Title: Little Spark of Madness
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in any way, that belongs to JK Rowlings. I don't make any money from this either. I just do it for fun :) All original characters are my own, those would be the ones that you don't recognize from the books.
AN: Peeking out. So Hi, it has been a while. I lost my muse, life got busy, and for a while I kinda gave up on writing. I thought about coming back a few weeks ago but didn't want too without a plan (even a rough one), so I've outlined the rest of the story :) I know how this generally will go and how this will end. While the chapters are not written, there is a path which is something that wasn't there before.
I do want to thank everyone for continuing to comment and love this story even in my absense. It really made me want to come back to it and finish.
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Stay afraid, but do it anyway...
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Malfoy Manor
June 30th, 1977
The body of a slightly pudgy woman was laid out on the floor surrounded by individuals in black cloaks. Only one stood out as he sat in a large ornate throne-like chair.
His voice flowed over the group as a snake slithering through the reeds, "Mr Lesssstrange, isss she dead?"
Rabastian raised his eyes, a smirk on his lips showed how proud he was of his deed. "Yes, my Lord."
A sigh was heard, "I wasss going to give young Lord Malfoy a chanccce at her asss well. You ruined hisss fun for the evening in your own excitement. I was hoping Miss Pettigrew would last until her blood traitor of a ssson woke from his injuries. A Pity." Flipping his wrist, "Someone take that filth out of my sight."
An unknown individual raised his wand and the body began dragging itself from the room.
Tapping his fingers lightly on the arm of his chair, "Tell me Luciusss, your relationship with young Miss McGonagall. Is it going well? We have not spoken since after the winter holidays. It was going well then.
Abraxas stood tall next to his son. Stiff as a board.
Lucius nodded and stepped forward to speak, "Things are going well as they can with her in school and myself not. We did however share written letters throughout the last half of the school year. I also was able to see her on her last Hogsmeade visit briefly. She is still accepting of my presents and responds promptly to my letters."
Voldemort nodded, "Any future datessss?"
Lucius shook his head and in his preferable vision could see his father's jaw clench. Quickly adding, "I was planning to write to her this evening and ask her to a potions convention. We both have an acquired taste for the subject. However, with her friend in the hospital I thought it might be in poor taste, his father deceased and his mother missing." His eyes glanced to the door where the dead woman had been taken.
Voldemort nodded, "See that she joins you. Maybe she will jump at the chance to get away."
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Potter Manor
July 15th, 1977
The mood in the room was completely sullen. There had been multiple attacks over the past few weeks. It was almost normal for Charlus to read the paper in his study alone now to try and let the kids have normal breakfast conversation.
Just this morning a muggle family in rural Scotland was attacked and killed in their own home. The parents and their four children under the age of ten had all been killed. The ministry was investigating this more thoroughly due to the facts that had been uncovered. The eldest child was on the list of muggle born wizards and was six months shy of receiving his Hogwarts letter. The youngest child was also on the list however she had only been a few months old at the time of her death.
Hermione hadn't been sleeping well after they'd heard about the attack on Peter at the end of the previous month. They'd gone to the hospital expecting him to be in bad shape, but would come home soon.
Their hopes had been shattered when the healers told them that Peter was in a coma and wasn't waking up. They'd tried many spells and potions to wake him, yet none were effective. Peter was still in the dark room unaware of anything around him.
Hermione and the others had almost lived at Saint Mungo's in his room for days until the healers told them they could no longer stay. Still it did not stop them from going daily after lunch for an hour or so to keep him company.
She couldn't help but be conflicted about Peter waking up. On one hand she wanted him to be okay, on the other he would be waking up to his father being dead and his mother still missing and most likely dead herself.
She leaned further into Sirius' side as they sat on the couch together. Sighing she shut the book she'd been trying to read before getting lost in her thoughts. "Sirius?"
He startled slightly at her words before sighing and giving her arm a squeeze, "Yes, Love?"
"Do you think Peter will wake up?" Her eyes didn't leave the closed book on her lap. She didn't feel guilt for what happened, but she did feel guilt for the situation. Sure, they had all but one horcrux, but it was taking too long. They still had no idea where the last one was.
Sirius was quiet for a moment before he cleared his throat, "I hope so."
He just rested his head on hers, holding her as close as possible. After a moment Dorea came into the room and smiled seeing the two on the couch, before giving him a look of sympathy. "Sirius dear, Orion sent you an owl."
Hermione felt him stiffen beneath her so she sat up so he could take the letter. Looking at him it was apparent that he had no intentions of reading whatever had been written.
Hermione took the letter for him and opened it. She could see him in her peripheral vision watching her like a hawk, she skimmed it briefly before reading aloud.
"Sirius,
I would like to extend a formal invitation for lunch this upcoming Saturday for yourself and Miss Hermione McGonagall. I would like a word with you after lunch and Miss McGonagall may attend after lunch reading with your mother and cousins.
Arrive promptly at noon.
Lord Orion Black"
She folded the letter and placed it on the couch between them, "Are you okay? Are you ready for this?"
His hands were clenched, "They are going to expect me to get upset. They are going to try and make it happen, Love. I don't really have a choice though, this is what we have been waiting for."
She just nodded. They both knew that it was going to be hard on Sirius. To play nice with his parents when he'd fought against them for so long. "Well just because there won't be a full argument doesn't mean it won't be awkward. Silence is fine, we can focus on us while there too. Your mother should be happy with that. Besides just remember that Saturday, tomorrow night, is the full moon. You will be able to run with the boys after it is done."
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Saturday the next day
Hermione was doing her best to ignore the boulder in her gut as she arrived outside 12 Grimmauld Place with Sirius and Mr. Potter who had apparated them there. She squeezed Sirius' hand who was stiff and paler than normal. "Are you ready Sirius?"
His eyes trained on the black front door of the towering house that he despised, "No, let's go."
He held her hand tightly in his before crossing the street toward the place that caused so much pain and anger in his life.
Before she knew it they were on the stoop and Sirius rapped on the door with his knuckles.
The door opened a moment later and they both stood stiff as Kreature let them in. "Young Master Black, Miss McGonagal, welcome to the great and noble house of Black."
Sirius just tugged her into the house with him tightly at his side as Kreature led the way to their formal dining room. As Hermione scanned the room she saw Orion and Regulas standing near the head of the table.
When they noticed the pair he stood upright and nodded to Regulus, their conversation officially ended. "Sirius and Miss McGonagall welcome. Please sit."
Hermione stood by Sirius, her hand still clenched in his hand still. Sirius pulled out the chair for her before sitting himself between her and his father.
He hadn't spoken a word so Hermione figured she would try and diffuse the tension that was clearly written on all three men's faces. "While unexpected, thank you for the lunch invitation. It has been a while since we have been here." Glancing to Regulus, "Hello."
Orion while still tense seemed to be less so after she'd spoken, "I do apologize for the late invitation, but I am pleased that you could make it."
At that moment he and Regulas stood as Walburga walked into the room followed closely by Narcissa. Hermione noticed that Sirius wasn't planning to stand so she lightly pinched his arm before standing herself as a guest in the house. Sirius followed her lead and thankfully Walburga had a pleasantly surprised look on her face.
It had been clear it wasn't his first choice, however he'd done it for Hermione. All that mattered was that they were falling for it.
Lunch went off well. While Sirius didn't utter a word, neither did Regulus or Orion. It was mostly the three women conversing during lunch about shopping and the upcoming school year for Hermione.
After the plates were cleared Orion and Regulus rose, "Ladies, Siruis, Regluas and myself have matters to discuss. Please excuse us."
Sirius squeezed her hand one last time before rising out of his own seat. Giving her one last look of worry before he followed his father and brother up the stairs and towards the study.
Hermione worried about him in the room alone, but she didn't have much time to dwell as Walburga was looking right at her with expectation. "Thank you for lunch Lady Black. It was nice to be invited to your lovely home again."
She nods primly as if she were a fine poodle in a show, "Yes, I was pleased that you could join us so last minute." The discussion quickly turned to other more netural things and planning a trip for Hermione and Narrsica to go dress shopping in Diagon Alley later in the week to prepare for her sister Bellatrix's wedding to Rodolphus Lestrange later that summer.
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Orion's Office
The patriarch of the house sat down behind his desk while his son's sat across from him. Silence filled the room as Siruius tried to avoid clenching his fists.
Orion grabbed the Odgen's finest and poured three glasses nodding to them before Regulus and Sirius reached out taking one each. Taking a sip of his own before clearing his throat, "It has been a while since we have all been in the same room. I wanted to discuss properties and what will be given out to you respectively."
Sirius frowned as he glanced to Regulus who looked almost as confused as he was. Sirius leaned back in his chair and looked at the tumbler before turning his attention back to Orion. "
Properties? What are you talking about?"
Orion pulled out a file and placed it in front of him, "You both have always lived here in Grimmauld, however my father left 2 other properties, multiple stakes and holdings. Most of these items do go to Sirius as my heir. However, should anything happen to Sirius they would transfer to Regulus."
Baddesley Clinton
Warwickshire, England
Little Moreton Hall
4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of Congleton, Cheshire, England
Sirius just glanced at Regulus once more, "I am unsure why we are discussing this now? I am still in school for another year."
Orion took a sip of his drink and nodded, "Yes you are. I am hoping there will be a wedding soon after as well. Miss McGonagall turns 17 in three days. This is her last year before she will need to make her decision and everyone sees how she reacts to you. You would be blind not too. You have served this house well son. It is time you start taking your place in the family business." The man got up and walked over to a tall bookshelf, "Accompanying me to Gringotts, sitting at my side during Wizengamot meetings, and such."
Bringing a book back over and setting it on the desk in front of Sirius, "This is the ledger for all Black wealth. Here is everything that belongs to the Great and Noble House of Black. It will all be yours one day."
Sirius just looked in shock at the old book in his hands, it had to be four inches thick. He stopped assessing the book when Orion continued, "While I said there were two houses you would be inheriting, that did not include the other houses. Your Uncle Cygnus house, Uncle Alfred's house, this house. You could take it all back should you so choose. One day."
The rest of the discussion in the office went without too many surprises for Sirius, only when Orion told Regulus to leave the room did Sirius feel the stress of the situation again fully.
As the door shut Sirius watched Orion as he walked over to his desk and unlocked a drawer with a wave of his wand. He pulled out a black velvet bag that Sirius had never seen before. "I had all curses on the ring removed. While your mother is under the impression that Miss McGonagall is actually Miss Potter, I have my doubts. In faith that you will uphold this family name I am assuming that you do not want the young lady injured."
Sirius kept quiet as he watched his great grandmother's engagement ring revealed to him. The large onyx stone looking up at him, "You have doubts and yet you are still giving me a ring for her?"
Orion sighed, "Yes, I have doubts about her being Charlus daughter. Charlus is too noble to have done what your mother is insinuating. As far as her blood, she is still a Potter and the Half blood. You never cared for lessons on the family tree, however there are a few cases where the bloodline of someone being married into the family was… not guaranteed. In most of those cases a strong male heir was born. I may not like the idea, however I would need to be blind not to see the potential unspoken asset this could be for our line."
By the end of their visit Sirius had the ring in his pocket, the folder with the two properties, and the black book. Orioin had told him he would be coming with him to the next meeting at Gringotts. The strained silence that was present had dissipated and was now only an uncomfortable silence. His father had never been nearly as bad as his mother, and the meeting showed that.
After seeing Hermione already waiting by the door with her traveling cloak on he quickly put his own on, before taking her arm and escorting her silently from the house to Charlus Potter who was waiting for them across the street once more.
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Later than night at Potter Manor
Remus laid next to Hermione on the couch, his head resting on her thigh as she ran her hand through his hair. Sirius sat across from them next to James and Harry, "You okay there Remus?"
Opening his eyes Remus stared at Sirius, gold flakes becoming more prominent in his eyes, "Just trying to stay calm. Moony is aggravated right now, Hermione seems to be keeping him calm. I think he knows Wormtail is not here."
Sirius just nodded as he glanced from Remus to Hermione who was still absent-mindedly, stroking Remus' hair while staring off into the distance. Her mind fully on the fact that their friend was missing a full moon. Suddenly James got up after checking the hour with his wand, "Okay guys let's go."
Remus reluctantly sat up as Hermione stopped playing with his hair. They said their goodbyes to Hermione and left her alone on the couch.
Hermione gave them about ten minutes before she got up from her place and followed the boys out to the area where they stayed with Moony on full moons.
Toeing off her shoes before putting her socks into them as well and putting the neck to a rock for her to find in the morning. The summer night on her legs was pleasant as her skirt allowed her easy movements. She stopped a few feet from where she left her shoes and closed her eyes as she dug her toes into the earth. A few moments later she opened her eyes and saw everything in her new eyes.
She looked down at her vulpes form smiling as she saw her fluffy dark red tail naturally wrapping around her legs while she sat. Her eyes caught a distant movement and her eyes narrowed in on the small mouse scurrying into a burrow about fifty feet from where she was at currently. Her ears picking up sounds from almost a half mile away that normally she wouldn't be able to hear.
It almost became too much for her until she decided to focus and try to find the boys. She was able to tune them out and almost jumped with joy at hearing James and Harry going back and forth on Quidditch stats.
She got up and started making her way through the forest to her boys.
Finally she reached them hearing Remus half talking and half growling at them as Sirius and James broke into a small playful brawl on the forest floor. Climbing into a tree she sat on a low branch so she was about eye level with them. She laughed internally and surprised herself with the noise that came out of her.
Snapping her attention up she lowered herself instinctively towards the branch that she was on as she noticed all sets of eyes on her. "Ack-ack-ack." Her natural sound came up.
Her eyes were focused on Remus who was lowly growling at the presents of another animal in the area, but he wasn't full on growling. He must sense that he knew her somehow, because he wasn't advancing on her.
Suddenly she let out a scream as she was lifted off her feet. She immediately tried clawings at whatever had hold of her when she heard Sirius' voice, "Calm down feisty girl! We aren't going to hurt you."
She went limp and glared as best she could as Sirius held her facing him like a toddler. In her head she was yelling at him for picking up a wild animal, seriously what was the man thinking?! Letting a warning growl and nipping at his arm, trying to escape his grasp before she changed back into her human form still up in his arms.
As she transformed they both fell hard to the earth with Hermione on top of him straddling his waist. "Really Sirius? You just pick up a wild animal?"
Everything was silent before Harry and James both came over and lifted Hermoine off of Sirius' waist. Harry just looked at her bug eyes, "You transformed? Without telling me after getting onto me about not telling you?"
Shrugging her shoulders. "Not a good feeling eh?"
She turned back to Sirius who was now standing. His cheeks were flushed and he had a grin on his face before letting out a yip and picking her up spinning her around, "Welcome to the canidae family! It is about time we stopped bringing prey into the group!"
He stopped pulling back from her, "So Red Fox huh? Quite aggressive there. Name….. Name. name. Name… we need to find you a name." He paced for a moment and she could hear his low mumbling, "Red, fluffy, Pointy,..." Snapping his fingers as he grinned at Remus, "Foxes are Vixens right?"
Remus let a pained laugh before nodding his head agreeing with Sirius.
Hermione just shook her head a mild case of panic on her face, "Oh no, you are not calling me Vixen. That makes me seem…. Just no. I really don't need a nickname, that can be your guy thing."
Sirius just wrapped his arm around her shoulder, "You don't mind when I call you Love."
She flushed, "That is… different."
Remus just growled, "Well this is just peachy isn't it. But unless you want to become a monster too you better turn yourself back into a fox!"
Hermione narrowed her eyes on Remus, "We will discuss that monster comment tomorrow mister!" Then she turned and transformed into her red fox form. The remainder of the evening was spent comically. Two staggs butting heads, a grim chasing a fox and a werewolf chasing everything that moved.
An invitation from Lucius was sitting on her bedside table when she returned to the house in the early hours of the morning.
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