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.
Prewiev: Orion and Hermes are coming back to England to land themselves in deep troubles. The family plots the doom of Ori and Hermy... err, Orion and Hermes. Walburga reads Orion's diary and something which wasn't meant for her eyes. Sirius and Mirzam meet with Snape and McGonagall in Hogsmead and have a very interesting chat. Orion gets confronted by his wife and his sons.
Read, enjoy and review (because it helps me with writing).
I find myself in need of a beta, again. Anyone interested?
Thanks to all who reviewed last chapter.
Chapter nine: Bygones Be Bygones.
"I'm freezing my ass here, Ori," Hermes Lupin called out from outside the cave.
"So am I," Orion called back and he brushed the fringe away from his eyes as he bend over the old wand.
He tapped it with his own and when he got no reaction he sighed heavily. Nothing, once again. He stood up and walked out from the cave and found Hermes leaning against the big stone near the opening of the cave.
"Can we please eat something warm?" Hermes asked grimly. "I'm freezing and the rabbit we had for breakfast yesterday is nothing but a memory for my stomach."
"I told you to prepare for extreme situations if you were going to accompany me," Orion pointed out. "Nothing."
"As if Voldemort could hide something in Poland," snorted Hermes.
"I think that the bloody git foresaw bloody communism and hid the Horcrux here because he thought that whomever wanted to go after it will die from hunger before he could reach the Horcrux," Orion muttered. "Stupid ration cards!"
Hermes rolled his eyes on that and said, "Admit finally, you don't have a bloody clue where and what the Horcrux would be."
"Fine," Orion snorted. "I have no bloody idea what is Voldemort's Horcrux and where it is hidden. Happy?" he glared at his friend.
"Terribly," Hermes muttered. "Now can we hunt for breakfast before I faint from hunger?"
"Change," Orion muttered and transformed into his Animagi form.
'Let's have a big juicy pig,' he thought to himself when he saw familiar wolf standing next to him.
Two wolves glanced at each other and with an expression 'race you' they started running as fast as their paws allowed them. They ran for five miles without a stop when Orion realised that something or someone was following them. He stopped running and looked around just in time to feel a bird landing on the top of his head.
Hermes in his Animagi form cocked his head to the left and stared curiously at the bird then he transformed back into his human form.
"It looks like Dawn," Hermes muttered. "And has a letter attached."
Orion told Ignatius to not contact them until it was absolutely necessary so an owl from him wasn't a thing Orion wanted to get. He quickly transformed back, startled the owl in the process which flew to Hermes's outstretched arm who took the letter from the bird and opened it. Orion quickly ran to his friend and started reading the letter over Hermes's shoulder. It read:
Dear Orion and Hermes,
I hope that this letter finds you in good health. I also hope that whatever kind of research you are doing is successful.
I know that I wasn't supposed to write to you unless it was really necessary but I really have to do it. Your sons had been captured by Voldemort, he knows that you are tampering with something which belongs to him. He will kill them, slowly and painfully if you don't hand yourself to him. That's what I found in the letter which arrived to me this morning – 9th April. The deadline is three days, on the dusk of 12th April if you don't show up your sons will be killed.
I'm sorry that I had to be the bearer of the bad news but I trust that you will decide what is the best.
Ignatius
P.S. If you had any doubts Orion, think about your grandsons who are going to grow up without a father. Their picture is enclosed in the letter.
Orion took the photograph from Hermes's hand and stared at it with a feeling that his heart was going to break. Two little boys, not older than two years, with jet-black hair, high cheekbones and grey eyes, were smiling at him from the photo.
Sirius's sons. His grandsons. Two perfect carbon copies of their father, Orion's beloved son. Orion would rush to help Sirius even if he didn't saw that photo but seeing the boys made his want to help Sirius only increase. He turned the photograph and read the words on the other side:
Homam and Remus, twenty-one months old.
"He named his kid Remus," Hermes mumbled.
"I'm going," Orion whispered.
"Me too," said Hermes. "Me too."
They ran all day and almost all night without a single stop. Orion didn't knew how many miles they passed but he knew that until the dawn they won't be able to reach the boundary of Western Germany from where they could apparate over to France and take the ferry back to England. Time was running out, so was Sirius's and Remus's lives.
By the time they reached Calais after four jumps of long distanced apparation Orion was going spare with worry. Apparating over the Canal wasn't very good idea so they had to wait for a ferry.
"Wondered who is their mother?" asked Hermes suddenly.
"Nope. I was worried about Sirius and Remus," Orion replied grimly. "Why should it matter now? We are already going to die."
"It will take your mind away from worrying for next two hours," Hermes said with a heavy sigh.
"Knowing Sirius probably a Muggle or Muggle-born girl," Orion sighed. "On the other hand Iggy appears to have the contact with the girl so maybe I'm wrong and she is a pure-blood."
"Didn't Wartburga appointed Marrieta Bulstrode as his future intended?" asked Hermes curiously.
"Walburga," Orion corrected Hermes automatically. "No, she didn't. Said that thirty-five years of age difference is tad too much even for the Black family."
"Do you think that she is aware of the boys existence?" asked Hermes.
Orion shook his head, he didn't wanted to think about it now. All he cared for now was the lives of his son and godson.
Ever since Sirius Black alarmed Severus that they are going to need more Familious Potion Severus couldn't help but wonder what in the name of all things magical Black and his family had done this time.
"Once a trouble-maker always a trouble-maker," he muttered to himself as he knocked on the front door of the house at 12 Grimmauld Place.
The door opened and tired looking Lupin greeted him.
"Sirius and Mirzam are in the first room on the right, on first floor. Mrs Black wants to speak to you when you are done, she will wait in the library," Lupin said. "Don't let her talk you into double dose."
"What kind of double dose?" asked Severus curiously.
"She will tell you," Lupin mumbled. "Now do excuse me but I need to talk someone out from a murder," he added and he went to the kitchen.
Severus stared at Lupin's retreating form in shock for a moment before he shook his head and went upstairs.
He opened the door to the room Lupin mentioned earlier and saw Black and his wife sitting at the couch. On Black's knees was sitting Homam while Verascez, nope, Mirzam was holding a sleeping toddler in her arms. He was really going to have to learn to address them by their given names now.
"What did you done this time?" Severus asked as he leaned against the doorframe.
"We kidnapped another child," Black said as he turned to face him.
The look on his face wasn't the one Severus thought that he will ever see it on Black's face. Black was calm, controlled and looked like a personification of the world responsibility.
"Oh, really? Severus asked curiously.
"Neville Longbottom," said Verascez, Mirzam, quietly. "Bitten by a werewolf, whole family dead or insane. No relatives who are going to take care of him."
"From now Remus Francis Black, Homam's twin brother," Black added quickly.
"Hey!" called Homam happily.
"Hey kid," Severus replied. "So you intend to bring up a werewolf child as your own."
They nodded quickly.
"Are you mad?" Severus asked sceptically. "You are risking your freedom, your carriers, everything to bring up the kid."
"Trust us Severus," said Mirzam calmly. "We know what we are doing."
"Look Sevie what I can do!" called Homam and his hair changed from jet-black to lime green.
"Show off," Black chuckled and he hugged the kid.
Severus stared at the kid in surprise for a moment before he mumbled, "Side effect?"
"Seems so," Black replied. "For now he can only change his hair and eyes colour but Andromeda thinks that he will have total control of his Metamorphomagi ability by the time he turns five, Dora did anyway."
"That pink-haired girl which was on the wedding?" asked Severus.
"That one," Black nodded.
"You know that there is a possibility that Neville is going to be a Metamorphomagus too," Severus said pensively.
"We are aware of it," said Mirzam quickly.
"I'm going to need your blood Black," Severus said.
"Got it already," Black pointed at small vial on the table next to it. "You still have Mirzam's I presume?" he asked.
Severus nodded as he pulled out two vials from his pocket and put them on the table. He poured the contest of the vials which held Black's and Mirzam's blood to the bigger vial where Familious Potion was.
"How is Dumbledore?" asked Black suddenly.
"Becoming slightly deaf after your outburst in Auror Headquarter," Severus replied. "He gets at least ten Howlers a day. Plus McGonagall berates him whenever she can, she is really scary woman when she wants to," he chuckled at the memory of McGonagall's latest outburst in staff room.
"What is she doing?" asked Mirzam curiously.
"Yesterday she gave him antlers for example. This morning in the staff room she came with so colourful insults that no one suspected that she could know so much curses. But the best one was on the beginning, she chased him around the castle and was whacking him across thr head with rolled up Daily Prophet. Then was gluing him to his chair in Great Hall, balding curse on Monday, transfiguring him into a mice and chasing him around the castle for six hours on Tuesday. She is royally pissed off," Severus explained.
"And here I was thinking that me transfiguring James into a dog and James chasing her up the tree showed us how furious she can be," Black chuckled. "Guess that I was wrong."
"I dare to say that she was pretty calm when she transfigured both of you into mice and chased you back into the castle," Severus snorted, that was entertaining memory, especially the part when she caught them at the front doors and dragged them by their tails to her office.
"For a moment I was worried that she was going to eat us," Black snickered.
"Done," Severus said. "Wake up the kid," he added as he took the vial.
Mirzam woke up the kid and took the vial from Severus with her free hand. The boy clung to her arm which was securing him and stared at her fearfully.
"Everything is going to be fine," she said comfortingly. "Drink it, it will help you."
The kid drunk obediently the contest of the vial and snug closer to her when she handed Black the empty vial. Black put the vial on the table and scooted closer to her, he and Homam were watching her and the kid curiously.
They looked like a picture of perfect family and Severus couldn't help but feel jealous about Black. He royally fucked up a lot of things but still somehow managed to get a wonderful woman who managed to keep him on reasonable leash and a kid who always looked at him in awe. Now they were going to have another kid in the family. Black was lucky bastard, very lucky bastard.
"So Remus is it," Severus said.
"Remus Francis," replied Mirzam. "At first it was Remus Frank but we decided that Frank is too obvious."
"No matter how much Remus doesn't likes it," Black added. "Appropriate name for a werewolf and I really didn't liked Romulus as a name."
"Remmy and Hommy," said Mirzam with a small smile.
"Please never call Remus, Remmy because I have a distinct feeling that he is going to kill you if you start," Black chuckled.
"I won't," Mirzam giggled. "I'm not suicidal."
"Evidence points to the contrary," Severus chuckled.
"Oh, yeah it does," she snickered.
"Any idea what your mother has in mind now?" Severus changed the subject.
"Wolfsbane Potion, she will tell you the details but general idea comes down to her wanting you to make the potion for both of them. Remus of course doesn't want to impose but mum thinks that it's stupid because if you agree to make potion for the kid you can as well prepare bigger batch for both of them," Black explained.
"Seems logical," Severus muttered. "The details I can settle with her, right?"
"Right," Black nodded.
"So I will go to her now, I will came back here to check upon the kid after I'm done with her," Severus said.
While Sirius and Mirzam together with the kids were upstairs with Snape and his mother was waiting for Snape to come and talk with her in the library Regulus had to restrain the family from planning a murder.
"I say let's curse their Quidditch equipment to fall off," said Cassiopeia lividly.
"Transfigure them into hens," added Melania.
"I say that nothing is going to work unless we find a way to lure them back here," mumbled Lupin. "Any ideas?"
"I have one," muttered Pollux. "Let Iggy write a letter saying that Sirius and Remus were captured by Voldemort."
"Would work as long as they don't know that Voldemort doesn't have a body and I have a distinct feeling that the news of Voldemort's temporary demise was all over the papers no matter the country," Remus replied.
"Actually they don't know about it," Ignatius mumbled nervously. "So I guess that it will work."
"Then start writing the letter. Hopefully we can even add kids picture to guilty trip them even more," said Arcturus quickly.
"Why I'm supposed to be Voldemort?" asked Sirius sceptically when the family explained him and Mirzam they great master plan.
"Because your wife is Bellatrix who was Wanker's b… fancy woman," Regulus explained patiently.
"I don't like it," Mirzam muttered as she propped Neville, Remmy on her knees so he could reach the plate with sliced apples.
"Neither do I," Sirius agreed with his wife and sat Homam on his knees so he, too, could reach the plate with apples.
"Oh, come on," Pollux exclaimed. "Don't be a spoilsport."
"I just don't want anyone to get a heart attack," Sirius explained.
"I'm a trained Healer," Andromeda pointed out and then added, "Besides they do deserve a little scare."
"That will be on your heads," Sirius muttered.
"I'm going to bring them here," said Regulus. "I will be polyjuiced as uncle Iggy. You will wait here with welcoming party."
"Not here," Lucretia said quickly. "The fireplace in our library has direct connection with the ball-room here. That, Orion doesn't knows."
"You will be waiting with welcoming party anyway," Regulus sighed.
After seeing Severus to the door Walburga came back to the library and as she sat down on the armchair she sighed heavily. She picked up one of Orion's diaries which managed to survive the raid of their fathers through the library because Orion hid it in Sirius's old bedroom. These one was entitled '1959-1960' and like all Orion's diaries started on 1st September.
She flipped through the entries from September and October without paying too much attention to what Orion had written. When she reached November she slowed down and read occasional note here and there. But the date Walburga really wanted to see was 23rd November, the day when Sirius was born. She opened the diary on the date 23rd November and read:
23rd November 1959
I HAVE A SON! Merlin, I have a son. We named him Sirius Orion after my grandfather. Sirius is perfect, he is a foot and nine inches long and weighs eight and half pounds. His eyes are still baby blue but Healer Forester says that he is going to have my eyes … and hands.
Boys are going to turn green with envy. Hermes, Charlie and Patrick are still waiting for their sons to arrive to the world.
There was about two inches long gap between Orion's note and next line. It read:
I've been at Spinner's End yesterday – Eileen fells well, Tobias is not there (good for him because I will kill him next time I find that he hit her again).
Walburga stared at the line in shock. She hardly knew any women named Eileen. The only one she remembered clearly was Orion's classmate and fellow Slytherin, Eileen Prince who later married … Tobias Snape, a Muggle. It was a big scandal for the Princes, a blow hard to take, their only daughter marrying a man who the family thought was below them and then …
"Severus," Walburga whispered. "Eileen's only child."
Walburga flipped to the next page and skipped the entry about Sirius's first day without as much as a glance, she knew it by heart. She glanced at the separate line, it read:
Eileen called when Walburga put Sirius into his crib – Tobias got himself arrested for drunken brawl in a pub. I checked on him and made sure that the police won't let him out for next two weeks and then I told Eileen that there was nothing I can do, she should be at peace now, she is expecting.
Walburga flipped through the rest of the entries from November but except few notes about Sirius. First two weeks of December didn't contained any note about Eileen too. Finally she found one dated on 17th December 1959 and read it:
I shouldn't be going to Japan now even if it's the most important conference in the world. Walburga isn't happy about me leaving her and Sirius alone for a week, nor is Eileen. I've talked to Eileen, she feels fine – I saw a bruise on her left wrist but I couldn't find Tobias.
Walburga flipped the next few pages to 24th December and read:
I just landed at Manchester Airport. I saw Eileen and gave her early Christmas present and Tobias too, as much as I hate him. They asked me to stay at lunch, I'd gone home afterwards.
On 25th December it read:
Eileen is fine.
Then there was no note till 7th January 1960, that one read:
Eileen's birth is just days away. I helped Tobias in clearing up the room for the kid – Tobias is a fucker, Sirius's room was prepared within a week after Walburga announced pregnancy.
On 8th January was a note:
Tobias got himself arrested, this time for a month. Someday I'm going to hex his genitalia to fell off for worrying Eileen.
Walburga flipped the page to 9th January and read:
Today four minutes after four in the morning Eileen gave birth to a boy, Severus Saiph Orionis, unfortunately – Snape … who is still going to be in jail for next twenty-nine days. Severus has her eyes and Eileen says that he is going to have my hands, just like Sirius.
Walburga felt like someone hit her with a Beater bat into stomach. She flipped several pages absentmindedly and settled on the one dated for 6th February:
Walburga caught pneumonia and is in St. Mungo and will spend a week there. Tobias got himself into a brawl in jail and severely beaten his fellow prisoner, he won't be back till June. Kreacher is over at my parents-in-law place since I took a week off to take care of Sirius. Eileen caught pneumonia too and is in St. Lambert's Hospital – Severus is with me and Sirius till she gets better.
Walburga glanced at the entry from 7th February:
I love being a father but not when my kids have diarrhoea. Thankfully a potion will make it better and tomorrow I'm not going to spend a whole day at changing nappies.
Boys fell asleep in one crib after dinner.
I don't know how to tell Walburga about Severus without getting myself murdered …
I'm so dead.
Walburga slammed the diary shut and glared at the first thing in her sight, old vase from her mother. Filthy, little, backstabbing asshole. He was cheating on her for all the time but that wasn't the worst, Severus was his son, Orion's comments proved as much. The filthy traitor had a bastard son when she was expecting his child. Of course he couldn't claim Severus legally as his son, not when he was married to Walburga because the family would skin him off alive. Tobias Snape was only a decoy.
"Wait till I'm done with you Orion," Walburga muttered to herself. "You will regret the day when you were born."
Now she needed to find Sirius and persuade him into bringing Severus here in the evening. Of course Sirius shouldn't know why, not until later when Orion will had a chance to be confronted by all his sons.
"You were right Orion," Walburga said lividly. "You are so dead."
Ignatius's and Lucretia's house on 9 Trevor Place didn't changed a single bit since Orion saw it for the last time.
He knocked on the front door impatiently and it seemed that an eternity had passed before the door opened and revealed tired Ignatius. When he saw them Ignatius's eyes flashed with something Orion couldn't exactly pinpoint but it passed as quickly as it appeared and Orion wrote it off as Ignatius's sympathy.
"It's good that you are here," he said quickly. "Let's go, we don't have time to waste."
He lead them to the library and waved his hand at the fireplace.
"I'll go first and wait for you on the other side," he gave them small nod before he walked into the fire.
"He is walking to a certain death, Orion. We have to stop him!" Hermes exclaimed and he rushed after Ignatius.
Orion didn't wasted time and jumped into the fireplace right behind Hermes. He stumbled out from the fireplace and almost knocked Hermes to the ground.
"Ori," Hermes whispered and pointed ahead.
There on a lone chair was sitting Ignatius, bound and silenced. When he saw them his eyes widened and he shook his head. They rushed to his side on the top speed but suddenly they were stopped by a cloaked figure which was pointing its wand at them.
Orion glanced around and more cloaked figures appeared around them. He managed to count nine of them. Before his instinct had a chance to kick in he and Hermes were disarmed.
"Sstep asside," came a hissy voice from behind Orion's back.
Orion and Hermes whirled around to see a high bald man who looked more like a snake than a human. On his left arm was hanging Bellatrix, she was smiling evilly.
"Well, well, well," said the man. "Whom my eyess ssee? Reguluss you did well."
Regulus? His son Regulus?
The figure which stood on man's right side lowered the hood of his cloak and Orion came face to face with his younger son.
"I only do what my Master wants me to," said Regulus politely. "It's a honour to serve Master."
"You sshall be rewarded Regulus," said the man lividly. "Lord Voldemort never liess to thiss who obeyss him. Ssiriuss iss yourss," he added and waved his hand.
"Master, you promised me that I can have a go at him," purred Bellatrix. "Wasn't I good for you tonight, master?" she asked pleadingly.
Voldemort, who until this point was watching Orion and Hermes glanced at Bellatrix and a smile appeared on his ugly face as he said, "The besst, my Bellatrix. You are alwayss the besst," and kissed demandingly.
Bellatrix slid down Voldemort's body to her knees and she glanced up at Voldemort as she said, "It's a honour to serve to you, Master."
Voldemort brought his left hand to her chin and raised her into standing position then he said, "Not now my Bellatrix. There would be time for it later. For now we have an entertainment which your dear coussin provided."
Bellatrix leaned into Voldemort's touch and said, "Master knows the best."
Voldemorts smiled wickedly and said, "Always."
Orion watched the exchange transfixed and had hard time with proceeding the information. Regulus was still alive and still a Death Eater and brought them here. Sirius was imprisoned somewhere here and Regulus was going to do something to him.
"Voldemort!" Orion called angrily. "Where is my son?!"
Voldemort tore his eyes from Bellatrix and glanced at his right, where Regulus stood and used his free hand to point at him as he said, "Here. The only son worth the name of Black family."
"Sirius is worth ten times more than Regulus!" Orion snarled.
"Should I feel insulted?" Regulus sighed dramatically.
"I would," Voldemort mumbled.
"Good for you then because apparently you are worth ten times more than I, Mr Voldemort," Regulus snorted.
"Daddy! Mommy!" two childish voices called in unison suddenly and two black-haired boys ran to Voldemort and Bellatrix who picked them up.
"Family reunions. Got to love them," Voldemort said happily. "The damage is done and it's time to kill someone."
Bellatrix wild hair flattened, eyes brightened and turned into violet, her cheekbones lowered a bit. Voldemort raised his free hand to his head and pulled it down. The mask fell off and revealed smiling Sirius who quickly embraced the woman and stared at her lovingly.
"I'm sorry Mirzam but they ran away," called a girlish voice from the back of the room.
"There is nothing to worry about Dora," chuckled Regulus. "Remus do the honours."
"My pleasure," said one cloaked figure as it lowered its hood and Orion saw his godson.
"Remus, my son," Hermes whispered.
"I don't think that you have a right to call me your son," said Remus lividly as he pointed his wand at his father. "You will have to earn it."
The light flashed out and suddenly Orion found himself bound to the chairs on Ignatius's left side and Hermes was lying unconscious on the floor.
"What the hell is going on?" Orion called in shock.
"No curses," Sirius said quickly. "Little ears," he motioned at the boys he and the woman next to him were holding. "Mum why don't you show them how happy you are to see them?" he smiled at the person who was standing next to Remus.
The hood fell off and Orion saw Walburga. Shit! Walburga! Hell had no furry than Walburga when she was really pissed off and she looked like a pissed off dragon.
"Mirzam. Sirius," she said to Sirius and the woman calmly despite her obvious furry. "I don't think that the kids should see it. It's going to be very drastic."
"I think that they should stay," said the woman, Mirzam, calmly. "After all they are a warrant that no one will cast an Unforgivable. That would be a little messy to clear up. Don't you think mum?"
Walburga rolled her eyes at that and then she glanced back at Orion, her eyes boring into his soul. In the meantime Orion tried to remember when and where he heard the name, Mirzam. It wasn't a common name, nor in muggle world and neither in wizarding. He could only remember one Mirzam: Verascez, Sirius's Auror partner.
"You know what?" said one of the cloaked figures. "I don't know about you but I'm famished and I really wouldn't mind a lunch before starting my duty."
"Same here," Ignatius mumbled suddenly and Orion stared in shock at his friend. "As entertaining as it is I have a huge case coming up and I need to grill Melvin about his reports."
"Why can't you grill him at home?" asked another figure as it lowered its hood and Orion saw his older sister.
"Because it's Melvin we are talking about and I really don't want to talk with him when Molly and her horde of little devils comes around to visit," Ignatius replied as he stood up.
"Go then," said his father. "Both of you go. Wally left some sandwiches in the kitchen. We will eat cold today."
"After all revenge is best served cold," said his mother wickedly. "And I think that playing dead counts as something which needs revenge."
"Remind me to never play dead again, honey," Sirius said to Verascez.
"Oh, you and your brother are excluded from that part," said his mother quickly. "Regulus was in coma and you can play dead as much as you want because boys really like it."
Sirius snorted at that, "Yeah, because dogs are cute."
"Speaking about dogs. Madam Bones wanted to meet with you today," Regulus said quickly. "Something about updating your status in the Ministry. You know married couple and such things."
Sirius? Married couple? Since when?
"She performed the ceremony," Sirius muttered.
"I meant you-know-who, Sirius," Regulus pointed out.
"Oh," Sirius mumbled. "Then we will go meet her. Make sure than I won't have to lock the family in Azkaban. It's not a very nice place. Self-experience speaking."
"Go," said Regulus and he waved at them.
"We will be back home for dinner in worst case, mum," said Sirius to Walburga.
"Go," Walburga waved at them. "Be careful."
"I'm always careful, mum," Sirius replied. "That's why I only have twins."
"Very funny," snorted Mirzam as she rolled her eyes. "We will do some shopping mum on our way from the Ministry."
Walburga hugged them both and kissed boys' foreheads before she said, "Be careful, I mean it. If you see Dumbledore …"
"I will show him what he can get from f … messing with Sirius Black," Sirius said quickly.
They bid their farewells to the rest and left the room leaving Orion and Hermes alone with the rest of the family. It wasn't good, Orion gulped. Not good at all.
"Are you really sure that it's wise to leave them on their own with the family?" asked Mirzam nervously after the door to the ball-room closed behind them.
"Remus and Regulus are there to restrain anyone from a murder so I guess that they will manage," Sirius replied.
The door opened suddenly and Dora's head peeked out.
"Can I go with you?" she asked pleadingly.
"If Andromeda says that you can," Mirzam sighed.
"Mum says that I can as long as you agree," Dora said quickly.
"Then fine with us," Sirius said.
The door opened and Ted, Ignatius and Dora walked out of the room.
"Do you need a ride, Sior?" asked Ted.
"No, I have my own," Sirius shook his head.
He didn't managed to get his old motorcycle back from Hagrid but he found a better one when he and Mirzam were free from work last week. It was a cool thing and had a sidecar big enough to fit three kids Dora's age, but that was something Ted didn't needed to know.
"Oh, where?" asked Ted curiously.
"In the garden," Sirius winked at him and quickly walked away from Ted dragging Mirzam by her hand behind himself.
Dora quickly caught up with them and as they were walking down the stairs asked, "What it is? It is cool?"
"It's the coolest thing I could find," Sirius replied and heard Mirzam chuckle at that.
They ran into the garden and Sirius quickly pulled off the fabric which was protecting the motorcycle from the rain.
"Cool!" Dora exclaimed happily.
"Sure it's cool," Sirius snickered. "It's mine and I only have cool things. I have cool wife, cool kids and cool cousin once removed."
"If Andromeda gets a wind about it she is going to skin you alive," Mirzam snickered.
"I'm aware of it," Sirius said as he put Homam on the ground and handed Dora small helmet.
She quickly put her on as Sirius put smaller helmet on Homam's head and Mirzam conjured a helmet for Remus.
"Dora you are getting with boys to the sidecar. Hold them tightly, we don't want to lose them on our way," said Mirzam as she put on her helmet.
Dora nodded and she quickly got into the sidecar. She took Homam from Sirius hands at sat him down between her legs. When Homam was sitting Mirzam put Remus in front of him. Sirius sat on the motorcycle and put on his helmet and goggles. Mirzam sat down behind him and embraced him around the waist just in the same moment when the door to the garden opened.
"You aren't taking my daughter anywhere on this infernal machine!" Ted called as Sirius turned on the engine.
"Watch me Teddy!" Sirius called through the noise of engine and took off upright from the ground.
The house and Ted became all but little rectangle and a dot as the bike got higher in the sky. Sirius quickly pressed invisibility button so no one could see them. Merlin how fucking he missed flying on the bike. It was one of the best feelings in the world.
"Whoa!" he called from excitement and heard Mirzam giggle from behind.
"That was cool," called Dora happily which made him look at the kids.
Dora was grinning like mad, Homam was giggling happily and Remus looked a bit uneasy.
"So what now Mirzam?" he yelled through the roar of engine. "Are we terrorizing Madam Bones or going for a ride somewhere."
"Madam Bones first, then the shopping and maybe after that we can go for a ride," she called out.
"Why not connect the ride and shopping?" he called back. "Let's go to Hogsmead after visiting Madam Bones."
Severus accompanied still fuming Professor McGonagall to Three Broomstick more from the common sense which told him to keep himself on good side of pissed off cat Animagus than wanting to have a company during a drink. He knew that School Board of Governors was muttering something about sacking Dumbledore lately and as a Deputy Headmistress Professor McGonagall was very likely replacement.
"I hope that Sirius Black is going to sue him," McGonagall muttered angrily as she sat down at the table with a glass of cognac in front of her.
"He might," Severus agreed and he eyed the glass of red dry wine which was standing in front of him. "After all Black is hot-tempered git."
He scanned the room looking for anyone he knew. In the farthest corner of the room, seated on a couch around circular table were sitting Black, Mirzam, pink-haired Dora and the boys. Black and Mirzam were laughing at something which Dora had said, the boys which were sitting on their knees were looking content.
Severus couldn't help feeling the stab of envy, not for Black or Mirzam but what they had. Black's left arm was draped around Mirzam's shoulders and Mirzam's head was leaning on Black's arm. They looked like a picture of happiness.
If only he wasn't so blind and stupid … if he could stop himself before it was too late … It could have been him and Lily, maybe if he wasn't so stupid Harry could be his son. It could have been them sitting at the table with their kid, laughing and smiling because the war was over and everything was going to be fine. Black was lucky bastard.
"Lucky bastard," Severus mumbled more to himself than McGonagall.
"Whom?" asked McGonagall quickly.
"The man I see," Severus replied. "He is sitting with his wife and the kids at the table. He loves his wife and his wife loves him. They have beautiful, happy kids. I wish that I could have what he has," he sighed heavily.
McGonagall turned in hers place and gasped, "Isn't it Sirius Black? Merlin's socks! When he managed to get married and have kids?! He never mentioned it on the meetings!"
Severus was sorely tempted to answer, '1st April this year. One kid he had since Christmas and the other since last Friday. Besides how was he supposed to mention something which wasn't there?' but decided against.
"Is it Mirzam Verascez?" McGonagall mumbled. "The girl never gave him a light in the day."
"Apparently she did," Severus snorted. "The proofs are sitting on their knees. Maybe it's how it happened, she gave up once and got saddled with his spawns. Poor girl, didn't knew in what she was getting," he sighed dramatically.
"Let's talk to them," said McGonagall briskly.
"I rather not," Severus mumbled. "Father of the family he is but I'm still not welcomed to be around."
"Oh, come on. He isn't going to curse you in public," McGonagall sighed as she stood up.
"I rather doubt it," Severus snorted but he stood up nevertheless, he really wanted to see how their new kid was getting along with new situation.
They approached the table where Black and Mirzam were sitting. They didn't seem to see them approaching so McGonagall cleared her throat and asked, "Can we join you?"
Black and Mirzam looked up at them. Mirzam eyes smiled at them as she nodded and Black's eyes narrowed as he said politely, "Professor … Snape."
McGonagall sat down on the seat and scooted closer to Dora as she dragged Severus down by the arm so he and Black were sitting on opposite ends of the table. Severus glared at him, Black glared back and when he didn't flinched or dropped the glare Severus thought, 'I signed Remus into school registry.'
Black gave him small, almost not existent nod and replied in his thoughts, 'Thank you.'
"So what are their names?" McGonagall asked curiously.
"This is Homam Azha," said Black as he pointed at Homam. "And this is Remus Francis," he pointed at Remus. "Pinky is my cousin's daughter. Her name is Nymhpadora, Dora for short."
"Why you named them like that?" asked McGonagall. "It's quite surprising choice for names."
"Because Black has a huge ego and Verascez is still reasonable Ravenclaw," Severus teased. "Lucky star of a hero with addition of Black's name variation gives away everything."
"I'm well aware of the size of my ego Snapey," Black snorted.
"But why Remus Francis?" asked McGonagall asked curiously.
"Because at first I wanted to call them Romulus and Remus but my dear hubby agreed only on Remus. As for Francis it was my father's second name and I liked it," Mirzam replied quickly.
"You got married?" McGonagall asked surprised. "Why we weren't aware of it?"
"Because I'm obsessively overprotective of them. What the world doesn't knows won't cause too much troubles," Black replied.
That wasn't the truth of course, Severus knew it but he wasn't planning on putting McGonagall straight about it so he snorted, "More likely you forgot a contraption charm and you didn't wanted your other conquests to know that you aren't available anymore. Was it a shotgun wedding?"
Black's eyes narrowed at that. He knew that he was being teased for the sake of their known animosity, the world didn't needed to know that they could hold a decent conversation therefore Severus prepared himself for getting as good as he gave.
"Not really," Black replied casually. "Small wedding ceremony performed by muggle priest in a small church in the middle of nowhere."
"You could have told us," McGonagall shook her head. "We could protect your family."
"Yeah," Severus snorted. "I could be your Secret Keeper."
"That's why I decided against it," Black snorted. "I'm an Auror and I know how to protect my family. If I had Harry he could be alive as well."
"You heard about the Longbottoms too, didn't you?" asked McGonagall.
"I did," Black nodded. "It's terrible what had happened to them, all of them. I feel bad about not contacting them sooner. Poor Neville, maybe if we had a chance to take him for the night he could be alive now," Black sighed dramatically.
"Touching," Severus snorted. "You could raise four boys as your own. How very Weasley of you Black."
"Envious Snapey?" Black snorted.
"Why should I want getting saddled with four little brats like you?" Severus smiled ironically even if he really wouldn't mind trading places with Black.
"Because kids are cool," Black asked teasingly. "I can't wait till they reach Hogwarts age so they can torment you."
"If they do something you would do Black, rest assured you will be childless in a matter of following three minutes," Severus muttered.
"You wouldn't dare," Black snorted.
"You can always wait and try," Severus rolled his eyes.
"Is it a promise, Snapey?" Black asked as his eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening me?"
"You wouldn't recognise a threat even if it jumped on you wearing a pink tutu and started tap-dancing," Severus replied.
Black and Mirzam snorted at that before Black replied, "Actually I would but thanks for the idea, do you want to get your hair braided in two piggy braids too, once my sons will get you?"
"If you want them to serve seven years worth detention with me then you can try," Severus muttered. "Spawn of Satan."
"Oily git," Black replied.
"That's the best you can give?" Severus snorted. "You are getting old Blackie."
"Little ears, Snapey," Black said and he waved at the kids.
"They are already lost to the world with you as their father," Severus replied.
"But at least I can find my own bathroom, unlike you," Black snorted.
"I bet that you spend there more time during one day than your wife during a week," Severus retorted.
"Boys!" McGonagall said warningly.
"There is no use professor," Mirzam sighed. "You no longer have authority above them. How about, you two will go outside and settle it like men while professor and I are going to have a little chit-chat?" she asked as she turned to them.
That was very smart of Mirzam to give them a chance to talk without McGonagall breathing down their necks so they both stood up and left the pub. They went into small back alley where Black leaned against the wall.
"I will deliver first batch of Wolfsbane a week before the full moon," Severus said seriously. "How is the kid?"
"Getting better, thank you," Black sighed.
"Did your brother managed to find what he was looking for?" he asked nervously.
"Complication arose but they are going to be overcome now," Black replied and he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Why aren't you there with him?" Severus asked curiously.
"Truthfully?" Black sighed heavily. "I feel confused Snape."
"About that thing?" Snape asked.
"Not that thing," Black shook his head. "Something entirely else."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Severus asked not really sure if he wanted to listen but on the other hand he thought that it was better to know that Black was mentally capable of handling everything since it was chosen ones whom he was hiding.
"Do you really want to listen?" Black asked and when Severus nodded slowly he added as he motioned in the direction of the forest, "Let's go for a walk."
They quickly got away from the village but not very far to be able to come back there in a matter of few minutes. Severus leaned against the tree as Black sat down on a rock and leaned his elbows on his knees.
"So what's the problem?" Severus asked finally.
"I was a filthy hypocrite," Black sighed and paused. "Did you ever doubted yourself, everything you knew, loved or cared for?" he asked quietly.
Severus slid down to sit under the tree before he nodded slowly. They were many times like that.
"Since I remember everybody told me how much like my father I was. I didn't minded it, back then anyway. In fact it made me proud that someone had seen it. I used to look up to my dad since I was four and I really wanted to be just like him," Black said silently.
"What's the problem?" asked Severus quietly.
Black propped his head on his hands before he replied slowly, "I was just like him. I wanted to know things he knew, do things he did. He was cool and I wanted to be like him. He was Head of International Magical Office of Law in Department of International Magical Cooperation but if he applied he would made a fine Auror from what I heard. There was no man around his age, save maybe Dark Wanker, who was so very well educated in Dark Arts and Dark Magic. By the time I turned ten I knew more about Dark Arts and Dark Magic than
Head of the Aurors with ages of experience under his belt. That knowledge made me feel powerful … until one day, shortly before I got Hogwarts's letter … I slipped away from home. My father's birthday was approaching and I really wanted to give him something cool."
Black took a deep breath and let it out. Severus said nothing letting the other man continue.
"Under my father's Invisibility Cloak I went to Knockturn Alley. There was a bookstore to which my father and I often went together and the clerks there knew who I was," Black paused for a moment and took a deep breath before he added. "On my way back I saw a man and a woman in a back alley. He … he was … he used Paralysis Curse on her and then he raped her … sometimes in the night I still hear her screams … he murdered her … used slashing curse on her and stood above her dying body till she died and I … I came back home and didn't breathed out about what I saw to anyone."
"You witnessed a murder," Severus pointed out. "You were eleven and you had every right to be in shock."
"I was in shock," Black agreed quickly. "But what shocked me more was the fact that I recognised every single curse he used on her, every single spell. It repulsed me, all of it. I knew theory behind the Dark Arts and Dark Magic but I never saw their effects … until that night. It made me question myself and when I asked my dad few days later if he ever used Dark Arts or Dark Magic … he told me he did. That night I dreamed about that murder but this time … this time it was my father who was the murderer and I … I realised that I didn't wanted to be like him. In span of three weeks from loving my father I came to hating him with passion, I came to hating myself for knowing what I knew. My family represented it all, pure-blood bigotry, hate for everything muggle, knowledge about the Dark Arts and Dark Magic … I was eleven going twelve and I decided to oppose everything which Black surname represented, that's when I meet James who hated everything I hated with even bigger passion than I did," he said grimly.
"Nice beginning of friendship," Severus couldn't help the snort.
"Yeah," Black snorted grimly. "But I never told James the truth, the whole truth. He hated you and I hated you as well," Black paused and held his left hand to let him continue. "Not because of James, I wasn't that shallow like that little rat. I hated you because you represented everything I hated about myself. I saw myself in you," he paused again. "I saw whom I could be if I didn't witnessed that murder and I hated it. Sometimes when I looked at you I felt like I was looking into a bloody mirror and I really wanted to smash that image away from my eyes, to never see it again."
"That's why you acted like you acted towards me," Severus whispered.
Black nodded slowly and he sighed, "I'm sorry. I know that you agreed to help us because of Lily and I realise that it cost you a lot to help us. That apology in our kitchen was about sending you after Remus, this one is for me being a jerk for all these years."
That wasn't something Severus expected. True, they were civil towards each other lately but it was more because of the fact that Mirzam and Mrs Black expressed their opinions about the way their relations should look and both men knew better than to argue. Things which Black just confessed to put the man in entirely new light and Severus realised that maybe Black wasn't as much of a jerk as he thought he was.
"Someone I consider wise told me once that it aren't our abilities which shapes us but choices we make," Severus finally said. "You made your choice and I made mine," he paused and thought if he really could confide in Black at this moment. "In a way you were luckier than I was."
Black leaned his head on his knees and stared at him but he said nothing.
"My mother, Merlin bless her poor soul, was foolish and for her foolishness she paid dearly. That's my humble opinion," Severus sighed heavily. "My father was a jerk and I hated him since I remembered, he wasn't the kind of man which any woman should marry. For him my mother was a toy, a toy he could use. My mother saw his true colours but not before it was too late and she found herself bound to a man who above the woman he married preferred a bottle of whiskey. But he married her, not because he loved her, he never did, but because she found herself in … condition worse than death," Severus snorted last sentence.
Black nodded slowly.
"A shame for the family it was," Severus sighed. "Daughter of known and respected pure-blood family running away with a Muggle who saddled her with a child he didn't want, a child he despised, which bound him to the woman he didn't love either, for life," he added bitterly. "They didn't helped either. There was no love in our home, at least for me and I often visited my grandparents and uncles even if they treated my only slightly better than my father … at least they didn't beat the shit out of me," he muttered. "They were quite well educated in Dark Arts and Dark Magic. When I was five I got into my head that perhaps if I learned what they knew they would treat me better," he paused and then added, "I was right, they did."
Black said nothing.
"I was theirs, Half-blood Prince. A chance for my mother to redeem her sin of marrying my father," Severus snorted. "Unlike you I didn't seen anything bad in it. Finally, in a way, I was accepted, respected and for the first time in my life I felt that someone had cared about me. Now I see how foolish I was to fell for it," he sighed heavily, "but back then, it was all what mattered."
"I feel this pain," Black sighed.
"I could be lost for good if it wasn't for Lily, she delayed that fall and if my own stupidity didn't drew her away maybe I would never fell. But I did," Severus muttered. "And a hard fall it was, should have killed me but I lived."
"You loved her," Black said quietly and Severus glanced at him in shock, he never expected Black to understand it.
"I did," he admitted quietly. "Who couldn't love her?" he sighed.
"I couldn't," Black admitted with a small snicker. "Not romantically at least," he added more seriously. "She gave me a taste of what having a sister could be."
"Because you had your eyes on Verascez," Severus snorted. "Two blacks won't make a white and it could be either Lily or Mirzam, Mr I-Dated-Almost-All-Females-At-Hogwarts-Except-For-My-Future-Lawful-Wife-And-My-Friend's-Future-Wife-And-Female-Staff-Of-Hogwarts-And-Every-Girl-To-Whom-I-Was-Related."
Black snorted and he added, "I never dated Rita Skeeter and Berta Jorkins. They were too creepy to date."
"My mistake," Severus snickered but quickly regained his seriousness. "When I lost Lily it drew me more to Death Eaters and the Wanker, as your brother kindly calls him. It was easy to fall, to surrender and I didn't realised before it was too late that I signed death warrant on her."
"Join the club," Black muttered.
Severus glared at him but he quickly realised what Black meant and he sighed, "You heard about the prophecy?"
Black nodded.
"I was the one who overheard the beginning of it," Severus said quietly and waited for an outburst and curses.
Black said nothing, only his eyes narrowed.
"When I discovered that the Wanker thought that it was Harry …" Severus whispered. "I've never been scared so much in my life. Don't think that I cared for Potter, I didn't, even for a single moment … but Lily…" he hung his voice feeling that he couldn't continue.
"That's why and when you turned into our spy," Black whispered, he sounded disgusted. "Because of Lily."
Severus nodded and hissed, "How would you feel if it was Mirzam? How would you felt if you knew that it was your foolishness which endangered the woman you loved?! I begged for her life, both of them. I could give everything for her safety, everything, even my life! Would you?!"
"If I knew that the rat was the traitor I would rather die than let the Wanker get them!" Black yelled as he shot up into standing position.
Severus nodded, it was the truth.
"When Dumbledore told me about the attack at Godric's Hallow …" he started. "I was ready to kill you. I was an inch away from running out from Dumbledore's office, finding you and ripping you into tiny pieces."
"Thanks," Black snorted. "At least it was sincere."
Severus snorted, "In fact I almost did again when I realised that Harry was kidnapped from the Dursleys." He paused for a moment before he added, "But thankfully before I went to the Ministry to ask for Azkaban's Pass I remembered that I had to pick something from your mother's place. She is even more evil than Dumbledore, and that's saying something."
Black snorted.
"And your wife is nearly as evil as your mother," Severus added. "She has more of a backbone than all Malfoy's ancestors combined. Yelling at Dumbledore, kidnapping the kid from Malfoy Manor, making the world believe that she is looking for Harry Potter while she is looking for Pettigrew."
"Telling a family of pure-bloods where they can shove their pure-blood bigotry. Corrupting two pure-blood old codgers into football. Finding supposedly dead Death Eater alive," Black added.
"Marrying you," Severus supplied with a snort then added seriously. "You are lucky Black. Never forget it. Today when I saw you in Three Broomstick I wished that I didn't drew Lily away because maybe then …" he hung his voice, it was the thought he didn't want to express, to Black at least.
"Harry would be your son," Black finished quietly. "I don't say that I would be happy about it, mostly because I will have to listen to James's constant wailing and wailing James was a perfect mood killer. And probably then I would really have to go to Azkaban for a murder," he sighed and then added, "But I see from where it comes."
"You won't remove me from his life, will you?" Severus asked quietly. "He is the only link to Lily, even now when by all logic he is yours and Mirzam's son."
Black was silent for a moment and when Severus looked up at him he saw that Black was in some sort of a daze. Finally he shook it off and approached Severus. He stood up right in front of him.
"I would be pissed off like a pregnant dragon if James told me that I won't be allowed to see Harry," Black said seriously and extended his right hand as he added, "I see absolutely no reason for not allowing you to meet your godson."
Godson? Did Black really meant what he just said or was he kidding him?
"Are you kidding?" Severus whispered in shock.
"I'm perfectly serious, seriously" Black said calmly. "So are you planning to spent the rest of your life here or can we go back to Hogsmead, where I can buy a birthday present for my mother, to whose birthday party you are invited by the way?"
Severus looked up at Black and realised that Black was serious so he let Black help him stand up from the ground.
When the door had closed behind Ignatius, fairy-haired man and pink-haired girl Orion gulped nervously. He and Hermes were so doomed now.
"Remember what Sirius had said," Regulus said calmly. "No murder and no Unforgivables."
"Is transfiguring into hens allowed or did Sirius made a rule for it too?" asked his mother in annoyance.
"He mentioned something about pink slugs," Remus said sourly. "Personally I think that he was going to see Snape about the Wolfsbane potion but maybe I'm wrong."
"He was going to see Snape about Wolfsbane today but I don't think that being transfigured into pink slug would help Severus in preparing the potion," Walburga reasoned.
Severus Snape? What in the name of Merlin's genitalia this wayward kid had to do with it?
"The prat went to talk with Sevie and he didn't said anything?" asked surprised Lucretia. "I was going to give him the list of most popular spells used by children on holidays."
"You can give it to him on the party," Walburga replied as she rolled her eyes. "Mirzam and Sirius are going to invite him."
Bugger! 15th April, Walburga's birthday. Now he was even more doomed. But why in the name of all thing magical Sirius was inviting Severus to Walburga's birthday? The boys hated each other with a passion which made Voldemort's hate for Muggles pale in comparison.
"Can I ask a question?" Orion asked nervously.
"You already did," Walburga snorted angrily.
"Why Sirius is inviting Snape for your party?" Orion asked timidly.
"Because I say so?" Walburga asked daringly. "And because your dirty little secret is out?"
"Which one?" Regulus asked curiously.
"The one where your father is backstabbing asshole with no sense of subtlety," Walburga snorted.
"Err?" Orion mumbled because he really didn't knew what in the name of Merlin's Quidditch Equipment she meant.
"Care to explain mum?" Regulus asked nervously.
"I will explain when Sirius and Mirzam will come back home Regulus. I'll need her support if I don't want to spent the rest of my life in Azkaban," Walburga muttered to Orion and then turned to the rest of the family. "You will find out soon enough but for now," Walburga waved his wand at Orion.
Ball-room's ceiling suddenly started getting farther and farther away. People around him got taller and he felt that he landed on all fours. He glanced at his arms and saw that they were covered with something which wasn't human skin. Walburga transfigured him into something.
"Pretty," Lucretia snorted. "For a pig."
"Now listen you filthy git. You are staying here until I came back to take you down. Don't you dare to transform back because I'm going to skin you alive, using Muggle techniques. Understood?" Walburga hissed at him angrily then she turned to the family and she said, "You can go and have your lunch now. You Lupin," she pointed at Hermes who regained his consciousness. "Are going to keep him company, on the same terms."
Orion saw that Hermes gulped nervously and before he had a chance to protest his friend was turned into a donkey.
'What in the name of all things magical could piss off Walburga so much?' Orion thought frantically.
By the time Sirius and Snape made their way back to Hogsmead Mirzam was already waiting at the outskirts of the town, Dora and boys with her. From the distance she was looking like a perfect picture of an angel surrounded by little cherubs and Sirius stopped walking for a moment as he stared at her.
"Breath Black," Snape said as he hit his hand against Sirius's shoulder. "You are turning blue," he explained when Sirius stared at him in shock.
"You were right," Sirius mumbled. "I'm lucky."
Mirzam saw them and waved at them. They approached her quickly and she smiled at them.
"I talked with McGonagall about Remmy," said Mirzam happily. "She will see what she can do for him and while she is quite surprised that you, Severus agreed to prepare Wolfsbane Potion and examine his condition she is going to cover your absence today from Dumbledore."
"My absence?" Snape asked surprised.
"Yep," Mirzam said quickly. "You asked him Sirius, didn't you?" she turned to stare at Sirius.
Bugger! He forgot.
"Anyway, mum wants you to come with us today and possibly spend the night at Grimmauld. Why she wants you to come with us I have no idea and judging by Sirius's expression, neither has Sirius," Mirzam explained. "Now Sirius please by so kind and find the bike."
Sirius glanced at the tree behind Mirzam and he replied with a small snicker, "It's standing right behind you my dear."
"Then make it visible because I really don't want to leave kids behind because I can't find the sidecar," Mirzam snickered.
"You still have that infernal thing?" asked Snape sceptically.
Sirius snickered and he waved his wand at the bike to make it visible again before he replied, "Hagrid has my bike and since I don't know its condition I decided to buy another one. Better for a family."
"Oh," Snape mumbled. "I really can see your mother having a ride on it," he snorted.
"Do you really think Severus that I would let him take the kids on it if I wasn't sure that it was one hundred percent safe?" Mirzam asked curiously.
Sirius snickered as he sat down on the bike and put on his helmet and goggles. Dora quickly put on her helmet and jumped into the sidecar.
"If you think that I would …" Snape started quickly but was cut off by Mirzam.
"Well, you can always apparate," Mirzam rolled her eyes. "And worry for about a hour and half if we didn't smashed into a plane," she added sneakily.
Snape looked like was tempted to hex her but then he glared at Sirius.
"Safety Belt Charm on the sidecar," Sirius snickered. "I may look irresponsible but I'm not. Room for three kids Dora's age, you won't get squashed with one eight years old girl and two toddlers."
Snape scowled and then hissed in pain when Mirzam threw a conjured helmet at him.
"I'm doing it for my godson," he hissed and he put the helmet on. "But if I see that you are showing off Black I'm hexing you into next year, understood?"
Sirius snorted at that. He glanced at Mirzam who in the meantime put boys' helmets on their heads and was waiting for Snape to come to the sidecar. Snape approached it looking like he was thinking about much more better ideas for travelling but nevertheless he sat down in the sidecar behind Dora who slid forward to make some free space. Mirzam handed Homam to Snape who gripped the kid tightly with his left hand while his right hand gripped the side of the sidecar. Mirzam handed Remmy to Dora who hugged toddler tightly and smiled at Sirius.
"Ready?" Sirius asked when Mirzam sat behind him.
"No," Snape mumbled.
"Invisibility Charm before we take off, Sirius," Mirzam reminded him as she sneaked her arms around his waist. "We don't want to be seen."
Sirius snickered as he turned started the engine and pushed invisibility button. He pressed the gas and gently let the bike take off. He could get away with nearly upright taking off with Mirzam but he really didn't wanted to risk getting himself hexed by Snape now.
Hogsmead village disappeared behind them when a bit disappointed Dora muttered, "Faster Sirius, we don't want the birds to overtake us."
"Someone mentioned that it would take about hour and half," Snape muttered. "At this speed even butterflies will overtake us and we won't make it to London before midnight."
"On your head," Sirius snorted and pressed the gas.
They reached London after two hours worth fly, even with Snape's comment about butterflies being faster than them didn't made Sirius fly with neck-breaking speed. Besides if he knew Ted well enough, pissed off Andromeda was already waiting for them in the garden.
He landed in the garden as quietly as he could and turned off the engine. The garden seemed deserted, there was no sign of pissed off Andromeda around.
"The coast is clear," Mirzam muttered as she got off from the bike.
"Not really," Sirius heard Regulus's voice from behind. "Dora take boys to the kitchen, you three are going with me."
Sirius whirled around to stare at his brother and he asked nervously, "What happened?"
"Nothing," Regulus exhaled. "Yet."
They entered the house through the garden door and separated in the hall from where Dora and the boys went to the kitchen and Regulus lead three confused adults to the library. He pushed the door open and Sirius had a hard time with resisting a snort when he saw a pig, a donkey, his mother and his friend inside. Remus was sitting on the couch which had its back to the door. On the opposite couch was sitting his mother with her arms folded across her chest, she was glaring angrily at the animals which were standing on the carpet next to the couch.
Regulus sat down on Remus's right, Snape next to him. Mirzam sat down on the farthest end of the couch from Snape which left Sirius with a free space between his wife and Snape.
"So what's going on?" Sirius asked as he leaned his elbows on his knees.
"Put Imperturbable Charm on the door Sirius," his mother said grimly. "I don't want anyone to interrupt us before we are done with this animals here."
Sirius waved his wand at the door against his better judgement and turned back to face his mother. She flicked her wand at the animals and with a puff the donkey changed into Remus's father and the pig became Sirius's dad. Both looked very worried.
"So what's this all about?" asked Mirzam calmly, in a voice which reminded Sirius that his wife was an Auror.
"It's about twenty-four years of lies and backstabbing," his mother said angrily as she sent his father a nasty glare.
"Your mother is just going mad," his father muttered.
"And somehow I seem to get caught in the middle of this," added Lupin with a sigh as he sat down on the couch next to Sirius's mother.
"Of course you did," Walburga snorted. "You were his best fucking friend you slimy git!"
"I have no idea about what you are talking about Wally," Lupin said calmly.
"Sure you're not," Walburga snorted angrily. "How long do you thought that you were able of hiding Orion's bastard son from me?"
"That's ridiculous," his father mumbled.
"Ridiculous! Ridiculous! I will show you ridiculous Orion!" his mother shrieked as she jolted up from the couch and launched herself at his father.
"Enough!" Mirzam yelled and she waved her wand at them.
Sirius's parents were standing on the carpet between the couches, separated by Mirzam's invisible shield, they were glaring at each other and breathing heavily.
"Torustitum!" Sirius yelled pointing his wand at his mother and when she fell to the floor like a limpet he pointed his wand at his father and repeated the incantation.
"Casting Paralysis Curse on your parents Black?" Snape muttered when Sirius's father fell to the floor. "I thought that you hated Dark Arts."
"I do," Sirius replied shortly and waved his wand at his mother to move her to the couch on Lupin's left as Mirzam levitated his father to Lupin's right. "But sometimes I have to use it no matter how much I hate it."
"A simple body bind would work," Snape pointed out.
"Not if we want them to talk," Sirius pointed out. "Mirzam, Veritaserum if you could be so kind."
Mirzam stood up from her place and pulled out the vial of transparent potion from her right pocket.
"Always prepared," Regulus snorted.
"Better to be safe than sorry," Mirzam replied as she approached transfixed trio on the couch. "Sir, are you Occlumens?" she asked Lupin.
Lupin nodded slowly.
"Will you take Veritaserum willingly?" Mirzam asked politely.
Lupin nodded again and let Mirzam pour six drops of Veritaserum on his tongue before he swallowed audibly. Mirzam applied three drops of Veritaserum to his mother and then came back to Sirius's father.
"Are you Occlumens sir?" she asked calmly.
His father said nothing.
"Of course he is," mumbled Lupin. "A bloody good one on that. The best I know, anyway," he added and he immediately clamped his left hand on his mouth.
"Pour the bottle down his throat and ask him how long he planned to hide from us that he was Severus's father!" Sirius's mother demanded angrily.
Sirius stared at her in shock. She was clearly confunded or maybe mad, then he glanced at his father looking for any signs of confirmation. The man was sitting calmly on the couch with unreadable look on his face.
"Severus is not my son," he said calmly.
"I said pour the whole bottle!" his mother snarled.
His father rolled his eyes at that and glared at Mirzam.
"You know that there is a way to force the potion down your throat, sir," Mirzam said calmly.
His father said nothing and Mirzam sighed before she pinched his nose closed. He held his breath for about a minute before he gasped for air and Mirzam poured Veritaserum down his throat and closed his jaw as she let go of his nose. Finally he swallowed audibly.
"Let me do it," said Mirzam as she turned to Sirius then she turned back to Sirius's father and asked calmly, "Mr Black are you Severus Snape's father?"
Awaiting criticism - tell me how evil I'm to end it where I ended.
So two archenemies reached a mutual understanding. It's fascinating how they are so much alike, both in canon and here. How to say it without giving away too much, too early ... Sirius knows what he is doing and Snape knows that Sirius knows what he is doing. As for Orion ... he is in deep shit right now. As for the Potters and the Longbottoms inheritance issues (thanks to everybody who addressed that issue) something will happen, but not in next chapter.
Next chapter: Orion answers the question under Veritaserum and we go from there to ... even deeper shit of Black family personal issues to each other. Explanations about infamous Familious Potion and how it reacts with godchildren and godparents.