I don't own SPN or Harry Potter.
Chapter 13 – about hope
New Year's Eve came and went and soon the first week of the New Year was over. The inhabitants of Grimmauld Place stuck to what they were used to in the old year. The only new elements in the New Year are that the new people, who were currently staying, started to train with the rest of the house. Because what else is there to do, when confined to a house, no Manor needs to be taken care of, no business has to be run and no social event was possible to attend without being in danger, so they to adept and training was a big part of it.
But today would be very stressful at least for Sirius. He had a very important meeting to go to. On the one hand he was looking forward to it, but on the other hand he dreaded the meeting. He knew that he will get an earful of scowling, because of his recklessness. Sirius may be a Black and the temper of that family is legendary. But never underestimate a serious pissed off, no pun intended, Severus Snape. A man, who can put all his anger in on word, hell even one glance and it felt like you were hit by lightning.
To skip the meeting wouldn't end well for him either, because it only would fuel Sev's anger more. But more importantly Sirius would receive the cold shoulder from his lover for a very long time, which means no talking, no sex, no anything. If someone can hold a grudge it was Severus Snape. So Sirius accepted his faith, got ready and apparate way to their cottage. Even if he still was early, the wards tell him that his love is already here. "Oh Merlin."
With a deep breath and courage, because let's not forget he is a Gryffindor after all, he walks to the door, which opens without hesitation. It is never a good idea to show your fear in the face of a danger that can seriously backfire. As soon as he steps over the threshold he sees Sev sitting on the chair in the living room with his hand in his lap, his feet intersect. To everyone else he would look calm and steady, his typical dungeon bat self, but Sirius knew that he was faming on the inside. Not only because of their bond and the shared feeling, does he know that, but because of his eyes. They were like a storm at the moment. Who ever said that eyes are the window to the soul was right at least in Severus Snape's case.
Instead of greeting him, which wouldn't end well for him Sirius silently took place on the couch and waited. He didn't have to wait long for the lecture; Sev never disappoints to deliver at least normally. This time however he played the silent game. Seconds become minutes and after 10 minutes silently staring in each other's eyes, Sirius had enough. His patient was running thin; especially because this behavior scared him it wasn't Sevs habit to act this way. "Can you start with the lecture already? It is driving me bonkers to wait for the fight that will follow." he says in a huff.
Severus just snorted and said nothing more. He just stared at him. Before Sirius got to the cottage he was shaken and nervous. But Sevs habit is getting to him and he doesn't know if he is doing it on purpose, but he doesn't care, because if he doesn't stop, Sirius will burst. All he wants is to get a reaction out of his husband. "Do you have nothing to say?" But Sev didn't react; he didn't even look at him. So Sirius let his Black temper take over, gets up, picks the nearest vase and smashed it against the wall behind his lover. To get him to react in any way, but the fucker didn't even flinch. He was sitting there like a fucking statue and Sirius anger is bowling.
That is what Sev wants. He wants him angry, so that they are on the same level and he can't feel guilty for being too hard or better to cruel to him. A fucked up way to set an argument, because that will follow for sure, but wouldn't he do that, he wouldn't let everything he has to say out and they would solve nothing. To get him angry, he only has to push his buttons and if someone knows, what buttons to push it would be him. For just a moment longer he waits, before he says in a sarcastic way. "I would lecture you if I would think it would have an effect, but talking to a wall is fruit fuller than that." His tone was calm, but on the inside he was furious with him.
Never one to disappoint and not to react to an insult in kind, Sirius spits back. "I probably would listen if you would lose the stick in your ass." Before Sev could answer Sirius has to add an intendo, because that is who he is. He doesn't take himself too serious. "Although I like to put a stick there." he smirks, but it didn't reach his eyes. It wasn't just a way to be funny, but to aggravate him further. Severus wasn't the only one who knows what buttons to push.
"A classic Sirius black move. How mature. But I forgot I am dealing with a horny teenager." was Sevs calm answer in a hard voice. He has so much more to say to the flippancy of his husband, but he knows he would just make a joke about his stupid name and that would lead to more anger on Sevs part
"Better a horny teenager then a stuck up like you." The whole situation feels frustrating, like a déjà vu. It reminded Sirius of a different discussion with Sev during 5th year. It was after the incident with the Whomping Willow and a wayward werewolf on the loose. James had to save the day, but it also brought to light that Sirius Black and Severus Snape were soulmates. Both fought it and each other with the same arguments they use now. Some things apparently don't change.
That argument brought Sev to his feet as he got up directly into Sirius personal space. Their noses were almost touching. "At least I am not a reckless asshole like you and think about consequences before I act. Just like with Peter and getting thrown into Azkaban. We both know what good that did." Every word was spoken with as much anger as Sev could muster, but as soon as those words were out of his mouth he regretted them, but the damage was already done.
That was like a slap to Sirius. Normally he would leash out, would it have been someone else and hit the person. But he never was violent with Sev after he learned that he was his soulmate and what he had endured in his childhood. It was like faith wanted to make a point in telling him to never bully someone for any reason, because you never know the reason for the circumstances. Since that time he always was gently with Sev and never violent. So he balled his fist, so that his knuckles turned white and turns around. He needs to leave, before he does or says anything that he would regret later. It was unbelievable to him that Sev would use their lost child as a way to hurt him and Merlin did it hurt.
At the same time Sirius turns around, he shuts down every feeling for Sev and keeps his end of the bond closed off. The loss of the connection to Sirius motivates Sev to do something, because he feels like he could lose the love of his live in that moment. He isn't sure if Sirius ever will come back to him, to them, if he leaves now. So he steps to Sirius side, puts his hand on his shoulder to turn him around again, but Sirius shrugs it off and still walks to the door.
Never would have Sirius foreseen Sev next move. He feels as Sev takes hold of his hand and hears as he falls to the floor. "Sirius please stop." he says pleadingly. Sev probably looks imbecile, but he doesn't care anymore. Sirius is everything to him and losing him, because some ill placed words said in anger, make him desperate. "I am sorry, please forgive me."
The pleading whisper stops Sirius in his tracks and he turns around to his husband. He can see the sincerity in his eyes that he didn't want to say those words and didn't want to hurt him on purpose. But that doesn't change the fact that he hurt him. "Why?" he whispers. "Why do you say that?" He pulls on the collar of his shirt to show him his chest. "I may like or love tattoos, but a forget-me-nod over the over the heart would normally to girly for me." He shows him his little reminder of a tattoo. "But with the meaning of what I have to remember I gladly put it on my chest. This stands for our child." He points at it. "So that I never forget that."
Tears were running down Severus cheeks. He saw the tattoo many times, but he never knew what it stood for. To know that Sirius inked their child over his heart to never forget makes his statement ten times worse. He hopes that his smart mouth didn't destroy the best thing in his life. Without him Sev was nothing and would step in front of an Avada on his own will.
Even if Sev couldn't feel Sirius, he still could feel him. To feel the self-hate from his lover tells him what he is thinking and it made his knees buckle. So that he falls to his side on the floor. "Please don't think such a thing Sev." he tells him as he makes Sev look him into the eyes. Sirius may be pissed to no-end and disappointed in him, but he loved the tosser with all his heart and can't see him in pain.
"I am sorry, Siri, but I was so angry, because of your recklessness. First you visit Godrics Hollow of all places and then you stood in front of the Dark Lord with such defiance. No-one has ever done that. He could have killed you in front of my eyes. Not something I want to witness, because I can't stop it." Severus tells him in whisper between the sobs.
"I know Baby." because he feels like losing him every time a Cruciatus Curse was cast at him during a meeting with this moronic being "But it still hurt." Sev ties to say something but Sirius stops him with a finger on his lips, because he wasn't done. "I know that my recklessness cost both of us much … but going to Godrics Hollow wasn't that bad. We had a plan. I would never put my grandchildren in danger on purpose."
For a moment Sev looks at him perplexed, before he asks. "Grandchildren?" What the hell did he miss?
Sirius smiles. "Yeah Fred knocked Hermione up. They are expecting twin girls." He tells him happy like the proud grandfather he feels.
"I am going to kill him." was Sevs reaction. Hermione was way too young to become a mother. Not considering the fact that he has endangered her more, because of that.
There is the husband Sirius loves. The one protective of his family with his own way of caring. In matters of mother henning he can be as bad as Dean if he wants to. "Sev I know what you are thinking, but it happened and we have to deal with it. Considering they married before Christmas is part of life and that things can change in an instant."
Sev sighs another event he couldn't be part of, because of this damn war. He missed it, all the important events of his family. Was he even still part of it? He hates to be insecure, but he only let's all his barriers go with his love. He needs to know. "Are you going to leave?" me he adds silently.
Even if Sirius still is hurt and pissed at him, he can't resist kissing him. His lips were on his in seconds to convey all the feelings he has for him, even the bad ones, of course there a more good ones than bad ones. It didn't take Sev long to participate as well. After a good snog Sirius breaks apart, connects their foreheads and says. "Baby I may be pissed and angered, but I can't ever leave you." He takes one of Sevs hands and puts it over his heart as he tells him. "You are in here … so deep that it sometimes hurts, but that only means for me that you love me as well."
"I do. I love you and I am sorry."
"I know." with that Sirius open his arms to invite Sev in and he sees it at what it is, not forgive and forget, but a promise to be together and work it out together no matter what. Sev falls in Sirius arms. They hold each other for a long time both silently crying. Not only because of the fight, but because of the child they lost as well. Until now they never grieved it, at least not together and to say a burden shared is a burden halved is true. This will make them stronger.
After a while Sev has to ask him. "Why were you in Godrics hollow in the first place?"
"OUR godson wanted to visit the graves of his parents. He never has seen their graves."
"What?" Sev asks perplex. How could Petunia do this? Another point on his ever growing list of offenses against his godson by her. He couldn't be there for him while he grew up, but he will now. As soon as this war is over he will visit Petunia and her husband. They have much to answer for. Even if they don't like magic, it isn't a way to treat someone at least not a child. As an abused child himself he knows how Harry must have felt growing up with them.
As if he could read his mind Sirius tells him. "No worries they will not know what hit them, after we are done with them. I am sure that Hermione and especially Sam would give them a piece of their minds as well."
"Why Sam?" Sev wants to know, because he can understand Hermione's feelings. She sees him like a brother and would do everything to keep him save.
"Turns out Sam and Harry are soulmates … like us." he tells him.
"Damn." he means it not in a bad way, but more around the lines of what else did I miss.
Of course Sirius knows his lover like the back of his hand, even after more over a decade apart. "Let's see Remi and Tonks are pregnant as well."
"Wow I bet Remi wasn't pleased about it"
"You know how he is."
"Let me guess he wanted to run, because he believed he cursed her." Sev concluded.
"Bingo. As a reward …" with that Sirius gives his love a sweet kiss.
He continues with all the happenings after a short moment of kissing. "Besides the pregnancy of Hermione, Draco declared that he wants to be in a triad with her and Fred."
"Seriously … and don't say it." Sev warns him.
Sirius chuckles, he knows how much Sev hates his jokes about his own name. "Yeah and from the looks of it they want to see where it goes at the moment."
"So the Malfoys are at your home at the moment." Sev concludes. It was uther chaos after the Dark Lord learned about the flight of the Malfoys, both of them. As the wards fell down, because no Malfoy saw the Manor as home anymore they almost were kicked out of the building. But before that could happen the Dark Lord destroyed the existing ward stone and created a new one.
"Yeah, you can say that the atmosphere at home is a little tense at the moment." was Sirius answer to that. What else can he say besides that a family can be exhausting, especially because if you don't choose the members. You have to work with what you have and make the best of it.
"Let me guess it is Lucius?" Sev knew the blond can be a handful especially if he wanted to be and in a home full of Gryffindor's he sees it as his responsibility as a Slytherin to be just that.
"And Harry … and the twins, even if they just prank him for fun. At least we had a good laugh the other morning as his beautiful blond hair turned pink during breakfast." Sirius answers with a smile and he sends Sev a mental picture of the incident. For that he simply lets his occlumency shields down. He only does that with Sev and nobody else. The own mind is a sanctuary and it has to stay that way. The picture in his mind about that made Sev laugh hard like he hadn't done in a long while.
They laugh for a short moment and marvel in the feeling of being carefree for some time, even if it just that a moment. But they are at war after all. Still it was refreshing, energizing and it gave them perspective again. Those moments in the arms of the love of their lives is the reason to fight, because they are worthy of happiness. Like everyone else in the wizarding and muggle world. But they still have some steps to go before they reach that goal. "So tell me what happened after the great escape?" Sirius asks him in a joking manner to lift the tension, because of the topic a bit.
Sev sets up to look him into his beautiful grey eyes, even if still wants to be in his arms, now needs some space for his answers. Now they war informants and not lovers, like they would be later. Now it was time to change out information's. "I don't know how you did it, but we felt it, the almost attacked, after the Malfoys were gone. But he destroyed the ward stone before that could happen … To say that he was angry would be the understatement of the century, Merlin even the millennia. I have never seen him this furious … There in front all of us he killed two of his followers." Sirius looks hopeful at him, but of course he will be disappointed. "Be serious." Sev holds his hands up to stop him before he can say it. "He would never kill Bellatrix he loves her service way to much." he emphasizes the statement with a raised eyebrow.
"No way." Bellatrix and Voldemort only the thought makes Sirius vomet. That must be the ugliest couple of the decade, of the century even. Not a mental picture he wants, so he shakes his head and pleads with Sev to obliviate him, but of course he would butch, if he has to suffer so must Sirius. So he simple prompt him to go on with his report.
"Rodolphus on the other hand yes, but you already did that." Sev tells him. He didn't know if Sirius knows that they killed the man during the fight.
"Really?" Sirius asks.
"Yeah, he was found two days ago in his Manor by the mourning widow." the statement was sarcasm pure. "Funnily enough a bullet of a muggle gun killed him or at least the poison on it. You don't know anything about that?" Sev asks him smirking.
"Nope." Sirius tries to sound convincing, but failed as he burst out laughing. The barking laughter was infective like always and Sev was laughing alongside him. The picture of Bellatrix Lestrange finding her husband killed by muggle means simply was priceless to them. Dean's idea with the poisoned bullets was genius. "Never underestimate a hunter." Sirius tells his love with a smile.
That sobered Sev. "Dean and Sam are hunters?"
"Yeah." Sirius sees the shock in Sevs face. No wonder hunters are feared and hunted in the wizarding world.
But Sev and his smart mind was working on a problem. "You know when the Ministry finds out we have some serious problems."
"I am working on it and don't forget I am Lord Black raise the next Lord Potter and Lord Malfoys owes me one, that are three important seats in the Wizengamot. Connecting the alliances of the light, the dark and the grey families." So true, Sev has to give him that. "Besides we bring American hunters, who are sanctioned by the MACUSA to fight in the final battle with us and that …"
"should give us leverage to influence the Wizengamot to accept hunters, because they helped us to win the war."
"Yepp."
"That can backfire." Sev points out as always he is the pessimist, the opposite of Sirius, who always is the optimist. They balance each other out.
"I know, but we don't have many choices to pick from in matters of increasing our troops."
"Ok then."
"Back to Tom." Sirius brings them back on track.
"After the kills he was still pissed so he used his Cruciatus on me, because of you, and Rowle, especially because he couldn't save Dolohov, who by the way is death as well."
"How?" Sirius wants to know.
"Sectumsempra." As inventor of that curse he hates that is used this way. Even if he created it for enemies and to hurt them, at that time his enemies were the marauders and with it Sirius. After the soulmate thing he never wanted to hurt him and would never use that curse on him. But he is also the only one, who knows the counter curse. So Dolohov's life was forfeit as he was hit with it.
Sirius can't remember that someone used that curse. He even wasn't aware that they knew it. It was one of Sevs own, so nobody should know about it. His question must have been written all over his face as Sev declared. "It must have been Harry; he found my old potion book last year. There he read the curse and tried it on Draco later in the same year."
"He did what?" Sirius was outraged that his son would use such a violent curse and that without knowing which effect the curse would have. He has to talk to him about such recklessness behavior funning coming from him. Without letting him know, that the use of the curse hit his mark and killed his victim. Sirius knows that his son still struggles with killing Quirrell, even after he told him that because of the possession the host was dead beforehand.
Sev sees that Sirius isn't pleased that Harry used that curse and probably will talk to him about it. But he shouldn't be so hard on him. They both were hot heads as well in their youths. Not that it changed much. "Don't be too hard on him."
"I will try, but he needs to know that using a curse you don't know is a bad idea." In Sev eyes Sirius can read that he isn't pleased with it as well, but Harry still is a teenage boy and they do all kinds of dumb ideas. Sirius knows that, but safety is still a good idea. It is funny that in matters of Harry, when they are alone and Sev doesn't have to play a role, he always is the one, who doesn't want to be too hard on him, probably because of his actions in public and school. The war really needs to be over so that he can treat Harry like he wants and not like he has to. "This means two of the inner circle are death?" Sirius changes the topic and wants to clarify some things.
"Yes." was Sevs short answer.
"Is there something else this whole adventure or mess brought to light?" Sirius asks his husband.
After a moment of thinking he found something that overlooked until now. He doesn't know why, but his magic is telling him to give the information to Sirius, because it is important. "Now that you ask, the Dark Lord has the tendency to muttered something to oneself when he is pissed. Normally it is nothing, but this time he asked himself repeatly could they know my secret' I don't know which secret he means, but he looked in my mind for an answer." Good that Sev doesn't know about it, not in full at least. But it is not so good that he probably is on to them. They are still aren't a step closer to destroy the one they have, nor to find another one. "Of course he found nothing, because I don't know much. Later he asked Bella about her vault in a hushed conversation, which I didn't hear of course." Sev smiled like a cat, which got a canary and send him a wink. "She ensured him that IT, whatever it is, save is."
Could it be that one of the Horcrux is at Gringotts, Sirius asks himself. That would be some serious information, but Sirius masked his features so that he didn't give away that Sev helped him somehow immensely. Not he don't trust Sev, but he has to keep him save should the Dark Lord in a moment of his weakness break through his accumbency shields. He hates it, but it has to be done, if they want to win this war. "Okay." was Sirius short answer, because of this. "But shouldn't be Gringotts under his control now?" Sirius asks after a moment. This way it looks like he has something to say to the topic and gets information from Sev without asking him directly. He never knew that he would us his Slytherin heritage this way.
"Only partly, because the Goblins don't let him anywhere near the gold, he just has influence on the security." Sev answers.
That is good and bad at the same time. Good, because he still can talk to his account manager without Voldemort's interference. But bead because should a part of his soul be in the bank would it be hard to get in without Voldemort knowing that they were breaking in. That would lead to him figuring out, what they are doing even if they would raid more than just that one particular vault. Even with his Lord status can't he get entrance to the vault, because of the family connection, because he banned them from the family? Damn it, they definitely have to break in. So they need a plan, a good one at that. "That sounds like the goblins." Sirius answers.
"Yeah, but he still is pissed about it. But he ignores it for now and concentrates on winning this war, before he fights the goblin nation." Sev tells him.
"Let's hope it will not come to that and just stay a dream that the light wins."
"Yeah."
"Did he give you a hard time, because I outed him that he is not as powerful as he wants to be seen?" Sirius wants to know. He would hate it if he had blown Sevs cover. Even if he didn't learned that information from him, the Dark Lord don't has to believe that if he doesn't want to.
"Just the usual. He used Legilimency on me, while he questioned me on my loyalties."
"And?"
"I showed him the memory we created for that purpose the last time we saw each other."
"You mean the fight we had after we had sex. Where I needed some time to catch on what you were doing?" Sirius asks him. In the beginning Sirius didn't know why they were fighting. It was so sudden and they were actually quite relaxed. It literally came out of nowhere. But after some pointed arguments for the Dark Lords cause, which Sev doesn't believe in, Sirius was given a direction without tell him what to do. He played his part even, if he hates to fight with his love, but sometimes things are necessary, like at that time.
"Yes." Sev answer with a big smile. That answers Sirius unasked question if it worked. The Dark Lord must have eaten it up like a good delicious dessert.
"Good. So he thinks that you still are on his side?" Sirius asks further.
"Yeah." he answers, but after some moments he asks something completely different. "How is training coming?"
"Very good. That is probably a good thing about the Malfoys living with us. They joined us during training mostly dueling, but Draco decided he wants to become a animagus. That leaded to jokes from everyone, who knew about Moody's attack on him, that he probably would turn into a ferret." Sirius says with a smile.
Sev outright laughs about that, he had seen his godson as a ferret and he looked good. But that it would be his spirit animal is really slim, but nevertheless funny. "How are the others doing?"
"Good, really good, Hermione and Sam transformed completely now. They want to be with Rem on the next full moon. The twins are not far behind, but they have problems transforming back. I had to transform them back four times now. Dean still needs time, his transformation is only half way. Harry on the other hand can't visualize to transform, because as a snake."
"He is a snake?" Sirius interrupts him shocked.
"Yeah he was shocked as well. But because of that he has problems to let go of his arms and feet."
"Okay, but all in all Remus pack is growing bigger." Sevs says with a smile. He was part of the pack as well.
"It looks that way."
"Do they have names yet?" Sev hopes that they have a chance to choose for themselves, but if he knows his love like he think he does, then the honor will fall to Sirius or at least he declare it his honor to give them names
"No, but I have some ideas about it."
"Do you have to? Your nicknames are not good, you just find them hilarious."
"Hey I thought you loved Poe." Sirius says with mock hurt.
"Not really."
"But it fits." Sirius tries to argue.
"If you wanted to go in that direction. I have to tell you Nevermore would have been better." that was an ongoing argument between them. Not that it would change a thing, because since Sirius declared his nickname as Poe it stuck. Not matter what he did.
"That depends on the point of view, but enough of this. Do you have to leave?"
"Not that I know of at the moment."
"Good." with that Sirius gets up and took hold of Sevs hand, pulled him into a standing position with it. "Come on I am tired. Let's get to bed."
Before Sirius can walk away into the direction of their bedroom Sev stops him. Sirius turns around and looks at him with his full attention on him he says. "I love you Siri."
"I know, I love you too." was Sirius answer and then he kisses him. With all the love he can muster. He simply only wants to tell him that, but let him feel his love as well. They break apart after some moments and Sirius connects their foreheads. They stare in each other's eyes for the moment. Clear and open to see was the love they have for the other in those eyes.
Without another word they walk to their bedroom. At the moment all that matters are the both of them. Tomorrow thy can concentrate on the faith of the world again. But now they have other things on their mind. Cuddling with each other while whispering endorsements of love and affection to the other until they fall asleep.
The next day at the family home, Grimmauld Place Nr. 12, because that is what it is now. Not a house, like it was before, but a home. Who would have thought? But the inhabitants changed it. They make it better and the house responds to their wishes. Currently Hermione is on her way into the library for another research session with her brother Sam. it wasn't that fruitful so far, but maybe they have a break through today.
But the search itself is so far form her mind at the moment. Since the fight at the cemetery she feels insecure. Never before did that happen she always was in balance with her magic, but now she feels unbalanced. She has decided she wants to talk about it with someone and her choice fell on Sam.
As she enters she already sees him looking through a book, lying on a desk with many other books. Apparently her knowledge seeking brother has already started working. He was so absorbed in the book that he didn't hear her enter. It must be a really good book the he found, it must be something interesting that would turn down his hunter senses. So she said his name as she took a seat beside him to get his attention. "Sam."
Her voice was a little vulnerable not typical for her. Sam didn't pick up on it as he looked up for a short moment, before his eyes went back to the book again. "Hey Mia I think I found something." He tells her exited. But her missing respond made him look up again. One look at her and he sees that something isn't right. So he puts the book away and asks. "What is it, Mia?"
She nervously wrings her hands in her lap. Knowing that you are insecure is easy confessing them to anyone is not. But she isn't the brightest witch of her age form the house of Gryffindor with Slytherin tendencies for nothing, so she tried a roundabout way as she looks into his eyes and asks. "What do you think about Fred and Georges show?" The twins told the family yesterday about their idea and that the first show would be broadcasted on the coming Wednesday. She loved the idea of course, but it gives her a way to talk about her problem without coming directly out with it.
Of course her brother was very similar to her smart, brave and cunning. He can smell a con from a mile away, when he sees one. He lived a life as a hunter, since he was a child after all. "I really like the idea." he says with a smile, but he wasn't done. His next words took away floor under her feet. "But I am pretty sure you see it the same way. So what do you really want to talk about?"
She sighs, she should have known that it wouldn't work with him. He was way too similar to her to fall for it. "Since the fight I feel insecure." was her short statement, as answer, but that didn't tell him anything.
"How so?" he required, maybe she needs to think about it, to get it out of her own mind. Sam always was good at asking the right questions to get the answer he seeks.
"I don't know. I fear that I can't protect myself at the moment." she says and adds after some moments in a whisper. "or the twins."
Ah, so there lies the problem. She like every other mother or expecting mother fears for the safety of their child or in her case children. Instead of answering directly to that, he gives her a completely different question. "Why did you come to me with your problem?" He is almost sure why, but he needs her to think her actions through, before he can help her, because her sub-conscious already pointed her in the right direction.
"What do you mean?" because she is a little bewildered where he is going with this.
"Why or what leaded to your decision to come with your problem to me and not to Dean or Harry … or Jo … or even Fred for that matter?" he points out as he listed all the other possible conversation partners.
"Because Fred, Harry and Dean would wrap me in cotton wool after that statement to keep me save."
"And I wouldn't?" he asks a little hurt. Even if he knows why she would say something like that in matters of him. It still hurts like she thinks that he doesn't want her save, but the opposite is the case and hopes she knows that. But on the contrary to the others he can be reasonable and logical about it.
"Of course not, you want me save as well, but you talk to me about it maybe make a pro and con list with Me." she says with a smile. "You are like me highly logical and you rarely do something rash."
That is right and it is good to know that she knows that she is important to him. She is his sister after all. "So you come to me because you can reason with me, about it."
"Yeah, exactly."
"So why didn't you go to Jo?" he is pretty sure that he knows the answer to that as well, but she like him has to work through a problem step by step before she can start to work on a solution. Not like Dean does it by going in blind. That wasn't them.
"She may be my sister and I love her dearly, but she doesn't understand things that are connected to magic, because she isn't magical like us." she answers while making a gesture with her hands. Before he can reply with what she guessed would be his next question, she answered it beforehand. "Before you ask I didn't go to Tonks because I don't have such a close friendship with her, but I am working on it. In general I don't have many female friends probably only friend, Ginny, Fred's sister."
"And Harrys ex." Sams adds.
"You know about Ginny?" she ask him perplex. Not that she thought that Harry would keep a secret, whom he dated in the past. But he is new to this whole sharing feelings thing. No wonders with his horrible relatives. He never learned that sharing your feelings without getting punished is part of live and normal.
Sam looks at her. He wasn't surprised, because he knows why she would react in such a way. The assumption would be that Harry and him don't talk, but that is as far from the truth as it can get. They talk quite often also about feelings, but now more than before knowing about being soulmates. Sam learned fast, almost since he knew him, that Harry is as emotionally stunt as Dean and he worked with Dean his whole life, so that wasn't problem for him. He got Dean to talk then and he gets Harry to talk now. But since the whole soulmate thing is out Harry is more open with Sam, even if it is only with him. But it is his part of being there for his partner and Harry knows Sam would never judge him and vice versa. So they opened up to each other, because Sam as well isn't used to sharing. "Yeah I know about Cho as well. In my opinion she is a more disturbed person than Ginny even with her hero worship of Harry."
"Wow, he didn't hold back." Hermione voiced her surprise.
"No, why should he. We are soulmates after all." Sam declares with a shoulder shrug, like it is nothing special, because to them it is.
"That is right."
"Enough about Harry and Me back to Your problem." Sam brings them back, where they were before. "So we have established that you came to me, because I work with you logically to through a problem, neither Harry, Fred, Dean nor even Jo would do that." He sums up.
"Yeah, you beside Sirius is the only one, who would help me with my problem in my way and not dictate a solution for me."
"And because Sirius isn't back from his date with Snape yesterday you came to me."
"And I wanted your help. It is easier to talk to you about some things than with him, because …"
"Because I am your brother and he is like a parent to you." which he was and all in the house could see it, that Sirius loves Hermione like a daughter and vice versa. Sam or Dean don't have a problem with that. Their Dad wasn't father of the year, not in his best moments, to them and he never was a father to her in the first place.
"Yeah."
"Ok. So you are afraid you can't protect yourself anymore?" he asks her after some moments. Now was the time to start the pro and con list like she said before for the issue she has at the moment.
"It isn't the casting of spells that bothers me, but the power behind it that frightens Me." she answers.
"Meaning?" he asks after a moment, because that can mean so many things. He needs her to clarify, what she means. It is always a good idea to voice your thoughts, because in your mind they are in the most cases only fleeting feelings and not a clear path of thinking.
She thought a moment about his question, before she answered. "What if I overwork myself again and fall unconscious, because of it." she clarifies
"Are you going to use too much magic to make that happen on purpose."
"No of course not." was her fast answer.
"So how else should that happen?"
"in a fight where I can't stop, because it would mean my death."
"What about fleeing?" he asks.
"What about it?" was her perplexed counter question.
"Why do you have to fight to the end? Why not flee instead?" he asks her bluntly and to the point.
"Because …" she starts, but she didn't come up with a good argument. Does she really have to fight to the end? No of course not, it is not a bad way to retreat after a situation is too much to handle. This way she doesn't have to be panicked that she can't keep them save. With her hand she reaches for her small baby bump and subconsciously caresses it.
Sam followed her actions with his eyes and has to smile as she caresses her belly. Even if he wasn't so happy about his baby sister becoming a mother at her young age, so was he now looking forward to meeting his two nieces. It also gives him the answer she needed and he guessed that she probably was already there in her subconscious before talking to him. He only gave her pointers in the right direction. "See … you don't have to fight till the end, because with fleeing you give yourself and my nieces a better chance next time. As far as I learn things about magic form Harry and also the things I can feel with my own magic now that I listen, is that your magic would tell you to flee should you overwork yourself. Am I right?" he clears up.
She smiles at him. "Yeah you are right." But silently she ask herself why she didn't know that for herself, she was a witch longer than he was a wizard and she listened to her magic longer than him. It helped her in many dangerous situations before, so why did she forget about it.
Her question was all over her face. So Sam answers her without her having to ask. "Mia you are a mother and the protection of your children overrides everything else … And I also heard that pregnant women get a disease called baby brain." he teases her because he knows that she definitely is infected with it. Not once did he find her looking for her wand, because she has forgotten where she put it and in the most cases it simply lays beside her in reach, but she doesn't see it.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up." she tells him.
"Oh I will."
"So what did you find?" she asks him even if she was distracted with her insecurities she still could hear his excitement in his voice. Maybe today they have a break through after all and after her little adventure through insecure land she wants something positive for the day.
"Yeah." he reaches for the book he was reading while she entered the library. "I decided to use a different approach today. I stepped away from the Horcrux's itself and concentrated on Hogwarts this time. There is a whole section on in the library. I found many books about the founder, which is good because Tom as well is obsesses with them. One of the books I found was this one." he holds the book out for her so that she could read the title, which stated 'The legacy of the Hogwarts founders.' Oh, interesting, she has to get her hands on that one. But what has it to do with their search. He holds up his finger, before she can voice her question and opens the book at the bookmarked page, turned it so that she can she it and points at the pictures on the page. "Do you recognize anything on this picture?" he asks her.
She takes a closer look. On the picture you could see relicts and of course she recognizes them. She points at the first one. "That is Godric Gryffindor's sword." than she goes on and points at the next one. "That is the cup of Helga Hufflepuff." and then she points at the last one she recognizes. "And here we have the locket of Salazar Slytherin." The only other one she can't identify is a diadem.
"Exactly and what do we know about them?" he asks her further.
"That maybe two of them are Horcrux's. We only be sure in matters of the locket." was her answer for the moment.
"Yepp and we also know, what happened with the sword. It is in Snape office at Hogwarts." he tells her. "That only leaves the last object the diadem."
A logical conclusion on her part is. "That has to be part of Rowena Ravenclaws heritage."
"It is and it is said that it gives the wearer unlimited wisdom."
"And you think it could be another Horcrux?" she asks him skeptical.
"Yes. See I think Tom wanted as many things of the founders he could get his hands on and the diadem is for me only possible conclusion."
"Why not the sword?"
"Because according to this book." he points at the book again. "Only a Gryffindor and a true one at that can find and wield the sword." As he found that his heart swelled with pride for Harry's braveness and achievement to pull it out of the hat. It was the first time is resurfaced since it was hidden by Gryffindor himself. So it was an enormous feed in his eyes.
"So what can you tell me about the diadem?" she asks further, because she slowly gets the feeling that he is on to something. His conclusion is sound.
Instead of Sam another voice from behind them answered. "It is lost."
They look at the owner of the voice and Hermione asks. "What do you mean by that?"
Sirius walks to them and takes a seat beside them. "Exactly that according to the legend her daughter Helena Ravenclaw inherited the thing and she lost it, like it was some unimportant jewelry."
"How can you lose something like that?" Hermione wants to know, while Sam questions goes into a completely different direction. "Helena Ravenclaw, do you mean the Grey Lady?"
Sirius ignored Hermione's question, because in his eyes it was highly rhetorical and concentrates on Sam. His question irritated him somehow. "What has the Grey Lady to do with all this?"
Sam smiled. It is funny that he knows more about their school then they did and he on the contrary to them didn't attend. "The Grey Lady is the name for the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw, she is also the house ghost of Ravenclaw, but you know that." he tells them.
Both never would have guessed that. But normally you only interact with the ghost from your own house or Peeves, the poltergeist, if you don't have a fast exit. Bu if the two would have to bet that not many members of the house of Ravenclaw itself know the real name of their house ghost. So how did Sam, who never set a foot onto Hogwarts, know that? "Are you sure about that?" Sirius asks.
"Absolutely." without elaborating further he searches for another book on the desk. He already has finished it. A moment of looking later he found it and holds it out to them. "This is a book about the ghosts of Hogwarts. You can read in here … who they were … when they lived … or how they died. For example the bloody baron killed Helena and took his own life after because it was too painful, he was in love with her. Today you call it a stalker." he tells them.
"Interesting." Sirius says, while Hermione almost teared it out of Sam's hands. As soon as Sam saw how curious his sister was about the book he let go of it. Ghost come with the territory or better with the business in this family.
"Yeah I thought so too."
"But it still lost." Sirius points out.
"I know, but I still think we are little closer to a Horcrux."
"Good we will have a meeting about all the insights in the next days. We have some planning to do!"
"Why?" Sam and Hermione want to know at the same time.
"Because I think I found a Horcrux."
"How?" Sam asks, while Hermione wants to know. "Where?" both equally important questions.
"Sev overheard a conversation between Tom and Bellatrix about he vault and if it is still secure."
"So you believe that it could be one in her vault?" Sams says
"Yes."
"That means in Gringotts." Hermione concludes.
"Yes and that is reason we need a planning session." Sirius knew the both would figure it out.
"Ok." both say.
After a moment Hermione asks him. "How was your meeting with Snape?" she still isn't used to call him Sev which is good, because only the ritual six, if you want to call the participants that, know about the relationship. Of course the Malfoys know about it too, because the Dark Lord disclosed it to his followers, but they didn't parade it around. It wasn't their business.
"Good, we fought and made up like always." Sirius says as he remembers their colossal fight from the day before, it almost was the mother of fights. But his kids don't need to know about their problems. So he played it down skillfully and they believed him. "Do you need any help?" he asks them after some moments.
"No, we are good." Sam declares
"Okay." with that he got up. "Then I leave you to it. I still have some things to do, before the show." It still baffled him that the twins decided he should be part of the first broadcast alongside Remi and Dean. But he is looking forward to it, especially because he finally found a way to make his own plan of giving the wizarding world a refuge or sanctuary work. Now the only thing left to do is to spread the word about it.
A normal home of a wizarding family during times of a war is closed off from the outside world and they concentrate on the family itself. Staying home, not going to work. The only contact to the world is the wizarding wireless. At the moment only propaganda news are spread, but at least the citizens have a slight idea what is going on outside of their walls, even if it is opinionated. Maybe someday it is better again, but that hope is slowly diminishing. That is a good moment to start a new program to give them some hope back.
Every broadcast needs listeners, an audience, but without knowing where to look for such a program, it would be for nothing. All that is needed is one tiny snowball. In this case an owl to the order members, who were currently in hiding, and from there it become a landslide. The message only said 'the spark of hope will find you again at 8 pm on the 14th of January'. All who received the message were curious and wanted to know, what it was about.
That leaded to many wizarding families sitting in front of the wireless at announced time. The tension was high. No-one of them knows what will happen, but they all were curious like little children at Christmas. A signal tone tells the audience that it will start in only a moment, which is why they hear only a moment later. "Good evening to the wizarding world. Welcome to the new program Potterwatch." Many ask the same question 'Potterwatch, what is it?' The answer followed shortly. "We will inform you about what really is going on out of your own home. We will tell you that the light sight still is here, operating in the shadows. We haven't given up. We still fight. Harry Potter still fights. That made many wizards and witches smile, because the chosen one was still out there fighting for them and that is a good thing. Not all is lost. "My name is Mischief and"
"I am Mayhem." another voice, but with a similar pitch declared.
Together they went on. "We are the anchors for this special show."
"We will have guests as well. So you hear many different opinions and get as much information's as you need on the war." One said. Lee Jorden, one of the listeners, would bet his money that the anchors of the show were nobody else than the Weasley twins, his best friends since Hogwarts. That is why he currently is writing a letter to them with the question, how or in which way he can help them.
"Before we introduce our guests just a word of advice from us …" one begins.
"… everyone can be part of the war in his own way …" the second one goes on.
"… everything can make a difference like hiding muggleborns …" the first spoke again.
"… or give them tips where raids would happen so that they can run to safety." the second one finishes the sentence.
"We believe we can win. For that we have to work together." they say together with a determined tone and some started to believe them.
"The guests for today are Moony." there was a pause to give the person the change to greet the audience.
"Hey." Moony said.
"Padfoot."
"What's up?" Padfoot said easygoing.
"and Guardian."
"I still don't like that name." a new voice said.
"Why?" the voice of Padfoot asks.
"It is not as cool as Padfoot." was the answer.
"But it suits you so well."
"But …"
"Guys, guys." the voice of Mayhem or was it Mischief, who cares, interrupts them. "Can we argue about that later? We are here for a reason after all."
"Yeah." both voices said at the same time. The audience could hear the embarrassment in their voices. Some laughed at this interaction. A good feeling it was nice to have something to laugh.
"You and the chosen one." Everyone knew that they were talking about Harry Potter now. "were in Godrics Hollows two weeks ago. What happened there?" one of the anchors wanted to know.
"We were ambushed and it came to a fight." Padfoot declared.
"Yeah 10 people against six." Guardian adds. "a bit unfair if you ask me, but what do you expect from douche bags, who call themselves death eaters and wear such ridiculous masks. I mean come on talk about self-conscious by hiding behind a hideous mask." The audience was dived after that. Some found his dry sarcasm fanny, other think that it will get him killed, while others are impressed by his balls. It is new for the wizarding world to defy the death eaters in such a way and so public. The fear of repercussion normally is to big.
"How did the fight end?"
"We killed two of the death eaters." Guardian declared in a matter of fact way, like it isn't a big deal that they have taken lives. But it is wartime after all and killing is an essential part of it.
"Do you know who you killed?" A good question, hopefully some of the nastier ones were out of the picture.
"Rodolphus Lestrange and Antonin Dolohov." Padfoot declared. Wow, was the thought of many witches and wizards, those two aren't the run down the hill death eaters. Not they were some of his biggest supporters and hitters, members of his inner circle. That was a good sign for the wizarding world, that means to them that the inner circle isn't as invincible and unreachable, like they want the world make believe. There it was the spark of hope, like promised.
"How did they die?" one of the anchors asked.
That made the guests laugh and all, who were part of the audience wanted to know why. "What is so funny?"
"The big, bad death eater Lestrange died because of a muggle gun." Guardian declared between laughs. The irony wasn't lost on the listeners, who knew what a gun was, because of that.
"For all who don't know what a gun is. It is a firearm. In our terms it is metallic ball that is shot at the opponent at high speed." One anchor said.
"The effect it has depends on the impact and where you will be hit with the ball. So we suggest if you want to protect yourself get a gun and use it. What or better where are the most hurtful place on the human body to aim for?" the other one asks.
"Head … always aim for the head." was Guardians short answer.
"Is there anything else you want to add about this fight?"
For the first time Moony gave an answer. "Not in particular, but in general get ready for a fight, because a battle is coming and if we want our freedom we have to fight for it."
"Yeah don't let a douche bag, who is a complete fraud dictate your life." Guardians points out next. Many of the listeners ask themselves, what he means with that.
It is good to have a prepared and attentive anchor for such a show at hand. "How is you-know-who a fraud."
"First of all we all should stop calling him you-know-who. Fear of a name only increases the fear for it itself. Because of the taboo I would suggest some nicknames like Voldyshorts or Voldesmores. As a side effect it takes some of your fear away." the audience could hear the smile on Padfoots face.
"Or you can call him by his real name." Moony points out.
"Isn't the other one his real name?" the other one of the anchors wants to know.
"No, really far from it, actually." Guardian says with a snort.
"That is part of him begin a fraud like Guardian put it." Moony points out. "His real name is Tom Riddle junior."
"And do you want to know the funniest thing my dear audience." Padfoot clearly made a dramatic break to get the complete attention of the audience, like it is something important that is going to be revealed next. Which it was, something not many saw coming. "He was named after his father Tom Riddle senior and he was a muggle."
"Yeah the leader of the dark side, who claims to be a pureblood, is only a half-blood." Moony clarifies for the audience, so that every one of them gets what they are telling them.
"And that is why he is a fraud." Guardian points out and rests his case.
That was new to the Wizarding world. Until that moment it was a well-guarded secret, who Lord Voldemort was. Only his trusted followers knew about his origin and most of them were at school with him. Not many are alive now form that generation and they didn't reveal this particular information to their sons or daughters.
Many followed him, because they believed he was a pureblood, but he deceived them. It is a way to influence the masses and simply call it propaganda by giving them what they want to hear. Both sides use this method and in this case it is a way to let many followers overthink their actions in his service. Not that they don't believe in his cause, it is more along the lines of following a half-blood. They probably haven't thought about it until now. Not many want to believe such a thing, but good propaganda is always prepared. Otherwise it wouldn't work.
It followed the surprised question. "How do you know that?"
"It is an anagram of his name." Guardian points out offhand. "Just try it out write down I am Lord Voldyshorts and then rearrange them." Many people of the audience reached for parchment and quill and tried it out. It took them some time to figure it out, but they come to the same solution as the guest of Potterwatch.
"Our time is almost up." one of the anchors starts.
"Funny how time flies if you have fun" the second goes from there and so it went on for some time.
"We learned so many things today …"
"… buy a gun to protect yourself …"
"… call him by his real name …"
"… because he is a half-blood and a fraud."
Together they say. "We say thank you to our guests and you hear form us again in a week time. Until …"
They were interrupted before they could go on. "Before we say goodbye. I want to give a little more hope. If you know someone, who needs help because of his blood status or other elements that lead him to be hunted, tell them to only say 'we are still fighting' and help will come to him." Padfoot told the audience.
"With that we say good bye." all say together and the static that follows tells the audiences that the transmission of the show was over. It gave them new hope and something looking forward to. Some couldn't even wait for the next week to come.
Two day later the phrase was spoken for the first time. She was used by muggle-born witch, who was on the run from the Ministry and hid with a friend of her, who was a pureblood. He told her about help from outside so she tried it. As soon as she said those words an item appeared in front of her. Not knowing better she picked it up and as soon as she touched it she was whisked away. Some moments later she landed in a mansion, she doesn't know where. But she was welcomed by a house elf in the sanctuary of the noble and ancient House of Black. Since Sirius Black was freed and become Lord Black the wizarding world knows his house as part of the light. Considering he was the godfather of Harry Potter, the chosen one. So she knew that she can trust him.
She was the first of many refugees, who used the phrase to get to a safe haven. Many lives could be saved this way. At the same time it wasn't possible for dark wizards to come near the refugees, because the wards around the mansion kicked all people with ill-intend out. It took Sirius Black some time to figure it out, but as soon as he had it, he gave people a save location, in his villa in Spain. In the end he used Voldemort's own methods the taboo. He charmed the phrase to bring a portkey to the coordinates from where it was spoken. He found the charm in an old tomb in the Black Library.
Word about the sanctuary spread fast, it was like a wild fire, patroni, owls and other methods were used to deliver the message. It reached people, who needed help fast. All it needed was one man to give them hope. Of course the Dark Lord wasn't pleased with the new development. Slowly and in hiding a residence was build, now some stood up to the regime and their number is growing. They followed the lead of a young Lord, who never was treated good by the wizarding world, but still wanted to save as many as he can.
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