Author's Note: This one is a bit shorter, sorry about that but it was the best place to stop. Only two chapters in this story, although there will be a sequel which will deal with the mysteries of the location of the Potters and where the money went and whether Anwen and Sirius can find their way back to each other or not. Thanks so much to everyone who is reading and reviewing. And now, a little fun with our favorite toddler and his makeshift family. MNF

Chapter 5:

An Unpleasant Winter Visitor

2 December 1981

"Anwen, have you looked at this list of gifts?" Remus asked as he entered the library. She had taken over one end of the large table as a pseudo-office to deal with the village children's Christmas gifts. Sirius had the financial books and documents from Gringotts on every surface of the actual office. "Some of these kiddos have asked for socks or new jumpers."

"I know," Anwen replied, putting her quill down. "I've asked to meet with the Headmaster of the primary school to find out how many of the children need such things. I'm prepared to purchase whatever is needed and have the school distribute them. I also think we might need to have a community meal on Christmas Eve before worship. The recession in the Muggle world has hit particularly hard here."

"Has Sirius figured out where the gold from the estate accounts has been going?" he asked, pulling out a chair.

"No, but he's tabling it until after the first of the year. We, well, mostly he, has enough money to keep the manor and the village afloat without any problems."

"It doesn't seem like something James would have done, leaving the estate in financial peril," Remus mused.

"We don't think it was him," Anwen confessed. "Money seems to have started disappearing when they moved into the house in Godric's Hollow. I happen to know their expenses there were minimal. I did the grocery shopping for them, and that wasn't where the money was going."

A clanging started, and it startled the pair. "Someone just Apparated onto the road to the keep. Sirius and Harry are upstairs in the nursery. Will you go with Harry so Sirius can join me at the gate? If you get a Patronus from either of us, go to the Panic Room on the ground level." Remus was up and moving before she'd finished. Anwen strode into the hallway, grabbed her cloak, and was heading out the door when Sirius joined her, summoning his cloak as he did. Anwen changed into her Animagus while Sirius Disillusioned himself. She flew forward quickly, although she stayed within the protection line. When she saw who it was, she dropped down behind the gates and returned to her human form.

"What in the name of all things that are holy are you doing here?" she yelled at the person on the other side of the gates.

"You wouldn't return my letters, so I –"

"You thought you'd show up unannounced," Sirius finished as he approached. He wanted to pull Anwen behind him but fought against this impulse. She would not appreciate it.

"You're lucky the enchantments didn't take you as hostile; there are some painful protections on the grounds and structure," Anwen said.

"They had been breached," the guest said.

"No, they haven't, but that is a discussion for another day. Why are you here?" Anwen barked.

"I need to see Harry."

"No, you don't," Sirius snapped back. "He's fine."

"I need to know that he is safe here," the other persisted.

"Safe? Here?" Anwen yelled. "Yes, he's safe here, Albus. He has people who love him and help him heal from seeing his mother being murdered and then sitting in his cot, screaming for her. He's being fed well, bathed, sung to sleep. We're playing with him, reading to him, and giving him all the hugs and kisses he needs. He's safe."

"I didn't mean to offend you," Dumbledore said softly. "I believe when his mother—"

"Lily. Her name was Lily," the woman interjected.

"Yes, well, when Lily sacrificed herself, I believe that a blood protection was placed on Harry."

"Yes, we heard about your theory," Sirius said, "and we aren't letting you near Harry because we don't trust that you wouldn't attempt to whisk him away to stay with Petunia and her colossal, imbecilic walrus of a husband."

"He would be safer there."

"No, Albus, he'd be miserable there. Lily loathed her sister and the hateful, spiteful things Petunia said and did to her. You know why too. Lily and James' will clearly states we are to raise him, then he's to go to Frank and Alice, then the Weasleys, then Minerva and Remus. Nowhere in that list is Petunia. I'm done here," Anwen said. "Have a Happy Christmas, Albus."

"You're not coming to the castle for Christmas dinner?" That had been a plan at some point earlier in the fall, but Anwen couldn't believe he'd think it was still in place. She grabbed Sirius' hand, and together they walked away. A moment later, they heard Albus' howling yell. Anwen commented without turning around.

"I told you there were protections on the grounds. Why do people keep underestimating what I say?"

"I am never going to underestimate you again," Sirius said with a smile on his face.

"Good. I'm holding you to that."

Once back inside, their cloaks hung, Sirius picked up Anwen and ran her up the stairs to the nursery. Harry and Remus were playing on the floor with his dragon, wooden blocks which probably first belonged to Fleamont, and a demented looking hedgehog which might have been a plaything of Padfoot or some other canine family member. Anwen wiggled her fingers to clean it as best as she could. She wished there was a washing machine here, not just elves and spells. The hedgehog could use a long wash with hot water. Ah, the luxuries of Muggles.

"So, what is going on here?" Sirius asked while folding his long legs up and sitting down. The childlike wonder which often made Sirius end up in detention now made him an amazing godfather.

"De dragon is knocking de city down," Harry explained. "Den Uncle Remus is fixing it and hiding the heg'hog. Dragon gotta find it."

"What can I do?" Sirius asked excitedly.

"You build, and Uncle Remus can read my dragon book!" Harry said excitedly. Anwen was content to sit down in the rocker and watch. She marvelled at how advanced Harry was for his age. Some of it was being a magical child; James had explained that magic enhanced a child's ability to learn languages and other concepts quicker, but there was more to it. James and Lily were both smart – well-read, and both had careers that required advanced training – and Harry had benefitted from this. But there was something else about Harry; he was a special child.

James and Lily had shared the prophecy with the Marauders and herself, but Anwen just didn't get it. Having been raised away from the wizarding world, she didn't understand why people believed such things. To Muggles, prophecy was something which was done by a carnival gypsy or in history, like the Oracles of Delphi. That the latter was thought to have uttered her prophecies in gibberish and high on fumes from a rock didn't help the process's credibility. Anwen understood the danger of the prophecy about Harry; Voldemort believed it, and therefore he wanted to kill Harry; she just didn't understand why anyone would care now that Voldemort was dead.

Unless he wasn't dead.

The thought was too much to even contemplate. It was December, and there would be no talk of prophecy or murders within earshot of Harry. This Christmas would be festive and happy. There was no other way it could be.

"Dat was a big one!" Harry cheered, and Anwen was directed back to the three guys on the floor. One she loved enough to defend with her life was her heart, and one was her dearest friend and roommate. She didn't need anything else.

6 December

It was only mid-afternoon, well before tea-time, when Minerva showed up to take Harry and his godparents down to London. Granted, they were Apparating, so she really wasn't taking them anywhere, but it had been her idea that they visit the lights on Regent Street. Dressing as Muggles helped them blend in, and Anwen was surprised at the fetching outfit their former head of house had on. Her matching royal blue trousers and pant length coat coaxed a blue out of Minerva's brown eyes.

"Minerva, I love the colour of that coat," the younger witch said. "You look stunning in it."

"Thank you, Anwen. My sister-in-law selected it for me," Minerva explained. "She grew up as a Muggle, so her taste is better than most witches; she also understands that sometimes you can't go prancing through a non-magical neighbourhood dressed in robes with alchemical symbols on them. The Muggles are liable to question your sanity."

Once they were in the West End area of London, Anwen took over the navigation, having lived in the area all the years she attended the Opera school here. It wasn't long before they were on their way toward the shopping district and the foretold lights of Christmas.

Harry was on Sirius' shoulders, singing his own Christmas carol with words the adults had no clue of. Every once in a while, they'd hear tree or cheer or presents, but whatever else there was, they didn't know. They turned the corner onto Regent Street, and Harry cheered.

"Moons, Auntie Winnie. Moons and Stars!"

"Yes, they are moons and stars, sweetheart," Anwen replied. Harry started to sing a song about moons and stars that none of the rest knew, but it made them happy. The quartet moved slowly down the street, looking in shop windows and marvelling at the lights. A few years before, it was virtually dark on Regent Street, shop owners unable to pay for the display. Thankfully, the recession seemed to be easing in the Muggle world. The wizarding world hadn't been affected in the same way, although Voldemort had used the Muggles financial problems as another reason why wizards should rule. The wizard had been a brilliant opportunist, Anwen admitted in her head.

The pair of women went into a few shops to purchase Christmas gifts, and they stopped for tea before Harry grew tired and Anwen was afraid he'd fall off Sirius' shoulders. Remus was still at the Potter home and offered to get Harry into his pyjamas and into bed. He joined the others in the sitting room once the little boy was out.

"I don't believe he came here," Minerva said. "I knew he was obsessed with sending Harry to his aunt's home, but he's lost all common sense."

"Do you think he's a danger to Harry?" Sirius asked. He'd always trusted Dumbledore, well, as much as he trusted anyone besides Anwen, but he was beginning to think that might not be the best. It felt like the Headmaster wanted to manipulate Harry in how he'd manipulated Anwen when she was sixteen. He couldn't protect her then – basically because Anwen was so stubborn – but he would protect Harry.

"I don't think he means to be," Minerva answered, "but sometimes he has these blinders when it comes to the greater good. He thinks everyone should be willing to sacrifice everything. It always bothered me what he did with you, Anwen."

"He didn't do anything to me. I made my own choices," Anwen quickly retorted.

"No, he manipulated the situation. You should have been under the instruction of someone who knew exactly how those skills of yours worked. Perenelle Flamel was a good teacher, but her skills were minimal at best. There are others, portraits, or essences of dead practitioners who could have been magical tutors. They could have guided you without the pain and anguish," Minerva explained. "We frequently argued about it."

"Well, I'm on the other side of it now," Anwen began. "I'm also a woman, and I don't allow myself to be manipulated so easily…well, unless you're a sixteen-month-old boy who wants another biscuit. Then I'm useless." They all laughed and turned the subject to the quickly approaching holiday.