There be Molly and Ginny bashing ahead, you have been warned!

This is not beta'd

Chapter 2

"Stop fussing like an old woman," Lucius exclaimed, while pushing the hand that held the potion away from his face.

"If you would stop behaving like an idiotic, ill-tempered child and just drink the damn potion, I wouldn't have to hover over you," was Severus' clipped rejoinder. "Now, please refrain from acting like a first year and take it, unless you prefer I administer it via your arse."

Giving a small amused snort, Lucius took the vial and swallowed its contents, grimacing at the after-taste. "If you could discover a way to make it taste less like arse, I'd be more inclined to drink it." Lucius felt the effects immediately. His body no longer felt as if it were a live-wire, his muscles relaxed while the pain receded to tolerable. "Thank you, Severus. What news of the Order?"

"At present, they are tending to their wounded back at Grimmauld. Almost everyone is in quite a state over the disappearance of Miss Granger. Potter is extraordinarily bereft, as was to be expected." Severus exclaimed angrily, "That boy is far too impetuous. Running to the Ministry without thinking it through. Will he never learn?"

"While I share your disdain for his decision making, all is proceeding as our Domina Luminis has foretold," Lucius reminded his old friend. "Sadly, it will be quite some time until anything will change in this world. Years perhaps."

"I believe we could be wrong on that count." At Lucius' questioning look, Severus continued. "I've been doing research on dimensional travel and, although there isn't much out there on the subject matter, it is quite possible that time moves in an entirely different formation here than it does there."

"Are you saying that a year and a half for us, might very well be shorter or longer where Miss Granger has gone?"

"Precisely," Severus' intoned. "I do believe that if I am correct in my summation, then Miss Granger will return earlier rather than later. I've come to this conclusion based on the frequency and intensity of the dreams that our Domina is now sending. While the dreams had abated somewhat over the years, they have begun again in earnest."

Lucius said unnecessarily. "I too have been receiving messages from our Domina Luminis. More frequently as of late. They are more intense and more detailed than ever before. It is as if the closer her time of departure neared, the more powerful she had become. Do you think Black and Lupin have been experiencing the same phenomenon?"

"Undoubtedly," Severus drawled with a look of distaste. "They have been in closer proximity to Miss Granger than we. Even a dunderhead such as Black will have been aware of who Miss Granger is, although she hasn't manifested the personality nor the latent power of our Domina. Lupin must immediately have sensed her as his werewolf abilities are well honed."

"Your reasoning is sound. As a werewolf, Lupin's tendency toward pack mentally would recognize her as his Alpha." Lucius murmured reflectively, "I wonder how he has dealt with that knowledge all of these years, especially since there has been a new sense of urgency about our Domina's messages that wasn't there before. His natural inclination would be to protect her at all costs and Miss Granger has been in the middle of dangerous events since the tender age of twelve."

"The little chit seems to attract it," Severus mused. "Being in Potter's inner circle has only added to those dangerous escapades. It must take every ounce of Lupin's control to not whisk her away and hide her from all of this."

"Yes," Lucius said with a frown. "I don't know if I could have prevented those protective impulses as well as he. Black must be going half insane with it. Azkaban has affected his mind and body to the extent that his control will have been seriously weakened."

Severus snorted. "That mutt has always been problematic, even in the other world he lacked control." He added grudgingly, hating having to give Black any sort of credit, "Despite Azkaban and his infantile nature, he manages, though barely, to keep himself in check. From what little I have observed, Miss Granger and he tend to rub each other the wrong way."

Lucius chuckled. "It appears as if not much has changed then. Their relationship was quite volatile until she managed to bring him to heel. What of Lupin?"

"Their relationship is quite different," Severus informed him. "Miss Granger is genuinely fond of him and perhaps it has to do with the fact that they are dawn together intellectually, or it could be that on a deeper level she recognizes him as Pack. It's difficult to tell with any degree of accuracy."

"And, what of the Potter boy," Lucius inquired with a raised brow. "How does he view Miss Granger?"

Rolling his eyes while heaving an exaggerated sigh, Severus drawled heavily, "He exhibits signs of being romantically enamored of her, much to Molly Weasley's dismay." Thin lips twisting into a self-satisfied smirk, he added, "It's quite humorous actually. The way that woman plots and plans is ridiculous when in the end, those of us who do know the truth, know it will all come to naught."

"It is unsurprising that young Potter finds himself drawn to her. Although the James Potter of this world is no more..." Severus flinched. "... The bond has clearly passed to his heir. Draco finds himself equally drawn to the young woman although he has tried to hide that attraction."

"It will soon be time to bring you both into the Orders' confidence," Severus said. "I am hesitant simply because they do not fully trust me, let alone two more Death-eaters joining their ranks. Lupin and Black's support will benefit our cause, but you will be scrutinized most deeply, especially by Moody. He is the suspicious sort and Potter will be reluctant on the basis of his history with Draco."

Lucius nodded, well aware that since Draco's gesture of friendship on the Hogwarts Express had been rebuffed, that both boys took to making life as difficult for each other as possible. "Until our Domina's return, do you think we can keep up this charade of allegiance to the Dark Lord?"

"We have been able to do so thus far. I see no complication there unless Draco manages to be compromised before the appointed time."

"He will not," Lucius argued stridently on his son's behalf. "Between your lessons in training his mind and his parental training of advanced magic along with the gradual release of information pertaining to future consequences if the Dark Lord succeeds, he is ready and well-prepared."

"Good. We will all need to be at optimum strength."

"She has taught us well, and continues to do so," Lucius replied with a slight smile. "I remember the first time I became aware of her presence; it was in Flourish & Blotts during Draco's second year. I was insulting the Weasleys and her outrage on their behalf was palatable. I felt a pang in my chest, but quelled it because I should not feel such anxiety over upsetting a Mud-blood. At that point, I didn't recognize what was happening until the dreams started not long afterward. Even then, I refused to believe their content. It was only when you started to speak of the dreams you were experiencing, that I realized they were nearly identical to my own, and that it could not be a mere coincidence."

"Yes," Severus began slowly. "That is approximately when I became aware, although I knew Miss Granger was gifted in her magical ability her first year as a student. However, then I was able to ignore the twinges I was feeling. I believe her friendship with Potter had me deluding myself to the possibility of her true nature for quite some time."

"Still holding a grudge, I see," Lucius replied with a smirk. Severus' face turned grim.

Lucius knew of the enmity between the elder Potter and Black. He had witnessed first-hand, in this world, their run-ins with his friend and their nasty escapades disguised as 'pranks'. Yet, they both knew that the Potter boy was to be a big part of the plan unfolding although neither he nor Severus knew what exactly would occur once Miss Granger returned. They knew to be ready and that it would be something monumental.

"You must attempt to curb this pettiness," Lucius insisted. "Those days are in the past. You would be wise to leave them there."

"Pettiness?!" Severus exclaimed, disbelief and anger twisting his features. "You dare call what those buffoons did to me while in school 'pettiness?' Even now, when they are aware that I am on their side of this on-coming war, they maintain their vileness toward me. I dare you to say otherwise."

"They are caught up in this dimensions' history, just as you are, and both of your actions reflect that fact. They hold you just as responsible for the death of the Potters as they do that rodent, Pettigrew. Dumbledore has not revealed the part you actually did play but he has been exploiting it ever since you confessed to him. Our Domina has made to clear that we are to trust him up to a point, but that her communications with us via dreams and visions, must not be revealed to that old man."

"I doubt very much that Black and Lupin have held back and kept quiet. They virtually worship the ground that fraud trods."

"I disagree," Lucius claimed. "The shine has been dimming as to their devotion and belief in the older man. Black, especially has grown weary of the restrictions he has put on him and on his relationship with the Potter boy. You know this better than I, having seen this for yourself. I merely witness through your eyes and I can tell what I say is true."

"Perhaps," Severus conceded. "Lupin still harbors resentment for Dumbledore sending him to infiltrate the werewolf community, which in turn, left his dearest friend to eventually believe the worst of him. Leaving Black to rot in Azkaban without a trial when one word from the old goat could have exonerated him, has added to the gradual destruction of their faith in him."

"The time is nigh for you to get them alone to discuss our Domina. To introduce me as an ally and to convince them to accept Draco and myself into their fold," Lucius instructed Severus, ignoring the disgusted expression which flashed across Severus' countenance.

"Do you honestly think they will believe me," Severus asked in barely veiled contempt.

"Lupin has been nothing but understanding and has made attempts to reach out to you in an effort to meet on a more equal footing. Black remains who he is, a member of the Black family with a temperament to match." With a wry twist to his lips, Lucius added, "I married one, so I am well aware of their temper and stubbornness, although Cissa is more thoughtful, more Slytherin in her actions. Black is a loose bludger, that is true, but he's still central to our Domina's plan. Make an effort, Severus even if he rebuffs you at first. He is subject to our Domina's will the same as you and I. He will, with Lupins' help, begin to integrate the life we shared in our Domina's dimension with the one in the here and now."

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Severus acknowledged, looking pained at having to say it. "I realize that what you are saying is true; that we must all come together for the common good. Lupin, I will be able to do stand more easily than Black. He didn't actually participate in all of the bullying and I have actually grown to have a smidgen of respect for the other man. Black, on the other hand, working effectively with him without animosity on both our ends, will prove to be problematic."

Nodding in understanding, Lucius continued, "You must also play nice with the Potter boy." Severus grimaced again. "He is Miss Granger's companion just as his father's doppelganger was Domina's companion."

"It could easily have been otherwise," Severus snapped back.

"True," was Lucius' succinct answer, "but dwelling on what might have been, is pointless and useless. That being the case, we must respect the importance that Potter and several others will play in the master plan. I implore you, Severus to grow beyond this childish vendetta and embrace the future instead of clinging to the past."

Severus slumped into a near-by chair looking exhausted. "She says the same," he whispered. "I feel her disappointment in me acutely. She's been sending me memories that make me hate myself for treating Potter so abominably, but then I remember those are from another life and hold no merit in this one, which only angers and disappoints her even more."

Placing a comforting hand on the other mans' shoulder, Lucius spoke with sympathy for his friend in a clear and concise voice, "I will not ask that you befriend them on an intimate level, I will not ask the impossible of you. I only request that you work side by side with them in harmony and not allow yourself to be bated by Black's remarks. Be the bigger wizard, Severus and let this bitterness rest once and for all."

"If only it were as easy as you make it sound," the other wizard groaned.

"It is about as easy as attempting to overcome the indoctrination of blood-prejudice since birth. None of this is easy, Severus. We were well aware of that fact when we pledged ourselves to Domina Luminis. None of us was coerced, we entered her service willingly."

"In another life we entered her service willingly!" Severus corrected bitterly. "This life should be my own! That pledge was not meant to traverse other dimensions! I did not pledge my service to her here in this one!

"Of course you did, you fool!" Lucius' visage turned savage. "Our souls are bound to her! Bound to her through blood and magic stronger and more thoroughly than any blood-oath! You know she would never have called on that bond in this life if it were not imperative. She would never willingly take our choices from us! She is not that cruel, Severus! If you do not bend to your promised oath, it will destroy you! Is that what you want? Are you so riddled with guilt over the Evans' girl's death after all this time that you wish for your own?"

The other wizard shot from his chair, grabbing Lucius by his robes, snarling, "The day I informed the Dark Lord of the prophecy, I destroyed the one thing I held most dear and I am forever broken by that deed! All I have are my memories of when Lily and I were of one mind, when our friendship was untouched by prejudice and house divisions. You were a part of that divisiveness, Lucius! A day did not go by where you weren't constantly badgering me about my Mud-blood friend and calling into question my loyalty to my House and house-mates! Your snide comments, and those of other Slytherins, chipped away at my resolve to remain true to my friendship with someone who dared to not be born with pure blood and outside of the Wizarding community." Tears of anger mixed with unbearable sorrow stood out in the dark depths of the agonized wizards' eyes. "You have no right to reference her! Do not ever speak to me of Lily again or I will not be held accountable for the consequences!"

In a cold voice, Lucius countered, "I played my part in the destruction of your friendship; that is true. I freely admit to it. However, had you not had your own doubts, nothing would have come of my interference or anyone elses' for that matter. Miss Granger has been condemned left and right for her friendship with the Potter boy but her loyalty has never wavered. When he was unjustly reviled by friends, school-mates, and the press; she stayed true. Lies have been written about her and her name bandied about with an ugliness that tarnished her reputation to the point that even those who claim to love her, believed them, and still she stayed genuine to her friend in the face of it all."

Despite Severus' clear devastation at his words, Lucius brutally continued. "If you look into that dark void you call a heart, you will see the truth there. The truth that you don't dare admit to yourself, even now. You repudiated your friend because you were a coward. You now follow that cowardly act with the equally cowardly one of risking your own life out of spite for those you continue to hold in contempt. You would rather lose your very existence than make amends to them."

Changing tactics, Lucius added earnestly, "Severus, it need not continue to be so. Our Domina Luminis can fill that void in your heart. She can make you new, my friend. You know this. If only you would embrace the truth. Instead of following our Domina's plan because it is deemed so by the bond, follow her willingly with the intent to do good for this world." Grasping his head firmly between his hands, Lucius forced him to meet his direct gaze. "Peace will follow in her wake. Forgiveness will heal your tattered, scorched soul. You will finally be free, my friend!"

Tears fell unabashedly down Severus face, then he crumpled into Lucius' embrace crying brokenheartedly into his shoulder, "I do not deserve such things."

Cradling him tightly as he sobbed, Lucius proclaimed soberly, "Perhaps not yet, but you will my friend. You will."

Even amongst the pandemonium, Remus had enough sense to shuffle a distraught Harry into the privacy of the library. Grimmauld was awash with Order members and Aurors, and Remus needed privacy for the ensuing conversation. So, he left those wounded in the care of the Weasley's and Madame Pomfrey who was called immediately upon their return. Thankfully, Dumbledore was too busy explaining the events at that occurred at the Ministry before their arrival to notice their absence.

"We have to go back! We can't leave her there!"

Remus had to physically restrain the boy who was intent on returning to the Ministry to save his most trusted friend. "Harry! Harry! Calm down," Remus commanded, trying to get through to him. The boys' hysteria was heart-breaking. "Stop this! Hermione's going to be okay."

Stunned, Harry exclaimed, "Okay?! She could be in the hands of Death-eaters! Or ... or wounded and needing my help! I saw her fall, Remus! Malfoy's curse hit her! I saw it!"

The library door burst open before Remus could say another word. Sirius strode in, face grim. "It's happened, hasn't it?"

"Yes," Remus confirmed, looking forbidding. "Sirius, we have to tell him."

"What?! Tell me what? Let me go," Harry begged as he began to struggle anew. "I have to save Hermione. She was hit, Sirius! I saw it!"

Grabbing Harry by the shoulders, Sirius barked, "Calm yourself!" Caught off guard by his godfathers' unusual harshness with him, Harry did just that. Palming the distressed boys cheek, Sirius assured him, "Hermione is alive and not in the hands of Death-eaters."

It was the clear conviction in Sirius' grey eyes that finally convinced Harry. He slumped into Remus' arms and with a hopeful expression asked, "Was she taken somewhere safe? Where is she?"

Lips twisting into a wry half-smile, Sirius said, "That's a bit more difficult to explain. I'd rather wait until Sniv…"

"Sirius," Remus bit out in warning.

"Alright," the other man grunted. "We should wait until Snape gets here before we tell you anything else."

Brow furrowed in confusion, Harry asked, "What's he got to do with anything? He was here earlier, then left. What's going on?"

"Snape went to where the other Death-eaters and Voldemort gathered after the fight at the Ministry," Remus explained. "He wanted to make sure that they believed that Hermione was dead."

"But, she isn't, right?" Harry wanted to make certain that she wasn't harmed in any way.

"Come sit," Remus suggested, leading him to the sofa. "You have our word that Hermione is alive. But, Harry, and this is vitally important, only a select few can know this. Not everyone in the Order, and definitely not the Aurors, with the exception of Dora, can be told."

"Neither can Dumbledore," Sirius added, gruffly. "It isn't safe for our Domina for him to know."

"Domina," Harry repeated, confused.

"Agreed," Remus was quick to defend Sirius' suggestion. "There's no telling how he would react, and we can't risk it or Hermione."

"What is going on," Harry demanded in exasperation.

The older men sat on either side of the dark-haired boy. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Remus asked, "Have you noticed anything unusual lately when you're close to Hermione." Harry blushed, looking uncomfortable. "It's okay, Harry. It's normal for teen-aged boys to think about girls in a certain way." Harry's blush deepened. "Uh, the thing is, there's a perfectly good reason for that other than Hermione is a lovely young woman."

"What about your magic," Sirius asked before Harry had a chance to answer Remus. "Has there been anything different or unusual with your magic?"

Feeling more comfortable with this line of questioning, Harry replied thoughtfully, "Yeah, it's been really weird. It's like my magic is stronger when she's near and there's this tingling, here." He placed a hand on his chest. At first, I thought the tingling might be Voldemort's doing, but it didn't feel bad. It felt warm and safe. I don't know if that makes sense or not."

"It does," Remus said with a smile. "What about dreams?"

"Well," he began, then considered for a moment before continuing, "I don't have dreams about Voldemort as much, which is great."

"And, Hermione," Sirius prodded gently. "Is she in your dreams?"

"I'd… I'd rather not talk about that," Harry requested tentatively, unable to meet his godfathers gaze.

"Would it help if we told you that we've been dreaming of her as well?" Remus ventured to ask.

Harry's tousled head shot up. "You've been having inappropriate dreams about Hermione?!" Two sets of eyebrows shot up. "You're her professor for Merlin's sake and you're my godfather! That is wrong on so many levels!"

"Simmer down, it's not like that," Sirius soothed the irate boy. Well, not exactly like that, but he wasn't about to inform Harry of that if this was how he was going to get on the subject. "Remus and I have been experiencing dreams where Hermione shows extraordinary magical power, and when Snape gets here we'll go into more details."

"Snape? What has that greasy git got to do with this?"

Sighing, Remus said, "A great deal as it happens. He and Lucius Malfoy have been, and are, playing a huge role in all of this."

"Malfoy?!" Harry eyes went as huge as saucers before he began to shout, "You have got to be kidding me! He's the one who attacked Hermione at the Ministry! What the hell is happening? I mean, come on, you really expect to believe that Malfoy is on our side?!"

"That is exactly what we expect," instructed a voice coming from the vicinity of the fireplace. "If you wouldn't mind taking your peevishness down a notch from bellowing, please. We don't need the rest of them to come charging in here. It's bad enough that Lupin insists on that klutz of an Auror being in the know."

"She's my mate, Severus," Remus patiently spelled it out for what seemed like the hundredth time. "I can't keep something of this magnitude from her. It would literally be painful for me, and if our Domina doesn't seem to have a problem with it, then neither should you."

"Pray tell, how do you know that she doesn't have a problem with it," he drawled the question with a sneer. Though upset by the potion masters words, Remus couldn't help but notice that the other man looked paler than usual, eyes red-rimmed.

"Because, you arsehole, he'd feel it," Sirius snapped back. "You act as if you don't already know that!"

"I'm missing something here," Harry remarked slowly, to no one in particular. "What has happened to Hermione? Sirius and Remus say she's safe. Now, you say Malfoy is on our side. This is all so confusing! Can I get a straight answer from someone?"

"Harry," a soft voice called from the doorway. "The Aurors want to speak with you, and Mum wants to make sure that you're okay."

"I'm fine, Gin," Harry retorted, clearly annoyed at the interruption. "You can tell your Mum that I'm all in one piece, not a mark on me now that Voldemort isn't trying to split my head open in two with his presence."

Frowning, she replied, looking hurt, "There's no need to be nasty about it. We're just concerned."

Jumping up from the sofa, he informed her with a sharp bite to his tone, "Save your concern for Hermione." Abruptly pushing his way passed the red-head, he muttered bitterly, "That is, if you can muster up the energy to do that. I certainly wouldn't want you or your Mum to strain yourselves."

Ginny's eyes glistened with tears at Harry's remark, but he seemed immune as he stormed off to the kitchen. "Why is he treating me like this? I've done nothing but try to help and he's still so… so awful and so angry at me all of the time."

"Perhaps, he has finally realized that you merely pretend to like Miss Granger," Severus supplied darkly.

Ginny's head spun around, glaring at her professor she replied stridently, "That's a lie. Harry knows that Hermione is one of my best friends! I am worried about her! We all are!"

Severus gave her a very searching look for several long minutes before answering her with a triumphant smile, "Lies. You are riddled with jealousy, and there is a small part of you that is relieved that Miss Granger is finally out of the way so that you and that mother of yours can finalize your asinine plans for Potter's future. A future that you both intend he share with you."

Through gritted teeth, Ginny exclaimed, "You're the one telling lies!" Turning to the other men in the room, Ginny beseeched, eyes wide, "You know he's lying, right? Hermione is my friend. You believe me, don't you?"

Remus looked down at his shoes and said nothing. Sirius watched her carefully through narrowed eyes, before looking to Snape who gave a small incline of his head in answer to the other man's silent query. Sirius transferred his gaze to her once more, and the expression gave Ginny serious pause; he looked murderous. Ginny's face filled with a color that matched her hair perfectly. Fists clenched by her side, she stamped her foot and with a huff left the room.

The atmosphere was rife with tension until Remus asked quietly, "You saw?"

"I did," was his prompt and confident reply. "Her fantasies concerning Potter are silly and trite, as would be those of any mindless school girl. It's her mother who has planted most of them in her head, but that does not change the fact that they would do whatever it takes to get Potter and Miss Granger, if possible."

"What do you mean," Sirius demanded.

"Oh, Molly has grand plans in store for her as well," Severus supplied, irking both Sirius and Remus with his lack of details.

"Out with it, man!" Sirius barked. "What sort of plans?"

"The sort that include that imbecilic, youngest son of hers."

"Ron?" Sputtered Remus, incredulous. "You can't be serious. That would be a disastrous match."

"Disastrous? It'd be downright catastrophic, not to mention exceedingly ridiculous!" Crossing his arms over his chest, Sirius continued, "That boy is a complete dunce and has no sense of loyalty whatsoever! Our girl will not be railroaded into marrying that one! I'll make sure of it!"

"We'll make sure of it," Remus corrected gently.

Severus snorted. "They'll be no need for a watch dog or a watch werewolf… our Domina will not be led so easily by that woman or any other person for that matter."

"That will take some getting used to," Remus said with wry affection for the young woman in question. "Most of the time I just want to carry Hermione off and keep her in a place that no one else knows about. The urge to keep my Alpha safe is excruciatingly strong. Thank Merlin for Dora. Without her steadying influence as my mate, I might have done something monumentally stupid."

Flopping down on the nearest chair, Sirius exclaimed, "I understand, Moony. I pick fights with her just to off-set this instinctive drive to take, protect and …." Sirius broke off, looking ashamed.

"I get it, Pads," Remus supplied with quiet understanding. "We all feel like that, even me and I have Dora."

"It is part of the bond," Severus reminded them. "While I don't find myself particularly drawn to Miss Granger in that fashion…" Sirius barked a disbelieving laugh. "… I do recognize the pull and am able to fend it off although not without a modicum of distress."

"If you were cooped up with her day after day, it'd be a different story," Sirius mockingly informed him. "I'd like to see you then, Snape. I have to turn into my Animagus form whenever I need to have physical contact with her, otherwise I get the evil eye from Molly and puzzled, disapproving looks from everyone else. When it hits Moony here, he rushes off to bed Nymphadora, who doesn't complain one little bit although she has been looking a tad peaky and exhausted lately."

Blushing furiously, Remus ran an agitated hand through his shaggy, rapidly greying locks. "How do you do it," Remus asked, sounding pained. "How can you be that close to her as Padfoot with all those heightened senses? I mean, for me, it's worse with the advent of the full moon." He groaned. "So much worse, yet even without the moon's pull on my wolf, the scent of her is gloriously intoxicating. Dora helps to keep me grounded, and I'm desperately thankful for that."

Cocking his head to the side, Sirius said, "Her scent does drive me round the bend, that's true, but I can deal with that; I've learned to control it a bit. I've had to because for me, it's about touch, her touching me, I find myself being very tactile. The urge to have her close, our bodies connected in some fashion, outweighs everything else."

Severus was surprised that these men, his former nemesis, would speak so openly in front of him of things of such a personal nature. Former nemesis? Perhaps they were all starting to become more strongly connected since Miss Granger's departure. It wasn't that he didn't still think that Black was a vile-natured, half-mad juvenile delinquent with narcissistic tendencies. He did. He pondered on the fact that those feelings were being tempered somewhat. He'd already been aware that in regard to Lupin, he'd been moving toward an understanding of sorts. And now, it seemed as if he was moving that way toward Black as well. Only at a much slower pace. Much slower. Still, it was a beginning. Lucius would be thrilled.

"Oh, there you all are," Molly rushed in, looking haggard. "It's alright. Everyone's' been tended to and the Auror's have just left. Harry seems so out of sorts. Could you come, Remus and try to maybe cheer him up a bit? Perhaps a good talking to, he's been most unpleasant to Ginny and goodness knows why."

The three men looked at her as if she were a three-headed relative of Fluffy's. Then Sirius snapped. "Have you gone barmy, woman?" He advanced on her, arms flailing. Molly shrank back in alarm. "Of course he's out of sorts, he's worried about Hermione! What the bleeding hell is wrong with you?!"

Ample chest heaving, Molly exclaimed indignantly, "There's no need for that, Sirius Black! I'm just as concerned for Hermione's well-being as the rest of you! I'm only trying to keep up Harry's morale and the last time I checked that wasn't a criminal offense."

Sirius was ready to lash out again, when the pressure of his friends' hand on his upper arm halted him. Sirius felt the small burst of Remus' magic, soothing and calm, like placing a cool towel on over-heated skin, effectively easing and diminishing his seething anger. Sirius covered it with his own hand, closing his eyes to better concentrate on their magic mingling in concert, bathing in the soft, gentle brush of their Domina as she reached out to lessen his urge to rip this woman to shreds. "Carefully," he heard her whisper in his mind. Taking in several deep breaths, Sirius was able to collect himself, shame filling him at his uncontrolled actions. "All is well, my acolythus."

Peacefulness flooded through him. From behind, Sirius heard Remus gasp and knew he was experiencing everything as well. Tears of gratefulness gathered in the corners of his eyes, but he'd be damned if Molly Weasley would be a witness to his weakness. A feather light caress slid slowly down the side of his face. "No, no… there is no weakness in tears, clarissima mihi. Only indiscriminate violence brings shame."

"I love you, my Domina" he whispered back. "And I you… always." Sirius clutched at his chest when a love so overwhelmingly, blindingly brilliant filled every aspect of his being. Unable to physically withstand such power, he fell to his knees, and Sirius Black wept without shame.

I'm no expert on Latin so if someone's not right, just breeze right on by it.

Dominia Luminis - Lady of Light

Acolythus - Acolyte

Clarissima Mihi - My Brilliant Star