Chapter 2 -- Secret's Out

A/N: We don't own the characters, J. K. does. Jo owns Doni though. I think there are going to be two more chapters.

"OK! Now, Doni, you be Max, the mad muggle," he pointed at the quivering house elf.

"Of course, Nate, you always are Max's mud blood friend," he directed his attention to his stuffed dog, "What's Nutzo Nate for any way, other than to get his muggle friend out of trouble."

Lifting his head, ever so slightly to display is aristocratic features, the young pure blood declares, " And I will be the infamous auror, Sirius Black, who always keeps the two worlds safe and separate!"

Suddenly, a shrill voice erupted from down the dank corridor, and again it screeched, "DONI, YOU INSOLENT LITTLE BEAST." Before another sound was emitted the tiny, terrified creature popped out of sight. With a large and overly dramatic sigh the black haired boy sunk to the floor in front of his stuffed companion. "Well, you know house elves never do make good muggles anyhow," Sirius expressed. Decidedly, Sirius and Nate in tow, scrambled down to the veranda to find someone or something more efficient to play with.

At the sound of giggling, the boy froze in his steps. He was never allowed in on secret witch business before, Sirius thought this would be the best time to practice his spy techniques. He crept through the narrow opening of the veranda's French doors and swiftly made it to the hedges.

"…And he's so handsome." Narcissa giggled, "Those freckles and that red hair." Sirius rolled his eyes at this type of secret witch business from behind his blind.

In a highly affected voice Andromeda remarked, "A Gryffindor too."

His cousin, Cissa replied laughingly, "Well, I can over look the fact that he isn't a Slytherin since HE is a pureblood. True Love isn't always perfect."

The small hidden boy telepathically relayed his shock at this loophole in seemingly black and white rules to Nate.

The older witch said with worldly clairvoyance to the younger one, "Does this true love of yours feel the same way too?

"Dromeda, you are such a pessimist. Of course, He does!" she said assuredly, "At least I think he does. Before he left he went all red and mumbled to me something about going to Hogsmead," wiggling her eyebrows, "Just the two of us" Sirius had no idea why his blond cousin had exploded into a fit of laughter. Andromeda, on the other hand seemed slightly put off at her sister's pessimism remark. Rather than store her discontent, she chewed out, "I am not such the pessimist you believe that I am. Narcissa" The boy knew something was wrong because his cousin Dromeda never sounded like that.

"By whatever do you mean, my dear sister. I know you like the back of my hand." Cissa responded gleefully.

"NO, You don't !", Andromeda growled, "Maybe this said Pessimism masks a love you couldn't possibly understand."

"Dromeda, I didn't know you had such a flair for the dramatics," her sister said defiantly.

"See, there you go again, Narcissa. Look at yourself, Look at what you've become!" tears brimming her eyes, "You, Like nearly every other person in my life can only love a person with exceptions, only if you can make them lovable,"

Even through her sister's crying histrionics were oddly out of place, these criticisms stung. With a strong chin, "What are you going on about?" Narcissa said defensively. He couldn't understand why Narcissa was making Andromeda cry, but Sirius could feel his anger bubbling inside him.

Taking her sister's hands in her, the brunette said endearingly, " I have learned to love with my whole heart despite everything. Ted taught me that."

The child had heard hushed conversations everywhere he went about this boy named Ted but he never knew him or why he mattered. The little boy began inching forward in a dire need to know what all this meant.

Narcissa snatched her hands away as if her sister was diseased, icily she said, "Ted Tonks, the mud blood father told you never to be seen with again. You shamed father. Hell, father told you until you were a black and blue mess."

Andromeda felt like screaming at her sister's indignation, she rose to her feet and stated, "That is not love, that isn't how you treat a loved one, that isn't how you love a child."

Sirius felt the raw magic aloft and it was steadily make this heated battle much worse. The boy in the bushes held on to the stuffed dog for the reassurance that his cousins anger wouldn't harm the other.

"How do you know that it isn't love? How would you know how to treat a loved one? How would you know to love a child?" she said accusingly, "You too, are part of this family!"

Andromeda wanted to laugh at her sister's stupidity, instead she said the truth that she knew in her heart, "I know this isn't love cause Ted would never hit me. I know how to treat a loved one because I am smart enough to marry him. And I'm having his baby, that is how I know how to love a child."

Witnessing tears streak down Andromeda's face and hearing her words with her heart for once, instead of her ears. She felt compelled to reach out and embrace her older sister; knocking all society standards aside.

When Narcissa's hands clasped around Dromeda's shoulders, she felt her sisters masks finally fall away. She smoothed down her sisters hair and pulled away when Andromeda sobbing softened.

Sirius was relieved to see that Andromeda was feeling better and Cissa was about to say she was sorry.

"Dromeda, You are the bravest person I know" the blond stated.

The older witch smiled sweetly and began to lightly laugh, "Why am I crying? It is Spring Holiday and soon school will end, then my dreams will come true. No one ever cries right before they lived happily ever after."

Sirius had decided that his cousins need him and to slowly work his way out of the bushes. Narcissa was about to say something when a little wizard appeared from the bushes. Sirius ran over and climbed into his older cousin's lap. He desperately wanted his favorite Dromeda to stop crying, so he latched on to her neck and squeezed as hard as he could, then kissed her cheek.

"I love you, Dromeda" he said in her ear.

"I love you too," she replied. He wanted to tell the new baby he loved it too. Since, until recently, his little brother Regulus lived in his mother's tummy. So the wizard dropped to his feet, so he was next to his cousin's flat stomach, he put a small dirty hand over her abdomen, "I love you too, new cousin," he said.

The sister gave a horrified gasp at the fact that Sirius had heard everything. Andromeda was the first to speak, she told the child nicely, "I bet the baby will love you just as much, but Sirius can ask a favor of you?"

Sirius smiled and lightly punched her arm, "Sure! What are cousins for?"

"Sirius, I need you not to tell anyone about what you heard. Not the conversation between Cissa and I, Not the baby, or the guys, Ok?" she explained.

"But, Dromeda, I love the baby and I know no matter what she will belong" he pleaded.

"I know Sirius, but I need to tell everyone first. How about I tell the family tonight. So you don't have to keep the secret very long." she tried to convince him.

"All right," he agreed dejectedly.

With the situation dealt with, Narcissa spoke, "Boy, am I hungry. Looks about lunch time."

Sirius began bouncing excitedly about the prospect of food, "Yep, Looks about lunch time," he said attempting to hid his enthusiasm.

"Do you know what you want?" the blond asked.

The little boy pondered for a second, then he blurted out, "Not yet, but I definitely want…."

Andromeda cut him off saying, "Chocolate milk." Grabbing her hand Sirius led the trio off the veranda towards the kitchen. But not before diving into to the bushes to bring Nate along.
When the trio reached the dining room, Mr. Devlin Black was seated at the head of the table, with his wife, Bronwen to his left and Bellatrix to his right. In a superior tone Devlin said, "Narcissa, Andromeda I need a private word with you"

Bronwen turned on Sirius, when the word private was spoke. She curtly said, "Sirius, please go to the nursery and Doni will fetch you when lunch is served." Sirius felt the need to be brave and stay to protect his cousins from his horrible uncle. He knew what would happen if he went away. The same thing happened at his house all the time, more when his parents were angry. Sirius didn't want this for them.

He stood still full of all the courage, his small frame could hold up against his menacing uncle. "But I am…," he had no time to finish his retort before his uncle had firmly grasped his arm and had pulled the child to the entrance. Uncle Devlin was angry and Sirius knew it. His fathomless blue eyes pierced Sirius soul, when the uncle twisted him to look him in the face.

"Sirius Black, you are the heir to this family. You should learn now there are no exceptions in the noble and most ancient house of Black," he drawled, "Now your aunt said go to the nursery." Upon finishing his tirade Uncle Devlin shoved Sirius pasted the doors toward the elegant staircase.

A/N: So the last chapter, we met a very old souled Bellatrix. I thought the conversation between the author and the beta would explain their thoughts on the character.

Author: I think that Bella has always been that way, the perfect pureblood child
Beta: these ppl are really picky on how they see the characters
Author: I think she's too smart for her own good, she knows that her sisters are slacking & she wants to be the best. i think Bella knows that as a girl she's got to work harder to make herself be taken seriuosly
Beta: yeah,
Author: she feels like she's the only hope for the family...Andromeda is too nice, & caring...Narcissa is the perfect Aryan beauty & an air head, not a schemer..Bella is the last hope
Beta: So we see her the same way
Author: Yeah, maybe I'll explain our motivation in an AN