The "Harry Potter" characters belong to JK Rowling, her associates and affiliates. CPT Holdings Inc. and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment own "Bewitched" and "Tabitha". For entertainment purposes only. There. I have spoken.

A/N According to more than one website, Adam was a warlock in "Bewitched" and a mortal in "Tabitha". For this fanfic, he's a mortal. It just works better that way. And all due respect to anyone who disagrees.

Tabitha's trip home was uneventful, but busier than she would have hoped. When she returned to Grimmauld Place from America, she was dismayed at the change she found in Sirius. He was irritable, jumpy, and morose. He seemed happy to see her, but for the first time since she had moved into his house, he didn't seek out her companionship that evening, but stayed in his room. Or so she assumed.

Things went on like this for several days. When she questioned him, he apologized for being such poor company, and he admitted to being worried about Harry, but then he went back to being depressed and secretive.

Tabitha was happy to be at Grimmauld place, however. The nights of interrupted sleep made her groggy and she slept whenever she could, which meant whenever her daughters slept. Her weeklong visit back home was wonderful, but she needed to recover from it. Tabitha hadn't meant to push herself, but there were so many people she wanted to see, people who wanted to see Stella, people who she hadn't seen since Paul's funeral. But finally, Tabitha was getting proper rest, with the help of Endora, who still came regularly to play with Sarah.

Thing went on in this way until the morning that both Endora and Samantha arrived unexpectedly while she and Sirius ate breakfast. Samantha was anxious and Endora was livid.

"Can you believe it, Tabitha," Endora cried. "We've just been at St. Mungo's. Cousin Minerva's been attacked! Attacked in her own school!"

Samantha nodded agreement and Tabitha and Sirius looked at each other, appalled.

"Then I must visit her right away," Tabitha said, as she stood up. "Mom, could you watch the girls?"

Samantha put a hand on Tabitha's shoulder. "She told us that you weren't to do anything but stay here and rest. Aunt Minerva insists she'll be okay, but she doesn't want you to get overtired."

"But Mom," Tabitha tried to protest.

"Tab, your mother's right," Sirius said, shaking his head

"That's right, Tabitha," Samantha insisted, "Aunt Minerva said to tell you that the best help you can give right now is to get your strength back. You're going to be needed later."

"What is the magical world coming to?" muttered Endora angrily. "It's gotten so one can't even be safe among one's own kind. Four stunning spells to the chest, indeed!"

"That's why the Order was founded, Grandmamma," said Tabitha wearily as she sat back down. "So we can feel safe again. Oh Mom, what did you tell Daddy?"

"I told him I would explain everything when I came home. I just wish I knew what to tell him. He's not going to like it, I'm sure of that."

"Are you going to tell him how I'm involved?" Tabitha couldn't help asking.

"Only if he asks, sweetheart, only if he asks."

After Endora and Samantha left, Sirius put his head in his hands. Tabitha knew how much he wanted to do something real and useful. He looked up and their eyes met. All Tabitha could give him was an understanding look, and his only response was to stand up and stalk out of the room.

Both Sirius and Tabitha waited anxiously for more news until late in the day, she was sitting on the couch in the front room, feeding Stella and reading a story to Sarah when suddenly Sirius burst into the room.

"Tab, I just got word--Harry's headed towards the Department of Mysteries. He thinks I'm in danger--he's going to rescue me--he got a false vision from You-Know-Who."

"Oh, Sirius."

"I'm going there--right now--to get him out."

Tabitha stood up and gently put the baby into her bassinette.

"Not by yourself. Let me call my Mom to watch the girls and..."

"Not a chance. You don't have your strength back yet."

"Sirius, I can't let you walk into a trap all by yourself."

"You're not the one who can help me with this, Tabitha. Besides, the others are headed over there too--from the Order. We'll be fine. You stay here."

It was clear to Tabitha that Sirius was not going to allow her to accompany him without a fight. And, he was right. She really didn't have her strength back yet. She simply nodded, but her heart was in her throat.

Sirius checked his wand, and gave it a little flourish. He smiled at Tabitha, the first genuine smile she had seen in too long, and walked over to where she was standing.

"

Finally, I have a chance to do something, not just hide out in the house." He looked at Tabitha, who smiled at him sadly. "Tabitha, don't you see, I need to do this. Besides, I'll be fine. I won't be alone, I've had to defend myself in the past. Someday I'll tell you a stirring and action-packed recital of my vacation at Azkaban."

Tabitha chuckled weakly, and Sirius looked down into her face. Taking her by surprise, he picked up a strand of her hair and kissed it. "Just one more thing before I go," he whispered. Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her passionately on the lips. Her arms went around his neck and she held tightly and dizzily to him, kissing him back, afraid to let him go. After too brief a time, however, Sirius did let her go, gave her a wink and then he was gone.