Disclaimer: HP and TS universe, no mine.
A/N: Thanks for the favs and follows. Read on.
Aidan Bryce Wynter
August 1989
Potter Manor
The next day, at breakfast they all were feeling refreshed. Sirius and Leo were going to have a talk after they were done and so they left to stroll the grounds of the manor as soon as they were finished with their breakfast.
"Death didn't seemed surprised when he met us yesterday, did he?" Ada asked in the silence. The three masters were all lost in their thoughts when Ada spoke up.
"He rarely is surprised by anything. And the lady has asked his consent to bless you." Anna replied.
"Ah, yes. She did, right." Ada said nodding.
"What was going on with you Anna?" Nick asked her frowning, remembering yesterday's panic.
"I am sorry about that. I just was feeling out of sorts yesterday. Its just I feel like I'm missing something." She replied frustrated.
"You are? That's not good." Nick said getting alarmed.
Ada too looked worried.
"Its nothing serious. Do- Hakuna Matata. I just... the last master... I feel like I should know them or something. Totally weird. Cause I know most people in this time. But I feel like I forgot them... Which is utterly impossible." She said frustrated.
"May be you should leave the topic for now. Death did say we could recognize him or her when we go to Hogwarts. I take he will be a student there. Or already is." Nick said trying to reassure her.
Anna just nodded back.
"We need to discuss what we are going to tell the Tonks tomorrow. Should we tell them all we had told Sirius and Regulus or keep some things?" Ada asked changing the subject, to take Anna's mind away from the trouble.
"I think if they all knew the same things then we wouldn't have to act around them. So I vote for the whole story, I mean what we told them yesterday." Nick voiced his thoughts.
They both looked at Anna and she too nodded her head.
"Alright. But what about Dora? Do we include her as well?" Ada added.
"Yeah. I think it would be alright. And if she is going to be an auror like last time then she could be our in, inside the ministry." Anna suggested.
"Alright. Then let's hope the dinner goes well tomorrow." Ada said, getting up.
"So should we go to Gringotts now? While we would see what the Tonks say tomorrow, we could still get other things done today. My identity, searching an orphanage in Australia. The muggle-borns. We need to talk to them. Arrange a schedule to teach them." She added as she moved towards the door.
The other two followed her, listening to her listing various things they still needed to do.
-x-
Gringotts
Bloodaxe had looked astonished on seeing Ada and had commented wryly that there was never a tedious moment when it came to his interaction with them.
He had insisted that she get checked up by their healer before doing the ritual to make her new identity. They had made the preparations for Grindelwald but they used them for Ada instead. So after she was given the all clear by Bloodtooth and was done with the ritual, she took the blood test again and her new result was shown -
-x-
Adelaide Esmeralda Black
Blood Status : Half-blood
Mother : April Skyler, Muggle-born.
Father : Sirius Orion Black, Pure-blood.
Magic Status : Not bound, Not mature.
Ability : Air Elemental, Animagus, Metamorphmagus, Parselmouth, Healer.
Affinity : Charms, Dark Arts, Defence, Flying, Healing, Herbology, Legilimency, Magical Creatures, Occlumency, Potions, Transfiguration, Warding.
Inheritances : Black Trust Vault.
Family Tree :
-x-
"There are no changes at all. Not with your abilities or affinity. I don't understand." Nick said confused as they watched the result.
"Well I had said I am still me. What were you expecting?" Ada asked frowning.
"Well maybe some changes and what about your gifts from the lady?" He shot back.
"Those gifts aren't shown on the test. Only the lady and the blessed knows about them." Bloodaxe answered.
"Alright." Nick said shrugging.
"Well your family tree is changed." Anna added bringing their attention to the tree.
"Yeah." Ada said slowly taking in all the names.
"We will need to keep my old test hidden, better yet destroy it so nobody realizes its the same." She added, thinking about it.
The others nodded at that.
"Now this is done with so let's get to the next step." Anna said sighing.
The other two just glanced at her not commenting on her low disposition.
Bloodaxe had realized something was wrong as well and was therefore eager to get them out of his office.
-x-
Potter Manor
They returned to the manor after they were done for the day.
It had taken some searching but they found an orphanage where Ada could live for few days till Sirius came for her, in Perth, Australia.
They had stepped to all the major cities to search for a crowded but small orphanage. While they would have to modify most memories there, it was inconspicuous so blending in won't be a problem.
Her story was going to be that she was sent to live with April Skyler's sister who died when she was still a baby leaving her in the orphanage. She had been to one foster home but it hadn't worked out for her. Due to her accidental magic.
And while there were magical communities there she wasn't identified as a magical child by them yet.
Sirius was going to find her when he learned about her and searched the records and traced April's movements when she lived in London.
There was a risk of Dumbledore connecting her convenient placement in the orphanage with Nick's. But there was nothing to it. They had to go with the plan.
When Grindelwald enters the scene it was going to get more complicated.
The other task, deciding schedule for the muggle-borns training has gone well. They were going to start teaching them from next week. Starting with the basics as Anna did with Ada and moving forward. They had secured an old abandoned place in Scotland to teach them somewhere safe. It was getting renovated by the goblins and would be ready soon.
Their interaction with the employees had been minimum, even if they were trying to get acquainted with them, so Harry turning into Ada wouldn't be a problem. As they hadn't revealed their identities.
When they moved towards the library they were met by a peculiar sight. Peculiar in that Sirius and Leo were chatting amicably with each other. It seemed they were discussing a book which was bizarre in itself, Sirius talking about something academic.
They decided to go with the flow and joined them at the table, sharing their days events with them.
-x-
Marauders' Home
The next evening Sirius and Ada were waiting anxiously for the Tonks to arrive. Their reaction to Ada would decide the course of the evening for them. While they were sure that they would be happy about the blessing, if they would help them or not, remained undecided.
Soon the moment of truth was upon them and they were welcoming the Tonks family into their house.
They were confused to see a girl instead of the boy they had heard Sirius talk about. After they were all seated in the living room with some drinks they were finally introduced to Ada and told all that happened since late.
Sirius did most of the talking, with Ada adding things in between. To say they were all shocked would be an understatement.
Dora was glancing between Sirius and Ada, realizing she did look like his daughter and she knew Harry's eyes, having seen them when he was small, while most never may make the connection, since she was told about the change she could recognize them. Andy had similar thoughts running through her head. While they all congratulated the father and daughter for their fortune, they didn't speak more.
The dinner was spent with Sirius and Ted making stilted conversation, as the females all remained quite. Ada was worried about their reaction and kept glancing at Sirius, who himself was anxious but tried not to show it.
Ted was the only one amongst their guests who seemed least affected by the news. It may be because of his muggle upbringing or due to less knowledge about the information they were given. While he was equally bewildered as his wife and daughter he had taken what they had said about no-majs and parasites seriously. Well it seemed to Ada at least that he wasn't just dismissive of them.
After they had left for home after promising they would contact them soon, Sirius and Ada sat on the couch in silence thinking over everything that happened.
"Were we... Should we have waited to talk with them?" Ada said biting her lip, breaking the silence.
Sirius sighed at her question.
"Don't know Ada. But we needed them to know. We will need to break the news soon. Its a miracle Dumbledore hasn't come yet asking what had happened. They will have the control over the Potter estates when the news is announced. And while I know they wouldn't side with Bumblebee, if we want to use the seats and manor, then we need them." He said sighing again.
"This is difficult." Ada frowned.
"You're telling me. Imagine not even knowing most things about what you are doing and wondering if you are doing the right thing following a bunch of kids?" Sirius replied sarcastically.
Ada just grimaced at his reply.
"Sorry kid. I know you what you are telling is the truth. I have seen enough proof of that but its still daunting task, listening to kids, however intelligent and knowledgeable they are."
They had taken him along with them once while scouting out the corrupted and had tried to show the proof that things were bad with the no-majs. So he knew to trust them but he was worried about the person they were getting orders from. While they had said it was someone like the goddess, he still felt anxious about it. Of course he was, they were just a bunch of kids and handing them such a task... Though he sometimes wondered about their behavior. It was like adults. So mature. But then they would behave like their age and he would dismiss his thoughts. But he was left wondering still.
"Hey Sirius, whatcha thinking about?" Ada asked bringing him out of his thoughts.
"I'm thinking how you, growing up in England, could still butcher English like that?" Sirius said smiling, leaving his thoughts in the back of his mind.
"Its Anna's influence. She really doesn't have any proper speech. One second she would speak in English accent and then it could change into American. Or even French." Ada said shaking her head.
"She's going to want to work on that before Hogwarts." He replied.
"I don't think she cares." Ada said shrugging.
"Hmm, I don't think she does either."
They soon were off to bed wondering what the future was going to bring them.
-x-
Potter Manor
'Boy Who Lived Dead' St. Mungos confirm the news.
Died due to Dragon Pox.
By Special Correspondent Rita Skeeter
Yes readers you read it right. Harry Potter, the boy who just a few years ago had been hailed as hero, ending the terrifying reign of the Dark Lord, He Who Must Not Be Named…
When he was just a year old, Harry Potter had become a hero of the wizarding world in one night...
We all remember the haunting days of last decade-
-x-
"We tried our best but we couldn't do anything to save him. It was a lethal infection."
Healers voice their regrets.
By A. Fenetre
It was a sad atmosphere around St. Mungos on this Saturday as the news about the demise of Boy who lived spread like a wild fire around the hospital.
At first everyone was in denial. Of course they thought our hero couldn't die. Not like that. But when Healer Bennett confirmed the news everyone was in tears and trying frantically to catch a glimpse of the hero -
According to the healers, the immune system of Harry Potter was weak. They think it may be attributed to the killing curse cast upon him. Nobody knows how he was able to survive it -
-x-
"And yet every-fricking-body knows that it was cast. How did they know that? Nobody was even around then. It wasn't like the were all watching it happen live in their homes on the TV." Ada ranted as she read the news in the Daily Prophet.
It was two weeks after the change and after having a long discussion with the Tonks, which involved many tears and promises, they had revealed the story to the masses.
The Black daughters of the Tonks family had made their minds to help them all in their efforts. They were going to join the training the muggle-borns were receiving along with Ted, who had been determined to help them from the start.
Andromeda had revealed the reason for her reluctance later to Sirius, telling him about her decision to back out of the Order before. That had led to many more questions and discussions between them.
Dora had felt over her head about it all but not one to back out of challenges has accepted her parents decision and was very happy to include a sister, not just one but two sisters and brothers in their family. She was also excited to learn to use magic without a wand and was determined to help them in their task.
-x-
'Sirius Black's cries are heartbreaking as he cradles his son's body in his arms.'
Sirius Black was recently given the custody of Harry Potter from his muggle relatives, where he had been sent after the death of his parents on the Halloween of 1981. The reunion had been very emotional, its said, when they had finally met after all those years. But fate had other plans for the happy family.
It was announced last month that he had blood adopted his godson when he was a baby, which of course leads to the conclusion that he never could have betrayed his best friends-
-x-
"Congrats, Sherlock." Dora said rolling her eyes.
"Will you two stop it? We should just be thankful that nobody suspected that it is all a lie and that Harry, well you are still Harry, is alive." Andy said from beside her.
The were all in the smaller dining hall of the Potter Manor. Eating the breakfast Folksy had made. Now that the number of people had increased it was crowded in the kitchen so they were sitting in the dining hall.
"But mum he is gone. Even if Ada is Harry, she is a girl and also has this gifts given by the lady and well that changes everything, doesn't it?" Dora asked, raising her brow.
"It doesn't change her as a person. She will be always be the same in her heart." Andy replied firmly, getting a small smile from Ada.
"The cat's out of the bag now. The reaction to this is going to be huge." Anna added her thoughts.
"Yup. We are going to have to lay low for now. When do you think we should bring Ada in the spotlight?" Nick asked, looking around the table.
"Next year. For now the younger Black is going to adopt three kids to fill the large house where he is living with his cousin, to cheer him up." Ada answered when nobody else said anything.
She was saying large 'house' but they were actually going to live in the Black Manor which was still occupied by Lord Black. After getting the truth out of Sirius, he had invited them all to live in the manor. They were all of course thrilled as it was safest place after Gringotts and Hogwarts in England, warded with many ancient wards as it was.
So they were going to make it their first base, Potter manor being the second.
He had also invited the Tonks to live with them. But they had declined, choosing instead to stay in Potter Manor, which they had received along with the Potter fortune after the will of James and Lily was finally read. People had been confused when they had learned the Dursleys weren't stipulated in the will to receive the custody of Harry but Bumblebee had managed to talk his way out of that trouble.
"Its regretful that the Potter name will be gone now though." Sirius voiced the thought which had been floating in his head for a while, in the silence.
They all looked at each other but nobody said anything. It was a sad thought for them all.
Anna, Nick and Ada avoided each others eyes, choosing to remain silent. There were many secrets they were hiding from others and one more isn't going to change anything. For even if it pertains with the Potter name it wasn't a secret they could disclose.
-x-
January, 1990
Gringotts
The aftermath of the Harry Potter's death was brutal. Well brutal for the Ministry and Dumbledore. They were blamed for leaving Harry with muggles which led to him being so vulnerable to the disease when he entered the wizarding world, as was concluded by the healers. They said the weak immune system probably due to the killing curse and his weakened state when he was taken in by Sirius, as was confirmed by Sirius himself, led to his death. Because while dragon pox was potentially fatal, it commonly affected older wizards and not the younger ones.
The healer they had gone to get Harry checked out was brought in on the truth, along with her sister, so that they wouldn't protest that information, as she had given him the vaccines against the magical diseases. So they now had two healers on their team, Septima and Marina Seneca, and the number was again going to increase with addition of Grindelwald.
Anna had gone to check in with him from time to time. Mindful of Dumbledore now taking active interest, well more of an active interest in their lives. He had realized that Harry has been blessed by magic and had agreed to keep his silence on the change. But they had asked him to give an unbreakable vow as they had asked everyone who they told about it, because they couldn't take any chances. He had taken it, surprisingly being amiable about it.
So now he had even more of an interest in them all. The Tonks helping them keep the secret has also piqued his curiosity but Andy had just stated that the Black Family have each others back always, even if they had fights before.
Family comes first for them.
The people had been inconsolable after the news and the crowd at the funeral was larger than ever seen before. The clone was buried in the graveyard of Godric's Hollow with Harry's parents. Nobody felt much guilt about lying to the masses. For the masters it was because they knew the people would have turned on Harry later for some reason or another and the others knew this as well on some level.
Christmas had been a quiet affair with gatherings organized instead of parties to honor the memory of the Boy Who Lived.
Now Anna, Ada and Nick having sneaked out of the Potter Manor, leaving a note promising to explain there absence later, were gathered around the ritual circle as the goblins completed the last of preparation for the ritual. Anna was going to participate in the ritual, while Ada and Nick would be bringing Grindelwald there and depositing his clone back at the prison.
The ritual started on the witching hour like last time. Of course this time they were doing it on Grindelwald's birthday, 7th January.
Ada and Nick had been successfully able to carry out their tasks without alerting anyone and at twilight Anna called Death again, to breath the soul in the new body. While they didn't have to stitch the soul this time, they still had to cleanse it and prepare it for ritual, hence the long time.
When Death came, they worked together and finally the new body of the ex Dark Lord was made. After breathing the soul back in the body Death had been ready to depart but was stopped by a curious Ada.
"Why does goddess Hecate calls you Life?" She had asked out of the blue when the ritual was done.
"Because I'm Life." Death stated simply.
"I know that. But Anna calls you Mrutyu and others also address you mostly as Death so..." Ada trailed off confused.
"Ah. Annabelle likes the name I think. She thinks its ironic that I'm Life 'and' Death. Jeevan and Mrutyu. While the goddess just likes to call me Life." Death answered.
When it seemed they had no more questions he left with the wind saying one last thing.
"The corrupted are still not interfering yet. But keep your guard up." He warned.
The goblins had started cleaning up as soon as Death left. The masters all followed behind the levitating figure of Gellert, as they moved him towards the infirmary.
"I still think you should have told him about the masters business." Ada muttered as she watched him thrash later. Moving her hands through his hair as she had done for Nick.
"And have him die due the heart attack it could have caused?" Anna asked sarcastically.
Ada just rolled her eyes.
"He knew there was something going on when we talked of the ritual. He knew that we couldn't just give him a new body without using Black magic which would have made the body weak and not healthy like Nick has. So he was aware of it somewhat." Anna told her to appease her.
Ada nodded thoughtfully.
"Just one master remained now." Nick said looking at them excitedly, then cringing at Anna's look.
She was still feeling like she was missing something. She had even asked Death about it and he had been totally unhelpful. Saying she was suppressing her memories. Well she had to do that if she wanted to live a normal life, they all have to. But he had just told her to sort it out herself. And if she didn't get it till they go to Hogwarts, she will definitely remember it when they get there and meet him.
Well he at least left the clue that he was a boy in this time.
So they just have to search half the population in Hogwarts. She had contemplated if it could have been Snape or some other teacher but no she was feeling that he would be a student. Like them.
She was brought out of her thoughts by Nick asking her if they should leave. She nodded her head and after informing Bloodtooth that they would return later, they left to face the Spanish inquisition waiting for them at the manor.
-x-
Jan,1990
Gringotts
The next day the three masters left early to see their fellow master.
The interrogation the night before had been brutal but they had come out unscathed after they had cited the need for secrecy. Sirius had tried to play clever telling them they all were under the vow but Anna had remained adamant that some things couldn't be told even when the others were under the vow.
And they couldn't tell them, really. There was no way they could tell others that two of the people living with them were ex dark lords. It would probably be too much to handle even with all the other things they had shared.
Nick and Anna had been adopted by Leo soon after the news about Harry was released. That they were Harry's best friends and he would have wanted it, was given as an excuse when the news was leaked. They suspected Bumblebee had let it slip to someone, but he had played innocent in it all. They would have needed to explain it sooner or later so they hadn't been much worried about it.
Now after Grindelwald was adopted the reporters would smell blood. But they were prepared for it all.
As they entered the infirmary, they were met by the familiar sight of the master staring at the wall opposite his bed.
"Must be something very important written on it for you all to stare at it like that." Anna commented to her companions as they moved towards the sole occupant of the room.
"Though I definitely can't see anything there." She added turning to look at the wall as well, as soon as they reached the bed.
"The mysteries of the universe are written there, Annabelle. You need to have the Sight to see it." Nick said sarcastically.
"Ah, I have always hated divination." She said, taking him totally serious.
Nick just rolled his eyes exasperated.
"Hello, hello. How are you all?" Gellert asked with a smile. Then his face turned sad and he said, "You both never came to visit me again."
Nick and Ada were looking at him bewildered. They had hoped giving him his memories would change his behavior, but apparently they had hoped in vain.
"I had asked them to come with me every time but they just never listened." Anna said shaking her head.
"Its alright dear. I know it wasn't your fault." He said consoling to Anna.
"Well, why don't we leave it behind? You were probably too busy to come visit an old man." He said jovially.
"We were just trying to avoid even more scrutiny from Bumblebee." Ada said scowling.
"Oh, of course, of course. How could I have forgotten my old friend? Well, well, well, this is going to be interesting. Very interesting. I can just feel it." He said happily, clapping his hand and getting up and out of the bed.
While the other two were still feeling incredulous at his behavior Anna was totally at ease, as she was used to it from few other people in her lives.
He would get along well with Aro, she thought, as she watched him blabber on some more.
-x-
They had soon selected an identity and back story for him and were in the process of getting his blood test done.
Bloodaxe had raised an intrigued eyebrow on seeing the result and they were impatient to read it as well. It showed -
-x-
Aidan Bryce Wynter
Blood Status : Half-blood
Mother : Meredith Brooke, Squib.
Father : Leonard Zacharias Wynter, Pure-blood.
Magic Status : Not bound, Not mature.
Ability : Aether Elemental, Animagus, Healer, Ward Master, Rune Master.
Affinity : Alchemy, Arithmancy, Curse Breaking, Charms, Dark Arts, Defence, Flying, Healing, Legilimency, Magical Creatures, Occlumency, Potions, Rituals, Runes, Transfiguration, Warding.
Inheritances : Wynter Trust Vault.
Family Tree :
-x-
"Aether elemental?!" This time Ada was the first to exclaim her astonishment.
"And you have got 16 affinities." Anna whistled.
"Man, if that ain't cool!" She added looking at the result still.
"Seriously Anna! He is an Aether elemental and all you could think about are his affinities." Nick said exasperated.
"Well I knew he would be one of the two. Either Aether or Water or Ice. So now we know that the last master is a boy and is water or ice elemental, which is the same thing and is in Hogwarts." She said absently, eyes still on the result.
"What are you looking at with so much concentration?" Ada asked frowning.
"His affinities." Anna replied with a thoughtful face.
"What about them?" Gellert, Aidan now, asked curiously.
"You have got 16 affinities, Nick have 14, me and Ada have 12. I think they depend on the time we have spend in the timeline now. Cause I know I don't have just 12 affinities." She said scowling.
"You are just jealous, that I got more." Aidan singsonged.
"No, I'm not." Anna said with a scowl on her face still.
"Yes, you are." He replied still in that singsong voice.
"No, I'm not." She said mimicking his tone.
"Children." Nick said, halting their argument.
"Why don't we take this to the manor? Bloodaxe must have other things to do, rather than watching you two fight like cat and dog." He continued, ushering them outside the office, thanking Bloodaxe as he went.
Bloodaxe did heaved a sigh of relief after they were gone.
He hoped he wouldn't have to see them anytime soon, again.
-x-
They were ready with Aidan's back story and arrangements for an orphanage. He was going to live in Paris, France; unlike Ada who was going to be found in Australia. His back story - He was the child of a mistress that Nick's father had. He didn't knew that she was squib. His mother had left him in the orphanage soon after his birth. So he had a tragic, sad past. Now both his parents were dead. They had started searching for him - that's what they were going to tell nosy people – when he had appeared on Nick's blood test, which Leo had taken him and Anna to Gringotts for.
He portrayed himself as a jovial kid. A very jovial kid. Had a happy and a little eccentric demeanor. But they all were eccentric in their ways, he was just more different and stood out amongst others, with his rosy cheeks, golden blonde wavy hairs, and an infectious smile playing on his lips always. Though the gray-blue mischievous eyes of his, were the real eye catcher.
The Blacks and Tonks had accepted him happily in the family. They had been alerted something like that would happen soon, so they hadn't been blindsided.
Now only Ada was remaining. Well she did live with them. But needed to be publicly included with them. That would happen sometime later in the year. For now the public must have had enough of the surprises, they thought.
They were going to try and use their adoption as a precursor to bring along the laws which they had discussed about. Bringing the magical orphans under their protection.
With them safely under the care of Blacks, they could now concentrate on bringing other orphans back into their world.
They wouldn't even need Nick to use his influence as Voldemort with the pure-bloods, as they got a trump card now. That had been a surprise to all of them.
And was going to leave the wizarding world in a whirlwind as well, they were sure of it.
-x-
May, 1990, Potter Manor
"So I can't use it at all?" Aidan asked with a sad face as he looked up at her with a pout. He had his head on his arms, which were folded on the table.
"That trick doesn't work on me." Anna said to him informative.
"Most of the time." She muttered under her breath.
The masters were all sitting in the library of the Potter Manor. It was a usual routine. Even if they had the whole of Black manor at their disposal, Potter manor was still like a base for them.
"And no, you can't use it. If Bumblebee ever realized that we are elementals then it may be catastrophic for us. We all have this simple elements to control. But Ether isn't an element you would want to mess around with. What with its destructive properties…" Anna trailed off as Aidan interrupted her.
"It had healing properties as well. And can be controlled. I can control it perfectly." Aidan protested.
"I don't doubt your ability to control it but – and I know it has healing properties as well. But it can be detected easily in our atmosphere unlike our elements which are a part of it. Bumblebee would sense its presence from all the way around the world." She explained patiently.
"But I could create a field to keep it contained and undetectable from outside." He argued.
"Ether is a temperamental element Aidan. If you lost control for even a sec-" Anna was interrupted again.
"This is so not fair." Aidan huffed, getting up with a scowl and moving towards the back of the library.
Anna heaved a sigh.
"Thanks for your help." She said sarcastically to the other two.
"Ah, you handled him well. Don't worry he will forget about it soon." Nick said to her encouragingly.
"Yup. He's just a big baby. He will be distracted by some other toy soon." Ada said dismissive.
"The rosy cheeks do bring out the baby side, don't they?" Anna said smiling.
"I heard that. And I am sure they would be gone soon. And then you wouldn't be able to make fun of them." Aidan said returning with the scowl still etched on his face.
Anna thought of trying to defend herself but just closed her mouth, shrugging.
It was true she did talk of those chubby cheeks most of the time when the topic concerned Aidan and if he was a baby she would have loved to pull them as the people in the orphanage would do with her cheeks. But she wasn't suicidal. Not this early in a life anyway, she thought wryly.
"I know what you are thinking. But you are never going to get what you want." Aidan added dramatically.
"Alright. I am going for a walk. See you all later." Anna said standing up with a roll of her eyes.
After she was gone Aidan turned to other two.
"No." Ada interrupted whatever he was going to say.
"Come on. You didn't even know what I was going to say." He pleaded.
"Oh, don't we? It means you aren't going to try and convince us to lie to Anna on your behalf while you go against her and use the Ether." Nick asked with an arched brow.
"Ah, well you caught me. But I promise you nothing bad would happen. I can control it easily and I wouldn't lose control. It won't be detected even by her." He said reassuringly.
When they still looked resolute he changed tactics.
"Come on. Don't you want to see it? See the element coveted by all." He asked enticing.
"Or are you too scared of her to defy her?" he challenged.
"I am scared of her." Nick said plainly.
"Yup. Me too." Ada said shuddering.
Aidan's winning smile turn to a frown at their reactions.
"Chickens." He taunted in final bid to change their minds.
"We have been called worse." Nick said amused.
Aidan slouched back silent and pouting again.
"Man, you are such a baby." Ada said laughing.
He didn't react in anyway.
"Ah, come on. You know she's only trying to be… to protect us. If Bumblebee got a hint of our real power he may feel threatened. According to him people who have power shouldn't use them. Only those with the responsibilities thrust upon them are capable of doing good. Not those who try to take control." Ada said with a roll of her eyes.
"Like him? He was thrust upon the pedestal he is on right now, wasn't he? So he is doing good. He wouldn't take control, don't want to be in the position of power but still has the most control in the wizarding world." Aidan said frowning.
Nick sighed.
"What's on your mind?" Aidan asked.
"Just thinking how difficult life is going to be when we come under his ever unending scrutiny in Hogwarts." He answered.
"Oh its going to be a roller coaster ride." Aidan said smirking.
The other two laughed.
"What?" He asked frowning again.
"Anna had said it would be a roller coaster ride if Bellatrix had been with us in Hogwarts." Ada explained.
"Oh, I am no less than Bellatrix. We all are more than enough to cause my dear old friend a pounding headache." Aidan said, rubbing his hands in anticipation.
"You know about Bellatrix as well?" Nick asked curious.
"Had nothing better to do than keep up with the news outside." Aidan shrugged.
"Azkaban prisoners don't get those privileges." Ada signed.
"And they shouldn't. Despicable people that they are." Aidan said in a mock haughty voice.
The other two just ignored him.
"When are we going to spring them? We hadn't been on any adventure for so long now." Ada said wistful.
"It's the calm before the storm honey. Come next year, its going to be one adventure after another." Nick said knowingly.
"What do you know?" Ada asked leaning forward curiously.
"Well you didn't hear it from me. But I think there is a connection between Anna's restlessness and the 5th master-"
"Of course there is. She feels restless because she doesn't remember him." Ada said rolling her eyes.
"Yes, I know. Now if you would let me continue. My question is, why doesn't she remember him? It must be something related to her, that forced her to forget him right? Death said she hid those memories intentionally. So what could have happened to make her take that step? She even remembers Seth." Nick said looking at them with both brows raised.
They had all collaborated their stories so that they all knew the things which were important. But they had also shared things which could turn important like Seth, and his history. So Aidan and Nick knew about him. Anna was going to search for him now that the others knew about him as well. Though she was sure she would see him in Hogwarts sometime in the years anyway.
Then the others had added their knowledge of people from the time before, to search for more of the soul spirits. They had a list of people who could be one, but they had decided to start the search after they start Hogwarts. Because they couldn't start to meet people right then. They weren't familiar enough with anyone for that.
"And I think she's going to recruit some more people to help us. Other than the witches and wizards. I had seen her searching the library for information about vampires." Nick added more in a hushed voice.
"I hadn't remembered Seth, until after I have seen him in the orphanage. So I did hid his memories as well. Of course if it was an emergency Death would have just told me about it. But we are in a state of stagnation – quiescence right now so... But if there is an emergency then I assure you Mort would tell us. And about the vampires. Nick is right, I am trying to find the information about them in this timeline so that I can be well prepared for any of the possibilities." Anna's voice flowed to them from above. She was floating above them, laying lazily on her stomach.
They all had jumped on hearing her voice.
"Anna!" Ada exclaimed exasperated, after she was done.
She had recovered faster than the other two.
"Were you spying on us?" She asked scowling.
"What's their to spy? Its not like we don't know most of the things about each other." Anna shrugged.
"Come down, will ya? I'm getting a pain in my neck, looking up at you." Ada said rolling her neck.
Anna floated down to the empty seat.
"So, I wasn't going to hide it from you all, you know? You could have just asked." She said looking at Nick exasperated.
"It is more exciting to spy though and eavesdrop, isn't it?" Nick retorted.
"I said I wasn't spying or eavesdropping on you. I was just going to invite you all for lunch. But I come back and see you all conspiring against me behind my back. Oh what horror! It was a thing of great sorrow for my poor heart to hear you talk like that." She said dramatically, sniffing and wiping fake tears.
"You can't really pull it off, you know. Its just not your thing." Nick commented thoughtfully on her performance.
"I did say I suck at literature. Really anything academic or theatrical, I guess." She shrugged back.
"Please fair maiden. Let me escort you to the dining chambers." Aidan said getting up and offering Anna his hand with a bow.
"You suck too. But I will accept your offer. If we fly." Anna added taking his hand.
"Alright, let's go." Aidan said pulling her up and in the air, and then they were gone.
"Don't fly inside children." Nick muttered disapproving after them.
"Oh, don't be so grouchy. Come on, let's go." Ada said pulling him up and behind her in the air.
-x-
"And then he said, 'But I swear I saw the lion dancing.' But I was adamant, 'No kid, you didn't. It must be your wild imagination as always.' Everyone was laughing at him sure that it was one of his wild stories again." Aidan finished his story, laughing all through it.
Sirius had joined his laughter a while ago, while Leo just smiled at the happy, happy demeanor of his adopted son.
Anna was sure he could compete with Didyme, to make people happy. Though may be Emmett won't be far behind.
Aidan had really won over all of them with his cheerful personality. She was actually the only one amongst them all who was the most reserved. Even Nick was being carefree and living like his age. And Ada was such a person, that you just couldn't help but like her, want to be spend time with her. If she hadn't already as her time as Harry, then she definitely now had everyone in the family caring for her.
Sirius was waiting in anticipation when they would release the news of him finding her. He, although a very good actor, was tired of pretending to be sad when he was so happy being able to live with his family, after all his time in Azkaban. His only regret was that they hadn't told Remus the truth yet. He had been inconsolable just like all the others when he had learnt about Harry. But Ada, after thinking everything through had decided to wait before they tell him.
She missed him as well, like she had missed Sirius before. Like Sirius misses him now, but the circumstances had to be considered. They were going to tell him but then he had gone AWOL again even before the news of Harry's demise had spread, so they had no choice but let him believe Harry was dead.
"Pass the bread will ya, Sirius?" Anna asked from his side.
"Stop speaking like that Anna. You are going to mess up everyone's speech." Sirius said shaking his head as he passed her the plate.
"But I can't change how I speak." Anna protested halfhearted.
"Of course you can. You just need some etiquette lessons." Sirius replied cheerily.
"Excuse me?" Anna frowned.
"Well its only if you want, you know. But you are a daughter of Black Family and it does fall on your shoulders to be perfectly poised all the time." Sirius said serving himself more of the gravy, that's why he missed the looks exchanged by the daughters of the family.
"Oh? The daughters have to be poised all the time, do they?" Anna asked with a rebellious edge in her voice.
Sirius did catch that though and looked up form his plate.
He looked around the table at all the females who were looking ready for a fight and no other male was going to support him, as they all avoided his eyes.
"I didn't mean it like that Anna. Of course you don't have to poised always. I mean we don't live in the Victorian era now, do we?" He tried to save face.
"And I mean it was wrong they subjected the women at that time to such a thing as well. We can all see now, women are the most powerful people of the world." He said buttering them, for added safety.
"Yes, they are. Look at the all the evidence. Even in wizarding world we have Madam Bones, the head of DMLE; then we have our Andy here who is the most well respected woman lawyer in Britain; even Dora would be starting her job as an auror soon-" Ada would have continued on but Sirius interrupted her.
"Yes, I got it. Women are awesome." He said seriously.
Ada just huffed back.
"Hey, now that you mentioned her, we never properly thanked Amelia for her help, did we? We should do something for her." Sirius said changing the topic.
Anna narrowed her eyes but let it go.
"We could invite her for dinner?" Andy suggested looking around.
"May be after we find Ada. So we won't have to hide her." Dora said thoughtfully.
"Well it has been a pleasant meal. But excuse me, I would like to retire to my chamber now. Do tell me what you decide to do later." Lord Black said getting up from his seat and moving towards the door.
"His condition has improved dramatically, hasn't it? He wasn't even able to move around much before and now..." Andy trailed off wondering.
"May be he just needed some interaction and company or his family." Ted replied knowingly.
That he had been accepted by the Lord Black was the biggest surprise to them all when they had been invited to live in the manor.
Now here they were, the Black family once on the verge of losing their name, back in the game to conquer the world.
"Your thoughts are so dramatic Sirius." Ada said rolling her eyes.
"I have been studying and practicing so hard and still you could go through my defences." He replied with a pout.
"No, your defense is good, you were just projecting your thoughts." Nick explained.
"I was? Well I need to concentrate on how not to do that as well then." He said getting up.
Nick just nodded back.
"Come on Leo, let's practice together." He said pulling his brother up and out of the dining room with him, ignoring his protests.
"I will be in the library in Potter manor." Anna said as she too got up.
"We will be there as well." Nick excused himself and the other masters as they followed Anna.
"They are always going off somewhere, discussing things secretly." Andy sighed.
"We can't stop them. And they are mature enough to take care of themselves. So don't worry, Ma." Dora said with a smile.
"A mother always worries." Andy replied shaking her head.
"Well I say we go out for an ice cream, huh? Get your mind off that. It will be our little secret." Ted said to cheer his girls up.
They just smiled back.
-x-
"What do you want to know?" Anna asked after they were all seated around the table.
"Well, tell us about the vampires. What did you find out? And why do you need to find anything in the first place?" Nick asked curiously.
"Well I was just making sure that the timeline before us was the one I recognize. When we mess around with Time, Time likes to mess with us sometimes. He would change the timeline - events - before or after the time we are in." She said in her best lecturing voice.
"He can do that?" Aidan asked intrigued.
"He can. If he wants. But we can't. So we are lucky I guess that the vampires this time are entirely different to how they could have been." Anna said seriously.
"You mean the Volturi?" Nick asked thoughtfully.
"Yes. They know about me being a master. Well they know it in some lifetimes and this is one of the few lucky ones."
"And why would they know?" Ada asked frowning.
"Because we told them. It become a little too obvious for them that something was happening around the world at one time and they wanted to know. So we thought it was better to give some knowledge to them. They could be useful in sticky situations."
"But they rule like tyrants. And had usurped the position from the Russians?" Ada asked questioning.
"Well they weren't absolutely tyrannical, you know. Just had a unique way of running things. It was Aro mostly who was a little power hungry." Anna said trying to dismiss that accusation.
"And the Russians were efficient but… well, there is always going to be a power struggle whenever there are two groups with immense powers, with opposing or disagreeing views-"
"Alright, don't start a lecture on politics now. We got it. So the Volturi this time are better how?" Nick asked.
"Um, how much do you know about them?" Anna asked back.
"There are three brothers, who are the rulers, they want nothing to do with magical world. Most of their kind don't know the existence of magic, like no-majs. They think the gifts they have are just special abilities, nothing magical about them." Nick shrugged, looking at the others.
"They refuse to participate in the wizard wars and the muggle wars as well. In the period of wars they had secluded themselves somewhere." Aidan added scratching his head.
"Aro covets powerful vampires. They have a guard which they order around to solve their problems." Ada said, gesturing she got nothing more.
"Well all that is true. Now the vampires have mates, which are like soul mates for them. You know that?" Anna started.
At their nod she continued, "Right, then. So the three brothers have mates. In many a lifetimes Aro kills his brother's mate, his own sister Didyme, because they were going to leave the Volturi."
"So in this timeline she isn't dead. Because of that the Volturi aren't as tyrannical." Anna shrugged, cutting her explanation short.
"And why isn't she dead?" Ada asked with narrowed eyes.
"And why would the presence of one person would affect the whole group?" Nick asked frowning.
"Well she isn't dead because I stopped Aro from killing her. I had told him about the future where he kills her doesn't really work out in his favor. So he let them go. And they came back after they had their satisfaction traveling the world. So everyone was happy." Anna answered.
"And one person can make a whole lot of difference in the dynamic of a group, if it is the right person. Anyway all the people in a group are important. No one should be left behind or ignored. All have equal power." Anna finished seriously.
"No, not in all groups." Aidan replied mock haughty.
"Just cause you can wield the Aether does not make you more powerful than us all." Anna said rolling her eyes.
"Yes. We all have equally important abilities. And powers." Ada said with a scowl.
"I was just kidding you guys." Aidan said placating.
"So you are going to ask the Volturi for help?" Nick asked bringing them back on the topic.
"Yeah. Soon. Probably before we go to Hogwarts so that they can start assembling their people." Anna answered.
"You all never had much interaction with vampires? Or had never been vampires in your lives?" She asked curiously.
"I was one in some lives. But I am not going to tell you how that worked out." Ada said getting up.
Aidan made a motion of zipping his lips when Anna looked at him and Nick made a face, shaking his head.
"Well maybe I will tell you my experiences sometime." Anna said rolling her eyes and getting up herself.
"Now, anyone wants to practice?" She asked looking at them.
They nodded their head reluctantly, and got up to follow behind her again.
"Go easy on us today?" Nick's voice could be heard asking, pleading.
"I always go easy on you all." Was the confused reply.
A sigh from Nick and Ada, and a laugh from Aidan and then the fights were on.
-x-
A/N: Thanks for reading. I have only written so far. The next update wouldn't be for a long time. Sorry about that. Hope you stick around. Bye, Novarkek.