Disclaimer: I own Edward, Lisimba, and Subira Setekh, Leo and Ella Black, Alina and Francis Black, and Liam Connelly along with the plot. The rest belong to JK Rowling. A big thanks goes out to Tawa for being my beta!

"And if you take a drop of water from a bucket
Would not know
Does not show
Love is all that remains
Love's gonna fill it again"

-Beth Orton

Edward Setekh cut through the sprawling yard in front of the familiar white, clap-board house. The emerald shutters stood out against the falling snow. Vaguely, Edward heard children playing from the backyard. He smiled softly as he finally made his way to the door. Brushing the snow from his coat, he knocked hard three times. "Just a minute," a voice exclaimed. Edward stepped back and a minute later, the door opened to Subira Setekh. She was a pleasantly plump woman with wild gray curls; her skin was a deep copper. She looked to be in her mid-sixties.

"Aunt Bira!" Edward pulled the woman into a tight hug.

"Eddy, Eddy come in. I've got fresh biscuits in the kitchen," she gushed.

"Wonderful, I'm famished." The two made their way to the kitchen at the end of the hall. The house was exactly the way Edward remembered it; it had the same sage wallpaper, the same scrubbed, rough wood floors. The house even smelled the same, that vague, untraceable cozy cleanliness mixed in with a bit of cinnamon and chamomile. Subira pulled out a plate of biscuits she had been keeping warm in the oven; it was piled high with raisin-studded biscuits. Pulling one off the stack, Edward sat down at the table. He waited silently while she poured him a cup of tea from the pot on the counter.

"So what brings you all the way out here?" She asked. Edward raised his eyebrows, giving her a pointed look. "Oh, yes, I understand," Subira nodded. She poured herself a cup of tea and sat across from him at the table. "I should warn you," she began carefully, not making eye contact. "She, your mum, she's not the same. . ." The ambiguity of the answer seemed to bother them both. Edward let out a long sigh.

"I know, I just, I don't know-"
"She's your mum. You don't need to explain to me. Now, when you've finished your tea, I'll take you upstairs." Edward nodded and concentrated again on his cup. It was at moments like this when Edward really appreciated his aunt. He finished his tea quickly and followed the hunched woman up the winding staircase. He had a nagging fear that he wasn't going to like what he saw.

"She's through that door. I'll leave you to her shall I?" Subira whispered, giving him a comforting pat on the shoulder. Edward felt a bit guilty that he hadn't visited her sooner. Gaining his bearings, he shoved the door open and walked into the room. The gaunt figure on the bed turned toward him. Her once dark curls were now streaked with gray and she looked sunken in, especially around the eyes. A weak smile came to her lips and she reached out her thin arms toward him.

"Ed dear, what a pleasant surprise," she whispered in a faint, husky voice not her own. He walked over to her and embraced her for a long moment before sitting in the chair beside her. "Did your father know you were coming?"

"No, no this was a surprise visit."

"Well, you should certainly stay until he gets home then. He'll want to see you."

Edward let out a derisive snort. "Yeah sure," he mumbled. She took his face in her hands and turned him toward her. She looked deep into his eyes, seeing everything he was feeling; her ability to do this had always been slightly scary.

"Your father loves you despite what you might think. He'd want to see you." Edward nodded, not convinced. "So, why are you here and don't tell me it's because you were in the area because-" she stopped short, a fit of coughing overtaking her. She turned her face into her arm. She sat there, shaking for a moment before resurfacing, wiping a few tears from her eyes.

"Mum, are you alright?"

She nodded, rolling her eyes. "Never better. So, why are you here?"

"Well, to see you of course."

"Mmhmm," she scoffed, motioning for him to continue.

"Well, I . . . I needed some advice."

"Are you just humoring me Edward?"

"No, no, not at all."

"In that case, fire away dearest." She readjusted herself slowly in the bed.

"Okay, well, you see, there's this girl. She beautiful, smart, kind, she likes me, she's got an accent-"

"French?"

"Yes, does that matter?"

"No, not at all. I love little French tarts."

Edward choked back a snort. "Well anyway, I've been going on a couple dates with her and, well," Edward found himself at a loss for words.

"You love her?" his mother looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"No, no, it's the strangest thing. She's absolutely perfect, exactly what I'd pick if I could create the perfect person. The only problem is I just don't love her. I don't not love her but . . ." he trailed off with a pitiful shrug. He looked up at his mum who's eyes held a mixture of nostalgia, understanding, mirth and, oddly, sadness.

"Believe it or not my darling," she began, tracing his jaw with her rail thin index finger. "I know exactly how you feel."

"You do? You felt the same with Dad?"

She shook her head slowly. "No, Lisimba always fit for me, I don't know. It was like instant chemistry. It was another man, Andrew. He was perfect, saved my life even, but I didn't love him. I'm going to give you the same advice that Remus gave me. You don't have to love someone if you don't want to. Your heart knows what its doing and if this little French girl doesn't fit, she doesn't fit. Don't push it dear and don't worry. You've done nothing wrong. Maybe you just need a little time. Maybe-" She was cut off by a gentle knock on the door frame.

"Not keeping your mum up I hope," a deep, heavily accented voice came from the door. Edward looked up and came face to face with his father, Lisimba Setekh. He was a powerful man, tall and broad with copper skin and hazel eyes.

"No, Edward was entertaining me, dear."

Lisimba nodded, not completely convinced. Edward stood and extended his hand to his father slowly. Lisimba accepted it. "How are you Edward?"

"Fine, just fine. How are you?"

"Fine. . ." The two looked away. "How is work coming along?"

"Good, we've just won rights to a set of third century French texts on magical medicine," Edward answers, a familiar light coming into his eyes.

"That so? You know who was in charge of the dig?" Edward nodded.

"Yeah, it was Beauvais- Jacques Beauvais."

"Good man, worked with him myself a couple of times. Has he abandoned Egypt then?"

"Not entirely, no, he is concentrating on more local history though."

"So Ed, are you going to be staying for dinner?"

Edward looked down at his mother and thought he saw a youthful spark in her eyes, like a young Vela Black would have looked maybe. But it was gone as fast as it had appeared a replaced with a wise fatigue. "I suppose I can. I'll have to be leaving soon after. I've got work in the morning."

"Good," Lisimba intoned softly, pushing his hands deep into his pockets.

"Yes, that's wonderful."

Christmas morning dawned bright and cold. All occupants of the house had awoken early and traveled downstairs. Lily had prepared a breakfast of cinnamon rolls, tea, hot cocoa, and scones. Remus and James had arranged the furniture in a semi-circle around the Christmas tree. Ella had positioned her wheelchair at her father's elbow. A small mountain of presents sat, waiting under the evergreen branches. Sirius and Ella seemed to have forgotten the drama of the night before. Sirius was often surprised by just how much fatherhood affected his masculinity. When she was involved, he was habitually reduced to a weepy, over dramatic berk.

When Ella was four, after Sirius had nearly throttled another child for pushing her in the park, Sirius had sought the council of Arthur Weasley. Sirius had always seen Arthur as the ultimate authority on child-rearing. "Arthur," he had begun, clutching a cup of Molly's tea. "Am I going crazy?" after this, he related the story to the patiently listening redhead.

"Crazy? No, not any more than any other daughter's father. It's embedded in our genes like an ancient code. Before Ginny was born, I had thought I would feel the same about her as I had about the boys." At this, Arthur took on a dreamy sort of look. "Daughters are different, believe me. You want to protect them, shield them. They are more delicate, more unknown. You're not crazy though I would avoid killing someone else's child. Might not go over too well," Arthur finished with a sly grin.

"Ella goes first," Leo stated authoritatively. Everyone nodded in agreement except Ella who only blushed.

"Open this one first," Harry said, summoning her gift from the gigantic stack. She caught it deftly and grinned.

"I think I know what this is." Harry had gotten her the same thing every year, a Flourish and Blotts gift certificate, since he was seven.

"I think you're wrong," Harry said in a sing-song voice. "Leo and I picked it out together."

She carefully pulled the purple paper from the box, folding the wrapping paper neatly and setting it aside. She pulled the lid off; inside lay a delicate silver charm bracelet with one small flower charm hanging from it. "It's beautiful," she murmured, lifting it gently from the box.

"It's an oleander," Leo began. "It symbolizes caution."

"It acts kind of like a sneak-a-scope. If anyone comes toward you who wishes you ill it will get very warm and you'll know to stay away," Harry finished.

"It's lovely, thank you." Ella put it on and adjusted it.

"It doesn't really work," Remus put in. "I was looking at it the other day and it kept getting warm for no reason."

"Are you sure about that?" Sirius asked.

"Pretty sure yes," Remus answered, eyeing the wizard skeptically.

"Did you happen to see who was turning your hair pink and purple from across the restaurant?" Harry asked, eyebrows raised.

Remus paled slightly, bringing his hand up to his slightly graying hair. "I really hope you're joking. They, Fred and George didn't . . . right? Although, that would explain the strange looks I was getting at Flourish and Blotts. . ."

"You believe whatever you want to believe." Harry finished with a shrug.

The morning passed pleasantly. By noon, most of the presents had been opened and the seven-some was all but buried in wrapping paper. "So, is there anything else?" Ella asked, snuggling back into her chair.

"Just one more I think," Sirius answered excitedly. He pulled a small, brightly wrapped package from a tree branch and handed it to her.

"But you already gave me a present!" Ella exclaimed, holding up a large tomb on Egyptian Hieroglyphics. Sirius made an impatient gesture and Ella rolled her eyes.

"I hope you like it," he put in, grinning wildly. With shaking hands, she opened the small box and gasped. Inside was the most beautiful locket she had ever seen. It was very small, in the shape of a heart. Delicate silver inlays of flowers and leaves decorated the front, meeting in the center to form the initials VJB in curvy ornate lettering. "I had it made specially by a jeweler in Diagon Alley."

"Oh Dad," Ella breathed, opening it. Unlike normal, muggle lockets, this one opened up to five pictures, each unfolding to the size of a Chocolate Frog card. Ella's eyes filled with tears as she looked at each picture in turn. One was of her and Remus on a trip to the Black Forest when she was six, another was of the Potters at the World Cup four years before, one was a recent photo of Sirius and Leo waving wildly at her, the last two were of her and Sirius.

"That one," Sirius said, pointing to one. "Is our first official picture together." At first, Ella couldn't tell it was a magic picture. Sirius held her in his arms, gazing down at her small, pink face. She recognized the other immediately. It was taken on what she pegged as the best day of her life. She and Sirius sat with their legs hanging off a tall precipice. It was in Switzerland after a hike in the Alps. Remus had stayed behind at a museum, complaining of a sharp pain in his knee. Sirius and Ella had gone on a long hike up Gantrisch Mountain. No one else was at the top and they could hardly see for a full ten minutes because of all the mist but then, just as they were about to head back down, the mist cleared to the most beautiful scene she had ever laid eyes on. Her father rigged his camera to take a picture.

"I love it, thank you so much," she managed through her tears, throwing her arms around his neck.

"Well I'm just glad you like it. Hey, turn it over."

Ella turned the locket over with trembling fingers. The words "You are the star for which every evening waits" were spelled in the same loopy hand as was on the front. She bit her bottom lip, trying not to cry any harder than she was already crying. She managed a watery smile, hoping it would relay her thanks. "Help me put it on," she laughed, batting at her eyes.

"Right," he murmured, fastening it around her neck.

After lunch, the whole of them lay napping in the living room, dumbed into a food-induced unconscious. They probably would have stayed asleep until supper except there was a sudden knock at the door. Ella woke first and wheeled to the door. She peered through a special eye-whole Remus had rigged. "Who's there?"

"It's Alastor Gumboil, Magical Law Enforcement Squad. Is Sirius Black here?" Ella's stomach caught. She didn't think she'd be able to take her father leaving on another mission.

"Yes, I'll get him," she replied in a shaky voice. She shook him awake and led him to the door silently. He peered through and pressed the scanner button. Remus had added the feature a couple of years before. It silently checked the true identity of the caller.

"Hello Alastor," he greeted through the door. He opened it and was about to lead him in when he caught sight of the girl hovering behind Mr. Gumboil. She looked vaguely familiar but he couldn't place her. She was clearly unconscious. "What's going on?" He asked, stepping aside to let the two enter.

"Hate to bother you Sirius, but could I trouble you for a drink first? It's been one hell of a day." Mr. Gumboil mopped his shiny forehead with a handkerchief.

"Of course, follow me." Sirius led the man into the kitchen. Alastor sat in a kitchen chair and positioned the girl in one as well. Sirius poured him a liberal glass of firewhisky and sat across from him. Ella stood in the doorway, looking on nervously. "Care to fill me in?" Sirius asked after Gumboil had taken a large gulp from his glass. Alastor wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and eyed Ella.

"Could we discuss this in private?" he asked. Ella's cheeks went red and Sirius nodded at her sympathetically. "Okay," Gumboil began after Ella was safely out of earshot. "Does the name Alina Black sound familiar to you?"

Sirius shook his head slowly. "I assume since you brought her here she is of some relation to me."

"Yes she is but the Black part hasn't anything to do with you. We checked her record, standard procedure you know when we picked her up. Apparently, she's the daughter of a muggle archeologist Francis Black and, this will really interest you, Bellatrix Lestrange." The words hung heavy in the air for a moment. Bellatrix Lestrange not only had a child but a child she shared with a muggle. Sirius couldn't believe it. "We don't have the logistics of it yet but, well, there you have it."

"So . . . so, why did you bring her here?"

"That's the really tragic part. Apparently, she and her . . . boyfriend I suppose, came to London for a Holiday and were visiting an old woman, give her a little Christmas cheer, when dear old mum shows up. The man, Liam Connelly is dead, the old woman, that old Herbology Professor Elizabeth Abbot is dead. When we found Ms. Black she was in hysterics. I figured she should be with family at a time like this," Gumboil raised his eyebrows. Sirius understood he meant she needed protection.

"Right, well, okay," Sirius stammered, eyeing Alina with skepticism.

"Jolly good, Happy Christmas Sirius. Sorry to barge in on you like this." Gumboil gave a wave and got up to leave. "That stunner should keep her out for another hour or so. We'll keep looking into the case though it seems pretty cut and dry."

"Happy Christmas Alastor," Sirius said, leading the portly man to the door.

"Thanks for the drink; Merlin knows I needed a good stiff one."

As Sirius closed the door, he was overcome with a feeling of dread. He felt like he was sinking further and further down into the quick sand of his old family. First came Regulus, now Bella's daughter. What would happen next?

A/N: Sorry it took so long. I'm getting ready to go to university and am working for a choral camp. Please review; I only had one last time. Just tell me what you thought, even if it's bad. I know it seems to be moving slowly but all will be sorted out. There are no superfluous characters. Cheers!-Elle's Bells