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Chapter 37: Decisions

Sirius stared at Mandy after her revelation that his brother had helped find their son after he had been kidnapped. On one hand, he was stunned that his brother was so willing to help her, but on the other hand he was furious Snape had taken his son and given him to his deranged cousin. He stood up and walked out of the room. Mandy looked at the gathered children and sighed then stood. "We'll be back in a moment," Mandy said. She followed her husband into the kitchen and found him standing next to the island in the center of the kitchen with his back to the door.

Though the home had been built in the early 1800's and fallen into the Black family possessions in the early 1900's, it hadn't been lived in until after the second Wizarding War. Sirius had forgotten it had existed until Mandy had been handed a list of the estate in 1996 when everyone thought he had died. They had updated the place after the war and now Mandy couldn't dream of ever living anywhere else. She shook her head clear of the thoughts and walked up behind him. She rested a hand between his shoulder blades and his shoulders tensed.

"You're obviously mad at me," Mandy said softly.

"At you?" Sirius asked in disbelief. He spun around and grabbed her by the waist. Her hands instantly flew to his shoulders. He lifted her up then sat her down on the island in front of him. He stared into her blue eyes as his eyes narrowed. "I am not mad at you. I'm disappointed you didn't feel safe enough to come to me, but I'm not mad at you."

"That's not why I never told you. It wasn't because I didn't feel safe. I knew how you felt about your brother and how you felt about the "greasy hairball" and I didn't want to argue with you about it."

"It's been more than a decade since the end of the war. More than a decade. In those past years, how come you didn't tell me? And don't say what you just told me."

"It was in the past. The first couple of years, everyone was trying to heal. I know our immediate family came out mostly unscathed from that war but we still lost friends, everyone lost friends. More recently it was in the past. I didn't want to talk about it. I was supposed to be protecting that child and I failed. Some of the most protective mothers on this planet are brown bears, tigers, and humans. I failed as all three."

"Every time," Sirius huffed, "every time, it never fails. You always make me feel bad for you."

"Sirius—"

"No, it's right. I'm sitting here thinking about Snape and my brother and what they did and not an ounce of care or thought goes through my head about how that would have affected you. You know, James was right when he told you that I see you as this strong, amazing woman who can handle anything life throws at her. I should remember that as strong as you are, you're still human. One of the most fallible creatures on the face of this Earth are humans. Everyone makes mistakes. Surviving two wars, losing your friends ... I shouldn't have gotten upset."

Mandy cut him off. "Me either. I shouldn't have—"

Sirius leaned forward and kissed her until she stopped protesting. It was her favorite way of being shut up. "It's in the past and they deserve to know what happens next," Sirius murmured against her lips.

Mandy pulled back and looked at him. "I passed my N.E.W.T.s, became an Auror and the first war happened?" Mandy asked.

"Among a bunch of other things that we should tell them about. Starting with what happened after you came back from the Hospital Wing that morning."

"Nothing happened that morning."

"So you and James didn't talk about your panicked mood from the night before?" Sirius grinned.

Mandy rolled her eyes and Devin peaked in the room. "Mum? Dad?" he asked softly.

"We're coming, Sweetie," Mandy said. She pecked her husband on the lips then wiggled down off the island and they rejoined their family. "So how'd you pick?"

"Pick what?" Harry asked.

"Who came to check on us." Mandy looked at her godson and watched him until he sighed.

"We drew straws. He lost," Harry answered.

"So what happened after you left the Hospital Wing?" George asked.

Mandy left the hospital and headed back for the Common Room. When she got back James was instantly on his feet. "Is everything okay?" James asked as she slunk over to him. She really didn't want to tell anyone what happened. She loved him and knew he wouldn't get angry at her but part of her knew that he'd still get indignant at Snape. She really couldn't deal with a fight between James and Snape. She didn't care about the other boy but James was supposed to be better than that.

"Yes, I—I'm not sorry for last night but I didn't mean to worry you. I was looking for someone and didn't want to wait. Forgive me?" She looked up at him sheepishly.

James rolled his eyes and tossed an arm around her shoulders. "It's fine. I'm glad nothing's wrong," James said. "Now let's got get some food." Mandy smiled and he steered her out of the room.

Monday came faster than Mandy expected but the day flew by and she felt like she handled classes well. None of her professors criticized her nor did she have any problems.

Tuesday was a different story. Jason took their class time to pick up the topic of Patronuses again and gave them time to try again. Everyone was nervously looking around waiting for someone to be able to. There were a few silvery wisps but nothing corporeal.

Finally there was a soft "Expecto Patronum" from the back of the classroom and a silver stag galloped to the front of the room. Mandy looked around and spotted James smirking.

"Nicely done, Mr. Potter," Jason told him. Then there were more. Mandy spotted Lily and suddenly a brilliant doe burst from her wand. Mandy smiled. That proved what Mandy had known for a while, Lily was definitely in love with James. Sirius's whispered the spell next to her and a dog came from his wand. It reminded her of both his animagus form and her own Patronus. A few more came from around the room along with more voices trying the spell out. Mandy produced her own and her brother stared at her. "Mandy, knock it off," Jason called.

"The first one wasn't me," Mandy answered. Jason walked over to her.

"So someone else has the same Patronus?" Jason asked. Sirius whispered the spell again and Jason's attention turned to him. "I see. I should have expected that." Of course his sister and her boyfriend would have similar Patronuses if the boy deeply loved her. That would only make sense. At the end of class, Jason asked her to see him after classes let out for the day. "Mandy, my favorite sister," he said as she stopped in his office.

"You asked to see me?" Mandy answered, dropping into a chair across from him and letting her bag drop to the ground with a loud thump.

"I wanted to speak with you about my class," Jason said, folding his hands on top of his desk.

"You think I'm not ready to my N.E.W.T.s, but I am and I need you to tell Dumbledore that."

"What if I don't think you're ready?"

"Because I'm your sister and you don't want me out in that dangerous world or because I'm not ready?" Jason only watched his sister not answering her. "If it's because I'm your sister, you're as mad as a hatter. I love you, but it's time to let me grow up. If it's because you don't think I'm ready then let me prove you wrong. I can do this, Jason. Let me prove it to you."

"How?"

"Any defensive spell, charm, or jinx from the past year."

"I say it, you do it," Jason said. He stood from behind the desk and used his wand to move it out of the way then created a training dummy similar to the one he had used when he told her about magical backup. Her magic was just as impressive now as it had been then and he noticed that now she wasn't even saying half the spells aloud. "You've been practicing."

"Yes. I told you, I'm ready and I can do this. I want this. I don't regret getting pregnant but I do regret that it happened when it did."

"As much as I hate to admit this—" Jason vanished the dummy and put his desk back in place. He sat down and stared at his wand for a moment, not looking at his sister. If he did he'd never admit it. Every time he looked at her he'd see the five year old who looked up to him and thought he was the coolest man on the planet. He wasn't ready to look at her and see the powerful and talented 17 year old that she had become. "I hate to admit this but you'll be an asset to the Auror department. My boss will be keen on having you on the team."

"You're giving me the go ahead?" Mandy asked in disbelief.

"I gave it at lunch. The only professors you have to be wary of are Slughorn and Flitwick. They both think highly of you but—"

"Slughorn's a Slytherin and Flitwick's a Ravenclaw."

"Their subjects are the hardest," Jason corrected as he looked at her, "Potion-making is an art and Charms are more difficult than you think."

"Charms are easy, my second best class, and as for potions all I have to do is charm Sluggy and I'm in. McGonagall on the other hand isn't going to let me cake-walk it."

"Cake-walk?" Jason asked.

"It's an American term mostly. Started mostly in the southern United States as a dance or perhaps the carnival game where you walk around in a circle until the music stops and if your number is called you win, typically cake?" Mandy suggested.

"I know that. I just don't get what that had to do with McGonagall's class," Jason said.

"She's not going to let me breeze right through it. It's going to be tough and difficult and I'll have to work for it. It won't be easy."

"Oh, that makes sense. However, don't say I said this; McGonagall has a soft spot for all her Gryffindors. If you showed the kind of aptitude in her class that you just showed me then I know you're ready."

"You think McGonagall would have already given it?" Mandy asked.

"I know she did. Along with your Care of Magical Creatures professor, and whoever you had this afternoon. I just put you through this right now to prove to you that you're ready."

"You think that I thought I wasn't ready."

"I know you're worried about it. You and I both know that you missed five months of classes. Even if you don't want to admit it, that's a lot of class. A full term."

"Get out of my head!" Mandy snapped, closing her eyes and shaking her head hard.

"Easy, easy, easy," Jason warned as his fire flickered and died. He quickly pulled out of his sister's thoughts and put his wand on the table. "It took you that long?"

"It didn't bother me until you started digging for something you have no right to look for. Stay out of my head; it's not a nice place. I'm hungry, so I'm going to go." Mandy backed out of the office slowly and Jason didn't say any more.

Thursday afternoon during her break, Mandy was studying for her Care of Magical Creatures class when a grand eagle owl flew in the open window. He dropped down neatly in front of her and held out his leg. Mandy figured it was male though one really couldn't tell with eagle owls. She took the letter from the leg and the owl took off again spreading Mandy's notes into disarray. She sighed and unrolled the note.

"Thank you for kindness concerning my sister. We have a deal and will inform you of when the child is born. Narcissa Malfoy." Mandy had to read the note twice to fully understand what it meant then realized that it concerned the deal she made with Lucius. It appeared they were opting for the former of making her their first-born's godmother. She could understand how they thought that was the lesser of two evils. Hardly anyone ever found out about a child's godparents but not using his influence at the ministry at the right times could throw Lucius out of favor and ruin everything he was working towards. It was risky to be involved but perhaps her involvement in the child's life would correct any evil his father would put in his head.

"Mandy?" Remus asked.

"Sorry what?" Mandy answered.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No. And you shouldn't worry about it. Just a little deal I had to make. Everything's fine."

"If you're certain."

"I am." Mandy smiled and he studied her for a moment before shaking it off and going back to his notes.

Friday the class she was dreading rolled around. The rest of her classes were relatively easy and she was confident that her professors would let her take her exams. Friday afternoon, Slughorn's class. He stopped in front of her desk before officially starting class. "Professor Dumbledore has asked me if I believe you are ready to take your end of term exams," Slughorn asked.

"And do you?" Mandy asked.

"I'm not sure. Perhaps a little test?"

"Of course. What do you have in mind?"

"Correctly brew me a simple potion by the end of the period with zero help from anyone and I will give my permission for you to take your exams."

"No help?" Mandy asked.

"None. No friends, no books. Anything you can think of."

Mandy nodded thinking of which potion she knew by heart that could be completed in a few hours. "You can do it, Love," Sirius whispered to her.

"You got this," James added. Seeing all the encouraging faces around her, Mandy nodded and settled on the Shrinking Solution. It was a really simple potion but it was also one of the few Mandy knew by heart.

After reviewing with the rest of the class and at the end of the class Slughorn returned her desk. "What do you have for me?"

"I know it's real simple but only a few potions can be brewed in under two hours. This is one of them. A Shrinking Solution," Mandy explained.

Slughorn pulled a cloth from his robes and dropped a few drops of her solution onto it. Sure enough the cloth shrank in size. "Congratulations. The rest of you take note of this. A perfect Shrinking Solution done completely from memory. If you study like Miss Hunter has done, you will have no problem passing your N.E.W.T.s."

"Thank you, Professor." After class let out they headed upstairs for dinner. They were all sitting in the Common Room when Timmy walked up to her. "Hi Timmy," Mandy said.

"Hey, Professor Dumbledore would like to see you. He said he'd be in his office," Timmy said.

"Thanks." Mandy stood and left for the Headmaster's office. Mandy sat down across from Dumbledore in the hard wooden chair and noticed her brother standing next to Dumbledore's desk.

"Miss Hunter, I'm sure you know what I called you here for," Dumbledore started.

"You're going to let me take my exams?" she asked hopefully.

"Yes, I am. I have heard from all your professors and we have decided that you are ready to attempt them. However if you do not pass them the first time, the next time you may sit for them is in December."

"What? Professor, you said I could sit them again in August."

"Better safe than sorry. Besides the Auror programme won't be accepting new candidates until next summer anyway," Jason said.

"This is your fault. You don't want me as an Auror, but I'll prove you wrong. I'll be the best trainee in my class." Mandy glared at her brother for a moment then stood and headed for the door.

"It's okay, Albus, I'm used to her anger. She'll calm down." Mandy heard Jason say before the headmaster's door swung shut behind her. Mandy rolled her eyes and made the long trek to the hospital wing. She was surprised to find Sirius there talking to their son. He was sitting in a rocking chair near the cot staring through the rails on the side of the cot.

"I know, I know," he was saying, "everyone's been telling me that she can and I really want to believe them, but I guess, and don't tell her I said this, I still see her as this bright-eyed little girl."

"See who?" Mandy asked.

"Uh, no one," Sirius answered turning to look at her.

"Is that the only view you want your son to have of you, through bars?"

"I love him, but I think it would hurt too much to hold him, and then let him go."

"I understand, but at least do this." Mandy waved her wand at the cot and the side Sirius was sitting next to was lowered. Leo cooed and looked over at them as Mandy approached.

"You okay?" Sirius asked, taking Mandy's hand.

"I think so. I'm not sure though. Dumbledore and my professors have given the go ahead to let me take my N.E.W.T.s with everyone else but if I don't get what I need I have to come back next year and repeat first term."

"But you were in most of first term."

"I know. I guess I'll be here first term to get more exclusive tutoring and then in December I can sit them again. Dumbledore worked it out with the Ministry."

"But you said that he told you August."

"He did. I'm guessing my brother got to him or something." Mandy sighed and reached forward stroking her son's head.

"Don't worry about it. You and me will cram this weekend and I guarantee you that you'll be ready for every exam next week."

"Thanks Sirius." He nodded and stood. "You know what I just realized?" Mandy asked glancing at him. "It's Tiffy's birthday."

"I know. I told that this morning. You didn't forget that I dated her right?"

"No of course not," Mandy said, waving her wand at the cot again. The side slipped back into place and Mandy and Sirius left the wing.

Thanks to everyone for reading. Tell me what you think please.