A/N: Well, guys, it's been fun, but here we are, at the last chapter.
I do want to say that I have absolutely enjoyed doing this story. It's been a tremendous amount of fun for me, and I am looking forward to starting Family Ties and hope that you will return for it.
(Hand goes up in the back.) And exactly when will that be?
I'm getting to that! Sit down!
As that Family Relations has been such a long story, I will be taking a short break before starting Family Ties. However, I have some business I have to attend to in October or November (the date hasn't been set yet), and if all goes well I could be out of action for several months. More on that later.
I will be doing some shorter pieces in the meantime. Mostly Meeting The Parents, a cute little one shot on what happens when your Auror parents meet your Deatheater wife for the first time, and a multiple chapter story called In The Family Way which explains how Orion and Katlin ended up parents to not one, but five children.
So, when will Family Ties begin? I'm looking at January, 2008. But you know me and deadlines, folks. Not promising anything here.
Anyway, that's all for now.
And as always,
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Go back and read the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before the one before this one.
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO: LONG GOODBYES
Arabella had practically taken every one of her nails down to the quick during the night. Ever since Dumbledore had told them to meet with him in his office early this morning, she couldn't help but think this was finally it. The journey to find the wizard in the north was over, they were all home safe, and now it was time for Voldemort to live up to his end of the bargain.
It was time for him to release Sirius.
Arabella found her pinky going into her mouth as she sat before the Headmaster's desk. She quickly pulled it out again, laying her hand in her lap as she covered it with her other one.
She had to stay calm.
Glancing over to her right she noted that Harry seemed far to composed for the meeting. But that could possibly be simply that the teenager had no idea whatsoever what the meeting could entail.
"Why hasn't he gotten back yet?!" An impatient voice suddenly blurted out.
Nope. That wasn't it.
"I'm sure Dumbledore will be back shortly, Harry." Arabella reassured him gently. They had come to the office a short while ago, only to have the Headmaster called away suddenly on some matter dealing with the school.
Since then, Arabella and Harry had been growing ever more anxious over the meeting.
"Do you think this is about Sirius?" Harry asked quickly. "Do you think Voldemort is finally going to release him?"
"I don't know, Harry." Arabella replied. "I hope so."
"But maybe it isn't that at all." Harry pointed out. "If it was, wouldn't Voldemort be here? Maybe he's changed his mind. Gone back on his promise. Maybe he isn't going to release Sirius at all. Arabella, he has to! If he doesn't, the spell will merge them together and Sirius won't ever be able to come back."
"Harry, calm down." Arabella said in a calm but firm voice. "I'm sure Voldemort doesn't want that any more than we do. If the spell merges him with Sirius, then Voldemort loses too. And I'm sure he doesn't want that to happen."
Harry fell silent again as Arabella found herself once again absently nibbling on her last good nail.
She was right about this.
She just had to be.
When the door to the room opened a few seconds later, Arabella nearly jumped out of her seat in surprise, so lost was she in her personal mantra of reassurance that Voldemort wasn't going to double-cross them and that tonight, she, Harry, and Sirius would be safely back together again.
When Dumbledore entered the room, Arabella felt her hopes take a soaring flight upwards for once at the appearance of the man fallowing the Headmaster into the room.
His usual stoic self, Voldemort took the seat to Arabella's left, keeping his gaze fixed firmly on the man before him.
"Well," Dumbledore started, "I am sure no one needs to ask the reason for this meeting." Leaning over his desk, the Headmaster got right to the point. "When you first came to us, Voldemort, you ask us for our help in finding this wizard in the north. Help we gave you, albeit none to willingly. But still, we gave you what assistance we could. Unfortunately, and due to no ones fault, this wizard managed to evade our custody. But having spoken with Mr. Black at great length on the matter, I do not believe him to be nearly the danger he posed before. Therefore," Dumbledore concluded, directing the stare behind his half-moon glasses at the man before him, "as that we have lived up to our end of the bargain, Voldemort, I believe it is now, as they say, your turn to live up to yours."
For what seemed to her to be hours, Arabella sat motionlessly while she waited for the dark wizard's reply. And when it came, it wasn't at all what she expected.
"Do you know what your problem is, Dumbledore?" Voldemort ask. "What is the sole greatest fault you possess?"
The older man simply remained with his gazed fixed on the dark wizard.
"You see everything too simply. Do you honestly believe that now that he is without his followers that this wizard is no longer a threat? I tell you he is a worse one now than he ever was."
"Heudros is the concern of the Ministry now, Voldemort. He is no longer your problem to ponder or deal with. However, you have made a promise to Harry, one that it has come your time to fulfill your end of."
Voldemort gave the older wizard a small, secretive smile. "Again, your problem, old man, is that you see everything far too simply."
"Meaning?"
"I made Harry a promise. That much is true. As did I make one to Arabella. However, while you have been pursuing whether or not I intend to live up to my end of the bargain, I have yet to hear you ask them if that is still what they want."
"What!?" Arabella wasn't sure she had heard the man right.
The dark wizard turned to her for the first time since entering the room.
"I have learned a great deal about you these past weeks, Arabella." He stated in a calm, smooth voice, all its confidence firmly in place. "And I have come to...admire...you...a great deal. You are an intelligent, resourceful woman. You know the meaning of loyalty and how to express such to those who earn it from you. But mostly I believe you are a woman who knows her own mind. Who knows what she wants. And you do not let others influence your decisions."
Arabella masked her emotions behind a calm, placid outer expression. "What is it you're saying?" She ask.
"Just this. We made a bargain. I don't deny that. Nor am I seeking to escape it. But bargains have been known to change. To be rewritten between two consenting parties. And so I ask you---I give you the choice...who do you want in this body? Myself, as I am now, part the man you know as Lord Voldemort, and part Sirius Black, or do you want Black restored to it only? But you do have the choice."
Arabella kept her calm, placid face in place. But underneath it she felt as though someone had just stole the very breath from her body. What was Voldemort playing at now?
"I'm not seeking to make any changes in our agreement." She stated calmly. "We have an agreement, Voldemort. A bargain. One that you yourself drew up. It is far too late in the game to be trying to make amendments to it."
The man's expression shifted ever so slightly at her words. "And I believe, Arabella," He replied in a voice that matched her own even one, "that that is exactly what I am trying to point out to you. When all parties agree, it is never to late to amend an agreement."
"And I told you," Arabella replied, hardening her tone slightly, "I have no wish to amend our agreement."
The dark lord pulled back slightly, his mask of pure civility slipping slightly in the face of her answer.
"As I said," Voldemort responded, his tone once again almost pleasant and conversational, though Arabella likened it more to a man at a gaming table about to lay down a winning card, "agreements have been known to be changed," he added, turning his attention now fully to the teenager sitting next to Arabella, "when all parties are in agreement. Or some times, only a few." He added.
Harry caught the man's stare. "What are you talking about?"
"You, Harry." Voldemort stated. "Tell me something. Have you ever taken a good look at yourself? At your present? Your future?"
"Meaning?"
Voldemort sat back in his chair, steepling his fingers before him. "Harry, you are a very powerful wizard. And it is no idle platitude that I tell you that. You have great potential. To me, it's no small wonder that Dumbledore keeps you so tightly tucked under his wing." He stated, giving the older wizard a cursorily glance. "But in order to reach your full potential, you need training, Harry. Proper training."
"I have proper training." Harry stated in a none to accepting voice. "I learn plenty at Hogwarts. I have Sirius and Arabella, Professor Lupin, Orion. Even Professor Dumbledore. They're all wonderful teachers."
Voldemort gave the pronouncement a slighting acknowledgment. "I am sure they are all adequate...in their own way, Harry." Voldemort replied. "But they all tend to have the same flaw, you see. They all tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to your teaching." The dark wizard turned slightly in his chair, more fully facing the teenager. "Harry, your friends, they all seek to protect you. To keep you safe. But that is their one great failing. For in doing so they are hindering you. Dragging you down with them into their safe, secure little world. What you have accomplished so far in your life is nothing less than amazing for a wizard your age, there is no doubt about that. But think! Harry, think of where you could be! Of what you could accomplish with the proper teacher."
"I'm doing just fine."
"Fine? That's your greatest expectation? To do fine. Try extraordinary, Harry. Try being a force to be reckoned with. Try being someone that people respect. That people look up to. Who they'll remember with fear and awe in they voice whenever they speak your name. Harry, you aren't even a small part of what you could be. Under the right teacher, you could have...anything...you desired. The world could be yours. No one could oppose you. No one would dare. You could shape the world and everything in it to your liking.
Think on that scale, Harry, and you are seeing your possible future.
But only if you are willing to take the chance on it. If you are willing to step outside of that safe little bubble everyone is trying to stuff you inside of. For once, Harry, take hold of your own life. Your own destiny. And make it something truly remarkable!"
The teenager's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied the man before him. "You mean if I'm willing to sacrifice Sirius. If I agree to 'amend our bargain'."
"You're not 'sacrificing' anyone, Harry." Voldemort stated, placing his hand on his chest. "Black is still here. Still a part of this body. And if you choose correctly, he always will be. He'll still be with you. Still guiding you. But so will I. Someone who has seen what magic can truly be. Who can guide you and teach you and give you that wondrous future, so full of promise."
Harry fixed a hard stare on the dark wizard. "Even if it were my choice to make," he stated flatly, "which it isn't, that body belongs to Sirius. He has the right to it."
"This body is currently communal property." Voldemort stated. "By the terms of the spell, I have the right to stay in it. All that bonds me to leaving it is our agreement, Harry. But by your word, all of that could change, as could your future. And all you have to do...is choose."
Harry only gave the man one word in answer. "Sirius."
The dark wizard's expression froze as he slowly let his gaze slip from the teenager to the woman seated next to him. "It is a small wonder, I suppose, being tutored under the likes of a sentimental old fool, the boy would feel his loyalties are to Black. But, the agreement is also between us, Arabella. And you, I suspect, are not governed by such foolish tendencies. Especially when you are considering your godson's future.
The boy can be a great wizard. A powerful leader. But he is still young and, therefore, still some times rash. Allowing his judgment to be led by sentimentality. Some times he needs the guidance of an adult. Some one who can see things more clearly."
Arabella bright her chin up as she faced the man seated next to her. "If you mean me, then I'm afraid I'm destined to disappoint you, Voldemort. Because I'm just as guilty of the same 'sentimentality'." She replied. "I also, choose Sirius."
Arabella saw no less than several emotions chase themselves across the man's face, not the least of which being utter disbelief.
"You...you don't mean that!"
"You ask me for a choice." Arabella replied in her same, calm, placid tone. "And I've made one. I want Sirius back."
"You made your plea, Voldemort." Dumbledore broke the silence that suddenly hung in the room as the man stared back at the two seated next to him, the same utter disbelief in his expression.
But at the old wizard's words the man's expression shifted quickly to one as hard as stone.
"Lord Voldemort," he stated in a voice as chilled as an artic wind, "'pleads' with no one."
Dumbledore returned the man's stare without so much as a waver of doubt. "Be that as it may, you made a bargain with Arabella and Harry, and neither appears to wish to alter it. Therefore, you are bond by that agreement to release Sirius."
The dark wizard settled back in his chair, once again steepling his fingers before him. "It will take some time." He stated slowly. "The spell was complicated to begin with. Undoing it will be just as much so. I have to make certain preparations."
"You need only tell us what you need," Dumbledore replied, "And we will see that you get it."
A mirthless smile crossed the dark wizard's lips. "You know enough of my secrets, old man." He replied. "You'll pardon me if I choose to keep a few to myself. I will make the preparations myself and let you know when all is ready."
Arabella laid a hand on Harry's arm as the man got up and left the room, keeping the teenager from making any move.
"Will he keep his promise?" Harry ask as soon as Arabella removed her hand, worry laced into every word.
"He has no choice, Harry." Dumbledore answered him.
"Why not? All he has to do is refuse to let Sirius go."
"And then what?" The Headmaster asked.
Harry thought for a moment. "Then...he has his body. He can go back to being Lord Voldemort."
"Can he?" The older wizard ask. "Harry, Voldemort told you before he didn't choose Sirius at random. He planned it out for some time. But why your godfather? What made Sirius so special that he was the only one Voldemort could use?"
Arabella spoke up quickly. "He said...he said he needed a body. That the one he had was failing."
"Ah. But why Sirius? Why not someone else?"
Arabella thought for a moment. "He said that there were...parameters...for the spell...ones that only Sirius met."
"Did he ever say what they were?"
Arabella shook her head. "No."
"I am sure there were parameters to the spell, Arabella. But I also think they were ones Voldemort himself created when working the spell originally. He simply made it so the spell would interact with no one but Sirius."
"So why choose him at all? Why not one of his Deatheaters? Surely they would have been a more logical choice."
"Possibly. But what Voldemort needed," Dumbledore stated, "was someone 'within our camp', as it were. Someone close to Harry and who Harry respected and would listen to. Remember that Voldemort's original plan was never to even tell Harry who he was. But things didn't work out as he wanted and he was forced to come out into the open to us sooner than he intended. All because Sirius knew something wasn't right. That something had happened in the lair that day that wasn't what it appeared at first. And so he warned his brother and myself and we managed to alter Voldemort's plans slightly."
"Just not enough to stop him." Arabella replied bitterly.
"Oh, my dear," Dumbledore said with a small smile, "I have rarely known anything that alters Tom Riddles' plans once he has made them."
"And you seem so sure he'll let Sirius go free."
"Indeed. Because he didn't get what he was after. So therefore, he has no further need of Sirius."
"What he was after?" Harry ask with a puzzled stare. "You mean Heudros?"
Dumbledore shook his head. "You. Harry. You, Arabella, myself. Voldemort wanted allies. He may have succeeded in gaining control of your godfather's body, but it proved to be a trap of his own making in the end. The Deatheaters don't know him, few of them trust him, and that is only with the backing of his head Elite, Katlin Griss, and here at the castle he's a virtual pariah. To Voldemort, it was the worst possible situation. He had no allies. He was, in fact, depended on other people to get anything done."
"He seemed to do just fine forcing me to get to agree to take him to the wizard in the north." Harry pointed out.
"True. But living your life having to force every ounce of cooperation out of the people around you gets tiring after a while, Harry. And it really isn't Voldemort's style at all."
"So he's going to give up Sirius' body because it's an 'inconvenience' to him?" Arabella asked in surprise.
Dumbledore nodded. "In a manner of speaking, that is correct. Had you or Harry agreed to allow him to remain as he was, I am sure he would do so without thought, based on the idea if he could win over one of you, he could do so with anyone."
Arabella shook her head. "He had to be nuts to think we would have ever chosen him over Sirius."
"Or simply desperate." Dumbledore replied. "Even for Voldemort, 'lonely' is not a comfortable thing to be. When he was here at school, he had his household. When he became Lord Voldemort, he had his Deatheaters. But when he was here, he at first truly had no one, Arabella. Not a feeling he much cared for apparently."
"Well, he'll just have to go looking for playmates somewhere else." Arabella commented. "Because there is no way I would ever have chosen Voldemort over Sirius."
"Or me." Harry added quickly. "Everything we've done has all been in order to get Voldemort to release Sirius. I can't believe he thought for a minute we'd choose him instead."
"Which all goes to show, Harry, just how desperate the man really is. The problem we have now, is what does he plan to do about the situation now that it hasn't gone as he hoped?"
"He has no choice!" Arabella stated. "He has to release Sirius."
"And go where?" Dumbledore ask. "He still needs a body. And what if this spell is any kin to the other one? If that's true, the body has to be in mortal peril in order for Voldemort to leave it."
Arabella paled suddenly. "You mean someone has to kill the body he's in in order for him to leave it?"
"It is a possibility."
Harry turned to Dumbledore. "Then what are we going to do?"
"I've already arranged to have Voldemort watched very carefully." Dumbledore replied. "Hopefully, we can stay one step ahead of him in his plans."
(---------------------------------------)
Three days past without so much as a word form Voldemort to any of the three. In fact, from what they could tell, the man did little but occupy his rooms at the castle, hardly ever leaving them.
By the fourth day, Arabella was beginning to get a serious case of cabin fever and decided a short trip out would help clear her mind. Gathering up Harry, the two set out for Diagon Alley for a short afternoon shopping trip, all with Dumbledore's assurances that Voldemort was still being closely watched.
Once at Diagon Alley, Arabella had to concede that perhaps this was just what she needed to calm her frayed nerves. A few hours away from the castle where she and Harry could relax for a little while without wondering what Voldemort was up to.
But the afternoon soon proved to be just as deceptive as the calm that had seemed to settle over them.
Exiting one of the shops, Arabella nearly shrieked in fright as a hand firmly took hold of her arm. Looking up, she found herself face to face with Voldemort, who had the strangest look on his face she had ever seen.
"Having a pleasant day, Arabella?" He inquired.
"It was." She replied icily, but quickly admonished herself. There was no need to antagonize the man. Not when they were so close to freeing Sirius. "What are you doing here?" She ask instead.
Voldemort seemed to be scanning the crowd around them. "I found myself in need of something." He replied. "And I thought this might just be the place I might find it."
"And what might that be?"
Voldemort continued to scan the crowd. "The moment I find it," he replied, turning a mirthless smile to her, "I promise you'll be the first ones to know."
Arabella found herself more or less dragged from the shop and out into the main flow of traffic on the street with Harry following close behind her, unsure of what, if anything he could or should do about the situation.
"All right." Arabella stated, disliking being dragged about and now matching his steps stride for stride as Harry hurried along after her, his fingers lightly resting on the wand in his pocket. "As long as you're here, perhaps you'll answer a question for me?"
Voldemort stopped abruptly and turned to her. "You're expecting me to be of a very generous nature, considering."
"You made your own problems, Vol...Tom." She quickly amended as someone passed close by them. "Don't blame us for not going along with your plans. We made a bargain and you had no right to try and change it. But this has to do with the spell."
"What about it?" the dark wizard ask absently as he quickly surveyed their new surroundings.
"The first spell required Sirius to kill you in order for you to inhabit his body."
"True."
"Is it the same thing in this case? Someone has to kill Sirius in order for you to leave his body?"
Voldemort turned to her with a genuine smile this time. But there wasn't one ounce of warmth in it. "Wouldn't you like to know?" He answered.
Arabella met his stare. "Yes. I would."
But it appeared Voldemort had gone back to scanning the crowd. Then, with a sudden grip back on her arm, he abruptly pulled her in a new direction. "Well, let it never be said of me that I was not accommodating." He replied. "Because you are about to find out. And know this." He added, stopping suddenly as he turned back to face her, nothing but malevolence and hatred showing in his face now. "Despite your betrayal...yours and Potter's..., I am about to give you a gift." A smile crept across his face again. "I hope you enjoy it."
"What gif...?" But Arabella's question got completely forgotten as Voldemort released her arm and, quickening his pace, left she and Harry behind as he approached the middle of the street. Turning back to her, the same malevolent smile on his face, Voldemort shouted out two words for the whole street to hear.
Or more, two names.
"Sirius Black!"
The street seemed to fall into an eerie silence for several seconds.
Then absolute pandemonium broke loose. The name was repeated by various voices amid screams of panic as mothers were grabbing their children and people fled the general area in a great rush.
All, Arabella noted, except one. One she knew all too well and one that froze her blood in her veins.
Standing before Voldemort in the rapidly clearing street was Arel Trener, one of Voldemort's most well known and ruthless Deatheaters.
A sneer was plastered across the man's face as he faced Voldemort across the street. "Sirius Black." He stated, already bringing his wand up. "The Ministry may just give me a medal for this."
Voldemort matched the man's expression. "Don't bet on it, Trener."
The Deatheater brought his wand up just as Voldemort did. A quick curse and a bolt of green light flew out of the wand, aimed directly at Voldemort.
Arabella was already moving with Harry right behind her as she watched the spell approach Sirius' body, even knowing there was no way they would make it to him in time.
But at the last second, even as she screamed out her fear and anger at the seemingly unavoidable event, Voldemort brought his own wand up and easily deflected the curse, then immediately spoke his own spell; one that to Arabella's ears seemed unusually long.
In what seemed like nearly the same instance, Sirius' body collapsed even as Arabella and Harry reached it, barely catching the crumbling form before it hit the pavement.
Tears running down her face, Arabella pulled Sirius tightly to her, daring anyone to try and harm him further.
But the people who were still anywhere nearby seemed to want nothing to do with the evolving scene as they continued to hurriedly clear the area.
Only one person dared to approach the three forms huddled together in the middle of the street.
Arel Trener.
"Now, you see." The man ask as he leaned down close to them. "Wasn't that easy?"
The voice may have been different, but Arabella had no trouble recognizing the eyes behind the stare.
Voldemort.
"You bastard." She whispered.
Voldemort pulled back up. "Such language." He tsked. "And after I've given you such a nice gift."
"What gift?!" She spat at him.
The dark lord directed his wand tip to the man in her arms. "Think, Arabella. What did everyone just see?"
"They saw one of your filthy Deatheaters try..."
"First off, no one here knew Trener was a Deatheater I'm willing to guess. He doesn't exactly advertise it in the Daily Prophet. And secondly, in all the choas, dear Arabella, all anyone will think they saw was a man killing the infamous Deatheater, Sirius Black." Voldemort pulled back up as a pop sounded close by. "Time for me to go, I think." He stated with a small smile. "We'll be meeting again, Arabella, I promise you."
Arabella watched as the man walked away a few feet and disapparated.
A few seconds or a few hours later, she wasn't sure, a hand wrapped itself over her shoulder.
"Arabella?"
Arabella turned to find herself facing Orion.
"What happened?" He ask quickly. "How is Sirius? Is he all...?"
Arabella immediately turned her attention to the man still wrapped tightly in her arms.
Oh magic! He had to be all right! He had to be alive!
"Sirius?!" She called. "Sirius? Are you all right?! Speak to me. Please!"
The body gave a soft moan and Arabella said a silent prayer of thanks that he at least seemed to be alive.
"Sirius?" Orion called to his younger brother. "Sirius, can you hear me? Come on. We have to get you out of here."
Orion helped Arabella to her feet as several other Aurors came over to assist. Among them, Orion gratefully acknowledged, was Orin Bale.
"Get these people back to the Ministry immediately." Orin called out to several of his own agents. "Have the medi-wizards check them over and we'll see if we can't get some questions answered after that."
Two agents came forward and took Sirius' still limp body from Arabella's grasp even as she tried to stop them. But Orion grabbed her hands and pulled her back.
"They'll take care of him, Arabella. He'll be perfectly safe with the Unspeakables, all right?"
Her fear only marginally quelled, Arabella gave a slow nod and allowed herself and Harry to be taken away as well without any further protest.
(--------------------------------------)
It wasn't until the following day that Orion, Arabella, and Harry were allowed to see Sirius. And the request came not from Dumbledore or the head of the medi-wizards on staff at the ministry, but from Orin Bale himself, who was waiting for them when they arrived at the Department's private medical wing, housed within a magically secured area of St. Andrew's hospital.
"Orin." Orion greeted his superior. "How is my brother doing? What have the doctors said?"
Nothing raised Orion's fears more than the fact that his superior's face remained completely expressionless as he regarded the three.
"Perhaps you'd best come see for yourself." He said, his tone as expressionless as his features.
Walking into the ward, Arabella and Harry followed closely behind Orion as Orin led them to a small room in the back. Orin paused briefly outside as he peered in the window, then carefully opened the door and directed the others inside.
"Mr. Black." The Unspeakables leader spoke up, getting the attention of the man in the bed. "You have visitors."
Sirius sat propped up in the bed, taking no notice of anyone in the room until he was addressed. Orion, Harry, and Arabella quickly approached the bed, the two wearing matching smiles while Orion fell to the same expressionless look of his superior as he studied his brother.
"Sirius?" Arabella quickly ask, taking his hand in her's. "How are you? Are you OK?"
The man in the bed nodded slightly, staring at her.
"Sirius, are you sure you're OK?" Harry ask, grabbing hold of Sirius' arm as he looked at his godfather. "Do they say when you can come home?"
This time Sirius didn't answer, but only fixed his stare on his godson as though he were desperately trying to think of something to say.
"Be a little more direct." Orin suggested. "Ask him something more personal."
Arabella and Harry both turned questioning stare to the man. But it was Orion who took up the suggestion.
"Sirius." He ask, fixing a stare on his brother from the end of the bed where he stood. "Sirius, who am I?"
The man in the bed scrutinized the newcomer for several seconds before giving up with a small shake of his head.
"I'm sorry." He replied in a low, strained voice. "I have no idea. I don't know you. I don't know any of you."
Q&A
ilovesiriusblack:
3 hours? It took me all day! Enough of that though and back to the story.
Charley is one slippery weasel! I cant believe he managed to get away with it again!
Hmm, where is Voldemort? I know the answers are coming in the next chapter but I am really wondering about it. I can't imagine that Voldemort has done the decent thing and got the hell out of padfoots body which leads me to believe that he must still be 'locked up' in Hogwarts, in which case Orion is playing a very dangerous game in spending the night with his wife. (Which was very cute by the way)as he could potentially walk in at any moment.
Eagerly awaiting the next chapter.
I read very fast, Dear.
Now, now. Let's give poor Charly the benefit of the doubt, please. remember, he isn't doing this for himself. He's been in Heudros' service all these years to keep Orion safe. Nothing more.
True. Charly is riding the 'Good Luck' express right to the end of the line.
Voldemort is right where he's always been, Dear. Stuck in Sirius body. Well..., that was until tonight.
Ohhhhhh! Thank you! I'm glad someone liked that scene. Every now and then I have to stick something in that's just for PAR to have a little fun with. That's what that whole scene was about. Just me having a little fun.
Orion is indeed playing a very dangerous game. But it is motivated by nothing more than his love and devotion to his wife. The dream rattled him enough that he simply had to see for himself that she was all right. And since he was already there...well, Bo is an excellent babysitter.
Actually, Voldemort walking in on them could have been kind of cute. Potentially very bad, but cute.
Skahducky:
Becca is going to have to become a part of society soon. I mean, she may be really powerful, but she'd probably be more comfortable living amongst other wizards, etc. What did she fear Orion would do if he saw her?
So Voldemort's not going to leave Sirius' body yet? Well, he'll have to eventually, right? I hope he does it soon.
Just a random question, you told me that you hadn't read the sixth book or most of the fifth. Do you have any plans to read them now that the seventh book is out?
Anyway, this is a great chapter. Please update soon!
Oh, I just love it when someone remembers that I don't put anything in my stories I didn't mean for to be there!
We'll go with the good question first, if you don't mind, Dear.
Why did Becca react to Orion react to Becca the way he did?
Mostly, because Becca is currently giving paranoia a bad name. She is way over the top when it comes to that particular emotion. But with good reason. I mean, look at her life so far. She has been betrayed big time by the people she considered her friends. She was befriended and helped by the people she thought of only as her enemies. She just learned she basically doesn't even exist, told to her by someone she is suppose to hate, while her one time friends have utterly abandon her into her enemies hands.
You'll just have to forgive the poor girl if at the moment she isn't sure who to trust.
But also, let's give her credit. She's a fast little learner as well. Look at her interaction with Charly. When she thought he had something she wanted (Heudros' location), she was more than willing to be friendly. Once she realized he didn't have what she wanted, she discarded him.
Now, back to Becca and society. (Poor society.) Becca will, possibly, one day have to function in society. But at what level? I mean, how much does Bo really interact with people? Basically, he hardly ever even leaves the house, except at Orion's summons. True, she would be more comfortable in the wizarding world, as that she is basically nothing more than magic given a physical form. But where she functions is really going to be completely secondary to whether or not she stays here at all, a point taken up in Family Ties.
All questions on Voldemort leaving Sirius' body were answered in this chapter (sort of).
Random questions are good, Dear.
I'm sorry to say that nothing in Book VII enticed me to want to go back and read Book VI or re-read Book V. When my favorite character was whacked off for what appeared to be little more than shock effect, I sort of lost interest in the series.
So, do I intend to go back and read Book V and VI? No.
Lee Swain:
Excellent chapters, so Becca is going to find the man who used her huh? I feel sorry for him when she ( is it a she?) gets ahold of him.
And book 7 was excellent took me about the same amount of time to read.
Indeed. Few people in the world would want to be Heudros right now. He is the sole and central target of a creature who, having always viewed killing as a lovely little problem solving tool, suddenly considers you...a 'problem'.
Poor Heudros.
Good question, Dear. Based on my point of view, Becca is absolutely female, based on the fact she is in an absolutely female body.
Gender questions are a little less concrete where our favorite boggart is concerned, although I would say it is safe to consider Bo male.
Hmmmmmm. Too each his own, I suppose. I just felt that Rowling basically took every possible ending the book could have (save one)...and used all of them!
MasterLupin:
Long time no post on my part. Lot has happened since the last time. Poor Charly, he should have come clean, it will only be worse the longer he waits. Now concerning Bo, can't the kids boss him around and make him leave them at the house, as his is like a three year old. And if I was a three year old, if some 15 year old told me to leave them alone I would for however brief a time.
Indeed, Dear. I missed you. As will I miss your theories after this. I hope you will come back for my future stories, and at least for Family Ties.
That does seem to be the general consensus. Most people felt Charly missed the train to Truthsville this time around and it will not make the future any easier for him.
HA! Fat chance on so many levels, Dear.
First, 'the kids' are no Bo's keeper. If anything, he is theirs. Talon is Bo's host, and therefore first in line in the 'commanding Bo' department. Orion is next in line as Bo's Channeler. If anyone holds the number three spot, it would be a toss up between Orion's mother and his wife. After that, Bo is pretty much his own person and answers to no one.
Now, consider the situation. You are a three year old, and your parents have just told you not to leave the house under any circumstance, no matter what, until they say so. Then along comes this person you basically view as little more than a playmate and tells you to leave. Who are you going to be more worried about when it comes 'punishment time'?
And mind you, that goes for the 'orderer' as well as the 'orderee'.
Also, I never out and out said Bo 'is' a three year old. I have only indicated he appears to operate on a three year old level, have suggested such in stories, and given the general impression. (Ok, ok, so it's been a bit confusing.)
But I have also said that Bo has his own little set of secrets tucked neatly away that he keeps to himself for now. Whether or not he ever reveals any of them remains to be seen.
All Reviews are as of 07/29/2007.
And remember;
Your friends love you anyway.