Apparently my muse took a chapter and the half that went poof and created three chapters instead, so here I am again. Read, review, and remember I only wish I owned this.
There were a few more things to clear up before they could reclaim a "normal" life. Thankfully, Clarissa had indeed spread word as soon as her daughter left, so no one was quite so shocked to see dead people in their doorway. It was late, so they did their best to keep the visits short, but there were some people the two of them felt should be informed of their return personally.
William, for one. And yes, Clarissa had called him not five minutes after Amelia had left that afternoon. William hugged his sister and reluctantly agreed to wait for the full explanation.
Andromeda was next. She was holding up pretty well, but she cried when they mentioned her daughter's not-ghost. She hugged them both. Somehow Amelia found herself agreeing to assist with babysitting duties. She wasn't certain which of the three adults was most surprised when Sirius offered to help.
By the time they reached the Burrow, most of the occupants were asleep, but that didn't deter the red-headed clan in the slightest. The Weasleys trapped them in with sheer numbers of recently wakened pajama-ed bodies and demanded an explanation.
From Amelia anyway.
Harry had apparently taken to spending some nights at the Burrow and Molly practically herded him and Sirius out of the kitchen to have their own much needed explanation session. Sirius also had the last of the paperwork that Harry needed to sign. He had willed Harry Grimmauld Place, but as he wasn't dead anymore, Harry needed to sign the overly wordy pages as well. Everyone present was yawning every other word before Amelia and Sirius were finally allowed to leave.
Amelia directed Sirius to the guest room before collapsing on her bed.
A tap on the window woke her late the next morning. She let the owl in and relieved him of the newspaper and letter he delivered.
The letter was from her mother and considerably shorter than what Clarissa usually sent. I figured you would want to read the Prophet today since you're in it. Unsurprisingly. Dinner is at five. I expect you both to be here by then. See you tonight.
Amelia smiled and shook her head as she moved to the Daily Prophet. Her eyes widened involuntarily. The staff must have been up half the night writing new articles. The only thing on the front page was her and Sirius. Yesterday's photographs waved up at her amid the multiple stories about one or both of them. Audrey Tarrow had the headline, however, and Amelia laughed when she read it.
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BLACK FROM THE DEAD
There has been a lot of dark news these past few months as the magical community recovers from the effects of what has been officially named the Second Wizarding War. The lists of the dead and the missing are extensive and heartbreaking. In a startling revelation, however, we can remove two of those names. Believed to have perished in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries (18 June, 1996), it was discovered yesterday that due to an exceptionally rare and unusual confluence of magicks, Sirius Black and Amelia Zeraff were held in a form of suspended Apparation for more than two years. The pair reputedly suffered little lasting effects from their irregular Apparation and alerted the Ministry within hours of the return.
Zeraff is a former Auror and, with Black, served in the Order of the Phoenix prior to their disappearance from the Department of Mysteries during the battle. Those present at the time reported to have witnessed Black fall through the Veil after being struck by a curse in the ominously named Death Chamber. Zeraff attempted to halt his fall and was instead pulled through with him. The pair had been the only reported fatalities of the battle.
The curse which precipitated the fall was cast by none other than Bellatrix Lestrange, nee Black, cousin to Sirius. Lestrange perished at the Battle of Hogwarts back in May, moments before Harry Potter revealed himself for his final confrontation with Lord (ctd. page 3, column 1)
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"An exceptionally rare and unusual confluence of magicks? That's what you decided to call it?" Amelia said with a chuckle. "And I imagined you'd find a way to drag Harry into it somehow. Nothing says 'fit for public consumption' like the Harry Potter Stamp of Approval."
Not as prominent, but still on the front page was:
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NOT SO BLACK, AFTER ALL
Since the first fall of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named (Halloween, 1981) Sirius Black was believed to have been in his service. When He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named revealed his return at the conclusion of the Battle of the department of Mysteries (June, 1996) it was also learned that Black was not, and had never been, in his service. In the frenzy of Ministry activity following that battle, Black's presumed death and affiliations were lost in the shuffle. Black's return brings these details back into the light.
The crimes for which Black had been imprisoned were in fact committed by a Death Eater, one Peter Pettigrew, who faked his death fifteen years ago to avoid Death Eater retribution for the part he unwittingly played in the temporary downfall of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and to deflect the blame onto Black. Black was wrongfully imprisoned in Azkaban for twelve years for the actions of Pettigrew. Following his infamous escape, Black continued to aid the Order of the Phoenix in (ctd. page 5, column 2)
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"Still covering their asses," Amelia noted. "'Lost in the shuffle.' Right. Meaning it was irrelevant at the time and wouldn't sell as many papers as 'Ministry caught with their trousers down' or 'Ministry switched official positions real fast.'" She snorted in an unflattering manner. "At least it's a decent picture."
She skimmed the varying articles that continued in the same vein as she got up and went down to the kitchen. Only then did she realize the breakfast staples were perishable items that her kitchen currently lacked. With a few quietly murmured words of colorful language Amelia went back upstairs and put on Muggle clothes. Leaving a note on the table next to the Daily Prophet Amelia went out into the neighborhood she had spent half her life in.
That was when Amelia remembered her neighbors were Muggles who had not heard from her in over two years. Mrs. Therese Ellerson in the faded blue house two from the corner was sitting on her porch when Amelia walked by. As Mrs. Ellerson was considered the biggest gossip in the neighborhood (once people got past the harmless old lady persona), Amelia didn't have any hope of escaping her probing questions.
Amelia had not thought of what she was going tell her neighbors, although she really should have. Especially because they (Therese) thought she might be dead. The only thing she could think of to explain her two year absence was an accident. That silenced Therese for a few moments before she inquired into what kind of accident it was.
Those few moments allowed Amelia to compose a plausible story. It was only possible because she used an element of truth. It was the only thing she could think of. A good friend ("Remus Lupin. You wouldn't have met him; I went to school with him.") of hers had been attacked shortly after he had gotten married. Amelia had rushed over to help him and his wife, another friend of hers. ("She had a crazy name, Nymphadora Tonks. Everyone in her family had crazy names, really.")
"And then we found out that Tonks (as she liked to be called because she despised her first name) was pregnant. She had terrible morning sickness," Amelia lied easily, "and I had to take care of both of them, because of course they had a house out in the country.
"Anyway, Tonks had her baby last spring – an adorable boy named Teddy after her father. But then the two of them were in a car accident not even two months later. Teddy was fine – he was with his grandmother – but Remus and Tonks both died."
Therese expressed her sympathy and tried to ply Amelia with tea.
"I can't at the moment, I'm sorry. Tonks' cousin is staying with me for a while and there's nothing to eat in the house. I'm actually supposed to be on my way to the grocery store."
"I hope I haven't kept you from your guest," Therese said.
Amelia shook her head. "We had a hectic day yesterday. He's probably still sleeping. I don't know for how much longer, though," she added when it looked like Therese Ellerson was about to start another inquisition about the man in Amelia's house. "Don't be surprised if you see a big black dog around. He is very well trained, however, so you don't have to worry about your rose bushes."
And then Amelia left as gracefully and quickly as possible. The grocery store was only a couple of blocks away and Amelia didn't dawdle in the shop, so Mrs. Ellerson was still sitting on her porch with her tea and knitting on the return trip. Amelia nodded at her, but since her hands were full she kept walking.
Sirius was sitting in the kitchen reading the Prophet when she came in.
"Sorry," Amelia said, setting the bags down on the counter. "I was interrogated by the little old lady down the street. Don't let her knitting needles fool you – that woman is sharper than a tack." Amelia summarized the tale she had spun as she made pancakes.
"I don't know how you survived all this time with only Muggles as neighbors," was his only comment. About that anyway. He had a few more colorful things to say about the Daily Prophet. He might have mentioned Fudge on occasion. If the former Minister was brought up, it wasn't in any manner that could be repeated in polite company.
They were at Clarissa's house for five o'clock. Amelia managed to avoid asking how her mother had pulled it off. She had asked enough over the years that she knew her mother wasn't going to reveal the secret anytime soon.
Amelia felt inundated by people and contemplated making signs or a general announcement in order to stem the waves of questions. She was strongly considering turning into an owl and flying somewhere far, far away. And since she was the more patient of the two, she suspected Sirius had started considering something similar much earlier than she had.
It was Minerva who came to their rescue. She asked both of them inside so she could discuss something.
"So, what do you want to talk about?" Amelia inquired once they were sequestered away from the curious masses of people she had once considered friends.
"Thanks, by the way," Sirius added. "I'd as soon retake my N.E.W.T.s. than spend any longer in that horde."
"Funny you should mention N.E. W.T.s," Minerva began. She hesitated before continuing. "I was wondering if either of you had ever given thought to becoming professors?"
"Me? A professor? Are you crazy?" Sirius said bluntly.
Amelia stared at her in disbelief. "You're really that desperate?"
"Not crazy," Minerva replied, "desperate. As you say, I am that desperate. But, Sirius, you would not be a terrible Defense Against the Dark Arts professor – "
"Two days ago I was dead!" Sirius exclaimed in denial. "Before that I was a fugitive, a murderer who'd been in Azkaban!"
"And the last Dark Arts professor was a Death Eater," Minerva retorted. "In addition to being a Death Eater, Amycus Carrow routinely hexed his students. I suspect one of his students did him in during the final battle. The professors before him weren't much less notable.
"Let's recap, shall we?" she continued with a bite to her words. "Severus Snape taught Dark Arts for a year before killing the headmaster and fleeing the school in the company of Death Eaters. He is now dead. Dolores Umbridge, incompetent Ministry stooge, who attempted to rule Hogwarts with a lacey, pink and iron fist. She willingly served Voldemort's caricature of a Ministry last year and I personally hope she rots in Azkaban. Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody wasn't a bad professor if you ignore the fact that he was, in actuality, a Death Eater impersonator. The real Alastor was held prisoner in his own trunk, and died last summer. Remus Lupin, also a good professor, aside from the prejudice against werewolves and the fact that he, too, died in battle. Gilderoy Lockhart is an empty-headed twit who couldn't see past his reflection. He knew only how to sign autographs and obliviate memories. He has since lost the ability to anything beyond the former activity; I pity the staff at St. Mungo's. Quirinus Quirrell was a competent professor until he was possessed by Voldemort and tried to murder one of his students. Shall I continue?"
"I think we have the idea," Sirius said sourly.
"Those are the only Dark Arts Professors these students have known. That they have done so well with such a sub-standard teaching staff is nothing less than astonishing. Admittedly, Dumbledore's Army helped during Umbridge's reign, and the students certainly had a good deal of practical experience this past year. I suspect this coming year will be one of the easier and the most difficult years."
"Why is that?" Amelia asked.
"Because the students are such a mixed lot this year. Depending on the subject and the student, some will be ahead, some will be behind, and other will be right where they are supposed to be. Are the seventh years really up to seventh year standards when half of them either didn't attend class at all or attended such a twisted class? And where do the students who were seventh years last year fit in? They were allowed to retake their final year. But, again, last year had a lot of practical application."
"And all this is supposed to convince me to become a professor?" Sirius said with raised eyebrows.
"It's supposed to explain why she is so desperate she is asking you to teach malleable young minds," Amelia replied.
"I'm asking you as well, Amelia, although I thought you might take over Transfiguration."
"Trans – but that's your subject!" Amelia exclaimed.
"And I cannot teach it as Headmistress," Minerva said with a forced calm. "But I consider you to be an acceptable replacement."
Amelia gaped.
Sirius snickered. "I always knew you couldn't take a compliment gracefully."
Amelia stepped on his foot.
"I would continue to look for suitable professors, but it would be a weight off my mind to know the two of you would step in if necessary." Minerva looked to them for an answer.
"I am honored that you consider me to be proficient enough to attempt to fill your shoes," Amelia replied. "I will do my best not to disappoint you."
Sirius shrugged. "It'll be something to do."
Amelia stepped on his foot again. "It will give you a chance to be known as something other than a headline in the Prophet."
"Your appointment might get another one," Minerva pointed out.
Amelia sighed.
"That still leaves me with the Muggle Studies post to fill – "
"I could do it."
The trio turned toward Clarissa, standing in the doorway.
"I passed my Muggle Studies N.E.W.T.," Clarissa explained, "and unlike most of those who do so, I have practical Muggle knowledge. Professor Stulsys was nearly as bad as Arthur Weasley."
Minerva smiled. "That he was," she agreed. "And it seems I have a full teaching staff again. Thank you."
Amelia was confused. "I thought you worked as a nurse."
Clarissa smiled sadly. "I retired last year. I'm old, Amelia, to non-magical folk anyway. Muggles don't live as long. Between my age and your . . . disappearance, I retired. I'm finding retirement somewhat boring, however."
"I suppose that's why you threw a party at the drop of a hat."
"Of course. I'll teach under my maiden name, however, Fulcin. Two Professor Zeraff's on staff would be confusing."
Amelia laughed. "As if working with my mother wouldn't be confusing already."
Sirius, who had been thoroughly interrogated by Clarissa as soon as he had arrived, looked at the two of them as if he wondered what he had just gotten himself into.
Amelia just kept laughing.