Chapter 22: Family Affair

The next morning, at Hogwarts, life was a little bit brighter. Before breakfast had even dawned on any of the students, Hermione and Amelia had, had a little chat and Hermione had apologized to Amelia for her behavior and the main reasoning behind it. Amelia assured Hermione that she was going to be very careful around Draco and assured her that it wasn't what everyone assumed was happening. A very restless night had grasped the friends and before class could start that day everyone but Dominic had spoken to Amelia, voiced their concerns in a civilized manner and given their approval to Amelia in any endeavor she would decide to follow. Amelia was happy to have her friends back and had apologized for spending so much time with Draco and not the people who mattered most to her. She wasn't ready herself to talk to her brother, so she was happy that he hadn't come to her, but she was happy with her friends again and had enjoyed a cheerful breakfast. She sat down between Harry and Ron and enjoyed what was spread before them. When she was finished she met Draco Malfoy at the entrance to the great hall and walked with him to her Transfigurations class.

Dominic had stayed in the dormitory until classes were about to start. His mothers classroom was very close to where he was and that happened to be the class he would be starting his day with. Upon arriving at his class room Harry came around the corner and met him at the door.

"Look, Harry," he said they walked to their seats, "I am really sorry about last night. I didn't mean to try and start a fight with you. I was just angry."

"Yeah I figured as much," Harry laughed, "don't worry about it. You have more important things to worry about, like what are you going to say to Amelia to make her forgive you."

"That I have not been able to figure out," Dominic sighed, "she's gonna be angry with me for a long time no matter what I say or how I say it."

"You're probably right," Harry agreed, "your best bet will probably be to leave her be for a couple of days."

"Yeah," Dominic said as his mother entered the room and the lesson was started.

When class had ended Dominic waved to Harry and waited for his mothers class room to clear out. He had a spare study period right after her class and he needed very desperately to talk to his mother. He knew that if anything, she could make him feel better about the situation with Amelia and possibly give him some advice on how to deal with what he had done. When the final students had left he walked back into the class room and up to his mothers desk, where she sat consumed by the papers she had to mark.

"Is something wrong Dominic?" she asked as she finally looked up to see him.

"I think I have done something really terrible and I don't know what do you," he said.

"I could tell something wasn't right," she said as she stood and walked around her desk, "what happened?" she asked and Dominic proceeded to tell his mother everything that had happened the night before, "well I can understand your concern Dominic," she smiled as she hugged him, "you and Amelia are closer than anyone can every dream of getting to another person and that is probably what makes this so hard. The two of you are so spiritually and mentally bound to each other. You would rather smother her and protect her from everything rather than letting her go. That is what will really tear at you, but you have to Dominic. She has to live her own life. Even though you can't control everything anymore you have to understand that you will always be there for each other. Amelia will learn on her own whether or not Draco is worthy of her friendship and I am sure you and her will be fine. She'll forgive you in her own time but she needs to figure out on her own why you did it in the first place." his mother said.

"But was I wrong? Like really wrong mum?" Dominic asked.

"I understand why you did it darling, but yes it was wrong of you to do that to your sister," she said.

"Thanks mum," Dominic smiled, "I'll let you get back to your work." he said as he hugged her once more and headed for the door.

"Dominic, darling, I am sure Amelia does appreciate you looking after her, just as much as I do," Belinda called, "and truly I do as well, sweetheart. I know you are very worried about me and I am sorry for putting you through all this."

Dominic walked slowly back to her desk and looked sadly at his mother.

"What is it dear?" she asked.

"I am trying to think of the best way to word this so as to not make you upset with me as well," he said sitting down on the edge of the desk.

"I'm not going to get mad at you," she giggled a little, "what is on your mind?"

"Are you Occlumentic?" Dominic asked hesitantly.

"Why do you ask?" his mother asked with a smile.

"Because I can't read you, I mean I don't try to break into your mind but I can normally read everyone. Well not Amelia or Harry anymore but you know what I mean right or am I just completely losing my mind?" he asked his face filled with confusion.

"Oh Dominic," Belinda giggled, "don't worry darling, your not going crazy. I am but I have never told anyone until now. Its something, along with many things that I have kept secret from many people for a very long time. I don't think you or your sister would be as good at it if I weren't I am sure part of it is genetic but I had to learn it on my own, unlike you two."

"You've got it mastered then," Dominic said with a smile.

"Well I don't know about that," She said.

"Oh you have to be mum or we would be able to see into your mind that you were hiding stuff. You're like Harry, didn't know it but really you do," Dominic smiled, "I'll explain it to you another time. Its probably best if you don't know to let people go poking around just now!"

"You see," she laughed, "what would I do without you!"

Dominic smiled for a minute, happy with the realization of what he wanted to know but his face twisted again with another realization. His mother noticed it and could tell another great question was coming. She smiled at him and motioned for him to go on and he could tell that she already knew that something else had enveloped his mind.

"Why didn't you tell us about Fawkes?" he asked finally.

"That bird is very special," his mother said, "a lot of the keys to a lot of our lives are within that bird and the secrets that I keep from everyone are only to protect you. Dominic I can't tell you exactly what the bird means because I fear for your life or that the information would fall into the wrong hands and so I will not tell you. But I will say this, so long as Voldemort is alive and terrorizing our world, our family and that bird will be in great danger."

"At least I know this much," Dominic said feeling happy and yet feeling a great weight on his shoulders, "is there anything I can do?"

"I don't think there is, dear," Belinda said softly, "if there is I am sure you will know it in its time, but as of right now everything is in Dumbledore's hands to keep us safe."

"Alright mum," Dominic smiled, "thank you for telling me, your secret is safe with me."

"I know it is my darling!" She smiled, "but you best get back to your studies!"

"I know,"Dominic sighed.

"Good-bye dear," she called out as he walked away from her desk.

"Bye mum, love you!" he called to her and closed the door behind himself.

After the morning classes were over Dominic couldn't stand his hunger pains anymore and rushed to the great hall to get something to eat. There he met up with Harry and Hermione who had just arrived from their classes. Dominic sat down quickly apologized to Hermione for his actions the pervious night and began to shovel some food into his mouth.

"Well you seem to be feeling better," Harry laughed as he watched Dominic.

"I had a talk with my mum," Dominic smiled, "I think things will be ok... maybe not today but eventually."

"Yeah they will," Hermione smiled, "as long as you don't choke on your food today and die of eating to fast." she said a bit disgusted.

Ron arrived taking a seat next to Hermione and watching Dominic with a look of confusion and amazement.

"I'm sorry Hermione, I guess I should really work on some manners," Dominic laughed.

"What did your mum have to say Dominic?" Harry asked finally as he noticed Amelia come into the great hall with Draco, "any developments?"

"Sorta," Dominic said as he too saw Amelia, "but not something I should really say here and now. I am kinda confused by it all but lets just say Occlumency runs in the family."

"So she is then," Harry said a bit excited, "it makes so much more sense now!"

"Shhhh, Harry, keep it down. Mum doesn't want anyone to know. Its something she never told anyone not even Snape," Dominic said as Amelia sat down listening to the conversation about their mother.

"What else did she say Dominic?" Amelia asked forgetting her anger toward her brother and feeling intrigued by the development.

Dominic was surprised that she had even acknowledged his presents at the table, so surprised that he nearly choked on his food.

"Well?" she asked.

"Um... well its something for our ears only Amelia," He said then looked at his friends, "no offence to any of you but I think Amelia and I should agree on whether or not to tell anyone about it or not. Its really quite vague as it is." he said hesitantly.

"You're probably right Dominic," Amelia said as she put some bread in a napkin and stuffed it into her bag, "come on we have to talk." she said and stood up.

"Ok," Dominic said throwing down his utensils and napkin.

Amelia walked quickly out of the great hall. Dominic struggled to keep up with his sisters power walk. He could tell she was still angry and a bit short tempered but he knew that he had to talk to her.

Harry, Ron and Hermione watched stunned as they left.

"Butter beers in Hogsmade says she's gonna tear a strip off him," Ron said as he watched them leave.

"I'll take that bet but I bet they are fine when all is said and done," Hermione said before Harry could reply and catching Ron off guard.

"You taking part in gambling Hermione Granger!" Ron laughed.

"Yes Ronald, contrary to popular belief I do know how to have fun!" Hermione stated.

Amelia walked fast down the halls of the school. Dominic followed silently trying to keep up. Finally Amelia stopped pushed a brick in the walk and a door appeared. They slipped through the door and into a dark hallway where she stopped and looked sternly at Dominic.

"How did you know this was here?" Dominic asked out of breath as he sunk to the floor.

"I too have studied the Marauders map, but without the intentions of spying," she stated angrily as she sat down on the floor beside him.

"Yeah, that was a very stupid move on my part, really I am sorry about it. I was just worried about you and scared I was losing you. I mean I know I have to let you go one day but I didn't think it would be this soon and it scared me to think of not having you around." Dominic stated as his face turned red and tears welled in his eyes.

"Dom, you're not losing me but you can't smother me either," Amelia said taking her brothers hand, "I know that we have been close, so close, for all of our lives and you are right it is a scary thought to not have you around all the time but its something that will happen. You know I will always be connected to you no matter what happens but I also have to live my own life and make my own decision."

"I know that," Dominic said squeezed his sisters hand, "even though I don't want you to I know I can't stop you. I am sorry for what I did. Please don't hate me."

"I don't hate you Dom, and I understand why you did it. But if you can do it then you shouldn't be so stuck on the fact that Snape tried too. If anyone was following a Slytherin-ish path it was totally you!" she said in a matter of fact tone.

"Yeah you are right," Dominic sighed, "I wasn't thinking, I was letting my passion get in the way of my intelligence."

"Ok this isn't one of your martial arts classes but at least you get the point," Amelia laughed.

Dominic laughed as well and dried his eyes, "are we ok now?" he asked with a very childish uncertain tone.

"Oh I am still mad at you and probably will be for a while," Amelia said then smiled, "but yeah we are ok."

Dominic smiled and hugged his sister tightly then remembered what had spawned their conversation in the first place, "about mum," he said finally.

"Yes, so she's occlumentic?" Amelia asked.

"Yeah, but we suspected that already so I am not really surprised," Dominic said, "the thing that got to me though was she told me about the phoenix or rather what she couldn't tell me about Fawkes."

"What she couldn't tell you?" Amelia asked confused.

"Yeah, she said that she couldn't tell me exactly what the phoenix meant in everything but that the safety of our family, as long as Voldemort is alive rests in Dumbledore's hands and the safety of the bird," Dominic stated as he watching his sister become more confused, "I mean that's what I wanted to hear but not quite. It just put a bigger weight on my shoulders knowing that yes the bird is involved but not knowing why."

"That is strange, maybe we should read more about it," Amelia said after a long silence and obvious contemplation on the subject, "you were right to not tell everyone at the table today, listening ears need not know, but I think that it would be in our best interest if we want to learn more about the situation to involve them. Maybe Harry, Ron and Hermione can tell us things we don't know about the magic of the phoenix."

"You're probably right," Dominic stated, "but I wanted to make sure you knew before anyone else. This is very much a family affair whether mum likes it or not."

"Yes it is!" Amelia said and they left the dark passage for their afternoon classes.