Sniffy: Very short AN: I came back from my trip to the coast two days ago. I just checked this chapter and hell...
This is the LONGEST chapter I ever wrote - REALLY! ( still I had to cut two pages because I was too tired to end it the way I planed .
No response for reviews today: I LOVE YOU GUYS but I have enough - maybe next time...
W: Chapter UNBETAED - YOU WANTED ME TO UPDATE SO SUFFER THE CONSECUENCES - BUT I THINK THAT 34 PAGES IS ENOUGH FOR YOU. FOLLOW THE VIOLET BUTTON ( IT MEANS - LEAVE A REVIEW ).
Chapter sixteen: Days.
Mrs. Weasley let Ron and Ginny stay at the meeting for some reason. Raven by the end of the meting thought that it went quite well, well except the fact that Mirzam and Mrs. Weasley were killing each other with their glares. Suddenly Raven remembered something.
"Mum?" he asked in whisper "Why only two stocks are available for Weasleys?"
"Because the third floor is a Black territory entirely. Hell I may let there anyone except that bossy red head and her family. Yes, even Snape" Mirzam whispered back.
"But the stairs Mirzam, Weasleys can get into third floor by it" said Rowan quietly.
Mirzam grinned into her goblet of wine "Nope. They can't. I used Confundus charm on the third floor. Besides it will not reveal without a password which Weasleys doesn't know of course and hell will frozen if I ever would tell them it"
"Mirzam but if Weasleys doesn't know the password so are we" Rowan whispered.
Mirzam only stared into her eyes. Then she glanced at Harry, Neville, Draco, Regulus, Belinda, Dora, Remus, Andromeda, Ted, Talitha, Narcissa, Sirius, Snape, Kyle, Thabit and Raven.
"You can find third floor behind Black Tapestry. You have to repeat password in your head when you get there. The password is: Mrs. Hooter" Raven heard his mother voice in his head.
"Aunt Mirzam where is Black Tapestry now?" asked Thabit at loud.
"On second floor where the old stairs were, you know the third floor needs a good refreshing so it's out for anyone" Mirzam smiled sweetly.
Raven saw that Snape leaned towards Sirius and said something to him. Sirius said something back and both men burst in laugh.
Mirzam eyed them quizzically.
"I was expressing my admiration to wonderful woman and brilliant head of the house, in short words you, Miss. Verascez but soon to be Mrs. Black – what a terrible lose for men race because of yours marriage with Mr. Black, every guy should have so wonderful wife like you, not only Mr. Black – that it is a wonderful idea to do this what you are planning to do with third floor and as Mr. Black told me it was your idea" Snape said in nice voice.
Mirzam tried to hide her blush behind her goblet, which send Those-One-Who-Know-What-Mirzam-Really-Had-Done into, fits of giggle and made Mirzam blushing even harder.
"Thank you Severus. I'm glad that some people appreciate my work in the Order and in the house," said Mirzam smiling innocently which send certain people into fits of giggles again.
"Fishing for compliments Mirzam?" asked Sirius innocently.
"You can said so" Mirzam smiled at him.
"Raven! We had to take Harry onto third floor" Rowan whispered into Raven's ear.
"Why?" he asked quietly.
"He doesn't know anything. We had to take him as far away from Weasleys as we could. Now!" Rowan hissed into his ear.
"Mum can we go upstairs?" asked Raven at loud.
"Of course, you can go now, the meting is over" Mirzam said smiling.
Draco and Neville grabbed Harry and dragged him out of the kitchen. Raven, Rowan, Thabit and Kyle went after them. Raven caught a glimpse of rather annoyed Ron, but he didn't care. They almost bumped on the wall which appeared to be were staircase to third floor were before, almost because Harry forgot to think about password and he bumped his nose into wall.
"Why Aunt Mirzam doesn't want this red heads to know where the entrance into third floor is?" asked Thabit.
"Because…" Raven started but was cut by Mirzam herself.
"Because this floor is our territory and I will not let here anyone who I don't want to be here"
"What about professor Snape?" asked Neville.
"I can stand him around, besides after the quarrel with Mrs. Weasley Sirius can stand him around too, besides he can play bridge when Weasley woman can't" said Mirzam.
"Do you have a place to play? And who have a deck of carts?" asked Snape from behind Mirzam.
"At the attic, I'm going to change it into spare living-room and dinning-room tomorrow, of course with the help of the other Black ladies" Mirzam motioned towards the entrance to the attic at the other end of the hall.
"Who will play with us?" asked Sirius the rest of the crowd.
"I can. But you have to teach me how to play. It's muggle game and you know," said Narcissa.
"Ted and I are going to the bed. Ted is going to work tomorrow and I had to be in St. Mungo tomorrow morning" said Andromeda and she and Ted left.
"I'm tired Sirius, Dora too" said Remus and he and Dora left.
"Don't look at me Sirius. I flew from Canada today and I should go to bed" said Belinda.
"I'm tired and I have to be You-Know-Where tomorrow at 7am so maybe other day" said Regulus.
"Mum?" asked Sirius.
"I will play with you but maybe next time. I like bridge. I should go to bed now, I'm tired and in my age denying sleep for more than sixteen hours is not wise. Another time if you excuse me. Goodnight everybody" said Talitha.
"Kids?" asked Sirius.
"Nope Uncle. We have to fill Harry in," said Draco.
"So it leaves the four of us. Pity I was hoping on small Bridge tournament" said Sirius and he, Mirzam, Narcissa and Snape left.
The kids hauled Harry into Raven's room and started explaining him everything.
They went into beds good after 2am.
"Wake up breakfast in ten minutes and you can stay in yours pyjamas" Narcissa woke them up.
"Aunt Cissy its 8am" Thabit groaned.
"That's why you should go to bed at last around midnight. You mean you slept all in Raven's bed?"
"More or less auntie. We throw Thabit and Draco on the floor after they stole whole blanket" said Harry at the same time trying to hold a yawn.
Narcissa smiled at them.
"I don't know if we should stay in pyjamas Cissy, Mrs. Weasley will not like it," said Rowan.
"Last time I checked this was House of Blacks not House of Weasleys. In ten minutes, all seven" Narcissa said before she left the room.
Five minutes later whole seven found themselves in the kitchen.
"No breakfast for those in pyjamas" Mrs. Weasley muttered.
"In your house you may live for that rule, but it's the House of Blacks not the House of Weasleys. Sit down kids, pancakes will be in few minutes, if Mirzam will success in drawing Sirius away from the stove" Andromeda muttered.
"It's not my fault that he is cooling down when he is cooking" Mirzam sat down next to Raven.
"Sirius! We want a breakfast not a feast" Talitha showed her older son to the table.
"Mum!" Sirius tried to protest.
"Pancakes!" Andromeda turned to them with a plate full of pancakes.
"I want a one with jam," Thabit yelled.
"Who hid the maple syrup again?" Mirzam asked.
"Me. Did I told you that you are beautiful when you are angry?" asked Sirius turning to Mirzam.
Mirzam only stared at him in shock.
"Sirius are you getting married?" asked Ginny.
"Yep. It's not that we weren't married before, it's only because I forgot to register our marriage seventeen years ago, besides if I tried to make it casual I will be killed by mum and Andie" Sirius muttered.
"It's not everyday when your sons are getting married, and I wasn't on your first wedding Sirius…" Talitha started.
"Mum! Spare me!" Sirius groaned.
"I agree with him mum, we are grown boys you don't have to mollycoddle us," said Regulus from behind his mug of coffee.
Mrs. Weasley sent him a nasty glare.
"I know that you are too old to mollycoddle but it's not everyday…" Talitha started again.
"When your sons are getting married" both Sirius and Regulus ended for her.
"Dumbledore will be here around 7pm. He said something about introducing new members to the rest of the Order. Mirzam did you know about what he is talking?" asked Belinda.
"Yes I know. Reg do you remember about what we were talking few days ago?" Mirzam turned to Regulus.
"Yes. I still don't know, he is eleven… I'm not sure," Regulus mumbled into his mug.
"You are his father" Sirius said.
"And you are Raven's father and Harry's godfather" Regulus replied.
"The point is, he is your son and I'm not making your decision for you, Reg" Sirius said firmly.
"I know. Remus!" Regulus turned to Remus.
"Same as you Reg, I'm not sure if it is a wise idea, for now" Remus sat down beside Regulus.
"I'm not going to talk you to do it, it's yours decision, and if you ask me they are too young to do it. If they were fourteen, fifteen I would stand to that idea but they are not even in school" Sirius hesitated.
"I agree with Sirius, they are too young. Raven, Rowan, Harry, Neville, Draco are old enough to understand importance of it but I'm not sure about Thabit and Kyle"
"Neville has our permission Mirzam," said Andromeda.
"Draco too" Narcissa said.
"You know that I can't stop her Mirzam, Rowan has my blessing" Remus nodded.
"Just like Raven and Harry mine" Sirius turned to Mirzam.
"And mine too" Mirzam looked into Sirius eyes.
"They are not going join the Order!" Mrs. Weasley roared.
"And who asked you about giving them permission, last time I checked, we were their parents and guardians not you" Mirzam turned to Mrs. Weasley.
"They are too young to join and still in school!" Mrs. Weasley yelled.
"I agree that they are still in school, but they are not too young to know that there is a war out there" Mirzam replied calmly.
"You can't make them soldiers!"
"I can't. But do you think that it will stop them if I refuse them to join. There was a battle in June Molly Weasley, a battle and kids were there, they were fighting with Death Eaters and where were you? Sitting at home when your kids fight for their lives. You want them to believe that there is no war out there. It's too late! Because we all know what is outside! I'm not going to let my boys to be untrained and unprepared for this what is waiting outside and you will not stop me from letting them join the Order because I'm their mother not you! You can make whatever you want with your kids, it's not my business but neither is your business what I'm doing with Raven and Harry because they are mine sons not yours!" Mirzam yelled at the end.
"Thanks Mirzam" Harry smiled at her.
"Your mother wanted me to took care of you if she couldn't do it herself and I'm sure that Lily would agree with me. We can't stop you, five of you are old enough to know what's going on" Mirzam turned to kids.
"I want to thank you for considering me as your son Mirzam. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I had a living relative" Harry smiled at her and she hugged him.
"Relatives" Raven corrected him and went to them to hug them.
"Family hug! Wait for me the three of you!" Sirius rushed to them and hugged them tightly.
Raven heard Regulus saying something about cameras being not there where you needed them the most.
"I want a hug" Thabit jumped from the chair into Belinda's lap.
"A bear one?" Belinda asked smiling at him.
"Sure!" Thabit sneaked his arms around his surrogate mother neck and kissed her on the check.
"I feel left alone," Regulus mumbled.
"Oh come here Mr. Left Alone" Belinda motioned him to come to them.
"What about dear old granny?" Talitha asked jokingly.
"Come to us" Mirzam motioned to her and soon Talitha was pulled in bear hug.
"Hug me" they heard Nymphadora talking to Remus.
"Why not to do a proper family hug?" asked Draco.
Soon after his words Tonks, Lupins and Blacks found each other in one big hug. The Weasleys stared at them with weird look on their faces.
"What? We are a close family," said Talitha.
"Laundry is waiting" Andromeda muttered.
"We will do this Andie," said Neville turning to the rest of the kids.
They nodded and after the breakfast they found themselves in the laundry.
Ron Weasley followed them around "I can't believe you Harry, that you are hanging around them and you too Neville, I thought that you were wiser than that" he said.
"Did you came here to insult us or to help us because whatever you are planning to do you are not helping us?" said Draco trying to straighten the sheet with the help from Raven.
"Not your business Malfoy! Harry come with me we will play chess, you don't have to hang with them" said Ron smiling at Harry.
Harry grimaced before he replied calmly "I'm my own person Weasley and I hung out with the people I want to have around. If I chose to have Raven, Rowan, Draco, Neville, Kyle and Thabit around it's my problem not yours"
"You changed," said Ron.
"Yes I did. And if you can't understand it, it's your problem. I will not help you in growing up. You have to do it by yourself. If you don't want to hang around them it's your problem, but I will hang around them because I like them, they are my friends and family" said Harry.
"I don't understand you Harry" said Ron and left the laundry.
"I don't understand him either" Raven murmured.
"He wants old Harry back," said Rowan.
"Too late. Maybe you shouldn't tell him the truth at last now. It's very useful when you see supposed to be best friend from a different perspective" said Harry tentatively.
"Maybe you are right Harry. But it hurts a bit you know. He was my best friends since I got to Hogwarts" Raven muttered staring longingly at the door.
"It's time for everything. For Ron it's a time for growing up. He has to learn how to be an own person. He needs to learn that sometimes friends will say 'no' that some things he has to do by himself" said Harry putting his hand on Raven's shoulder.
"Since when you are like that?" asked Raven turning to him.
"Since I remember Raven. When I was ten years old Belinda had a car crush and she spent two years in coma. I was sent to a foster family who hated me and the fact that I was a wizard. I was so happy when after I came back from my second year at Redmond and I found out that Linda is awake. Professor Lupin told me that not many thirteen years old wizards could produce a corporal Patronus. I used that memory when I conjured it" answered Harry.
"Excuse me Harry. Did you just said professor Lupin?" Rowan turned to him.
"Yeah I did. Professor Romulus Joseph Lupin. He taught Defence Against Dark Arts at Redmond when I was there, I hope that he still teaches. Brilliant teacher, he knew his job but a poor man. He told us that a werewolf bit him when he was eighteen it was short after his daughter Brenda was born. Brenda should go to school this year so from what I know about Lupin he is twenty-nine now" said Harry eyeing them curiously because Blacks and Lupins eyes enlarged into saucers size.
"Dad is thirty-seven now" muttered Kyle.
"How did he looked like?" asked Rowan suddenly.
"If you ask me about it, similar to Remus, but Romulus hasn't so much wrinkles and grey hairs" said Harry.
"There is eight years old difference Harry. Do you think that they could be related? Do you talked to Remus about him?" asked Raven.
"Maybe they are Raven and no, I didn't talked to Remus about him, yet. But I will if you want to" said Harry.
"Do you have his photos or something?" asked Kyle.
"I think that I may have" Harry hesitated " I'm not sure"
"So go and try to find them," said Neville.
"What about the laundry?" asked Harry.
"We will end with it. It's not like we are turning Grimmauld into hotel or something" said Draco.
"I'm afraid that we may turn it into hotel or hospital. I talked with Andy and she got the permission from St. Mungo. Better here than there" said Talitha appearing in the doorframe.
"Especial if we are not sure if it will work. But we can try it" said Mirzam appearing next to Talitha.
"Try what?" asked Neville.
"Try to help Frank and Alice," said Mirzam eyeing the spot above kids heads.
Neville gapped at her "Are you?" he mumbled.
"We. I mean Narcissa, Andromeda and Regulus has an idea and if I know Mirzam she may throw her own three sickles to it. Better try than doing nothing," said Talitha examining Neville's face.
"How? When?" Neville was babbling now.
"Tomorrow around noon. Full time care. I hope that it will work, if not we are doomed," Mirzam muttered.
"Linda was right. We should buy all houses around Grimmauld Place and turn it into Grimmauld Palace" said Talitha thoughtfully.
"Grimmauld Palace. International Headquarter of the Order of the Phoenix, smaller version of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, uncorrupted version of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injures, Another but More Comfortable Version of Aurors Headquarters, The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, Rather Casual and Not So Ancient House of Lupin, Summery City Residence of Tonks, Casual Corner for Weasley and one of The Safest Houses in Whole Europe" Mirzam said jokingly.
"Mirzam did you saw Regulus lately?" Talitha asked suddenly.
"I did. He was busy in snogging Linda at the attic. Why are you asking?" Mirzam leaned against the doorframe.
"He knows everything about our finances. Sirius is a man of act when Regulus will rather sit down and deliberate before doing something. If Reg says that we can do this, we can do this without a worry that it may crush our finances and left kids without a base for education. When I was Hogwarts student…" Talitha started muttering and went somewhere leaving stunned Mirzam and rather surprised kids in the laundry.
"Oh. My. God. What have I done?" Mirzam mumbled when she get her voice back.
"Exactly auntie. What have you done?" asked Thabit.
"I hope that your father would tell her that our finances could not stand it. Reg! Hands from Linda and your sorry arse in the laundry. Now!" Mirzam yelled the last part.
Regulus appeared on the top of the basket "What?" he muttered while fighting with the sheet.
"Your mother's enthusiasm towards redemption of sins of Blacks and my stupid ideas shouldn't mix. Listen what I did…" and Mirzam told him whole story.
"Fortunately or rather unfortunately we have enough money to do this. And I know about what I'm talking Mirz. We can build regular and summer houses for all of us plus our unborn children and even if all of us would have twenty kids we could manage to do it and live above our class, all of us" said Regulus eyeing Mirzam carefully like she would faint.
"Did you count…"? Mirzam started faintly but Regulus cut her.
"Only from Blacks Vaults. Frozen access from vaults from 57 to 77 and from 111 to 131 plus what is in vaults 234, 322, 452, 555, 666, 711, 856, 919, 1013, 1176, 1221, 1331, 1428, 1567, 1666, 1752, 1818, 1996, 2222 and 2525"
"Did you count mine vault too?" Mirzam cut him.
"Number please" said Regulus.
"712 and vaults from 680 to 690"
"680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690 and vaults from 78 to 99 belongs to Potters as far as I remember," said Regulus.
"Right but until the last of the Potters is underage vaults from 78 to 99 are frozen and will be given to him after reaching twenty-first year of life. Until Harry ends seventeen vaults from 680 to 690 are in hands of his legal guardians and they can use this money to provide him a good life arrangements. To your knowledge Reg, nor me nor Sirius touched a Knut from those vaults. Raven only used 687 and I hardly believe that he used everything from that vault," Mirzam said.
"Do you have papers for it?"
"Vault 712. The key is in mine desk next to old photo album. I don't have a strength to visit Diagon Alley today" Mirzam mumbled.
"Do you realize that this whole Potters papers problems have you as a solver. James Potter did it rather good. He knew that giving finances to Sirius is rather dangerous idea" Regulus mumbled.
"Believe me Reg. If James Potter wasn't already dead I would kill him in the same minute when I found out about making me Harry's finance counsellor"
"Someone feels mine pain" Regulus joked.
"Said it again and your brother would feel it. Talitha likes to use money not thinking about problems with them so in case of yours death this whole mess goes to Sirius" said Mirzam grimly.
"Or Linda" said Regulus.
"Potters were using women as finance counsellors, Blacks were always using men and always those one who were born as Blacks Regie. See? I know some Black history," said Mirzam.
"All frozen vaults has eight millions galleons. Other has four millions galleons save vault 711, from what I know Sirius used something from his moneys" said Regulus.
"Something around ten thousands galleons, no more" said Mirzam.
"Will you talk with him about this? I can always stop mum if one of us doesn't agree on this" asked Regulus.
"I will try Reg, but I'm not promising miracles. Sirius can be very careful if he wants to. Try to talk to Narcissa. United we stand, divided we fall" Mirzam muttered.
"If I'm right we have 39990000 galleons to use. Don't tell Weasleys about this, I don't want another row" Regulus muttered.
"Excuse me. I'm quarrelling with Molly Weasley about important things" Mirzam snarled.
"Moneys sometimes are important Mirzam and don't treat me like your enemy because I'm not one of them" Regulus eyed her.
"Sorry Reg, I didn't mean to. It's just. That Weasley woman is getting on my nerves lately" Mirzam mumbled.
"Something new. She is getting on everybody nerves Mirzam from Verascez Black" they heard Snape's voice from the corridor.
"I like that one" Regulus smiled.
"One what?" Mirzam and Snape asked in unison.
"Name or title. Mirzam from Verascez Black, Belinda from Jones Black, Andromeda from Black Tonks…" Regulus started.
"Talitha from Black Black?" Mirzam asked.
"What?" the kids asked in unison.
"You heard me. Talitha and her husband were very distant cousins, very distant but still her maiden name was Black," said Mirzam.
The kids glared at her.
"Mirzam is right. Blacks were always pureblood family and wizarding world doesn't have many purebloods so marriages were often between cousins, distant but still cousins. The last one marriage like that is Talitha Shaula Black and Achird Erakis Black, my parents and note the fact that our branch of the family is the last one and none of us save Andie don't have a daughter so marriages between cousins are rather impossible if not welcomed in the family anymore, trust me" said Regulus.
"It's better to marry half-bloods and muggleborns now. Not safer, but better, at least your kids wouldn't be" Mirzam made a suggestive motion near her temple.
"What about you?" asked Raven.
Regulus, Snape and the other kids (save Rowan who knew) glared at them.
Mirzam smiled before she answered "I'm very, very, very distant cousins for you father, note the fact that our ancestry were a siblings somewhere about thousand years ago, enough differences to have a normal son, mind you"
"You are our cousin?" asked shocked Regulus.
"Yep. You will not find my branch on the family tree I assure you Reg, blood relations between us are not on the tree and are very, very, very distant" said Mirzam.
"Did you know more about Blacks than I?" asked Regulus.
"Maybe. But don't bother me about this because I will not answer any on yours questions. What was a secret will stay as a secret until the right time will come Reg" Mirzam raised an eyebrow and with the swish of cloak vanished.
"Raven…" Regulus started but Raven cut him.
"When the right time will come you will know, but it's to early to talk about this, believe me Reg"
"If you two says so, but…" Regulus started again.
"Dad knows" Raven cut him "And he understands" he added after a while.
"There is the more about you than we meet in the eye," said Snape.
Raven nodded.
"Excuse me professor but do you are staying with us?" asked Neville.
"Only today. Unless I will be called by other force. Speaking about. Explain me how you are not called by Him?" Snape turned to Regulus.
"Because I'm not a Death Eater," answered Regulus raising both sleeves to show unmarked skin.
"But you were one" said Snape.
"Only by the Dark Mark, not by heart Severus. And I never wanted to be one" Regulus answered.
"How?" Snape asked.
"I was good in potions," Regulus answered before leaving stunned Snape in the laundry.
Snape turned to them.
"I knew that he was a Death Eater, forced to be a Death Eater but I didn't knew about that he doesn't have a Dark Mark and he said that he was forced to take it. I don't know how he managed to get rid of it," answered Raven.
"He had to found a way around it. Do you realise if Death Eaters will find out that he doesn't have a Dark Mark he will be in danger?" Snape said.
"Like he isn't now. It was all in the papers," said Raven.
"Blacks are…" Snape started.
"Stupid?" Raven suggested.
"Careless?" Thabit suggested.
"Gryffindors at heart?" Draco suggested.
Everybody (even Snape) laughed.
"Regulus is a definition of a Gryffindor, how he ended in Slytherin is beyond my imagination" said Snape.
"He is good in hiding," said Thabit.
"But how he fooled the Sorting Hat to place him in Slytherin when he at heart is a Gryffindor will stay as a mystery for me" Snape leaned against the doorframe.
"What we will do if we end with the laundry?" asked Kyle.
"Sirius suggested that you should spend some time at studying, potions if you will be kind he said. He muttered something about checking yours summer essays. It's not that I have other things to do" Snape said surprising his older students.
"We had them in my room" answered Raven.
"So get a look at them," said Snape letting Raven lead them to his room.
"Here they are" said Raven handing Snape their essays.
"Looks like you put some effort in this" said Snape after briefly checking their essays "Did you two" he motioned towards Thabit and Kyle "did it too?"
Thabit and Kyle nodded "We asked elders for the titles of their summer homework from their first class. It's not funny when they are busy in studying and we are doing nothing productive" said Thabit.
"I will check them and told you if you should correct something if you want" asked Snape.
"That would be wonderful professor but if we are stealing your time and you don't want to…" Rowan started but was cut by Snape.
"I would gladly do this Ms. Lupin. I feel another row between Mirzam Verascez and Molly Weasley in my bones and I don't want to be there if they start again. I should find something to do. Besides if I wasn't fooled I will have all of you in my classes so I should know where to start with you" Snape motioned at they essays.
"Sorry professor" they said in unison, not exactly feeling sorry.
"Check on me in next two hours I should have some of them done" said Snape raising from the armchair "I will be at the attic" he added before he left Raven's room.
"Weird" said Neville.
"I agree," said Raven.
"Hey! I checked all my things and haven't found Romulus photo," said Harry who appeared in the door.
"No problem. Want to practice Animagi?" asked Raven.
"We should. We hasn't practiced for a while you know," said Rowan.
"Yes master" Thabit joked.
About three hours later the rest which was on third floor heard "He did it!"
"What had happened?" asked Sirius who was first in the bedroom.
Raven motioned towards small wildcat sitting on his bed "Thabit did it. He mastered Animagi"
"Thabit did what?" asked Regulus who appeared in the doorframe.
"Your son is a wildcat," said Sirius raising small feline from Raven's bed.
Regulus smiled before he took his wildcat son from his brother's arms "I knew that he could do it"
"First?" asked Sirius.
"Not exactly. I rather predicted that it would be Raven or Rowan who will be first. Rowan is smart and Raven has two Animagis for parents and he actually mastered some of it, remember the tail?" asked Regulus while stroking Thabit's fur.
"I remember" Sirius and Raven answered in unison.
"You should focus on yours personality Raven. You can do this," said Regulus.
Raven took a deep, calming breath before muttered "Fera Ego"
Raven realised that he was pulled on the floor, he acknowledged landing on his knees and hands and the fact that his hands started covering in black fur. He felt that his face started changing into muzzle and he felt that something grow from his backside. He turned his head towards it and saw something what was there few days ago, fury tail. He felt that his ears changed their position on his head and that he wasn't anymore on his knees, he realised that he was standing on all fours. 'Funny thing' he thought and felt that his tail wagged. Raven glanced at his father.
Sirius was delirious with joy. He fall on his knees before his turned into animal son and gently stroked his muzzle before turning his head towards the door and yelling on the top of his lungs "Mirzam come here, you had to see this"
It took Mirzam less than thirty seconds to get into Raven's bedroom "Oh. My. God. He did it!" Mirzam screamed before she fall on her knees before Raven and pulled her son into embrace.
Raven titled his head curiously before glancing at his parents and surprised friends and family 'What's up?' he thought.
Mirzam and Sirius slowly lead him to the big mirror. Raven sat down on his back when he saw, big, black, shaggy dog with emerald green eyes in the mirror. He glanced at his parents and in less than second he has two others big, black, shaggy dogs next to him. One of them has emerald eyes and another has grey eyes.
"Everything stays in the family" Regulus joked still stroking Thabit's fur which brought young feline into loud purring.
Sirius growled and Mirzam barked. Raven tried to do both things at once and ended in extracting from himself something between a growl and a bark which send other humans in the room into fits of giggle, Thabit into something between meow and purr and his parents into putting front paws on the muzzles.
Sirius barked, "We had to teach you how to act like a dog, son. Few lessons and you will be mistaken as a normal dog"
What shocked Raven the most was this that he understood it. He turned to Regulus. Regulus understood the look on Raven's muzzle and said, "He barked. When you become an animal you understand what others from your kind is trying to say Raven. I think we should find a proper nickname for you"
"I think that Snuffles from now should work for a while until we all master Animagi then we may find our own nicknames," said Rowan smiling before coming to Raven and stroking his head.
"What's going on here?" asked Remus who just appeared in the door.
"Thabit and Raven mastered Animagi" Regulus motioned towards wildcat in his arms and a dog on the floor.
"Raven looks like outgrown puppy" Remus smiled and came to them mistaking Mirzam with Raven and petting her head.
"Raven is here. You are petting Mirzam" Regulus pointed exactly at Raven.
Remus smiled "You are taking after your parents" he petted Raven on the head.
"I agree" Raven barked and absently wagged his tail.
"I wish that I could do this," said Draco smiling at three canines on the floor.
"So try again Draco" said Regulus.
"Okay. Fera Ego" Draco muttered and soon after he said this they saw a donkey where Draco had stood just moment ago.
When Raven saw this he extracted a loud howl from himself and then he started laughing, which for the others looked like something between the bark and the snort. Raven fall on his side and glanced at the donkey curiously.
Draco the donkey slowly approached the mirror and when he saw himself in the mirror he mooed loudly then quickly turned into his human self "I'm a donkey!" he cried at loud.
"It's not a shame to be a donkey. A donkey is a symbol of common sense, submission, defence, smartness, honesty, vigilance, restraint and diligence," said Remus trying to calm him down.
"But also a symbol of pride, cockiness, egoism, stubbornness, naivety, stupidity, lack of portliness and callousness" added Draco shaking slightly.
"Better a donkey than a ferret" Harry tried to bright his mood.
"Better a donkey than a warthog or a pig" Rowan smiled at him.
"Maybe you are right but still I had to calm down before I transform again into it" said Draco "Maybe one of you" he motioned towards Harry, Rowan and Neville "should try this. It can't be worse than that," he added.
"Okay. Fera Ego" Harry muttered and stunned everybody when he changed into big, black, shabby dog with green eyes, just like Raven.
"Unusual" said Regulus eyeing Harry "Very unusual. Not many Animagis took the same form even if they are related or very close to each other. It means something, but I don't know what"
"I will try. Fera Ego" said Neville with self-confidence in his voice.
Where Neville stood they saw a huge, brown bear. Everybody jaws dropped.
"Bear is a symbol of courage, stubbornness, perseverance, but also clumsiness" said Regulus smiling reassuringly at Neville.
"My turn. Fera Ego" said Rowan and before anyone realised what had happened they saw a brown and silver wolf sitting in Rowan's place.
"Like father, like daughter" Regulus muttered smiling.
Rowan only presented her sharp fangs. Regulus in answer changed into his Animagi form and quickly jumped at Remus shoulder.
"Coward!" Remus commented at the same time trying to remove the cat from his shoulders.
To Raven's joy Draco decided to turn into a donkey again and soon after this all kids gathered around Remus trying to see if he will success in removing Regulus from his shoulder. Mirzam and Sirius decided to stay were they were. Mirzam stretched herself on the floor and put her muzzle on her front paws eyeing them curiously. Sirius on the other paw sat down on his back paws and took the pose of watchdog, titling his head to have a better look at them.
Talitha, Belinda, Andromeda, Nymphadora and Narcissa chose that moment to enter Raven's bedroom.
"What's going on? What's this small zoo is doing here?" Talitha asked.
"Changing" smiled Kyle and went to help Remus remove the cat from his shoulders.
"Changing into what?" asked Narcissa.
"Back and forth" smiled Kyle and petted donkey's ears.
"I don't understand," said Andromeda.
"Chang back" said Remus smiling at all Animagis.
In less than two seconds all Animagis changed back into their human selves.
"My son is a donkey?" Narcissa asked.
"It's not a shame. Donkeys are symbols of common sense, submission, defence, smartness, honesty, vigilance, restraint and diligence," said Harry.
"Dog breath" said Draco.
"Donkey" Harry retorted.
"Enough! Animals!" Mirzam cut the row.
"Says who?" Harry asked innocently.
"Me" Mirzam answered.
"We should see how professor Snape is doing. He has our essays," said Rowan and before anything other had started the kids found themselves at the attic and spotted professor Snape sitting at one of the armchairs.
"Oh here you are" said Snape motioning to them to sit down.
They obeyed and sat down around Snape's armchair.
Snape took first of the essays from the pile and handed it to Harry and said "Good job. In conclusion you are repeating yourselves few times in different places, but other things are good so you would receive an Outstanding"
Harry took his essay and eyed his mistakes.
"Draco next. Good job, but more common opinions than real facts but almost all of these common opinions are truth, save that one at the end, it's rubbish. But it would receive Outstanding with a minus"
Draco muttered something about two terrorists who get the right books first. Snape smiled at him before handing Kyle and Thabit their essays "Good job for someone who are not at school yet. It would receive the highest grades"
Neville, Raven and Rowan waited for their essays.
"Ms. Lupin. Dreadful" said Snape looking at her face curiously.
Rowan stared at him, her jaw dropped.
"I was kidding. Outstanding. Nothing to correct. You can hand it in September in peace" Snape said.
Now it was kids turn to stare. Snape kidding? Raven thought that something weird happened.
"Raven. Outstanding with a little minus. You should add ice not mice," said Snape.
"He has this tendency" Rowan smiled at him.
"Neville. Conclusion is a mess and not a conclusion at all. The rest of it is good. Extent Expectations" said Snape.
"Thank you professor for using your time" said Harry.
"You are welcome. Did this two have a row yet?" Snape motioned towards the entrance.
"Not yet from what we know" said Harry.
"Do you think if we should risk getting downstairs to grab something to drink or would rather stay here?" asked Neville.
"Some Gryffindors we are if we are afraid of Molly Weasley and the rest of her family. If our parents and guardians can face this, we can too" said Harry.
"Okay. The last in the kitchen is a stinky egg" Thabit yelled and jumped to the doors.
Raven thought that he heard Snape's laugh we he was running down the corridor on the third floor, thought but wasn't sure.
They welcomed in the kitchen by stiff looking Mrs. Weasley and rather annoyed looking Ginny and Ron.
Harry went to the refrigerator and pulled a bottle of Pepsi from there. Thabit and Kyle pulled out the glasses from the cupboard. Harry was on his way to the table but Mrs. Weasley took the bottle of Pepsi from his hands and told "No fuzzy drink before the dinner in my house"
Harry send her a glare worth Snape and took the bottle from her hands before telling her "No fuzzy drinks before dinner in your house, but as you see THIS" Harry pointed on the floor "IS NOT YOUR HOUSE, and we are not your children so WE" Harry motioned towards the gang "had different rules, rules made by OUR parents and guardians not you" said Harry and was about to say more but was cut by Mirzam.
"What's going on here?" she asked entering the kitchen.
"You are letting them to drink fuzzy drinks before the dinner? What kind of mother you are?" Mrs. Weasley snarled at them.
"And what's wrong with fuzzy drinks before the dinner?" asked Narcissa who just entered the kitchen and stand on Mirzam's left.
"Better fuzzy drinks than Firewhisky" said Belinda who appeared suddenly on Mirzam's right.
Mirzam on the other hand took defensive position. Raven could sense it. 'Like someone who is ready to jump at the attacker. Like a dog, which protect her puppies', Raven thought.
"You are speaking about this bottle which was in the cupboard on the right Linda? I searched it too. I need one glass to calm Sirius down few hours ago, but I couldn't find it so gave him calming potion" said Mirzam turning to Belinda.
"The same one and I'm sure that OUR kids didn't took this" Linda nodded.
"They knows that they can ask us about everything" said Narcissa nodded also.
"If our kids didn't took this bottle and I highly doubt that it was one of our men, because they are never drinking alcohol before the dinner rather to the dinner or after so it leaves only one family who could took this" Mirzam said turning to Mrs. Weasley.
"Are you telling me that one of my kids stole it?" Mrs. Weasley was ready to jump.
"No. I'm only suggesting that someone took it and didn't told us," said Mirzam innocently.
"What you know about raising kids? You were in Azkaban when your son was growing up in the muggle house and in what kind of muggle house. I don't understand why Ministry set you free. You should root in Azkaban!" Mrs. Weasley yelled.
Raven glanced at his mother. Mirzam always has fair complexion but in that moment Raven saw that all blood ebbed from her face leaving her pale as a ghost. Her eyes, usually twinkling with mirth or full of thoughtful expression, like Raven caught her once or twice, were looking like eyes of caged animal. After few seconds of shock they changed and Raven flinched. He never saw a fire in her eyes; he never saw a pure fury in his mother eyes. In that moment Raven realised that he was afraid of her, he realised that he will never want to make her that mad to saw her emerald green eyes with the red shadows behind them, with the fire of fury in them. Never make her so mad to be afraid of looking in her eyes. Never…
Mirzam stared at Mrs. Weasley, her eyes still full of fire, she was shaking with fury and when she opened her mouth her voice was shaking just like she "How? Dare? You? How dare you question my capability of being a mother? How dare you bring Azkaban? Did you were at least once in that place? Did you ever felt presence of a Dementor? Did you know how it is to see your sister, your single sister, dying? Did you hear her voice begging her murderer to save her son? Did you saw her dying in front of you? Did you know that there was nothing to save her? Did you know how feel hearing the laugh of the murderer who just killed your sister? Did you saw the wand pointed at her only son? Did you hear this words, this spell, the one that would take away your family? Did you hear the cry of the child? Did you saw the fear in his eyes? Did you ever felt powerless? Did you know that there was nothing which would save your loved ones?" Mirzam was getting near Mrs. Weasley accusing finger pointing at her "Did you remember how you felt when you found out that your son was kidnapped in the hospital? Did you ever tried to cry when you felt that no tears left in your eyes? Did you ever felt that pain inside you, pain, which is tearing you from inside and you, didn't know what to do with this pain, you didn't know how to stop this. How to stop that pain? How to not cry knowing that your son had died? That he didn't died in you arms…" Mirzam voice broke down and she took a deep breath before she spoken again "I will tell you something Molly Weasley. You know nothing about being a mother! You know nothing about the war! You know nothing about the pain! You know nothing about the Azkaban! You know nothing so don't you dare to talk to me like you would be a know-it-all! You are only a fucking pureblood who don't care about the others, save your own family, and even then you can't accept the choices of your own children. So leave this house before I would do something what I may regret…" Mirzam stood directly about a foot away from Mrs. Weasley.
"How dare you!" Raven turned and saw Fred with outstretched hand pointing in the direction of their mothers "How dare you to bring something like that! How dare you! I talked to Mrs. Verascez, wonderful mother who accept the fact that her sons are growing up, who accept their choices even if she didn't like them, because she knows how it was when she was about their age! She let them growing up on their own. She doesn't mingle in their lives because she knows better than that. She is right mum, you know nothing" Fred turned to Mirzam "I'm sorry for her, she has a hard time now but it doesn't excuse her from that kind of a behaviour"
"It's nothing Fred. Just make her leave. I don't want to hear it anymore" Mirzam turned from them.
She made a couple of steps before she fall in Raven's and Harry's outstretched arms.
"Mum" Raven whispered "Don't do this mum. Don't leave us. We need you. Mum!" Raven didn't knew what to tell her.
"What's going on? Mirzam? What had happened here?" they heard Sirius concerned voice on the kitchen stairs.
"Mum decided to be mum and prove someone that she doesn't know nothing about being a parent," said George silently.
In that moment Raven realised that the quarrel between Mirzam and Mrs. Weasley bring to the kitchen all occupants of Grimmauld Place 12, Snape included. Snape came from his place near the door when he froze somewhere in the middle of Mirzam's rant and bend over Mirzam's unconscious body.
"She should spend this day in the bed and tomorrow she shouldn't do anything which would tire her," he mumbled.
"I will take her. Regulus you are in charge" Sirius picked Mirzam's unconscious body and turned to Regulus before he left the kitchen accompanied by Snape.
Regulus turned to Mrs. Weasley and said "You will leave this house until the dinner. If you would be here at that time I will throw you out personally" his voice was full of disgust.
"Arthur! Bill! Charlie! George! Fred! Ron! Ginny! We are leaving! You heard Mr. Black" Mrs. Weasley ordered.
"Oh no. They didn't do nothing wrong. You did. They may stay, but you are not welcome here anymore. You endangered your position in the Order today. Jumping on someone from the Inner Circle like that. During first war no one ever behaved like that towards Mirzam, never, they might disagree with her but they never ever tried to prove her that she is younger and that is worth nothing" said Andromeda quietly, Raven saw that she was shaking.
Mrs. Weasley left the kitchen accompanied by her husband, angry Ron and very annoyed Ginny. Bill, Charlie, Fred and George remained in the kitchen.
"I'm sorry for her, she shouldn't behave like that," Bill whispered.
"Stay if you want, we will not try to made you leave, you didn't do anything wrong" said Narcissa.
Elder Weasley boys nodded.
The rest of the Weasleys left just before the meeting.
Raven decided that this meeting was awkward. Everything went like on the last meeting but sad, longing glances were sent towards kitchen door. Everybody from the Order was concerned about Mirzam's health. To Raven's surprise no one felt sorry for Mrs. Weasley, not even her sons. In Order's eyes Mrs. Weasley was marked as a troublemaker and her position in the Order was endangered. Surprisingly when the Order voted if they should expel Mrs. Weasley from the Order Mirzam appeared in the kitchen door. She looked like she was drained from all strength, she looked defeated.
"Let her stay" she said quietly when she made a couple of steps and faltered when she hasn't anything around her to lean.
Sirius jumped from his chair and lead her to his chair then conjured a chair for himself.
"Mirzam. Are you sure? She questioned your capacity…" Hestia Jones started but Mirzam's weak voice cut her.
"I'm sure Hestia. She wasn't part of the Order then. She is also not the only one to blame. It's also my fault…"
Everybody stared at her in shock.
"It is. She was always ready to pick on me, for everything, for all my decisions. I never meet in my life someone like her; I never meet in my life someone who I wanted to hurt so badly… And for what? She questions my capacity of everything because of fifteen years in Azkaban, for her someone who spend some time in Azkaban is evil, is not worth to be free, to live… for something which happened where I was too powerless to do something, when I was too powerless to defend myself, my family… But how to defend yourself when they didn't give you a trial… How to defend when you are seeing your chief, your boss, and your superior with the wand pointed at you… When you hear his words replaying in your head 'It's your fault, you could have save them"… When an endless pain surrounds you… When only thing you felt is the pain from Cruciatus Curse…" Mirzam's eyes were filled with tears.
Everyone gasped.
"You didn't know?" Sirius asked in bitter voice "Of course that you didn't. That was the way, which Crouch used on the suspected ones on heaviest crimes… Cruciatus Curse… Until you break… until everything around you would turn into the pain… until you would beg him to kill you… until nothing from you would left…" Sirius voice was a whisper now but everybody heard him.
Dumbledore's voice was shaking when he asked "How many times?"
"Too much to count three times per day, four, five curses in a turn for God only know how many time… Maybe it was a month, maybe it was a year… or more. I stopped counting after first week… too much pain to remember…" Mirzam's voice was shaking.
"Same here" Sirius whispered embracing sobbing Mirzam.
"Why you didn't tell us?" Raven whispered staring at his father in shock.
"You were too young then… you shouldn't know something so dark…" Sirius stared in his son's eyes.
Raven saw the pain. Endless, suffocating pain. He screamed and fall from his chair. Regulus and Harry helped him in standing up.
"What it was?" Raven asked, his voice shaking slightly.
"You performed Legilimency on your father, you saw his memories" Mirzam whispered, her face in her hands.
Raven just stared at them not meeting their eyes. He barely heard that after that incident everything turned to be normal and the rest of the meeting ended, he barely heard Dumbledore telling them that new members of the Order will be merged to the Order at 31st of August.
How his parents could survive this…. How they survived that endless pain… He felt like he was suffocated… He barely heard Regulus scream somewhere above him, he barely saw fear in Rowan's and Regulus' eyes. He stopped caring and everything around him went dark…
Next day passed in Grim Manor rather grimly. Raven awoke somewhere around noon and from scared Rowan heard that Mirzam's and Sirius bedroom was closed since the midnight when Snape told them that everything will be all right with Raven.
"Mirzam is in deep shock… I never saw her like that before… It was not only what happened to you yesterday… but I think that it was whole day that wore her off… From what I heard from Regulus she is sleeping now and Sirius is too afraid to leave her side… He doesn't know where he should be, here or with Mirzam…" Rowan's voice was weak and she was shaking slightly.
Raven hugged her "I'm okay… It's just… I couldn't understand how someone could survive that amount of pain… Alone… It was too much… Like a Dementor…" he tried to shake off the last thought.
"No one blames you Raven… You saw something what you shouldn't know about your parents, something which was better for you to not know" Rowan said after she pulled away from him.
"How are the others?" asked Raven.
"I don't know. Harry closed himself in his bedroom and didn't left since Snape told us that you will be okay. Draco is talking with Narcissa. Thabit is with Belinda and she is trying to calm him down after yesterday… Kyle is with Dora, he cried last time I saw him… Neville two hours ago threatened Harry in blowing out his door if he didn't let him inside so Harry let him in… I never saw Neville so determined before… he is looking like someone tried to kill him. Oh Raven what had happened with us…" Rowan launched herself at him and sobbed in his arms.
Snape appeared the following day around noon and said that if Mirzam and Raven will spend next three days in bed everything will be all right. He was right after three days Grim Manor looked like before and everybody was acting like before. Only remaining Weasley brothers left telling them that they don't want to interfere into family bonding because of this whole incident everybody started to talk to each other more, they were more close to each other. Raven spend hours talking with his parents and Harry and after this time Raven thought about Harry like about long lost brother who he had a chance to know. Harry asked about this by Raven told him that he felt the same.
"I mean our mothers were sisters and we are cousins but I don't see you as a cousin, you are more like a brother to me Rave. Your parents are wonderful people and I feel honoured that they treat me like a second son. You are not mad because of this?" Harry asked.
Raven in the answer grabbed the nearest pillow and hit Harry on the head.
"Of course not. I'm only child but I like to have someone near me who I can treat as a brother, someone who feel like a brother to me. Besides it worked in the past," said Raven.
Harry stared at him in mild curiosity.
"My father went to your father house after he left this house. Your grandparents treated him as a second son too" answered Raven.
"Payback is a female dog, isn't it? What you take from someone goes back to you after some time. Did your father felt obliged to take me?" asked Harry.
"Mum and dad likes you Harry. You are remaining link to her sister and his best friend besides they would took you even if you weren't related to them. You know them, they wouldn't leave a child alone" Raven shook his head.
"True. But is nice to know that you have someone who cares about you. You don't mind that I call them mum and dad, do you?" Harry asked.
Another hit of the pillow "Idiot. You are a brother to me and you are asking if I mind the fact that you call my parents yours parents too"
Harry grinned "Just asking, brother"
Snape was supposed to appear in the Headquarter at 10th August at Belinda's birthdays but he was getting late and Blacks started to dread that something could happen to him.
"I don't understand it Mirzam he was supposed to be here at 6pm and it's 9pm and he is still not here," Narcissa muttered when she gapped through the window in the living room.
"Easy Cissy! He is an adult and you can't deny a Death Eater, our spy but still a Death Eater. Perhaps Voldemort called a meting and he can't come, we would know if something could happened to him Cissy" Mirzam tried to cheer her up but Raven saw that he was also a bit afraid about her bridge comrade.
Then they suddenly heard a loud thud in the main hall. Owing to Talitha her old 'portrait' was pulled off the wall in the main hall and destroyed so they could make noise in the main hall without any problems.
Sirius went to check what happened in the hall and after ten seconds they heard his yell from downstairs "Andie, Reg or anyone who knows healing charms to me. NOW! Mirzam don't let Cissy down here!"
"What!" Narcissa exclaimed and it took Mirzam and Belinda all strength to haul her into farthest corner from the door.
Andromeda, Regulus and Talitha in the meantime left the living room and went to help Sirius.
"Mirzam what had happened? Why he doesn't want me downstairs?" Narcissa rambled pitifully trying to escape Mirzam's and Belinda's grasps.
Raven, Harry and Draco dashed out from the living room and almost collided with four other adults, which were leading a stretcher with unconscious body on it. It took Raven a moment to realise that it was his Potions Master unconscious body.
"Dad! What had happened?" asked Raven.
"I don't know. I don't know how you are going to do this but you have to keep Narcissa as far as possible from the second floor. Understood?" said Sirius and went after the other three.
"Yes" three boys said in unison and came back to the living room where Dora with the help from Mirzam and Belinda was forcing Narcissa to drink calming draught.
After ten minutes Cissy stopped fight with three women and promptly fall asleep on the couch.
"I will help them, I was a Healer in Canada" said Belinda and left the living room.
"Can someone tell me what's going on?" asked Draco suddenly.
Mirzam glanced at Narcissa sleeping form and turned to Draco "It's not my place to tell you, if your mother will decide to tell you, you will know" she said quietly and left the living room.
The rest of the evening was total disaster. When Narcissa woke up, she managed to escape teenagers' grasps and dashed to the second floor almost knocking Sirius with empty tray with several vials on her way. When she reached the room where they keep Snape she gasped and promptly fainted. Ted with the help from Dora carried her to her bedroom where they laid her on the bed and Ted left Dora there if Narcissa would need any help when she woke up. Sirius remembered to lecture teenagers about not managing to stop Narcissa and asked Raven to come with him to Hogwarts.
When they arrived to Hogwarts through the Floo network Sirius sent Raven to find professors McGonagall, Sprout and Flitwick and madam Pomfrey and to tell them that the Order had lost their spy and that madam Pomfrey was needed at Headquarter when Sirius went to talk to Dumbledore.
Raven congratulated himself for bringing Marauders Map with himself and quickly localised professors and went to tell them to come to Dumbledore's office immediately before he grabbed madam Pomfrey on her way to the kitchen and catching his breath told her to arrive to Headquarter immediately. Madam Pomfrey forced him to carry heavy bag of vials and they both flooed back to Headquarter. Raven figured that his father would know that he went with madam Pomfrey.
Mirzam caught him when he stepped from the fireplace in the kitchen and quickly told him about Snape's state and told him to prepare Order meeting because she know that Dumbledore and the rest of the teachers with Sirius will arrive quickly and it was a matter in worst case an hour before the rest of the Order will arrive.
In the meantime two things happened. Dumbledore with the teachers with Sirius arrived and they heard the alarm from the Order members and their families' locations map. Mirzam arranged it after the incident at Longbottoms. She almost tripped on her foot when she rushed to the map.
"Baker Street 145b. Percy Weasley" she said.
Mirzam tried to do two things at the same time which were grabbing Remus, Ted and Sirius along with professors Dumbledore and Flitwick and lecturing Raven and professors Sprout and McGonagall about where to send the rest of the Order when they will arrive in the meantime fighting with her cloak. Raven heard her saying before they disappeared "Fuck. Why everything had to happen at the same time!"
In the meantime Neville, Draco, Harry and Rowan arrived to the kitchen and explained to them that Snape was in very bad state and he was wavering between life and death. McGonagall and Sprout went to help other adults and five teenagers were left alone in the kitchen preparing the meeting. Harry and Draco went to the dining-room to grab more chairs and Raven and Rowan where settling the table, searching more candles and preparing something to drink for the Order in the meantime Order members started arriving. Rowan told Schacklebolt and the rest of the Aurors where to go and she sent two Healers upstairs to help the adults with Snape and told the rest that Mirzam and those who went with her will probably bringing here at last two people and she helped them preparing everything. Raven, Harry, Neville and Draco were trying to explain everything at once and Raven noticed that the Weasleys were absent. He left Draco explaining what had happened and grabbed Neville and Harry and flooed to the Burrow.
He tripped onto something when he stepped from the fireplace and it alerted the Weasleys.
After two minutes he saw the rest of the Weasleys gathering in the kitchen and asking why they decided to visit them at so inhuman hour like 2am.
Harry and Raven where trying to explain two things at once and they were rambling incoherently but the Weasleys heard most of it.
"Percy is no son of my…" started Mr. Weasley but were cut by Mrs. Weasley.
"And we are not interested about professor Snape and that whipper-snapper Verascez don't wish us to be there so get out from our house.
When Raven heard what Mrs. Weasley said about his mother he yelled angrily at Weasleys before he turned to the fireplace "It will be reported and your presence in the Order will be more endangered than this is now, be sure about it!"
They came back to the kitchen at the same time as the Aurors along with professors and Raven's parents arrived with two people in whom Raven recognised Penelope Clearwater and Percy Weasley. Both were unconscious and badly injured.
Raven were fuming when he told his mother what had happened at Weasleys and then he saw that his mother had a twisted left hand.
"I fall from the stairs when I was fighting with two Death Eaters at once. How is Snape?"
"Bad. Rowan told me that he is wavering between life and death" answered Raven still fuming at the Weasleys.
"Do you saw Talitha? I need someone to immobilize my left hand. We will talk about the Weasley later at the meeting" she said grimacing because she moved her left hand.
"I will immobilize it Mirzam. Ferula" said Rowan pointing at Mirzam's left hand.
"Thanks Rowan" said Mirzam watching her now bandaged and immobilized hand.
"Did someone else were injured?" asked Rowan.
"Kingsley but it's only a scratch, he will be okay" said Mirzam and went to talk with Dumbledore.
"Sometimes I can see that she is your mother. Yes I know that she is your mother but sometimes when I see that you both are acting the same way about something is more clear to me" said Rowan when they heard that Mirzam started yelling at Dumbledore.
"We have every single member of the Order here and the Weasleys are not here. I don't care what you are telling about them. Hell every woman in the Order can cook. Cooking dinners for the Order during last year meetings is not something what deserves to make them part of the Order if they are disobeying another Order members! If I will find about their another incident I'm going to expel them from the Order! Hell I will do it now!"
"But Mirzam…" Dumbledore started.
"I'm cooking for the Order, I'm taking care of the house and still I'm doing something productive here!"
"Give them last chance Mirzam! You said yourself that they should stay" Dumbledore managed to cut her.
"That was after the last incident Dumbledore! They should be here now and I don't see them around. If I don't see them doing something productive for the Order be sure that I will expel them from the Order without asking you about it! We don't need parasites!" Mirzam fumed and she turned from the Dumbledore and she marched from the kitchen passing between Rowan and Raven.
Raven saw her angry before, but her expression wasn't the same like last time. Last time it was about her, this time was about the Order. For Raven it was clear that she hasn't two the most powerful wizards ever as family members. When Raven glanced at her face he saw pure fury. Then they heard 'pop' in the hall.
"Something is telling me that we are going to lose Weasleys as Order members" Sirius muttered.
"Why?" asked Rowan.
"I know Mirzam for years but I only saw her once so pissed before about Order stuff, it was when we found out that Pettigrew betrayed us. Now you see that sometimes blood can be a curse. Dumbledore in fury and Voldemort in fury are like little children from kindergarten when it comes to Mirzam in fury" Sirius muttered.
"But why we will lose Weasleys as the Order members?" asked Draco.
"Furious Mirzam is not someone you would like to meet Draco, believe me. I was once on receiving end when she was less pissed off and havens help if I would be again" Sirius muttered and left the kitchen.
Raven, Harry, Rowan, Neville and Draco explained everything what they could tell about Snape, incident with Weasley and with help from Remus and professors Dumbledore and Flitwick about attack on Percy Weasley.
They stopped when they heard another 'pop' in the main hall and Mirzam's quick footsteps. Raven and Rowan excused themselves from the kitchen and went after Mirzam. They found her in the living room on the first floor sobbing quietly. They were about saying something to her but they heard Sirius footsteps behind them and they quickly hide behind the door.
"Mirzam? Sweetheart what had happened?" asked Sirius when he entered the living room and went to her.
"I'm bad mother. I wasn't with Raven when he needed me the most. I didn't saw when he grow up. I'm bad mother" Mirzam sobbed.
"You are not bad mother Mirzam. That was a mistake, not our mistake but still a mistake. Think about it sweetheart. What could have happened if Harry wasn't kidnapped from the hospital if the nurses didn't change the babies. What would happen if Voldemort went after us? What could happen if Voldemort would found us? What if we didn't survive? Did Raven had a place to go? Where? To Narcissa with Lucius hovering above his head? To Bellatrix? Regulus was supposed to be dead around that time? To mum? She changed I know that she changed but she changed after we went to Azkaban. Mirzam do you want your son to be raised as a pureblood who hates muggleborns and muggles? To Remus, you know that they wouldn't give him guardianship over not-werewolf child. Where?" Sirius fall on his knees and gathered Mirzam into his lap.
"What if Lily and James survived the war?" Mirzam sobbed.
"What if. Mirzam everything is about what if. You can't change the time, you can't prevent what had happened, you can't, but you can accept what had happened. You can accept that we survived, that Raven survived, that Harry survived, that we can be family, that we still had each other, that Raven trust us. You can accept this Mirzam. Tell yourself that what had happened, happened but we were strong, we survived, Raven survived, Harry survived, we had a chance to know each other. Mirzam…"
"I will try Sirius, I will. But still…" Mirzam kept sobbing.
"That horrid woman brought everything up again? I know why you went to them, I understand it but what did you tell her?" asked Sirius stroking her hairs.
"That I would have a decency to be with my son no matter what he had done to me if he was dying. That they have last chance to prove that they are productive in the Order and that they loosed it" Mirzam sobbed even harder.
Sirius hugged her tightly.
"I don't see sense in fighting now Sirius. For what we are fighting for if mothers are leaving they children to die. I lost hope and faith that someday everything will be okay. I can't…" Mirzam sobbed into Sirius arm.
"You know that old muggle phrase that when women are loosing faith, men are loosing courage to fight. We need faith and hope Mirzam we need believing that someday our children will leave in normal world, in the world where is not a place for fear. I had a dream few days ago. I saw a cottage somewhere in the country. Birds were singing, flowers were growing, and little puppies were running around along with little cats. I saw a little boy playing with little girl in the garden. I saw myself sitting on the porch, slipping cold drink and staring at the little children. I saw you, you were older, your face was wearing trace of war, I saw wrinkles on your face, wrinkles that weren't made by age but by sorrow and fear, but you were smiling. You were holding a little infant in your arms and you were smiling and singing to it. You were sitting with me on the porch and we were happy. I saw Raven and Rowan and a little girl around five years old. Little girl with Rowan's curly hair and her grandmother's judicious, green eyes I saw a little infant in Rowan's arms. They were smiling. I saw Regulus with Belinda with little children around them, I saw Thabit playing with his younger siblings. I saw Remus, Dora, Andie, and Ted with little children smiling. I saw mum with dad and a little boy with them. I saw our friends smiling and joking. We were there together, we were happy. I thought that it was only a dream then but now I think that it wasn't a dream, it was more like a vision, a promise that we will survive but we need to remember that old muggle phrase: when women are loosing faith, men are loosing courage to fight. We will survive Mirzam, I know that we will survive" Sirius were hugging her tightly and stroking here hairs.
Raven and Rowan felt like intruders and they silently left the living room. Rowan turned to Raven when they were standing on the staircase "When the women are loosing hope, men are loosing courage to fight. We will survive if we will remember this words" she said quietly and Raven had to agree.
'When the women are loosing hope, men are loosing courage to fight. We will survive if we will remember this words' this words were echoing in his head when Raven were falling asleep something after 4 am in his bed.
They woke up somewhere after 10am next day. Thabit and Kyle, which were sent to bed around midnight last night, were in the kitchen trying to prepare breakfast. Key word was trying because both boys were trying to use their wands to it and the kitchen looked like a hurricane passed through it. Raven, Rowan, Harry, Neville and Draco helped them and around 11am they have a proper breakfast on the table and after Rowan put warming charm on it they were waiting for adults to arrive. In next few minutes seduced by pleasant aromas adults started entering the kitchen.
Mirzam and Sirius looked like they spend whole night awake. Mirzam didn't looked like she has attack of hysteria last night; she was smiling, even joking. Sirius on the other hand were trying his best to stay awake but failed when he passed out with his face in scrambled eggs. Talitha woke him up and ordered him to immediately going to bed. Sirius more than happy obeyed her. Regulus looked like he didn't slept at all last night and asked about it he told them that he spent last night in Snape's room but he was sure now that Snape was okay and that in the matter of days their potions master will be like new he also told them that in his age he can denied sleep for a day or two and he will not have problems with it. Asked about Sirius he told them that Sirius didn't sleep for at last four days. Belinda told them that she didn't feel bad about her birthdays and that she is happy that everybody who were attacked yesterday are now feeling quite good and their condition will be getting better in few days. Remus and Dora after breakfast excused themselves and with Talitha and Andromeda left the house to buy food and promised by Talitha weeding dress for Rowan. Narcissa after breakfast went to the counter and started preparing breakfast for Snape who was now awake and were asking for something to eat. Almost bored to the death potions master made a potions quiz for all teenagers and was pleasantly surprised that all students from the sixth year deserved an O or at last E and that Thabit and Kyle will wouldn't have a problems with first class material. Asked about it all of them confirmed that they spent at last two hours daily learning about potions. Raven wasn't sure but he thought that Snape is feeling better because he hasn't Dark Lord following his movements, at last now. Snape asked about it by Raven agreed and promised that he will be more civil towards them, which surprised them all. He also made sure that Raven was getting better in his Occlumency lessons, asked about it Raven told him that he was practicing with his mother.
"She was always very good in it. There is no way to fool her" Snape told them before Narcissa send them to do laundry and check upon Percy and Penelope.
Both were unconscious but stabile so the kids spend rest of the afternoon in the laundry making sure that Narcissa or any Black women will send them to do laundry in next two days.
Around 6pm Mirzam found them in the laundry and showed them to the kitchen for the dinner. Snape was there too. Asked about it he told them that if he spent another hour in bed he would do something stupid. Raven eyed a pap, which Snape had on his plate. Narcissa who saw it told them that for next few days Snape would get a pap as food because they weren't sure about his condition. So for poor potions master left eating a pap and sending longing glances at other people plates which contained normal food. Sirius tried to took his mind from food by offering a game of bridge. Snape more than happy agreed and they ended in the living-room on first floor watching like Mirzam, Narcissa, Sirius and Snape in the one table along with Talitha, Belinda, Regulus and Andromeda in the other played a game and later after Mirzam and Narcissa and Belinda and Andromeda lose they were watching the game between Sirius, Snape, Regulus and Talitha. Pair Sirius and Snape won. After cup of chocolate Mirzam and Talitha send kids to the bed because they told them that they had to wake up very early next day because they need to prepare the house for the weeding.
They woke around 6am and they already found adults in the kitchen. Talitha and Andromeda hauled Mirzam and Rowan into one of the bedrooms on the first floor to check if their weeding dresses were fitting on them.
Raven found his father in the study muttering something about old ladies and their stupid ideas. Asked about it he told him "Your grandmother thought that it would be a good idea to send us to Egypt for a honey week. So I strongly advise you to start packing. Arguing with Blacks women didn't bring Blacks men any good"
"When we are leaving?" asked Raven.
"About an hour or so after weeding we have a plane to catch around 4pm. So better pack today. Tomorrow you will not have a time. But for now do me that favour and check how Percy and his girlfriend are feeling. I'm going to the garden. Regulus! Go to the garden, I need you!" with this Sirius left the study.
Raven checked on Percy and Penelope, they were sleeping so Raven decided to take his father advice and started packing.
Short after 8am Mirzam with awry wreath of white and crimson roses on her head stormed into his bedroom and told him to pull off his clothes from the trunk, give him a valise and told him to take only one jumper and blouse and many T-shirts. Asked about what had happened she told him that she escaped Talitha because she wanted to decorate her dress with white roses that Mirzam would look like example of innocence.
"Explain me how I'm going to look like example of innocence with sixteen years old son behind my back. I explained her that only virgins are wearing white wedding dresses and veils. Lets say that she barely accepted the last one and didn't make me wearing the veil and I happened to like my old wedding dress, actually is very comfortable. So I left her to bother Rowan" Mirzam snorted adjusting her wreath on her head before Raven's mirror.
"Why?" asked Raven.
"Talitha always wanted to prepare the weddings of her sons. So imagine yourself that she is very happy now, because she is making two weddings tomorrow and another two at 27th August. Lets says that Dora, Belinda and Rowan accepted whatever Talitha is planning for them but I'm very stubborn woman and I'm going to be dressed in whatever I like, not what Talitha prepared for me, thank you very much" Mirzam fought with one of the roses in her wreath.
"Why are you so nervous?" asked Raven.
"You didn't hear that your own wedding is one of the most stressing things in your life? Muggle phrase. I don't understand this whole circus around it. When Sirius and I were getting married, seventeen years ago, I only have this dress, the veil and bunch of white roses and a dinner in one of the restaurants in Las Vegas and we wouldn't have a dinner if our groomsman didn't insist. Thanks to Regulus, he paid for that dinner. Told us that it's not everyday when your older brother is getting married, especial if you only have one older brother" Mirzam removed the wreath and started examining it.
"Regulus was on your wedding?" asked interested Raven.
"As our groomsman and friend. That was only he, Sirius and I and the priest of course" Mirzam started again fighting with the wreath.
"Why you two get married in Las Vegas?" asked Raven.
"We were on the mission. Actually we were in San Francisco and your father decided that we should do something stupid, like playing in the Casino, we lose some money but Regulus suggested jokingly that we should visit on of the wedding chapels. Stupid idea when you are drunk. Regulus suggested, only suggested that since we are in wedding chapel on of us should get married. It was rather, he or Sirius. Sirius asked him why it has to be him and not Regulus then Regulus told him that he loves me dearly, but as a sister and he always thought that we would make a wonderful married couple. Sirius told him to fuck off, so Regulus called him a coward, then Sirius told him and I will quote him 'it's easy to get married far worse is keeping the marriage'. Very wise for someone who was barely standing on his foot, let me tell you. Then Regulus told him to prove it, so that's why we ended as a married couple. From what I heard later from you father I should thank Regulus, if it wasn't because of him your father wouldn't ever ask me to marry him because he feared that I would reject him. So you should thank Regulus, if he didn't dared your father to marry me I'm afraid that you wouldn't saw this world" Mirzam smiled at him.
"Did you regret this? That you get marry in the wedding chapel in Las Vegas. Quite drunk actually" asked quite afraid Raven.
"I imagined different wedding for us, but I didn't regret it Rave. I knew that Sirius had feelings for me but I knew also that he was actually too afraid to tell me this then. So here we are. I hope that our groomsman now will not search your father in the whole house like Sirius did on James wedding" said Mirzam pensively.
"Huh!"
"Sirius had to turn James' parents house upside down to find James. James was actually afraid that Lily will change her mind about him and he hid himself in the wardrobe. It took Sirius and Remus half of hour to haul him from there and told him that everything will be all right. I think that I somewhere have a photo where Sirius is pushing James on to the Altair with a little help of Mr. Potter shotgun. Mr. Potter liked gun for ducks so that was the reason that shotgun was in the house in the first place, quite useful with scared groom let me tell you. And since we don't have a shotgun I hope neither that nor you nor Sirius will be hiding in the wardrobe because you will be afraid that yours brides would turn you down. Don't do that shame to the family. Lily was actually crying, how it look, a groom pushed on to the Altair by shotgun, it made James hide again, this time in the basement. That's why the wedding ceremony was late something about three hours" Mirzam winked at him.
"I promise mum" said Raven smiling.
"Good. If your grandmother will seek me here told her that I went to the study," said Mirzam standing up.
"And where you are going to be?" asked Raven.
"At the attic with your father. Check the Weasleys for me" said Mirzam and went to the door.
"Mum?" Raven called after her.
"Yeah?" Mirzam turned to him.
"Who will be your groomsman?" asked Raven.
"Guess" Mirzam smiled.
"Regulus again?"
"Nope"
"Remus?"
"Hmm… no"
"Draco?"
"Nope"
"Neville?"
"Nope"
"Ted?"
"He is married"
"Percy?"
Mirzam snorted "No"
"Snape?"
"He told you this?" Mirzam asked him.
"Snape? You asked Snape to be yours groomsman? Are you mad?" Raven was shocked.
"Wasn't me, it was Sirius who asked him but Snape agreed so here we are" said Mirzam and she left the room.
"Dad" Raven yelled.
"What?" asked Sirius when he entered Raven's room.
"Are you mad?" Raven asked.
"Me? No! Why are you asking?" Sirius gaped at Raven.
"Because mum told me that you asked Snape to be your groomsman" said Raven eyeing his father.
"Well… After incident with Molly Weasley I decided that I should trust him more and I'm showing my trust that way" said Sirius.
"What about Remus?" asked Raven.
"I talked with him, he said that is one of my best ideas and he is going to ask Regulus…" Sirius started.
"And who Regulus will ask?" Raven asked.
"Same as I, Snape"
"Dad…" Raven started.
"People change Raven. I changed. Severus changed. I think that he seems to be more happy about that Voldemort found out about him, he don't have to lead double life and he has a chance to be happy. And he has my blessing with this" said Sirius.
"Blessing?" Raven was shocked.
"Narcissa" Sirius mumbled "Don't ask questions" he added after a while.
Raven stared at him.
"Sirius? Did you talk to Amelia Bones?" asked Talitha during the dinner.
"Yes. It will be just Mirzam and me. No under age marriages, she says. And I agree with her. I get married when I was twenty and it wasn't bad decision" Sirius muttered when Mirzam handed him a cup of coffee.
"What a pity" Rowan sighted.
"No harm done. Maybe next year or later. It's nothing wrong in marrying when you are after twenty, look at Remus, he is 37 and he is getting married now" Sirius mumbled.
"Look at Remus, he is a werewolf with three kids" Remus teased.
Everybody laughed.
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