The fireplace of the Three Broomsticks flared green as Sirius Black stepped out. He took his wand from his pocket and banished the soot from his expensive silver colored winter robes and scarf. The former fugitive straightened up and looked around to see almost every patron in the bar staring at him. It wasn't everyday you saw a man that was on a Wanted Posters walking around free.
Madam Rosmerta walked forward quickly and shook Black's hand. She was a little flustered and excited as she said. "Come in Sirius, please set and have a drink!"
The new Lord Black fallowed the tavern owner up to the bar and sat on a stool. The lovely blonde woman sat a Forever-Cold Glass in front of him along with a bottle of Fire Whiskey. Sirius began to reach for his money pouch but Rosmerta stopped him.
"You and James both bought a case years ago and I'm still holding on to 'em. Never figured on what to do with your's, but I figured James's case would be a nice wedding present to Harry on the big day with little Ginevra Weasley. When I read in the paper about what Fudge did to ya, figured you'd be coming around for a drink sometime soon and pulled one of your bottles. Been under the bar waiting ever sense.
Sirius picked up the old bottle of whiskey and gave a hollow laugh. "I forgot about that. We bought those cases on the day James found out Lily was pregnant. The plan was for me to have a daughter to marry Harry and we'd have two cases ready to go for the big day."
Sirius studied the bottle sadly thinking about all he had lost over the years. James Potter was the brother he always wished he had, and now all that remained were his and Lily's two children. The shaggy haired man pulled his wand and taped the cork to pop it. Looking at the older blonde in front of him, Sirius indicated for her to drink with him. She smiled and pulled another glass from under the bar.
Sirius poured the barmaid a shot and himself a more generous amount. He picked up his glass along with Rosmerta and said before downing it with one large gulp. "To the best laid plans."
The former prisoner placed his glass back on the bar and filled it again. The barmaid just held her empty glass guiltily cupped in front of her. She addressed the man before her sadly. "I'm sorry Sirius. After Halloween all those years ago things were sad for many of us. I never once doubted your guilt in the Potter tragedy because I just couldn't see it going any other way."
Sirius just stared into his glass vacantly and said. "Don't worry to much about it Rosmerta. You aren't the only one apologizing to me for thinking that way. Me and James didn't want anyone to know the truth because we didn't know who to trust. We should have at least told Dumbledore but we didn't trust the company he kept. Ironically, it was the company we kept that bolloxed the whole thing."
Rosmerta returned her glass to its place under the bar. "You want something to eat?"
Sirius shook his head and said. "No thank you, I'm on my way to see Hagrid. I will take another bottle of Ogden's Old Firewhisky. Thank our large friend would like that."
The curvy lady laughed happily as she handed Lord Black another bottle. "Oh yes, Hagrid still loves his drink."
Sirius thanked Rosmerta and left the bar. Outside snow covered the street as pedestrians walked by. It was the thirtieth of January and a Sunday. Hogwarts had been back in session for the last three weeks. Thankfully, Fudge had ordered the Dementors to pack their bags and leave now that Sirius was no longer an escaped fugitive.
As the man walked down the street, his mind returned to the days of his youth. The village was empty this late in the evening, but in Sirius's mind it was full of laughing school children enjoying their freedom. As the sorrowful man made his way up the path to the castle, his heart grew heavy as he followed behind the memory of four young boys. They had been nothing more than children, hanging off one another and laughing despite the growing darkness of their time. Four friends closer than brothers, until one betrayed them all to Voldemort.
Sirius walked up to the gates, which opened up automatically at his approach. He collected himself emotionally as he made his way across the grounds to his destination. The man smiled when he saw Hagrid's Cabin hadn't changed much over the years, not that he hadn't seen it stalking around the grounds after Wormtail. There just hadn't been time to appreciate the sight.
He knocked on the door and was answered by a booming bark. The sound of the half-giant approaching could be heard coming from inside. "Back Fang, get back yer mangy mutt." Hagrid hollered as he opened the door.
The large man stood there in shock staring down at Sirius. Fang the Boarhound ran forward to smell the strange person. Upon finding nothing to worry about thanks to his dog instincts, he jumped up to lick Black's face.
"Stop that Fang!" Hagrid said while quickly grabbing the dog and pulling him down. "Come in Sirius"
The man stepped though the threshold and looked around. He wasn't really surprised to see the inside hadn't changed no more than the outside. The usual kettle was hanging in the fireplace with a nice fire underneath it. The same bed and quilts in the corner. Hagrid sat down at his table and indicated Sirius to join him.
"Wha' brings ya today Sirius?" The large man asked awkwardly. "You look well, Healers get ya strai'ened ou'?
"Oh yes." Black answered setting down. He placed both bottles of whiskey on the table. "Got any glasses?"
Hagrid laughed and walked to the wall were some tin cups sat on a shelf. He grabbed two of the clearing ones and set them in front of his visitor. Black filled both from the already open bottle as Hagrid sat back down.
Both men sat in silence, one lost in memories while the larger wondering what to say. Finally, Hagrid began. "'I'm sorry 'bout …."
"Don't." Sirius said cutting of the half-giant. "Enough bloody people have apologized already. I really don't need to hear it anymore. What's done is done and nothing will change the past."
Hagrid gave a small relieved chuckle now that the ice was broken. "Well, I doubt yer came here ter a'mire me cabin."
"No, I always liked your house but that's not why I'm here." Sirius chuckled. He reached inside his robes and pulled out three old articles from the Daily Prophet. Two were the announcement regarding Harry and Willow's betrothal contracts and the last was of Vincent Crabbe slapping the redhead. Upon seeing the picture again, Hagrid grumbled angrily and downed his whiskey.
"I want to ask why you never fought for your rights as Willow's Godfather and why you didn't stop the marriage contract?" Sirius asked seriously.
"Dumbledore." Hagrid growled angrily, surprising Sirius. "Ya know Lily an' James only told those how needed knowin' 'bout Willow. Lily even placed a charm on me, ter keep me from tellin' anyone that didn't know 'bout Willow already. I was ready ta do what I promise Lily an' take me Goddaughter in, 'til Dumbledore talk ter me. He was worried the court wou' give Whitehall every thing 'cause i'm a halfbreed an' all. Said I shou' wait ter use me Godfather Rights as a last resort of sorts. First I ever heard 'bout the bloody marriage contract was the bloody paper."
"I Never had a chance ter fight it!" The Groundskeeper shouted slamming his fist on the table top. Sirius saved the open bottle of whiskey from failing over and poured the man another drink. The half-giant shook his head in disgust as he downed the shot.
Sirius thought about Willow and Harry. The fact his Godson was in an arranged marriage upset him somewhat. He had hated the practice when he was a child because, he had been arranged to marry an ugly French Witch fifteen years his senior. Apparently his parents owed this Witch a lot of money, and she agreed to wipe the debt clean when she saw a picture of Sirius. Luckily when he ran away from home and his family disowned him, the contract was voided.
He had no objection to the Weasley's daughter as long his Godson was ok with it, but he wanted both Harry and Ginny Weasley to have options. The next marriage contract Whitehall tried to saddle Willow with would be meet with legal action in court. The only real leg Sirius had to stand on in that fight would be Hagrid's Godfather Rights. He was relieved to know the Groundskeeper was with him on that front.
"What do you think about Victor Whitehall?" The Animagus asked curiously.
Hagrid looked at Sirius and scratched his cheek thinking of a response. "I believe he loves those two kids with all his heart. He would die fer 'em, tha' I'm sure. Don' know why he put Willow in the contract though. He knew the kind o' person the Crabbe boy was."
Sirius sat quietly staring into the fire burning on the hearth. He knew why Whitehall did it. The old fool was protecting himself by placating the Purebloods. The Animagus wouldn't stand for it though. He had already hired a Solicitor to look into possibly suing for custody of both Potter children. He wanted to set down with old Victor Whitehall first to honestly feel him out.
The Animagus looked down at the newspapers again. He wanted to ask Hagrid something delicate, but he didn't know how the man would react. Being a Godfather was a great honor in the Wizarding World, and accidentally insinuating anything bad about Willow could set of the gentle giant's temper.
"What kind of person is Willow?" The long haired man asked cautiously.
Hagrid looked up at the question. "What do ya mean?"
Sirius remembered back to when the children visited him in the American hospital. Seeing Lily's look alike in green robes had reminded him that Harry's sister, the only daughter of James Potter, was in Slytherin. He hated thinking along the lines of prejudice, especially when their had been plenty of people to go bad in the other school houses, but the Snake Pit had a reputation that wasn't entirely unjustified. It tended to attract a more sinister crowd.
"I haven't had much interaction with ether Harry or Willow since getting out of the hospital. What with the Demon attack at the Burrow, my own legal hiccups with getting my Lord tittle and Black fortune, not to mention school term resuming, the only time I met them was at the Hospital. I wasn't able to speak with Willow much sense she dragged Whitehall out to look at Salem."
"I've heard stories regarding Willow's abilities." Sirius said trying to sound casual as he took notice of just how big Hagrid was. It occurred to Lord Black he never really took the time to appreciate that glaring detail until now. "The Americans explained she was into Dark Magic."
Hagrid studied Sirius carefully. "If ya have something ter say Sirius, jus' say it."
"According to what Harry told me, Willow killed that Demon on Halloween. She made herself physically strong enough to snap his neck. I also know there was some trouble in Sunnydale California and all her friends are being hush hush about it." Sirius took a small drink to and continued. "My Godson told me his Magic Twin Bond repaired his pore eyesight, which would suggest he himself has begun to use Dark Magic inadvertently through his connection with Willow.
Sirius downed his remaining drink and nervously finished. "Do you think Willow is a bad influence on Harry?"
Hagrid looked at Sirius for a long time without answering. His first impulse had been to throw the man out by his long shaggy hair, but he reconsidered. If the positions were reversed, he would have asked the same question.
"Me Goddaughter has used Dark Magic, Sirius." Hagrid said angrily. The half-giant then continued with his voice growing steadily louder with conviction. "But yer know better 'n most folks tha' Dark Magic Families on'y learn Dark Magic fer power sake. Willow were no differen' than them in tha' regard but Willow on'y wan'ed power ter protect folks." (1)
The Groundskeeper then went on to explain how Willow's Magic had effected Harry by telling Sirius more about the children's shared abilities. The Potter Twins mist form allowed them to explore the castle and forest without getting caught. Plus their irregular sleep cycle made it no big deal to be out all night. Willow had even made friends with the Acromantula and would buy silk from them with food. She then sold it to a Silk Merchant in Hogsmeade. Hagrid himself had never profited off of the animals he tended, mainly because he never had a big need for money, but the Groundskeeper had no objections to Willow doing it.
"They even encoun'ered Professor Lupin a few times." Hagrid finished.
It took Sirius a moment to realize what the big man said. "What do you mean they encounter Remus?"
"Oh yeh know, durin' the full moon an all. When he's out on 'is werewolf walks." The half-giant explained as he grabbed one of his homemade rock cakes. He took a bite and then brushed the crumbs out of his thick tangled shaggy beard. Seeing Sirius lost in thought, Hagrid offered him the plate.
Sirius stares down at the offered cakes and took one to be polite. He remembered the last time he ate one of Hagrid's cakes and wisely placed it on the table. Looking up to the man he asked. "Harry and Willow have met Remus in his Werewolf form?"
Sirius wasn't surprised they new as Harry explained, during the hospital visit, Remus confided the truth during the Summer. Willow knew a Werewolf in America and had guest on her own already. Apparently Ron and Ginny Weasley , Hermione Granger, and Dawn Summers also knew the truth as well from what his Godson told him.
"Remus didn't attack them?" The former convict asked shocked.
"'Course not, with tha' potion Professor Snape make 'im he keeps 'is mind an' all durin' the transfermation." Hagrid said unworried. "Also, 'cause o' their powers, Harry an' Willow can't be cursed by a Werewolf. Willow told me it's summat ter do with the Powers Over Night an' how it shielded 'em from certain physical curses an' jinks."
Though Hagrid wasn't concerned about any of this, Sirius was worried. Some people couldn't be turned into Werewolves, this was true, but usually it was individuals that were half human like Hagrid and Filius Flitwick. However, Voldemort himself was immune to the curse because of the Dark Magic body augmentations he had gone through over the years. Were the Potter Twins similar to Voldemort in some way.
Soon after Sirius said goodbye to Hagrid, leaving the second bottle unopened as a present, and made his way to the castle gates. As he walked back down the streets of Hogsmeade headed for the Three Broomsticks, his mind replayed the conversation with his large friend. If Harry and Willow had been augmented by Dark Magic to such a degree, then were they a danger to those around them? This thought would keep Lord Black up most of the night.
Author's Note: Sorry it has been so long sense I posted a new Chapter. Wanted to fix and Name past Chapters. I'm pretty sure I didn't get everything but at least they make better sense now hopefully.
(1) To clarify because writing Hagrid dialogue is difficult, Hagrid was saying both Dark Magic Families and Willow practice Dark Magic to gain power quickly. Dark Magic Families want power so they can be powerful. Willow wanted power to protect people. Willow would never harm an innocent person for more strength. Sirius growing up in the Black Family would have seen a lot of horrible things, so would naturally be more suspicious and cautious of Dark Magic Users. That does include Willow. He still loves and cares for her greatly but will do whatever he has to for Harry's sake, no matter how painful.
Also Dumbledore didn't trick Hagrid into not pursuing custody of Willow and Harry. He was actually protecting him from a possible unfair ruling that would have been in Whitehall's favor. American Wizarding Society would have been just as prejudice to Hagrid as English Wizarding Society, and would have also prevented Drusilla from retaining custody of Magical Guardian Rights had they been able. A Vampire with a soul was just as surprising to them as it was England which created a loophole no American Wizard or Witch saw coming. Hagrid is a little angry with Dumbledore because the Headmaster knew about the arranged marriage problem when he, Hagrid, didn't and now he thinks he should have pursued custody. Dumbledore never asked him to help with the marriage contract situation because Willow wasn't being forced against her will into the contract. She was in full agreement at the time to protect her Grandfather.
American Free Magic Society and American Wizarding Society don't interact much unless they have to. The Wizarding Controlled Districts are for the most part isolated in each state, so even they don't have much knowledge of what's going on in the Free Magic States they reside in. They are only allowed to help out when the Statue Of Secrecy is in jeopardy.