Chapter 2: Wedding Plans

Sirius and Regulus were standing alone in the attic together, waiting for the little ghost to appear.

"Nooooo…" Regulus kept saying. "Don't wanna be here!"

"There's nothing to be scared of, Reg," Sirius said confidently. "He won't hurt us. I think he's just lonely."

They waited awhile longer, and sure enough, the little ghost appeared once again. But just as Regulus seemed to relax, the ghost smiled rather ghoulishly, then started to cackle. Next he transfigured into Bellatrix, who brandished her wand at the boys…

Sirius saw a flash of red light. The next thing he knew, he had somehow turned into a black, shaggy dog. Night had fallen, and he was running through the forest beside a stag, a rat, and a wolf. A giant basilisk with red, glowing eyes reared its head before them as they came an overgrowth of brush, where a doe lay hiding with her small fawn.

Sirius knew that he, the stag, the rat, and the wolf had to protect the doe and her fawn. But to Sirius' horror, the snake breathed green fire upon the stag, causing the stag to fall dead, even as the rat ran away, squealing in fright…

Sirius broke ranks with the wolf and ran to where the doe and her fawn were hiding. But when he arrived, the doe also lay dead, while the snake lay motionless nearby. The fawn rose frantically on his wobbly legs, looking frightened, bewildered, and lost…

The snake stirred, and then came after the fawn again. Sirius threw himself between the snake and the fawn, but just as he did, the snake thrust his fangs into his neck…

Sirius jolted awake. Regulus lay in bed beside him, still asleep, and he could see the sunlight creeping through a crack in the heavy velvet draperies. The clock on the dresser read ten minutes after nine.

Sirius panicked. He knew that he and Regulus had to be in the classroom no later than eight o'clock, and Grandfather Phineas was strict when it came to punctuality. The last time he and Regulus had been tardy, he had threatened to tell their father.

"Regulus," Sirius said frantically. "Regulus, wake up! We're late!"

Regulus opened his eyes, but before he could roll out of bed they heard a knock on the door. Seconds later, Kreacher entered, bearing a tray of hot tea, poached eggs, and toast. He set the tray on the dresser, and then glared nastily at the two boys.

"Master has stated that Young Masters Sirius and Regulus were no longer to sleep in the same room!" he said, shaking his head with disapproval.

Sirius swallowed guiltily, but Regulus found his voice:

"Please don't tell Father, Kreacher," he begged. "Besides, it was my fault, not Sirius's! I…I had a bad dream and got scared and snuck into bed with him while he was asleep!"

Kreacher looked at Sirius with contempt, but at Regulus with compassion.

"Very well," he replied. "Since Young Master Regulus asks Kreacher so respectfully, Kreacher promises not to tell Master or Mistress they ask him straight out, in which case Kreacher will have no choice."

"Thanks Kreacher!" Regulus said, bouncing out of the bed and hugging the house elf affectionately.

Kreacher seemed oddly touched by this small bit of affection, but chose not to show it. "Very well, then!" he grunted. "Eat your breakfasts, and be quick about it, both of you. The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black expects some most important company today."

Sirius sighed with relief. He knew now, at least, they would not be punished for sleeping late. "Really? Who?" Sirius asked, hoping Kreacher would say Uncle Alphard.

Kreacher brightened. "Why, Master Cygnus, Mistress Druella, and their three young misses: Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa!"

Kreacher kept talking, but Sirius' heart sank to the tips of his toes. He liked Andromeda well enough; she, at least, always tried to intercede whenever Bellatrix and Narcissa tormented them. He liked Aunt Druella far less, for her continuously glum disposition and unexpected emotional outbursts were enough to darken even the brightest summer day. Uncle Cygnus was tolerable. He often intervened when their father was angry with them, and Regulus adored him. But Sirius found Narcissa incredibly annoying, and he absolutely loathed Bellatrix.

The boys shared some particularly horrible memories of both of these cousins. Sirius remembered one incident, shortly after his fifth birthday, when his uncle and his family had gathered for Easter dinner at Grimmauld Place. While the boys were napping upstairs, Narcissa, then ten, decided that it would be simply lovely to have a tea party in the back garden. Andromeda played along quietly, but Bellatrix, who was already chaffed at having her younger sisters delegated to her care, was extremely furious at having to play along with what she had termed a "stupid and infantile charade."

The boys had wakened from their naps and wandered into the back garden just as Narcissa was getting bored. Sirius caught a gleam in Bellatrix' eye, and seconds later he and Regulus found their clothing transfigured into silly, frilly pink dresses. Then Bellatrix pointed her wand at Narcissa's doll carriage and shouted, "Engorgio!"

The carriage grew bigger, and in the blink of an eye, Sirius found himself and Regulus lying in it.

Narcissa giggled uncontrollably. Bellatrix cackled shrilly.

"Rock-a-bye babies…on the tree top…" she began, her voice loud and obnoxious.

" …when the wind blows…the cradle will rock…" Narcissa chimed in between her giggling fits.

Sirius tried to escape, but found that he couldn't move. He had no choice but to sit in utter humiliation, being pushed to and fro, while his cousins sang this bizarre lullaby.

Andromeda had disappeared, returning moments later with their father and Uncle Cygnus, who ordered Bellatrix to put things right. The boys' father had been furious, but Uncle Cygnus refused to punish his daughters.

"Oh, they'll get past it quickly enough, Brother-in-law!" he had chortled, slapping the boys' fuming father's back good-naturedly. "And it isn't like the Ministry will be coming down on you, the house being charmed as it is, is there?"

Uncle Cygnus cocked his eyebrow knowingly. The boys' father simply glared, but maintained his silence.

Another time, when they were older, Bellatrix had lured them up into the attic with the promise of a big surprise. Then she put a silencing charm on the room, hung them both upside down from the rafters, and then nonchalantly walked downstairs as they hung screaming. Fortunately, Andromeda had wandered up there, looking for a book or something, and once again came to their aid. She cast the charm to bring them down from the rafters, but both boys fell rather hard; Regulus breaking an ankle and Sirius, a wrist. The boys told Andromeda what had happened, and once again Andromeda relayed the story to their father and their uncle. The healers came to Grimmauld Place and mended their bones, and later, they were sent to bed without supper and Bellatrix went unpunished again, because she had sworn that the boys were lying, that they had put themselves up in the attic and placed the blame on her.

"Did you hear me, Young Master?" Kreacher snapped, shaking Sirius out of this foul reverie.

"I'm sorry," Sirius said hastily. "What were you saying?"

"Mistress has ordered that both of you bathe, put on your best suits, and be in the downstairs library by noon to greet our guests."

Kreacher snapped his fingers and vanished, and Sirius pulled a face.

"I'd rather be in the classroom all day," he said.

Regulus considered. "Maybe it won't be so bad this time," Regulus said hopefully. "Kreacher says the girls will all be making plans for the wedding, so maybe…if we can just stay away from them…"

"Wedding?" Sirius asked. "Who's getting married?

"Bella. Didn't you hear Kreacher? She's marrying someone named…Randolph or Rudolph or something like that."

"Ah," Sirius said, feeling quite relieved. Maybe if she had somebody her own age to torment, she would leave them both alone.

"Hey Sirius!" Regulus said brightly. "Do you think that maybe Bella's husband will take her down into the dungeon and cut out her heart? You know, like they did in the story?

Sirius wondered at the prospect, but then shook his head. "No. We wouldn't be so lucky. Besides, Bella's the one with the hairy heart."

Giggling, Regulus had to agree.

Two hours later, both boys sat stiffly in the high-backed dining room chairs, dressed in matching suits, waiting for their relatives to arrive through the floo network.

Sirius hated the suit passionately. Not only did the heavy fabric feel hot and scratchy against his skin, but the style hadn't been popular for decades. The top part of the shirt was green velvet; the bottom part and the long sleeves were green checkered wool, and a loose brown belt separated the top part of the shirt from the bottom. The britches, which were also cut from green checkered wool, fell just below the knees, covering the top of the itchy black socks which made Sirius' feet feel cramped and sweltering inside the black leather, high-topped shoes.

Uncle Alphard, Uncle Cygnus, Aunt Druella, and occasionally even their father had often suggested that their mother take the boys to Madame Malkin's to buy some new clothing, dress robes as well as casual wear. Their mother, however, saw no sense in squandering the family fortune in such a frivolous manner, in turn chiding Uncle Cygnus for constantly wasting thousands of galleons on new robes for his daughters. Thirteen-year-old Narcissa, she pointed out, was especially over-indulged, because she not only insisted upon updating her wardrobe every few months—with robes of the latest fashion, no less—but staunchly refused to wear any of her elder sisters discarded clothing, even to lounge about in. A travesty, the boys' mother insisted, when there were plenty of perfectly good clothes stored up in the attic, clothes that their very ancestors had worn, clothes that were fit for royalty! She had taken a great deal of pride in handing these precious heirlooms down to her sons, and often seemed shock that the others didn't share her sentiments.

Sirius heard a rumbling in the fireplace, and took his place in the receiving line between his mother and Regulus, waiting for their guests to arrive.

Uncle Cygnus shot through the fireplace feet first. He had pulled his straw-colored hair back from his pale, rugged face into a scraggly tail that hung above the hood of his flowing grey robes. No sooner had Kreacher cleaned the soot off his clothing than Aunt Druella arrived, wearing a tight green dress. As usual, she had twisted hair so tightly into a bun that Sirius often wondered if her dour face might split. She would have been a pretty, perhaps even beautiful woman, but unlike her daughters she rarely wore make-up, and always conveyed a mixture of despondency and anger; the latter always rearing its ugly head after she'd had a few drinks. Even as she stepped out of the fireplace, Sirius could see that she was unusually tense.

"Druella, dear," his mother welcomed her. She embraced her sister-in-law warmly, but Sirius recognized the icy undertones in her voice. Aunt Druella smile was equally false, and her tone equally insincere; never-the-less, she returned the greeting and the gesture.

"GODDAMMIT, I HATE THE FUCKING FLOO NETWORK!"

Out toppled Bellatrix in a disheveled heap on the floor, glaring and covered with soot, cursing and swearing as she struggled to stand and regain her composure. Angrily she turned on Kreacher. "GET THIS FILTH OFF OF ME BEFORE I MOUNT YOU ON THE WALL BESIDE THE OTHER ELVES!"

"Bellatrix!" his mother snapped angrily, glaring at her niece.

Bellatrix glared right back, her black eyes filled with anger and hatred, but Sirius noticed that it was Bellatrix, and not his mother, who looked away first. His mother's gaze softened as she looked at Kreacher, who bowed his head and proceeded to clean the soot from Bellatrix's dress. As he did, Sirius realized that she had probably spent a great deal of time preening before her mirror. She had teased her long, dark hair into a high ebony crown, yet several strands fell loose about her shoulders in long loose tendrils. Her heavy eye make-up, painted lips and nails, and black velvet, corseted gown, purchased especially for this occasion, contrasted sharply with her pale skin, making her look like a vampire. Her black eyes flashed angrily as she surveyed the rest of the family, giving Sirius the impression that she didn't want to be there anymore than he wanted her there.

Next came Narcissa, who picked herself off the floor and looked haughtily down her long thin nose at Kreacher, twisting her thin lips disdainfully until he had dutifully cleaned the soot of her emerald satin dress.

"My hair's mussed," she pouted. Again, Kreacher snapped his fingers, and every strand of her long blonde hair fell back into its proper place.

Finally Andromeda, the middle sister, tumbled out of the fireplace. After Kreacher cleaned the soot from her sky blue dress (for which Andromeda actually thanked him) Sirius, for the first time perhaps, noticed the physical similarities she shared with her elder sister. However, their personalities were so different that strangers might never have guessed that the two were related, even if they had seen them standing side by side. Andromeda carried herself straight and gracefully, but without the arrogance Sirius so despised in both Bellatrix and Narcissa. Her long wavy hair was neither dark nor golden, but a light brown, and fastened in the back with a bronze barret. Her face, although very similar to Bellatrix's, was actually much prettier, or so Sirius thought, since she hadn't spoiled it with layers and layers of make-up. Her gray eyes were warm and compassionate, qualities that Bellatrix's dark eyes and Narcissa's green eyes lacked.

"Hello Sirius, Regulus," she said pleasantly, embracing each boy in turn. Sirius, taken aback by this display of affection, returned the embrace never-the-less.

"Is everybody here now?" Orion asked.

"Well," Uncle Cygnus began. "Druella took the liberty of inviting someone here to help plan the wedding…I hope this will be all right with you, Burgie."

Their mother began to speak, but never finished. The fireplace rumbled once more, and out plopped a strangest little woman Sirius had ever seen. She appeared to be in her late thirties or early forties, perhaps, was rather frumpy, and dressed from head to toe in various shades of pink. Little brown pincurls peeped carefully from beneath her hot pink beret, and she giggled girlishly as Kreacher removed the soot from her pink plaid day suit. Even her stockings and her Mary Jane shoes were pink, and topped with perfect little pink bows. As he surveyed her, Sirius had to bite his lip to keep from laughing.

"Dolores?" Walburga said, taken aback. "Wha…what a pleasant surprise!"

The odd little woman clasped her pale pink gloved hands, a hot-pink, painted smile spreading across her puerile face. Something about her made Sirius nauseous, more so than the time he and Regulus had gorged themselves on the boxes of Honeyduke's Chocolates Uncle Alphard had given them at Christmas.

"Dear Walburga!" she trilled. "You never told me how handsome your children are! You," she said, pinching Regulus' cheek, "have got to be Sirius! And this…this devilishly handsome lad just has to be Regulus!"

She reached out to pinch Sirius' cheek, and instinctively, Sirius ducked. "I'm Sirius," he blurted out, stepping away from the strange little pink woman.

"Sirius!" his father said sharply, glaring at him.

Sirius lowered his eyes and bit his lip. His father grew very angry when he contradicted his elders, and now, without realizing it, he'd done it again. "I'm sorry, Father," he said hastily.

His father turned to the little pink woman. I apologize, Madame Umbridge, for my son's impertinence, but he is, in fact, Sirius, and the younger boy is Regulus."

"Oh, silly me," Madame Umbridge giggled. "But such handsome names they are, Orion, for such handsome boy…" she trilled, looping her right arm over Sirius' shoulder and her left arm over Regulus's. "I do hope that we shall become very good friends."

"Um…why?" Sirius blurted out before he could stop himself.

His father glared at him again, and Sirius bit his lip, wanting to shrivel all the way down to the toes of his cramped shoes. But before his father could say anything, Kreacher appeared in the doorway.

"I have tea and biscuits prepared in the library, Mistress," he bowed.

"Thank you kindly, Kreacher," his mother said pleasantly. "Ladies, if you'll follow me…"

"Or course!" twittered the little pink Umbridge woman. She turned to Bellatrix, placing a gloved hand on each of her shoulders even as Bellatrix recoiled. "I'm so excited for you, dear…think of all the planning we have to do to make your very special day absolutely perfect! Now, you're going to be a beautiful bride, there's no doubt about that, but I personally think that a more…classical hairstyle and understated make-up…"

Sirius bit his lip again as Bellatrix curled hers. She glowered at her mother as the silly little Umbridge woman looped her arm around her waist and escorted her from the dining room, scowling back at the boys as the door closed behind them.

Sirius started to giggle, but realized his father was glaring at him. But before his father could chide him, Uncle Cygnus spoke:

"Orion, about the Conference of Tirana..."

"Ah, yes," his father replied. "Burgie and I plan to attend, but the children are still too young, don't you think?"

"I plan to take the girls," Cygnus replied quickly. "Bellatrix, in fact, seems to be more excited about this than her own wedding!"

"I wasn't talking about your girls, Cygnus, I was talking about my boys. Regulus will probably stay here with Kreacher, and this one," he pointed at Sirius, "will be staying with your brother, but only if he behaves in the meantime."

Sirius' heart leaped into his chest. He didn't know what the Conference of Tirana was about, but he knew it was going to last an entire week! And a week with his favorite uncle was exactly what Sirius had been craving!

"You couldn't persuade Alphard to come with us, then?" asked Uncle Cygnus, disappointment in his voice.

"Why does that surprise you?" his father replied.

"It doesn't. Still, I keep hoping that he might change his views..."

"As do I, but from what Burgie tells me it isn't likely…Sirius, Regulus, why don't the two of you go outside and play for a bit?"

Sirius could barely believe his ears. Today was turning out better than he dared hope. "Can we play in the meadow?" he asked hopefully.

His father considered for a moment. "I suppose so. But be careful not to dirty your clothes."

"We won't," Sirius replied.

"We promise," Regulus added.

Sirius opened the front door to the most beautiful spring day he'd seen in a long time. The earlier rains had cleared, the sun was shining brightly in the vivid blue sky, and the cool air had just a hint of warmth from early summer. Perfect camping weather, Uncle Alphard would have said.

The boys played "Hide-and-go-Seek," a game Uncle Alphard had taught them, for about an hour. When they grew bored with that, they played "Tag," slipping and sliding about on the damp ground, staining the seats and knees of their trousers. They climbed a tree and swung from the branches like monkeys; Sirius tearing his sleeve and Regulus, the front of his shirt. But neither of them paid any attention, for both of them were having more fun than they'ed had in a very long time.

"I need to use the toilet!" Sirius said suddenly, dropping from the tree branch onto his hands and knees into the soft wet grass.

"Me too!" Regulus said, climbing down the tree a bit more cautiously.

"Hurry up! We'll race!" Sirius suggested.

Regulus lost his footing, fell flat on the seat of his pants, and then scrambled to his feet. The two boys raced into the house, slamming the entrance door, and then darted upstairs to the nearest bathroom. On the way downstairs they heard the crash of breaking china from the library, followed by a shrill, angry screech:

"I'VE TOLD YOU A THOUSAND TIMES, MOTHER, I WILL NOT WEAR WHITE!"

"Come on, Reg," Sirius said, tugging his younger brother's shirt. "This will be good!"

The boys knelt in front of the double doors that lead to the library, each of them peeking into a keyhole. Narcissa and Andromeda had placed their teacups on the table and sat there still as stone. Aunt Druella stood holding a satin dress, tears filling her wide brown eyes, while her eldest daughter glared at her, her ebony eyes flashing even darker with fury. Through the closed doors they could still hear a catch in Aunt Druella's voice:

"It's an ivory dress, Bella," she said calmly.

"THAT'S STILL WHITE!" Bella shrieked again.

"We could always change the color, dear," their mother said.

"What a splendid idea, Walburga!" the Umbridge woman trilled, smiling in her sweet, sickening way. "Now personally, I would think that a nice shade of the palest baby pink…"

"NOBODY ASKED YOUR OPINION, YOU SIMPERING OLD BITCH!" Bellatrix screeched.

The little pink Umbridge woman gasped. From what he could see, Andromeda's and Narcissa's chins dropped almost to the floor. "Sirius, what's a simpering old…" Regulus whispered.

"Shh!" Sirius replied, as their mother cleared her throat.

"Ladies," said cooly. "Will you please excuse us for a moment? I think my niece is a bit…overexcited, that's all. Come Bella, let's go into the dining room."

Both boys darted around the corner of the stairwell, flattening themselves against the wall as their mother and Bellatrix entered dining room. Conveniently, there was another set of double doors by the entrance, with a keyhole for each of them to press their eyes against.

"Sit," Sirius heard his mother command. To his surprise, Bellatrix obeyed.

"Young lady, I've tried to be understanding with you, but I've told you many times that I will never tolerate your blatant rudeness towards guests in my home."

"I didn't invite the old bitch!" Bellatrix spat.

"Nor did I, Bellatrix. If the truth were known, I don't want her here one iota more than you do!"

"Then why don't you throw her out on her fat pink arse?"

Bella, I can't do that! She is our guest, and a pure-blood at that! Surely you realize what a poor reflection that would cast upon our family!"

Bellatrix sniffed, dabbing the corners of her painted eyes with her fingertips, a superficial act, Sirius was certain. "I'm sorry, Aunt Burgie, but you know I detest pink! And I refuse to wear that hideous gown! I simply refuse!"

"It was your mother's gown, and your grandmother's, and your great-grandmother's before that. A true Rosier family heirloom. You should be proud to…"

"It's still hideous, Rosier heirloom or not!" Bellatrix pouted. "Besides, I couldn't wear it! My bust is too large!"

Walburga lowered her eyes. "You definitely have a point there," she said. "Still, we could…"

"This is my wedding, Auntie!" Bellatrix snapped. "Not yours, not Mother's, and certainly not that stupid little woman's, and I'LL WEAR WHAT I DAMMED WELL PLEASE!"

"But…what of LeStrange? Don't you think he might prefer it if you wore something a little more…"

"To hell with what he prefers! It's bad enough I even have to marry him!"

Bellatrix bit her lip, as if to trap very words that had escaped her mouth. Their mother looked concerned, and then grasped Bellatrix's hand.

"Nobody is forcing you to, Child."

"I'm not a child, Auntie, and they most certainly are! Father arranged it, after all…"

"In a sense, yes, but he won't force you to go through with it if it isn't what you want. I was under the impression that you loved LeStrange. You do, don't you Bella?"

"No," she snorted derisively.

"Then don't marry him," Walburga said calmly.

"You don't understand! I must!"

"But why, if you don't love him? Are you…?
"No! Absolutely not!"

"Are you certain? Because there are things that can be done…nobody would ever…"

"If I ever find myself in that condition I'll get rid of the little bastard, married or not! Last thing I want is a horde of screeching, snot-nosed brats putting their sticky hands all over me!"

"Then why even marry LeStrange if you don't love him, if you don't want his children? Is he trying to force you?"

"No!"

"Then why, Bella? Why?"

Bellatrix blinked, lowering her head, and made what almost seemed a confession. "Because it's the only way I ever will get what I want!"

"What you want?" their mother repeated slowly, her eyes widening as the meaning behind Bellatrix's words dawned upon her. "You mean…you mean him?"

Bellatrix smiled.

"But Bella…that's…that's…"
"Perfect," Bellatrix finished softly, as a conniving smile stretched across her face.

"But…he doesn't even know you exist!"

"He will, Auntie! I'll make certain of it! They're friends, you know, he and LeStrange. It's only a matter of time before…"

"So that's your master plan…to use LeStrange to get near him?"

Bellatrix smiled wickedly. "And what's wrong with that?"

"Bella," their mother said sorrowfully. "Bella…that's just…"

"Wrong?" Bellatrix finished.

"Well…yes!" their mother replied. "On every possible level!"

"And that should bother me because LeStrange is such a good, kind, loving, patient man!"

Their mother sighed. "I'll admit he's a bit of a scoundrel, Bella, but it's still so very wrong, and so likely to backfire…"

"That's my risk," Bellatrix said simply. "Not yours!"

Their mother was silent. "I really should speak to your father about this."

"That won't stop me."

"It might if he tells LeStrange," their mother said calmly.

"You really think so? LeStrange happens to love me, so it won't take much on my part to convince him that Father was lying. And just think of the social damage it would create for both Father and Uncle Orion, especially at the Ministry!"

Their mother pursed her thin lips. "Very well," she said softly. "I'll say nothing, on the condition that you immediately apologize to Madam Umbridge. Have we a bargain?"

"You will say nothing, Auntie, and I won't apologize! But…I suppose I could be persuaded to refrain from rudeness…as long as she and mother stop trying to force me into that hideous dress."

"I shall speak to them," their mother nodded. "But you're not to marry in black, Bellatrix. That brings bad luck."

Bellatrix sighed. "Emerald then? With black lace trim?"

Their mother frowned, then nodded and looped her around Bellatrix's shoulders. The two of then returned to the library together, closing the doors behind them.

No sooner had Sirius and Regulus stood up than their father and uncle stepped through the front door, seeing them in all of their disheveled glory…

"I thought I told you boys not to get dirty," their father said.

Sirius and Regulus dropped their heads and looked shamefacedly at the carpeted floor until Uncle Cygnus spoke:

"Now Orion, don't let's make a mountain troll out of a flobberworm," he said, removing his wand from his robes. "Limpiado," he said, and the boys found their clothing clean and mended.

Orion didn't look pleased, but he didn't look as angry either. "Go to your rooms. Both of you," he ordered shortly. "And don't come out until I call you for tea."

"Yes Father," both boys said in unison.

His bedroom was dark, hot, and stuffy. Sirius didn't dare draw back the heavy velvet draperies or open the windows for fear of stirring his father's ire. He hoped that perhaps, just perhaps, if he behaved himself for the rest of the day, he might still be able to go to Uncle Alphard's. He might, he still might…

Uncle Alphard's house—which he'd christened Golden Vale—looked like it might have once been part of a small castle, sitting high upon a hill that overlooked a lake. His parents found the stone, partially renovated structure absolutely despicable, but Sirius thought it was Heaven! There the pine-scented air drifted in freely through the open windows and studying, along with formal meals and split pea soup, simply ceased to exist. There he could run through the house if he wished, wear the tatty clothes his uncle kept on hand for him, and could climb trees and swim in the lake until well after dark. There he didn't have to go to bed or wake up at any given time, although Sirius was usually too invigorated by the mountain air to want to linger in bed long after dawn.

Sirius never wanted to return to Grimmauld Place after these visits. He wished he could stay at Golden Vale forever. Once, he even found the courage to ask his mother if he might. His mother had been furious, calling him a nasty, ungrateful little brat before banishing him to his room until tea, at which she had repeated his request to his father. His father simply nodded and promised to take care of the matter. He didn't punish Sirius, but he made it very clear that Sirius was never to ask such a thing again.

"Young Master," Kreacher said from the doorway, "Tea is served."

Sirius sat beside Regulus and across the table from Andromeda and Narcissa. The four younger children ate their meal in silence while their mother, Aunt Druella, Bellatrix, and the little pink Umbridge woman continued to make plans for the wedding. More than once, Bellatrix glared at the little pink woman, causing her to cower, something Bellatrix seemed to relish. Their father and Uncle Cygnus exchanged a few words about goings-on at the Ministry, but it was the women who monopolized the conversation.

After dinner, Uncle Cygnus handed Regulus a deck of cards and suggested the two boys play exploding snap on the front walk. Sirius felt hurt by the implied favoritism, but was happy enough to join his brother. Within the hour, Andromeda and Narcissa stepped outside.

"Might we join you?" Andromeda asked.

"Do you know how to play?" Sirius asked.

"I do," Andromeda winked. "We can all teach Cissy."

The girls pulled back their hair, and then gathered around the cards with the boys. Andromeda was an excellent player, but Narcissa seemed too concerned about mussing her dress to enjoy herself. The first time a card exploded in her face, she seemed to leap out of her skin, then fell backwards into the grass. Andromeda laughed. Regulus laughed louder, and Sirius laughed the loudest.

"You vile, slimy, filthy little flobberworms!" Narcissa spat angrily.

Sirius only laughed louder, mimicking what she said.

"How wonderful to see the two of you getting along so well, especially since you're next in line."

Sirius looked up to see his eldest cousin smiling wickedly. He had been unaware that she'd been watching them.

"Next in line?" he repeated, wrinkling is brow. "For what?"

"Haven't you heard?" Bellatrix said. "The two of you have betrothed!"

"Bewhat?" Sirius said, wrinkling his nose.

"It's true," Narcissa said, picking up her cue. "I hope you're as happy about it as I am!"

"Happy about what?" Sirius demanded.

"We're…going to be married, Sirius," Narcissa said enthusiastically. "When we both older…isn't that wonderful?"

"We…we can't!" Sirius stammered. "We're…we're cousins!"

"So are your parents!" Bellatrix quipped. "That didn't stop them. In fact, it's rather…encouraged amongst our kind...keeps the bloodlines pure!"

"But…I don't want to marry her!" Sirius said, wrinkling his nose. "It would be too…too weird."

"Well, there's no escaping it now, for either of you. Our fathers have made the unbreakable vow and there's nothing you can do…"

"Oh Bella?" Narcissa said sweetly, as Sirius' jaw fell in shock. "Since you don't want to wear Mother's wedding dress, would you mind terribly if I did?"

Bellatrix bit her lip thoughtfully. "I suppose not. It might actually become you, since you'll probably never be as fully endowed as I."

Narcissa's eyes sparked at the insult Sirius didn't fully understand. Bellatrix seemed to notice it also, and continued:

"Then again, you may catch up. You'll have to wait five years, you know, until Sirius is thirteen…"

"Thirteen?" Sirius repeated in disbelief, his jaw dropping even lower. "I can't get married at thirteen…"

"Oh yes you can," Bellatrix smiled. "As long as one of the parties is of age…and Cissa will be by then…"

"But…but…" Sirius stammered, trying to think another reason he and Narcissa shouldn't marry.

Bellatrix approached him and placed her hand on his shoulder. "I know it's painful, having to wait for so long to marry the one you love…"

Sirius snapped. He pushed Bellatrix's hand off of his shoulder, looked her straight in the eye, and said the worst thing he could think of:

"I wouldn't marry that mudblood whore if she were the last bitch on Earth!"

Narcissa paled, then blinked, her eyes filling with tears. Even Andromeda looked horrified. Bellatrix was absolutely livid.

"You'll pay for that one, Cousin!" she spat. "Come, Cissa!" she said, looping her arm around her youngest sister and escorting her into the house. Sirius and Regulus remained behind with Andromeda, as a dreadful silence enveloped them.

The silence seemed to last for an eternity. Andromeda looked shocked, and Regulus, alarmed. "W-what did I say?" Sirius finally spoke, unable to bear the silence any longer.

"Oh Sirius," Andromeda replied, her voice reflecting both sympathy and disappointment. "Anything would have been better than that."

The silence continued. "'Dromeda?" Regulus asked. "What's a mudblood whore?"

"I don't know, Reg," Andromeda answered quickly, shaking her head. "And neither does your brother."

"Is it something really bad?" Regulus persisted.

"Yes, Regulus," Andromeda replied. "It's something very, very, very bad!"

Sirius lowered his eyes as dread filled his heart. Twilight had turned to darkness—a darkness that grew ever more threatening as storm clouds brewed above them. He knew that he would be punished, probably more severely than he'd ever been punished before. And for the first time in his life, he found himself wishing that whatever the punishment would be, that his parents would just get on with it.

He heard the clock chime seven times. A few moments later, Kreacher appeared:

"Master said the three of you are to come to the library," he said simply.

Slowly, deliberately, they obeyed. Once they got to the doorway, they waited until Aunt Druella spotted them.

"Children!" she said pleasantly. "We're having tea and biscuits before Madam Umbridge leaves us…come join us, please."

Tea and biscuits with the little pink Umbridge woman? That didn't seem too bad a punishment, at least not under the circumstances. Carefully, Sirius took the china cup and plate that Kreacher offered him, sipping his tea and nibbling slowly on a cream filled wafer. The adults made a bit of small talk, about the wedding, current events, and other matters, leading Sirius to hope that the incident would be overlooked.

Suddenly, Sirius became aware that his father was speaking to him. He swallowed the bit of tea in his mouth and answered, in his most respectful tone, "Yes Father?" "When you were outside, you…said something to your cousin Narcissa, did you not?"

Sirius twisted his mouth. "Yes sir," he replied.

"I see," his father said. "And would you mind telling us exactly what you said?"

Sirius swallowed, fully aware that everybody in the room had fixed their eyes upon him. He tried to tell them he didn't remember what he had said, but for some reason he couldn't. "That…that I wouldn't marry that mudblood whore if she were the last bitch on Earth," he whispered.

"Speak louder, son," his father said. "I…didn't quite understand you."

"That I wouldn't marry that mudblood whore if she were the last bitch on Earth," Sirius repeated.

Bellatrix looked extremely smug, but his mother, Aunt Druella, and Madam Umbridge gasped. Uncle Cygnus' eye flashed with anger, and Narcissa dabbed dramatically hers. Andromeda's were filled with dread, and Regulus's, with fear.

"I see," Orion said. "Now…will you mind telling me this: from whom exactly did you ever hear such a phrase?"

"From Mother," Sirius blurted out, before realizing what he had said.

Orion's eyes widened, but he actually seemed a bit amused as he looked at his chagrined wife.

"This is a trick!" Bellatrix snapped. "He must have guessed you were going to put Veritaserum in the tea!"

Sirius had heard of Veritaserum before, but didn't really understand what it was or how it worked. He started to say this, but his mother interrupted his thought. "I think you're right, Bella," she said. "I certainly never use such foul language!"

"Yes you do!" Sirius blurted out, before he could stop himself. "You say it all the time when you think I'm asleep! I hear you!"

His mother blanched, and her eyes were furious. As she rose from her chair, Sirius started from his own, but his father thwarted both of them.

"Go to your room, Son," his father said, "and stay there until I'm ready to deal with you."

"Hem hem," trilled the little pink Umbridge woman. "Under the circumstances, Orion, might I suggest…"

"I'll punish my children as I feel right, Madam Umbridge," his father said shortly. "How I choose to do so is none of your concern." He then looked at Sirius. "Upstairs! Now!"

Sirius hung his head in shame and slowly trudged up the four flights of stairs to his bedroom. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Narcissa approaching her father, but whatever she might have said was drowned out by his mother's screeching:

"I'LL HAVE YOUR FATHER WHIP YOU TILL YOUR BACK IS BLOODY, YOU SNIVELING, UNGRATEFUL LITTLE SNOT! AND YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT GOING TO YOUR UNCLE'S HOUSE…YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT GOING TO YOUR UNCLE'S HOUSE EVER…"

Finally, his mother's screeching died down. Sirius sat on the foot of his bed, furious with her, his father, his cousins, and that stupid little woman in pink. He was even more furious with himself. Uncle Alphard had once advised him to walk away from Bellatrix and Narcissa when they pulled such stunts, he thought, catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror. Why, oh why, did he always have to react when they provoked him?

"Because if you didn't, you'd feel lower than a flobberworm beneath their feet!" the mirror answered.

"That's no lie," Sirius said glumly.

The worst part of his father's punishments was the waiting, the dreading. The hands on the clock moved at an excruciating pace; the minutes seeming like hours. Sirius desperately needed to use the toilet, but if he wasn't in the room when his father arrived he might be punished worse…

"There's always the window," suggested the mirror.

Sirius took the unsolicited advice, pouring his heartfelt sentiments out on the grounds of the Noble and Most Ancient house of Black, hoping that the little pink Umbridge woman might step in the puddle on her way home. He heard footsteps, and then the doorknob rattled. He managed to shut the window, but the door opened before he finished buttoning his drawers…

Sirius turned, expecting to face his father in his full wrath. Instead, Andromeda stood there, holding a nightgown. "The guest rooms are all full, Regulus' bed is too small, and your father doesn't want him sleeping with you," she said by way of explanation. "Do you mind if I do?"

Sirius shook his head. "I'll just get in more trouble."

"No you won't," Andromeda said quickly. "Narcissa told our fathers that she and Bellatrix started it, so they're not going to punish you."

"Can I still go to Uncle Alphard's?" Sirius asked.

"Well, no," Andromeda said. "But Aunt Burgie said she might let you the next time they have to go away."

Sirius hung his head. He would have much rather taken the whipping.

"I really don't want to sleep on the drawing-room couch," Andromeda said. "That room is always so chilly and I can never get comfortable. Mother said I might ask you…would you mind?"

"I guess not," Sirius shrugged.

Andromeda went into the bathroom to change while Sirius put on his pajamas. When she emerged, Sirius saw she was wearing a long blue nightgown, and her long brown hair cascaded down her shoulders in waves. She wasn't only pretty, he realized, but truly beautiful. For the first time in his life, something deep and mysterious stirred within him, something he could neither explain nor understand, yet frightened him all the same.

"Would you like me to read you a story?" Andromeda asked.

It had been years since anybody had made such an offer. Had Bellatrix or Narcissa asked him this, he would have felt wary if not insulted, but Andromeda had always been kind. "I guess so," he said.

Andromeda pulled The Tales of Beedle the Bard off the shelf, but refused to read"The Warlock's Hairy Heart," when Sirius requested it. "Wouldn't you rather hear 'The Tale of the Three Brothers?" Andromeda asked. "That other story always gave me nightmares."

Sirius relented, and Andromeda began reading, "Once upon a time there were three brothers who were travelling down a long, winding road at midnight…"

Sirius knew the story by heart. Andromeda's voice had a soothing, melodious quality about it, which helped him forget the tensions of the past few hours. "Andie," he said, once she put the book down, "What exactly is a mudblood whore?"

Andromeda seemed very uncomfortable. "You must never use the word 'mudblood,' Sirius," she said simply. "Especially not at Hogwarts. The headmaster hates it, and so does the deputy headmistress."

"But what does it mean?"

"It's a foul word for a wizard or a witch whose parents are muggles. It isn't said in polite conversation."

"But Andie," Sirius continued. "Mother did say it, and I've heard…"

"I know," Andromeda said, softly and sadly. "I've heard my parents use it, too, but their conversations aren't always polite, now are they?"

No, come to mention it, they weren't, Sirius thought.

"I have friends who are muggleborns, Sirius, and so does Uncle Alphard. That particular word is very hurtful, to them, to me, and to him."

"Oh. I'm sorry," Sirius said, dropping his eyes. Now that he thought about it, he realized that he had never once heard Uncle Alphard use that expression. "I…didn't know…honest! But what does 'whore' mean?"

Andromeda seemed taken aback, but quickly regained her composure. "That's just…a woman who does things…with men…many men…things that she shouldn't."

"What things?"

"I can't tell you, Sirius. But you shouldn't say that word either."

"Okay," Sirius agreed. "Andie, can I ask a question?"

"Sure."

"You…you said that Bella and Cissy made all that up to make me mad…you don't think our parents would…really…make Cissy and me get married, do you?"

"No," Andromeda assured him with a slight laugh. "Cissy doesn't like the idea any more than you do. Besides, there's a boy at school she likes, and Father said he'd arrange things."

"Who is he?" Sirius wanted to know.

"Oh, he's from a very rich family, Sirius, one of the richest families in our world! His name is Lucius Malfoy."