A/N: Well, m'dears, as much as I'm pretty certain now I'm writing this story for my own amusement more than anything else, it is Christmastime and this has been called a Christmas-themed story, so: Happy Christmas! I managed to type up another chapter this year! Just, please, take the reminder that I am writing this for myself as much as all of you and do not judge my writing ability wholly on the content of this chapter in particular. Cheers! May all your holidays be bright!

Yours forever, Tsona

Draco pulled away with a great effort and his head snapped round to view the intruder, his hand automatically reaching for his wand. Sirius Black stood there, regarding them with a rakish smile and a glitter in his usually deadened eyes.

"Sirius!" Draco cried, stunned, all thought of his wand forgotten. "How-- What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to meet your bride."

"Does Dumbledore know?" Draco asked anxiously.

"You and Harry--" Sirius shook his shaggy head and, though he lowered his lids to hide it, Draco saw his eyes darken dangerously, "you're always worrying about that. Don't you think I can look after myself?"

"We just don't want you back in Azkaban."

"Well, for what it's worth, I do have his permission as it happens. Not," Sirius added sullenly, "that I should need it."

"Draco," Alana whimpered, still in his embrace, though less fiercely so, clinging to him.

Draco's eyes wandered to catch hers, saw the fear written there, begging him to do something. "Oh," he said slowly, "you don't know...." He took her hands in his and implored her with his eyes fastened on hers, "Sirius isn't a mass-murderer. He's innocent. He's a friend of mine."

"Friend? Draco-- they found-- all they found of Pettigrew was his finger! All those Muggles!"

"Come, Alana. You've hung around me long enough. Has Wormtail never come up before now? Peter Pettigrew," he said in answer to her blank, uncomprehending stare. "He's alive-- or was last I heard. He's a Death Eater, and was then too. He killed all those people, and framed Sirius for it."

"It's true," Sirius offered from near the door.

Alana's eyes traveled from Draco's to Sirius' and back again.

"He's no more a Death Eater than I am, Gryff," Draco implored. "Probably even less so. Please don't kick him out. Please don't turn him in. He's Harry's godfather!"

Alana's eyes cut again away from Draco's earnest face to scan Sirius', familiar only from his wanted posters.

"I brought a gift," Sirius tried, raising his hand, in which he clasped the neck of a wine bottle.

Alana's eyes stayed on him for a minute, round and anxious, then she broke from Draco and staggered off through the portal to their right.

"I think that's a 'Come in,'" Draco interpreted, making after her.

Sirius followed him into the living room. Alana had made it to the kitchen and was walking slowly back toward them with three wineglasses in her trembling hands; the glass chinked like the tattoo of a swiftly beating heart. She put them down on the coffee table just as Sirius was sinking into one of the armchairs and Draco lowered himself onto the couch. He caught her by the hand and pulled her down beside him.

"I really didn't mean to scare you," Sirius said. "I thought this lummox would have explained."

"Your innocence is Order business as far as I'm concerned," Draco opined as he reached for the bottle and extracted his wand from his pocket. "And you didn't think to warn me you would be stopping by."

"I thought it would be a nice surprise," Sirius muttered as Draco applied his wand to the cork it went sailing out of the nozzle.

"And it is," Draco assured him, passing him a filled glass of the blood-dark liquor. "But some sort of advance notice would have been nice."

Sirius ducked his head, dropping his grey eyes to the surface of his drink; his shaggy locks fell forward to veil his face as he muttered, "Consider this your notice, then."

"It's a little late for that, mate," Draco laughed. "You're already sitting down."

Sirius did not raise his head, but sipped at the dark wine, until Alana managed to clear her throat, to regain control of her voice, and quaver, "If-- if you're innocent, why-- why isn't your name cleared?"

Sirius offered her a rueful smile. "Your own shock at the suggestion is your answer. Throw a fiery temper and too much pride into the mix and you have Fudge's reaction to the idea."

"He knows?"

Sirius' smiled widened at her obvious horror. "Yes, but he's a bit of a stubborn blockhead. I think I've earned the right to say that."

Draco nodded his agreement and let the affront go, but Alana whimpered, "But-- he saved Draco."

"For which I'm very grateful. Perhaps not as much as yourself," he allowed, "but still, I'm fond of the little bugger." He offered Draco a roguish grin, which was returned.

"He can't be all bad, then," Alana finished.

"No, but he's nearsighted. But," Sirius raised his face and his glass, "it's your wedding night! We're talking politics and we haven't even been properly introduced!"

"Oh!" Draco cried. "I forgot! Sirius-- this is Alana. Alana-- Sirius."

Alana held out a trembling hand to be shaken, willing to put aside her prejudices, her fears, Draco knew, for his sake and he appreciated the gesture more than he could have told her. It was just that open and willing spirit that had initiated their own acquaintance. Sirius, perhaps willfully, misinterpreted the gesture and took her hand in his, raised it to his lips and planted a kiss there.

Alana's eyes flew open with another flicker of fear and spun round to Draco, who after the initial flutter of shock and flare of jealousy, chuckled, catching the glitter in Sirius' eyes. "He's only being polite."

Sirius smiled. "Was it a nice wedding? I'm sorry I couldn't come, but, well." He spread his arms wide, indicating himself as the answer.

Alana took the stem of the wineglass Draco offered her. The liquid only leapt a little against the bowl in her shaking fingers. She tipped back a little bit and smiled up at Draco, who beamed back. "You can't expect an unbiased answer to that, can you?"

Sirius let out a bark of laughter. "No, I suppose not."

"Hang on!" Distance made the shout from down the hall faint. "SIRIUS BLACK?"

Sirius stiffened suddenly. "Who's that?" he asked in a whisper so quick his words slurred some. "Should I transform?"

"Your grandfather," Alana murmured to Draco, laying a hand on his rigid arm.

Draco relaxed. "I'm not used to talking portraits anymore...."

"Your grandfather? Haemmon Malfoy?"

"Erm... I don't actually know...."

Sirius stood up and strode down the hallway. Draco and Alana exchanged a quick glance. Draco shrugged and they followed him, hand in hand. Sirius peered into the study.

"Well, I'll be!" Draco's grandfather chuckled from above the desk. "I haven't seen you in years! Not since my last Christmas party, wasn't it? Of course," he added quickly, "I haven't seen anyone in years...."

"Mr. Malfoy." Sirius made a light bow, his dark, uneven locks falling down over his face. "What are you doing here? So far from your manor?"

"My worthless son has given me to my grandson and his new wife as a wedding present. I hope your parents know what they had in you.... Are they still alive?"

"No," Sirius said simply, bypassing the portrait's other wish. He turned from the doorway to Draco, "Your father was there?"

"Well, er, yeah... he was...."

"Is that my grandson? Come here, boy, come where I can see you. I can't come to you, you know."

"Is he coming to the party?" Sirius asked before Draco had gone more than a few steps toward complying with his grandfather's request.

"Party?" Draco said, stopping.

Sirius swore loudly. The portrait said, "Now really! Don't make me take back my compliment. I thought you were a good boy."

"It was supposed to be a surprise. Act surprised when Molly comes in? She'd kill me, she's been planning for weeks...."

"Mrs. Weasley's planning us a party?" Alana asked.

Sirius nodded. "People should be getting here soon. We were going to give you a bit to, you know, settle down. I got here early because, well, I wanted to meet the bride-- I mean, obviously I hadn't gotten the chance--"

"Sirius," Draco cut over him, smiling. "We'll act surprised. Molly doesn't have to know."

"She's got eyes that go right through you," Sirius sulked, wrapping his arms tight about himself.

"Actually, it's sort of nice to have some warning. Good thing your lady friend is a good housekeeper," Alana told Draco, who could no longer contain his laughter.

"Oh, she's good, Molly. Remember what she said to us tonight? Acting as though we would-- well--" he had the politesse to color "--before she got a chance to see us again and extracting promises about coming to the Burrow in the morning? I wonder why they never tried recruiting her for the Auror office?"

At that moment there was a faint knock from the front door.

"Oh, that'll be her!"

Alana dashed off and Draco, applying the Malfoy mask of his training, followed. Alana reached the door first and wrenched it open.

"Mrs. Weasley!" she squealed, and Draco had to quirk. Like any proper Gryffindor, she couldn't do anything halfway. Another trait that had attracted him, drawn them together. "Mr. Weasley! George! What are you all doing here?"

"Ooh!" Molly shuffled across the threshold in her vibrant, knit shawl and wrapped her new daughter-in-law and Draco in a warm hug. "Surprise! You didn't think we'd all let you get away without celebrating with us?"

"Molly, it's quarter to one," Draco said.

"Yes, but what's a few hours of lost sleep between friends and family? Besides, we've had it all planned and suggested that people try and nap some this afternoon. And, before you start thinking about it, you're still expected for Christmas tomorrow morning."

"Right," George said, "because that's tradition--"

"And traditions are to be upheld," Draco recited. "Erm, except under special circumstances like love and family."

They all laughed and George, coming up behind the pair of them, muttered, "And thank you for getting Mum out tonight too, or we'd all be at home listening to Celestina Warbeck on the wireless. Sanity ought to be another excuse on that list."

Draco answered him with another laugh and then motioned them all toward the living room. "Well, come in then. When is the celebration to begin?"

Sirius was standing at the end of the side hallway, grinning at the party. "Oh," Molly said, "you're here already, are you, Sirius? I hope you didn't let anything slip." Her fisted hands flew to her wide hips and her dark eyes narrowed dangerously.

"He didn't breath a word," Draco lied quickly.

Molly softened and striding forward wrapped a very shocked Sirius in a hug as well. "Oh! isn't this all blessedly wonderful, Sirius!"

"Yeah," Sirius breathed, patting her awkwardly on the back.

George smiled at Draco. "Mum gets so emotional over these sort of things. You ought to have seen her at Ickle Ronniekin's wedding."

"I'd have loved to. If only they had waited just a month longer...."

"We'd have had a hard time fitting all of us, plus the priest in that hospital room," George told him soberly. "And it's not as if we could have guessed. I mean, we all thought...."

"You thought I'd be stuck in Azkaban forever, yeah. I did too.... Did Sirius get to come?"

George shook his head. "We had it up in the back field, like Bill's, but it was too exposed for Sirius, there was the priest to think of at least. Ron wanted to have the party at Grimmauld Place, but there were too many guests who couldn't come then. Hermione's parents, for one, and we couldn't have that."

"Poor man."

George nodded.

"So when will everyone else get here?"

"And why wasn't Ginny with you?" Alana added.

"Ginny and Harry went off together after the wedding and I've no idea where the two rascals have gotten to," George grinned, his blue eyes sparkling. "Mum set the time for one, though, so they still might make it on time."

"Shouldn't you be keeping better tabs on your sister?" Draco asked, feeling his own flutter of fear for the well-being of the girl.

"I like Harry. Besides," George laughed, "he knows he's up against an entire family of redheads if he hurts one curly hair on her little head."

Draco chuckled, the anxiety quickly dissipating at that thought.

Mrs. Weasley came bustling up to them. "Oh, I do hope you two don't think we're intruding."

"Not at all, Mrs. Weasley," Alana was quick to reply.

"It should be fun, actually, Molly."

There was another knock on the door, and Mrs. Weasley said, "Oh, more guests!" and hurried off to answer the door herself.

"She's really excited about this, isn't she?" Draco said to Mr. Weasley, who was laughing silently beside him.

"Molly loves company. You know that."

They heard Molly, from the vestibule, say loudly, "Bougainvillea! I'm so glad you could make it."

Draco glanced quickly toward Sirius, who, rolling his eyes and sighing, shrank into the form of a black, shaggy dog.

"What the--" Alana breathed.

Draco lay a quick hand on her arm and whispered, "He's an Animagus."

Sirius came to put his nose up to George's hand. George obligingly patted him on the head. "All right, Snuffles," he chuckled, "for now you can be mine. But I hope you come out of it soon and join the party, when there's enough people here to risk cover."

Sirius let his tongue fall out of his mouth.

Draco asked quickly, "How many people are coming?"

But before George or Arthur could answer, Molly came in, chatting to Mrs. O'Toule, Alana's mother. And in Mrs. O'Toule's arms was--

"Harriet!" Draco cried.

The white cat fixed emerald eyes on him and blinked.

Mrs. O'Toule, laughing, came up to him and handed him the cat, which promptly began to purr in his arms and snuggle into the cradle they made. "I see you both still remember an old friend."

"You've kept her? All this time?"

"Alana asked me to. But if I'm to be living alone, then two cats are quite enough to be getting on with. Consider her your wedding present." Then, Mrs. O'Toule did something he could not have ever expected: she reached up and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, his arms being too occupied for hugs. "Welcome to the family, Draco."

"Thanks, Mrs. O'Toule." He hoped his broad grin betrayed all his feelings.

Mrs. O'Toule chuckled again as she turned to her daughter and wrapped her in a tight embrace, kissing her too.

Tonks let herself into the house with a call of "Hello?" and led Bill Weasley into the living room, where she greeted Draco and Alana both with a fierce hug-- Harriet leapt to the floor out of the way-- her face practically as bright as her bubblegum pink hair, and Bill clapped Draco on the back in a brother fashion.

Tonks grabbed both of Alana's hands with a cry of "Oh, it's so nice to have a sister! I always wanted-- We'll have to do all those sisterly things-- we'll do each other's hair and nails and share gossip!"

Alana laughed. "I don't think you really need me to do your hair, do you, Tonks? But that sounds wonderful! And we'll go out shopping? And go get lunches and coffee?"

"Of course!"

The two girls beamed.

"I thought I was getting a wife tonight, not that my cousin was getting a sister?" Draco jibed.

Tonks rolled her eyes and Alana stuck her tongue out briefly at him before falling safely back into his embrace. "Can't it be both?"

"Well yes," Draco assured her, "I just don't want to be forgotten in all this sisterly planning."

"Watch out, Draco," Bill advised. "Ginny and Hermione have been thick as thieves lately."

"I think Hermione's trying to set her up," George put in.

"Oh George!" Molly cried. "Bite your tongue or you'll jinx it!"

"Will do, Mum." George tipped Draco a wink.

"All my babies growing up and getting married and leaving me!" Molly cried. She threw herself on Draco, crying.

"Ah, Mum, don't," George said. "You've still got me. I haven't got anyone."

"You've got that blasted store of yours," Molly hiccoughed.

It was a joke that George smiled at. Molly had long since given in to the conclusion that her twin sons had been born businessmen, as much as she had protested the idea originally.

"I really ought to be getting back before Fleur starts to worry," Bill said, shaking Draco's and then Alana's hand. "Tonks and I just wanted to stop in for a few minutes. I'll see you both in the morning though?"

Draco nodded.

"Will Victoire and Cédric be coming?"

"I couldn't stop them going over Grandmum's house. They were at Grande-maman's this morning. Came back exhausted but still wanted to know when we were heading to the Burrow."

Tonks hugged them both tightly again. "Happy Christmas!" she said. "If you follow Harry out tomorrow he's coming to see Teddy."

"Thanks, Tonks," Draco grinned. "We'll keep it in mind."

The two of them waved and left, but as they opened the door, it was with a laugh and a joint cry of "Professors!"

"Yes, we're here," came a deep chuckle. "Are you both off?"

"Yes," Bill said soberly.

"Well, a happy Christmas to you then," the professor said warmly.

"Thanks, Professor."

"Happy Christmas!"

Albus Dumbledore, still in his lurid purple suit, strode into the living room, beaming at them all, and Severus Snape came slinking in his wake, wearing a fully black ensemble still. His dark eyes spun around the room, landed on Draco, and he nodded once.

Dumbledore meanwhile came forward and took Draco's and Alana's hand in his. "Ah, love," he breathed. "It does me good to see the two of you finally together." He tipped them a wink.

"You sound like you expected it," Draco said.

"I hoped. I admit I was impressed when I saw Miss O'Toule-- or shall I say Mrs. Malfoy now?-- go over to the Slytherin table to speak to you. There's not often much friendly interaction between Slytherin and Gryffindor." Here, Dumbledore glanced back at Snape, who would not meet his eye.

Alana reached up and placed a kiss on his bearded cheek.

"Oh! What's that for?"

"A thank you. For letting us figure it out on our own. And for looking after my husband."

Dumbledore waved a blackened hand at her. "I can't take full credit for that, Mrs. Malfoy. I think Professor Snape deserves some too. He was the one who kept an eye on Mr. Malfoy before his return to Hogwarts."

"Would you like a kiss too, Professor?"

George sniggered and Snape's head shot up, his dark eyes flying wide. "No!" He coughed slightly, "I mean, no thank you, Miss O'Toule."

George laughed more loudly and Snape turned glaring eyes on him.

"Good thing we're not at Hogwarts, George, or I think you'd have just lost Gryffindor a good--" he glanced at the Slytherin head "-- twenty points minimum." To Snape he said, "Are you staying for the party, Professor?"

"No," Snape mumbled. "The headmaster merely dragged me along to offer my--" the word seemed to taste sour to him "-- congratulations, and to wish you both a happy Christmas."

"Well, consider your messages passed then," Draco grinned. "I was glad you could come."

"I can go then?"

"I had hoped you could talk him into staying," Dumbledore said to Draco.

"No, Professor. I wouldn't do that to Professor Snape." He looked back at the Potions master, "Happy Christmas, sir."

Snape nodded again and hurried toward the door.

"Really," Molly murmured, "he might have stayed."

"He hates parties," said Draco.

"All the same."

Ron and Hermione came in next, Hermione getting to greet Alana as a sister for the first time. Then came Harry and Ginny, who was wearing Harry's lurid orange Canon scarf and Draco hoped was flushed only from the cold, though he said nothing to her. She dragged Alana away and the tide of people coming in soon became lost upon Draco.

"This party needs some music," George said from across the crowd. "Harry-- come help me with these!"

Harry disentangled himself from Ginny, who had had her arm wrapped around his as they both sat on the couch talking to Alana.

Mr. Weasley glanced up from his conversation with Dumbledore, Mad-Eye Moody, and Kingsley Shacklebolt. "Are those wreckers?"

Harry passed Ginny his glass of wine to hold and Sirius, who had been lying in his Animagus form near Harry's feet, sniffed it eagerly. Ginny laughed and said, "If you wait a minute, Snuffles, I'm sure we can find you a bowl."

She excused herself from Alana, and Draco meandered away from Ron and Hermione to sit down beside his wife.

"Having fun, Mrs. Malfoy?"

"Oh, Draco! This is so wonderful! We'll have to thank Mrs. Weasley. Where is she?"

"Over there with your mum."

Alana looked in the direction Draco had indicated with a nod and frowned slightly. "She doesn't know many people here particularly well."

Kari Ollivander dragged her date-- Draco still hadn't learned his name-- out into an open space near the kitchen as Harry, George, and Mr. Weasley got the music started ("Oh! I see!" Mr. Weasley cried in delight. "That little pin there reads the music? Where are the notes?") and they began to spin in slow circles.

"You reckon we should be taking her around and introducing her?"

Sirius sat up beside Draco and his ears pricked.

"What?" Draco asked him.

Sirius knocked his bear-like head against Draco's knee, then stood and trotted off for the kitchen.

"Guess that means 'follow me?' "

"Good guess," Alana murmured back. "Should I come too?"

Sirius paused, having overheard the question, and nodded once.

"Yes?"

They both got up and followed the black dog over into the kitchen. Once tucked into a corner, Sirius transformed back into a man.

"Oh, Sirius! Finally!" Ginny said from beside the counter, where she had been pouring a bowl full of wine. "It's been torture talking to you and not having you answer! Does this mean you'll be wanting a glass?"

"Hi, Ginny," Sirius grinned wearily. "Can't say about the glass yet, but thanks for the bowl. If you go back to the living room, I think my godson's looking for you."

Ginny looked at him, her eyes narrowing.

"I'm not trying to get rid of you," Sirius hastened. "But dog ears are good for eavesdropping."

Ginny's smile softened. "Oh, all right," she grinned. "Talk to you later, I hope." She crossed the room and at the entrance to the living room, paused to ask, "Are you two going to take a turn too?"

Draco grinned, exchanged a glance with Alana. "Maybe, Gin. Go find, Harry."

When Ginny had gone, Sirius turned back and locked his gray eyes on Alana's brown. "She knows me."

"What?"

"Your mother," Sirius said quietly, "knows me. God! I haven't seen Bougainvillea in years! I never put it together that you were her daughter. Can I see her? Do you think she'd mind?"

"Mind! Mr. Black--"

"Please-- Sirius," he corrected.

"Fine. Sirius, you're a m-- your reputation sort of--"

"I know. But if you explained to her?"

"I dunno, Sirius," Draco said, glancing back toward the spinning couple of dancers.

"It's only Order members here, anyway, except her and the Ollivanders. And I've got sense. We could keep out of the way. And I could turn back to a dog if anyone looks at me funny."

"That last bit doesn't sound much like sense," Draco said darkly.

"Please?"

"How does she know you?" Alana asked.

Sirius let out a bark-like laugh. Draco looked worriedly over his shoulder to make sure it hadn't been recognized, that neither Kari nor her date was peeking around into the kitchen. "We dated once, well, more than once. We couldn't make it work. But it seemed to make sense. That way James could take Lily and we could tag along without things being odd. Double-date."

"You and Mrs. O'Toule. Really?"

Sirius nodded. "She was one of Lily's best friends. Why does this come as such a surprise?"

"What do you reckon?" Draco said, turning to Alana, taking his hand in hers. "I don't know your mum well, but she wasn't keen on me for a good long while after--"

"I--" Alana looked over at Sirius. "I guess I could... breach the idea to her.... But--"

"If things go wrong, you'll get out of here? Immediately?" Draco cut in.

Sirius blew out a breath that ruffled his too long, shaggy locks. "Fine," he said. "Just let me see her."

"Only if she agrees."

"Shall I wait here, then, in the kitchen for you?" He looked at Draco directly, a stare that was half a challenge. "In my Animagus form for safety."

"Oh, shove it, Sirius. You know it's just 'cause we care about you. Do you want company, Gryff? Or shall I, as an Auror-in-training, remain here with the wanted criminal."

Sirius glared at him.

Alana caught the glance too. "Erm, maybe you had better come with me."

"He wouldn't do anything to me," Draco said as he took Alana's hand and they began to move toward the exit. Draco glanced back over his shoulder to see Sirius' eyes softening.

"Touché," he murmured.

They passed the dancers as they made their way back across the sitting room. Ginny looked around with a broad grin as they passed, her cheek pressed up against Harry's shoulder. He had his eyes closed and didn't notice them, which Draco thought, might be for the best. He was likely to be embarrassed at being caught in this position. Ron and George were eyeing the dancing pair from across the room. Ron looked caught between reproof and hope, George was merely beaming.

Alana and Draco approached Mrs. O'Toule, where she stood, it seemed, listening to Molly prattling. Draco cleared his throat quietly as they approached and the two women looked about. Alana went straight to her mother to embrace her.

"Oh!" Molly cried. "Well, my dears, are you enjoying yourselves?"

Draco grinned at her. "It really is a fun party, Molly. Thank you."

"Well, we weren't about to let you get away without a celebration."

"Mum," Alana cut in, pushing away from her just a little to free her face, "there's someone here who wants to mee-- Well, actually, I guess you've already met, but--"

"But it's been awhile and he thinks a reintroduction might be more decorous than coming up to you himself," Draco supplied.

"Oh really," Mrs. O'Toule huffed, her eyes rolling. Draco had to bite back a laugh. It was very much the reaction Alana would have given such an announcement. "Who would I know who cares about decorum?"

"He's just trying to be respectful."

"He's been away for a long while, Mum, and well--"

"He is an old friend of yours, or he assures us so. One of James Potter's friends."

"Remus? I thought-- Molly said he married your pink-haired cousin-- Tonks was her name?-- and she said she was going home."

"Erm, no, not Lupin."

"Did he have other friends?" Mrs. O'Toule wondered. "Except of course poor Peter. Are you sure?"

"Draco?" Molly cut in, her brown eyes piercing. "Are you sure?"

"He wants to see her, Molly."

"Yes, but a lot of what that man wants--" She broke off her eyes flashing. Mrs. O'Toule was looking back and forth between her and Draco, wholly confused.

"Come on, Mum. Come meet him." Alana grabbed her hand and began to lead her off.

Draco lingered only long enough to mutter, "Give him a break, Molly. It's practically all Order members here anyway."

Molly was swelling and Draco had sense enough to duck away before the explosion. Nonetheless Molly yelled after him, "You tell him I'm not going to come and rescue him if he gets caught."

Draco only looked back over his shoulder sadly. He knew it wasn't true, really, that Molly would indeed defend Sirius if the Ministry came to question her about it.

"Now, Mum," Alana was saying in a hush, "I want you to just try and remain calm, okay? This might come as a bit of a shock, but he's a good friend of Draco's, a true friend, and one he met after... well, I think he met him after he met me, so I'm quite certain he's okay."

"Alana--"

But Mrs. O'Toule broke off as she reached the entry to the kitchen, Alana at her side, and Draco at their heels.

"Hi, 'Villiaea," Sirius said quietly.