"These are the few ingredients that i require from Diagon Ally," Severus handed over the parchment to Remus. "With these available and prepped for, we can have our first trial this weekend itself."
Remus was nodding his head as he glanced through the list.
Severus ran a hand through his hair, which were greasy at the moment. Remus smiled with sympathy. At least, Remus knew a long time back that he would be teaching this year and had made a progress on his work, albeit small. Severus, though, had just come to know of his role as a full-time teacher and was, expectedly, looking worse for wear.
"I think you are worrying too much, Severus," Remus said. "You, at least, have experience of teaching the students."
Severus sighed. "Back then, i was just filling-in for Slughorn for a month. All i had to do was follow his schedule and syllabus. I had no idea being a full-time professor meant so much work."
"Take Albus' help," Remus suggested, pocketing the list. "Meanwhile i will procure the ingredients for you."
"Do you intend to take Hermione with you to Diagon Ally?" Severus questioned, with a glance at the sleeping girl.
"No," Remus answered. "I intend to arrange a baby-sitter for her for the duration i will be out. Do not worry! It's all under control."
Severus glared at Remus; he did not worry about young brats.
Remus only laughed in response. "I know you like her, Severus. Stop pretending." Chuckling, he went out the door, taking Hermione's crib along with him.
Severus could only scowl in response. When did he become that transparent?
Damn Gryffindors!
Regulus sighed as he closed his book. He had been trying to read the chapter for the last one hour and hadn't absorbed a single word. Reason, you ask?
A brunette.
And none of your regular type. She was pure evil. Cute evil, he would rather say. And intelligent too. None of his tricks had worked on her so far.
She laughed again, bringing Regulus out of his reverie. He was trying to work out how he had ended up baby-sitting Hermione, the Devil. He remembered Remus standing out of his flat in the morning. He remembered having coffee with him, which was, of course, prepared by Remus; Regulus couldn't make himself a glass of water in the morning. He also remembered a bundle of energy tied to Remus' back, who goes by the name of Hermione. And he remembered Remus smiling at him, after which everything was blank.
Except for the fact that he had been smiling after that... continuously. When he should be infuriated with the man.
Hermione clapped this time. Regulus was surprised; the girl had built a castle out of blocks. Alright, it wasn't exactly a castle, but you could make out one if you looked real close.
He smiled at her and she took it as invitation to crawl towards him. Regulus waited at his spot on couch, warily. An hour after Remus had left, she had gone on a rampage in his study, moving books from their spots to the floor, doodling on parchments, splattering ink everywhere and breaking his four pair of reading glasses. And nudging him to do exactly like her if he stopped or laid still.
Apparently, she was trying to mimic Remus. He had no idea he wore glasses. Or that might be mimicry on Regulus, himself.
Hermione climbed on to his lap and put her tiny head on his shoulder. "'Towy?" she murmured.
Regulus scratched his head as he tried to work out what she meant. When he didn't compile with Hermione's orders, she looked up at him with her big brown eyes. "'Towy?" A bit more firmly.
"Err... i doubt i understand what you are asking for," Regulus thought aloud, going through the list of things Remus had told him to do.
Hermione crawled out of his lap towards the book lying on the table beside the couch. She came back to him with a colourful story book in her hands. She handed it over to him, reclaimed her position and demanded her story.
Regulus looked at the book for a second, nonplussed by Hermione's behaviour. Severus was right; the girl was way too intelligent.
He received a nudge from the little girl for her story. And Regulus started her story without any further ado.
After all, her nudge was a small punch on his chest. And he had had enough of that today.
Sirius was bored out of his mind. James was busy in some meeting. His cabin-mate was out for late lunch. And, he, Sirius, had reports to write.
So, Sirius was bored. Enough to contemplate going to Hogwarts for those ingredients Severus had mentioned needed to be bought.
Snape. Not Severus. Snape.
These days Severus was continuously on Sirius' mind. Specifically after that damned Africa trip. Discussing tracking potion with Severus and Angil had reminded Sirius how much he used to enjoy working on potions when he was young. His father was an expert in potions and encouraged Sirius' interest in it. Orion would spend hours explaining various ingredients to Sirius. Sirius had ended up associating potions with his father and had lost interest in them once he ran away from his home.
And, he could see Severus enjoyed potions, despite all his claims to the contrary. And, Sirius could also see that Severus had enjoyed discussing potions with him.
Snape. Not Severus. Snape.
Sirius sighed loudly. Everyone called him Severus, even James. For some reason, Sirius couldn't bring himself to do it. Though he didn't have a problem saying his name in his internal monologue, it seemed.
Sirius realised that to get over his confusion, he needed to set things right. And that meant, antagonising Severus the way he used to. That will bring them back to the way they were.
Snape, goddammit, not Severus.
Having made a decision, he got up to leave. Just then the door to his cabin opened and Remus walked in.
"What are you doing here? And where is Hermione."
"Hello to you too, Padfoot," Remus said. "I am here for a small favour. I had gone to Diagon Ally to buy ingredients for Severus. I have bought all of them and - Are you okay, Sirius?"
Sirius schooled his features to normal and nodded. Why was he disappointed that Remus had bought ingredients for Severus?
"Anyway, i just received a message from Dumbledore. He has organised a meeting at Hogwarts and i need to be there. Can you please pick up Hermione from your brother's place?"
Remus was already at the door before Sirius could even process all the information.
"I owe you one, Padfoot. All her stuff is there at your brother's place."
"I-i, what?"
"Thanks, Sirius," Remus said, walking out of the door.
"Oi!" Sirius shouted through the door. "I don't know where he lives."
Remus just waved and shouted "you do" at him before entering the apparition cabin.
Sirius walked back and slumped in his seat.
This day was going progressively worse for him.
Gathering Regulus' address didn't take much effort on Sirius' part. He knew of all Black properties and had an idea which one would Regulus be living in.
No, that wasn't any work at all.
Apparating to that property was.
Knocking on the door was.
And going in was.
Sirius took a deep breath. There was no point delaying it and no option of delegating it. James was still at his meeting and Remus was bound to get late.
Another deep breath and Sirius apparated to the building. Walking upstairs to Regulus' flat was a huge task, so much so that Sirius felt tired when he reached the thirteenth floor.
Sirius took another deep breath before knocking on the door. How much he hoped Regulus wouldn't open the door.
Perhaps he had gone out. Why was Regulus home on a working day, anyway?
The door clicked and Sirius slipped into a mask of indifference just before the door opened.
Regulus hadn't expected Sirius standing at his doorstep. How had Remus managed that, anyway?
"Hi!" Regulus said, unnecessarily.
Sirius nodded.
After an uncomfortable moment of silence, Regulus realised they were still standing at the door and moved aside to let Sirius in.
Sirius entered the house hesitatingly. Regulus could understand that. Sirius had never liked most of the Black properties. All of them were depressing and filled with dark artefacts.
"I will bring the girl," Regulus said, to break the awkward silence. "She fell asleep half an hour back."
Sirius nodded, looking around the living room. Perhaps, reliving some of the moments spent here.
He was still standing and staring at the walls when Regulus came back.
"You removed the heads of elf?"
"Er- yeah," Regulus answered, rubbing his neck. "They used to-"
"-creep you out," Sirius finished the sentence for him.
Regulus nodded, surprised. He hadn't expected Sirius to remember that.
Sirius coughed. "I think i should get going."
"Yeah," Regulus answered, rubbing his neck. "Here is the bag Remus gave me. All her stuff is in it."
"Thanks," Sirius muttered while lifting Hermione out of her crib. Regulus reduced the size of bag and crib and handed it to Sirius, who pocketed it.
"Alright, then," Sirius said, awkwardly, "Err- we will be going. Err- thanks."
Before Regulus could blink, Sirius was out of the door.
Regulus slumped in his chair. And smiled.
Sirius hadn't forgotten him completely.
Adele was nervous as she watched William perform spells on Dante. Blaise seemed as nervous as Adele felt and was holding Dante's hand.
A frown marred William's handsome face.
"Is everything alright?"
William didn't answer immediately. Instead, he repeated the spells. Once done, he talked to the boys, softly, "Why don't you boys go and have chocolate? I need to discuss something with your mother. We will call you once we are done."
Dante and Blaise looked relieved and immediately ran out of the library, Presley following them.
"What is it, William?"
William took a deep breath. "Adele, Dante is not an orphan."
Adele looked shocked. "How is that possible?"
"Adele, i have not asked you about the circumstances which led Dante to you. I am not going to, but... Are you sure he is an orphan?"
Adele shook her head. "No. I am not sure. I was led to believe he is an orphan. Are you sure?"
William nodded. "His magic is pretty stable for an orphan. There is some wilderness to his magic but not as much as you would expect in someone without any tethering. He has that bond, albeit a bit weak. One of his parents is definitely dead and i would make a guess that it is his mother. Either his father is alive or he has a sibling."
Adele took time processing all this. This complicated her situation. If Adriano got hold of this information, she will not stop at anything to keep Dante out of her family.
"Will you still adopt Dante?"
Adele was shaking her head even before William finished his sentence. "I will not sever his ties to his only living relative. By Merlin's grace, they might be able to find him through that bond."
William looked at Adele proudly. There was a reason he liked and respected Adele.
"May i suggest something?" Adele nodded. "Form a magical bond with Dante. That is acceptable as adoption in Italy. You will get a certificate to that end. Once you have that certificate, no other country can question its legality."
Adele narrowed her eyes. "You are suggesting i bind Dante to my family." William nodded "As?"
"You have few options," William said, avoiding her eyes. "As servant or as vassal to Blaise or as keeper of the house."
William didn't wait for Adele to word her anger and ploughed on.
"Best option is servitude bond or vassal bond. You can release Dante from servitude bond whenever you wish, though you will never be able to name him as your heir. Vassal bond can never be broken, but you can name him your heir and give him an equal status."
Adele stood up and walked to the window of the library.
"Vassal bond is dangerous, William," Adele said after a long time. "If Blaise is in danger, the bond will draw magic from Dante, making him extremely vulnerable."
"Make it double bond. Dante as Blaise's vassal and Blaise as Dante's vassal. That reduces the risk of death."
"By making them both equally vulnerable," Adele completed the sentence for him.
William stayed quiet. It was true. Any life threatening situation on one of them would equally affect the other.
"I will go for vassal's bond," Adele declared. Really, what option did she have?
William nodded.
"Presley!"
Presley popped into the room.
"Bring the boys."
A moment later, both boys walked in hand in hand. Adele walked to them and bent to be at their eye level.
"Dante, Blaise," She said looking at them seriously, "We are going to bond you. And then, you both will be bonded to me. This will allow us to move to Finland together. Do you understand?"
Dante and Blaise smiled and nodded. As long as they were together, they had no issues with anything.
"It will not hurt, but you will have to do exactly as Mr. William will instruct. Alright?"
The boys nodded again.
Adele straightened up. "William, do it."
"Adele, you want to be their second vassal? I wouldn't advice yo-"
"That is my decision, William. I will make necessary arrangements for the worst scenario. But i will not be able to live with myself knowing i have made both of them vulnerable."
William nodded. Adele was a powerful witch and should be able to provide her boys with enough magic as and when required. But that increased the possibility of her death, leaving both boys orphan.
William stood up and bent on his knees. Adele followed suit. All four of them were at somewhat similar level.
Presley, Blush and Elvis witnessed the event that tied Blaise and Dante forever.
A/N: Here is another update. Life keeps coming in the way and updates keep getting delayed.
I am getting married and would be, again, moving to another city. However, the delay should be short. After that i expect regular updates and on all stories.
Till then, enjoy!
