Author's Comments: Hi everyone! Sorry I have not updated sooner. I was on holiday and then I have started to move into my new apartment. I have had no Internet connection so it's been taking me a while to submit. I'll try to submit at least once a week. Enjoy!

Madrid was hot. The bright Spanish sun's rays hit the locals and the many unwary tourists with a cruel vengeance as the humidity slowly suffocated the humans and animals.

Sirius was thankful for the cool solace that the Spanish Ministry building gave to its visitors. Currently, he was sitting in the office of the Assistant Head of International Affairs in Spain. It was a very tidy office, a few papers were scattered across the cherry wood desk, as well as a few knick-knacks. Next to him, Mr. and Mrs. Black were having a small conversation and Regulus had a far off look on his face.

Suddenly, the door opened and in stepped a small pudgy man, with slicked backed hair and a small, waxed mustache.

"Buenos Tardes, I am Jesus Bodega, Assistant Head of International Affairs. How may I be of assistance?" he spoke, in heavily accented English.

"Yes, I would like you to kindly explain the reason for this," Mrs. Black held up a green, floral dress. " The official informed me that it is required for me to wear this," Mrs. Black gave the dress a disgusted look, "this atrocity."

Señor Bodega smiled." Si, that is true SeñoraBlack, it is required for all members of the Wizarding world here in Spain, to dress as muggles when outside of our world. In order to reach your destination in Barcelona, you must use our Floo connection to our Barcelona branch, and then, we have arranged a cab to drive you to Don Delmar's residence, courtesy of the Don. You shall be driving in the Muggle World, therefore it is necessary for you to wear the proper clothing."

Mrs. Black pinched her lips together in a sour expression. "What if I refuse Mr.Bodega?"

"If you refuse, Señora, then you shall be placed under arrest and sent back to England." He replied.

Mrs. Black glared at the Ministry official, then sniffed.

" All right Mr. Bodega, I shall wear this retched dress."

"Fantastico! Now, my secretary shall escort you to the Floo. Eduardo!" At Señor Bodega's call, a nervous looking man entered the room. Señor Bodegas said something to him in Spanish and then turned to the Blacks. "He will take you there now. Your baggage has been already sent though. Good evening."

Eduardo led them through many corridors until thy entered a room with a very impressive fireplace. He beckoned the Black family through the flames with a nervous smile.

The ride through the city of Barcelona was too fast, in Sirius's opinion. The whole time, he was contemplating the idea of marriage, and his conversation with James two days before.

"So, are you going to do it?"

"I have no choice James! There is no way out of it!"

"Well, you could get a divorce after the wedding."

"Yeah, and get myself cursed to pieces by my mother. No thank you."

"Well, you could always get to know her. She could be nice. Maybe it won't be so bad."

"Not so bad! I have no idea what she looks like or who she is! She could have a wart or have a hunched back for all I know!"

"Yeah, or she could be really pretty and with a sweet personality. Give her a chance, Padfoot. You are not the only one being forced, she may be as well."

Could he really come to like this, Rebeca? What was she like? Would marriage be her be heaven or hell? He really knew nothing about her, except her name, and her father was the Head of International Affairs.

"Mother,"

"Yes Sirius?" his mother replied.

"Have you met Rebeca?" Sirius looked down at his hands.

Mrs. Black glanced at her eldest son. " I have once."

Sirius looked up. " What is she like?"

Mrs. Black frowned in thought. " I could not describe very well. We talked briefly. She is about your age, quite striking actually. But she was rather quiet."

Sirius sighed with relief, and then became nervous once again.

He was about to ask his mother another question when his father said,

"We have arrived."

They were on the outskirts of the city limits. The Delmar villa was situated on a cliff that dropped down to the deep, blue, ocean. The house itself was compromised of a light colored stone. Its façade was decorated with various creatures of the sea and laughing mermaids. White marble steps led up to the entrance. On the steps, lined up, were what Sirius took to be servants, varying from humans to house elves. At the very front of these lines, stood five people. A nanny held the youngest; the other sucked her thumb while she held onto her mother's hand. The blond lady, who Sirius took to be Doña Delmar, was smiling and next to her was her husband, Don Rafael Delmar. And next to them was, the only other person possible, Rebeca.

Sirius exited out of the cab while the driver took out their trunks, and followed his parents towards the Delmar family.

"Ah Augustus, it is so good to see you again. How many years has it been?" asked Rafael Delmar in lightly accented English as he shook Mr. Black's hand. He was a tall man, with broad shoulder's and an athletic physique. His blond hair was swept back from his face and his light, blue eyes held Mr. Black's grey ones.

"Too many Rafael. You do remember my wife, Heloise?" he turned to his wife as Mrs. Black stepped forward and gave the blond man her hand.

Rafael kissed it. " Of course, how could I forget the radiant Heloise? You look well my dear."

She blushed lightly, " Oh, you have always flattered me, Rafael."

Rafael smiled, " My wife Beatriz," he said as she gave her hand to Mr. Black.

Beatriz Delmar was a slender woman of medium height; her strawberry blond hair was pinned up. Her green eyes twinkled with good humor.

"Augustus, Heloise, welcome to our home." She said, her mouth easily sliding into a smile.

Don Delmar finally turned to Sirius, his blue eyes piercing into his.

" So this is Sirius." He held out a hand, which Sirius shook. " Welcome."

Doña Delmar approached him as well and gave him her hand, which Sirius bent over, according to decorum.

"Yes, welcome to Barcelona, and our family." She smiled at him and Sirius began to feel his nervousness die down until she said, " I would like to introduce my daughter, Rebeca Delmar, your fiancé."

Sirius turned to her as Rebeca held out her hand. Her looks were the complete opposite of the other members of the family. Her black hair was parted on the side and pinned up, a few ebony strands swept across her forehead. Her blue eyes were striking against her coppery colored skin. She had a delicate facial structure, with high cheekbones. She stood a few inches shorter than her mother but it did not matter for the confidence in her shoulders made her seem much taller.

She was beautiful and Sirius found himself in awe of her, until his mother nudged him to take the girl's hand. He brushed it with his lips and found it to be quite soft, yet cold. He found this slightly odd but brushed the thought away.

"Es un pleasura, Rebeca," he said in his best Spanish accent he could muster.

She smiled slightly and replied in a lilting voice, " The pleasure is all mine, Sirius."

Sirius smiled back. Just like he practiced, he put his hand behind her ear and pulled out a rose, which he handed to Rebeca. "A gift for the beautiful flower."

She took the rose with murmured thanks and allowed her mother to place it behind her ear.

He was then introduced to the two children, the little girl who looked just like her mother, named Amaranta, and the little boy, who seemed not yet three, Rafael. Then Sirius's own brother was introduced.

As soon as introductions were done, Doña Delmar spoke up, "You must all be tired from your long trip. Our housekeeper, Marta, shall take you to your rooms where you may freshen up. She then will escort you to the dinning room at seven o'clock. I am sure you would all like to be rid of those clothes" she said with a smile.

They thanked her and followed one of the human servants up into the house. They passed many rooms and corridors until they came to one wing of the house.

The whole time, Marta had been silent throughout until, she spoke up at arriving at their destination.

" This shall be your room, Don e Doña Black. The one on the right shall be yours, Señor Regulus." She said, with specific roll on the 'r' s. "Your baggage has already been delivered into your rooms."

She began to walk in the opposite direction. Sirius stopped and realized that the housekeeper had not said where he was supposed to sleep.

"Wait! Where am I'm going to stay?" he asked.

Marta turned to him and with a raised eyebrow, replied, "You shall sleep in the other wing of the house, Señor Sirius, the family's wing. You are to be married to Señorita Rebeca, therefore you must be near by."

She continued on her walk, indicating he would follow. Sirius shrugged his shoulders. What did it matter to him where he slept?

Following the housekeeper, he continued to watch his surroundings. They were currently in a gallery, pictures of former Delmar Don's and their ladies looked down at Sirius with slight frown, a few were actually smiling.

Then, something caught his eye. There was an empty space on the wall, where there had been a large portrait, according to the dust imprint. He stopped in front of the space. It was right next to the last portrait of the current Don and his family. Sirius stared at this picture and noticed that next Rebeca, there was an empty space that looked as if it had been blasted away.

"Marta," he said, stopping the housekeeper in her tracks.

She turned to him. "Si, Señor Sirius?"

"Who was in that portrait there?"

Marta looked to where he was pointing and her face seemed to soften. "That was a portrait of my former mistress, Don Rafael's first wife, mother to Rebeca and Adan."

"Adan?" Sirius said, as he looked to the current picture's empty space. "Is that who is missing from the family portrait?"

Marta looked away, " It is not my place to tell you, señor. I have already said to much." She began to walk again down the hall, her short heels clacking on the marble surface. " Come, señor. You must be tired."

Sirius nodded and reluctantly followed Marta, giving one last glance to the portrait before leaving.

Sirius stared up at the canopy of his bed in silent contemplation.

So, Rafael had a first wife, who he doesn't want to show. I wonder what happen to her and Rebeca's brother? Does Rebeca know anything about it? He mused.

He grinned on the thought of Rebeca. She clearly was quite a catch, but, he frowned, he had no idea what she was like. Maybe I should go see her tonight, he thought with a grin.

Dinner had been a quiet affair on his part and on that of his fiancé's. All that she had done was eat a little and smile at him when he glanced at her. His mother was right at her quietness. He found it quite odd though, the level of quiet that she had established for herself.

However, he did find his soon to be in-laws rather nice. At least, Beatriz, which she insisted he call her, seemed to be warming up to him. Don Rafael seemed very polite but he was always studying him with a shrewd look in his eyes, as if sizing up a prize horse. He and his father talked about business most of the time but when dinner was over, he felt a change of mood come over them in the parlor, and he knew they were talking about one thing, Voldemort. Sirius didn't know which side the Delmar's were on, but he suspected they approved of the War in England.

He, his brother, and Rebeca had retired for the night, each heading to their separate rooms. Sirius noticed that Rebeca's room was two doors across the hall from his.

I'll go talk to her, see what she's like. Why not? He thought to himself.

Sirius got up from his bed and looked around for his shirt. The room that he had been given had red wallpaper and a view of the inner courtyard. It was decorated with mahogany furniture and had a desk, a chaise lounge, and a breakfast table set up against the large glass window. The bathroom was a light gold color, with a large sunk in bath, roaring lions of stone sat in the corners of the room. It seemed that his hosts had been informed of his house at Hogwarts.

Finding his shirt and shoes, Sirius opened the door and stepped into the hallway. Everything was quiet; the candlelight flickered on the walls, creating shadows that took upon a lifelike appearance.

Silently, he crept down the hall until he reached Rebeca's door. He reached for the handle and then he froze.

Maybe this is a bad idea, he thought. She could be asleep, or she might not even be in there.

'But you do want to find out what she's like don't you?' said a voice in his head.

"Yeah," he said quietly.

'Then go in.'

"Right," he said to himself and knocked on the door.

No one answered. He knocked on the door again and then tried the handle. It opened under his touch. Sirius took a breath and entered.

The room was barely lit, with only a lamp on the table. Rebeca was sitting in a chair, her face held a blank look.

"Rebeca?" he whispered, so she wouldn't be alarmed.

She didn't move.

Sirius moved closer, "Rebeca, it's me, Sirius." He spoke louder this time, making sure he closed the door.

Still, she did not make any move.

Sirius was starting to worry. "Hey, are you alright?" He made a move to touch here when he heard the fireplace activate and green flames spurted forth from the hearth.

Sirius reached for his wand only to remember that he left it in his room.

Damn, he thought as a figure stepped out of the fire. It's back was turned and Sirius stepped in front of Rebeca, in order to shield her.

The person dusted its shoulders off and turned around.

Sirius gasped in shock. It was Rebeca!

Author: Heh heh, a cliffhanger I know. But that's what makes it great! Are there two Rebeca's or is one of them an imposter?

Thanks for all the reviews! They make me feel all warm and snuggly inside.

TBC