Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything what you can recognize from the books. I do however own the plot of this story but I don't have profits because of it unless you count improving my English as a profit.
Preview: Just like the title says: chaos theory. Other title of this chapter was Hell Breaks Loose. Walburga gets a new hobby. The Family gets few very nasty surprises. Mirzam meets her new boss and tries to get Azkaban's Pass (sadly this chapter is a bit too long to put Azkaban's scene here but it's going to make next). What else ... well for now that would be it.
Read, enjoy and review (if you want).
AN: Not beta read yet (because I still need to find one) but I tried my best to make it look decently (but feel free to prove me otherwise). Pardon my French (literally), I never learned French and what had been said in this chapter in French is based of few translations sites and my instinct - feel free to point mistakes. For these, who like me don't know French: what are you going to ask the person who is asking about the number of your room, especially if you can recognise them?
Chapter three: Chaos theory.
Walburga felt grateful that someone slipped her 'Muggles for Dummies – Everything You Want to Know About Muggles But Are Afraid to Ask' into her bag. From what she read on the back cover, the book was most accurate when it come to explaining everything Muggle related because the author of it was a Muggle-born.
She knew that she had to stay away as long as it was possible from French equivalent of Diagon Alley, so she and Homam could remain safe. After Homam's kidnapping she knew better than to take any chance for them to be found. Only people who knew where exactly she was hiding were Lucretia and Mirzam since Snape left very quickly after making sure that Homam was unharmed. Lucretia swore to keep the knowledge to herself and Mirzam promised that she will contact her as soon as the return to England was safe.
Homam himself seemed unaffected by the kidnapping, much anyway. During the dinner he had eaten everything which was on his plate and after Walburga took him upstairs to their room he spent about a hour at playing with his mascot until Walburga saw that he started yawning and put him to bed.
After she put Homam to bed ,she picked up 'Muggles for Dummies' and started flipping through it until she fell asleep. She slept bad that night, the nightmare with Homam's kidnapping, which didn't ended as good as it ended in reality, woke her up several times. After it had happened for the third time she decided to take the sleeping child into her bed with her so she didn't had to run into other room every time she woke up.
The breakfast next morning went uneventful but Walburga didn't felt comfortable enough to take the kid for a walk so they retired to their apartment where they spend the rest of the day.
The small restaurant was very crowded and Mirzam had a hard time at finding a free table. The day at work had been very hard. Crouch was struck by a wonderful idea that it was Remus Lupin who kidnapped Harry Potter and no matter how many tims Mirzam told him, that it wasn't possible for Lupin to have the kid, he was adamant and made her sit in the bushes of Lupin's garden all day long.
So instead of searching for Pettigrew or plotting the fall of Bellatrix Lestrange she had to make sure that Lupin wasn't hiding Harry Potter, which he didn't, since it was Mirzam, not Crouch, who knew better.
The meeting with Snape was on her mind all day long. She remembered what the man told her and hoped to get more details from him today. She had to admit to herself that the man puzzled her. She knew that he used to be a Death Eater, then why he helped her rescue Homam from the Malfoys.
She knew that Snape and Sirius used to be archenemies at Hogwarts, it was a common knowledge that they would rather strangled than helped each other. Snape had to know something which other people didn't.
"How was your day Verascez?" asked the voice from behind her back.
"Terribly shitty Snape," she sighed.
Snape sat down at the opposite side of the table with a glass of whiskey in his hand and stared at her curiously, as if prompting her to say more.
"Crouch came with the idea that Lupin was hiding Harry Potter. Made me sit all day long in the bushes and wait for Lupin to do something suspicious," she explained and took a sip of her whiskey.
"Judging by the look on your face you had other ideas," Snape said, his voice sounded amused.
She glanced at him and then the thought struck her. Snape knew.
"I have pretty good idea where Harry Potter is, Snape. So are you," she said simply and gave the man small smile.
"What makes you think so, Verascez?" Snape asked as he raised one eyebrow daringly.
"I find it hard to dismiss that the man who would rather strangled Sirius Black than ever helped him, came to the rescue of his son. Plus I knew that you used to pin after Lily Evans. Ergo, here it comes, you know, so do I," Mirzam explained and waited for his reaction.
"How did you found out?" Snape asked carefully.
"How did you?" she answered his question with a question on her own.
"I asked first," Snape said simply.
"I happened to check upon Mrs Black after hearing about the kid from Cassiopeia Black. When I first came around she wasn't at home, so I went to check next afternoon," she explained then added firmly, "After I visited our dear prisoner of Azkaban."
"Weren't you afraid?" asked Snape curiously.
"I was," she admitted. "For first thirty minutes but after I had a little heart to heart with him I had no reason to be afraid of him anymore. As brilliant as it was, Mrs Black's plan had a hole inside and quite a big one on that."
"And that would be?"
"Paul Garbageworthy," Mirzam replied simply. "In time when Homam's conceiving was supposed to happen Sirius Black was abroad, looking for Garbageworthy and the only woman around whom he was back then was me. Since I posses no memory of giving birth to a kid, let alone being pregnant, all I had to do was checking Homam's eyes to know who the kid really is. End of story. Your turn."
Snape snorted before he said, "Regulus Black had some things of mine. She wrote me that I could come and take them. I saw her, with the kid. Tried to reason with her, but she played dirty. Since I already doomed myself by knowing and not sharing, I offered preparing Familious Potion. End of story."
"What about yesterday?" she asked quickly.
"Malfoy contacted me in the morning, he said that Bellatrix took away Black's bastard from his grandmother, grumbling that the family will never acknowledge filthy half-blood as a heir. They planned to finish him off later. I was wracking my mind how to rescue the kid when I saw you," Snape explained.
"What are they planning?" Mirzam asked curiously.
"Bellatrix, Lucius and some others think that You-Know-Who didn't died that night he attacked the Potters. They intend to find out where he is hiding. Anyone who posses this knowledge is in danger and I can't do much without giving myself away. I already talked with Dumbledore, he told me to keep my head low while he will find a way to tighten security around the people who are most probable to get attacked. That's all I know," Snape sighed.
Mirzam said nothing for a longer moment thinking what else she could ask Snape then a thought struck her.
"Did you know that Peter Pettigrew was a Death Eater?" she asked finally.
Snape shook his head and whispered, "He was the spy."
"And the Potters Secret Keeper," she added as Snape took a sip of his whiskey.
Snaped chocked on the whiskey.
"It's logical," she said grimly. "Sirius confirmed that they switched, a week before the attack."
"He isn't in prison because he stole something, Veracez," Snape muttered grimly.
"Try to think like him Snape," Mirzam muttered back. "I tried and his version of events fits like a bloody glove. He was the most obvious choice for a Secret Keeper. Everybody knew that James Potter trusted him. Even the other side. He would not tell anything but we both know that a very skilled Legilimens could extract the Secret from his mind."
"So he found the least obvious person for Secret Keeper," Snape muttered as realisation dawned on his face. "And the plan would have worked if Pettigrew wasn't a traitor. He corned him and tried to kill Pettigrew."
"Didn't," Mirzam shook her head. "Pettigrew did it. All they found from him was a finger. No matter what you think there is no spell which could kill twelve people and make one vanish except a finger."
"No Verascez. Black killed them," Snape shook his head and stared at her pointedly as he added, "You want to believe in his innocence. You want him to be innocent. Why? I don't know. He was quite a charmer and he probably charmed you as well. You were his partner for three years, nearly three and half and it just couldn't left you unaffected."
"That's ..." Mirzam started angrily.
"The truth, Verascez," Snape said simply. "You love him and you want to save him from what awaits him in Azkaban."
"I do not!" she growled. "I want the justice! I want the wanker, who sold innocent people to Voldemort and framed innocent man for his own crimes, to rot in Azkaban! I find hard to believe that you wouldn't want to have a go at the man who signed the death warrant of the woman you loved!" she slammed both hands against the table so hard that contest of both glasses spilt on the table. "I don't need anyone's help to do it, Snape. I will find Pettigrew and then you will have to admit that I was right and you were wrong and you will have to live with the knowledge that you hadn't done anything to punish the right man."
She stood up from the table and glared down at him as she hissed through gritted teeth, "If you change your mind, you know where I can be found Snape."
She marched out from the restaurant feeling like she was going to smash something.
'I don't love him,' she thought to herself. 'I care, that's what friends do.'
A pair of sparrows made a nest on the old maple in the garden and right now they were trying their best to wake up the patriarch of Black family.
Arcturus Black turned eighty-one not so long ago and the last thing he wanted at his age was being woken up by overexcited bird. No matter if he wanted, or not, to be woken up at this unholy hour of six o'clock in the morning sparrows did they job well and two minutes after six o'clock Arcturus opened one eye slowly, then the other before he sat up on the bed and examined his bedroom, looking for anything which would be hard enough to shut up offending birds but light enough to get to the old maple. He found nothing and decided that if he was up, he may as well eat his breakfast earlier than usual.
He get out of the bed, carefully to not wake his sleeping wife. Melania could sleep through the earthquake if she wanted but he learned about it so late that old habit was catching up with him sometimes. He dressed himself in comfortable robes and went to the kitchen where the family house-elf Starshine was supposed to prepare him his breakfast.
When he entered the kitchen he saw Starshine at the counter preparing toasts. He was about to reprimand her for being so late but as he opened his mouth he realised that it wasn't her who was late. He figured out long ago that Starshine had to be up at least at six o'clock to maintain the house on her own, Pollux for example had a house of the same size but older house-elf and for last few weeks older house-elf had to teach new one every nook and cranny of the house in question.
Arcturus sniffed coffee in the air and knew that in a moment he would have his morning coffee in front of him and that thought alone made him feel better. He looked at Starshine, she finished preparing toasts and moved to making scrambled eggs, still watching carefully coffee pot. Starshine wasn't young house-elf and yet she was moving quickly, even quicker than younger house-elves.
"Starshine, did Master Pollux fire-called last night?" he asked as he watched the elf taking two plates from the cupboard.
"No, Master. Master Pollux didn't fire-called," the elf denied.
Suddenly there was a thud in the living-room followed by an angry, "You and your damned fireplace!"
"Judging by the voice it's Pollux. I will go to him. Send the coffee to the living-room," he told the elf and left the kitchen.
He found Pollux in the living-room. The man was rubbing his forehead.
"Do all of us a favour and fix the fireplace," Pollux muttered when he saw him.
"You didn't came here to complain about my fireplace," Arcturus pointed out.
"I did not," said Pollux grimly. "They had been caught."
"Who?" asked Arcturus in surprise.
"Bellatrix, Rudolphus, Rastaban, Barty Crouch junior and Lucius. Druella upon hearing it drunk Falanwick Poison. The healers didn't managed to save her in time," Pollux said grimly. "The hell broke loose Arcturus. You need to call the meeting."
"I will. Go back to Irma, she is probably having a nervous breakdown right now," Arcturus said quickly. "Expect a word from me in a matter of few hours."
Pollux nodded and disappareted.
"She kidnapped the kid from Malfoy Manor?" Ignatius asked in surprise.
Lucretia and her husband were having a breakfast together in their kitchen. Ignatius was gone for last two days so Lucretia was filling him on latest events.
"She did," she confirmed. "Then she sent Wally away. To ... I really want to tell you where but I promised under the pain of death that until everything clears off I won't say a word."
"The girl got a nerve," Ignatius chuckled.
"You know what I find the most intriguing, Iggy?" she asked pensively. "Wally seemed to know her. But how they meet I have no idea. The girl is a Muggle-born or at least was early orphaned because I never heard about the name Verascez before Cassiopeia told us about her outburst."
"You might want to ask Cassie about it, she is the only lucky person with Ministry of Magic's Archive Ultimate Access Pass in the family," Ignatius answered.
"But I still don't get why Wally knows her," Lucretia huffed. "She came to the Ministry looking for her, Iggy. For a reason I'm not yet aware of Wally confided in her," she picked up her coffee and stared at the window.
"She came to me last month," said Ignatius suddenly.
"Wally?" Lucretia asked as she turned to gaze at her husband.
"Verascez. Asked about Animagi Transformation. Thought that if she masters it the search of Harry Potter would be more successful," Ignatius said pensively. "She seemed stressed out."
"The search is probably getting to her," Lucretia said with a sigh. "I can imagine how much pressured she is, after all, it's Harry Potter she is looking for."
"But I can't help but think that I heard her name long before I meet her, or even before Cassiopeia mentioned her," Ignatius said quietly. "It was something connected to Sirius but kill me I can't remember what."
Suddenly they heard someone flooing in and both turned in the direction of the living-room. Through the opened kitchen door they could see the fireplace and Cassiopeia who was dusting herself.
"I guess you heard the news?" she asked as she finished whipping her cloak from the ashes.
"What kind of news?" Lucretia and Ignatius asked at the same time.
"Then why this sad faces?" Cassiopeia asked as she walked into the kitchen.
"Senility catching up with me," Ignatius muttered.
Cassiopeia sat down at one of few free chairs and glanced at him, "What you are forgetting Iggy?"
"Mirzam Verascez in connection with Sirius," Ignatius said grimly.
"Oh, that one," Cassiopeia said simply as she reached for the coffee pot and poured herself a cup. "She was his Auror partner. You are probably remembering reading about St. Ives Massacre."
"Perhaps," Ignatius sighed.
"Do you know that Homam got kidnapped?" asked Lucretia quickly.
Cassiopeia froze with the coffee cup halfway to her lips.
"Wally came to the Ministry looking for Verascez. She told her everything she knew and Verascez left to search for him," Lucretia explained.
Cassiopeia stared at her in shock.
"That's not the best," Lucretia said in her best tale telling voice. "Verascez found him, in Malfoy Manor and kidnapped him from the Malfoys. Then she sent Wally with Homam into hiding until everything cools off."
Cassiopeia lowered the cup with a heavy sigh and she whispered, "Poor dear. Like she hadn't already enough on her plate."
"Wally?" Lucretia asked in surprise.
"Not Wally, Verascez," Cassiopeia said, she sounded annoyed.
"Pardon?" Lucretia and Ignatius asked at the same time.
Cassiopeia sighed and stared at the cup pointedly.
"You know something Cassie, spill," Lucretia prompted her to talk.
Cassiopeia rolled her eyes and stared at the wall behind Lucretia.
"Cassie," Lucretia said curiously.
"Fine I will tell you," Cassiopeia huffed and glared at them. "But you will have to swear under the pain of death that what I'm going to tell you isn't going to leave this room."
Lucretia nodded eagerly and saw Ignatius doing the same.
"She is his mother," Cassiopeia said quietly.
"Who? Wally?" Lucretia asked.
"No!" Cassiopeia huffed. "Verascez is Homam's mother."
"But Wally told us that Homam's mother was a Muggle," Lucretia said defiantly.
"Wally lied. The kid had been conceived either at the end of October or at the beginning of November 1979. At that time Sirius and Verascez were on a mission in North Finland. Then between 15th July and 21st August 1980 Verascez was on vacation. Everything fits. Plus both Wally and Verascez confirmed it," Cassiopeia said sternly.
"But why Wally lied?" asked surprised Lucretia.
"Verascez only wanted someone to keep an eye on the kid while she was working. She said that she doesn't cares about the money from the family, and as long as she can pay the bills by herself she is fine on her own. Wally agreed to take him and lied to ... I don't know ... probably she wanted to shield the girl from the rest of the family. I can understand it," Cassiopeia said grimly.
"So that's why she went after the kid and later send Wally into hiding. She is trying to protect him," Lucretia said more to herself than to Cassiopeia.
"She probably did," Cassiopeia agreed.
"But what I can't understand is why she lied," Lucretia sighed.
"Wally?" Cassiopeia asked.
"No, Verascez," Lucretia shook her head. "I meet her before Wally came. She said something about having a nightmare plus she didn't knew that Homam was kidnapped until Wally told her."
"Maybe she had a night duty?" suggested Ignatius.
"Maybe," Lucretia mumbled.
"You won't tell anyone what I told you?" asked Cassiopeia nervously.
"It would be very unwise if we did," said Ignatius pointedly.
Lucretia nodded and remembered that Cassiopeia had probably other reason to come here.
"You said something about news," she said curiously.
"Oh, that," Cassiopeia sighed as she waved her hand. "Bellatrix, Rudolphus, Rastaban, Lucius and some others were caught by the Aurors this morning, very early. They tortured Augusta Longbottom's son and daughter-in-law till the point of madness, their kid miraculously got unscratched. But Bella and Lucy getting caught is not the best," she paused for more dramatic effect. "With them was caught Barty Crouch ..." she hung her voice dramatically.
Lucretia and Ignatius gasped in shock.
"Junior," Cassiopeia added lividly. "The trial already took place, I'm just coming back from it. As we speak Bella and the rest of the merry bunch are shipped to Azkaban. Crouch senior is packing his stuff because the publicity would never let him live it out."
"I need to contact Verascez," Lucretia stood up from the table.
"Why?" asked Cassiopeia curiously.
"I just do," Lucretia answered and left the kitchen.
"She is in this room, Auror Verascez," Pollux Black pointed at the door to his wife's bedroom. "All rooms in the house have Anti-Apparation ward on them. The door are heavily locked and I can't get in. I'm worried that the latest news made her mentally unstable," he said worriedly. "I really don't know what to expect on the other side."
He glanced at young Auror standing next to him. She was the only one Auror willing to come with him. All others who weren't on outside duty were in courtroom ten watching the trial of the only son of Head of DMLE.
She pulled something which looked like a knife from her pocket. It surprised Pollux greatly and made him start rethinking asking her for help. The Auror in the meantime put the blade of the knife between the doorframe and the lock and started twisting it gently. After a moment the door gave silent click.
"Here we go," the Auror muttered, probably more to herself than to Pollux.
She pulled out her wand and with her free hand turned the knob. She pushed the door slowly and eased inside, with her wand on her eye level. Pollux pulled out his own wand and followed her.
The room was dark despite the fact that it was few minutes to noon. The curtains on both windows were drawn tightly. Something in the atmosphere of this room filled Pollux with sense of dread.
"Lumos Maxima," whispered the Auror and all candles in the room lit for a moment blinding Pollux.
He heard a gasp coming from the woman and turned his head in the direction she was looking. The world around him swayed dangerously.
There, in her own bed, dressed in her best robes, was lying his wife. The fact that she was lying on the bed wasn't surprising itself. What was really surprising, was small dagger which was driven through her abdomen.
"Merlin," Pollux moaned.
The Auror pocketed the knife as she approached the bed carefully and leaned over Irma's body. She touched her face gently with fingers of her free hand. Then her hand moved to Irma's right hand, it touched a spot on her wrist.
The woman turned around to face him and said the words he dreaded the most, "I'm sorry Mr Black but I'm afraid that your wife is dead."
"How long?" he asked weakly.
"She is still warm so no longer than two hours, maybe half of hour. The autopsy will tell us more," the woman said as she approached him.
He nodded slowly feeling that all strength he possessed was suddenly leaving him. He was surprised to feel an arm embracing his shoulders and was dimly aware that the Auror was leading him out of the room.
The way downstairs seemed to take an eternity and he found himself leaning against the woman's arm.
"She is gone, Irma is gone. Druella is gone. Walburga vanished. Bellatrix is in Azkaban. Sirius is in Azkaban," he mumbled weakly as they reached the landing on the ground floor. "How many tragedies this family can stand?"
She lead him to the living-room, sat him down on a couch and knelt in front of him.
"Mr Black," she said firmly. "Where is the liquor cabinet?"
He extended his hand and pointed at the cabinet next to a bookshelf. He heard her opening it and the glass tinkling. She came back to him with a goblet full of brownish liquor.
"Firewhiskey," she said quietly as she passed him the goblet.
He downed it in three gulps and felt it burning his throat.
"I'm going to call St. Mungo Mr Black. I'll be back in a minute," she said compassionately.
He nodded and hid his face in his hands. What had happened today was more than he could handle.
The table in dining-room at 7 Park Road was filled by four members of Black family, worried Lucretia, grim looking Cassiopeia, calm Melania and pensive Ignatius. Arcturus himself had been pacing between the dining-room and living-room for last half of hour.
"Nobody answers," he grumbled to the rest. "I told Pollux to expect a word from me and now he does not answers."
"Maybe he went to Cygnus," suggested Melania warmly.
"I told him to keep an eye on Irma," Arcturus huffed. "I doubt that she is in state for leaving the house."
Suddenly there was a knock on the front door. The sound made everybody jump from their places and rush into the hall.
"Let me get the door," Arcturus muttered as he gently pushed Cassiopeia out of his way.
He turned the knob and yanked the door open with such strength that they opened on widely and slammed into the wall.
In front of him, leaning heavily against the arm of a young dark-haired woman, was standing his cousin, who looked like someone who just lost everything.
"Pollux, what had happened?" Arcturus asked in shock.
Pollux looked at the woman with a pleading look and shook his head.
"I'm afraid that I have bad news to tell you," said the woman as Artcurus's grey eyes meet her violet one. "Mrs Irma Black committed suicide this morning."
There was a collective gasp and Pollux, who was leaning against the woman suddenly lost his balance and if it wasn't for the fact that the woman was holding his arm he would hit the floor unconscious.
As an Auror sooner than most people Mirzam got acquainted with a phrase 'all hell breaks loose'. But why the hell decided to break loose at 30th January she couldn't exactly point out. It seemed that since the day had started, at midnight, not actual sunrise, everything decided to go awry.
After her drink with Snape, which left her furious like a pissed off dragon, she spent two hours at wandering around London and tried to calm her nerves. After midnight she decided that she was calm enough to check upon Callahan family in Brighton. From there everything started going wrong.
Unlike other times when she was hiding, this time she had been seen by a nosy neighbour who alarmed Muggle police. Knowing that she couldn't disapparate from under their noses because she could get into really deep trouble she opted for running away on the top speed. They kept chasing her for next ten streets fiercely and it took a jump into an unused canal to lose them. Unfortunately she landed so badly that she broke her left foot.
She apprated to St. Mungo and had to wait two hours for someone to heal her leg. After finally someone put her leg together she decided to come back to her flat on foot, a utterly stupid idea as she decided later.
Just two streets away from St. Mungo she ran into a prostitute who was beaten by a man twice her size. Being an Auror, and utterly pissed off at everything, she rushed in help and hit the man so hard that he lost his balance and hit his head against the pavement. Since someone already called police when the beating had started they arrived just in the exact moment the man hit the pavement.
After three hours worthy investigation she was set free at five o'clock in the morning with a promise that someone will contact her in few days about her witnessing on the trial. Next twenty minutes she spent at looking for a cab, too tired to apparate home on her own.
She set the alarm at seven o'clock so she could have at least a hour worth nap before she was supposed to show up at work and immediately fell asleep with her clothes on.
She woke up at twenty minutes past ten, already late for work, and in record time of ten minutes she was at the Ministry. She found the whole department oddly deserted. No one of the aurors were present, even the secretary was gone. She was about to look for someone who could tell her what had happened in other departments when Mr Black ran into her and begged her to come with him.
She came with him and found his wife dead. His violent reaction made her stay with the man as his wife had been taken to St. Mungo for autopsy. From his mumblings she got very chaotic explanation of latest events and had to promise the man that she would accompany him to the meeting with the rest of the family at 7 Park Road, London.
She knocked on the front door of 7 Park Road feeling like a real hell was about to break loose in a matter of minutes. The door swung open wide, and in front of her appeared an old man with grey hair and grey eyes, behind him stood four other people, three of which she recognised as Cassiopeia Black and Lucretia and Ignatius Prewett. All five looked more or less shocked.
"Pollux, what had happened?" asked the man who opened the door.
From the corner of her eye she saw Mr Black giving her a pleading look and shaking his head.
She took a breath and said, "I'm afraid that I have bad news to tell you," she paused and added as her eyes meet man's grey eyes, "Mrs Irma Black committed suicide this morning."
Suddenly Mr Black who was leaning on her shoulders lost his balance and if she wasn't holding his arm he would fell unconscious on the floor. Thankfully older man grabbed Mr Black's other arm and together they carried him inside. They managed to put him on the couch in the living-room and in that exact moment she felt five sets of eyes staring at her.
Hell was about to break loose, she felt it in her bones.
If Walburga didn't promised Homam that they were going to meet with the Grangers today she wouldn't leave the apartment even for a minute. But Homam was adamant and almost pulled her on the corridor by her skirt. Homam's eagerness made her smile at the kid and let her made up her mind. They were going to see the Grangers.
They spent pleasant afternoon at the zoo where both kids were thrilled to bits by almost every animal they saw. Homam's happiness made her think that the kid needed a companion around his age. But that was just a thought because the only kid in the family was Narcissa's son and Walburga would sooner claim eternal love to Muggles than let Draco within twenty feet near Homam.
To tell the truth while she wasn't ready to claim eternal love to Muggles she had to admit that some Muggle inventions seemed pretty practical and interesting. For example vaccines which prevented Muggles from getting sick, wizarding world really could come with something similar, especially for Dragon Pox. Then there was television, she spent in front of it good three hours yesterday and watched various programs, one about cooking and two about women talking with some Muggle French politicians, then the television showed a story with moving pictures which drawn Homam from his toys to the front of it. She watched him as he clapped and cheered when the good character won. That was certainly interesting and she made a mental note to ask Mirzam about television next time she saw her.
She entered Hotel de Ville at six o'clock in the evening. She passed the hall and approached the reception. At the receptionist desk she saw familiar figure.
"Pouvez-vous me donner le numero de chambre de mademoiselle Noir?" asked young woman at the receptionist desk.
"Qu'est-ce qu'il y a, Mirzam?" she asked quickly.
The woman spun around and Walburga saw that it was indeed Mirzam Verascez standing in front of her. She was pale and looked like she didn't slept last night.
"Can we take it to the less public place?" she asked in a tired voice.
Walburga nodded in the direction of the lifts and both women started walking in this direction. Thankfully the lift was already on the ground floor and they quickly entered it. Mirzam leaned against the wall of the lift as Walburga pushed the button with number four. She saw Homam smiling at Mirzam and saw her returning the smile.
"Bellatrix, Rudolphus and Rastaban Lestrange had been caught. Along with Lucius Malfoy and Barty Crouch junior," Mirzam sighed heavily. "But there is more. Mrs Druella Black poisoned herself upon hearing the news and few hours later your mother, Mrs Black, stabbed herself with a knife, I arrived too late help her. I'm really sorry."
"Oh," Walburga exhaled loudly but she quickly regained he composure. She really didn't cared about her mother, in last month she made it clear what she thought about her only daughter raising a half-blood. "It's sad. I don't think that my father took it lightly."
"He didn't," Mirzam nodded slowly. "He is at 7 Park Road in London right now and he probably will remain there for next few days. There is something else you need to know Mrs Black. Cassiopeia told the rest of the family about Homam."
"Oh," Walbugra sighed. "Judging by your posture, you were present when she decided to reveal it."
Mirzam closed her eyes as she leaned her head against the wall and gave a small nod.
"I just left," she whispered.
"How they took it?" Walburga asked not really sure if she wanted to know.
Mirzam opened her eyes as she said, "Quite well considering the circumstances. I also got caught in a discussion about pure-blood philosophy and probably made myself new enemies. Frankly I stopped caring."
She raised her head slowly and meet two pairs of grey, two pairs of brown and one pair of dark blue eyes. All were directed at her. Mostly they reflected surprise but some, like Lucretia Prewett's grey and Cassiopeia Black's brown eyes reflected curiosity.
"You look terrible my dear," said Cassiopeia Black in a voice which could be marked as compassionate.
"I feel terrible," Mirzam admitted as she pulled out her wand, pointed it at Mr Black's head and whispered, "Ennervate."
Mr Black blinked slowly and stared at her as he whispered, "I fainted, didn't I?"
She nodded as she let out small sigh.
"You are going to You-Know-Where to bring back You-Know-Whom today?" asked Lucretia Prewett curiously.
Mirzam knew what she meant but the look on the faces of the rest members of Black family was priceless.
"Yes, I'm going to Paris to bring back Mrs Walburga and Homam to London today," she said with a small smile.
"Thank Merlin that Bellatrix is in Azkaban now. I don't think that kidnapping your son from Malfoy Manor for the second time would go as easily as it went first time around," Cassiopeia said pointedly.
There was a collective gasp and Mirzam felt herself palling uncontrollably.
"I thought that Wally said that Homam's mother was a muggle, Cassie?" asked the man who opened the door.
"She was trying to protect the girl from you," snorted Cassiopeia as she moved around the couch and came to stand next to Mirzam. "Mirzam Veracez here," Cassiopeia wrapped her right arm around Mirzam's shoulders and squeezed in reassuring manner, "is an Auror. More specifically, an Auror who was Sirius's partner. Considering the circumstances if the truth that she is Homam's mother got out into the public she could lose her job. Wally offered to take care of the kid when Mirzam is at the Ministry after Homam's nanny had died at the end of December."
"I imagine that you think that you made a good match girl," whispered Mr Black as he propped himself on the couch so he was sitting. "Old pure-blood family with a lot of money."
"I don't," Mirzam replied sternly. "As long as I can work on my own I don't care about the money. Neither I care about blood purity since I find this philosophy as pompous, idiotic and hypocritical."
She saw them staring at her in shock but Cassiopeia's arm was still draped around her shoulders.
"Considering that there is not much pure-blood families in the world, let alone in Great Britain I dare to say that in a matter of next five hundred years pure-blood families will have to face extinction," Mirzam said grimly and waited for their reaction.
"Do explain," the man who opened the door prompted, he seemed interested in what she was saying.
Mirzam took a deep breath and said simply, "As far as I know being a pure-blood and living up to the philosophy means, that the choices of marriages are very limited. This leads into inbreeding and it was scientifically proven that inbreeding leads to mutations. The results of this mutations could be quite drastic. For example the body of a person in whose family history inbreeding was proven could be born with deformed body, mental illness and in wizarding world we can also add lose of magic, being a squib. Either way pure-blood philosophy would lead into the extinction of pure-blood families, I don't say that it will happen in nearest future but on the long run it's the only possible, and logical outcome. Besides how pure-blood families came into being? At the beginning someone had to be a Muggle-born wizard or witch. As I said, pompous, idiotic and hypocritical."
"You got a nerve," said the woman whom Mirzam couldn't recognise.
"And a point," the man who opened the door added. "Ravenclaw?" he asked her.
"Ravenclaw," Mirzam confirmed.
"Who proven this sciento something crap you said?" asked Mr Black from the couch. "Muggles?"
"Muggles," she nodded. "Plus a certain pure-blood after one shot of Firewhiskey too many. Muttered something how the fact that his mother and father were second cousin made him have twelve toes instead of ten," she raised an eyebrow daringly remembering this particular drunken confession.
"As if anything good came from Muggles," snorted Mr Black.
"Cameras for example, they were improved by wizards, but the initial invention was purely Muggle," Mirzam replied. "Same with the cars and radio. Telephone and television could be also made great improvement in wizarding world but I work as an Auror, not an inventor."
"What's a television?" asked the man who opened the door curiously.
"A box, which shows the images of people and things," Mirzam explained then added. "Muggle improved version of a radio, so you not only hear but also see what is happening."
"That could be interesting," muttered the man who opened the door. "You have one?"
"Yes, I do," Mirzam confirmed.
"Would you mind if I came and see that thing?" he asked.
"Not at all," she shook her head.
"So you aren't living with Wally," said the man with a realisation.
"I have few things at her house. I moved out from my previous flat few days ago. I didn't managed to prepare Homam's room that's why he is staying at Grimmauld," she lied.
"Why don't you move into that house? I'm sure that if Wally doesn't mind Homam living with her she wouldn't really mind you," he asked curiously.
"I don't want to cause too much troubles and it would be better for my job if any connections with your family would be unknown to the Ministry," she explained.
"I imagine that living with the knowledge that the man you loved and father of your child is a traitor and murderer is hard," said the woman who wasn't Lucretia or Casssiopeia.
"It's not hard," Mirzam sighed. "Since he neither betrayed nor murdered anyone."
"How come?" came collective question.
"Can I sit down, Mr Black? It's a long story," she asked tiredly.
The man who opened the door waved his hand at the armchair behind her and said, "Call me Arcturus."
"Melania, his wife," said the woman who wasn't Lucretia or Cassiopeia.
"We already meet," said Lucretia and Ignatius in unison.
"Pollux," Mr Black mumbled. "Walburga's father."
Mirzam nodded and sat down on the armchair. Cassiopeia sat down in other armchair next to her. The rest sat down on remaining couches.
"About a month ago," she started then turned to Cassiopeia. "In fact the same day you came. I went to Azkaban. I thought that Sirius could have an information, or at least vague idea, who could kidnap Harry Potter. By some kind of miracle I managed to get a permission from Crouch to visit him in Azkaban. I went there and talked with him."
"You got what you wanted?" asked Cassiopeia curiously.
Mirzam shook her head and continued, "I didn't get any information concerning Harry Potter but I got something else. Sirius told me that he switched with Peter Pettigrew. At the moment of Voldemort's" everybody shivered, "attack Sirius wasn't the Secret Keeper. The Potters Secret Keeper was Pettigrew. As soon as Sirius found out what had happened to the Potters he went after Pettigrew. He managed to corner him on a crowded street."
"And he killed him," added Pollux grimly.
"He didn't," Mirzam shook her head. "Something, probably pity, stopped him. But Pettigrew used is as a chance to escape and accuse Sirius of the crimes he committed. Pettigrew blew up the street, cut out his finger and transformed into a rat and ran away. Sirius got accused for Pettigrew's crimes and sent into Azkaban without trial," she finished grimly.
"That's why you weren't home," whispered Lucretia, Mirzam saw realisation dawning on woman's face. "You were looking for Pettigrew when Homam got kidnapped."
Mirzam nodded.
"I found your story lacking sense Verascez," said Ignatius with a shake of his head. "Pettigrew can't be an animagus because he isn't in the register."
"Neither am I," she said as she rolled her eyes. "But I'm an Animagus. How do you think I got into Malfoy Manor unnoticed?" she asked and she firmly concentrated at the image of a raven.
She felt her bones shifting and saw that the world around her got bigger. She extended her wings and made few waves before she transformed back.
"You didn't registered?" gasped Ignatius in shock.
"Yet," she pointed out. "You were away and I had more important things on my mind than registering. However I plan to get registered as soon as possible."
"How did you got out from Malfoy Manor?" asked Cassiopeia curiously.
Mirzam glanced at Lucretia, both she and Mrs Black strongly emphasised that Snape involvement should remain secret for man's own good, and said, "Emergency Portkey. Long time ago I got permission to carry it. It takes me into secure place from which I can apparate to wherever I want."
"Heart of a mother," sighed Arcturus.
"Hell has no fury like a mother whose child had been kidnapped," Mirzam muttered.
"Indeed," Lucretia agreed. "How are you going to get to Paris?" she asked curiously.
"Obviously she will Floo," Pollux muttered.
"No I won't," Mirzam shook her head. "I'm taking a plane and we are coming back the same way."
"We?" asked Pollux suspiciously.
"Mrs Walburga, Homam and I. I don't expect anyone to go with me," she replied.
"What's a plane?" asked Arcturus curiously.
"Muggle equivalent of a broomstick," Mirzam replied. "A lot bigger, though."
"Oh," older man sighed.
"I need to leave now if I want to come back before midnight," she said as she stood up. "Is there anything else you want to know?"
"I do," said Melania thoughtfully. "Are you free tomorrow at six o'clock in the evening?"
"Yes," Mirzam nodded. "Why are you asking madam?"
"Because I was thinking about dinner with the family and no matter if you wanted it or not you became a part of this family by being a mother of my great-grandson," replied Melania with a small smile.
"We will come at six," Mirzam replied politely.
As soon as the door closed behind Verascez Pollux sneered, "Why did you asked her to come, Melania? She is a Mudblood!"
"She is a mother of your great-grandson, Pollux," Melania pointed out. "Sure if she was a pure-blood it would be a lot better but ..."
"If you can't get what you like start liking what you got," Ignatius muttered. "I like her. She has a nerve to speak for herself."
"Is this house solidarity speaking Iggy?" Pollux snorted grimly, he seemed like he didn't liked idea of Verascez being part of the family.
"I like her too and I was in Slytherin," Cassiopeia huffed. "She has more bravery in her little finger than you in your whole body. Besides I distinctly remember seeing you hanging on her shoulder. Is she good enough to bring you here but not good enough to be Homam's mother?"
Arcturus stared at the rest of the family knowing very well that there was a fight coming. He agreed with Melania but for Merlin's sake Verascez was the girl whom Sirius picked up and the family should know better than expect anything ordinary from the boy. Not to mention Verascez did had a point, but that wasn't something which he wanted to share with the rest, especially Pollux. Maybe tomorrow he could ask Verascez about more précised information concerning this mutations before he will make up his mind.
"Oh, for Merlin sake if you don't stop fighting I'm going to ask Starshine to pour a bucket of water at your heads!" he berated the rest.
"I'm not fighting," Lucretia pointed out.
"Are you one hundred percent sure that this is safe?" Walburga asked when Mirzam buckled Homam to his seat.
"I'm two hundred percent sure that this is safe, Mrs Black," Mirzam sighed, she sounded tired. "There, all done," she added as she ruffled Homam's hair and the kid smiled at her.
"I don't find myself very comfortable here. The whole idea of a flying cane which isn't flying by you-know-what," Walburga squirmed in her seat.
"There are worse means of transport," Mirzam said as she sat down on the seat on Homam's right. "Balloons for example. Big bulbs with baskets attached to them. Plus every time I was on a ferry I got seasick and claustrophobic."
"Are you claustrophobic?" Walburga asked, this information picked her interest.
"Generally, no," Mirzam sighed. "But on the last vacations with my parents my father rent a yacht and ..." she grimaced but continued. "On second day came a small storm and I fell overboard. After I was rescued I had been told to go to my cabin and spent the rest of the storm there. That's how it started. I have been afraid of anything which floats on water ever since. I nearly strangled Sirius when he told me that on the European Auror Convention in Calais we are taking a ferry."
"How did you managed to live with him as a partner for this long?" Walburga asked after she gave Mirzam small, reassuring smile.
"Good question," Mirzam chuckled. "I have been asking myself since I had been told that I can't switch him."
"You asked DMLE to change your partner?" Walburga asked in shock.
"On the same day I found that he was supposed to be my partner," Mirzam confirmed and a small smile appeared on her face. "That's probably why he was civil to me since the very beginning of our partnership. On the other hand I could complain for change until I turned blue since I knew that there is a tradition to put first and second best graduate from the training as partners."
"You were the best," Walburga said.
"Nope, Sirius was," Mirzam shook her head. "But we competed for the whole training."
"Did he ever told you why he decided to be an Auror?" Walburga asked curiously.
"It's complicated," Mirzam sighed. "In overall he wanted to make a difference. Prove himself and the world that he isn't like the rest of the family. Plus I think that for him it was the only choice ... well he told me once that he wanted to work at Zonko's for some time but being an Auror was billion times better."
Walburga smiled at that. Troublemaker was Sirius she remembered the best. She felt guilty for not trying to make things better between him and her sooner. But there still was a chance for it, if only Pettigrew will get caught.
"Did you tried to ask Crouch for another Azkaban's Pass?" she asked quietly.
"Not yet," Mirzam replied quietly. "From what I heard Crouch is leaving the Ministry. I'm going to wait and see who is going to take his place and maybe then I will try."
Nine days since Barty Crouch resigned from being a Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement and three days had passed since Minster for Magic Millcent Bagnold appointed Amelia Bones.
Mirzam, as an Auror and her employee, saw Amelia Bones from the distance at the first meeting of the department after Crouch resigned, but didn't managed to have a talk with hers new boss yet. Amelia Bones was a broad, square-jawed witch with very short gray hair, thick eyebrows and always wore a monocle. From Madam Bones previous co-workers Mirzam gathered that the woman was a personification of the words 'honest' and 'fair' and while it made her feel better to have a boss like that, since Crouch was exact opposite, it worried her because there was very big possibility that Madam Bones will see past her reports.
It was Monday, 8th February, five minutes to seven o'clock in the morning and Mirzam was trying her best to don't get late at her appointment with Madam Bones at seven o'clock. She was standing in front of the lifts and was glaring at the grille while mentally muttering every curse she knew under the address of the infernal means of transport.
"Auror Verascez," she heard from behind.
She turned around and saw her new boss with a cup of take-away coffee in her left hand and huge suitcase in the other.
"Madam Bones," Mirzam greeted older woman.
"Wondering if someone can fix them to move quicker, are you?" Madam Bones asked curiously.
"Actucally, no," Mirzam chuckled. "I tried to remember every curse I learned. It's with me like a bad habit."
Madam Bones chuckled at that and said, "I did the same when I was your age but experience taught me that it never works, it actually takes them longer to arrive."
"My partner told me the same thing once," Mirzam smiled. "He used to spout muggle love poems every time we waited for lifts to arrive. Told me that it makes them come quicker."
"Sirius Black was your partner," said Madam Bones and it sounded more like a statement than a question.
"Yes," Mirzam replied quietly feeling a pang of sadness in her heart.
"I'm sorry, my dear. I shouldn't brought this up," Madam Bones said comfortingly.
The lift finally arrived and Mirzam let the older woman get inside first. The grille slid shut and when Mirzam pushed the number two it started moving. Neither said anything.
"You requested a private meeting," said Madam Bones when they stepped out of the lift at level two and started walking in the direction of the office of Head of the DMLE.
"I did," Mirzam confirmed.
They stopped in front of the door. Mirzam opened the door for older woman and waited for her to get inside. Then she entered the room herself and shut the door behind.
"How private this meeting is going to be?" asked Madam Bones as she set her suitcase on the desk.
"Very private," Mirzam replied quietly.
Madam Bones pushed a small red button on the desk and waved at Mirzam to sit down. She sat down on overstuffed armchair remembering the chairs Crouch had when he was the Head.
"So what's the matter?" asked Madam Bones as she sat at her desk.
Mirzam took a deep breath and said firmly, "I need an Azkaban's Pass with No Dementors Request."
"Whom do you want to see?" asked Madam Bones cautiously.
"Sirius Black," Mirzam whispered feeling that her throat started tingling.
"Why?" Madam Bones asked quietly.
"I need to talk to him about Harry Potter's kidnapping. See if he can give me some answers, or at least suggestions," Mirzam replied quietly as she stared at the clock on the wall, feeling like she couldn't look into Madam Bones's eyes.
She heard older woman standing up and coming around the desk.
"Now," Madam Bones said calmly as she leaned against the desk and it made Mirzam look at her. "Tell me the truth when you are looking into my eyes."
Mirzam stared into her blue eyes but she felt like she couldn't say a word. Her throat was constricted so tightly that no words could come out.
"What it is my dear?" Madam Bones asked, her voice was filled with concern.
"I just need to talk to him," Mirzam whispered finally and looked down at her boots.
"Why?" Madam Bones asked in a whisper.
"I ..." Mirzam started but her throat constricted again and her mind swirled.
It was too much for one person to handle. Firstly Sirius's imprisonment, then finding about his supposed betrayal. Harry Potter's kidnapping. Visit in Azkaban. Finding the truth. Then finding Harry. Agreeing to keep him safe. Then the scheme with being Homam's mother. Homam's kidnapping. Countless days and nights spent at fruitless searching for Pettigrew. It was all catching with her and she felt that she was falling apart. Right here, right now. In front of her new boss to whom she decided to lie to keep these she cared or started to care for safe.
"I ..." she started again, suddenly feeling like she couldn't take it anymore and she felt two tears running down her cheeks. "At 27th December I visited Sirius in Azkaban. I thought that he could gave me some answers about Harry's kidnapping or at least if I played it good enough few names," she hung her voice. "I went there but I didn't got the answers I was looking for."
"What did you found out?" asked Madam Bones cautiously.
"The truth," Mirzam whispered. "He never was the Potters Secret Keeper. He was too obvious choice to be a Secret Keeper. He suggested least obvious person for the Secret Keeper, Peter Pettigrew and it would have worked if Pettigrew wasn't the traitor."
"That's why he went after him and killed him and all these poor Muggles," Madam Bones whispered.
"He didn't killed him," Mirzam shook her head. "Pettigrew blew up the street but not before he didn't managed to accuse Sirius of treachery. Then that traitor cut out his finger, transformed and ran away. He ran away like a rat he is," she started laughed hysterically.
"Rat?" Madam Bones whispered in shock.
"Pettigrew is unregistered Animagus, a rat, with a missing toe," Mirzam whispered after she calmed down a bit.
"That's what Black had told you?" Madam Bones asked and when Mirzam nodded she added. "Didn't you thought that he was deceiving you Verascez?"
"I did," Mirzam admitted. "For first five minutes Madam Bones. But I know Sirius well enough to know when he is lying to me," she said fiercely and when Madam Bones didn't seemed to convinced by it she added looking straight into woman's eyes, "Didn't you ever got that feeling Madam, the one when your mind tells you that the story you hear is so unbelievable that it can't be truth, but your heart and all your instinct tells you that it has to be truth?"
Madam Bones dropped her gaze.
"Crouch didn't even given him a trial," Mirzam said bitterly. "Where is that noble motto; Innocent Until Proven Guilty? Or did it turned into; Guilty Until Proven Innocent? When I became an Auror I swore to protect people, to abide the law and in return I had been told that the law will protect me if I will abide it. Who protected Sirius Black?"
Madam Bones raised her eyes but said nothing.
"Crouch was his superior but instead of listening to his side of story he sent him to Azkaban without a trial. A fair trial he deserved, a fair trial anyone deserves," Mirzam said feeling her voice breaking and she gripped the arms of the armchair tightly.
Madam Bones looked down at her. It seemed like she was contemplating something and finally she said, "I believe you Verascez. Only a person who is really sure her words speaks like that, plus your tears are more than a confirmation," she pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to Mirzam.
Mirzam whipped her eyes and was shocked when she realised that she cried whole time.
"I presume that you're looking for Pettigrew in your free time," Madam Bones asked after Mirzam composed herself.
Mirzam nodded.
"Or do you look for him when you are supposed to look for Harry Potter?" Madam Bones asked firmly. "Be honest and I won't judge or hurt you."
Mirzam nodded, very slowly.
"Why aren't you looking for Harry Potter?" Madam Bones asked calmly.
Mirzam looked straight into her eyes and said firmly, "Because I already know where he is, and sooner I will die before I will tell Dumbledore or anyone else, who wants him to come back to his good-for-nothing relatives who treated him worse than an animal, where he is. I swore to protect people. I swore to protect him."
"Is he safe?" Madam Bones breathed out in relief.
"Safer than he ever was with his relatives. At least people who take care of him now won't do anything to harm him. For me it's enough to leave him where he is," Mirzam said firmly.
"Where he is? And before you tell me that you won't say anything, I want you to know that I don't think that you would have risked everything you have without reason, and a very good one on that," Madam Bones asked fiercely and when Mirzam said nothing she added, "I won't tell anyone. I won't go after these people and in fact I would act like you didn't told me anything. But if you tell me, I swear that I would do everything to protect them from the others who doesn't have Harry Potter's well-being in mind."
Mirzam looked straight into her eyes and said, "Would you swear it on Unbreakable Vow, Madam Bones?"
"I would," Madam Bones said firmly.
"Well then," Mirzam sighed heavily. "He is with Mrs Black, Sirius's mother. Hidden under the disguise of Sirius's bastard son and I'm ..." she took a deep breath then added, "I'm his mother. That's what Black family knows. They know that due to present circumstances this knowledge should be kept secret until Sirius is a free man again."
Madam Bones stared at her , shock evident on her face as she whispered, "Walburga Black took him? And he is safe?"
"Yes," Mirzam said as she held Madam Bones's stare.
"You are absolutely sure?" Madam Bones whispered.
"As sure as that my name is Mirzam Mira Verascez," she said firmly.
Madam Bones sighed heavily before she went around her desk and sat at it. She took a piece of the parchment and started scribbling something. When she finished she stood up and said as she handed the parchment to Mirzam, "Three months worth Azkaban's Pass with No Dementors Request. Two visits per week until you find Pettigrew and if you don't before it runs out you know where to find me. Give my love to Walburga and a hug for your little son. Good look with your searching for Harry Potter. I hope you will succeed."
Mirzam took the parchment feeling that her hands started to shake and she whispered in relief, "Thank you, Madam Bones. For everything."
"No my dear," Madam Bones shook her head. "Let me thank you for being the definition of your profession. If more Aurors had your sense of justice our world would be a lot better," she added as she extended her hand.
Mirzam grasped offered hand and shook it firmly as she added, "Frankly I don't think so. I'm not perfect and I know it. I have very nasty temper and I curse so badly that one of my trainers had to Scurgify my mouth."
Madam Bone chuckled at that and said, "So does everybody. When everything is fine you two come around and I will tell you how many good curses I picked from Italian Aurors."
"Granted," Mirzam agreed. "Sirius will love it. He brought cursing his opponents to the level of art."
"I wouldn't expect from him any less," Madam Bones replied with a smile.
Care to share your thoughts?
So Cassiopeia let the Kneazel out from proverbial bag. It was coming right from the moment she found out (she thinks that she found out but WE know better and we know that she just assumed). Walburga's reaction to television and Arcturus's curiosity - she was locked inside a room with one and had THE book you can't expect her to not try what's new, as for Archie 'Fireplace' Black, he is an old man and is bored. Some of you will probably berate me for Mirzam's break down - it was coming for a long time and frankly it happened just in the right time and right place. As for general reaction to PIH (otherwise known as 'Mirzam says what she thinks about pure-bloods') she had a point and some saw it and some didn't, some didn't cared and some did care (and are going to whin a lot).
Next chapter: Mirzam is late for a dinner. Azkaban and Sirius's reaction to news. Mirzam gets new helpers and celebrates hers 22nd birthday. Plus Artcturus in front of a television (because I can't really stop myself from writing this one).