Author Note: After effects of the Serious encounter with Narcissa.

==xx

Remus and Andromeda Tonks had come to the Weasley House when Arthur contacted Remus about their new addition.

"Where did the baby come from again?" Remus asked once more for clarification.

"I opened the door and she was laying outside. Right there naked as a jaybird and twice as loud." Molly explained as she rocked the now quiet baby.

"And you've already checked her for magical auras or potions?" Andromeda inquired.

"Well I checked to see if she was hungry or sick. I didn't think to check for anything else." Molly confessed, "She was just so hungry,scared and cold. Who would do such a thing like that?"

"I may have an idea that's why I want to check the child over." Remus said.

"You're not going to do anything to hurt her are you?" Molly asked possessively.

Andromeda shook her head, "No Molly. I just want to make certain she is healthy, and that she isn't from a family that could be missing her. If she was kidnapped you wouldn't want to keep her from her family?" She said with a comforting soft tone.

Molly frowned but handed the baby over to Andromeda. She gently set the child on the table and drawing her wand cast several health diagnostic spells.

"Female child 6 months old. Condition is healthy. Physical development appropriate for age. No distinguishing marks." Andromeda rattled off clinically. "She looks somehow familiar. Like I've seen her before."

Remus looked at her, "In what way?"

"I don't know. Check her for dark magic or curses would you?" Andromeda asked Remus. He cast several spells.

"She's been through something recently. Not exactly dark but it is in the gray area." Remus said with a frown, "Otherwise no major residual or active magics."

Molly stood closely nearby watching worriedly. Arthur put his arm around her shoulders to try and comfort her.

"Alright well let's see who your father is." Andromeda whispered to the baby girl who was staring up at her calmly with bright blue eyes. Casting the Familia Paternis she along with everyone else gasped as the name Cygnus Black III hovered in golden glowing letters over her. The baby laughed droolingly as the letters faded.

"Did that say what I thought it did?" Remus asked.

"My father's name. The name of my sister's father. This must be Narcissa." Andromeda said in shock, "I thought. But how?"

"Perhaps Sirius used a ritual on her." Remus checked her again. The aura of the magical energies causing the baby to glow and reach for them.

"That looks quite unusual." Arthur said stepping closer to examine to aura.

"Like nothing I've seen before." Remus said.

Andromeda thought for a moment with a frown, "Aunt Walburga was a follower of the Kandorian rites."

"So does she remember anything?" Molly asked clutching her hands to her chest.

Remus frowned, "I have no idea. Andromeda if you'll hold her steady so she doesn't get too upset I'll see what I can find out."

Andromeda picked the baby version of her sister up and held her as Remus took his thumbs and gently held the baby's eyelids open. The child squirmed for a moment before Remus made eye contact. A few seconds later he broke contact and Andromeda cooed and calmed the baby.

"As far as I can tell her mind is as blank and pure as fresh snow. Nothing from her former self is there."
"And with the Blacks dead that means she has no family?" Molly asked eagerly.

"Perhaps Lucius might be able to lay a claim or Andromeda." Arthur said nodding to the other woman.

Molly looked outraged, "LUCIUS MALFOY! That bastard would sell her to slavers or Merlin knows what! I'd cut his giblets off before I handed this sweet girl over to him." Molly declared angrily. "However it happened she has a chance for a new life now. A good home to grow up in. We could give her that Arthur."

Arthur looked at his wife whose chin was defiantly set and a fire blazed in her eyes. Turning to Andromeda he saw how she was looking at Molly in a very calculating manner.

"Molly you may raise my sister. Provided I am part of her life."
"What sort of part? Are you going to tell her about the way she used to be, about your family? She deserves a clean break from all of that." Molly retorted.

Andromeda thought for a moment, "What if she has the familia paternis cast? Adopting her will not change that."

Molly pursed her lips, "I'll cross that bridge if we get to it."

"I have a suggestion." Arthur said quietly, "Or is everyone too tense to listen?"

Molly and Andromeda both turned to the unassuming man, waiting expressions on their faces.

"Molly and I will adopt her. We will not do it officially through the hall of heralds because the Ministry is compromised, we will use the Merlinist adoption ritual. We will raise her, with your help, and Edward as well as your daughter. When she gets old enough to understand we will tell her the truth. You'll go through the godmother ritual with her. Will that work?" Arthur said calmly yet firmly.

Andromeda and Molly looked at each other for long seconds as the baby squirmed a slight bit in Andromeda's grip, chubby arms reaching for Molly.

Arthur sighed, "There is war coming. Andromeda your services as a healer will be needed, Molly will take care of the baby and I have a sad feeling there may be more who will need help. This is the better roles for both of you."

Andromeda frowned but after a moment handed the baby over, "You are correct. "

Molly took the baby and cooed at her, causing her to laugh.

==xx

The day at Hogwarts went very uneasy as the Headmaster was still irate at the actions of the students. The Carrows refused to travel alone as did the students in a tense mutual suspicion.

Lunch was again standing in ranks as the headmaster waited for someone to confess or inform on who attacked the Carrows. Once again Sprout and McGonnegal joined their houses. Snape only drank water as he saw the Slytherin house had been lined up as well. To ensure solidarity with their fellow magicals. As the headmaster explained it all of them held a responsibility to the school to report any violence against the professors. That anyone who committed violence against the professors, the school or the Ministry would be the same as all of them doing it.

Harry could see that many of the Slytherins were not enjoying their new found enforced solidarity so maybe they would be amenable to joining with the resistance. He had noticed several of them taking care of their own. At the very least if they stayed to themselves and out of the way it would be beneficial as well.

During the Rumack Syndrome attack several Slytherins had worked with the others to clean and inspect the supplies coming into the castle. Maybe at least a few of them could be persuaded to become allies at the very least.

The afternoon went by almost the same as the morning. The professors suspiciously watching the students who watched the professors suspiciously. Dinner they were allowed to eat a bowl of gruel and butterless bread with a mug of water. Harry noticed that the Slytherins were giving Theodore Nott a very wide berth. Pansy and Romilda though were on either side of him in strange parody of Crabbe and Goyle from Draco's era. Romilda appeared to be nursing an arm injury as she winced every time she moved her left arm. Once dinner was over the headmaster clapped his hands for attention.

"I sincerely hope that all of you have taken this day to consider the ramifications of your silence. You are allowing terrible miscreants with no respect for any authority to get away with a serious crime. The professors and myself are the duly appointed and legal representatives of the Ministry. Your disrespect shows disrespect to our entire society and our world. We are the superior species compared to the mere humans. You will learn this by the time we are through with you here in this school. You are going to learn the proper way and the proper respect for power and authority. Despite the fact that none of you have performed your duty and come forward we will grant you amnesty. Please do not make us regret this act of mercy. We should have realized there would be some difficulty adapting to the New Order. That as children you would be unable to smoothly accept the alteration of your nice safe comfortable world. The soft world that fools like Dumbledore created. A world where the weak are placed on a pedestal alongside the strong. Where those who are better are dragged down to mere mediocrity."
He paused to look across the assembly with a disappointed sad, expression worthy of the man he was vilifying.

"With the declaration of this amnesty we shall begin again in the morning. A new dawn for a new order. Dismissed." Nott declared.

The students all began to depart the great hall, as Harry did so Myrtle stuck her head out of a nearby wall and gestured towards him. Grabbing Hermione he dragged her into a convenient broom closet.

"Harry, this is not the time for an encounter like this." She huffed before Myrtle drifted in.

"Sorry I was just needing to talk to your boyfriend." Myrtle said with a leer, "Although if you want to take a few moments I won't mind."
"Just tell me what you needed to Myrtle." Harry said tiredly.

"Oh okay. All of the ghosts that will meet with you will be in the Room by 8pm. You and your people need to all be there by then, if not they'll be gone. Keep the group as small as possible. Bring Lovegood."

"okay. We'll be there."

==xx

Harry and Luna stood along side the seventh year prefects from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. It was felt that the two of them could then coordinate with their fellow prefects in their house. As the prefects were expected to patrol the corridors there would be less questions asked if they were caught out. Harry and Luna would be hidden under the invisibility cloak when they returned to the Gryffindor Tower.

Across the room the four house ghosts, floated in their pale translucence. Myrtle floated nearby in between the two groups. She was technically the youngest ghost in the castle, having been dead for only half a century, so did not get included in a great many spiritual matters.

Harry and Luna stepped forward, "Thank you for helping us find this place. We'll keep it quiet that you helped us. But what is it?"

The gray Lady of Ravenclaw came forward, "Is it a room that was developed to help train students in a multitude of things. Things that would be impractical or difficult to achieve in the real world. Such as learning to fight or handle dragons. Sailing on the ocean for a great many of the farmer children. It is capable of changing itself into almost anything you desire."

"That could be quite useful." The Ravenclaw prefect Janice Wentworth said.

"Yes it is. Now it is yours to use for training."
"Just how realistic is the things created by this room?" Harry asked in concern.

"As real as you want them to be." Helena said.

"Well that could be entertaining." Luna said with a grin.

"Now as to our other problem. You seek the Articles of Establishment. The founding document for Hog valley, Hogsmeade and Hogwarts." The Ravenclaw ghost said.

"What good will that do?" Harry asked.

"The document showed that this entire valley was developed as an independent kingdom ruled by the council of mages. The village and the school were founded as a safe haven for magicals in a dark time. The rising violence and fear fostered by the early church. By those who blamed magicals, rightfully as there were many dark wizards running across the land." She shook her head as she recounted the past.

"So if we recover this document it will show that the Ministry has no authority over anything that goes on in this valley?" Hermione asked excitedly.

"Yes. I doubt anyone in the Ministry, aside from some in the Department of Mysteries has any inkling of these documents." Duncan Hoggett of Ravenclaw said. "Am I to believe that the document describes the area claimed, the boundaries, duties and rights of the citizens like most charters?"
"Yes. That is true. There is a sequence of dolmens along the borders that you will need to restore. You will also need to establish the council again."
"Well how do we do that?" Hermione frowned.

"When my mother and her companions formed the council they decided that the council would be composed of themselves first, then the same hat that Godric used to sort students into their houses would be used to choose the replacements for the council." Helena said with a smile, "Eminently reasonable and impartial."

Everyone murmured and looked at each other, Hermione though said, "And anyone may try to claim the seat on the council?"

"Yes but the hat's word is final. Anyone who does not accept it is punished according to the book of law that the four wrote for the valley." The baron rumbled.

"Yes. Only once did anyone ever disagree with the hat's decision. It did not end well as the valley was torn asunder. With many of the adherents of the usurper following them southward to London to create Diagon Alley." Sir Nick explained.

"And that is why there have been two distinct magical enclaves in the country." Helena finished.

"So Harry. What are we going to do?" Hoggett asked.

"I suppose we'll find the documents and throw the bad guys out." He replied with a bit of certainty.

"Harry I know you've got a lot of confidence in this but how are we going to find documents that have been lost for 500 years?" Veronica Rooney asked.

"They were not lost. They were stolen. Taken from this valley by the Ministry when they defeated the council of the era." The Baron rumbled angrily.

"That means they're probably in the Department of Mysteries. That's where things go to disappear." Janice Wentworth from Ravenclaw declared.

"Great. How are we going to get into there and find anything." Hermione growled.

"I am certain you will find a way."

"Alright thank you for the information. We'll have to work on finding a way to handle that." Harry said respectfully.

"I have something I need to speak with you about Mr Potter. Alone." Helena said firmly.

"Okay. We need to discus how we are going to coordinate with the other prefects to protect the students. Are you sure you and the portraits cannot help us?"

Helena frowned, she seemed to be the spokesperson for the ghosts, "The portraits are bound to serve the headmaster of the school, they will be forced to do his bidding. We are being held hostage although some are less concerned with that than others. We will do what we can."

Harry nodded, "That's all we can ask."

"We had better start the meeting." Janice reminded Harry.

"Right."

==xx

Sirius walked into the sitting room with Daniel, Emma and Tilly. They had been discussing the baby and what they would do now. When they saw Sirius Daniel jumped up and grabbed a brass candlestick.

"Sirius Black at your service. Please relax if I had meant you harm I could have done so at my leisure." He said calmly with a smile. His left hand held out in a gesture meant to project a calm invitation to sit again. His right hand was in his smoking jacket pocket.

"Yeah right. You'll forgive me for not trusting someone I've just met after being kidnapped and hunted for the last six months." Daniel declared. He noticed Emma had stepped in front of Tilly who was standing blinking.

"Mr Granger. I do not expect you to trust me, I do expect you not to try to brain me with one of my own family heirlooms. You are in one of my familial estates. On the Isle of Mann. Outside of the usual Ministry control. As such we are safe and secure."

Daniel looked confused, "Okay so why are you wanting to help us?"

Sirius walked over to the liquor cabinet and floated several glasses and a bottle out. "Because your daughter is my godson's lover. No more reason than that."

Emma set her candlestick down, "That seems like a rather shallow reason."
Sirius sighed, "Oh no Mrs Granger. That is not shallow at all. That is one of the deepest and most honorable reasons in the entire world."

"So because Hermione is Harry's girlfriend you want to protect us?"

"Exactly. Because if you died that would make Hermione sad, which would make Harry sad and hurt and I don't want that to happen. Perfectly logical. Now let's have some Brandy. This was a beautiful vintage 1783. Chateau Du Monfort." Sirius said smiling.

"How about you bring your hand out of your pocket and we'll talk." Daniel said smiling back.

"Oh. Yes. Well I hope you don't get sick easily." he said hopefully.

"Well, not very easily." Emma said.

Sirius shrugged and pulled his hand out. It was purplish and blackened with the ring finger missing.

"Oh my god. What happened?" Emma asked as she moved forward, "That looks like some serious necrosis."

"Oh yes. My cousin and I had a slight disagreement. I thought she was still using the normal neurotoxin she loved. The one that caused paralysis so I took the counter to it. Seems she had learned and switched it up with this derivative of the zombie rot." He said casually looking at his hand.

"Well what sort of treatment can you get?" Emma was concerned, "Is it contagious?"

"Oh no. There is utterly no cure, just a way of slowing it down to make it last longer so you can put your final affairs in order. You see its a cursed quasi-virus. Somewhere between a living creature and a simple disease. It can only affect magicals so you'll all be okay."

"So you're dying?" Daniel asked.

"I suppose so. Although aren't we all dying? I'm just doing it at a slightly accelerated rate." he said opening the brandy bottle and filling the glasses. "Which is something I want to talk to all of you about."
Daniel set the candlestick down when Emma put her hand on his arm. "What about?"

"Well you see Harry is well set up with his wealth and will have quite a nice inheritance here in a month or two. However as his wife's family you have been really shafted. I mean your home got blown up, your dental clinic got destroyed, you've been chased all over the country by my bitch cousin, its all been really rather much of a bummer don't you think?"

"Totally man." Daniel said sarcastically. Although he did seem a bit more appreciative when he sniffed the brandy Sirius handed him. "So what do you propose to do about it?"

"Well when I die you will inherit this estate Daniel. You and your wives will be quite well taken care of. There are some cars in the garage, over 200 acres with farmland, vineyards and fishing rights. Plus a bunch of money I managed to steal from some of the Death Eaters. All this will be yours when I die though. Free, clear and legally." Sirius proudly beamed.

"Oh. Well. Uh okay. And you don't want anything for this?" Daniel asked in a concerned tone.

Sirius thought for a moment, his right eye twitching, "Uh no. No. Just stay here, sit out the war. Its a real nice comfortable place. The elves can bring you anything you want or need. Just enjoy yourselves."

The Grangers nodded, "Sounds great. I guess. Thank you." Emma said suspiciously.

"No. Its not a problem." Sirius twitched, "If you'll excuse me I need to go now. I'll check in on you but feel free. There are clothes upstairs in the bedrooms for all of you, so enjoy. Make yourselves at home." He giggled quickly before clamping down on it with a snort. He looked at them awkwardly then spun on his heels and vanished with a clap of collapsing vacuum.

Daniel swallowed his brandy. "Well that was odd. Maybe we ought to send a note to Hermione."

"Yes. I agree." Emma said sipping her own.

Tilly grinned, "Wow. You guys are rich. That's so cool."

Dan and Emma stared at each other in wonder.

==xx

Sirius landed back at his bunker. Frowning he paced, "Okay Lily. I took care of them. They'll be safe and taken care of. So now we don't have to worry about the Grangers. So back to the bigger fish we need to be frying. Right Jamsie?"

Sirius looked at the Prophet and its article on the new Hogwarts. How much better things were going to be. "Well with this crowd up at Hogwarts I think I need to pay a visit to the old almamater don't you Jamsie?"

"Well of course security is going to be higher, and I know Lily I need to watch out as we cannot afford to have any collateral damage." He was pacing. "But I'm on a time limit for getting too damn complacent with that bitch. I got cocky dammit. I should have expected her to be ready to go lethal on me."
He stopped his pacing and winced as he looked at the list on his wall. "Dammit most of these people are going to get away Jamsie. I failed Harry. I wanted to get rid of all of them. All of them." He growled. Hitting his fists on the wall he left a black bloody smear from his right hand.
"Its not good enough Lily. That bastard Mulciber is up there teaching. You remember what he liked to do to little girls. He has to pay for that. He has to be stopped before he does that."
He stopped and started tilting his head like he was listening. "Yeah. Yeah that would work. Lils I love you. I know what's not to love."

==xx

The meeting had ended leaving Harry and Hermione alone with the ghosts. A plan had been developed which they hoped would keep the students safe without antagonizing the alleged professors too much.

"So what did you need to talk to me about?" Harry asked.

When Helena looked pointedly at Hermione Harry shook his head, "Anything you say to me can be said in front of her. I'll just tell her anyways."

Helena took in Hermione's satisfied expression and said, "Very well. Should you find the Articles of Establishment and reform the council what will you do afterwards?"

Harry looked at Hermione then rubbed the back of his neck, "I hadn't really thought that far ahead."

Helena smiled, "We had suspected as much, Mr Potter. You should be aware that if you pursue this course of action the magical world will be altered irrevocably."

Harry gulped nervously as Hermione frowned, "What do you mean by that?"

"The Ministry has fallen into a dangerous path of despotism, evil and darkness. With your actions to dissolve their hold over this school and valley you will have to destroy the government. Your resistance will have to become a revolution. A revolution that will require leadership, heroes, icons and perhaps martyrs." She finished sadly.

Harry stood quietly blinking while Hermione bit her lip in deep thought.

"You had perhaps thought this would be some childish game where you'd push the bad guys out of your school and there would be a celebration. That there would be no repercussions form your actions?"

"I hadn't thought that far." Hermione said. "But we have to do something. We cannot allow this to happen."

Harry took a deep breath, "I admit I hadn't considered that but they've already killed several of our friends. So the war is joined no matter what we do."
"You are so like Godric my young friend." Helena said with a smile. "I remember him from my youth. You will do well as a leader."

Harry looked at the floor awkwardly before looking up into her translucent silvery eyes, "I will do my best milady. Until we can have peace."

"There is one other thing. You seek the anchors that hold the Dark Lord to this world I know of one."
"How do you know that we do so?"
"The dead know things." The Baron growled with a cocky grin. "The walls hear things. Never assume you are secure in your privacy unless you take measures."

Harry nodded, "I see. So what do you know about it?"

"It lies in the aspect of this room where lost things go. Seek it there and you shall claim it. The dead may not for it is of your world not ours." She intoned.

Harry and Hermione glanced at each other before saying, "But what is it?"

Helena seemed to become more substantial as the hairs on the back of Harry's neck began to stand up, the air temperature dropped several degrees rapidly until Harry saw his breath. "My mother's diadem he defiled. He tricked me so he could learn of it. So he could use it for his vile ritual. My honor is stained by my shame. I charge thee Harry Potter seek and destroy the Diadem of Ravenclaw. For your reasons and my honor."

Harry nodded, "I will. I will do so."

The temperature rose slowly as the elder ghosts turned and left, Helena the last to leave looking sad and pained. Myrtle waited a moment longer then turned and left with a melancholy smile.

"Well that went good." Harry chattered between cold lips. "Now let's get back to the common room."

Hermione nodded, "Yeah. You better get behind me under the cloak. I'd probably stab you in the back I'm so cold."

He chuckled as he threw the cloth around them, "We could find a broom closet and warm up."
"Later Lothario. Later we have work to do still."

==xx

The next day Hermione woke up to find Toki standing by her bed, "Toki? Is everything okay?"

"Yes Mistress. Toki was tasked to give Mistress a letter from Mistress parents." She said handing the sealed envelope over. It had a drawing of a smiling tooth holding a toothbrush in one hand and a shield in the other.

"Oh. Thank you." She said before looking up at the others in her dorm. "Are you going to stay here?"

"No mistress. Toki was only able to get into castle because Toki is friends with some of elves in kitchen. Toki does not wish to put kitchen elves in danger with headmaster."
"Oh. Okay. Tell my parents I love them and to take care of themselves."
"Toki will tell them Mistress." She said with a smile before vanishing.

"So a letter from your parents?" Lavender asked coming over to sit by Hermione on the edge of her bed.

"Yeah." Hermione distractedly replied as she opened the envelope to start reading.

Parvati and Fay had drifted over to be close by when Hermione started grinning then laughed.

"So its good news?"
"Well I'm going to be a big sister. Although I have no idea who this Tilly person is."
Lavender laughed, "Your dad got someone else pregnant? I didn't think muggles went in for that."

"Well you know dad. He's not exactly conventional." Hermione said.

"What else do they say?"

"That they are safe and secure and that." Hermione stopped talking as she stared at the paper in shock. "They are on an estate that Sirius Black is going to leave them when he dies."

She folded the paper up then hid it in her trunk. "I need to tell Harry about this."

"Good news about your parents though." Fay said.

==xx

Hermione told Harry about the letter and what it said. He shrugged with a frown, "That seems odd. Sirius gave them an estate?"

"Yeah. And he's dying."

"I talked to Remus last night about the Articles. He said he'll look into it. Doesn't your parents have a magic mirror too?"

"Yeah they do. Dad said he hadn't used it because he didn't know if it could get tapped or traced."

"Well remind him that according to Remus these are paired and can only talk to the one on the other end of the pair." Harry said.

"Right. I have way too much stress on my head." She said with a sigh.

"Well we better get used to it as we're going to get a lot more dumped on it before too long." Harry grimly observed.

==xx

Sirius stood in the Shrieking Shack looking up at Hogwart's castle. His mind though was a thousand years and a million miles away. Thinking back to his days here with James, Remus and Lily.

Flashback

The four Marauders were sitting on a log enjoying a late spring day. In only a few more days they would be declared free and clear members of society.

"So this little club of Dumbledore's. You going to join up?" Sirius asked.

James sighed, "Lils and I agreed we're in. We have to."
"Do you really?" Peter Pettigrew asked with a frown.

"You know what's happening out there. The kind of things their doing to muggles, to people like Lily's family. Look at the way Snivelous and his crowd has been treating her and the other muggle-borns. You better not be telling me you agree with that Pete." James scowled at the mousy brown haired fellow Marauder.

Peter shook his head rapidly, "No no of course not. But I just don't know if I could do any good. You guys are all so much better and more powerful than I am."

"Petie brother you are a sneaky little bugger who can get into and out of the tightest places. The intelligence you could get us would do more good than any flashy explosion Jamsie and I can do." Sirius said laying his arm over the shorter friend.

"You think so?"
Remus nodded, "I know you've certainly explored the castle quite well. Which reminds me do you plan on returning Margaret's knickers?"
Peter laughed, "I thought you might like to since you're the one with the crush on her."

Sirius and James laughed when Remus blushed. "See what I mean you sneaky git." Sirius barked.

Flashback

Sirius stirred as he heard the bells of the castle tolling the call for lunch. He said, "Well Peter might have turned out a slimy little piece of trash but he did serve his purposes. Now to see if they ever closed off all of the tunnels yet. I wonder whatever happened to that marvelous little map we map we made? I'll have to contact Remmie to find out. I hope Harry has it." He laughed.

Moving carefully he crawled through the tunnel until he was at the base of the whomping willow. Reaching out to tap the particular knot among the roots he shifted into his animal form and ran across the lawn until he reached the large stone building that was used for Care of Creatures. He had read the paper about the new era of Hogwarts and how the professors would teach proper doctrine and classwork.

Going around to the back of the building he shifted back to his human form, slowly creeping low along the wall he came to the back doors. Looking around them he saw the creatures that must be for today's lesson. Mulciber must have been at the castle eating and enjoying himself.

Sirius grinned as he would have time to prepare. Gordon Mulciber had been a friend of Voldemort's and part of his inner circle. He was a middle aged man with a bad habit of touching little girls and using the imperious on people. His son Terrance had been one of Snape's friends and did not like his girlfriends to be willing. Using the Imperious and other spells to make sure they obeyed him. He would be dealt with soon enough. At the very least Sirius would thin out the herd here at the school.

He was just getting started when there were voices coming. He had managed to hide when Gordo and Antonin Dolohov entered. Antonin was pushing a pair of Hufflepuff first years in front of him.

"Now young ladies you have not been showing the proper deference to your professor." Gordon oily declared. "As such you have been given to me to help teach you that when your betters give you an order that you simply must obey it."

"What did you do to Jennifer?" The one girl sniffled quickly. Her chin was thrust out even though she seemed to be trembling in fear.

"Miss Baxter will be waking up in the Hospital wing. This silly notion of attempting thwart our authority is simply not going to be tolerated. Now we shall begin our lesson." Mulciber said drawing his wand.

Sirius frowned as he had not been able to do enough to prepare for something, also with two innocents nearby he would be limited in what he could do. However glancing over at the magnificent Aethonian Horse in the stall he had an idea. Drawing his own wand he cast a switching spell replacing Mulciber's dick with the horse's shaft.

Mulciber cried out in pained shock when the spell hit him. A moment later he collapsed to his knees as the blood flow in the human body just was not able to compensate for such an appendage when suddenly transferred. Even a magical body would have to have a moment to adapt.

Antonin did not bother to help his comrade but grabbed one of the girls and held her in front of him. Sirius marked him for special treatment in his mind.

Sirius dropped down from the rafters where he had been hiding onto Mulciber's back driving him to the ground and causing him to cry out again as several ribs snapped from the sudden application of force on him.

Antonin snapped up and did not waste time on words, he launched one of his signature sizzling fuzzy purple lightning bolts at Sirius who dodged sideways, kicking Mulciber over when he did so.

"Annie you might as well give up. You know touching little girls puts you in a special place in hell." Sirius calmly stated to the tall Slavic man.

"Sirius Black. The killer of killers. I am glad to finally face you." Antonin sneered dramatically.

"Well if you want to face me how about letting the girls go." Sirius replied with his own sneer.

Antonin shoved the girl he was holding to his right into the other girl knocking her down. He cast a binding spell to tie them together. "Satisfied now Black?"

"No not really but I will be in a few moments when your head is mounted on a pike." Sirius smiled sweetly.

Antonin began to very methodically move as he fired a rapid sequence of spells. Sirius had already begun moving and tried to avoid casting so that the girls would be in danger. This did limit his actions a bit.

"You were a fool to come here Black." Dolohov crowed as he managed to slice Sirius' left ear off with a spell.

Sirius tried to back away from the other man but ran into the solid block wall. He had to jump as part of the wall suddenly grew tentacles and tried to pull him into it thanks to one of Dolohov's spells.

Diving forward Sirius rolled into Dolohov tackling him. Head butting him in the groin Sirius got a momentary respite. He used that to leap out of the huge barn doors and shift into his canine body. Running as fast as he could for the Forbidden Forest.

Dolohov staggered out after him firing several powerful spells that left huge gouts and divots in the lawn. Sirius was clipped by one and had his tail singed before he managed to leap over a berm and was running through the under brush. Cursing himself over and over for getting cocky and making a huge mistake.

Shifting back to human so he could lean against a large tree he cursed, "Dammit Jamsie. Why did you let me get so cocky. Yes I know I said I could handle it. I was wrong. I was wrong dammit."

Panting he staggered to his feet, he had taken only a few steps when he was suddenly surrounded by centaurs. They had their bows up and arrows pointed at him with grim expressions on their faces. Looking around Sirius had absolute visual confirmation of the term outnumbered. Raising his hands he said, "Klaatu Barada Nikto."

When their leader came forward to claim his wand Sirius quipped, "Not so much of a movie fan eh? Understandable. I bet its a real bitch to get cable out here."

With a grunt the leader pointed towards a path, indicating Sirius had two options start walking or find out what a pincushion felt like.

==xx

Harry and his friends did not know what happened but after lunch the entire student body was sent back to their common rooms and all classes were canceled for the day. Speculation was rampant and ranged from Dumbledore was coming with an army to liberate them all to they were all going to be held hostage until their parents ransomed them.

Harry signaled to the others of his group they need to go upstairs. A few snickered when Harry, Neville and the small posse of girls went up the boy's stairs.

"Okay Harry what is on your mind?" Luna asked tucking her legs under her on his bed.

"Last night I talked to Remus Lupin about the articles of Establishment. He said he would see what he could do about finding a way to get into the Ministry. Right now though we have to deal with the school. Luna what would it take to form this coven you had wanted?"

"We would have to form a circle under the full moon, join our blood in a fire and chant a ritual of unification. That is all we would have to do. The orgy is optional."

Harry snickered slightly but said, "We have a few days before the full moon so we'll have to be careful until then. But its about time we did this and stopped putting it off."

"I agree." Neville said.

"So any ideas on what the emergency is today?"

"I don't know about that but I had a thought. We need into the Ministry? My Great Uncle Algernon does something in the Department of Mysteries. He might be able to get at least a couple of us in to look for those things." Neville pointed out.

Harry grinned, "Right. I'll contact Remus and have him see what he can do about that. Hermione talk to your parents on the mirror. See if your dad forgot about that or if they lost it."

"Right. I'm surprised by dad. I thought I would have to get an answering service when I gave him that thing." Hermione said.

"What about the rest of us?" Lavender asked looking at Ron.

"Ron you and the others go back downstairs and make sure no one is panicking or does anything stupid. Maybe share the classes and things we've learned so everyone is on the same page." Harry directed everyone firmly.

"Got it."

Everyone got busy with their tasks.

==xx

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jwadams3: Thank you. I am a major Trek nerd so it tends to bleed into my normal world too. I'll try to keep it up.