Brother Brother II : Family Portrait

by Maud Greyluck

Sequel to “Reunion”. Sirius and Regulus Black are together again. They have to learn how real family works. AU. Six year fic. HHr. Chapter 21: Last days of summer.

19. Meeting with the Marauders

Disclaimer: No, I'm not JKR because: I'm Harry/Hermione shipper all the way, Sirius is alive ( with the rest of people who should be dead ), I hate idea of OBHWF ( idea of having all Weasley after the war in one piece if far fetched to me ). But plot and any characters which you doesn't recognize from the HP books are my own. I have no profits from it ( besides improving my English that's it ).

Answers:

Boleyn - Thank you.

hybrid - I think that you are going to like this chapter. I'm not going to tell more. Now that's it.

Angered Thoughts - I know that my grammar sucks. This time I tried my best. Good news I have normal English lessons for five hours in week. I like your reaction about Potters. As for Harry and Raven you will see.

Shinigami - :Sniffy smiles smugly: I like your reaction. You will like this chapter. I'm sure about this. And yeah I explained a lot in this chapter.

Kyra - Thank you.

charmedfun - Thank you.

I know that you will like this chapter. It's long, has a lot of answers... and family fluff. Plus a lot of surprises.

Events of last months in short words: No I'm not dead. No, interview is just interview even if the questioners acted like little kids from kindergarten ( and yes it's an insult - for children of course ). No, I didn't throw my HBP copy out of my house, even if I wanted to, 25 Euro is a bit too much money to waste in throwing, for me ( I'm unemployed student ). No, I'm not going to run and join OBHWF, firstly while I can survive Ron/Hermione ( even if I still like Harry/Hermione far more better ) I absolutely can't stand HBP!Harry/Ginny ( I could stand OotP!Harry/Ginny in small doses ), hell I don't like HBP!Ginny as whole, OotP!Ginny I could stand, she was funny, but HBP!Ginny reminds me a girl from school who everyone knows because she is popular but no one really likes because of how she acts. Ron/Hermione is sweet, convincing ( yes, I said it and no, my head is fine ). But if Harry/Ginny represents true love I would rather go and play with a dog ( even if I doesn't have one ). Thank you JKR you killed my belief in true love: Monsters in one's chest...

That was most of my feelings about events from last few months and yes I'm going to write Brother Brother as long as I can.

And if you are wondering what happened to talks the answer is simple: I'm lazy, I have bronchi pneumonia again that's why I feel free from writing the talks ( but if you like it will write it for next chapter ).

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Chapter was proof read by Sniffy.

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Chapter nineteen: Meeting with the Marauders.

They stared at the parchment. Sirius was the first one to get his voice back. "Son of a bitch. Freaking son of a bitch. Cold calculating ass. The biggest git in the world. When I get my hands on him I will kill him. No... I will torture him... He will beg me to kill him..." he was muttering, his fists were clenching.

Raven was stunned. Sure, he was a Black, Sirius's and Mirzam's son... but he spent last fifteen years believing that he was a Potter. Speaking about Mirzam... Raven turned to his mother and what he saw on her face scared him more than everything. Her face was pale, paler than usual anyway, but besides that it was emotionless. Raven didn't knew why it scared him so much. He turned to Harry, Harry was watching Mirzam too. Suddenly Mirzam stood up from the chair she occupied and run to the sink. Raven and Harry joined her there when she was ending throwing up what she eat. Harry grabbed nearest towel and wet it while Raven was rubbing her back. Mirzam whipped her mouth with the back of her left hand before she said "I'm fine"

Raven was sure that she knew that they didn't believed her. They lead her back to her chair. Sirius was still muttering things what he wanted to do to Potter when he get his hands on him and it was even more scary than before.

"I would not want to be a Potter now" said Harry.

"I don't want to be a mood killer, but you didn't had a chance to finalize adoption Harry, you know. You are still a Potter" Raven corrected him.

"True, but I assure you before the midnight will come I will be a Black" said Harry with evil grin.

"So you have something around a hour to talk mum and dad into it" said Raven.

"First he needs to calm down Sirius" said Mirzam weakly.

"Dad! Which Potter you want to kill?" Harry yelled towards Sirius.

Sirius stared at him, quite shocked actually before he asked "Isn't it obvious?"

"No. We didn't finalized adoption, you know, I'm still a Potter" said Harry.

"As I told you before..." Sirius started but Harry cut him.

"Gee, how many times I have to repeat myself. I want this. I waited for this since you have told me about this. Did I need to tattoo 'ADOPT ME BLACK' on my forehead for you to stop asking if I want this?" Harry asked impatiently.

"I wanted to say, that as much as I love you like a son Harry and as much as I want to make it official I can't do this now..." Sirius said grimly.

"Why?" Harry asked, his voice was trembling.

It was the moment when Raven realized how much idea of being adopted meant for Harry. He put his hand on Harry's shoulder and squeezed it. Mirzam slipped her arm around Harry and hugged him, she glanced at Sirius. Her eyes meet Sirius's eyes and Raven knew that this two were talking with each other. Sirius slowly made his way to Harry's chair and put his hands on Harry's shoulders before he said slowly "We can't Harry. Your parents are alive and they are your guardians. We can't adopt you until they let us"

"They abandoned him Sirius. It's like letting you adopt him" said Regulus.

Mirzam snorted "If it was so simple I would be your sister not your sister-in-law. I was abandoned you know? But as long as my biological parents were alive and didn't gave up their parental rights no one could adopt me... Your father always wanted a daughter and he told me ages ago that I was the closest thing he had for a daughter, but because of some stupid law he could give me a roof above my head, buy me new clothes, my school supplies, but he couldn't adopt me, couldn't make it official and to tell the truth I'm happy that he couldn't adopt me"

"You never read his will, did you Mirzam?" asked Regulus.

She shook her head.

"But I did. That's the best thing. He divided everything for four of us, mum, me, Sirius and you. It's very old document from before you and Sirius left this house. That's why half of family stuff is in hands of you two. This house, few other houses, a lot of money and surprisingly some empty grounds around Hogsmeade..." started Regulus but Talitha cut him.

"Stop complaining Regulus"

"I'm not complaining, I'm explaining"

"You are happy because you saved money at buying the houses around Grimmauld Place 12..." said Talitha.

"But I still had to paid for express leaving the houses, because you didn't agreed with my deadline in December" Regulus muttered.

Mirzam and Sirius exchanged worried glances. Belinda snorted and said "They couldn't agree about this. Talitha wanted it fast, Regulus wanted to save some money for other things. Be happy that you weren't there then"

"But our finances can stand this" said Sirius.

"I know, but we could save some money here and there by taking time. I was appointed to watch after renovations of other houses. Guess when I have a deadline? December and fifteen houses to look after. Two are going to Black family, one as safe house for Order members and one as Headquarter of the Order of the Phoenix, number 13 and 14 I believe. Three as Ministry of Magic, four as Hospital..." snorted Narcissa.

"There is sixteen houses around Grimmauld Place. This one and other two can be put aside for some time you know. Together with hospital and Ministry it's ten out of sixteen what about the other six. Numbers 15 and 16 for example?" asked Sirius.

"Orphanage. Numbers 9, 10 and 11 – the Ministry, it may also took number 8. Numbers 4, 5, 6, 7 and possible 3 – the Hospital. Before you ask about numbers 1 and 2 there is an idea concerning this two. Professor Dumbledore could you?" Narcissa turned to Dumbledore.

"Yes my dear. Tally inspired this one. During her travel across USA she run into Magical University I believe that this University is secret one, because there is no word between teachers about Universities at all. And I have to said that while Hogwarts covers the basic there is no institution which would took care about further education and I mean things very advanced. Basically everything what wasn't taught at Hogwarts, because of lack of time, lack of courses. Hogwarts is a school for all people, something which you have to go through it like dragon pox, but the University would be for people who really want to continue what they started at Hogwarts" said Dumbledore.

"I know what you mean. We don't have high school and from experience I know that Ministry have problems with proper training, lack of time, lack of people who would teach, sending greenhorns in dangerous missions. It's a school of live. You survived one day, maybe you will survive another. I was one of the best students at Aurors pre schooling and when I joined the Aurors I knew that I wasn't prepared enough to face some things" said Sirius emotionally.

"That's a point" said Dumbledore.

"The Ministry of Magic will need more Aurors, Hit Wizards. It takes one three years to accomplish now. During first war it was six months. I can't wait two, three years for new Aurors" said Sirius grimly.

"You are acting like you were Head of the Aurors or Minister of Magic" said Mad-Eye Moody.

"I was back into Seniors program in July. I started this during first war, remember Mad-Eye?" said Sirius.

"I remember. I send you there myself. You know there is few steps in being an Auror. Juniors, Seniors, Loners – they can work on their own, in previous steps one needs a partner and of course members of Hit Wizards. Only the best from the best get there. Your father was about ending Seniors program when he was caught I believe that he passed the exam for a Loner in July, did you Sirius?" explained Moody to the teenagers.

"I did. With a note to come back at 1st September to work. Mum don't look at me like that, there is no need to fuss about this..." muttered Sirius.

"It's just a matter of time before he makes Hit Wizards. Stop blushing Black" said Moody.

Sirius indeed was blushing like a school girl.

"Or Head of the Aurors" Regulus joked.

"Or maybe Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement" suggested Remus.

"From there is a short way to Minister of Magic" Dumbledore joked.

"Stop it" Sirius muttered through gritted teeth.

"Excuse me I didn't heard you" said Regulus.

"I said: STOP IT! Yeah I have to admit that I dreamed about becoming Head of the Aurors and maybe someday I would make it. Someday. But I don't have in my plan becoming Minister of Magic" Sirius yelled.

"Why not? You would be far more better than Fudge" said Regulus.

"Even Flobberworm would be better than Fudge" said Sirius grimly.

"Flobby the Flobberworm, our new Minister of Magic" Regulus burst in laugh and fall from his chair.

The rest of the Order started laughing too.

"Come to think of it" said Dumbledore when he calmed down "We really need to think about elections for new Minister of Magic" he added after a while.

"Maybe Scrimgeour?" suggested Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"This man is walking trouble and the Order is not sure about his intentions Shacklebolt" Sirius grimaced.

"Amy Bones would be fine, but since she is dead..." said Remus.

"Moody?" suggested Sirius suddenly.

"What?" said old Auror.

"I said Moody, I wasn't asking you about anything" said Sirius.

"No way" said Moody.

"Why not?" asked Sirius.

"Because..." started Moody.

"Sirius could you check if my notebook is where it was?" asked Mirzam suddenly.

"What? You mean THIS notebook?"

She nodded.

"Okay. I'll be back in few minutes" said Sirius and he left the kitchen.

"Mirzam you are brilliant" said McGonagall when Sirius footsteps died away.

"I'm not, Dumbledore is. What? If he stares in my eyes for last few minutes asking me to send my husband away for a moment I knew that I should do this. So Dumbledore?" said Mirzam.

"I was thinking about Sirius, as a new Minister of Magic. I know that you didn't read Daily Prophet and other newspapers in awhile but if you did you would find out that there is no day since the trial where Sirius's name wasn't mentioned in at last one article. People are trusting him, he become some kind a hero for a lot people. He survived 12 years in Azkaban and he is still sane. He is someone who would lead the war. To tell you the truth I will be not surprised if he actually makes it" said Dumbledore.

"Nor will I. His attitude stands lately for his name" said Moody.

"The star?" asked Talitha.

"No. Serious" said Moody.

"Who is serious?" asked Sirius.

"You are. How is my notebook?" Mirzam quickly changed the subject.

"Fine. So what's going on? We were at Minister of Magic subject last time I was there" said Sirius and he sat down on his chair next to Mirzam.

"We decided that we will vote for Scrimgeour. We can talk him into cooperation" said Mirzam.

"Any new issues?" asked Sirius.

"Nope" said Mirzam.

"Actually one. Tomorrow you are taking Regulus, Remus and Ted to Hogwarts for Ministry of Magic elections. You can take children if you want" said Dumbledore.

"When?" Sirius asked.

"At noon. Oh and wear your Auror work uniform Sirius. You lot too, it's an official occasion. Goodbye and goodnight" said Dumbledore.

"Raven, Harry, Rowan go to sleep. Harry we will talk about your guardianship later when we rest, okay?" said Sirius.

"You think that he will be happy with elections?" asked Rowan when they reached her bedroom.

"Somehow I don't think so" said Raven and kissed her on the lips before he said "Goodnight Rowan"

"Goodnight to you two too. Merlin, this was the longest day in my life" she stifled her yawn and closed her door.

Raven turned to Harry and asked "Are you going to sleep tonight?"

Harry grimaced before he said "I don't think so" there was moment of silence then "Raven can we talk about something?"

"Okay, just get into my bedroom, we are supposed to be asleep" said Raven and gently showed him into his bedroom.

Harry sat down on Raven's bed and Raven sat next to him. Harry sighed and stared stubbornly at the carpet like it would help solve everything. Raven put his hand on Harry's shoulder and asked him.

"Everything is fine?" Raven knew that it wasn't, but he thought that it would help Harry start talking.

Harry shook his head and said "No, it's not"

"You want to talk about this?" asked Raven.

"Yeah" Harry sighed.

Raven stayed silent, he knew that he should let Harry talk.

"I don't know why I choose you... I really don't. But I need to get out of my chest and you are my best friend so far" started Harry.

Raven shifted a bit so he could look straight into Harry's eyes.

"Have you ever felt that there is no one in the world who cares for you?" asked Harry.

"I did. For ten years" said Raven.

Harry glared at him.

"Really" said Raven and told Harry the story of his life. It amazed him how he could open before Harry. He talked about everything, years at the Dursleys, his years at Hogwarts, his friends, his enemies. He talked about this summer in detail. About events of fifth year, Sirius accident, his guilt about endangering his friends, attack at the Grangers, finding his parents...

In return Harry talked about his life. That he was found by fishers short after the catastrophe, about orphanage and how Belinda found him there. He told Raven that Belinda adopted him in muggle way because she thought that he was a muggle orphan. Then about Belinda's accident, about his foster family which made the Dursleys look like saints, about the joy he felt when Belinda took him back. But most specifically he talked about his hope, his need to belong, to have true family, caring mother and loving father and how much Raven's parents offer meant for him. By the end of his story Harry had tears in his eyes and Raven were close to tears. Suddenly they heard something in the wardrobe something what sounded like sniffling. Raven stood up and very slowly moved to open the door of the wardrobe. What he saw stunned him a bit. There was Ron sitting on the floor whipping his nose with his sleeve.

"What you are doing here?" asked Harry who appeared behind Raven.

"I came here to talk. Your mother told me today to talk with you. She said that you have answers to my questions. I waited for you Raven but when I heard that you are not alone I hid here and since I can't apparate I stayed here" Ron explained.

"So ask" said Raven.

"Your stories explained everything, but I have one question: why you didn't told me the truth earlier?"

"Higher force. Dumbledore, parents" said Harry.

"Ouch, your elbow is in my ribs" there was a muffled sound coming from under the bed.

"Who's there?" asked Raven.

"Just us" said Draco and pushed Neville from under the bed and then he get up too.

"Let me guess, Thabit and Kyle are under the desk?" asked Raven.

"Nope. Behind the bookshelf. There is some space behind it" said Draco.

"Okay Thabit, Kyle, get out from behind it" said Raven.

There was another muffled sound and slowly Thabit followed by Kyle emerged from behind the bookshelf.

"What about you four?" asked Harry.

"We wanted to talk about elections" said Neville.

"And we wanted to stay here for a night. There is something under our beds" said Thabit.

Raven remembered that Thabit and Kyle lately slept in the same bedroom.

"Let me guess you read thrillers again?" asked Draco.

"No. Fairly tails" answered Thabit grimly.

"What about elections?" asked Harry.

"Dumbledore offered that we may come to Hogwarts for election if we want. Snape said that if it was depending from him he would took us, elections are usually appointed when old Minister of Magic dies or quits on his own" said Draco.

"Or is kicked from his office" added Neville.

"Anyway. Snape promised to talk with the rest and asked if we want to come. We said yes for all of us and we are making sure if you want to come" said Draco.

"Lucky you. My mother would not let me and Ginny come" said Ron grimly.

"Maybe you will come to. It depends from Mirzam she said that what your mother doesn't know will not hurt her. It appears that she had a plan" said Neville.

"And I heard Sirius talking with your father. Your father agreed to take you two if someone decides to distract your mother" said Draco.

"Maybe we should find Sirius and tell him that we want to come" suggested Harry.

"Come on. Maybe he is not sleeping yet" said Raven and they quickly get down to ground floor.

The door of the study were opened and the boys get there. They found Mrs & Mr Weasley there sitting on the couch.

"Absolutely no. It's dangerous" she huffed.

"They are old enough to defend themselves if something happens, Molly. Besides how they would felt if they would find out that two eleven years olds could come and they didn't" said Mr. Weasley.

"Bad" said Ron grimly.

"We may come?" asked Thabit.

"Your father was unsure about this but your aunt talked him into this" said Mr. Weasley.

"Mirzam?" asked Thabit.

"No, Narcissa, she said if you had fully trained wizard as a nanny you will be safe. I don't know who agreed to watch after you, but this person takes also the rest of you" Mr. Weasley motioned to the rest.

"What their parents are doing is their problem. Ron and Ginny are staying here. End of story" Mrs. Weasley huffed and stood up from the couch and was prepared to leave when they heard two voices on the corridor. One belonged to Sirius and one to Percy Weasley. They were nearing to the study.

Harry quickly whispered an incantation which sounded like "Invisibility" and waved his wand at the rest of study occupants. It appeared that Harry did it just in time before Sirius entered the study, followed by Percy. Sirius closed the door behind Percy and muttered locking charm. Percy in the meantime sat down on the armchair before the desk. Then Sirius turned around and went to Percy. Percy stared at him.

"Are you ready?" Sirius asked.

Percy nodded. Then Sirius went around the armchair so he stood directly behind Percy and raised his hands to Percy's neck. His hands made movements like he was undoing an invisible chain or necklace. It appeared that there were a necklace around Percy's neck because when Sirius raised his hand there was a silver necklace with emerald in it. Sirius dropped the necklace to the box on the desk and went around to lean on the desk before he asked Percy "How are you feeling?"

"Strange" answered Percy and he rubbed his neck.

"It will pass. Loyalty Necklaces tends to do this. Do you have questions?" asked Sirius.

"Yeah. Why you didn't took it off when I get here?" asked Percy.

"You were injured and unstable and one from profits of wearing Loyalty Necklace is depending from your keeper. Tell me how you felt in June, around my incident in Department of Mysteries?" asked Sirius.

Percy looked like he was thinking about something before he answered "I was out with Penelope then. Suddenly everything around me went black and I fainted. Penelope told me that I was unconscious for few hours"

Sirius glared at his shoes before he said "I have to apologize to you for endangering your life"

"Why?" asked Percy.

"You see Loyalty Necklace creates a bond between bearer and keeper. If something is happening with bearer of the Necklace, the keeper knows it. However when something is going wrong with keeper, the bearer feels like keeper feels in this exact moment. During second World War Loyalty Necklaces killed around twenty people. That's why they were used with caution during first war with Voldemort. I wasn't happy that Dumbledore decided to use one on ours spy in the Ministry." said Sirius grimly.

"Because it sentenced you into sitting in the house?" asked Percy.

"That one too. Mainly because Loyalty Necklace is humanitarian version of Imperious Curse. It can't sent users into prison for using it but in reality it screws some things. It has profits, I have to agree, because there is no way for someone to get information about this from one who is wearing it if the keeper doesn't agree to do this" explained Sirius.

"That's why I had to leave my parents home?" asked Percy.

"Not only. If somehow you were exposed as a spy you would loose your job. Since you were living on your own it would affect you and you only. If you were still living with your family it would also affect your father. One, he was the only one who were working for your family and if he lost his job your family would not have money. Two, the Order of the Phoenix had few sources in the Ministry, loosing one back then would be bad, loosing two would be a catastrophe. Besides it was also about your family safety" explained Sirius.

"But it still made me look an ass from me in front of my family" said Percy.

"I know. But Dumbledore and I have to choose and trust me looking like an ass is better than being accused for everything bad what had and could happen to your family. I told you that I wasn't happy about using Loyalty Necklace and I have my reasons for this" muttered Sirius.

"Dumbledore told me that you have some problems with my mother last year" said Percy.

"I did and you were the reason why I always stopped myself from strangling her. I told myself that insulting my capacity of being a guardian is nothing compared to what would happen if she would find out that I'm the reason of her problems with you, but still this fact gave me some grim satisfaction back then that I know something what she doesn't. To my own credit I was close to telling her the truth once and I would really felt like an ass if I didn't said it then" said Sirius.

"What you said to her?" asked Percy.

"That you will come around. I knew why, when she didn't, but still she could have hope and that was the only one thing I could offer her then. You are coming with us tomorrow?" asked Sirius.

"I don't know, what about my family now?" asked Percy.

"Act like nothing had happened. Dumbledore suggested that you may tell them that you were under Imperious and apologize to them. Your father specifically" said Sirius.

"I think I would go to sleep now. See you in the morning Mr. Black" said Percy and he left the study unlocking the door on his way.

"How many times I told you that it's Sirius to you?" Sirius yelled after him then yawned.

"You!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked.

Sirius inspected the room briefly then he waved his wand to where they stood and everyone become visible "Oh, it's just you" then he turned and was about to walk out from the study when Mrs. Weasley yelled.

"Came back here! I'm not done with you!"

Sirius turned in his place and glared at her before he said "But I'm done with you. You lot" he waved at teenagers "to the bed. Before me. Now!" he said firmly and pointed at the door.

Raven knew better than disobey him so he went to the door motioning at the rest to go after him. They joined him and they went upstairs with Sirius at their heels.

"If I will catch you wondering around once again better prepare for hell. I can't put the house under Fidelius Charm so it leaves it unprotected. I have enough to worry about and running around and searching where you are would not help me" he growled and went somewhere.

"He is right. I'm exhausted" Harry yawned and went to his bedroom.

The rest slowly followed his footsteps.

---

Raven woke up around 6am. He slowly opened one eye then another. He blinked to clear his vision. He thought that he saw someone next to the window but this person was a blur so he reached for his glasses. It was Sirius.

"You awake?" he asked not tearing his eyes from the window.

"Yeah" Raven mumbled.

"We are leaving at 8am. Dumbledore moved election for earlier. For safety, he said" Sirius said and turned to face Raven.

He looked like he was worrying about something and like he didn't slept last night.

"What's up?" Raven asked.

Sirius sat down on Raven's bed and sighed before he said "Nothing. I'm just tired" Sirius stifled a yawn.

"You are hiding here from Mrs. Weasley?" asked Raven.

"Mrs. Weasley is asleep now and will be for next few hours. Dora slipped some sleeping draught into her chocolate" said Sirius grimly.

"Come on you are worrying about something. Tell me" said Raven and he sat on his bed.

"I'm just nervous. I don't know why. Watching sleeping people calms me down" Sirius said.

"No offense, but why you are not staring at mum?" asked Raven.

"Because she is in the kitchen. She is preparing breakfast, I think. I thought about Harry last night" said Sirius.

"About his adoption?"

"Yeah. I feel bad for him. His childhood was just as bad as yours if not worse"

"You knew?"

"Mirzam. She used Legilimency on him"

"You talked to him yet?'

"No. He is not ready for this nor am I. I think that aftershock is kicking me. He was my friend, we were like brothers in everything but blood. I trusted him..." Sirius put his face in his hands and Raven heard dry sob.

Raven moved slowly to his father and gathered him in his arms before he said "You have us, dad"

Sirius's arms moved around Raven's waist, his face was buried in Raven's collarbone. Raven thought that he felt tears falling on his pajama before Sirius mumbled "I know, Raven. I know... and if something happened to one of you I don't think I would stand it. I fucked up in the past and I don't want to fuck up anything now... When you were born I thought that I can do everything to protect you and I couldn't. I wanted... I wanted watching like you are growing up... In those dark times you were like a candlelight to me... When they let me took you in my arms I felt that I could do everything for you. Mirzam laughed from me then because it was one of this times when I couldn't said a word... I simply didn't knew what I should tell to you... I just stared at you and vowed to myself that I will not fail you, never... But I failed you... I let you grow up in the hell... I'm saddest excuse of a father in the world..."

"You are not. You are the best father in the world" Raven said and hugged his father dearly.

This was the moment when all this facades of strong man, this 'I will kick your ass' look on Sirius face faded and Raven saw what was behind it. Someone who would die for his beloved ones, loving, caring father who deeply regretted that he couldn't watch his son's growing up. A lion who wants to protect his little ones. Raven buried his head in his father hair and he knew that he would do for his father, his family everything.

"I think it's a curse. Whenever you need a camera it's nowhere at sigh, don't you think Harry?" Mirzam's voice echoed in the background.

"I agree mum" said Harry.

Raven raised his head and saw Mirzam and Harry standing in the doorway. Mirzam had her left arm around Harry's shoulders.

"You better get up. Thabit and Kyle were so excited that they woke me up at 5am. Currently they are bothering Rowan..."

There was a crash and "Let me dress up you two" yell then sound of slammed door.

"Or not" Harry ended sentence.

"Are you coming with us mum?" asked Raven.

Mirzam grimaced before she said "I wanted to come, but your grandmother had better idea. Unless Dora still has this sleeping draught... Anyway I give you fifteen minutes before the rest will eat your breakfast. Sirius you coming?"

Sirius nodded and ruffled Raven's hair before he turned to Mirzam and said "Maybe if I asked her to come with us maybe she would let you come too? Yes, I'm coming"

"We may try if not I'm going to bother Severus for sleeping potion" said Mirzam.

"It will be hard to feed her with it. She is so nervous about election that she didn't touched anything from the table" said Snape who appeared behind Mirzam's back.

"You eat already?" asked Sirius from the bed.

"Not yet. Narcissa told me that she has something important to tell me and it would be better if I would have empty stomach. Save something for me would you?" Snape said and left.

Mirzam started giggling uncontrollably. Sirius stared at her questioningly.

"I know what she is going to tell him. I guess that I would have to save something for Regulus too. Don't look at me like that Sirius you will have to wait until they tell you it themselves" she said after she calmed down then she left the room.

"Interesting" said Sirius slowly and glanced at Harry.

"Don't look at me. She was giggling all along the way in the kitchen. She said something about Talitha having time of her life" said Harry.

"What Regulus and Severus has to do with my mother?"

"I don't know, but it sounds interesting" said Harry.

---

Ten minutes later Raven was in the kitchen. He saw Rowan with a cup of coffee at the table and he sat down next to her. He kissed her cheek and asked "You know what's going on?"

Rowan kissed his cheek back before she answered "I don't know but your mother is acting strangely. Like she knew something but she wasn't going to tell the rest about it"

"Mirzam Cassiopeia Verascez Black what you think you are doing!" they heard Talitha's voice from the kitchen stairs.

They turned to her. She looked furious.

Mirzam glanced at her and said "Coffee which I'm going to drink, like it or not" Mirzam's voice was calm but it had a hint of amusement.

"You can't" said Talitha.

"Of course that I can" Mirzam said calmly.

"You are not..." Talitha started but she stopped in the middle of sentence because Mirzam quickly drunk her coffee.

"What's it all about?" Mirzam raised one eyebrow and put empty mug on the counter.

Talitha sighed and said "You know that you're irresponsible mother"

Mirzam tutted "Stop acting like Molly Weasley. Besides I'm not smoking, Linda is and since she is addicted you will have hard time to stop her"

"Why I would want to?" asked Talitha.

Mirzam snorted "I see that you didn't run into Regulus yet"

"Mirzam!"

"Mirzam. You promised me that concealing dress remember?" Belinda's voice was heard on the kitchen stairs.

"You will not need it for next three months Linda, trust me. I wear it for last two months" said Mirzam.

"It's not my fault that your body can conceal pregnancy itself. I'm not that lucky... My mother genes. She was hugely pregnant by the ninth month with me. When I will reach ninth month I would be looking like a ball with head, hands, and legs" snorted Belinda.

"It's not that bad" said Mirzam while desperately trying to not smirk.

"Trust me it will be. You are not the one bearing the twins" said Belinda.

Mirzam raised one eyebrow and said with amusement in her voice "You wish. Pomfrey get her hands on me. She said that she will check me personally and something about lack of knowledge of certain Healers in Egypt. It turned that she was right. Partly, but still right"

Belinda stared at her with opened mouth before she get her voice back "You are?"

"Fifty-fifty. Boy and girl. What about you?" Mirzam asked.

"Same here. Boy and girl. I'm nervous as hell because it's my first time. Did you saw my cigarettes?" Belinda asked.

"Regulus nicked them. He said something about knowing about what your talk it's going to be and that he needed to calm himself down from excitement" answered Mirzam.

"Think about Narcissa. Merlin Andy laughed from her for two hours..." said Belinda.

"And then Narcissa laughed from Andy for three. I heard something about 'at your age Andromeda', 'you planed this?' when I was going to the bed" Mirzam cut her.

"What you said earlier this morning? That Talitha will have what?" asked Belinda.

"Hard time of checking all of us. One, two she can control, but five..." said Mirzam.

Talitha's eyes traveled from one to another during Mirzam and Belinda talk before she said "You mean all of you are..."

"Pregnant. Andromeda with triplets. Narcissa with twins. Dora with one. Linda and I with twins. I wish you luck with controlling all of us" said Mirzam.

"Especially when Dora is the one who would ask you for advice. Mirzam, Narcissa and Andromeda where pregnant once before and I decided to ask this three for advice if I would need any" added Linda and put her arm around Mirzam's shoulder.

"You did it deliberately, all of you? To drive my attention away from Mirzam" asked Talitha.

"Nope. But it seems that we did, at last she is not alone with this" said Linda.

"Who is the father of Narcissa's children?" asked Talitha.

Mirzam smiled evilly before she said "You will know when you will see him next time"

"Does Sirius knows about you being pregnant with twins?" asked Talitha.

"Nope. I will tell him after elections. He is already nervous and I don't want to give him another reason to be more nervous than he already is" said Mirzam.

"What about the rest?" asked Talitha.

"Ted as far as I know is not informed yet, Andy waits until we will come back from the ministry. Linda told Regulus and Narcissa hauled her man somewhere to talk about this, it seems that she want him to know it before he do something stupid" said Mirzam.

"Morning ladies and you, Raven" said Snape who just entered the kitchen and sat at the table.

"Morning Severus. How are you?" said Linda happily.

"Ask me later when I will get over from the shock Linda. Mirzam do you still have that coffee, this which makes one calm after drinking" Snape asked.

Mirzam nodded and poured him some coffee into the mug before she sat down next to him and smiled evilly before she said "Nervous?"

"As hell"

"Shocked?"

"Very much"

"Happy?"

"Partly, mostly shocked but happy"

"You want to ask Sirius about something?"

Snape glared at Mirzam. She smiled and said "He is the oldest Black man around Severus. And tradition says that when the father of the girl is dead the closest and actually oldest blood male relative is taking care of things like that. It's Sirius"

Snape grimaced before he said "Maybe I will wait after he will calm down, from what I heard he will be witness of too many bombs today and he is too young for heart attack, so maybe tomorrow"

"Tomorrow what?" asked Sirius who just entered the kitchen.

"Nothing important sweetheart" said Mirzam.

"You saw Weasleys lately?" asked Sirius.

"Bill is at Gringotts, he is not coming, Charlie has a meeting with a friend today, Fred and George are already in work, Ginny was on her way to the bathroom and she promised to wake up Ron when she will be going downstairs. As for the rest of us, Draco was in other bathroom, Neville was checking what hides under Thabit's and Kyle's beds, this two were with him then, Harry was talking with Dora. Remus was in library, Andromeda and Ted went to hospital wing to check on patients..." said Mirzam.

"Narcissa went after them" added Snape.

"Molly is still asleep. Regulus..." Mirzam turned to Belinda.

"In the bathroom, shaving" said Belinda.

"Arthur is at Hogwarts already. He will call us before we will be leaving" added Sirius.

"Sirius. Who are you taking?" asked Talitha suddenly.

"Children, both ours and Weasleys. Regulus, Ted, Remus, Severus. I also wouldn't mind taking Mirzam, Linda, Narcissa and Dora. Andromeda said that she will stay here, she wants to check upon the Longbottoms. That's of course if you wouldn't mind girls leaving mum" said Sirius.

"Girls are not in the state of traveling Sirius and we would need Healers here..." started Talitha.

"Fine. Then I'm taking Aurors. Mirzam and Dora are coming with me. I wouldn't mind taking Healers too. Merlin knows if we would need them" said Sirius firmly.

"I'm staying" said Dora from the door "I feel sick and I will rather stay here if you wouldn't mind Sirius"

"Okay. Let me take Mirzam mum" said Sirius.

Talitha stared at Mirzam before she said "It's her business. She is capable of taking care on her own. Just to inform you young woman if something would happen to you or your childr... "Talitha stopped in the middle of the sentence before she continued "Don't count for my sympathy"

Mirzam smiled sheepishly and muttered "Thank you mum"

---

In five minutes the rest appeared in the kitchen. Sirius were hovering above them telling them that they will be late. He told Ron and Ginny that they will have to be silent about their presence at elections if they doesn't want to hear their mother's rant. Mirzam lost her patience in the middle of this, hauled Sirius to the chair next to her and showed mug of coffee under his nose. It gave them five minutes of silence before Talitha left the kitchen to check the weather outside. She came back after a minute telling all of them to take their cloaks with hood because it was raining outside.

Despite small version of chaos in the kitchen Raven thought that it all went really good because when Mr. Weasley fire called them they were ready to leave on time.

"How we are going to travel to Hogwarts?" asked Thabit.

"We are going to apparate. Yes Rowan, I know that you are underage and in fact not trained in apparition that's why you are going to apparate together with one of us. Mirzam will take Rowan and Ginny, Regulus is taking Thabit and Kyle is apparating with Remus, Severus will take Draco and Neville and Ron are coming with Ted. Raven and Harry are coming with me. Any questions?" said Sirius firmly.

"Yeah why Thabit, Kyle and Draco are apparating only with adults why not all of us?" asked Ginny.

"Because Thabit and Kyle are eleven and Draco doesn't have a partner. The age is big issue in apparition. That's why you need to be around seventeen when you are apparating yourself. If you are older your mind and your body are cooperating better with an apparition. Apparating with young kid is very dangerous for them that's why if you are apparating, you apparate with one child on time and only is you passed the test with distinction" answered Sirius.

"Something else?" asked Mirzam and as they shook their heads she said to Rowan and Ginny "Don't try to block what you are feeling" and with a barely audible pop they disapparated.

With next pop Ted with Neville and Ron left and another pop signaled that Snape and Draco left too.

Remus glanced at Sirius and said slowly "See you there. Hopefully in one piece" and with another pop he and Kyle had gone.

"You are going as last?" asked Regulus.

Sirius nodded slowly.

"So be it" with this Regulus and Thabit disapparated.

"Take my hands and hold them firmly" said Sirius.

"What next?" asked Harry.

"Just feel it and let yourself follow it" said Sirius.

It felt weird, like he was shattered into million pieces but at the same time he remained one. Suddenly what he was seeing in front of him changed drastically from the main hall in Grim Manor too green grass before Hogwarts gate. He had his father and Harry on his left but the rest wasn't anywhere at sight.

"Where are they?" asked Raven.

"Arthur suggested jumping" said Sirius and at shocked expressions on Raven's and Harry's faces he explained "We set some safe points of apparition last year. Each person has her/his own combination of jumps. Mirzam for example apparates in Diagon Alley, our old flat, Godric Hollow, Three Broomsticks and Hogwarts gates directly" said Sirius.

Pop and Mirzam with Rowan and Ginny materialized in front of them. Mirzam grimaced before she said "Let me guess you decided to apparate directly here"

"For your safety" Sirius answered.

Another pop and Regulus appareted, Thabit wasn't anywhere at sight.

"Where is Thabit?" Sirius asked.

Regulus examined his surroundings and with a horrified expression he mumbled.

"I lost him. He was with me in my old flat. Shit" with this Regulus disapparated.

Before Regulus came back the rest was at Hogwarts gates. When Regulus apparated Thabit wasn't anywhere at sight.

Suddenly on their right very loud pop was heard. They turned in this direction and saw Thabit who was busy in examining his hands.

"Wicked" Thabit mumbled.

"Not wicked, just natural" said unknown voice from behind Thabit and with a swish of the invisibility cloak a man appeared behind Thabit and he put his hands on Thabit's shoulders.

The man was tall, about an inch or two taller than Sirius but about two or three inches smaller than Regulus. He was so slim that one could called him skinny. His face was heart shaped with distinct eyebrows above almond shaped, gray eyes, rather snub nose and this smirk on his face without a trace of beard made him looking like a outgrown teenager. His hair were short and jet black with few white strands here and there and they were falling into his eyes in some gracious manner which Raven knew he saw before but couldn't point on who.

"Natural?" Thabit turned to the man.

"Blacks were always natural in appartation, it appears that you are taking after your family" said the man with a smile.

"Thanks. Excuse me mister but who you are?" asked Thabit.

The man's smile get even wider before he answered "Achird Erakis Black"

Rather loud thump behind Raven turned his attention from the man to his father who was sitting on the ground with mouth open wide.

"Are you catching flies, Sirius?" asked the man with a hint of amusement in his voice.

Sirius slowly closed his mouth then opened them once again and extracted from himself one word "Dad?"

"Yep" said the man and walked to Sirius to help him rise from the ground.

"How?" Sirius mumbled still holding firmly on man's arm.

"Long story, we better take it into the castle" the man waved his free hand to the gates. "After you"

They walked through Hogwarts gates. The first one to saw the castle were Thabit and Kyle. Their only one reaction was "Wow!"

"Indeed wow" said the man, Achird Black, Raven corrected himself.

They were walking slowly through the grounds around Hogwarts when they saw something nearing them with such as speed that it was a blur.

Achird Black stopped walking and the rest stopped too. Suddenly loud yells were heard and a mass of curly, brown hair slammed into Achird sending him on the ground.

"Professor Black, Professor Black. Professor McGonagall wants to kill dad" the mass of hair breathed.

Achird Black sat on the ground with a small girl on his knees before he said.

"Nice to see you too today Brenda. Why Minnie wants to kill Romulus?"

"Dad accidentally changed her robes to pink with orange polka dotes" said the girl.

"Purely accidentally?" asked Achird and raised from the ground and helped the girl stand up too.

"That's what he claims" said the girl.

"Professor Black! Help me. I'm too young to die this way" yelled someone and someone run in their direction.

It looked like Achird Black was going to land on the ground second time in a matter of five minutes, but instead of sending him on the ground, young man hid behind Achird's back.

In a matter of thirty second very angry McGonagall appeared in front doors of Hogwarts. She saw the crowd and yelled.

"Achird! Did you saw Lupin lately?"

Achird turned his head around before he yelled back "He run into Forbidden Forrest. Maybe all toilets at Hogwarts are broken down and he needed to..."

"I get this. Tell him if you will see him next time that he is going to pay for this one" yelled McGonagall waved her hand at her robes and she vanished behind the doors.

After ten seconds of piercing silence the man poked his head from behind Achird's back "Thank you Professor Black for saving my ass again" he mumbled.

"You are welcome Romulus" said Achird.

The rest stared at them in shock. Harry was the first one to talk.

"Professor Lupin what are you doing here?" he asked.

The man turned his attention to him and Raven and the rest could see him clearly. He looked like Remus but his hair were brown instead of specked with gray like Remus's hair were. He was also an inch or two taller than Remus was. He smiled at Harry widely and run to him to shake their hands.

"Harry Potter. I thought that you were in Canada. How are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm fine Professor. I moved to England. Hello Brenda" mumbled Harry.

"Harry" the girls screamed and launched herself at Harry in joy.

"You asked what I'm doing here before. Actually I'm teaching. Defense Against Dark Arts thanks to Professor Black" said Romulus Lupin.

"Blah. They kicked you out from Redmond and I was coming back to England during holidays. Besides Dumbledore needed DADA teacher" said Achird.

"What are you teaching dad?" asked Sirius.

"New subject. Purely theoretical Dark Arts. It was Dumbledore's suggestion. My class is another class with DADA but under different name and with different teacher" Achird explained.

Suddenly Harry smacked his hand in his forehead before he said.

"Professor Dove of course... I'm an idiot that I didn't realized it sooner"

The rest – save Achird Black and Romulus Lupin and his daughter – stared at him in shock.

"Redmond covers this class. Theoretical Dark Arts. For students from third year and up. I was in this class, we were taught by Professor Martin Dove but last year Professor Dove decided to retried with the end of the school year. He and Professor Lupin were the best teachers at Redmond" Harry explained.

"Blatant favoritism, but I need to say that Harry here were the best students in this subjects all along the way" said Achird and Romulus Lupin nodded.

"So we will have competition this year. Raven was the best student in DADA class too" said Neville.

"And a good teacher I may add" added Ron.

"I heard about this" Romulus Lupin smiled.

"A lot" added Achird "Minnie and Albus were speaking very highly about your knowledge. Actually they are still doing this"

"I wished to have both of you in my class..." started Romulus but Achird cut him.

"I heard about this numberless times. Speaking from experience if Raven is as good as Harry is be sure that Romulus would made an Auror from you. You should saw him when he for the first time meet Harry... He came to my office and stated "Martin I have future Auror in my class"... He couldn't shut up for hours"

"That's why I was taught Dark Arts from my first year. Professor Lupin made sure that I will be prepared for taking my exams and passing with distinction" said Harry.

"Exactly which part of DADA you cover in classes Romulus?" asked Remus, his voice was unsure.

"Depends from the year. I cover Defense Against Magical Creatures in first and second year, basic of dueling in third year. Fourth year is for Advanced dueling. Fifth for revision. Six is for advanced DADA as whole it takes also first part of seventh year and the rest of seventh year is revision from the rest" explained Romulus.

"How long you are teaching?" Remus asked.

"Ten years"

"Why you decided to teach?" asked Remus.

"I was always fascinated by this subject, it get my with a lot of troubles, especially with my father. I was always specifically attached to Defense Against Magical Creatures. A bit too much for my father to like it..." Romulus started explaining but Sirius cut him with another question.

"You were bitten by a vampire?"

"Werewolf actually. I was eighteen years old then" said Romulus.

"You are a werewolf?" Remus mumbled.

"Oops, Achird said that I shouldn't talk about this at loud" muttered Romulus.

"You know his father?" whispered question from Sirius was directed to Achird.

Achird nodded and waved his hand from Sirius to Regulus and back.

"They are brothers?" asked Regulus in whisper.

Achird nodded before he said "Step-brothers"

Despite the fact that this conversation was whispered both Lupins heard this and quickly turned to Achird.

"You knew?" Romulus asked.

"I did, but it wasn't my place to talk about this. Your father should answer your questions" said Achird.

"He get himself lost years ago" said Remus.

"He committed suicide when I was eighteen. Couldn't stand the fact that his son was a werewolf, his last words" said Romulus.

"And I'm Headmaster of Hogwarts. Guess Romulus why I appeared in your life short after his death ?" asked Achird.

"You knew him?" asked Remus.

"Correction. I know him. Speaking about him" said Achird and raised his head to stare at the sky before he yelled "Get your asses down in an instant!"

With two swishes of brooms two men appeared on the ground. One of them was as tall as Achird and even more skinny than Achird. His face looked similar to Harry's except for the nose which was longer than Harry's and eyes, which were hazel. His hair were just like Harry's own, except for the the fact that Harry's hair hadn't few white strands in them. The man smiled widely at Achird and then at the rest of the crowd. The other man was about four inches smaller than Achird. His hair were gray and his eyes were brown, his face has some resemblance to Remus and Romulus. When he saw them his eyes went wide and he quickly mounted his broom and shoot into the sky.

The man with hazel eyes glanced at Achird and Achird glanced back at him before he asked.

"Together. One two, three"

"Mischief managed" they yelled together, their wands pointed at the retraining man on the broom.

The rest stared at the sky and they saw that the escaper was coming back. Apparently not on his own will.

"You owe me Achird I had to drag him out from Tibet" said the man with hazel eyes.

"What you told him Larry?" asked Achird.

"That you are lying on your dying bed and dying. It didn't worked at first but when I guilty trip him that you took care of his son for last eleven years he agreed. He was a bit surprised when he saw you here but I told him that perhaps you get better in the meantime and since we are here we should visit you" answered the man called Larry.

In the meantime the escaper arrived he was hanging upside down with his hands and legs glued to the broomstick.

"What kind of friends you are?" he snarled.

Achird and Larry exchanged glances before they said in unison "Good friends"

"Prats" the man snarled.

"Baboon" said Larry.

"Rule number one, do I have to remind you? The Marauders don't do no harm to each other" the man was growling.

"Rule number two. The Marauders help each other when they are in troubles" said Larry.

"And since we are your friends we are going to help you get through this" added Achird.

"I will get you for that. You just have to put this icing on the top of my cake, haven't you?" the man muttered.

"Hercules, you are not helping yourself" said Achird.

"No, you are not helping yourself Achird, now get me from this broom" the man snarled.

Larry waved his wand at the broom and the man called Hercules fall on the ground and his broom fall on top of him, hitting him on the head.

"Don't tell me that you didn't deserved for this one" Larry said.

"I guess that I did" Hercules mumbled.

"Dad?" Remus and Romulus asked in unison.

"The Marauders? From where you knew this?" Sirius asked.

Hercules nodded and stared at his sons questioningly. In the meantime. Achird and Larry exchanged glances once again.

"We know..." started Larry and glanced at Achird.

"Because we were original Marauders" ended Achird.

"It's impossible. You were in different houses" said Sirius.

"We didn't. We were in the same house, in Ravenclaw" said Larry.

"The notebook" Sirius breathed suddenly.

Achird and Larry nodded.

"What's about the notebook?" asked Raven.

"When Remus, James and I were in our first year once we were getting back from the detention, just the three of us. We got lost and we went to an empty room, we found a notebook in one of the cupboards. This was very interesting thing because we couldn't figure how to read it. We were trying to figure what was written inside for three months. But in the end it was worth. It was practical guide for pranksters written by people who called themselves the Marauders, we assumed by three different handwritings that it were three people. So we called each other the Marauders in honor of this first one. This notebook was our secret for years and only Remus, James and I knew about this. I slipped one day about this notebook to Mirzam but only because she caught me reading this" explained Sirius.

"He begged me to give it back to him for a week back then. It was quite funny, because at the same time there was a Yule Ball in school, it looked like he was begging me to come with him. James laughed from him for next two weeks" said Mirzam.

"When we ended Hogwarts James took it with himself, but before he and Lily went under Fidelius Charm he give it to me. I still have this" said Sirius.

"What about the Marauders Map?" asked Raven.

"Our work with their suggestions" Sirius waved at Achird and Larry.

"Do you have nicknames?" asked Harry.

"Mr. Shadow, Mr. Tornado and Mr. Moon. That's from where Moony come from" said Sirius quickly.

"Who is who?" asked Raven.

"Mr. Moon. It kicked me years later. Nice to meet you" said Hercules.

"Mr. Tornado. This prats come with this one because of my hair" Larry pointed at his head.

"Mr. Shadow. They said that Mr. Black is too obvious" said Achird.

"Why it kicked you years later dad?" asked Romulus.

"Because I was a git and my stupidity bitten me back" said Hercules.

"Actually your stupidity bitten you in the ass" Larry laughed.

"That was great. He was going through mental break down because he couldn't deal that his both sons were werewolves so he was walking through the forest during full moon" said Achird.

"Then he meet a werewolf. He tried to escape and nearly made it because he climbed on the tree, but he didn't managed to get his backside high enough to save it" added Larry.

"They laughed their asses because of this for weeks" said Hercules grimly.

"When you were bitten?" asked Kyle.

"Almost five years ago" answered Hercules.

"Why you didn't contacted with our fathers?" asked Brenda.

"I was an idiot, I acted like an idiot and they were better without me" answered Hercules.

"Not to mention that he was ashamed. We tried to talk him into it" said Larry.

"Larry suggested at the middle of July that I should also contact my own sons and it would be good if we all meet at the same time and I was thinking about coming back to England for last year. When Dumbledore contacted me in June I resigned from teaching at Redmond and forgive me Romulus but I was the reason of your firing. I promised Hercules that I will watch after you and I know that Larry did the same for Remus. He spent three years in talking Dumbledore into hiring you here" said Achird.

"You mean..." started Sirius.

"You read this line in the notebook: Marauders are taking care of their own, did you Sirius? Of course that we watched after you in one way or another. You think why Larry welcomed you in his house with open arms? Because you were his son's friend? No, because you were son of his friend..." said Achird.

"What about me loosing my memory?" asked Sirius impatiently.

The 'Marauders' exchanged grim glances between each other.

"It's long story..." started Larry.

"It was our fault..." started Hercules.

"My fault, but as Larry said it's long story and I suggest that we should sit to talk about this" said Achird grimly.

They made their way to the nearest classroom where they all settled down after Larry warded the door.

"So?" started Sirius.

"It all started few weeks after we ended Hogwarts. Larry and Hercules applied for Aurors, I got a job in the Ministry. There were some problems back then. Free idiots running around cursing muggles and causing a lot of problems. Dumbledore approached us then and talked us into joining secret organization called Order of the Phoenix. We joined and for few years there was no problems, big problems actually but they started when all of us get married and have children. Dumbledore moved all of us back then to position of spies and because of our jobs we were good at this. But with passing time it become really dangerous to us and our families. That day, when you were coming back with me to home I run into one person I spied for weeks and couldn't find a hook on him. This time I have and almost get both of us killed. I panicked, this man had escaped. I called Larry and Hercules. You weren't supposed to remember anything from this day but then..." Achird's voice broken.

"Years before we set up a tactic for something like that. Pushing away. Achird didn't want this, but he knew that he had to do this, to keep you safe. We put you under Temporary Memory Charm and made up a memory for this day which you will remember after the charm would wore off... and a lot of other memories..." Larry continued.

"We knew that it wouldn't be easy for both of you. But Achird wanted to keep you safe, no matter how much hurt it caused to both of you..." added Hercules.

"I pushed you away. I allowed you to walk out from my life. I keep contact with you through Larry... Imagine my shock when I found out that you applied for an Auror and joined Order of the Phoenix..." Achird continued.

"He asked me for keys to my summer house in Ireland and I went with him... This was second time when I saw him on the edge of the hysteria" said Larry.

"Few weeks later Larry was sent on very secret mission to Russia. This mission was so secretive that even his wife couldn't know about this nor us... At the same time he was supposed to be here in Brittan... He needed someone who would pretend to be him here, he asked Caradoc Dearborn..." Achird continued.

"We never found his body..." Sirius breathed.

"He was killed in my house... along with my wife and little Miriam... I..." Larry's voice broken down.

"He lost a lot that day, but fate give him the best alibi from all possibles... He was a dead man... We hired him a flat in London where he lived for few years... Until James's and Lily's house was attacked. Even Dumbledore didn't knew what had happened with him, not until June 1995. We knew about his whereabouts... Actually Achird did, more than I in this matter" said Hercules.

"I knew also that Hercules get himself into troubles in Canada or it was what he was telling me back then. I had to be quiet... The years passed and short after Regulus was 'killed' I knew that they will come after you Sirius... or Talitha. I knew that Regulus 'death' had a lot to do with me. I lost one son back then and I couldn't stand loosing another. I left... I traveled through the North America... run into Hercules in Canada, cursed him to the hell and back few times for lying to us and for leaving his older son... I get back to London at 14th October and I was dying from fright that something bad would happen to you... I called Larry in the morning of 31st October... Tally was visiting her aunt in Australia then... we were alone in the house save Kreacher... I decided to end this, I was the reason of your troubles and if I 'died' all this secrets and troubles would die with me. We faked my death, obliviated Kreatcher and run away to Tibet. We hid there for few months..." Achird continued.

"Until we finally get down and heard what had happened short after we left... We apparated directly to Hercules's flat... How we made it is still beyond my mind.." added Larry

"Both of them were on the edge of hysteria... It was good that they went to me first... They actually planed to broke into Azkaban and rescue you. I managed to get into their heads that if they want to join you in, they are going on their own risk, because I'm staying out of this. It didn't stopped Achird from coming to England and trying to get you out of there. It ended with us coming back for him here because instead of freeing you it only get matters worse..." continued Hercules.

"I took him for a travel around the world for four years. Until Hercules joined us in RPA... where both of us cursed him to the hell and back for what he did. It helped Achird a lot. After three months we split away. Hercules traveled around the world and Achird went to Canada to have an eye on Romulus and I went here to have eye on Remus. That was the last time I saw both of them for five years. I meet Achird during vacation in Mexico. He got better during this time. Didn't looked like a walking skeleton at last. We talked a lot, about what we were doing during this years and then we split away again. Two years later you escaped from Azkaban... I have to stop your father from running after you. I knew that we would never found you... if you didn't knew that we wanted to find you that's it and you didn't knew. But at last we assumed that you were safe..." said Larry.

"For a year nothing had changed... Until Larry witnessed Dumbledore's speech, talking about come back of Voldemort. Larry contacted him back then..." said Achird.

"And from what I know he accepted cursing to the hell and back meant for the three of us..." added Hercules.

"It wasn't that bad... Dumbledore decided that we should stay in shadow until Voldemort's come back would official. That's why he asked Achird to come here to teach... and Achird dragged Romulus with himself. We were supposed to come here as soon as we could but Achird have problems at Redmond and I have problems with locating Hercules... That's all" Larry ended the story.

"How long you are here?" asked Sirius suddenly.

"Me? Three weeks and before you ask... I was on your wedding... I guess that Tally was behind it, wasn't she?" Achird asked.

"She was... Maybe you can handle her because I have never ending problems with her" said Sirius.

"Maybe... What about you?" asked Achird.

"Me? Actually as soon as election ends I'm planning to kill or at last torture your son Larry... After what this git did to us I have a right to do this. So..." Sirius continued their story for next hour.

After he ended Larry was stunned, Achird angry and Hercules emotionless.

"Imbecile" Larry extracted from himself after a minute.

"You were spending too much time around Achird lately, Larry" said Hercules calmly.

"My son is an imbecile" Larry mumbled.

"Happens to a lot people" said Achird and patted his friend's back.

"What you are going to do with it?" asked Romulus suddenly.

"Find him and curse him to the hell and back" answered Sirius.

"Later. We have election in two hours" said Achird grimly.

"Speaking about I know favorite..." started Larry but Achird clamped his hand around his mouth.

"It's a surprise you dolt" Achird muttered.

"Oh... yeah, it is" Larry muttered.

"I have one question Mr. Potter" said Rowan.

Larry stared at her.

"Why you didn't took Harry with yourself if you were alive all the time?" she asked.

"I second her" said Mirzam.

"You will not believe me..." started Larry.

"Try me" said Rowan.

"I thought that he died with his parents. We heard only rumors..."

"Besides I didn't introduced Larry to any of my students" added Achird and after a moment he continued "They are saying that everyone of us has a dead ringer... and I never saw James's son, nor have his photo... I thought for a while that maybe Harry was James's son..."

"Which he is" said Sirius.

"Now I know this, but then I didn't" said Achird.

"Sirius? Where are you?" Dumbledore's voice echoed on the corridor outside.

"Here" Sirius yelled.

Dumbledore took the ward from the door and entered the classroom. He stand in the door and examined occupants briefly.

"I see that they explained everything" he said finally.

"They did... But I still have to pick a bone with you. Excuse me for a moment" Mirzam raised from her place and went to Dumbledore hauling him out of the classroom.

In a matter of thirty seconds Mirzam's voice was heard on the corridor. It was rather loud and very angry voice.

"Why you did this to them? Explain yourself!"

What Dumbledore told her they didn't knew because Dumbledore's voice was inaudible.

"Congratulation Sirius, your wife is an alpha" said Achird and patted Sirius shoulder.

"Partner actually, but she sometimes likes to yell at this who deserve it. Expect that everything in radius of a circle of two miles will went deaf when she get her hands on James and Lily... and somehow I'm not pitting them" said Sirius.

---

A hour later they were in Great Hall. Sirius and the rest of adults ( most of, not all ) were caught by the crowd of alive Ministry of Magic workers. This left Remus, Romulus and Snape as watchdogs of teenagers. Somehow in the middle Arthur Weasley joined them and pulled Ron and Ginny aside to talk with them. Thabit and Kyle were talking with Brenda. The rest of teenagers started talking with each other.

Suddenly Mirzam appeared in the doorstep, she looked angry and was followed by sheepishly looking Dumbledore. The comedy in this scene made them laugh.

Dumbledore went to Head Table and cleared his throat to get people attention to him "We gather here to choose new Minister of Magic as you know. I ask you to think not about business but about your lives and lives of yours families. That's all I ask. Write the name of your candidate on a piece of parchment and throw this here" Dumbledore pointed at a trunk with a rather big hole on the top "After all of you will vote the house-elves will count your votes and if there will be problems with choosing the one candidate we will do it again. Lets election begin" Dumbledore said and in hands of each adult appeared a piece of parchment.

Slowly people started throwing their votes into the trunk. Sirius went somewhere to write in peace and in the meantime the rest had written the name of their candidate. Somehow Raven knew who's name was on the parchment and he grinned to himself mentally.

In a matter of half of hour everybody give their votes and soon house-elves appeared to take the trunk to the room next to Great Hall where they will count them. After another half of hour one of the house-elves came back with a piece of parchment and give it to Dumbledore. Dumbledore glanced at the parchment and smiled before he said.

"It appears that we were sure who is going to be next Minister of Magic. 68 percents of votes for..." Dumbledore stopped for a moment before he ended the sentence "Sirius Mufrid Black"

"Present" said Sirius mild absently.

The Great Hall erupted with laugh. Dumbledore smiled and said.

"Come here" and he waved at place next to him.

Sirius obeyed and when he reached the spot he glared at Dumbledore.

"Our new Minister of Magic" Dumbledore raised Sirius arm into the air. "Good luck my boy" he said.

Sirius face was emotionless, but in a matter of seconds the shock made his way on his face.

The rest of the election, or rather celebration went really well. Sirius was cornered by most of people who come to congratulate him and ask him questions about the Ministry of Magic. When the last guest left the Great Hall, Sirius looked like he was going to have an attack of claustrophobia.

"Someone wants to ask about something?" Sirius asked and after loud 'no' he sat down at the nearest chair.

"You want to have some fun?" Mirzam asked and sat down next to him.

"Not here sweetheart. Children are here" Sirius muttered.

The rest of them laughed.

"I'm not talking about this, I'm talking about finding Potters and kicking their asses" she said finally after she stopped laughing.

Sirius glanced at her asking a silent question.

"I did. You think why Dumbledore and I weren't here for an hour? Dove Street 12, Little Whinging, Surrey" she said.

Raven's jaw dropped down in shock... They were living there?

"I'm up to it. When we are leaving?" asked Sirius impatiently, it seemed that his mood got better at the prospect of yelling at someone.

"As soon as you are ready" she said.

"You coming?" Sirius turned to the rest.

"We are coming back. I better get Ron and Ginny back to house before Molly wakes up" said Mr. Weasley.

"Count on us" said Regulus and motioned at the rest of them.

"We are coming with you too" said Achird, Larry and Hercules in unison.

"I will stay here, I have other thing to do but I would be pleased if you informed me about the effects. Sirius, please, no killing" said Dumbledore and he walked from the Great Hall.

"How we are going to get there? By apparation?" asked Thabit.

"By portkey" said Mirzam and he quickly created two portkeys for them.

Raven scrunched his nose at this, he hated Potkeys, from all means of transport, brooms and maybe apparation were the best for him.

Achird patted his shoulder comfortingly and said "Trust me you are not the only one who doesn't like it. I always hated it and Sirius was even worse, but Regulus always had hard time with Floo..."

"Why?" asked Thabit.

"He is allergic on Floo Powder, don't ask me how it is possible, because I don't know" answered Achird.

"What about Sirius?" asked Raven.

"He created a Portkey once and used it. We found him in a cave somewhere in Scotland, he get pneumonia after that. Bad expirence at the first time does it to people" said Achird.

"Shit talking Achird, when James created a Portkey, he portkeyed himself at the top of the roof. It took as two hours to get him down and he always liked portkeys the most" said Larry.

"Where are Lupins?" asked Achird.

"Mirzam sent them as first. We are going in five minutes" said Larry.

"Minute actually" said Mirzam.

"Ted and Remus took Neville, Kyle and Rowan. Hercules, Romulus and Brenda came with them too. Severus are you coming with us?" asked Sirius who suddenly appeared on their right.

"You think that I would loose occasion like that?" Snape asked.

"I didn't" said Sirius.

"Ready? On my sign grab the portkey" Mirzam extracted her hand with a newspaper in it "One, two, three"

In a matter of seconds they appeared in the middle of living room. Very familiar living room to Raven.

"Dad, we are at Mrs. Figg house?" asked Raven.

Sirius nodded.

"We better get out of here, she lost one of her cats because of me and she still didn't get it back" said Regulus nervously.

The rest laughed at this.

"Raven do you know where Dove Street is?" asked Mirzam.

Raven nodded.

"After you" said Sirius and motioned at the front door.

"A moment please, we are not going to walk through muggle village in our robes" said Mirzam.

"Yeah right" Sirius agreed.

"And Raven could you transform so you and Harry would look like a twins?"

Raven nodded and did what his mother asked him to do.

Raven, Rowan, Harry, Neville, Draco, Thabit, Kyle, Brenda, Mirzam, Sirius, Regulus, Remus, Larry and Achird didn't need changing their robes because they were already in muggle clothes. Boys were wearing jeans and black jumpers under their cloaks. Rowan and Brenda somehow wore long, black jeans dresses on the straps and white sweaters. It appeared also that Mirzam – who walked around Grimmauld Place in muggle clothes wore them today too, under her cloak. She had long black skirt and home made white turtleneck. Sirius were always wearing jeans – Raven hoped that it wasn't the same pair all the time, but today he was in something what made him looking like a fighter. Leather boots were ending in the middle of his calves, the one on his right leg had a girdle around the ankle. Sirius was also wearing leather trousers with few girdles on right leg and one particularly long belt twined around about three times before it was clasped, it had two sheaths, in one Raven saw a hand of Sirius's wand, the other looked like it have a dagger inside. As for the rest of clothes they looked quite normal: black, buttoned shirt with long sleeves and long, leather overcoat. Regulus was dressed up the same as Sirius except of a dagger. Surprisingly Achird and Larry were wearing exactly the same clothes except of the leather overcoats, they were wearing cloaks. Remus were wearing more normal clothes, shabby, as everything what he owned, green cardigan and black turtleneck with black jeans. Hercules, Romulus, Ted and Snape were wearing wizard robes, albeit Romulus was wearing normal clothes under his robe, similar to Remus's but less shabby than his brother's. Remus transfigured Hercules's and Ted's robes into muggle clothes with two flicks of his wand. Romulus examined his job, grimaced and waved his wand at his father, but nothing had happened. Sirius in the meantime transfigured Snape's robe into something similar to his own clothes. Snape glared at him after examining his clothes before he muttered.

"I'm not an Auror so I don't see a reason to wear one's uniform"

"But it makes you look as scary as in your usual robes, if you want to scare the shit out of him better stay in this" Sirius replied.

"You look like a gang of motorcycle riders" Mirzam commented.

"Thank you very much Normal Person" Sirius retorted jokingly.

"At last WE" Mirzam pointed at teenagers, Remus, Romulus, Ted and Hercules "are not going to draw unwanted attention, unlike you. Raven you first" she waved at the front door.

They must be quite a sigh for passing muggles because almost everyone on their way to Dove Street were staring at them. After they finally reached Dove Street they rearranged the manner they were walking: Rowan, Raven, Harry, Neville and Draco as first with Sirius and Mirzam walking like a freshly married couple ( which they partially were ) behind them, who were followed by Thabit, Kyle and Brenda before Regulus, Snape and Lupin brothers with three 'Marauders' on their backs. They ended under number 12 Dove Street with Thabit, Kyle and Brenda on the front, who were followed by Hercules and Ted with older children behind them and the rest like before. They walked through last five hounder meters trying to stifle their laugh every time they glanced at Hercules's back. Romulus apparently did something when he waved his wand at his father because he had 'I'm a prat, kick my ass' sign on his back. The one who had the hardest time to stifle their laugh were Achird and Larry, Larry actually had tears in his eyes. Remus seemed to be more than okay with it because he added 'and I will thank you for this' under his brother's note. That made them giggling through the rest of the way to the front door.

It was very hard to stop laughing and start acting seriously but they finally managed to do it and Mirzam knocked at the door of number 12 Dove Street.

Raven jaw dropped to the ground when he saw who opened the door.

It was rather surprised from seeing so many guest on the doorstep, Mark Evans...

"Are your parents home?" Mirzam asked politely.

Mark nodded and after few seconds he let them inside.

They found themselves in rather normal hall, it looked almost like the hall in Dursleys house except of six broomsticks in the corner and unlike Dursleys hall it was less clinical.

"How can I help you?" asked masculine voice coming from the doorstep of, what Raven assumed, was a living room.

"Take measures at your coffins" said Sirius seriously.

Raven turned in this direction. He expected that the Potters would be horrified... They weren't. They looked... relieved! Raven glanced at Sirius with his wand pointed at James Potter.

"We expected that you will come here someday" said James.

Sirius's hand dropped down and he gapped at him in shock.

"That day when we saw you at Diagon Alley... we knew that it would be a matter of days, eventually weeks before you will figure out... and come here... We hoped that you will made this before Death Eaters would caught us" said Lily who appeared from behind James.

"So enlighten me, if you expected us to come here why you didn't saved our time and come to us?" asked Mirzam sarcastically.

"And I want to know why I have to be ashamed of my son in front of my friends?" asked Larry bitterly.

James eyes went wide when he saw his father.

"I have another question. Why you let my brother and his wife rot in Azkaban when you were all this fucking time alive?" Regulus snarled.

"And how it is possible that your own son was living far away from you?" this question come from Snape.

"And why despite being alive you are still hiding?" asked Remus.

"Make us understand your motives" said Mirzam firmly.

"You want to understand our motives" echoed Lily "Here they are: Kate, Hilda, Lorna, Mark come here"

After few seconds they heard footsteps on the stairs and Raven recognized red headed Kate and black headed Hilda, but he was sure that he only meet Kate, Hilda and Mark at Diagon Alley. Raven could tell that Kate, Hilda and Mark have a mix of their parents features. Kate had short, about an inch below than her ears, messy, red hair. She had her father's face and her mother's eyes. Hilda on the other hand had long to the waist, straight, black hair, her mother face and eyes. Mark was a mix of both of them the most, his hair were as messy as his father's were but they had the same color as his mother's. His eyes were shaped like is father's, but their have his mother's color. Mark has his father's nose and his mother's lips, his face was rather tiny, not as much as his father's but a bit. But Lorna didn't looked like either of her parents, well maybe except for the eyes, which were green and almond-shaped like her mother but the rest of her face wasn't a mix of her parents features. Raven heard a gasp on his left and turned in this direction. It was Mirzam who gasped, her left hand was covering her mouth, her eyes were open wide.

"If I didn't knew that your wife is in her late thirties and if I didn't have an eye on her since we get here I would mistake her with this little girl, Sirius. Amazing... Larry, do you remember Mirzam when she was entering Hogwarts?" said Achird.

"This girl is her carbon copy" said Larry.

Mirzam for sure realized it because she couldn't tore her eyes from Lorna. Raven turned to Sirius. He wasn't shocked at all.

"What did you expected? I mean, it happens that children sometimes more resemble their other blood relatives than their parents" Sirius said as it was the most obvious fact in the world and he shrugged.

"Mirzam and I are not related" said Lily as it was the most obvious fact in the world too.

"You are" said Sirius.

"We are not" said Lily.

"Of course that you are" said Sirius.

"We..." Lily started but Mirzam cut her.

"We are. Seriously Sirius I told you to drop this bomb in the end. Yes, Lily we are related. We are twin sisters. We may not look alike, but we are" said Mirzam.

Lily opened her mouth before she closed them.

"So tell me how it is possible that you know this and I didn't?" she finally asked.

"Because I choose to don't act like an ass" said Mirzam mater of factly.

"Care to explain?" Lily asked bitterly.

"Of course. But I assure you, you would like to talk about it in private" Mirzam retorted.

"Come with me to the kitchen. James keep them away from here" said Lily and walked to one of the doors motioning to Mirzam to come with her.

"Don't worry about that, I will keep an eye on them" said Sirius grimly before he turned to James and said bitterly "Care to answer our questions?"

"Of course. Living room and four of you with me" James motioned to his children.

They settled down in the living room. Sirius and Remus in the sofa the closets to James's armchair with Regulus hovering above them, who was sending James nasty glares all the time. Romulus was considering joining this three for a moment before he went to stay next to Regulus. Snape was more blatantly obvious because he sat down on the arm of the sofa next to Sirius. Achird, Larry, Ted and Hercules sat down on the other sofa. Children sat down on the carpet and glared at James as a dog at the bone. Raven made sure that he and Harry were sitting close to Sirius, so James had an eye on them whenever he looked at Sirius.

"Where you want me to start?" James asked and sighed.

"Beginning sounds fine, Potter" Snape snarled.

"Shut up you..." James started but Sirius cut him off immediately.

"End this sentence and I will curse you to the hell and back. You are not in condition to insult someone just for being sincere" said Sirius and to prove his point he pulled out his wand.

"You are siding with this..." James started once again but Sirius also this time cut him off.

"James. I desperately want to curse you to hell and back and you are still giving me reasons to do this. Instead of getting yourself into more troubles you perhaps should try to save your ass" Sirius tone was sarcastic.

James made a movement like he was going to stand up and trow them out of his house, but he perhaps considered how outnumbered he was and he sighed in defeat.

"From where you want me to start and yes I know that from beginning" he said finally.

"What had happened after Mirzam used counter curse on you at 24th October 1981?" asked Sirius.

"What kind of counter curse?" asked Achird.

"Later dad. James?" said Sirius.

Once James started Sirius didn't tore his eyes from him.

"You and Peter come to preform Fidelius Charm. Mirzam vanished in the same minute as you knocked on the kitchen door. She didn't put Harry under counter curse thought. I mean when they finally told me about this, they assured me that this a one of precautions and that they weren't sure if it would work, but Mirzam said then that if less people knew about then it would be better for us. Mirzam at this point of time was the only one who mastered the incantation and movements of wand properly. The counter curse is very complicated and as you know Lily always were brilliant with charms but even after a week of learning the incantation and wand movements she still couldn't master it. Then Peter betrayed us and Voldemort came to our house. The last thing I remembered was that I was dueling with him and the last thing I saw was green light of Avada Kedavra. I didn't knew how much time had passed from that moment to the moment I woke up in my coffin. I was scared. I was in dark, small box and I was loosing oxygen with each passing minute. Finally I tried to apparate outside it. I was on the graveyard looking at my own tombstone. After few minutes Lily apparated next to me. Then we hide in the nearest hotel. We learned that since Voldemort attacked our house almost two months had passed, it was Christmas then. We didn't knew exactly what had happened in our house. We planned to stay in hiding for about a week and then if we would make sure that we can contact Dumbledore without suspicions and then go to him and explain how we survived" James said and stopped to take a deep breath.

"Go on" said Sirius.

"But then... Lily was starting to feel worse and worse with each passing day. She was throwing up a lot and barely leaving the bed... I mean Sirius you saw her when she was at the beginning of pregnancy with Miriam and then Harry... I took her to muggle hospital to make sure if she was pregnant again, it turned that she was... Third month and both children were alive... Because of her state we didn't contacted Dumbledore back then. And later..." James voice broke down for a moment before he said with such emotion in his voice "You don't know what means having children, wanting to keep them safe..."

"I don't?" Sirius's eyes flickered dangerously, his voice was full of sarcasm "I don't? I will tell you what means having a child and wanting to keep it safe. When you learn that your wife is pregnant and even if it was an accident because you and she never planned to have children before the war with Voldemort would end, because you never wanted to bring a child into the world of war... When you are going to sleep and praying that tomorrow wouldn't be the day when one of you would die and when you are praying from relief that both of you survived another night when other families didn't. When you are going mad because your wife didn't came back at time to home from work... When you are worrying if new ward around your flat would work properly. When you are hiding the fact that you are going to be a father even from your friends because you want to keep your wife and child safe. When you finally are in the hospital with your son in your arms when you are vowing to him that you will keep him away from any harm. What you feel... when you discover that your son vanished from the hospital... When you are going mad because your researches are fruitless... How you feel when you finally hold his dead body in your arms... How you feel when you survived but your son didn't... When you think how to tell your wife about this... How you feel when you are looking at your friend's son thinking that it should be your son running around not his... When you are reliving each fucking moment of this in your head... I don't know what it means? I know it better than you, you git..." he yelled.

James was stunned, thought he wasn't the only one. Yes, Raven heard about this before, but neither Mirzam nor Sirius admitted that they would rather see him, as a Harry Potter, dead than their own son... But it wasn't important now, because he was their son, was it?

"You mean..." James finally got his voice back.

"Every single time" said Sirius bitterly "Every single time when I was holding your son I thought that it should be my son who I was holding, but it doesn't matter now. Continue and hide this 'you don't know nothing about' phrases into your ass"

"I... I decided to hide us. We left Great Brittan and hide in France. Kate and Hilda were born there"

"What about Harry?" asked Sirius impatiently.

"We thought that he was living with you two..." James started.

Sirius laughed at this, laughed in that insane, bitter laugh he perhaps laughed when he was captured years ago.

"I have to admit that I never ever meet bigger imbecile in my life than you Potter. You didn't read newspapers? You had full story there you git" Snape snorted.

"My top priority were my wife and my daughters, but of course you wouldn't understand what having family means, would you Snivellius?" James snarled.

Snape grimaced like he was considering hexing James Potter from now to eternity but he was stopped by laughing Sirius who fall from the sofa and was rolling on the ground. Snape snorted and helped him stand up from the ground.

"Thank you Severus. Please, don't hex him until I get all the answers out of him" Sirius calmed down a bit.

"I'll try" Snape muttered.

"As I said my top priority was Lily's, Kate's and Hilda's safety and I wouldn't risk it for anything in the world..." started James.

"Merlin help me!" Larry whined "My son thinks with his lower self instead of his brain"

"It happens to some of us" said Achird and patted Larry's back in comfort.

James glared at them nastily.

"Three better than four? I'm shocked Potter" Regulus snarled.

"We were hiding in France. Then mum considered coming back here, but dad said that it would be too dangerous if we left then so we stayed then in 1985 Mark and Lorna were born" said Hilda.

"And dad had another excuse to not come back to here. Somehow mum had found a way to talk him into coming back here six years ago, but he refused to sent us to Hogwarts, he said that Beauxbatons would be better for us" said Kate.

"But you were transferred to Hogwarts" said Rowan.

"What!" James yelled.

"Mum did it. She wanted to tell him day before we would be leaving" said Hilda.

"How Slytherinish of her" Regulus said.

"Don't insult my wife you Death Eater scum!" yelled James.

"Don't insult my brother you coward" Sirius said warningly.

"You wouldn't recognize real insult even if it bite your ass Potter. I complimented her" said Regulus wryly.

"I'm curious how?" asked James sarcastically.

"Uncle Regulus, he is in darkness you know?" said Harry, it was first time he said something here.

"And he will remain here until his wife doesn't decide to share the information with him" said Sirius.

"Why?" it was Larry who asked, not James.

"I will tell you later, but for now lets continue" said Sirius.

"Continue what, Black?" James snarled.

"My, my, you came back to calling yourselves by your family names" said Snape smugly.

"If someone would tell me when we were at Hogwarts that someday Sirius and James would call each other by they family names and Sirius and Severus would be calling each other by their first names I would send this person straight to St. Mungo's" said Remus wryly.

"You wouldn't be the only one, Remus" said Sirius and Snape in unison.

"As for continuing Sirius meant torturing you mentally" said Regulus bitterly.

James glared at him.

"Oh yeah" said Sirius and he stood up and put his hands on Raven's and Harry's shoulders "Let me introduce my sons: Raven Alrai and Harry James Black. Wonderful boys, pity that they are mine sons, not yours isn't it?" Sirius's tone was bitter.

"But he died..." started James.

"And I'm new Minister of Magic" said Sirius sarcastically.

"Dad, you ARE new Minister of Magic" Harry corrected him.

"Right, I forgot. Anyway we came here to see if you are worth of being called Harry's parents and our friends and we decided that..." Sirius was about to end the sentence but Mirzam cut him off.

"They are worth enough to help them" she ended for him.

The rest of them turned their heads in her direction. She was standing in the doorstep, Lily Potter were standing behind her with eyes red from crying.

"Could you said it again, sweetheart?" asked Sirius in shock.

"Of course that I can. They are worth enough to help them" she repeated firmly.

"You are not serious?" said Sirius, still in shock.

"I'm not, you are" she said calmly.

"Puns aside. Do you mean it?" he asked.

"Yes, I mean it Sirius. They are worth enough to help them" she repeated once again.

"How?" Sirius asked.

"I will tell you later, when we would be at home when we can rethink some things" she said.

Sirius stared at her. Mirzam turned to Lily Potter and said.

"We will be waiting for you around noon. Everything would be ready for your arrival"

Lily nodded before she launched herself in Mirzam's arms. She was sobbing hysterically and repeating all the time "Thank you, Mirzam. Thank you"

After a minute Mirzam pulled away from her and said.

"Dry your eyes now and show me who you are tomorrow"

Then Mirzam turned to the rest of them and said.

"We are going home, now" it was an order, not a request.

Sirius finally snapped from his shocked state and he shrugged. In a matter of two minutes they were home.

Home. Home, with roaring fire in the fireplace. Home, with Talitha's hot chocolate waiting for them on the kitchen table. Home, where the family was and where it always will be because...

"Your home is always were your heart, your family is" said Larry before he sipped Talitha's hot chocolate.

After they drunk their hot chocolate, they split. Harry had gone to his bedroom to nap. Rowan, Kyle, Brenda, Andromeda and Ted claimed the living room to talk with Remus, Romulus and Hercules about family, Larry after minute of contemplation which one of his friends he should support decided that Achird is able to stop Talitha from killing him or at last making some serious damage to him on his own and decided that Hercules would need more help. Neville went to hospital wing to visit his parents. Narcissa and Snape took Draco at the attic they said 'to discuss something with him', but Raven knew that it was about Narcissa being pregnant with twins. Yes, he connected the dotes properly and he was really proud of this. Regulus and Belinda took Thabit to their bedroom to discuss with him almost the same mater as Narcissa and Snape with Draco. The Weasleys decided to visit the Burrow. Mirzam excused herself to the bathroom and after an hour she still wasn't back. Sirius sulked and Raven decided to left him alone, he was rather fond of his limbs and decided that angry Sirius is not the best companion. So that's why after an hour after they came back to home Raven found himself in the backyard.

It seemed that either Narcissa or Talitha or both of them kept it the way it looked at Sirius's and Mirzam's wedding, they added some things which weren't there back then, like a bench surrounded by different kinds of roses, which were hiding the bench from the windows of ground floor. Opposite to the bench, about ten feet away from it were a several flowerbeds with different flowers, they were standing in the circle so one could hide inside the circle if she/he wanted to. That's the place where Raven chose to have some peace.

Raven was laing on his stomach, head propped on his elbows. His eyes were fixed on the roses and the bench and he knew that even if someone would seek him here, he wouldn't have to leave this place, it was so peaceful that Raven seriously considered taking a leaf from Harry's book and nap here.

But someone decided to disturb Raven's complementation of the nature and that person walked into the garden. It turned that it was Mirzam. She went to the bench and she sat down on it. She looked like she was thinking about something. Her hair which were long, straight and pulled into a bun few hours before were now rather short and curly. She looked few years younger than she really was and Raven decided that she should keep that hairdo. He wondered if he should get out from where he was and go to her, but he decided against this when he saw Sirius on the stairs which were leading to the garden. Sirius, who looked decently few days ago, now reminded Raven his older self. Long, straight, jet-black hair were nearing his shoulders, he had also a fringe which was stubbornly falling into his eyes and a five clock stubble and mustaches. His face was once again gaunted, but a faint smile appeared on his lips when he saw Mirzam when he get near the bench "I thought that I will find you here" he said before he sat down next to her.

"It's so peaceful here. While looking at this garden it's hard to realize that we are in the middle of London, that there is war outside there. Why we can't be normal?" she asked pensively.

"You mean why our world looks like it looks?" Sirius asked lazily.

"No. I mean why we are not a simple muggle family who lives somewhere in the country. Why I'm not a simple housewife who's greatest worries are growing up children, their school, their love interest, what I would cook for dinner at Sunday when the rest of the family would visit us or that you left to work in not ironed shirt or with badly tied cravat... Why we can't talk about latest gossip or cuddle in front of the fire in the winter... Why we can't have some privacy here and why our only one subjects of discussion is always the Order of the Phoenix and my freaking father... I think that we are missing something, something which we had have when we were younger, when we could talk for hours about a book or a film until we would fall asleep in each others arms. I miss it..." she said with a pang of regret in her voice.

Sirius shifted on the bench so he could lay on it with his head in Mirzam's lap.

"I miss it, I miss how close to each other we were then. This few days in Egypt were wonderful and I'm glad we have some time on our own. Actually I think that Raven, Harry and Rowan decided to give us some time for each other and I'm happy that they did it. It reminded me about our past, just do what we wanted to do, do crazy things and doesn't worry about all this things. I'm thirty-seven and I still feel like I'm stuck in my early twenties. It's weird, especially when I'm looking at Raven. Sometimes I can't stop thinking that he should be sleeping in his crib, not leaving to Hogwarts in September. We lost so much time..." she said longingly, her hands were running through Sirius's hair.

"It feels like you were stuck in the future" said Sirius slowly.

"Yes, it is. Like there is fifteen years gap between what was before and what is now. I wish that I could see how Raven is growing up, taking everything slowly not like sudden boom: one minute I'm holding my little son in my arms and next minute I see young man. He is not a boy anymore, he is a man. It's sad that we couldn't watch how he had become the person he is now. I wish that we would made through this war and see how our children are growing up..." her voice was getting silent with each word.

"I wish that one too. I wish to be there for them. That we'll be always there for Raven" said Sirius.

"I talked with Lily before..." Mirzam started.

"Oh please, don't spoil this atmosphere with bring in the Potters" Sirius groaned.

Mirzam smiled softly at him and said.

"Actually it's related to what I said earlier"

"Go on" said Sirius.

"She lead this life for some time. Life of a typical muggle family. I envied her it. Watching her children growing up... but in the end I decided that I would be happy if we lived in peace somewhere I would never ever let myself become Lily. This whole hiding thing killed her, Sirius, it killed her personality, her character, today was like watching through the looking glass my sister. Numberless comparing of who she was to who she is now and to tell you the truth I'm happy with what I have now, besides as much as I love you Sirius, I would never ever allow you to treat myself like James treat Lily for few years" she said slowly.

"Was it that bad as I think, I suspect that either James is under Imperious or is real prat" said Sirius lazily, not really caring.

"Not it wasn't, he didn't abused her, physically, but I think that he damaged her mentally with: let me deal with this, I will do this, go cook..."

"It seemed that she somehow still saved some part of the person she was once. Did you knew that she transferred their children to Hogwarts behind James's back?"

"Yeah. She told me. She was really happy when I told her the truth about our heritage. She said: now I will know if James really loves me or that he just get used to me around"

"Do you love me?" Sirius asked suddenly.

"I love you and you know this" she said with a soft smile.

"Do you love me because you love me or because you are supposed to?" Sirius asked again.

"I love you because of who you are here" she pointed at his heart "and here" she pointed at his forehead "You are caring, intelligent, funny, stubborn, sarcastic and can make me laugh whenever you want"

"What about my good looks?" he asked daringly.

"Mangy mutt? That's the image you are keeping lately" she raised one eyebrow.

"I love you for this. You know exactly how to deflate my ego" Sirius snorted.

"What can I do? I just like you with shorter hair, it makes you look sexy" she said.

"That's funny thing you know?" he asked.

"What? Your hair?" she asked.

"Mum and Andy talked about this. Andy suggested that may be I have some metamorphomagus potential. She said that with all whenever I'm really nervous or worried my hair are growing like mad" he said.

"They are right you know?" she said jokingly.

"Yeah, I'm hairstylists worst nightmare. 'Mr. Black, but I cut your hair yesterday...' You know maybe I will have them cut down?" he asked.

"It would do some good to you. You are supposed to look like a normal person, not like hippie, in your current position" she suggested.

"Ouch, that hurts. You know I still bear you a grudge for yesterday" he said pitifully.

She raised one eyebrow quizzically.

"I know why you send me away then. You were talking about elections, don't try to deny it because I know that you did" he said and pointed his finger accusingly at her.

"Yeah, we did. How you feel with this?" she asked softly.

"Weird. I mean if someone told me year ago that I would become Minister of Magic in a year I would send this person to St. Mungo's without asking, but now... I'm happy that it's someone from the Order of the Phoenix, but still I would be happy if you discussed it with me" he said slowly.

"Sorry for that and sorry that I kept something away from you today... But I figured out that you are nervous enough to no tell you this before elections would end..." she said sheepishly.

"What you are talking about?" he asked nervously.

"I'm talking about our child Sirius, we are not going to have..." she started but Sirius cut her off.

"You miscarried?" he shoot up into sitting position and were gapping at her in shock.

"Merlin, no! I'm fine Sirius. Let me end the sentence. We are not going to have one child..." she said.

"Twins?" he asked nervously.

"Boy and girl" she smiled softly at him.

"Mum is going to keep you under house arrest" he said.

"I don't think so. She would also have to keep under house arrest Linda, Dora, Narcissa and Andromeda" said Mirzam.

Sirius's eyes went wide and he said slowly.

"About Dora I know"

"Linda is going to have twins, Narcissa is going to have twins too and Andromeda is going to have triplets. I laughed for few hours because of this" she said.

"Let me guess, Severus?" he asked pensively.

She nodded.

"Mum is going to go mad. So many grandchildren... and at last one girl" he said jokingly.

"Two" Mirzam corrected him.

"Linda, I'm right?" he asked.

Mirzam nodded.

"I talked with mum, she said that she always wanted to have a daughter, or granddaughter. She said that boys are getting dirty a bit too much for her liking. Hey, maybe if she had gone pregnant she would let the five of you in peace" Sirius suggested, Raven thought that jokingly.

"Perhaps... To tell you truth she still has a chance. She is not a witch for nothing you know. We don't have longer cycle of fertility than muggle women for nothing. She still has at last a year if not two to have children, you know it?" Mirzam asked.

"Yeah, unlike James I wasn't falling asleep at Pomfrey's Preparation to Live in Wizarding Community and I secretly hope that mum will decide to have another child. She would leave us alone for a moment then" said Sirius mischievously.

"It's possible you know, she still didn't killed your father" said Mirzam.

Both of them burst in laugh.

"When we are going to tell the rest about the twins?" Sirius asked finally when he calmed down.

"Some of them already know. Your mum, Linda, Cissy, Andy, Rowan, Raven. I suspect that Linda already told Regulus" said Mirzam.

"Raven already knows?" Sirius asked.

"Yes, he was in the kitchen when I discussed it with your mum" Mirzam answered.

"What about Harry?"

"Harry as whole, or Harry knowing about twins?"

"Both"

"Lily wants to be in touch with him, I'm not sure about James. But I think that it hardly matters because Harry doesn't want to talk with them. In this case Lily is ready to give up her parental rights if it would make Harry happy, I don't know James's view at this. It's very possible that we may adopt him, but it all depends from him and James"

"Are you serious mum?" asked Harry who turned out wasn't sleeping in his room.

"No, he is" Mirzam waved her hand at Sirius.

"Ha, ha, ha. It's so old joke that it's beard reaches South Pole now" Sirius muttered.

"You are worried about Potters, right?" Mirzam asked softly.

Harry nodded.

"Come here. Sit with us, Harry" Mirzam waved at the spot between her and Sirius.

Harry obeyed and sat down between them.

"I want you to know that we love you very much, Harry. You are like a second son too us. But it all depends from Potters. If they decide to give up their parental rights..." started Sirius.

"You would adopt me then?" he asked impatiently.

"Of course. But Harry there are other ways around it" said Mirzam.

"What kind of ways?" Harry asked.

"We can accuse them for leaving you, so they would loose their parental rights. But Harry the moment we saw on the parchment that they are alive we expected that they would have another child or children. If we accused them for leaving you and demanded taking their parental rights and if the law court would agree with us, the Potters would loose their parental rights not only concerned around you, but their other children as well and I don't think so that they were so bad as parents to deserve this Harry" said Mirzam.

"There is also less official and much more dirty way. The Ministry papers are here now, I could very easily add you to our papers as a son, like I did with Raven, but it's against the law and in my current state is less than appreciating that kind of behavior, Harry" said Sirius solemnly.

"How you did it with Raven?" Harry asked.

"I went to the Ministry and asked for signing him into my papers, but it wasn't a big issue because he was my biological son so Ministry's official didn't even blinked" said Sirius.

"And you have a proof for that" added Mirzam.

"That too" Sirius agreed.

"What if the Potters decide to take me as they son?" asked Harry slowly.

"We can accuse them on leaving you and demand taking their parental rights, then. We don't want to fight with them when there is a possibility of coming around it other way" said Sirius.

"Plus this way we are getting just you and if we accuse them we may end with other four too. And I don't think so that they would be happy because of this" added Mirzam.

"You don't want to have many children?" Harry asked jokingly.

"We want, but it's complicated. I wouldn't mind having say around six children, but I would rather feel better if I didn't have take to their parents parental rights, you know. Besides I'm mother since when? Not even a month, Harry. I'm taking care of you and Raven, but for now I think is enough I can take. I haven't see you since Raven was one year old and you were an infant. Besides Sirius and I decided when we were younger since children are such responsibility that it's enormous irresponsibility to bring them into the world of war" explained Mirzam.

Harry raised one eyebrow and Raven did the same in the flowerbeds.

"Why we didn't decided to abort Raven or this two?" asked Sirius.

Harry nodded solemnly.

"No matter if we didn't planed to have them at those point of time we would never ever abort a child. It's still a life, a life of innocent infant who's only one fault was that it was conceived in the wrong time. But if Raven was born when we wanted him to be born he would probably be at Thabit's age if not younger" said Sirius solemnly.

"Thank you very much I would rather stay at the age I am now" Raven snorted from the flowerbeds.

"I was thinking when you are going to get out of there. I saw your feet in the air fifteen minutes ago" said Mirzam.

"Mum!" Raven moaned.

"Come here" Sirius shifted a bit so Raven could sit down next to him and Harry.

"I didn't mean to overhear your conversation" said Raven when he sat down.

"We know it" said Mirzam.

"You know what? I'm up for some celebration. Let's go" said Sirius mischievously.

"Where?" Raven and Harry asked in unison.

"For ice-cream. Just the four of us" said Sirius.

"Make it seven, Sirius" said Regulus, Linda and Thabit were standing behind him.

Sirius took them to small cafeteria at Grimmauld Lane 17. The ice-creams there were marvelous, nearly as good as Fortescue's. Sirius and Regulus kept joking whenever or not they should take something to home for the rest.

"Take some" said Linda.

"I second her and you better obey us, you have five hormonal, pregnant mummies at home" Mirzam agreed.

"Ready for expedition at South Pole, Sirius?" Regulus turned to Sirius with daringly raised one eyebrow.

The rest snorted into their ice-creams.

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