Complicated

By Neurotica

Ten

Even though it was nearing one a.m., Aletha was wide awake. She was sitting on the sofa in the private quarters Dumbledore had given her, Sirius, Harry, and Meghan for the night, while the kids all slept on the floor.

Well, not completely on the floor. I wonder where they got the idea to bring the mattresses from the beds in here…

Either way, it made her life a little easier, being able to stay in the room with them but still close to the door so she'd know when Sirius came back, hopefully with Remus and Danger in tow. Dumbledore had left the school not long after Sirius, headed to the Ministry to see if Sirius and the Aurors needed any help. That had been hours ago, and she hadn't heard a word from anybody. She'd thought about sending her Patronus to Sirius to find out what was happening, but if the Aurors were trying to preparing a raid, Sirius couldn't exactly stop to send her a message back.

He could have thought of letting me know what's going on, though, and I'll slap him when he gets back for not thinking of it. For now, I think I'll just sit here and worry.

But Aletha didn't like to sit and worry. It wasn't something she was good at or practiced in, and it was definitely not what she wanted to be doing right now. What else could I do, though? I can't leave the children here alone.

No, but you could call a house-elf to watch them, said a voice in the back of her mind. They're all asleep, and the chances of them waking up are slim. Even if they did, the house-elf would keep a close eye on them.

Aletha raised an eyebrow. And why should I do what you say, voice in my head?

Because you want to be at Malfoy Manor with Sirius and Remus and Danger, the voice said. They're all there, and something is going to happen shortly that you need to be involved with.

What is that?

I can't tell you that. I'm sorry. Aletha noticed that the voice did seem truly remorseful that it couldn't tell her what was going on.

Not that it would know, being a voice in my head… She decided that she would be admitting herself to St. Mungo's after tonight for a full mental evaluation. But that's tomorrow. No matter how crazy I've gone, I do want to see what's taking them so long. And if I really do need to be there, I'd better get a move on.

She went to the fireplace where a small golden bell sat on the mantel. Dumbledore had said that if they needed a house-elf – for whatever reason, Aletha remembered him saying – that all they needed to do was ring it, and one would arrive. She did so, and jumped as a sharp crack sounded behind her almost instantly.

"Mistress calls," said the squeaky voice of one of the Hogwarts house-elves. Aletha was never sure how to tell if a particular house-elf was male or female. And she probably wouldn't have gone near enough to find out – she'd always found house-elves rather creepy.

"Um, yes," Aletha said, smiling kindly to the small creature. "I have to leave the school for a bit, and I was wondering if you could keep an eye on the children until I return. They're all asleep, so they shouldn't cause too much trouble."

The house-elf smiled and nodded. "Cherry will watch the children while mistress does her business. The children will be well taken care of."

"Thank you," Aletha said, grabbing her cloak and wand. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

The house-elf said something in reply, but Aletha was already halfway out the door. She was in the entrance hall before she realized she didn't even know where Malfoy Manor was. This could be a problem…

Are you kidding me? the voice in her head said – Aletha could almost hear a pair of eyes rolling. Honestly, how do you people make it through your day-to-day lives?

Excuse me, but I've never had any interest in going to Malfoy Manor, and it's not as though I'd be invited to tea, Aletha responded crossly.

Right, the voice said, sighing. Get ready to Apparate and I'll guide you.

Aletha shook her head. If Sirius doesn't admit me to St. Mungo's for the rest of my life after I tell him about this, I'll be very surprised. Healers treated voices in people's heads, they didn't listen to them. But if it gets me to Sirius, I won't complain until this is over.

She took a deep breath as she left the Hogwarts gates and began the familiar Apparating process. Her mind – or maybe it was the voice in her head – supplied her with the information she needed to get to Malfoy Manor, and with a pop she disappeared.

Sirius Black was growing frustrated. It'd been nearly an hour since he'd left the cottage and gone to the Ministry to call in a few of his more trusted Aurors – Kingsley, Dawlish, and Proudfoot – and Apparated to Malfoy Manor. The only problem he found when they arrived was that Malfoy Manor had been put under some sort of concealment charm. The four Aurors had done everything they could think of to take the charm down, but nothing was working.

And then Dumbledore had arrived. The headmaster had taken the charm down within minutes, and now the five wizards were going over their options.

"We can't just burst in there," Dawlish was saying reasonably. "You don't think Malfoy would have thought someone was going to come after Lupin and the woman?"

"But if we don't burst in there," Kingsley said calmly. "You-Know-Who's going to be back."

"I'm with Kingsley," Proudfoot said. "It'll be much better to get in there, mess up whatever Malfoy's doing, and get the hell back out."

"Don't you people listen to anything I say?" Sirius snapped. "It's one in the morning, they've been in there for hours. Whatever Malfoy was doing, it has to be over by now. I'm more concerned with getting my best friend and Danger to safety. We can deal with everything else later."

Dawlish looked at him. "We do listen to what you say, Black, but when your source is a six-year-old Muggle girl, you'll have to excuse me for not being as eager as you are."

Sirius pulled himself up to his full height. Sensing a fight coming on, Kingsley stepped between Dawlish and Sirius. "We don't have time for this. The two of you can fight out your egos later," he said, looking at Sirius pointedly. "And if we–" Kingsley trailed off, looking over Sirius' shoulder with a raised eyebrow. "Sirius, isn't that your wife?"

Sirius spun around in time to see Aletha running up the path to join the wizards. "What're you doing here?" he asked her.

"I came to see what's taking you so long," Aletha said, looking up at Malfoy Manor. "Are they in there?"

"We think so," Sirius said, waving the question away. "Where are the kids?"

"With a house-elf," Aletha responded. "You and I have to get in there. Now."

"Hold on," Dawlish said, cutting off Sirius' reply. "We're not taking a civilian into a potentially dangerous situation."

Sirius turned back to him, his impatience getting worse. "Last I checked, Dawlish," he said coldly. "I'm the Head Auror; you're not. I'll be the one to decide who goes in there."

"Yeah? Well, maybe we need a new Head Auror, one who's not completely mental."

"Sirius!" Aletha yelled, grabbing her husband's arm as he made to attack the other wizard. "Stop it!" She looked around at the other men. "Only Sirius and I can go in there right now. No one else."

"Again," Sirius said to no one in particular. "I'm the Head Auror, and I will make the decisions. What is so hard to understand about that?"

Aletha turned to him. "You have to believe me, Sirius. You and I have to go in there. I know it's dangerous, but if we don't get in there, something bad could happen."

"What, you don't think something bad hasn't already happened?" Sirius asked her. "What is in there that you need to see so badly?"

Aletha started to answer, but looked over her shoulder to the other three Aurors who were listening carefully. Dumbledore was over by the gate looking on in amused patience – he hadn't said a word in a while, Sirius realized. What does he have up his sleeve?

Aletha stepped in closer to Sirius. "I don't know quite what's going on," she said quietly so the others wouldn't be able to overhear. "But I wouldn't be here if I thought I'd be hurt." Sirius raised an eyebrow at her. "All right, I wouldn't be here if I thought it would put Remus and Danger into more… well, danger."

For once, Sirius felt no desire to make a joke. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I could get sacked for this," he muttered.

"Not if none of them go blabbing. The only one you'll have to worry about is that blond one."

"Dawlish," Sirius said in a growl. "The git." He sighed again. "Alright, you and I will go in, but if we walk through the door, and I think it's a trap, you have to leave. Promise me that, Aletha."

Aletha wrapped her arms around Sirius' neck."I promise," she said quietly.

Sirius spotted her crossed fingers out of the corner of his eye, but decided not to say anything. "You lot, stay here," he told the Aurors. "I'll send a message in thirty minutes to let you know we're all right. Kingsley, you keep watch on the time. Proudfoot, Dawlish, I want you two to walk the perimeter, see if there's a back way in. Dumbledore… Well, do whatever you think you should do," he added lamely. Aletha raised an eyebrow at him. "What?" he whispered. "You try ordering Albus Dumbledore around."

"I have more sense than that."

"Are you sure about that? You did marry Sirius Black," Kingsley grinned. Sirius glared at him as Dawlish and Proudfoot began their perimeter checks – Dawlish only leaving after Proudfoot dragged him by his robe, wearing a very ugly look on his face.

"Come on, then," Sirius said. "Let's get this over with…"

"If you're certain you have everything under control, Sirius, I believe I will return to Hogwarts. You know how to reach me," Dumbledore said.

"Yes, sir," Sirius said. "Thank you for coming out here."

Dumbledore winked and smiled at Aletha before turning sharply and disappearing with an almost inaudible pop.

Side by side, Aletha and Sirius stepped through the tall gate surrounding the Malfoys' property, looking around them as they went for anything that might jump out at them. I wouldn't put anything past Malfoy, Sirius thought.

"Once we get in there, do you know where we have to go?" he asked his wife, getting a better grip on his wand. "You seem to know everything else tonight."

"No, I don't know where we have to go, but I'm sure between the two of us, we'll figure it out."

"And how exactly do you know we have to go in there?"

Aletha rubbed two fingers along her wand. "I'm not sure you want to know that right now," she said as they reached the front door.

"Why not?"

"Because if I tell you, you'll want to send me back, and that's not going to happen."

Sirius snorted. "What, did you have some voice in your head telling you what needed to be done?"

Aletha hesitated.

He raised an eyebrow. "Tell me you're kidding," he said.

"I'm not insane," she said hastily. "At least I don't think I am," she added under her breath.

"No, I don't think you're insane," Sirius said, looking at her intently. "Would you think I'm insane if I told you I'm hearing voices as well?"

"Is your voice sarcastic and bossy?"

"Yes."

"Then no, I don't think you're insane," she said lightly as they climbed the flagstoned front steps. "Mine's the same."

Sirius shook his head in confusion. "We'll discuss this later. What did the voice tell you?"

"Only that you and I were needed for something. And it gave me an Apparition point – you think I'd know where Malfoy Manor is on my own?"

"Good point." Sirius entertained the idea that Aletha had lost her mind for a moment, but set it aside for later consideration. "Here we go."

He tried the door, expecting to find it locked, but the doorknob turned easily, and he pushed it open. "Normally, I'd let you go in first," he said, sticking his head and wand through the door. "But this isn't the time for manners."

"I agree," she said. "You're the Auror, not me."

Sirius entered the dark house without a single misstep. He knew the entrance hall and the rooms to the left and his right quite well – every time he'd come to question Narcissa about her husband's whereabouts, she had received him in one of those rooms. Carefully and quietly, the Blacks navigated their way through the lower floors of the house, but found no sign of either Remus or Danger.

"Sirius, over here," Aletha whispered, standing in front of a door that led presumably to a basement. "Do you think they'd be down there?"

Sirius shook his head. "I don't know," he said quietly, lighting the tip of his wand and holding it through the door. "It seems a little obvious, but–"

A crack behind him made them both turn around to face a bat-eared, green-eyed house-elf. Sirius trained his wand on it, but Aletha pushed his arm down. "Mistress is expecting sir and ma'am," the house-elf said in a nervous, high-pitched voice. "Dobby will take sir and ma'am to his Mistress."

Sirius raised an eyebrow at Aletha. "Your mistress? You mean Narcissa? Why would she be expecting us?"

"Mistress knew sir would be coming shortly, and Dobby was instructed to take sir and ma'am to her. Sir's friends are there as well."

"My friends?" Sirius asked in partial relief. "Danger and Remus?"

"Dobby does not know names, sir," the house-elf said, looking at Sirius warily as though he expected the wizard to hit him.

"Are they all right?" Aletha asked.

"They is, ma'am," the house-elf, Dobby, said, nodding. "If sir and ma'am will come along, Dobby will take them to their friends."

Hesitantly, Sirius began to follow Dobby, taking Aletha's hand tightly in his own. "It could be a trap," he said very quietly. "If it is…"

"Then we'll find out when we get there, won't we?" Aletha said matter-of-factly. Dobby led them up a staircase and down a few corridors. Around them, portraits were watching them pass with narrowed eyes.

"In here," Dobby said, stopping before a pair of double doors. He turned the silver door handles and pushed the doors open, standing aside so Sirius and Aletha could enter. Sirius stiffened slightly at the sight of Narcissa, indeed waiting for them, standing with her hands clasped in front of her.

"Narcissa," he said coldly.

"Sirius," she said in the same tone. "I wondered if you would ever arrive."

"We were held up," he said evenly. "Where are…" He trailed off as he heard a soft bark. He looked around his cousin and found Remus, indeed transformed, sitting on a two-seater sofa beside Danger. And beside her was a little boy who looked vaguely familiar. He'd never seen the child on his past visits to Malfoy Manor, and it took him a minute to realize why he looked familiar, besides the obvious resemblance to Lucius. Like Aletha and Remus, and Danger, he'd been having odd dreams for the past few months, though he had kept it to himself…

"Danger!" Aletha said, rushing over to her friend and hugging her tightly. "Are you all right?"

Danger smiled. "Just fine," she said quietly. "I'm not hurt or anything."

"All right, Moony?" Sirius said to the werewolf, who jumped off the sofa and came to greet him. Moony nodded hard, directing his eyes toward Danger and managing something akin to a wolf-whistle in quiet howls. Sirius chuckled, then remembered something. He knelt before his friend. "Neenie said something about your potion being poisoned?"

Moony nodded again. Sirius' eyebrows met his hairline. "So how're you…"

"We'll explain later," Danger said quickly. "It's a very long story."

"And we do not have much time." Sirius turned to find Narcissa watching the exchanges with a closed expression. The blonde woman seated herself in a stiff, high-backed chair and gestured for him to sit across from her. Aletha took the spot next to Danger that Remus had recently vacated. Remus himself appropriated Danger's feet. "I am sure you've discovered what was to happen here tonight, cousin."

"I have," Sirius said. "And I'm sure you've discovered that I've come to keep it from happening."

"I have," Narcissa replied. "But that will not be necessary. The ritual has been interrupted, and the Dark Lord will not be returning to power this evening."

Sirius glanced at Aletha, who looked just as confused as he felt. "How could that be?" he asked Narcissa.

"Because Lucius' partner in the ritual is no longer loyal to the Dark Lord," Narcissa said. "Looking back, I do not know that she ever truly was."

"Who was his partner?" Sirius asked, brow furrowed.

"You will find out in time," Narcissa replied. "It is not important at the moment. There is something I wish to ask of you."

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "And what is that?"

Narcissa glanced at the little boy beside Danger, curled up on the sofa, fighting sleep. "For many months now, my son has been experiencing odd dreams. He did not wish for me to become aware of these dreams, but I did, and I realized that the dreams made him happy in a way that I could never manage. I do not see him often, only when Lucius is not at home – which, thanks to you, has been very often since September. But even when I do see him, I do not know how to make him feel what he feels when he has his dreams."

"What kind of dreams?" Sirius asked quietly.

"I only know that he speaks of people he has never seen before in real life – children he has never met and would never meet until his time at Hogwarts arrives, and adults whom my husband would kill if he found out Draco has spoken with them."

"I see," Sirius said, though he really didn't. "I don't understand what you're asking, Narcissa."

"You are the adults of my son's dreams. All four of you," Narcissa said, looking around at the others. "And in these dreams, you care for Draco as though he were your own. I do not wish for my son to be raised in the same environment you and I were, Sirius. I want his happiness, and I know that I could never give him what he wishes for – a family where he is loved, and not taught how to hate. That is what I am asking, Sirius. For you and your friends to take my son, raise him as your own, and teach him what it is to be happy."

Aletha made a disbelieving sound, while Danger looked at Remus for long moments and he looked back. Sirius could almost have believed they were communicating somehow. He wished he had that luxury, but he was stuck trying to read Aletha's face, and she was looking at Draco, who was smiling at her hopefully. "You want us to take your son?" he repeated, looking back at Narcissa. "What about Lucius? Don't you think he'll have something to say about this?"

"Lucius will not have a choice in this matter," Narcissa said crisply. "After tomorrow, he will not have many choices anymore."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning, I will testify to the crimes I have seen Lucius commit," Narcissa said. "I am sure you, as an Auror, will know better than I how quickly he will be taken to Azkaban."

"Why would you do that?" Sirius asked suspiciously.

"Because my husband is ignorant and dangerous. He has been involved in things you would never be able to fathom, or wish to," she replied. "He deserves everything that will soon come to him. And once I am gone, my son will need a new caregiver–"

"What do you mean, once you're gone?" Sirius asked sharply. "Where are you going?"

Narcissa regarded him coolly. "I will remain no longer in this world. If I do, I will be arrested, anyway, once the fools at the Ministry realize I, too, bear the Mark of the Dark Lord."

Well, that confirms that, Sirius thought. He'd always wondered if Narcissa had gotten the Dark Mark just like her husband and older sister. "So you would prefer death to a life in Azkaban?"

"Would not you?"

Sirius stared down at his hands, remembering. "I don't know," he said finally.

"In any case, Lucius' associates would have me killed before I ever came to trial – I find it easier to save them the trouble." She looked closely at Sirius. "Will you take my son?" she asked in an almost begging tone.

Sirius swallowed surreptitiously and looked over to where Aletha, Remus, and Danger were watching. "What d'you reckon?" he asked lightly, as though asking what they wanted for dinner.

Danger looked at Remus again, and turned back after a few moments, nodding. "Remus and I agree," she said. Sirius raised an eyebrow at her, and she raised one right back.

Sirius turned to his wife. "Letha?"

Aletha looked around Danger to the small boy, whose battle with sleep was almost lost. "What could it hurt?" she asked quietly, in a tone of someone still trying to digest everything that was happening.

Sirius turned back to Narcissa. "It is agreed," he said. "We will take your son, raise him as our own. He will know what it is to be loved and be happy."

Narcissa nodded stiffly – Sirius wondered if the shining in her eyes was caused by tears or something else. "Will you sign a contract I've prepared to make you his legal guardians?"

"I will," Sirius said.

"As will I." Aletha rose from her seat. "The boy will need a mother."

"And you?" Narcissa asked of Danger. "The werewolf obviously cannot sign."

"I will sign for the both of us," Danger said after a moment's thought.

"You are not married, correct?" Narcissa asked coolly.

"We plan to rectify that soon," Danger replied.

Sirius felt as if he should install lift buttons on his eyebrows. He looked at Aletha, whose lips were twitching. She shrugged. "It was going to happen sooner or later," she said quietly.

This has to rank highest of all on my most-confusing-nights-ever list, Sirius thought as Narcissa pulled a scroll of parchment from a desk drawer. I wonder how long she's been planning this…

Using a sharp black quill, Narcissa first signed her name, then handed it over to Sirius. He heard Danger's quiet, sharp intake of breath – probably should have warned her that magical contracts sometimes require signing in blood… He didn't even wince as he wrote his name and saw the words cutting into the back of his hand. Wondering if he would someday regret this night's work, he passed the quill to Aletha. "Hell of a night," he said quietly, watching as Danger signed. Remus, who had come over to watch, snorted in agreement.

"It is done, then," Narcissa said, rolling up the parchment and handing it to Sirius. Next, she knelt before Draco, who had begun to wake up again when the adults stood up, jostling him. "Draco, my love, it is time to say goodbye. You will not see me after this night. You are to go with these people. These men," she gestured to Remus and Sirius, "will be your fathers, and these women, your mothers." Danger and Aletha smiled at him, and he gave them a small smile in return. "Do you remember what you dreamed about, Draco?"

"Yes," the boy said in a timid voice.

"And do you like the people in your dreams?"

"Yes."

"They will be your new family. You will be good for them, won't you?"

Draco gulped and nodded. "I'll be good," he promised quietly.

Narcissa reached out and stroked Draco's cheek twice before standing again. "Thank you, cousin," she said. "And the rest of you, thank you."

They all nodded.

"You must leave now. Take him and go. Instruct your Aurors to wait thirty minutes before coming in – they will find Lucius in the basement, unconscious."

Sirius nodded. "He will be taken to Azkaban," he said. "You have my word."

Narcissa nodded stiffly again, turned on her heel, and left the room briskly.

Sirius massaged his temples for a moment. "Please tell me I'm not the only one who's completely blown away by this," he said to his wife and friends.

Danger and Aletha smiled wryly. "Let's just get out of here; we can analyze it to death after we get some rest," Danger said, going to Draco. "Draco, I'm going to pick you up again, alright?"

Sirius expected the boy to shy away, but he held out his arms to Danger and allowed her to pick him up without much hesitation. The Auror pushed down his confusion and led the way out of the room and back down the corridor, briefly looking over his shoulder – he saw a door at the end of the hall close, and assumed it was Narcissa. None of them said a word as they went down the stairs and to the front door.

Just as he opened it, though, footsteps sounded behind them. He turned sharply and pushed Aletha out of the way, pointing his wand at the person. The shock he felt when he realized who it was nearly made him drop the wand.

"Naomi?" he said incredulously. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Naomi looked just as surprised to see him there, and Sirius only vaguely noticed that she was carrying a large black bag. "I…" she began.

"She helped us," Danger said to Sirius.

Sirius narrowed his eyes, ignoring Danger's words. "You were the partner Narcissa was talking about. The one who was helping Lucius bring Voldemort back."

Naomi bit her lip. "Yes, but it's not what you think. He came to me for help, and I couldn't turn him down – he would have killed me if I did."

"You're a Death Eater," Sirius said, realization dawning. He felt as though he'd been hit in the head with a Bludger. "You… That's why you left Remus, isn't it?"

"Sirius, please," Naomi begged. "I was stupid, and I'm paying for my mistakes. Please understand."

"Oh, I understand," Sirius said quietly, feeling pain he hadn't felt for years – the pain of realizing he'd been betrayed by a person he loved and trusted. "And we'll deal with what we're going to do with you later. You'll come back to Hogwarts with us."

Naomi looked at the bag she was carrying and opened her mouth to argue, but the look on Sirius' face told her she'd do better to just keep her mouth shut. "Alright," she said quietly. "Hello, Aletha."

"Hello," said Aletha in a carefully controlled voice. "Hello, she says. This after jilting one of my best friends, supposedly running off to America, but really running off to join the other side… Alright, I'm going to say it. What else can happen tonight?"

"Oh, Lord, Aletha, no!" Danger protested. "You can't say that! That's an open invitation to fate!"

"An open invitation to fate? Danger, look at us. We're an open invitation to fate just by existing!"

"Fight later," said Sirius, swinging his arm up to halt Danger's retort. Draco cringed. "Sorry, kid. But really, people, let's take first things first and get out of here…"

The Head Auror led the group out of the house and down the lawn towards the gates where Kingsley was waiting. "What took you so long?" he asked, glancing at the werewolf walking beside Danger, and the child in her arms.

"We were held up," Sirius said. "In thirty minutes, take Dawlish and Proudfoot inside to the basement. Malfoy ought to be there, unconscious. Take him to the Ministry holding cells until morning."

Kingsley nodded. "And where are you lot going?"

"Back to Hogwarts," Sirius said. "I'll be at Headquarters tomorrow – I've got an appointment with Narcissa Malfoy."

Kingsley raised a dark eyebrow, but didn't comment. "Are you Apparating or going by Portkey?"

Sirius glanced at the others. "Portkey may be the best bet right now. Danger can't Apparate, and Naomi isn't leaving my sight."

Without a word, Kingsley searched around for something to turn into a Portkey – he found an empty tin can in the bushes, performed the necessary spell, and handed it to Sirius. "Everyone put a finger on it," Sirius said, watching Naomi closely as she hesitated. "Don't even think about running," he warned her.

"I wasn't," she said coolly, interposing herself between him and Danger.

"Letha, put your hand on Remus' back, please, since Danger's hands are full," Sirius said. Aletha did, and Sirius had just enough time to see Dawlish and Proudfoot make their way back to Kingsley before he felt the familiar tug at his navel as the Portkey activated.

AN: Now that you've all picked yourselves off the floor after that heart attack you've surely when you saw that I updated this so soon... Obviously, there has to be at least one more chapter to wrap this up. So it's not over yet. And I wouldn't get used to such a quick update; chances are, it won't happen again. But then again, it just might. Either way, you know what I ask of you now. Please review.