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: Regulus pulls Ravenclaw. Sirius acts as noble Gryffindor. Mirzam does what she is expected to do. Orion gets himself into troubles - again. Walburga gets furious. Snape gets nightmares. Cassiopeia gets too curious.
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Found a beta - finally - but due to little problems with comminication I'm going to be merciful and post the chapter 12 as the last one before editing the rest. Next chapter will be posted after my beta is done with previous 13 - be patient it will take some time (and that's why I'm posting this one now).
Chapter twelve: Curiosity Killed the Cat.
Regulus always considered himself as a part Ravenclaw and part Slytherin whereas Sirius was a definition of both Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. By the time Mirzam cast Animagi Reversal Spell Regulus had the whole plan formed in his head and the only thing which bothered him was that Sirius wasn't going to like it, at all. Worse, Sirius was going to hex his Quidditch Equipment off once he heard about his plan.
"What we are going to do now?" whispered Snape.
"Use the opportunity which jumped at us," Regulus replied, feeling a smirk making its way on his face.
"What you mean?" asked Snape as he looked down on him.
"I didn't landed in Slytherin just because the whole family was there, Sevie," Regulus replied as he stood up. "Immobilise, blind and deaf her and I will tell you."
Sirius stood up slowly and cast Paralysis, Blinding and Deafening Curses on McGonagall. It seemed to Regulus that Sirius was feeling very uncomfortable about casting them. After he was done with casting the curses he sat down next to Mirzam, who gripped his hand tightly.
"What you have on your mind?" mumbled Lupin senior uncomfortably.
"Do you know mathematic?" asked Regulus as he sat down on the desk next to the plate with sandwiches.
"Of course that we know math," Sirius muttered.
"When you put two and two together what you get?" Regulus asked.
"Four," Sirius replied.
"Then add a cat Animagus, McGonagall, Gryffindor Sword and a Metamorphomagus. What you get?" Regulus asked.
"Squib idiot who can't tell straightforwardly what he has on mind," Snape supplied.
"Ha, ha, ha," Regulus snorted. "Try again."
"Let's not and say we did," Snape muttered. "What you exactly plan to do?"
"You are not funny," Regulus sighed and crossed his arms on his chest. "But I will tell you anyway. Gryffindor's Sword is in Dumbledore's office, right?" he got a collective nod. "Dumbledore is Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchraft and Wizardry, right?" they nodded again. "Professor McGonagall teaches Transfiguration and is Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, right?" another collective nod. "She is an Animagus who takes the form of a cat, right?" nod. "And we just happen to have here a Metamorphomagus who also happens to be an Animagus and happens to take the form of Animagi cat?"
"Dog," Sirius and his father answered in unison.
"A cat," Snape, Remus and Regulus corrected them in unison.
"She is a dog," Sirius muttered.
"Actually, I'm both," Mirzam sighed. "What you have in mind Regulus?" she turned to him. "How you plan to get the real Sword from Dumbledore's Office without him noticing it?"
Regulus smirked at that. Meriln bless Ministry of Magic's Yule Ball which he was supposed to attend the same year he died.
"We will leave him a perfect copy of Gryffindor Sword made from silver though not by Goblins," Regulus snickered.
"From where you will get the perfect copy of the sword?" asked Snape sceptically. "McGonagall is lying on the floor here and it's not that we can keep her here all night long."
"A moment, will you?" Regulus asked as he jumped from the desk and ran out of the library.
He ran to the attic where he pushed three old trunks out of the way of the secret room he discovered when he was a kid. In this room he hid his costume for the party he didn't managed to attend knowing very well that if the family ever saw even a single piece of the costume he would be hexed out of the house before he would manage to say 'Kidding'.
He leaned on the hidden door and when they gently clicked he peeked inside the room. The costume looked like it needed a good washing up, but the costume wasn't what he was looking for. In the corner of the room was lying a perfect copy of Gryffindor Sword. Felix Smith, a Muggle smith Regulus found once when was a kid and he was spending summer holidays in the country, managed to make from Regulus's notes from the memory of seeing the real sword in Dumbledore's office a perfect, albeit not magical copy.
Regulus entered the room and went straight to the sword. He took it with his left hand. It was perfectly in every sense of this word.
Sirius quickly realised what Regulus was planning to do but he didn't liked that idea even for a single bit. Keeping McGonagall under Imperius Curse wasn't an option, no one of them wanted to land in Azkaban. So there it was, Regulus idea, keep McGonagall as a prisoner here, let Mirzam impersonate her then let her and Snape switch the swords and look for possible Horcrux in the meantime. Sirius grudgingly admitted to himself that they would be fools if they decided to not use the opportunity which threw itself at them but he really didn't liked it. Merlin only knew how long it was going to take … days, weeks, even months, years in worst case. Besides who was going to be Mirzam at work? A sick-leave would do, probably.
He wanted her to stay, here, with him. To come back home from work where she was going to wait for him. To just have her by his side. But what meant his happiness against doing what was right, destroying Voldemort's Horcrux.
He gripped her left hand with both of his, tightly. Her right hand touched his left cheek and made him look at her.
"You will go," he whispered as he looked into her eyes. "Just be carefull. I can't lose you."
"Sirius," she whispered.
"I'll be fine, I promise," he whispered and he forced the biggest fake smile he could produce on his face. "It will be temporary, won't it? You will find the Horcrux and switch the swords and then you will be back."
"I don't want to go," she whispered. "If you don't want me to go."
"I don't want you to go," he admitted. "But we shouldn't push our luck Mirzam. Maybe we won't have another chance to get into the castle unnoticed, do what we need to do and came back to our normal lives."
"What if someone takes Polyjuice?" she asked quietly.
"This way it would cause less suspicions," he answered. "You are Occlumens, Legilimens and an Auror with Obliviator training, aren't you? You will be able to protect your mind from Dumbledore, you will extract memories from McGonagall's mind without causing too much damage."
"I'm not worried about myself," she said.
"I'll be fine," he smiled. "I will give you my two-way mirror and we are going to talk in the evenings. I will be telling you about my day and you will be telling me about yours."
"As McGonagall I can't wear the ring," Mirzam said.
He glanced down at her left hand and took a deep breath. He let it out as he put his left thumb and forefinger on the ring and pulled Mirzam's ring off. His hand closed around the silver ring which suddenly turned cold in his touch.
"It's okay," he whispered. "I'll put it back when you come back home."
She hugged him tightly and he draped his arms around her lithe form. Merlin he was missing her already and she didn't even leave.
The walk to Hogwarts castle from Hogsmeade to where they apparated from Grimmauld Place at two o'clock in the morning was an unpleasant affair for Severus. Usually smiling and talkative Mirzam was oddly silent, she was walking slower than usual, like she didn't want to go inside. For first few yards Severus let her fell behind but suddenly he changed his mind and waited for her because from her acting skills depended the success of the whole mission.
"It won't take long," he said finally, he felt that he had to say something because the silence was driving him mad. "Two, three weeks, a month in worst case and you are going to see them on weekends."
"I know," Mirzam replied quietly. "I just want it to be over."
"We all do," Severus replied.
"I feel bad," she admitted. "What I've done to McGonagall was practically a mind rape."
"You are Master Legilimens," Severus pointed out.
"So are you," she sighed. "I feel bad when I need to perform Legilimency on someone, especially against the will of a person who hadn't done anything wrong."
"You did it for a greater good," Severus said quietly.
"Lesser evil," she mumbled.
"Everything is fair in love and war," Severus supplied old Muggle proverb which he heard from Lily.
"Nothing is fair," she sighed. "The world isn't fair."
That was the last thing they said to each other till 'goodnight' at the door to McGonagall's Office from where Severus returned to his own quarters.
He sat down on his bed and from the drawer of his bedside table he pulled out joined photo frame. On the left one was Lily in a wedding dress. That photograph was a present from Sirius Black, Severus saw him putting something in the pocket of his travelling cloak on that day when Black's father came back. When he was preparing himself to leave he reached into the pocket expecting a dungbomb or something worse but then he found the photo. He looked at Black questioningly and the only thing he got was a small, barely visible, nod. He nodded back feeling a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Severus lied back on his bed with Lily's photo in his hands. She looked beautiful in that dress, it captured her form just in the right way, her veil was pulled back from her face. She was smiling, her eyes were sparkling. She wasn't moving, the photograph was purely Muggle one but it showed the essence of Lily better than wizarding photographs did. The photograph on the right was also a Muggle one, this one was a gift from Mrs Black given with small thanks for helping in getting her son out from Azkaban and saying that he was partly responsible for her son's happiness. The photograph was from Black's and Mirzam's wedding day, the pair in the photo was looking at each other with pure devotion in their eyes. He put both photographs together in one joined photo frame out of masochistic urge to have a constant reminder that he could have with Lily what Black had with Mirzam if only he was less stupid.
He stared at both photographs for what felt like ages before he fell asleep.
He woke up in a room which looked much more different than his bedroom at Hogwarts. It was far more brighter, far more colourful. In the corner of the room was standing huge Christmas Tree with lit candles. The fire in the fireplace was crackling merrily, through the house was carrying Lily's melodic voice. She was singing some Muggle song. He was lying on his back on a couch and on the floor next to him was sitting small black-haired and green-eyed boy.
The kid didn't looked like a carbon copy of James Potter, no, the kid's jet-black hair had the same wavy look as Lily's did. The face of the kid was a perfect mix of his own and Lily's faces, thankfully the kid got her nose.
When the kid realised that Severus was awake he smiled at him and raised his hand which held a fluffy black dog in his direction.
"They should be here any minute now," called Lily from the other room.
As in the answer to her call the door opened, the cold air entered the room and snowflakes fell inside. In the doorway were standing red-faced from chill, but smiling widely, Black and Mirzam, she was holding a small bundle wrapped in a huge blanket.
"Sorry that it took us so long but my mother insisted that we should eat another helping of turkey before we leave," Black said sheepishly. "You know how she gets on this time of the year."
"She is just overprotective," Mirzam smiled at Black.
"Tad overwhelmingly overprotective," Black mumbled.
"Close the door and get inside," Lily called from the other room. "I'll be there in a moment I just need to check how our dinner is doing."
Mirzam walked inside, Black after her and he closed the door. He quickly took of his cloak and put it on the hanger before he picked up the bundle from his wife. Mirzam took of her cloak and hung it next to Black's as Black unwrapped from the blanket a black-haired sleeping kid.
"Fell asleep on the way?" Severus asked.
"You would too if yours crazy grandmother stuffed you with three portions of turkey," Black chuckled. "So where is my favourite godson?"
"Your only godson," Lily snickered as she walked into the room.
"Still a favourite godson," Black laughed as Lily ran to Mirzam and hugged her tightly.
"It's good to see you Mirzam," Lily said happily. "No problems with the git?"
"The git got himself hexed into New Year this morning," Black replied. "Mentioned something about backstabbing asshole of a former friend who only proved that he is a pure-blood bigot by siding with his half-brother and not his friend. Speaking about brother, Reggie sends his regards saying that pneumonia got the better of him and sadly he won't join the family gathering. Personally I think that pneumonia is named Jane Forest and together they are going through err…"
"Recovery?" Mirzam supplied.
"Judging by how breathless Reggie was I think that not much recovery is going in his bed because he should be fine by now," Black commented.
"Jane is that cute Hufflepuff prefect from our year?" asked Lily curiously. "A Muggle-born."
"Family fetish," Black snickered. "We can't resist the charm of Muggle-born witches."
"How is our Secret Keeper?" Lily asked.
"Hiding under the bed, last time I saw him," Black chuckled. "He is fine, Lily, seriously."
"I know that you trust him but wouldn't it be better if we chose Dumbledore?" Lily asked, she seemed distressed.
"Dumbledore has enough on his mind," Black replied. "Besides we have the less obvious Secret Keeper in the world. Voldemort would never guess that we named Peter our Secret Keeper."
Part of Severus wanted to scream at Black, yell at him that Pettigrew was the traitor but the other part of him agreed with Black. After all the darkest place is under the lamp.
The girls sat down with the boys on the floor while Severus and Black sat down on the couch with a glass of Firewhiskey in their hands.
"Feels like home," Black sighed.
"It's home," Severus pointed out. "Although the lock down is a real nuisance."
Suddenly the door opened and both he and Black glanced in its direction. He felt paralysed with fear when he saw Voldemort standing there. He vaguely heard that Black yelled something, his yell was followed by a rustle of footsteps on the stairs. Severus pointed his wand at Voldemort but before he even managed to do anything Black was hit by Killing Curse. Then he saw green light coming in his direction, it hit him squarely on the chest. The world around him turned black and he started falling…
He woke up with a start as he jolted up into sitting position. He glanced at his surroundings and with huge relief he realised that he was still in his own bedroom. After that he fell back on the bed and took a deep breath.
The dream was so real, yet so unreal. Pleasant at first but then it turned into a nightmare.
"You're just sleep deprived," he told himself. "You will go to bed tonight few hours earlier than usual and tomorrow you are going to be fine."
Sleep deprivation was the only one reasonable explanation for that nightmare. He just fell asleep fully dressed on his bed with the photographs in his lap, his tired mind interpreted them in its own way and that's why he had the nightmare.
He sat up on the bed again and glanced at the clock, which stood in the corner. Bugger! It was noon. Mirzam was probably going spare somewhere. After all she had two classes to teach and they were supposed to use their lunch break for checking out the Room of Requirement.
He hid the photographs in the drawer and scrambled to his feet. He gathered his wand from bedside table and ran out of the room. He made his way upstairs thinking were Mirzam could be now. Room of Requirement was an option, as well as Great Hall, staff room, library and several other places.
After running around the castle for three hours he decided to give up and wait for her in McGonagall's Office. He opened the door and peeked inside. Behind the desk, still looking like McGonagall, was sitting Mirzam. She was scribbling something furiously on the piece of parchment in front of her.
'Idiot,' he berated himself. McGonagall's Office was the last place he expected to find her.
She raised her eyes from the parchment and grinned at him as she said, "Took you long enough to find me. Although I don't think that Garret Lockhart's company is my idea for free afternoon."
He entered the room and closed the door before he asked curiously, "How do you know that I searched for you in Lockhart's company?"
"Intuition," she snickered. "Tea and sandwiches? You weren't at breakfast and you didn't eat lunch."
"How do you know that I weren't at lunch?" he asked as he came closer to the desk.
"You are nearly breathless and you spent last three hours at running around the castle like a Kneazel in heat," she answered as he sat down on the chair in front of her.
"Seriously …" he started.
Mirzam pointed at the blank sheet of parchment which was lying on her left. He leaned over and picked it up.
"What it is?" he asked sceptically.
"Infamous Maruader's Map," she answered as she tapped the desk with her wand and a plate full of sandwiches appeared in front of him as well as a cup of tea.
"It's a blank parchment," he muttered as he reached for his wand.
He tapped the parchment with his wand thinking about Revealing Spell. In answer to that something started to appear on the parchment. It read:
Mr Prongs wants to express his overwhelming disappointment with Mr Padfoot for revealing the most guarded secret of the Marauders to Snivellus and a woman.
Mr Padfoot wants to inform Mr Prongs that what Mr Padfoot does, Mr Padfoot does for a very good reason and tells Mr Prong to bugger off and go complain somewhere else.
Mr Moony wants to remind Mr Padfoot that Mr Prongs cannot go anywhere.
Mr Wormtail wants to inquire Mr Snivellus Snape why he is holding the Marauder's Map.
Mr Prongs wants to inform Mr Wormtail that it is all Mr Padfoot's fault because if Mr Padfoot would keep his mutt shut Snivellus won't be holding the map.
Mr Padfoot wants to express his desire for Messer's Prongs and Wormtail to keep their yaps shut and bugger off.
"As far as insults go, this is very creative but I don't see a map anywhere," Severus snorted.
"Tap it with your wand and say 'I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good' and you will see," Mirzam snickered.
He did as she told him and the conversation between 'Messer's Creative Insults' changed into a map of Hogwarts castle. He glanced at McGonagall's Office and to his utter surprise he saw 'Severus Snape' and 'Mirzam Black' on the map.
"What the hell?" he mumbled.
"True Identity Charm," Mirzam snickered. "With Tracking Spell as well. Brilliant piece of good Charms work, don't you think?"
"Who made it?" Severus tore his eyes from the parchment and stared at her.
"Sirius, together with Remus, James Potter and Mr I'm-Serving-A-Life-Sentence-In-Azkaban. In their fourth year as far as I was informed," Mirzam chuckled. "It's waterproof, fireproof, curseproof and several other proofs as far as I had been told. The map goes blank when you tap it with your wand and say 'Mischief Managed'."
"No wonder that they never had been caught in the act," Severus muttered. "Your husband gave it to you?"
"No," Mirzam shook her head. "Sirius told me that the map was confiscated by Filch shortly before the end of our seventh year. He just advised me to take it from Filch, he thought that it would be useful for us to have it. If we give the map to him and Remus for the weekend we might get a copy for you too, they just need original to duplicate it."
"It would make patrolling the halls easier," Severus agreed. "That's why you knew where I was."
"Indeed. You didn't left your quarters till noon. I decided that I will let you sleep," she said. "So, what about the sword."
"Hidden in my trunk if you mean the copy," Severus answered. "I trust that you came up with a plan for the switch."
"I did. For a week we are doing nothing except lulling Dumbledore into falls sense of security and seeing how my acting skills work. We use free time to look for the Horcrux in Room of Requirement. If we find it then we can worry about sword switching," Mirzam said pensively.
"How was your first day as a teacher?" he asked, changing the subject entirely since there was nothing else to talk about now.
"Boring," Mirzam replied. "Three tests, lots of papers to grade. Dull work."
"Con side of being a teacher," Severus snorted. "Did you meet with the staff?"
"I've meet Lockhart at breakfast," Mirzam sighed heavily. "I don't know why Dumbledore offered him Defence Against Dark Arts position because it certainly wasn't for his skills. He mistakes simplest counter-spells and can tell no difference between a werewolf and regular wolf."
"Even hung over Lupin could teach it better," Severus agreed. "Lockhart is a dull fellow with theoretical speciality in Defence Against Magical Beasts."
"And a shameless flirt," Mirzam snorted. "He spent half of the lunch at flirting with Sinistra until she hexed his Quidditch Equipment to fall off. Last time I saw him he was hurrying in the direction of the Infirmary."
"I take that you feel lucky that you pose for middle-aged McGonagall," Severus snickered.
"He is lucky that I pose for middle-aged McGonagall. If I was posing for Sinistra and was subjected to his flirting his Quidditch Equipment after falling off would spurt little fluffy wings and fly away," Mirzam huffed.
Thankful that Thursday 22nd April happened to be his day off after breakfast Sirius managed to corner his father in the library.
"Mirzam told you about the boys?" Sirius asked as he sat down on the couch.
"She did," his father confirmed as he sat down on the opposite couch.
"Would it be possible to have them inherit their families estates?" Sirius asked curiously.
His father was silent for a moment and then he said, "Possible it would be, but it would draw too much attention to them and we don't want it now. Of course Harry's inheritance would be easier to take care of seeing that you are James's first cousin once removed and in case of the demise of whole Potter family you were named as only one heir. Neville would be much harder to inherit the Longbottoms estates as in case of the demise of his family everything is split between his closest relatives."
"Which are?" Sirius asked.
"The Weasleys and the Crouches. Because of the death of Cedrella and Septimus Weasley all inheritance is split between his sons and Bartemius Crouch, seeing that his sisters and parents are dead. Knowing Barty he would deny the inheritance thus it would make Arthur, Alexander and Alphred Weasley the only heirs of the Longbottoms," his father explained.
"There is no way of taking it away from them?" Sirius asked.
"Without drawing too much attention, no," his father shook his head. "The house after their deaths is still untouched and you may…"
"I took some things from the house for Neville. Photographs, various books, wands of Frank and Alice, few toys," Sirius explained. "So we will have to let the Weasleys get the Longbottom family inheritance."
"I'm afraid that we don't have other choice, Sirius," his father sighed. "Of course we may try to find a legal way but it will draw too much attention to the family."
"I know," Sirius sighed. "After I will get the Potters inheritance I will write my last will and testament. Potter estates will be split equally between them."
"What about other children? Yours and Mirzam's I mean," his father asked curiously.
"The rest of Black family inheritance would be split equally between all of them, if we will have any of course," Sirius explained.
"You don't want to have kids with Mirzam?" his father asked, he sounded surprised.
"I want to, so does Mirzam, but we agreed to withhold having any other kids besides Homam and Remus till Voldemort bites the dust for good," Sirius said.
"It may take years," his father pointed out.
"It may," Sirius agreed. "And I don't plan to turn the family into the Weasleys who have more children than money for raising them."
"It won't hurt your financial status," his father snickered. "But it would drive the rest of the family mad, especially if you happened to have more sons than our dear twins."
"So you wondered what mum would do if Mirzam and I happened to have another son?" Sirius chuckled.
"Your mother would get kittens," his father chuckled.
"Then it's a good thing that we are putting it off," Sirius agreed with a small chuckle. "How about you? Do you want to have more grandchildren?"
"Not yet," his father answered. "Not till Voldemort is still out somewhere. Thought I won't mind a four, at least a one girl to spoil rotten. I always envied Cygnus having daughters with my knack for having sons."
"You could always try, I mean if you ask Sn… Severus nicely he may prepare the potion for mum," Sirius snickered.
"Thank you very much but I will stick to what I have now," his father laughed. "You didn't remembered Wally when she was pregnant with Regulus, she was ballistic and she was only tad more calmer and controlled than she was with you. Her third pregnancy would finish me off completely. Fourth kid isn't worth getting killed."
"Fourth?" Sirius mumbled. "But me and Regulus give two…"
Then it hit him with the force of a Bludger. The truth. Snape was his son.
"You lied," Sirius whispered. "You lied … but you … Veritaserum … twelve drops…" he mumbled.
"I'm immune to Veritaserum, Sirius," his father admitted quietly. "I can lie under the influence of Veritaserum. I build up immunity to Veritaserum for years."
"He is your son," Sirius whispered. "But why you lied in front of him? In front of us?"
"Because I thought that it would be better for anyone included," his father sighed. "Even I didn't knew that Severus was my son until he turned twelve."
"How so?" Sirius asked and glared at his father.
The man sighed as he leaned against the back of the couch.
"Alcohol. Shortly before Eileen married Tobias we went out. We had few drinks too much and ended in one bed. Week later Eileen married Tobias. She thought that Severus was his son, so did I, until accidentally I discovered that Tobias was infertile. But I should have realise the truth sooner if I only paid more attention to the details," he sighed and he looked at his own hands.
"Fingers," Sirius whispered and he glanced down on his own.
"Yes, Gamp's fingers. Dead giveaway," his father admitted. "You have them, so does Severus and Regulus."
"But why you didn't done anything if you knew?" Sirius asked, he knew he sounded desperate.
"Your mother would go ballistic if she found out that I had a son out of wedlock. You saw her at Sunday and I dare to say that she was only half as pissed as she could be if I told her right after I found out," his father sighed. "Besides you two hated each other. I had to made a choice…"
Sirius felt that all blood drained from his face. That wasn't right. Snape, Severus grew up in a house where was no love. He grew into the man Sirius could be if it wasn't for that murder he witnessed. And only because his father was a coward who feared to face his wife. It wasn't fair.
"You are a coward," Sirius whispered. "You are…" he paused looking for right word but he found none. He needed to get away from his father, before he would do something stupid, again. "I need to leave. Don't follow me unless you want a repeat from that Sunday, and this time your second son isn't here to stop me," he said icily as he stood up.
Sirius ran out of the library and ran to boys' room. He opened the door and saw Regulus sitting on the ground. He was playing with the kids but upon seeing Sirius he stopped.
"What happened Sior?" he asked, his voice sounded concerned.
"Go with me and boys for a walk, Rear," Sirius pleaded.
"Just give me a moment," Regulus nodded as he stood up from the ground.
Sirius nodded and he picked up Homam from the floor. He put the kid in the pram for twins as Regulus ran out of the room. Sirius picked up Remus and put him in the pram next to Homam. Then he levitated the pram to the entrance hall.
As he set the pram down on the floor he peeked into the library. It was empty. Sirius desperately hoped that his father wasn't going to show up because Merlin help him, he would do something stupid.
He heard footsteps on the stairs and he held his breath hoping desperately that it was Regulus, not their father. Thankfully it was Regulus, he was putting Sirius's old leather jacket on as he was going down.
"Now, ready," Regulus said as he approached him. "Regent's Park?"
"Where else?" Sirius asked flatly.
Regulus opened the door and helped Sirius carry it down the stairs to the pavement. Then he started pushing the pram.
They left Grimmauld Place and were halfway through Grimmauld Lane when they resumed talking.
"What happened?" Regulus asked carefully. "You look like a ghost."
"He has a knack for causing troubles," Sirius mumbled.
"Who?" Regulus asked.
"Our father," Sirius replied. "Just when you think that everything is going fine he comes in and says something which blows up everything to hell."
"What happened this time?" Regulus inquired.
"He is immune to Veritaserum," Sirius sighed.
"How it relates to your nearly ghost state?" Regulus asked carefully.
"He lied," Sirius mumbled and he looked at his shoes. "He lied when mum cornered him about Snape. He is his father."
Regulus was silent for a longer while and Sirius finally looked up at his younger … youngest brother. Regulus's face was unreadable.
"Reg?" Sirius asked carefully.
"What?" Regulus mumbled after he snapped out from his state. "I guess that it explains everything."
"What you mean?" Sirius asked.
"He wanted me to befriend him when I came to Hogwarts," Regulus answered flatly. "Hard thing it was with Lily Evans hanging around. What I don't get," Regulus sighed, "is if Lupin knew, if he lied under Veritaserum too, about Godparents Rite."
"I have no idea," Sirius mumbled. "And we can't ask him now since Lupin has a bonding session with Remus in Treen. Does it matters, Reg?"
"No it doesn't," Regulus admitted. "What matter is that we know the truth," he sighed. "I hope that right now he is confessing the truth to mum and that she will show him what she thinks about having a child out of wedlock so dangerously close to her own first born son."
Sirius imagined the scene and snorted, "Hope she will make him sore."
"Did he told him?" Regulus asked quietly.
"Didn't," Sirius sighed. "Told me that it was better for everyone included if we didn't knew the truth."
"Then how did you find out?" Regulus asked.
"It kinda slipped out when I joked that maybe Sn… Severus could made the potion for mum so she could get pregnant," Sirius answered.
"Why you joked about it?" Regulus asked curiously.
"He told me that he always envied uncle Ciggy daughters but had a knack for having sons," Sirius replied. "After we discussed finding a way for our twins to inherit their families estates."
"Oh," Regulus mumbled. "What are you going to do about inheritance?"
"Sit back and let the law act," Sirius replied. "My line was named as heirs of the Potter family in case of their demise. We can't get the Longbottom family inheritance without causing problems since the closest family to the Longbottoms are the Weasleys."
"Merlin preserve us," Regulus sighed. "Septimus's sons?"
"Indeed," Sirius nodded. "Why Merlin preserve us?"
"We have 22nd April today, right?" Regulus asked.
"Right," Sirius nodded.
"If by 22nd June you aren't going to get a betrothal proposition to one Ginevra Molly Weasley for one of your sons I'm going to eat my socks," Regulus snorted.
"Why?" Sirius asked curiously.
"Molly Weasley," Regulus muttered as if it would explain everything.
"What about her?" Sirius asked tentatively not knowing where this conversation was getting.
"Arthur Weasley wouldn't care about arranged marriage even for a single moment but don't forget that Molly comes from pure-blood family of Callahan and a deranged line on that. For them arranged marriage is the highest law. I highly doubt that Molly managed to suppress the madness of all women who came from this family. If she didn't, start praying for a miracle, Sior. You are in need of a one," Regulus explained.
"How bad it could get?" Sirius asked carefully.
"If the madness surfaces?" Regulus asked. "Bad. Callahan women are control freaks. Not to mention you will get a constant watchdog who will make sure that precious Hommy or Remmy will get everything which you wrote in your last will and testament so her precious Ginevra will have a chance to spend her life at letting it slip through her fingers with your son at her side acting like a house-elf," Regulus said grimly.
"Aren't you a bit too harsh, Reggie?" Sirius asked. "I was with Molly's brothers in the Order of the Phoenix. They were fine."
"Callahan madness only hits women, Sior," Regulus sighed. "And I'm not too harsh, I'm just careful. Just in case Molly sends you betrothal proposition, tell her to show it where sun doesn't shines. A watchdog is the last thing we need with Wankymort hanging above our heads."
"I'm the last person on the planet who will arrange a marriage for his sons," Sirius pointed out. "They should chose their wives on their own. I chose mine and I don't have problems."
"Do something for me Sior," Regulus said wickedly. "If you get betrothal proposition, write that 'this marriage will occur only when your daughter is the last woman on the planet'. Hell will sooner froze over before a Callahan descent will marry a member of Black family."
"What if one of them falls for the girl on their own?" Sirius asked curiously.
"Then Merlin help us," Regulus snickered.
"Should one of us attend the Longbottom family funeral?" Sirius asked suddenly.
"If you want to get betrothal proposition there, you can," Regulus answered. "That's great idea, especially if Mirzam will come with you. She will give Molly the piece of her mind about what she thinks about arranged marriages."
"Thank you very much I will rather wait for the letter," Sirius snickered.
"Smart choice," Regulus snickered.
After Sirius left the library Orion went to the kitchen knowing that Walburga will come down there after she will feed McGonagall who was held prisoner in one of the rooms on third floor. For safety measure McGonagall was under Blinding Curse and there was a Voice Changing Ward on the door of the room so she couldn't recognise their voices. They also placed Anti-Apparation Charm on the room as well as Anti-Animagi Charm so McGonagall wouldn't manage to slip away as a cat.
Sirius knew and there was only a matter of time before Walburga would find the truth. For his own good Orion thought that it would be better if he told her that Severus was his son in person rather than let Sirius or Regulus, who no doubt was going to be informed first, tell her first.
"She is not eating," Walburga announced as she entered the kitchen, she was levitating the tray with McGonagall's dinner from last night in front of her.
"She will start, eventually," Orion sighed heavily.
"Where are the boys?" asked Walburga as she set the tray on the counter and put her wand in her pocket. "I checked twins room but they aren't there."
"Sirius took them for a walk, with Regulus," Orion replied. "He is currently very pissed off at me and told me to not follow him for my own good."
"What did you told him?" Walburga asked sharply.
"The truth," Orion admitted timidly.
"About?" Walburga asked as she folded her arms across her chest.
"Severus. He is my son," Orion said quickly and closed his eyes.
Now. Walburga was going to hit him, hex him, curse him into next century. And she had every right to do so. He waited for a longer while but the hit didn't come. A bit worried that Wally might have gone catatonic he opened left eye and glanced at her.
She was still standing next to the counter with her arms folded across her chest but the look on her face was unreadable.
"Serves you right," she finally snorted. "Anything which Sior or Rear will do to you after they come back will serve you right and don't count for my sympathy you filthy liar."
"Wally," Orion mumbled.
"Don't Wally me!" Walburga growled at him. "He is only six weeks younger than Sirius! Nearly seven. What the hell you have been thinking!? I was pregnant with your son when you went to Eileen and knocked her up! I know that I wasn't your first choice for a wife but what you'd done is the lowest of low! Then you let that poor boy grow up with abusive git for a father! I'm ashamed of you, you filthy, little, selfish, cruel git!"
"Wally," Orion mumbled as he scrambled to his feet.
"Shut. Up," Walburga snarled at him. "You are twisted, fucked up excuse of both a husband and a father! I hope that all three of them will be so pissed off at you that they will hex your sorry ass into South Pole! The next time Severus will be here you are going to tell him, with the rest of the family present."
"Wally," Orion mumbled again as he started approaching her.
If he managed to corner her and keep her hands away from her wand he was going to live but he only had another thirty seconds of her building up her steam before she will start throwing hexes at him.
"You sick," he made first step in her direction. "Lying," second step, "Selfish," third step, "Bastard," fourth step. "I should have," fifth step, "make you wear," sixth step, "your wedding ring," he took seventh step as he grabbed her hands and he had her pinned to the counter. "Get away from me!"
"No," Orion said calmly. "Since I have you where is safer for me let me tell you the truth."
"Another lie," Walburga snarled.
"No," Orion shook his head. "The truth. Yes, Severus is my son. Yes, I knocked up Eileen when you were pregnant with Sirius and I was already married. Yes, you have every right to be pissed off at me so do the boys. But what you don't know is that I didn't knew myself that Severus was my son until he was twelve."
"Yeah right," Walbruga snorted. "And Voldemort isn't really bad, just misunderstood."
"It's the truth Wally," Orion said calmly. "I was drunk beyond my comprehending capacity when it happened and so was Eileen. When she found out that she was pregnant she assumed the obvious, that Tobias was the father. So did I. She died believing that Severus was Tobias's son and I would probably die too if it wasn't for one time when I had to check up on Tobias in a Muggle hospital when Severus was twelve. Tobias was a accused of committing a rape and knocking up a teenage girl. They took his sperm sample, the doctors tested it and during the test it come out that Tobias couldn't knock up anything. That's when I found out."
"Comforting as hell!" Walburga growled. "That still leaves you ten years of lying."
"I know," Orion sighed. "I knew how it would backfire if I admitted the truth and if it wasn't for my little slip out with Sirius I would never admit it," he said firmly. "Severus was better off without me, especially now. Sirius was going to be pissed off no matter when he was told and Regulus … Regulus would be either excited or pissed off like Sirius depending when he was told."
"How many bastard children of yours I should expect to meet?" Walburga snarled.
"Just this one," Orion said calmly. "Arranged or not, Wally, I've meant our marriage vows."
"Sure, and Severus isn't Eileen's son just Sirius's long lost twin," Walburga snorted. "You cheated on me."
"I did," Orion admitted. "By accident."
"You still cheated and you had the audacity of accusing me of jealousy," Walburga growled.
"Weren't you?" Orion asked calmly. "Look me in the eye and tell me that you have no feelings for me. Tell me that you never had any."
She turned her face away from him.
"That's what I thought," Orion sighed.
She loved him. She had to love him at some point of time. Hence the jealousy about Eileen or taking care of him when he was sick.
"You were my constant," Walburga whispered. "My rock. My companion. You made me laugh. I admired your knowledge, your calmness, the fact that you were the only one who could calm me down, stop me before I would done something which I could regret for the rest of my life. When Regulus died …" she paused. "After he died and Sirius was away … you were the only thing which kept me from breaking down and then … then you left … and my world crumbled into nothing but dust."
He let go of her right hand and brought his left to her face. He carefully turned her face so she was looking at him and then he said, "I left to protect you. I left to protect our son. If Voldemort … ever got the idea what I was planning to do … you and Sirius would be the first after whom he would come and your death wouldn't be merciful, done by simple Killing Curse, it would be the most painful way imaginable. After Regulus died I had to protect what I got left."
She closed her eyes as she embraced him with her right arm and clung to him.
"Don't lie," she whispered. "Ever again. No matter what it is, I will handle it. Just don't lie."
He let go of her left hand and hugged her tightly as he whispered, "I promise."
Regulus picked up the boys from the pram and looked at Sirius before he said, "How much you bet that we will find a corpse in the house?"
"Nothing," Sirius sighed as he picked up the pram and carried it up the stairs to the front door. "Mum doesn't have it in her. She is more like 'I will hex you into South Pole' kind."
"She has a temper," Regulus pointed out as he followed him.
"So does Mirzam and she belongs to hexing kind," Sirius breathed out as he set up the pram on the landing in front of the front door. "I would be worried about him if mum didn't had a short temper."
"If you say so," Regulus sighed.
"I know so," Sirius said as he opened the front door and pushed the pram inside.
"Lunch?" Regulus asked as he entered the hall after Sirius.
"Why you don't let Kreacher cook?" Sirius asked.
"Because cooking is one of the things I'm capable of doing and doing it good," Regulus replied. "Besides as long as our brother and your wife are stuck at Hogwarts there is little we can do."
"I'll check upon mum and dad. Take boys with you," Sirius said.
Regulus nodded and he went to the kitchen where he put both boys in their high-chairs. Then he went to the pantry and picked up remains of onion soup from yesterday. There was enough left for four adults and two toddlers. If he made toasts it would make a really good lunch.
He wasn't really surprised that Snape was their brother. Actually he was sure that Snape was their brother because there was too much dead giveaways as far as Snape was concerned. First off, fingers, slim and long, just like his and Sirius's were, a sign of being the Gamps descents. Secondly, Dark Arts, self-explanatory. Thirdly, his father's request to befriend Snape. Fourthly, the fact that his father called Snape always by his given name. Fifthly, Snape's posture as whole, tall and lanky – a trait men in Black family shared for ages. Women could be small and fat but men were always tall and lanky.
"You won't know what will hit you, brother," Regulus muttered to himself.
Suddenly he heard footsteps on the stairs and he turned in the direction of the door just in the same moment when Sirius marched into the kitchen. He was red from embarrassment.
Regulus raised left eyebrow questioningly at him.
"Just don't ask questions Rear," Sirius mumbled. "And if you want to stay sane don't go into mum's room without knocking first. Merlin I'm going to have nightmares for months to come."
Walburga woke up earlier than usual, at five o'clock in the morning. Orion was still lying on his side of the bed and he was snoring softly. Not wanting to wake him up Walburga slipped her feet into slippers and put on the dressing gown silently. She tiptoed out of the room and decided to check upon Homam and Remus.
She gently turned the knob of the door to their room and peeked inside. The crib was empty. Walburga slipped into the room and took a closer look at it. There, in an rocking armchair with his arms around the boys was sleeping Sirius, Homam and Remus were sleeping on his stomach.
Walburga smiled at them and gently approached her sleeping son. His hair were messed up and a small line on his forehead had appeared. He looked really tired.
She gently picked up Remus from Sirius's arms and carried the kid to the crib. She came back to pick up Homam but as she picked up the kid Sirius woke up with a start.
"What time is it?" he mumbled sleepily.
"Five o'clock in the morning," Walburga replied softly. "When you are going to work?"
"Six," Sirius mumbled. "I need to pick something up before I will start chasing Greyback. Thank Merlin that Bones let Mirzam take sick leave."
"She is a gold, isn't she?" Walburga smiled at Sirius.
"She is," Sirius admitted as he rubbed his eyes with his hands and then he added. "Judging by what I saw yesterday the git had been mercifully forgiven for having a child out of wedlock."
"I'm sorry that you had to see it," Walburga giggled softly.
"It's entirely my fault mum," Sirius snorted softly. "Curiosity killed the cat."
"You are a dog honey," Walburga pointed out.
"Curiosity scared the dog shitless," Sirius mumbled.
On Saturday 24th April Cassiopeia dressed up in her best formal robes and went to Blackpool's Wizarding Graveyard to attend the funeral of the Longbottom family. At the gates she ran into Lucretia and Ignatius.
"Mum and dad are already there," Lucretia said.
"Wally wrote me that they won't be attending. Ori and Reggie needs to keep a low profile and they went to Library anyway. Sirius is working double shift and she needs to stay at home with the boys," Cassiopeia said grimly.
"What about Mirzam?" asked Lucretia curiously.
"Undercover mission," Cassiopeia replied. "No details."
"Sirius contacted me yesterday about Potter family estates," Ignatius stated.
"Why?" asked Cassiopeia curiously.
"No idea," Ignatius shrugged. "Though his line is named as the only heirs of the family in case of demise of Potter family, which occurred with Harry's death."
"Don't you find it curious that Sirius didn't grieved the kid as much as everybody could expect from him?" asked Lucretia. "Sure, he broke Dumbledore's nose but otherwise he doesn't seems affected by it."
Sure Cassiopeia thought about it but there was something else about Sirius but she couldn't put a finger on it. Didn't Harry Potter vanished around the same time when Walburga brought Homam in? Was it just a coincidence or … Walburga lied about Homam's mother first time around, that was sure. What if Homam wasn't really Sirius's and Mirzam's son? Sirius was very clingy to Homam and Harry's death didn't affected him much. What if Homam Black was Harry Potter? But if the kid was Harry Potter then why that farce with the death of Harry Potter? If the kid was Harry Potter then what about Mirzam? Sure the girl loved the kid to the bits but what if she only happened to drop by when Cassie came to Walburga and with Cassiopeia's scene in Walburga's kitchen the girl confirmed that she was Homam's mother because that by some coincidence the dates concerning Homam's conceiving and birth fit into her files.
"I found Harry Potter," Cassiopeia whispered.
"What?" Ignatius hissed. "But he is dead."
"Remember what Wally told us about Homam first time around?" Cassiopeia whispered. "His mother was a Muggle."
"She said because she didn't wanted Mirzam to have problems with the family," Lucretia muttered. "He is her son. He wouldn't be a Metamorphomagus if he wasn't."
"What you are talking about?" Cassiopeia heard her brother's voice from behind.
"Harry Potter," Cassiopeia muttered and she turned to her brother. "You are often visitor at Grimmauld Place, aren't you? Don't you find it curious that Harry Potter's death didn't affected Sirius very much?"
Pollux grimaced and he mumbled, "Sirius has more important thing to worry about than the death of his godson which can't be undone."
"Did you saw him with Homam?" Cassiopeia hissed. "The kid is rarely out of his reach."
"What you are insinuating Cassie?" Pollux asked sceptically.
"I think that Homam Azha Black is in fact Harry James Potter," Cassiopeia whispered. "Sure any kind of the tests won't work on him since I bet that Sirius and Mirzam would manage to feed the kid with Familious Potion hundred times already by now. But think Polly, Homam appeared shortly after Harry Potter had been kidnapped. Walburga told us that Mirzam is the mother of Sirius's kid only because I happened to corner them both."
"Sirius is extremely clingy to the kid," Pollux muttered. "And besides the outburst in the middle of Auror Headquarters he doesn't seem affected by it."
"But why lie?" asked Lucretia.
"Because Dumbledore wanted the kid to live with his relatives," Ignatius muttered.
"Whose kid?" Arcturus asked suddenly from behind Cassiopeia's backs.
"The Potters kid, Harry," Lucretia explained.
"And Mirzam wasn't particularly happy about following Dumbledore's orders," added Cassiopeia. "She said that she will sooner adopt the kid herself than let him come back there. What if she did?"
"How?" Melania asked. "I mean she already had Homam to take care of."
"What if she hadn't?" asked Cassiopeia. "What if Homam is Harry Potter? What if Mirzam only happened to check upon Wally before I came to her? Dates fit so she confirmed that she is Homam's mother. Then neither she or Sirius didn't seem affected by Harry's death."
"A mislead?" asked Arcturus. "But why?"
"Isn't it obvious?" muttered Pollux. "To protect the kid. From what exactly I have no idea but we may try to corner her with a vial of Veritaserum after she comes back …"
"From what?" Cassiopeia muttered.
"Mission," Arcturus and Pollux said at the same time.
"What kind of mission?" asked Lucretia. "Something related to Aurors?"
"Not really," Arcturus mumbled.
"We are ditching the funeral," Melania stated firmly. "Because obviously you are hiding something from us and you will tell us what in the name of all things magical you are doing, all of you."
"No secrets in this family," Cassiopeia muttered.
Cassiopeia grabbed the hold on Pollux arm and side-along-apparated him to Grimmauld Place.
As soon as she landed she called out, "Wally! We need to talk."
There was no reply. Then Cassiopeia heard two cracks of single apparation and one crack of a side-along one. She turned around and saw the rest of the family.
"They aren't here," Cassiopeia told them. "We will wait for them in the kitchen," she added and she hauled Pollux behind her.
The kitchen looked like someone just left it. There was an empty cup on the table and morning edition of Daily Prophet. The fire was crackling merrily in the fireplace.
"There is no one here. Why we don't come back to the funeral and visit after it ends?" asked Pollux.
Suddenly upstairs they heard a double crack of single apparation and the voices.
"Bugger off Sev," Mirzam snorted. "My Occlumency is fine, seriously."
"Sure!" Snape snorted. "And you just weren't able to resist the pull of the necklace."
"I had a bad day, seriously," Mirzam replied. "I forgot to clear my mind. You know that I had a lot on my mind then."
"Whatever," Snape replied. "Are you one hundred percent sure that the map is going to show Homam as Homam. Because Merlin preserve us if it happened to fall in Dumbledore's hands and he will just happen to see a dead kid walking the Hogwarts halls."
"Harry is dead, Severus," Mirzam replied, their voices got nearer. "The map will show Homam as Homam and that's the end of it."
"I'm just making sure that everybody won't land in Azkaban just because someone isn't careful," Snape said grimly as he walked into the kitchen and saw them, Mirzam was right behind him. "Bugger! Mirzam prepare for Oblivating."
So Homam was Harry Potter. Their conversation inclined enough.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," said Pollux calmly. "That's two against six and you won't stand a chance."
"I will if I use Sev as human shield," Mirzam replied grimly.
"We just want to know the truth Mirzam," said Lucretia calmly. "Is Homam Harry Potter?"
Neither Mirzam nor Snape said a word. Snape actually looked away to the left.
"Why?" asked Pollux.
"Your daughter kidnapped him from his relatives," Snape mumbled. "I happened to drop by shortly after she did it. She tricked me into feeding the kid with Familious Potion with Sirius's hair."
"What about you, Mirzam?" asked Cassiopeia calmly. "What got you into this mess?"
"You did," Mirzam sighed. "I'm not Homam's mother and neither Sirius is his father. The dates fit and this way I could ensure that the kid was properly taken care of."
"So you landed yourself in arranged marriage only because you wanted to ensure kid's safety?" asked Lucretia.
"Their marriage wasn't arranged," Snape snorted. "By some coincidence they happened to love each other but were too dull to realise it before he landed in Azkaban."
"So Homam is really Harry?" asked Pollux calmly.
"He is and no one should know about it," Mirzam replied calmly. "What gave us away?"
"Harry's death," Pollux replied. "It didn't seemed to affect you or Sirius and he was his godfather."
"So as long as we swear to keep our mouths shut you won't oblivate us?" asked Lucretia.
"For Homam's safety…" started Mirzam.
"We can help you protect him and Neville better if we are aware of the danger," Melania pointed out.
"If you know you are putting yourself at risk," Mirzam shook her head. "What if you just happen to slip something out? Intentionally or unintentionally?"
"Homam is under Familious Potion, isn't he?" asked Pollux. "He is already your son and every test will confirm it."
"It would be for your own good," Mirzam said calmly.
"It wouldn't," Pollux said calmly. "What would be good for everybody included is to know what we are facing?"
"And what we are facing Polly?" Cassiopeia asked.
"Dark times ahead," Pollux replied. "Voldemort is still out there and if he comes back he will strike after Harry Potter first. As long as we keep our mouths shut and train the boy to defend himself everything would be fine. He is chosen one, the one to destroy Voldemort. He needs to be prepared and who better than a family trained in Dark Arts will prepare the kid for what may come?"
"The kid isn't even two years old," Snape pointed out. "The training may start in best case when he is four, maybe five."
"But it still gives us a head start for six, seven years," Pollux pointed out.
"Indeed it does," Snape agreed.
"So we can prepare a schedule for him," Pollux said quickly.
"Merlin he is just a kid," Mirzam groaned. "Not a weapon! I agree that he needs to be prepared for what may happen but let's be realistic about it."
"I'm not heartless Mirzam," Pollux snickered. "He will learn as much as possible but we won't take his childhood away from him. His mother is a Ravenclaw after all, you can implant in him thirst for knowledge without forcing him into learning."
"I can do that," Mirzam sighed.
"So what's this undercover mission Polly mentioned?" asked Cassiopeia curiously.
"For your own safety let's just say that it will help in making sure that Homam's job will be easier," said Pollux giving Mirzam a knowing look.
Awaiting criticism - go ahead and tell me what you think.
Let's start with the Black family knowing the truth - you are going to see more of their reactions to 'Harry' in next chapter. Besides I had it coming for last few chapters but I delayed it a lot for Harry's sake. You may take their eagerness as an 'out of character' behavior but come to think about it... They were near the kid for last few months and if Muggle-born Mirzam and werewolf Neville got accepted by the family then why they shouldn't accept Harry? The fact that Walburga risked her freedom to bring up the kid sways their decision. The Blacks aren't Muggle-lovers like Mr Weasley but with everything which had happened to their family (Regulus, Sirius, Orion...) they know that if Voldemort comes back they will need to stop being neutral and chose their side of the war.
ETA:The Weasleys... go ahead and flame me for them. I'm not saying that they are evil, I'm not that shallow, they are good people, sometimes annoying but good nevertheless. There needs to be animosity between both families and trust me they will earn it with passing time. What Sirius says in his conversation with Orion is what makes the Blacks not very happy about being related to the Weasleys. The Blacks are interpreting having a merry bunch of kids as a sign of irresponsibility when the Weasleys can hardly afford money for bringing them up (fitting isn't it?). Regulus might sound a bit paranoid but he has his reasons for being paranoid, he is a Black to the bone and he knows far more things than Sirius does. Again, forgive me for being evil and keeping the Weasleys out of this story but as far as I remember this story is called 'The Blacks' for a reason. You might get some glimpses of the Weasleys in the future but till the sequel it will remain the way it is now (and yes I'm planning a sequel, actually a few of them, because I intend to kill Voldemort somewhere between Goblet of Fire and Half-blood Prince - I'm not telling when and where, for now). gibby101 yes I'm very aware of the fact that Molly's maiden name was Prewett but nowhere in canon is stated what was her mother's maiden name or her name at all so I guess that while Regulus will be confusing both names and he will since he sees a Callahan descent as a treat to the family I hope that I made it clear enough - and if you want to get a direct reply please leave an email next time.
So Sevie is Orion's son... come to think about it seeing things from his point of view should make You suspicious. I should hear at least one 'but he isn't a Black to get a point of view!' ages ago. Same with Mirzam, she got her point of view by being the woman Sirius loves and a 'mother' of their sons and if I didn't intended to keep her around the Blacks one day Sirius would just appear at 12 Grimmauld Place and have talk with Walburga... Why I feel like I'm giving you a powerful tool to play with...
Back to Sevie... Severus our dear Severus, he condemned himself the same day he agreed to help Walburga, then again when he distracted the Malfoys while Mirzam was kidnapping Homam, then he talked with Mirzam and found out the truth. Everybody deserves a second chance and for Severus this is a chance for having a family who actually cares (despite Orion's actions, he does care about Severus) about him and about whom he cares (although it will take a lot of time before he admits to himself that he cares about the Blacks). I know that I deceived you in chapter nine but as you learned in chapter ten Orion has very weird definition of the word truth in his dictionary - that problem just got itself fixed in this chapter. Back to Severus, yes this dream is very important and matters a lot in the future (and you will never guess when, where and why, for now at least). As for Severus, he is with Mirzam now and I hope that she will make him see that he actually cares about the Blacks ... and seeing that there are going to be a lot of Mirzam/Severus interreaction in next few chapters I will use this ocasion to say: no, Severus Snape will not fall in love with Mirzam Black - one unrequired love in a lifetime is enough for him.
Next chapter: Mirzam and Severus after having some fun (get your minds out of the gutter - not this kind of fun) find the Horcrux. Sirius is trying to decide if scaring the living daylight out of his father is worth having his younger brother in Azkaban (and I'm not talking about Regulus) and finally decides. Severus gets a nervous break down in front of Mirzam. Somewhere in the background the rest of the family plots. Orion is scared shitless because he doesn't know what to expect. Problems with swords switching.