I don't own SPN or Harry Potter.

Chapter 9 – challenges ahead

So far it was an eventful day for Sirius. He knew that the meeting with his younger cousin would be interesting, but some things he didn't see coming. He still needs time to come to terms with what he has learnt. It is not only the fact that his cousin wants to be in a triad with his niece and Fred Weasley, a Weasley and a Malfoy in a relationship, who would have thought. The element he has a hard time to process is something else, his cousin Cissa apparently never believed in blood purity. She never acted that way and he wasn't sure if he could believe it. But her son was under veritaserum as he confessed it, so it has to be true. Still Sirius can't forget the past and how his family turned on him, including her. Her actions hurt him more, because she always was his favorite cousin, like the sister he always wanted. Why couldn't she be like Reg, who kept in touch with his favorite cousin Dromeda after she was disowned? No, she decided not to interact with him, not even at Hogwarts.

A knock at the door dragged him out of his thoughts. "Come in." he called as he glanced from his seat behind the desk at the door. He was curious, who it was. Something in his gut tells him, that something important will be revealed.

The door was opened by his cousin Dromeda, but she wasn't alone, behind her his niece and younger cousin Tonks follow. Both look like they walk to their own execution. That can't be good. Sirius waited for his cousin to close the door again before he asks. "What can I do for you?"

"The girls have to tell you something." Dromeda answer his question.

"Ok." he gestures them to take a seat at the other side of his desk. From the looks on their faces he feels like his old headmaster, who called him in after a bad prank, he pulled and knew that he would be punished for it. He tries to lighten the mood a bit. "So who died?"

Hermione and Tonks snort, but didn't answer otherwise. "Come on girls, tell him or I will." Andromeda tells them. She knows they are scared about what he will say. He probably wouldn't be fire and flame. No, he will be shocked and mostly need some time to get used to the new development, like she would need.

Tonks sighed and started. "Sirius for your information we are pregnant." she confessed in hastily. She always was a rip the band aid off in one go type.

It took Sirius a moment to catch, what she said. She was pregnant, but after another moment he caught that she said we. The other witch beside Andromeda was Hermione, but she can't mean that his lovely, young niece was pregnant too or? But only one glance at her tells him a different story, but he had to be sure that he came to the right conclusion. "Let me get this straight you are pregnant … as in both of you." he asks them in a calm tone. Even if he was a little shocked and a bit furious, being angry with them will not solve this situation.

Both woman look at him and nod their heads as answer at the same time. He sighs that wasn't a situation he ever wanted to be in as Head of the house, especially because his feelings on this matter are split. On the one side he was happy that his ever growing family will grow further, but on the other hand he has to talk about their actions they want to take in this matter, not that he looks forward to it. But he will take their wishes in consideration and don't want to demand something from them, but they need to know what each action could mean for them.

Even if Remus is his best mate and Fred was like family to him, as Head of the House of Black he has to put the interest of his niece and cousin first, especially considering the fact that both women are still unmarried. Their interest and their protection come before everything else.

He stands up and walks around his desk to take the place in front of both women. He leans on it to make the following conversation a little more personal and comfortable for them. Their stance with a downside bow of their heads and hanging shoulders make them look more than vulnerable. He has to reassure them that he isn't disappointed with them. Okay maybe with Hermione, but only because she still is so young. She would miss her last year of schooling, which he knows she wanted to finish after the war is won. But she still is the brightest witch of her age, so that is something that could help her in that matter. She can do it, he is sure of it. He takes both their hands in one of his and says. "Hey." to make them look up at him, slowly they lift their heads to look into his eyes. As he has their attention, he tells them. "I know all this is overwhelming." He knows the feeling first hand, but he was still married at that moment. "But we will manage it together."

"Ok." they say in a low voice at the same time.

Sirius claps his hands and starts with "So … you have many options. Whatever you choose I will support you and don't demand anything from you. But you need to know what every action will entail. Not only for you and your baby, but also in matters of the society."

"Thank you Sirius." Hermione says whole heartily.

"Nothing to thank me for, as Head of the House it is my duty to take care of my family. I love to do that for you … both of you." he tells them sincerely. They smile at him and he takes it as his sign to start with the options. "The first question you have to answer for yourself is … do you want the baby or not?"

"Do you mean abortion?" Hermione asks him shocked. Even if the pregnancy is a shock to her and she is way too young to be a mother in her opinion. To terminate the pregnancy is out of the question for her.

"Yes." he has to name it as he sees it, even if she is pissed about it. She gives her answer subconsciously as she reached with her hand for her belly. Tonks makes the same gesture. So both girls don't want to end their pregnancy, a good sign.

"I don't want that." Tonks says clearly. Slowly her bubbly self comes back again. It appears that she was afraid what he would say and what he would do in his shock. They need time to come to terms with this new situation and that is not so easy for first time mothers. Sirius knows that. Instead of being shocked, he was downright panicked and destroyed his flat in the first moment, because he didn't knew what to do after he learnt of his pregnancy. It took Lily and James reassurance that he would be a good father or more correctly mother as the carrier of the baby. But that was almost a week after he took the test.

"Good. … The next option would be adoption. But I have to tell you that as a Head of the House that is the most problematic one for me … Because even with adoption the baby still would be a Black by blood and would be part of the family, so that we never can die out." He doesn't want to pressure them, but they have to know that their baby still will be part of the family even with a different name. It happened only one time in the family history of the house that a child was given up for adoption. Some 200 years ago, one of their ancestors gave up their daughter for two reasons, one because she was born out of wedlock and second she had a disability, which of course didn't fit well with the purity of his damn family. But she still inherited some wealth after her mother died.

That option isn't his favorite. He would prefer if they would keep the babies. Not only because of his bureaucratic expenditure, but because he wants his family close by. Even during times of war, a new generation of Blacks is a good thing. He still is shocked, but he still could picture the new babies in his life and with that they are family.

Hermione thought about adoption. She pictures her two girls with red hair walking for the first time and feels a longing for them. It is clear to her that she has only one option and that would be to keep them. This thought made her smile for the first time since she knew about the pregnancy. Yeah it wouldn't be easy, not only because of the war, but considering her age. But she knows that she loves Fred and to have twins with him makes her heart flatter.

A similar line of thought Tonks had. She loves Remus and to have a baby with him would be a blast. But her biggest worry is the man in question itself. He will so be so panicked, because he worries that he put his curse on the next generation. But Hermione's reassurance that that isn't a possibility is enough for her. Likewise Tonks knows that Siri will keep Remus in check. Both look at him and say with a firm voice. "No."

That answer made him smile. "So that means that you will keep the babies?" he needed that to be clarified.

"Yes." they both say with a smile.

"Good … You have two options either you get it without being married or you marry the father of the child." Sirius sees his nieces want to say something. "Before you protest you have to know that your child would suffer the most. He or she will be orchestrated in the society, treated like outcast. They will be looked down by their pears should their parents not be married." he tells them seriously, no ban intended.

The first to answer to it was Tonks. "Siri you know that Remus will make problems. Not only because he is a werewolf. No he will fear that his son will become one as well."

"Tonks don't worry I will talk with Remi." he knows, how he can make him do something he doesn't want. But after a moment he registers what she has said. "So it will be a son?"

She beamed up at him and answers. "Yes."

"Wonderful, the next generation of Marauders is secured." he says with a smile.

"Hey, do you mean that my girls can't be Marauders … let's not forget their father is Fred Weasley." Hermione says with a smile.

Oh that is so true. Hopefully McGonagall will be in retirement until then. Sirius doesn't want to be the cause of the death of the old witch. He likes her way to much for that. The shock about the pregnancy news still sits in his bones, but the hits still are coming his way. He looks at his beautiful niece and asks her. "Are you telling me that you are having twin girls?"

"Yes a Weasley Twin never makes things in halves." she says.

He shakes his head and smiles. She is right only a Weasley twin would let his legacy go to the next generation of troublesome twins. "I think we should warn McGonagall, before they go to Hogwarts so she can retire in time." he jokes. Of course they need to win this war first, but three babies are one hell of an incentive to make it happen rather sooner than later.

"Good idea." Andromeda points out. It was her first comment after she entered Sirius study.

"I think I have to talk to Fred." Hermione says and wants to get up, but Sirius stops her.

He turns to Andromeda and Tonks as he asks. "Can you give us some privacy?"

Hermione knew that it was too easy. He would lecture her now for her stupid mistake. But her babies aren't a mistake in her opinion, but she hates to disappoint him.

"Of course." both witches answer and leave the room to give them some time alone.

The door closes behind them and it was silent for a moment. But Hermione's anger and her instinct to protect her children kick in as she says. "I know I am young, but my babies aren't a mistake. You don't have to lecture me about it. I am just sorry that I disappointed you." she tells him with tears in her eyes.

Her outburst blindsided him a bit. Nothing of that were the reasons he wanted to talk to her alone. He has to reassure her, he takes her hand and dugs her into a standing position, so that he can take her in his arms. It only took a moment for Hermione to hug him back. She felt save in his arms. He was like a father to her, even with him being her uncle; he still is the only father figure in her life. He simply holds her for a moment before he whispers in her ear. "Kitten I want you to listen to me very carefully … I don't think of my granddaughters as a mistake." Not only she feels that they are father and daughter. To him as well she was like a daughter and in his opinion that makes her his daughter. That makes her children his grandchildren. The statement took Hermione off guard, she looks up at him and he continues. "I would never think such a thing. Yes you are young and yes I would have wanted that you would become a mother later in live …" He takes a deep breath to formulate his next sentence very carefully, because he doesn't want to hurt her. "I can't lie and say that I wasn't disappointed for a moment, but the funny thing is that I am also proud of you that you decided to keep my grandchildren. I love you very much and I will love them as well. I definitely will spoil them rotten." he jokes a bit to lighten the mood.

She smiles at him, embraces him again and they hug for a moment, before she steps away from him and asks. "But why do you want to speak to me alone?"

He sighs, because he knows that the following discussion would be very stressful for her and him. "Take a seat, first." He has to keep the stress for her at a minimum, because of the babies. He has to keep them save after all.

She doesn't know why she has to sit for it, if it isn't a lecture. But his face tells her, he is only concerned for her and her babies. So she takes a seat again and smiles at him. "What is it Sirius?" she asks him.

"I had an interesting meeting today."

"With whom?" she interrupts him.

"With my cousin and your betrothed." he answers.

"Malfoy … why?"

"I wanted him to get me the contract so that I could have a look at it."

That gives her hope that he has found a way out of it. "And?" she asks hopeful.

"I read it and there is a way to dissolve the contract." he didn't get far as she jumps up happy and embraces him in hug. It breaks his heart to stop her happiness. "Hermione." he tries to get her attention and it works, because he didn't use her nickname like under normal circumstances. Only on rare occasions he calls her by her given name. That always is an indicator that what he has to say is important. As she sees he has her attention again, he goes on. "Yes there is a way to dissolve, but there is a problem as well."

"Such as?"

"To dissolve the contract both parties have to agree to it" he tells her and let her figure out the rest on her own.

"But that shouldn't be a problem. I want it dissolved and I think Malfoy." but she stops and looks at her uncle. She wasn't the brightest witch for nothing as she figured out fast that Malfoy doesn't want to do it. "Are you kidding me?" she says sarcastically. She starts to pace angry through Sirius study while she mutters some curse words for their cousin.

"Hermione." Sirius tries to bring her out of her anger, but she didn't react to it in any way. So he tried again, this time in a louder voice "Hermione." but still no reaction from her. So he walks to her and stops her in her tracks. With his hands on her shoulders, he made her look him into his eyes until her angry attention was on him. "He doesn't want to dissolve it, because he fancies you." he tells her

"He doesn't know that I am the witch of the contract." she counters angry.

"Not true he knows longer than you of your heritage." he tells her.

"What? … How?" she curiously wants to know.

"Since third year, after you punched him. After that his magic acted out. The contract was the only clue to why?" That silenced her. She doesn't know what to say to that. She never would have thought that Draco Malfoy, her nemesis, of all people, would fancy her. "According to him he fancies you since he meet you at the train for the first time." with that she remembers their first encounter. It was before he knew her blood status. They laughed and joked till the moment Neville walked into their compartment in search for his toad. She went and helped him, they saw each other again during the feast and he then learnt her status. But until then he was nice, charming and beautiful. But all that changed only because she was a muggle-born. But there still was something else in his eyes that looked like longing while they had encounters during their school time.

"But what about Fred?" She can see that he has feelings for her. It only took a moment to look at her memories form a different perspective. It also would be a lie, if she would deny that she had fancied him at some point as well. Of course Fred knows about it, they don't have secrets from each other. She loves Fred and with their babies she wants them to be a proper family.

A mischievous smile starts on Sirius face. "That is the funny thing … he not only fancies you, but …"

"Fred as well." she finishes for him without giving him the change to end his sentence. She always knew about Fred and Malfoy, even if he only confessed it once. Her boyfriend told her that didn't just want to have sex with him, because he developed feelings, but he knew the other would never feel the same about him. They don't have secrets from each other.

"You know?" Sirius concludes.

"Of course, we share everything with each other." she tells her uncle.

"Okay than I give you something to think about." she looks with exception at her uncle. "Draco wants to talk to you and Fred about being in a triad."

"A triad?" she asks him bewildered. She still doesn't know everything about the wizarding world.

"It is a relationship between three individuals. They are not common, but still are very accepted, because they are more powerful in matters of magic." he explains to her.

"Malfoy wants to be with me and Fred?" she asks him perplex. She needs the clarity that she had understood him.

"Yes but first he wants to talk to you about it and I told him I try to make it possible. But you and Fred have to decide what you want." Sirius tells his niece.

"Ok."

Sirius can see that she is overwhelmed. So he kisses her forehead and says. "I will talk to Fred."

"Don't tell him about the babies, I want to do that."

"Of course kitten, I would never take that away from you. But your brothers, me and Fred have our long awaited talk now." he tells her mischievously.

In her state she simply nods and didn't react to his mischievousness. At the moment other things are on her mind. He let her work through the new situation with the Babies and Malfoy as well and lets her alone. With one last kiss to her cheek he left his study and went in search for his nephews and son. His first stop was the library. At this time of the day Sam and Harry would be researching or talking about magic in there. This time they were playing a game of wizarding chess as he enters. Sirius walks to them and declares. "Boys I need your help."

"With what?" Harry asks as he makes his move on the board. From the looks of it, he was losing. Strategic was never his strong suit, but he always was better at tactic maneuvers.

"You will see, follow me … believe me you don't want to miss this." he tells them mysteriously and turns around to move to the garage, where he will find Dean. Like every day in the last time he would work on his car. Only some footsteps behind him, Sam and Harry, are following. After some moments they reach the garage, where Dean lies under the hood of his beloved car. "Dean." Sirius says to make him aware of their presence.

Only moment's later Dean slides out from under the hood and looks at them. "What's up?"

"I need your help, can you spare a moment away from your lover." he jokes.

"Ha ha, very funny. What for?" Dean counters.

"You will see." with that he turns around and walks to his next and last stop for now. The boys look questionable at each other, but they don't know what this is all about so they shrug their shoulders and follow. Dean stands up as Sirius left the garage.

The lab of the twins is in the basement as well. Sirius reaches the stop fast. He knocks after he took down the silencing wards. After some moments the twin he was looking for stands at the door. He was a bit angered to be disturbed during his work. What has to be done must be done, so Sirius doesn't react to his moods. "Fred I know you are busy, but I or better we" he points at the men behind him. "have to talk with you about something and I think you had long enough time to feel secure in the house."

Sirius sees him gulp and smiles. He knows that Fred and the rest would follow him. He leads them to the sitting room and waits for them. After all the needed parties are in the room, he warded it against intruders and not to be disturbed. Now was the perfect moment to grill Fred, while only he knew about the babies. That includes the father itself. So his decisions are unbiased and don't depend on the situation at hand. But before he starts with his interrogation, he lets the poor boy stew a little. The others are on the same page as him. Sirius can read that in their mischievousness faces. The confident, funny and cocky Fred was replaced with an insecure young boy, who hasn't a clue, how this conversation will go. But his confident self can't stand it any longer after some moments of silence. "Oh can we begin with the court session, before I die of old age." Even if doesn't feel like himself at the moment, he still was a jokester, that is and always will be his coping mechanism.

Dean couldn't resist teasing him. "Please stand up for Judge Black." to make the statement more effaceable, Sam and Harry stand up and take their place again.

Sirius smiles at the antics of his family. Fun and humor is needed, especially in dark times like this. But he still was here for a reason. "You have already figured out, why we are here." he tells Fred in a calm manner.

"Yeah, you want to give me the shovel talk." Fred answers the statement.

Sirius smiles. "Fred you know we like you, but we have to protect my daughter." All the men knew that Sirius sees her in this way and don't have a problem with it.

"And sister." all her brothers say at the same time.

"I know you love her very much." Fred looks from one face to the next as they answer with a simple nod. "But you should know that I love her very much as well." They could see that he means it, as he goes on in a serious tone, "I would kill myself first, before I hurt her."

"Good." Sirius says. That are good conditions for the new developments he has learnt today. Considering he is going to be a father, of twin girls nevertheless. Sirius pity's him a little, because one girl can be scary, but two scream panic attack. But he shakes his head, he can think about that as soon as he was done here. "Still you should know that if you hurt her, nobody would find your body."

"We will help him with that." Sam and Dean say after some moments.

While Harry states. "I will keep Hermione off their tracks, because she probably would be pissed at us for defending her honor, when she can do it on her own." The others laugh at that. She is a spitfire, strong willed, beautiful and smart. That is a very deadly combination for a woman.

Instead of being intimidated by this, Fred simply stats. "I accept nothing less of all of you. So consider me warned. But do you really believe I would survive to be killed by you, before Hermione gets her hands on me after I have hurt her."

"No." they all say in unison.

"Besides my own twin would hurt me for hurting her, so it would be suicide to hurt her. I know she is a spitfire and I love that about her as long as I am not on the end of her wraith."

They laugh at him, before Harry says. "The end of her wands is enough to be scared … she can be scary when she wants to be."

"With a wicked temper." Fred continues "Especially if it was directed at Ron."

"He received some nasty hexes and curses from her." Harry says with a laugh.

"He deserved it." Sirius says with a growl.

"That is right." Fred says affirmative. He sees that Sirius isn't so pleased to talk about his youngest brother. Fred can't blame him after what he did to Hermione. Only Ron could sink so low to use love potion to get the girl.

"That is, why he received some nasty peaks by sweet, little canaries." Harry tries to lighten the mode. The misgivings of his ex-best mate hurt him still. He didn't think he would sink that low. But he knows that Sirius takes Ron action very hard. He learnt that he sees his sister as a daughter and you should never mess with the daughter of a supposed convict, who was innocently imprisoned for 12 years in Azkaban, from a so called insane, dark and ill-tempered family.

"That must have been a sight?" Dean says.

"Yeah, he almost pied his pants." that broke them into a fit of laughter.

The lighter mood brought Sirius back to the topic at hand. "So what have you planned?" he asks, because he knows that the twins don't do things without having a plan. They wouldn't be the good pranksters like they are otherwise.

Fred was prepared for that question, so he sighs. "If she wants and is ready I want to marry the girl if she lets me. I would be a big fool not to want that … But the contract is a big hindrance in that matter."

"Why?" Sam wants to know, always the scholar, looking to learn something new and magic was a whole new level of new to him.

"Marriage would be possible, but should Malfoy hear that I married her, he could use magic to dissolve it." Fred declares.

"About Malfoy" Sirius gathers the attention from all the others as he says. "I had a very informative conversation with him today."

"And?" Fred curious wants to know, because that looks promising to him.

"I have to ask you … life is a search, what is it that you seek?" He knows that Fred on the contrary to Malfoy can lie to him with his answer, because he wasn't influenced by veritaserum. But he considers Fred as an honest man. So he waits, because in Fred's eyes he saw that he understood him clearly and that he knows what this is about.

The others weren't so fortune they don't have a clue about what is happing in front of their eyes. They only can wait and see where this is going. Like Sirius values him, he answers a little embarrassed with slightly red ears. "Freedom can only accomplished, if you let all the customs of society fall."

That was the moment that Dean had enough. "What the hell!" he exclaims.

"I second that, what are you talking about?" Harry wants to know as well, even if his wording isn't as colorful as Deans.

Sirius chuckled. "Sorry I just wanted to know, where Fred picked up Malfoy." he tells them matter-of-factly.

"He told you?" Fred's asks him shocked. As answer Sirius simply nods.

The others caught on fast. Dean wouldn't have guessed that Fred was the type, but he hasn't a problem with it, whatever floats his boat. Sam on the other hand had his suspicion, because Fred was a notorious flirt with male and females alike. That was only with the people he lived with, he doesn't want to know, how he was outside of the house. But that information broke Harry. He and Malfoy never were good friends more along the lines of enemies. But to know that Fred, one of his good friends hooked up with Malfoy, the ferret, that was a bit much. "You and Malfoy … Malfoy … I can't believe it … He is a death eater." Harry accuses him.

"So is Snape." Sirius says offended for his lover. After the ultimatum and the rest of the family moving in with them, they learned that Dumbledore was killed by Snape on his own orders. That he was a good man, who wants to bring down the Dark Lord as much as them. They still don't know, about the relationship between Severus and Sirius. That secret would only get revealed after the war is over, after they had won. So he still calls him Snape around all the other family members, who don't know.

For a moment Harry wanted to say 'my point exactly' and then he remembered, everything Snape did to keep him save and that his dogfather loved him. He even gave up Sirius up; so that he could keep him save. No, he wasn't a bad person. But Malfoy wasn't Snape, not even in his best moments, if he would have such moments at all. "Okay, but we are talking about Malfoy here, he is a git."

"But a handsome one." Fred says.

Sirius agrees with it. "Yeah he gets that from Lucius."

Now the others look perplex and Harry had to ask. "Please don't tell me, you shagged him."

"Of course not, you may know that I don't have a gender preference. But one of my principles always was, never shag Slytherins. I broke that only once." The best thing he ever did in his live was to break this principle for Severus and that made him smile. "and even if Lucius Malfoy is a sight to behold, I didn't break the rules for him."

"Thank Merlin for that." Harry says. Snape was one thing, with which he still has his problems, but he sees how happy Sirius was after their last encounter. So he can learn to live with it and him. But Lucius Malfoy would be a much bigger fry to eat up.

Sirius ruffles the hair of his son and says. "I just admired him from afar."

"Nice to know, but what's up with the code phrases?" Sam asks them. That was the only conclusion for him, that it was a code.

"Always the smart one." Sirius praises his nephew, who blushes in return. He, like his brother is still not used to being praised by a parental figure. "With these phrases you get in a club called 'Desire' in Hogsmeade."

"Never heard of it." Harry says.

"You wouldn't have. It is a secret club after all. Only known to people, who know where to find it and know how to get in." Fred answers.

That reminded Sirius of something and he has to laugh. "Yeah that always was Lucius problem, he knew where to find the club, but I always got the parole changed so that he never could get in."

"Why?" Fred wants to know with a big smile on his face. It is hilarious to have one over on Lucius Malfoy.

"Simple, I didn't want any competition and he was the only one, who fell in that category. We were the two most favorite guys in school." Sirius answers proudly.

"So that he can't stop your conquests, you stopped his entry?" Dean asks with a smile. His uncle was something else. He sees some similarities between himself and him. Dean probably would have done something to his completion as well, would he have stayed at a school for more than a few weeks.

"What can I say, I may be a Gryffindor, but still have some Slytherin tendencies." he answers with a mischievous smile.

"Why is the club such a secret?" Harry wants to know.

"Like the name suggests you get there everything you desire."

"Such as?" he digs deeper. Sirius smiles a little to the naive ways of his son, because it should be clear to him what the aim of the club is.

"I would guess the motto of the hippies would be accurate with Sex, Drugs and rock'n'roll." Dean says with a smile. An interesting club, maybe he can visit some time. But then he remembers that he has a date with Jo today and it probably wouldn't be a good idea to visit, if he wants to know where his interest with that woman is going.

"And you found Malfoy, the ferret, there?" Harry says.

"Yeah we had a thing for some time, just sex, but you never can turn off the feeling completely, at least not me." Fred comes clean. They decided to keep it between them, because of their families and the damn feud between them, even if no-one nowadays knows why it started in the first place. After some time Fred fell for him, but with the whole Umbitch inquisitor thing during his last year, he took his blood purist ways to fare. Beside he already had caught up with the old crush on Hermione during the DA-Sessions.

"No he felt the same way." Sirius tells him seriously.

"Of course." Fred says dismissingly. He believes many things, but not that.

"No I am telling you the truth; he confessed it today under veritaserum."

"He took the potion on his own free will."

"No, of course not … I tricked him. I am a marauder after all." he tells him with a smile." So he confessed that he fell for you and that wasn't the only thing."

"What else did he say?" Sam wants to know, because he has the feeling that it is about his little sister.

"He also told me that he fancies Hermione since the first ride on the train."

"One hell of a way to showing her that, with constantly being insulted by him in front of the whole school." Harrys says with a snort.

"My reaction exactly." Sirius tells me. "But he had an image to maintain and he knew since she punched him in her third year that she was his betrothed. So he did it to keep him and her save."

"And you believe that?" Harry asks him.

Sirius doesn't know why, but he believes him. He saw the sincerity in his eyes and he believes in his husband. If one man can influence someone to stay on the right path by wearing a mask, than it would be his Sev. "Yeah I do."

"Why?" Harry was perplexed by that statement.

"I have a gut feeling and you can't lie under veritaserum." Sirius points out and hopes that his son will trust him.

"Meaning what?" Harry wants to know. He still isn't sold on the whole Malfoy is just playing a part to survive in this war thing, even if it is the Slytherin way to do things.

"Meaning I will let Fred and Hermione decide what they want to do?" was his answer.

"Why?" Fred asks him. He has the feeling that he is missing something important.

"He asked to set up a date, if you want to call it that, with you and Hermione."

"For what purpose?" That got Fred's attention. Why would his ex, who is the betrothed of his current partner, want to talk them together? He can't fandom an answer to that question.

"To court both, because he not only fancies Hermione, he still holds a torch for you."

Fred's conclusion is that Draco Malfoy wants to be in a triad with him and Hermione. But he can't believe it; he never ever made the impression that he had some kind of feelings for him. It always looked to him that Draco only wanted sex, nothing more. Not to get him wrong the sex was great, but it wasn't or isn't everything for Fred in a relationship. "Does Hermione know?" was his next question. She would play a huge factor in the whole thing, should Fred decide that he believes that Malfoys feelings were genuine and honorable.

"I informed her about it before I came to talk to you." Sirius tells him. "I believe she is thinking about It." he adds after some moments. It will be a quite interesting moment to see that discussion between him and his niece. He not only will learn that he is becoming a father of twins. Oh, what would Sirius give to be a fly on that wall to see it firsthand, how it will go, but it's probably for the best to let them handle it alone?

Instead of Fred it was Dean who voiced his thoughts. "Are you telling us, that this Malfoy wants to be in a relationship with Hermione and Fred … is that even legal?" he asks a little outraged. It isn't what he has pictured in the future for his little sister, a live with two men, her with one man is still too hard for him.

"Triads are accepted in the Wizarding World because they are very powerful in matters of magic." Fred answers for Sirius. Not that he would jump on board because of that factor. No first he has to think about it and then talk with the woman he loves.

Instead of talking about the topic Sirius turns to his nephew. His quick glance at the grandfather clock in the room told him the time. He asks Dean. "Shouldn't you go get ready?"

A short glance for him at the clock as well Dean him that his uncle is right. In only a little over half an hour he will pick up Jo for their date. But of course he can't or won't tell them that, so he asks him a counter question and hopes that it will work. "What do you mean?" he feels the eyes of all the others on him. The color red slowly creeps up on to his face, but he still plays it down like it was nothing. It always is better to deny everything than to simply confirm it.

Of course his uncle has other ideas. "For your date with Jo." he tells him matter-of-factly. The others are curious when and how it comes to this development. But all are on the same page that it was a long time coming.

Embarrassed and slightly nervous he asks him in a cool, calm tone. "How do you know about that?"

Sirius looks at him with a look as if he wants to say, who are you talking too. "There are not many things that happen in this house that I don't know of." That his niece had the possibility and the way to break his house rules of course was one of those things.

"As a word of advice bring her some Lilies." Harry said to show him that he shouldn't be embarrassed about his date with the beautiful blond. He waved his wand and transfigured a leaf from the near plant into beautiful, colorful lilies. He knows that Dean hasn't enough time to buy flowers.

All look at him surprised, while Dean asks. "Why?"

"They are her favorite flowers." he answers as he gives Dean the new flowers.

Dean takes it, but still asks. "How do you know that?" He was a little jealous that he didn't know that.

Now it was Harrys turn to be embarrassed as he answers. "We talked about my Mum and her family tradition of naming girls after flowers, because her name was Lily." he nervously scratches his head.

Now Dean was embarrassed, because of his jealousy and that thought that Harry could be interested in his Jo. But he simply wanted or maybe needed to talk to someone about his mother. Who like his own mother was dead, Dean nods and says. "Thank you."

Before they all could talk more Kreacher appears with a loud pop, beside Sirius. Even the wards Sirius put into place, won't let the other family members in, the house-elf still could, because his magic works on a different level. So of course it is not a problem for him to enter through Sirius wards. The creature turns to his hated master and says. "Miss Hermione sends me to tell you that the half-breed Lupin is on the run from his responsibilities, because he believed he cursed Miss Tonks." without waiting for an answer he disappeared again.

"That bloody wanker." Sirius curses loudly. "Sorry we have to cut this short." with that he took down his wards.

Before he can leave Harry asks him. "What is going on Dadfot?"

"Tonks is pregnant and Remi believes that he cursed her." with he left.

"Wow." he hears from the people he left in the room. What else is there to say? They all look at each other before they walk to their next adventure for today. There is never a dull day in the household of Grimmauld Place 12. Dean went to get ready for his date, while Fred made his way back into the lab to finish his work. Sam and Harry on the other hand head back to the library to finish their chess game and maybe talk more about magic.

It took Sirius only moments before he reaches the floo. In the exact moment he enters, Remi steps into the floo, before he can use the powder and say his destination, Sirius raises his wand and says. "Petrificus Totalus" As the spell hits Remus, he collapse like a stone statue with his hands and arms tightly together. For a moment he stays vertical, before he falls forward. His shocked eyes look accusingly at his best friend. 'Yeah get over yourself, desperate time need desperate measures' Sirius thought to himself. Before he points his wand at his best mate again and says. "Levicorpus" with that Sirius levitates Remi behind him into the now empty sitting room and lays him down on the couch. Then he erects wards, so that Remi can't get out. After he was done he cancels the spell on Remus.

His first reaction after he sits up on the couch was an outburst. "What the hell Sirius, let me go." he yells at him.

"Not going to happen." was Sirius answers as he calmly took a seat across from Remi with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Sirius I have to go. I turned Tonks into a society outcast." he said with an ill temper.

"And please tell him, how you did that?" Even if he knows what is coming, he knew the best way to reason with Remus is to inspire him to question himself and his actions.

"I got her pregnant!" was his answer.

"And running away is a good idea, how?"

Perplex Remus looks at his best friend while he thinks about the question. He knows running isn't the best option; it's the coward's way out. But he doesn't have many options to choose from. He is a werewolf, a person on the bottom of the society and now he dragged Tonks, the woman he loves dearly, down with him. On the top of that he got her pregnant with a child that could carry his curse. How could he have done that? He never should have got involved with her in the first place. But after his wolf side begged him for over a year to be with his mate, he didn't have any energy left to fight him anymore. Beside the human part of him, has fallen in love with her as well, but what now? "Siri, I am a werewolf and the child could be one too." he says defeated.

Sirius took a deep breath, because he knows that since he has sat down Remus, said friend made some progress in his head. But he still wasn't there, where Sirius needed and wanted him to be. "You know that is not true, because magic will keep the curse as you call it, at bay, so that it will not come out." Sirius starts with his arguments.

"But what if … there is a 90% chance for it to work. But only if the child will not be a squib." Remus counters.

Sirius shakes his head as he says. "Tonks and you are not related and you are a half-bloods, the change that your son will be a squib doesn't exist."

That is true. Remus knows that, but it doesn't take away his anxiety. He is a monster, how can he be a father? He doesn't have an answer for that question. "She would be an outlaw, because of me." Remus points out.

Instead of reacting to that statement, Sirius asks him a completely different question. "Do you love her?" He needs his best friend to face his feelings for the witch.

The question took him off guard, but the answer was an easy one. "Yes, of course. I love her, she is my mate." Wow that was a surprise to Sirius. Remus never told him that before. The two of them are made for each other and he will do everything he can to help them in matters of the society.

"And then you want to leave her. As far as I know you will die without your mate by your side after you have found her." Sirius points out, because he can't understand his best friend low self-esteem.

"It would be better this way." Remus answers seriously.

"Unbelievable." Sirius yells, jumps up and steps into Remus personal space. "I say it only once you big headed arsehole, this world is a better place with you in it. If you say that again, I will kick your ass seven ways till Sunday." His face was hard and unforgiving. Remus knows this face; he always receives that look, when he talks bad about himself. Sirius was his best friend for a reason; he always could knock some sense into him. He knows that Sirius is right. Should he go, he will lose his life force and with it his will to live. Instead of answering verbally, he simply nods. "Good that we understand us … Now what will you about the situation?"

Remus sighs. "I don't know, but getting married would be a good idea." Not that he has a problem with marriage or didn't love Tonks. But as a werewolf marriage wasn't in the cards for him, there a regulations in the Ministry, it is against the law.

"That is not really a love song. I accepted more from you." Sirius says sarcastically.

"You don't have a problem with me wanting to marry her." he asks him perplex. Even if he is his best friend since school, it isn't that simple anymore. Many things have changed since school. His best friend being Lord Black now is the most significant of all of them.

"Why should I, you are my best friend." he tells him, but he knows where he is going with all of this.

"Yeah I know, but you are also the Head of the House of Black." he points out the obvious.

"Really, I almost forgot … what do you want to say with that." was Sirius sarcastic answer. Everything he can forget, but not that. Originally he didn't want this role in the first place, but sometimes your hand is forced in matters you can't control. Faith decides for you.

"Yeah and with that you are wizarding royalty" Sirius really should know where he is going with his point. Remus knows his best friend isn't dumb, he only plays dumb. But he spells it out for him nevertheless. "and I am a werewolf."

Instead of making another sarcastic statement, Sirius points out an important fact. "And I can care less, about that. Yes you are right we are almost royalty and as such we have power. As I told the kids over and over again in the last time … After this war is over we are going to change the wizarding world and that includes the werewolf's laws."

"Are you serious … don't make a joke about this." Remus says in a hard voice.

"Absolutely and I know the perfect witch for the job." Sirius says with a wide smirk. Even if he hasn't told his best mate the whole plan, he is smart enough to figure it out on his own.

"You are planning to give Hermione the family seat in the Wizengamot." Remus points out.

"You bet I am …. can you picture me with the snots in one room and not wanting to kill them." Sirius is sure that he wouldn't survive one session without taking out his wand and pointing it at some snobbish old lords.

"Good point."

"I have my moments … So what are you going to do now?"

Remus turns to his friend and declares with a smile. "I think I have a witch to woo, but first I probably should apologize for my behavior."

"Good answer. Now go get your witch." with that Sirius takes down his wards to let him and Remus walk out of the living room. Before he can leave the room, Sirius yells after him. "By the way I call tips on being godfather."

"We will see, Pads, we will see."

Just like that the crisis is averted and everyone is happy. Being the Head of the house can be tiring, but for this family, all the members in this house, he can't complain much. He loves them all very much and he will do everything for and with them.

Let's see what happens next. The date between Dean and Jo probably will be not the last, if his nephew plays his cards right. He only has to accept his feelings first. According to Sam not something that happens often, so Sirius can only wait and see. He also knows the next event would be Hermione telling Fred about the twin girls. Only time will tell if there will be a crisis or not. Sirius hopes not. So he made his way to the library to somehow relax by reading a book before dinner.

Dean was ready in good time with 10 minutes to spear to being nervous. He never was the date a woman kind of guy. Normally he picks them up at a bar or diner and then they would do the horizontal tango, nothing more and nothing less. But today or better tonight is a first for him and he is panicked, about what will happen and how it will go? He doesn't want to blow it, not with Jo. She deserves better than that, so he decides not to make a move for his usual play, but hopes at least for a kiss.

It depends on the date and if she likes what Dean has planned. The planning on such a short notice in a city where you only live for just some short months, but didn't visit that much, doesn't make it easy. So he kept it simple, only dinner some block away in the little Indian restaurant they have ordered some take away for the family nights and then maybe a short walk in the night through the nearby park. They will take the Impala to drive there. He really hopes that she will like it.

Five minutes before it was time to pick her up, Dean took one last look into the mirror, satisfied with what he sees; he walks away with his trademark smirk. He takes the flowers; Harry transfigured for him and went to her room. At her door he knocks one time and waits for her to open. It took her only moments before the door opens. He is speechless for a moment; she wears a simple red dress, which hugs her in all the right places. Her hair is up in a nice braid and she put on some make up. Not that she needs it; she is beautiful without it to him. After some moments, he finds his voice again and says. "You look beautiful Jo."

She smiles and answers. "Thank you, you don't look so bad yourself." than she sees the flowers in his hand and asks. "Are those for me?" The sight of her let him forget the flowers he was holding. He nods his head and hands them to her. She smells them for a moment and smiles, she doesn't know how he knows that they were her favorite flowers, but she doesn't care. It is the thought that counts. But she can't take them with them, so she says. "I am right back." With that she put them in her room, before she steps out into the corridor with him.

"Come on lets go." with that he offers her his arm and she takes it. He leads her to the garage; two floors form the floor with her room. Dean was happy that they didn't meet anyone from the family, while walking down the stairs. As they reach Baby he opens the door for her and lets her get in. He closes the door behind her and walks around the car to the driver side. As he got in, Jo had a good look around. Surprisingly she found something, she never would have guessed to find, at least not in his car. She knows to whom this bra belongs too, because she gifted it to her. But she is sure that Hermione doesn't want that her brother learns what she did in his car. But she wants to tease him a bit. So she holds up the pink bra and says. "Something you wanna tell me, about your last past time?"

His face was hilarious; he looked like a deer in headlights. The panic war readable across his face, he knows that. But he also knows that he needs to make clear that he didn't know where this bra is coming from. For the first time in his life, he can't remember ever to have seen that particular bra. But it is clear to Dean, that he will have a serious talk with his brother about what is allowed in his Baby and what not. "Jo you have to believe me that I don't know where this bra is coming from." he tells her seriously.

For a short moment she lets him hanging before she breaks out laughing and says. "It's okay Dean." Considering it is the bra of their little sister. "I know that you are not a monk, but it would be nice that you wouldn't stray from whatever this is." she really want to be exclusive, but she isn't the deciding factor.

Dean turns his body to her, so he can face her completely and she sees that he means it, before he tells her. "Jo I don't know where this will end, but I promise you that I will not disappoint you by being unfaithful." He really means it. He never was the cheating guy; he never dated more than one girl or whatever you want to call it, what he did. He is a womanizer yes, but an honest and honorable one.

In his eyes she reads that he means every word of it. That warms her heart. So she throws the bra over her shoulder and says. "Come on I am hungry."

"Everything the lady wishes." With that he turns back to the wheel, activates the ignition and drives away to the restaurant. The drive was short and they didn't talk much. Why do you need something to talk about if you can sit with the person you are interested in, in silence without problems? It wasn't uncomfortable and it even helped Dean to lose his nervousness. All it took was Jos presence beside him, she calms him and until now he didn't notice it. He likes to be in her presence. From the corner of his eyes he looks at her. She looks good in his car, like she belongs there.

Jo as well liked the nice silence time with him, especially because Dean didn't try to bring any of his drunk pick-up lines. Not that she would have thought he would do that, but you never know. It also was nice to know that they don't have the urge to fill the silence, because you don't always need to talk to be happy together.

Dean parked the car in walking distance to the restaurant and killed the engine. He hurried himself out of the car, so that he could help her getting out. He maybe not the typical gentleman, but with her he wants to try things he hasn't done before and be a better man. The date with only a kiss at the end of it is the best example for it.

After he helped her out of the car, he held out his arm for her to led her to their destination. She took it and they were on their way. In only moments they reached their goal and again Dean tries to be a gentleman. He opens the door and holds it for her to let her enter first. She has to smile at his antics as she walks in, he really tries to make this different than everything else before and she can appreciate that.

The reach the hostess, a blonde woman, with blue eyes and a way to tight top with which she shows too much of her cleavage. "Welcome to Havelis, what can we do for you?" she says with a smile, which of course was only for Dean. She adores him and completely ignores Jo, whom is on his arm again after he entered behind her. But that doesn't stop the bimbo to flirt with Dean. Or at least she tried. Different to what Jo believed would happen, Dean ignores the forwardness of the blond and concentrates on Jo.

"A table for two, please." Deans says without acknowledging her further. He of course registers that the blond tries to flirt with him. But he is on a date with Jo, a blond woman as well, but in his eyes the more beautiful one of the both of them. So why should he flirt with someone else besides Jo. Considering she is the woman he is interested in.

After some moments of unsuccessfully betting her eyelashes at him, she sighs. "Follow me." With that she turns around. But wasn't ready to give up, as she shakes her hips suggestively from one side to the other for Dean to watch. Of course it didn't work either.

They reach the table in the back. The restaurant was small and cozy. Form the looks of it; it was a hotspot for couples. On other tables more couples were sitting together and have a great time. Dean prepared the seat for Jo to sit down and gave her a kiss on the cheek as she sat, that finally gave the hostess the information that he wasn't interested in her. Why should he if he is with the woman, who plagued his thoughts for the last month on their first date? So the hostess storms away like she was stung by a bee. While Dean chuckles and thought, 'sorry but you don't have a game with me'.

Jo registers his chuckling as he sits down. "You enjoyed that." She doesn't mean the flirting, but the ignoring part and he knows it.

"Why would I not I didn't anchorage her to flirt with me. It is her own problem if she is to slow and didn't get that I am not interested." he tells her as the waitress comes and gives them the menus.

They start to decide what they want to eat. "And you really aren't interested in her?" Jo asks him while she skims the menu.

Dean looks up from his menu at her and sees that she is slightly nervous to hear his answer, as she tries to hide herself behind the menu. Kind of sweet, but he hates to see Jo the fierce, independent women insecure and he wants to change that. He takes her menu out of her hands and made her look him into the eyes, so that he has her complete attention. "Jo, I am here with you and compared to her you are smart, beautiful, funny and can kick my ass seven ways till Sunday. You are different than the rest of the woman I met before and I like that." he tells her with a smile.

In his eyes she sees that he means every last word of it. She nods with a smile and as the waitress comes they order. The conversation flowed easily between them, they talked about family, life, hunting as censored as possible, they are in public after all. They laughed and had fun together, like never before with a person of the other gender, who wasn't family. The chemistry is simply right between them.

After the entertaining dinner, Dean pays and together they step out of the restaurant. "Do you want to go for a walk?"

"Sound nice." Exactly the answer he wanted to hear, so he takes her hand and intertwines their fingers. A warm feeling spread through both of them as they walk hand-in-hand to the park nearby. They enter the park. It was a nice autumn night. Surprisingly with no cloud in the sky, so they could see the stars. The wind slightly picks up and despite her wearing a jacket she shivers a bit.

He feels it and he brings her closer to his body as he puts his arm around her. "Better?" he asks her. She nods and leans her head on his shoulder. It feels nice to have her in his arms, like she belonged there. Maybe she did, like she did in Baby. "I hope you had fun tonight?" he asks her nervous.

"Yeah, it was nice … I hope you liked it too."

He smiles. "I got the chance to hold you in my arms." he tells her sincerely. He may not be the dating kind of guy, but he knows how to flirt and charm a woman. The only difference is he means it this time and doesn't want a reward beside maybe a kiss or it.

"That doesn't mean that you will get lucky tonight." she tells him simply. She knows him like he knows himself and he has to smile at that.

"I didn't expect to." he tells her.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I told myself that I don't want to put you in that kind of cluster, like other girls. You are different."

"How?" she asks him.

He sighs. Not that he is Mr. Chick Flick, but here with her, he wants to tell her, how he feels. "You are not the girl you take home for a one-night-stand. You deserve better, you deserve to be treated like a princess." he stops so he can look at her. "I don't know if I can do that so that feel that way, but I will try." His tone is sincere, serious and for the first time with a woman he let his mask fall. So that she can see all his emotions in his eyes.

Jo was a little shocked to see all the emotions on his face. As clear as day she could see his devotions, affection, nervousness and many more, she would have never guessed that he would feel so much for her. Even if she hoped for it, every time she looked at him. She no longer can resist him, so she leans forward and before he knew what happened, she kissed him. For a moment he was shocked, before he kisses her back and brings her nearer to him while he does so. She feels like heaven and her lips are so soft. After some moments she lets him in and their kiss gets heated and passionate.

They break apart for air and Dean could feel Jo shiver again, because of the cold. He brings her closer to warm her up a bit more with his body as well as to rub her arms. The connected their foreheads and look into each other eyes. This moment changed them, they don't want to get back to being alone and Dean hopes that she will have him for a long time, because he doesn't know if he would survive without her. The kiss awoke something in him that he never knew was possible and that maybe could be love. Jo feels the same way.

After some moments of silently gazing into each others eyes, Dean says. "Come on lets go home."

Even if it is cold and they are on the way to the car they walk slowly, hand-in-hand. Both of them don't want the date to end, but all things have to end sometime. They reach the car faster than expected, but get in nevertheless and drive home. After a short drive they are back in the garage of the house. Before they get out, Dean turns to Jo and asks. "Jo do want to go out again?"

She smiles at him and says. "Absolutely." with that Dean kisses her again. That leads to a heavy make out session in his car. The windows fog over and some moments later Dean has to stop himself, because if he doesn't stop now, he will get carried away and he doesn't want that. Not now, not with her and certainly not after their first date.

So with some effort on his own accord he carefully breaks the kiss and looks at her. "Jo we have to stop, because even if I don't want to stop. I don't want just a night, I want everything with you." He tells her seriously. She looks at him with a smile on her face and her happiness was so infectious that he had to kiss her again.

After a short passionate moment, they got out of the car. Hand-in-hand they walk to her door, where they kiss good night, before they break apart for the night. With a smile and hopes for more, they go to sleep that night. They are simply happy, about what can become of them.

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