikaya wanted to run to him but Fudge was eyeing her with a shifty speculating look.

"Sirius?"

"I'll survive." he assured her.

"What about him?" she gestured to the very enraged statue of Regulus Black.

"I used the permanent sticking charm on him. He can't get himself undone." Sirius laughed humorlessly. "My mother's painting is stuck on the wall with that charm back at the house and we still haven't been able to get it undone."

She didn't remark when he called it 'the house' and not home. Number 12 Grimmauld Place didn't really sound like the kind of place one could call home.

Suddenly there came the sound of hurried feet and Dumbledore an several other people came into sight.

"Nice of you to finally get here." Sirius said blithely, ignoring the rather interesting expressions on the faces of Dumbledore's companions.

"We were unavoidably detained in the stairwell." Dumbledore said calmly.

His companions, a few medi-witches and a few more aurors, were still looking very confused. Sirius Black? An incapacitated Death Eater? The Minister of Magic stunned and being sat on?

Madame Pomphrey appeared from down the hall. "Shame on you Mr. Black! You're always getting injured and bleeding all over the floor." She made it sound like a very dire offense and her apparent disregard for the entire strange situation stirred the others to action.

"Why are you sitting on the Minister of Magic?" one of the aurors asked.

"He's in league with Voldemort! He promised he could get some bill passed and when he failed Regulus was going to kill him. He admitted to the whole thing." Annikaya said angrily, poking Fudge hard. If the Minister could have moved he would have flinched.

Dumbledore nodded. "I suspected as much."

Annikaya allowed the aurors to undo her spell and handed Fudge's wand over to Dumbledore, not quite trusting the aurors. They seemed nice enough but she knew Dumbledore.

With the spell off, Fudge sat up quite fast and began glaring fiercely at Annikaya. "That's all quite ridiculous! The young lady is clearly covering for Black!"

"Which Black? Because one of us is wearing Death Eater robes and the other's not. And both of us are quite willing to undergo verituserum." Sirius said, a medi-witch fussing over a deep gash above his eyebrow. Of course, Regulus wouldn't really be willing to undergo the truth drug but with the circumstances as they were, he wouldn't have a choice.

The two aurors restraining Fudge grinned nastily and walked off with him. They apparently didn't like him much. Maybe it was because Fudge's latest budget cuts had dropped their salary. Things didn't look so good for Fudge.

The other aurors were still trying to figure out how to unstick Regulus. It looked like he might be stuck there for awhile.

Dumbledore was eyeing the whole scene of chaos with serenity. Finally he pulled out a softly glowing stone basin and directed Annikaya on how to put her memories of the encounter with the Minister into the pensieve. Sirius also put his memories in, having to shoo off some industrious medi-witches who became quite peeved with their patient.

Dumbledore leaned down and spoke in a conspiratorial whisper. "You might chose to leave now before the aurors can stop you or the Unspeakables show up. Unless you'd prefer to stay. I suspect we'll be needing to fill a few high ministry positions soon and you two will have quite the reputation." His eyes were twinkling with mirth.

Sirius eyed the frozen form of his brother thoughtfully for a moment. "No thank you sir. I think I've finally realized you can't help someone who doesn't want it."

"A hard lesson to learn but an important one."

Sirius walked up to Regulus, knowing he could still hear him. "You can still go the other way Regulus and be a good person. But you have to do it for yourself."

And before the aurors or anyone else could stop them, the two travellors stepped through the veil. Everyone stared at the veil, most in stages of disbelief and shock.

Dumbledore shook his head. "They forgot their shoes and socks!"