DISCLAIMER: HP belongs to JKR. The storyline and all new characters, new character development, new developments are my intellectual property..
The order of the Silver Shadows
After the goodbyes and the promises to meet the group at the French home, Maddy and Kelly left, Severus was there to say goodbye and to accompany them to the airpost. Their promises to return made many happy.
The Lestrange brothers were however sad; separating from Kelly would come at a significant cost, separation would be difficult as they had already anticipated; thus, they would count the days until she was back.
Severus would meet Kelly and Maddy at their new residence in France once school was out, but first, he would go to visit them. He would fly to the U.S. via Muggle travel, and he would be taking a dog. They were planning to shrink Padfoot to bring him inside the cabin.
Severus would be late coming to the meeting or not at all; however, they would do a pensive for him.
Severus asked for a day of absence to take them to the Airport. Every professor had some days per year to use without having to explain why. Even though, when Albus asked, Severus was partly honest, "I have met a beautiful foreign Muggle, and I am seeing her off at the Muggle Airport. She contacted me yesterday to ask me to take her."
Albus felt some of his stress lessen, ah, Severus had a love interest. That must have been Snape's better attitude; right, with the woman gone, he would have his dependable wizard back. Now, as soon as he was able, he would meet with Lucius.
Albus needed to stay and rearrange classes around; there were last minute schedule changes to have Severus' classes covered. But later he would take care of Lucius. He had just the thing to make sure he found him. It paid to be ready for all eventualities.
It was shortly after breakfast when Lucius and the adults staying at the Grangers, Floo into Malfoy Manor.
They left the children with the grandparents with the strict order to keep an eye on them. The Grangers were taking the children for a horse ride, but the kids would ride ponies, except for Evie who would ride with her grandfather. Harry loved the horses, and he laughed at their silly comments. He always told the other children what the animals said. Of course, they believed him, but the adults thought that it was a game.
Narcissa kept going back with instructions for Draco; she was uneasy, to say the least. The door business had them all concerned, which was a good thing. They heard the pint-size witches' plans to see Opa, and everyone rightly worried. She was glad to breathe better with Elly gone. Nevertheless, she knew that the crazy jealousy needed to go.
The Lestrange brothers and Sirius wore hooded silver robes resembling old monastic habits, with full sleeves and wide hoods.
They kept the hoods up, a prevention, in case someone's memories would be examined; Narcissa, Jeanie, and Elly wore their hair pulled back and also wore the formal hooded robes but the hoods down. Lucius, Grant, and Remus also wore robes over their clothes.
Arthur, Scrimgeour, and Moody found their luxurious robes at their chairs. They were made of heavy magical silk, and all bore a sign in the back, a silver hexagon, Moody admired the fine weave and was appreciating this better life.
By 9:30 everyone had arrived. Grant sported new glasses with nonprescription lenses; as well as a brand new magically accelerated short beard. He was a changed person; albeit his Grindenwald's likeness remained, you had to look really hard.
The new looks didn't conceal any of his physical perfection, and Jeanie couldn't wait to get him alone. It was exciting, almost like a new man. The ones who had not yet met him didn't grant him a second look.
Lucius greeted everyone and invited them to serve a plate from the spread set for them. Afterwards, they all sat at their assigned places; there were a couple of small boxes by each of the attendees' places.
He stared at Cissy once in a while; he loved her warrior look; indeed, it suited her. Draco better be ready for a long nap today. He made Narcissa blush when she caught him staring at her with fire in his eyes; he smirked and turned around to talk to Remus.
"Glad you could join us. Though, before we continue, we all must make a vow of secrecy. Whatever is said between us can only be shared with those inducted in the order of the Silver Shadows." He looked around, and everyone was nodding in agreement.
"Silver because its color gray, neither light nor dark; our brand of magic neither constitutes the basis for our association nor does it determine who the enemy is. Later, we will explain several points, namely, how we will communicate; how often we should meet; and many other important points related to our future as an organization."
The vow written by Lucius and Remus, was magically binding, and each felt the magic wrapping around them when each repeated the vows. The Ministry's wizards openly admired the witches until several cold wizards' eyes stopped any further impropriety.
They looked at Grant, and the visiting wizards all thought the same, another Lucius, same arrogant stand and mien, probably rich; they could see that he was perhaps a little nicer, but he still looked dangerous, a warrior.
Once the vows were over, Lucius continued, "Other members are not here today for various reasons, and there will be others joining us in the future. These last days have been challenging for my family and for my friend; which is the very reason why we are forming this association."
He paused to check everyone; assessing whether or not he was reaching them.
"This order is necessary to protect our children and our futures; although Harry is improving quickly, he is still fragile. Returning him to that type of life would be putting his life in danger. Protecting Harry and destroying the Dark Lord, with minimum or no lives lost must remain our focus. He is out there, make no mistake. We will tell you what we heard, and I can assure he is coming back, and he knows that Harry is alive."
Whispers were heard across the table, "Please be patient," at that moment the Floo was activated, "You!" He exclaimed.
Lucius was flummoxed watching the new arrival; most unexpected, and how had the guest been able to Floo? The access was only open for a few. He was not the only one frozen
"Any problems with my presence here, and if so should I leave?" the unexpected guest asked.
The day is not over yet
Lucius looked at Minerva McGonagall as if she were a terrifying ghostly apparition. At forty-nine she was a handsome witch if she only would dress a little less eccentric. She dressed as if she belonged in an old play. Lucius appraised her trying to calm down.
Sirius turned red remembering when he was fifteen; and she must have just turned forty. He had a huge crush on Minerva, and at the time he thought he was the gods' gift to witches.
He remembered, during his delusion, he wanted to shag Minerva, so he had kissed her, forcibly, and she had smacked him silly. Besides that, he would be back to prison as soon she ran to tell Dumbledore.
Arthur and the Aurors shared the same worries; the covers were blown. It was rather obvious, everyone dressed in the silver robes with a logo, all cloak and dagger, a clear sign of belonging to a subversive organization.
Lucius just stood immobile and uncertain what to do.
Since nothing happens in sets of one. The saying that disaster never travels alone, was probably true, because there was another unexpected guest about to arrive.
Nobody had uttered a word about Minerva, and everyone was still frozen in place when a second green flash came out the Floo. The Ministry employees' faces showed their terror after seeing Wallburga. They were not alone in their fear.
Wallburga
Lucius and a few of them were already aware of Wallburga coming along when they traveled, but they had decided to make it a surprise for the rest.
Only Narcissa had a vague recollection of one of the Black women being an expert Legilemens, but the actual name had never been mentioned around her.
Lucius knew that Legilemens was Wallburga, albeit his apprehension, he couldn't be happier to have such talent in their group; well if she would accept to work with them.
Obviously, they would have to erase her memory if she decided not to support them; and if he were right, it wouldn't be easy to catch her unaware.
Sirius hadn't even felt her when she went in his mind; he had told Lucius when they were alone. Grant had told Lucius that she went into Sirius' head while she carried a normal conversation.
Lucius hadn't closed the Floo to the family because they had such few relatives, and Wallburga was one of them. He should have done it.
He should have because of Wallburga Black. Who, earlier, decided to go by Lucius and Narcissa to say goodbye. Wallburga thought it a clever idea, one that would make her trip look as normal as possible. She didn't want to wake any suspicions in anyone. She had already sent messages to the few people still alive, to tell them that she was going on a retreat.
Lucius pinched his nose; a horrible migraine was coming. The trip was one thing, but Wallburga here and now was too much.
So right at that instant, he decided that once the meeting was over, he was going to attack Cissy's body. He wanted sink in her, to drink her, to feel her heat; and the idea calmed him a little.
He missed her, and she hadn't been available for many days; mostly due to her zealousness over the little wizard. His Veela missed her, and the beast was getting restless. This had been the longest in a while.
She looked beautiful sitting near him. His beast could smell her and was not allowing him to concentrate. He had been hard the entire meeting, and now with this complications, his mind wandered.
The night before, the children had a sleepover with Draco, and they were a little noisy, but Cissy didn't want to close the door. He hoped this wasn't a sign of the times to come. He was afraid that her change was due to the Lestrange brothers. He had seen how she looked at them when they were with Kelly.
Luckily, tonight, Draco would be at the Granger's room; however he wouldn't wait till tonight; no way, he could be dead tomorrow.
He was planning to be with her at least a few times today, they would be traveling tomorrow and forget it, as soon as they had a minute, she was his, or he would make the time. He could think of many ways to 'get' her. The thoughts calmed him.
Finally, it was Wallburga who uttered the first word, "My, my, look it here, intrigue and excitement, I love it, do I get a silver cloak?" Wallburga appeared ten years younger, or that is what Grant thought.
Sirius' face was an even green, probably about to throw up.
"Minerva, darling, how are you? I see you still have an atrocious sense of fashion, yet pretty as ever. I do wish that you would let me help you. Where do I seat?"
Wallburga turned and gave Minerva such a friendly smile that she cringed.
Minerva remembered the Slytherin when she started Hogwarts; Black was in her fifth year. Wallburga was both beautiful and very nasty; she was full of Pureblood poison and her status in life.
Everyone was out sorts to include Minerva, what was going on here? Had she made a mistake?
What was the wife of a Dark wizard doing in a meeting where Severus, Arthur, Remus, and the two loyal Aurors attended? And didn't Sirius use to hate his mother? Come to think, why was Lucius hosting a meeting for the Light? Or were they part of the Light?
Lucius as the organizer took charge; first, he walked to Minerva and made a sign to Sirius, and he stood to pick up his mother.
Wallburga regained her royal bearing and eyed the group; she didn't recognize many but saw Evan's girl, what was she doing here? Oh dear, Merlin, she reminded her of Grant.
She kept her eyes on her and kicked herself for not pushing Regulus in her direction, a grandchild of Grindenwald, no wonders that she had seemed so familiar.
And who were the hooded wizards? She tried to get inside them but found a wall built around them, hmm, they were ready for her. She smiled when she saw Grant and gave him a cloak and dagger type of head shake; he smiled at her.
Grant was sure she would get along with his mother. His parents knew a few single men her age… Muggles— never mind, or his uncle, yes, he would be perfect. He had been pestering them to find someone. His uncle was 51; he was probably magical, handsome, rich, and perfect for her or Minerva... Nah, Minerva was too weird.
"Mother, what you are doing here?" Sirius asked his mother in a low voice.
"Later, just came to say goodbye, let's listen."
Wallburga had dismissed Sirius as if he were five, and he growled. Remus had to lower his head to smile. He didn't like the imperious woman, but he loved to see Sirius squirm.
"Miss M-," Lucius started.
"Minerva, I would feel too old otherwise, Minerva will do." She grinned.
"Minerva, of course, you are more than welcome, but how did you get here?" Lucius asked puzzled.
"I used old magic, better known as women's intuition. I saw Severus getting ready this morning; unfortunately, he left before I caught up with him. I needed to give you an urgent warning,so I decided to come myself since I had a pass to use your floo."
She raised her hands in a sort of apology.
"You gave it to me when we saw each other last. I had to feign sickness, so I could try to see you. You see, Poppy went to my room early evening to tell me a disturbing discovery she had made. May I have a seat; is it all right if I speak freely? It might concern everyone sitting here."
She waited and added, "Yes, it pertains to all of you," she addressed the group, looking at every one of them.
'"But of course, everyone here except Aunt Wallburga has made an unbreakable vow; she will be doing one along with you before you go any further, right Aunt?" Lucius stopped Minerva from saying any more.
The new self-recruited witch nodded, yes, indeed, Wallburga was pleased, and Sirius coughed and gagged as if he was having a heart attack. The Lestrange brothers both grinned, and Remus did as well.
When Severus later saw her, was a bit sad, would Sirius turn cold again? And knowing him was it to be expected? He really hoped to be wrong because he was already counting the days. He knew their physical love had restrictions, but it would be perfect. He nearly cried already mourning Sirius.
Narcissa stood up to guide her Aunt to one of the empty seats around the large table; and brought her a glass of pumpkin and pineapple juice, a new drink at their home.
The Malfoys apologized for not asking her to seat before. They made their vows with the assigned secret keeper, and Minerva continued her tale.
"Before Minerva continues, will we also get a robe now that we said our vows?" Wallburga added, and everyone laughed and relaxed. Maybe it would be well.
As I was saying, Poppy came by the supply room at an odd time and found Albus looking at one wall safe. It was hidden behind boxes, and it was one that she didn't know it was still in use. She recorded the combination using an old charm." She stopped and drank water, and she appeared upset.
"Poppy made a noise when she came, and Albus got nervous and didn't take what he had come for, since he left in haste." She wrung her hands trying to compose herself.
Everyone looked worried knowing that the news would be bad.
"Poppy locked the door to the main entrance, and once she opened the old safe she made a ghastly discovery," she paused for another long sip of juice; she needed tea and briefly asked Remus to get her some.
a/n The next chapter will come in a day or so. So where are the Pixies? Hmm, will they obey and stay away from doors? In case anyone forgot, Peter is Grant's twin brother. He is been living in South Africa for six or seven years. He was also in love with Jeanie, or so it seems.
I am starting a new Forum where I will post the answers to some of the questions readers ask. HAPPY NEW YEAR, DEAR READERS. MAY YOUR YEAR BE A GOOD ONE.