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: Cassiopeia has a talk with members of the family we didn't meet yet. And no it's not Alphard, who is properly dead, nor Marius - dead too, Cedrella is dead too. Mirzam's fear becomes truth and the family has to fight a battle with time to save as many werewolves as possible. Orion reveals his greatest secret and we get to the orgins of Black family (that part will be probably split for two chapters).
Read, enjoy and review (because I love to read your criticism and as long as you are logged in or I have your email I'm answering to your questions).
Happy belated one year anniversary!
Chapter seventeen: The Sanctuary.
On the 4th of June Cassiopeia Black sat down at the table facing Kitty Hitcher and Benjamin Black. Kitty was a young witch who had just begun her career at the Ministry of Magic, in the DIMC where Cassiopeia was employed, too, and Cassie had expressed an invitation to join her for lunch. She did have an ulterior motive for doing so.
Kitty, or Katherine in actuality, was the only child of Richard Hitcher, the only grandson of Isla Black and therefore a descendant of the Black family. Cassie wanted to elicit as much information as possible from the girl about Isla and her son. Of course Isla had perished shortly before the second muggle World War and her son had passed on quite recently in wizarding terms, about ten years ago, but as far as Cassiopeia was aware, Richard Hitcher and his daughter were still among the living.
Benjamin Black on the other hand was a different case. Ben was the grandson of uncle Phineas, who, due to his support of muggle rights, had been removed from the family tree a long time ago. Ben, as far as Cassiopeia had been able to establish with Minerva McGonagall, had attended Hogwarts, Ravenclaw to be specific, and, for everyone who knew him, was a muggle-born who happened to have the surname Black. After graduation Ben opened a muggle bookstore in Farnham, married a muggle girl he produced four sons with, two sets of twins whose respective names were Jonathan, James, Joseph and Jackson, shortened into Johnny, Jimmy, Joey and Jack. Johnny and Jimmy were supposed to start at Hogwarts in September and Jack and Joey were due for Hogwarts in 1984 together with Dora and Kuma.
"May I ask what brought this on?" Ben asked calmly.
"On Saturday, the 3rd of July, my grandniece is going to host the annual ball of the Black family. You and your families are invited to attend, offspring included, Benjamin," Cassiopeia announced in a no-nonsense tone.
"I'm not sure my attendance would be welcomed by the family, aunt Cassiopeia," Ben replied surly. "After all I'm a descendant of the disgraced Phineas Black."
"Then you should relish the fact that Mirzam Black, the hostess of the ball, is in fact a muggle-born witch who recently married Sirius Black. Her sisters are living with the family and I assure you that no one reproaches them for their heritage. As you see, there is nothing hindering you and your wife to attend the party and please, feel free to bring your sons along, my grandniece has an eight year old daughter and one of Mirzam's sisters is of the same age," Cassiopeia responded and took a sip of her tea.
"Lucy is a muggle, aunt Cassiopeia," Ben pointed out.
"So what?" Cassiopeia shrugged. "You are a wizard and to Minerva McGonagall's utmost horror, too, because she had high hopes to have the Blacks out of her hair for at least ten years your boys are wizards also. According to Fauxhall's Law concerning the secrecy in muggle-wizarding marriages, Lucy can attend wizarding ceremonies as long as you are in attendance also," she pointed out.
"True enough," Kitty admitted. "No secrecy-law will be broken. I will be there, aunt Cassiopeia and I will try to drag my parents along with me, though my success shall be dubitable."
"So where shall the grand ball occur?" Ben unveiled his curiosity.
"12, Grimmauld Place, London. On the 3rd of July 1982, starting at six o'clock in the evening. It's a masquerade with muggle themes, Mirzam's decision," Cassiopeia explained.
"I will consider it, aunt Cassiopeia," Ben sighed. "Now I really ought to return to my books, so I shall bid you fare-well, ladies," he rose and nodded to both women.
"Good-bye, Ben," Cassiopeia smiled at the man.
"Good-bye, Ben. It was a pleasure to meet you," Kitty added.
After Ben had left, Kitty turned to Cassiopeia and blurted, "It was kind of … wow. I always thought father was a muggle-born, he never mentioned grandfather or great-grandmother."
"Isla was banned from the family after she married Robert," Cassiopeia explained. "It happened a long time ago, but only recently the family started changing their viewpoints on blood-purity, Kitty. We have to thank Mirzam for this. She had the courage to inform our family of pure-bloods exactly what she thinks about pure-blood philosophy. Sweet girl, you will love her," she smiled.
"I remember her. I was a Ravenclaw and Mirzam was three years my senior. Once, she caught me snogging with my Slytherin boyfriend after curfew. Merlin, never before did I realize a lecture could last that long on one breath," Kitty snickered.
"Slytherin, huh?" Cassiopeia queried curiously.
"Henry Mc Donald. He works at the floo-network office," Kitty admitted sheepishly. "We are planning for our wedding to take place in autumn. Anyway it would be nice to see Mirzam again though, I hardly see her anymore since that Harry Potter case."
"She was incapacitated for a few weeks and that werewolf incident took a lot of her energy. Even the ball itself perturbs her. It's her first and also the first ball since Sirius ran away from home. People will have great expectations towards her, after all she is the youngest Madam Black in the history of this family," Cassie sighed.
"The youngest?" Kitty wondered curiously.
"Mirzam is twenty-two years old, most women who became Madam Black were at least twenty-five years of age. Social expectations towards her are overwhelming, Kitty. I don't know how cognisant you are about the family history," Cassiopeia informed her.
"I know that the grand annual ball of the Black family is a social event of great importance or at least it was until 1975, as it was cancelled in 1976 and hasn't taken place since," Kitty recounted. "Then again it is a rather huge, pure-blood gathering and I genuinely don't suppose that many of the pure-blood families will appreciate having to mingle with so called blood-traitors and muggles."
"Don't worry, Kitty. It's the prestige that will attract them to the ball," Cassiopeia dismissed. "In any case, the event will assert the new Black family policy."
"So if one doesn't want to attend …" Kitty started.
"Nobody will force them," Cassiopeia finished. "Indubitably Mimi will do excellent. She was either confident or warped enough to marry Sirius and she will make a wonderful hostess."
"I still can't believe she married him" Kitty snickered. "I mean, at Hogwarts she wouldn't give him the time of day and now, married with children."
"Peculiar how the tide turns," Cassiopeia laughed. "So do you think that Gregory Houseboard will attend the ball. I ought to present Mirzam the final guest-list before Monday. The more muggleborns, the better."
"I shall ask him after lunch," Kitty provided. "It would be nice, if we requested Charlotte Brand's expertise and attendance, she is the most fabulous interior designer in both worlds."
"Give me her address, Mimi will require her assistance prior to the ball," Cassiopeia smirked.
"It's in my desk, I shall deliver it after returning from lunch. Now, please excuse me, I promised Henry to join him for a cup of coffee," Kitty declared with a smile.
"And I have to run an errand in Knockturn Alley. So, I'll see you after lunch," Cassiopeia bid her good-bye to the girl and left the Leaky Cauldron.
She passed through Diagon Alley in a hurry and approaching Knockturn Alley she pulled the hood of her cloak over her head so her face was obscured. She swiftly purchased six bottles of Hawkish's Sweet Wine at Hopscotch's Beverages and decided to order a glass for herself. After all, their wine was always pleasantly chilled and the atmosphere at the office was never very congenial.
She carried her glass to a table in the farthermost corner of the pub and took a seat. She had barely raised the glass to her lips when she became privy to a conversation.
"I'm telling you, Hamish, there is going to be an enormous attack on the 6th," a man with very distinct, Scottish accent divulged. "The best action to take is attacking them first, on the night of 5th, so we can protect our families from those beasts."
"I don't know," the man named Hamish murmured. "Black was quite adamant that there won't be an attack."
"Black is still green behind his ears, Hamish. They assured him so and they will do otherwise. I'm telling you mate, we are in danger," the Scot argued.
"There are approximately five hundred of them, Nicolas," Hamish implored. "How do you plan to wipe out the whole population?"
"My cousin works at the Werewolf Registry, Malcolm is his name. He has access to the files and he can't stand the beasts himself. Additionally, that young auror, Charlie Mopkins, is aiding us, our number will be around one hundred and theirs about five times more. If we act sufficiently fast, all creatures will be eradicated before the full moon, or at least there won't be but a handful of them left and we will eliminate those soon enough, too. So, are you in?" Nicolas asked.
'Don't be,' Cassiopeia thought. 'That would be a rather stupid notion.'
"I'm in. I want to protect my family," Hamish agreed.
'Darn you, fool,' Cassiopeia cursed mentally.
She needed to leave as soon as possible. If these imbeciles planned to attack every werewolf family of the United Kingdom on the 5th , they had approximately thirty hours to remove close to one thousand people, roughly estimated , werewolves or not to a secure location. The race against time had started.
Mirzam and Sirius were enjoying their day off in the garden. Homam, Remus and Draco were playing in the sandbox together with Mirzam's little sisters. Kuma and Dora were huddled somewhere in a corner of the garden whispering frantically. Gemma was sitting on the swing reading a muggle novel. From his place at the patio table, supposedly working on Tom Riddle's family history, Regulus was stealing quick glances at the swinging girl. Narcissa was curled up on a hammock in another corner of the garden with the latest romance novel.
"I could spend the rest of my life like this," Sirius murmured sleepily from the blanket, adding in conspirative tone, "Do you reckon that Reggie has the hots for Gemma?"
"Don't you dare play matchmaker, Sior," Mirzam scolded him teasingly. "They are old enough and if they want to be together, I don't mind, but I refuse to get involved in their business."
"Pity," Sirius assuaged her. "Because it seems to me all they need is a gentle push into the right direction."
"Push yourself," Mirzam mocked him from her side of the blanket.
"Only at you, Mrs Black," Sirius grinned roguishly. "You know what? Mother is taking her nap, father is lingering about in the library. Cissy, Reggie and Gemma are out here …"
"If you are thinking about christening the kitchen table, Mr Black, you are so very wrong, indeed," Mirzam smiled at him. "What if somebody comes in? You know your family."
"I know. That's why its kinky," Sirius tried to convince her.
"If you want kinky, I still have my muggle handcuffs somewhere," Mirzam threatened him. "And we can always tell mother that Reggie ate the whipped cream."
"Only if I can have a go at it with chocolate sauce or you in your Ravenclaw uniform," Sirius snickered.
"Pervert," Mirzam giggled.
"Pervert she calls me," Sirius groaned. "You haven't the faintest idea how many of my fantasies included you when we were still at Hogwarts."
"Broom-closets?" Mirzam chuckled.
"Quidditch showers. Slughorn's classroom, that detention we had in our sixth year together. There was also that one in the prefect's bathroom…" Sirius listed dreamily.
"Oh, do shut up. Somebody might hear you," Mirzam rebuffed and quickly pecked him on the cheek.
"I'm a young, healthy man and I have very sexy wife. They can stuff themselves," Sirius dismissed her objection with a grin.
"Sior, Mimi, Rear, Cissy, Gemma! Inside, now!" Walburga ordered from the doorway.
Sirius moaned agonisingly and demanded to learn the reason for this.
"If you start moving, you'll know in a moment," the reply came.
"Coming," Sirius surrendered.
"I hope not," Mirzam quipped with a laugh and received a swift swat on her rear in return.
It took the young adults two minutes to gather in the library, where Sirius' father hovered over his aunt, who was gasping for air, with a bottle of firewhiskey in his hands. Suddenly the flames in the fireplace turned green and Andromeda emerged, followed only a moment later by Ted. After a few seconds three cracks of apparition were heard from the hall.
"Sit," Walburga motioned at them.
Regulus quickly took a seat on the right end of the couch, Gemma choosing to sit on its arm next to him. To his left Narcissa seated herself. Sirius flopped down at her other side and pulled Mirzam onto his knees. As soon as they were all settled, Pollux, Arcturus and Melania walked in. Arcturus and Melania chose their seats on the opposite couch together with Ted and Andromeda. Pollux stood behind the armchair closest to the door.
Then two more cracks were audible from outside, followed by two separate swishing noises, which could only be affiliated with the floo, one in the kitchen, the other right behind them.
Mirzam turned her head and saw Minerva McGonagall brushing the dust from her cloak. Then she turned back to see the two Lupins and Severus Snape entering the room. Another two cracks later, Ignatius and Lucretia appeared in the room.
All of a sudden there was a loud knock at the front entrance and Orion went to get the door.
"Kitty Hitcher and Henry McDonald," Cassiopeia explained. "I asked them to come over."
"Kitty Hitcher?" Sirius looked surprised. "Isla's great-granddaughter?"
"She works in my office, Henry is her fiancé," Cassiopeia declared.
For a moment the room was quiet, a breath later a cacophony of voices filled it. It seemed like everybody wanted to know why their presence was required, but no one deemed it necessary to wait until the information was disclosed. Finally Mirzam lost her patience and shouted, "Silence!"
The noise faded.
"Cassiopeia," Mirzam turned to older woman. "What caused this pandemonium?"
"You prediction was correct, there will be attacks on werewolves all over the country. There is a traitor in the Registry, Malcolm, his surname wasn't mentioned. Approximately one hundred conspirators are going to attack tomorrow night," she blurted out.
"Blast! Good thing that I compiled a list of all registered werewolves who are wizards, too." They needed a plan, and a good one at that. "Right, this is what we'll do …" she trailed off in deep thought.
"The ballroom," Gemma contributed. "Then a heavily warded place for the full moon."
"The room where the boys transform is a bit too small for five hundred werewolves, Gemma," Orion commented pensively. Then he hesitantly added, "I know a place where they could safely transform, but first of all we need to alert and direct them here."
"I will get the list," Gemma said and disappeared.
"We'll split up," Mirzam decided quickly as she rose from Sirius' lap. "Reggie, you will go with Gemma since you can't apparate on your own. Sirius, alarm Kingsley. The rest of us will separate to inform the werewolves."
Gemma returned to the library with the roster in hand the same moment Sirius disapparated. Mirzam took the papers from Gemma's hands and calculated, "We have five hundred and twenty-five werewolves, excluding Remus and the children who were bitten last month, in the United Kingdom, including their families. That leaves us with twenty-five families apiece," as she handed out copies, she continued with instructions, "Tell them to apparate or floo here with all items necessary, because their lives depend on it. Gemma, you will tell Dora and Kuma to mind the doors and assemble everybody in the ballroom to await further instructions."
"What about the children?" Lucretia mentioned. "The five who were bitten recently."
"I shall visit the Diggorys, the Lovegoods and the McMillans," Melania offered. "I don't know what to do about the Weasleys and the Hopkins though."
"Leave the Weasleys to me," Mirzam answered.
"I will fetch the Hopkins boy," supplied Henry McDonald.
"Good," Mirzam agreed. "Father, after you are done with your share, check this place you've mentioned. Gemma, Reggie, before you leave, ascertain there is an extension charm on the ballroom and tell Kreacher to start preparing food for them."
"I shall call Dobby to help him," Narcissa offered. "But what about our children?"
"Kuma and Dora will be here and Spica will help them. As soon as you're finished, return and keep an eye on them," Mirzam indicated.
"How long it will take us to bring them in?" Kingsley, who in the meantime had arrived with Sirius, queried.
"It depends," Mirzam sighed. "I hope we will be able to collect all of them before morning, so we can move them to the secure location prior to the full moon. Your twenty-five Shack," she handed him part of the copies. "Now get moving, people."
She started with the Fauxhalls in Bristol. She knocked repeatedly and waited two minutes for a reaction. A young, red-haired woman answered the door.
"How may I help you, Miss?" she inquired politely.
"Linda Fauxhall?" Mirzam ensured.
"That's me," the woman confirmed.
"My name is Mirzam Black. Your family is in danger …" Mirzam started.
"My husband mentioned that you might come, Mrs Black. Where we are supposed to hide?" the woman interrupted her.
"12, Grimmauld Place, London. Pack all necessities. Someone will receive you there. Come as soon as possible. I need to resume my journey."
"We will come," Linda affirmed and went back inside.
Mirzam apparated to Newheaven where the Chase family lived. They were in the back garden.
"Where to, Mrs Black?" Charlie Chase enquired.
"12, Grimmauld Place, London. We will find another place as soon as everybody has arrived," Mirzam informed him and disapparated again.
Her next stop was the Morgans in Oxford.
"Mary Stanson and her daughter live adjacent to us," said Melinda. "I will let her know. Same adress your husband mentioned?"
"Yes," Mirzam nodded and departed.
At ten o'clock in the evening, she send the last family from her list to Grimmauld Place. Then she went to the house at Park Road.
She disillusioned herself and crossed the street to the Weasley's domicile. After carefully opening the front door and slipping inside, she quickly made her way up the stairs, located the room labelled 'Percy' and slid in.
Percy Weasley, a little boy about six years old according to the files, was sleeping in his bed. She gathered him in her arms together with his blanket and disapparated. The Weasleys themselves weren't endangered, so she could leave them be.
She went home and hurried to the ballroom. Fortunately, the boy was very tired and didn't wake up. Outside of the ballroom she met Walburga.
"How many returned?" she asked quietly, not wanting to wake the child.
"Kitty, Henry, Lucy, Iggy, Minnie, Sev, Rear and Gemma are back. Father is with Orion, they are helping Narcissa. Kingsley sent an owl to let us know that him and Sirius are setting up traps for the anticipated perpetrators. Those who return, eat supper and then join them. Dora and Kuma sent the children to bed and are now helping in the kitchen. Mel and Archie should be here any moment. No word from Ted and Droma yet," Walburga reported.
"The traps?" Mirzam looked puzzled.
"Kingsley and Sirius had the idea to capture the conspirators. Therefore traps are needed, that will activate as soon as someone enters any of the homes after dusk tomorrow. Now give me the boy and go eat something, Mimi," Walburga ordered.
"Yes, mother," Mirzam complied and carefully put the sleeping Percy into Walburga's arms.
As soon as Walburga was out of sight, she disapparated.
Sirius returned to Grimmauld Place at three o'clock in the morning feeling utterly drained. He knew that sleep had to wait, so he made his way to the kitchen. It seemed that all adults, who were helping, had gathered there and were wide awake except for Remus, who had fallen asleep with his head on the table.
"You are right on time, Sirius," his father noted. "I will need yours and Mirzam's help."
"Coffee first," Sirius demanded. "Unless you want me to fall asleep halfway through."
"A potful would do?" Mirzam smirked and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before she handed him a steaming mug of strong, black coffee, not necessarily his favourite, but the best stimulator he knew. "You're smart."
"I'm a marauder, Mimi, and an auror," Sirius boasted.
"Merlin only knows what's worse," Severus drawled.
"Go to sleep," Sirius replied tiredly. "Unless you actually have something to do."
"Wolfsbane," Severus announced. "I experimented a bit with an old batch and think that I can have a potion ready for each werewolf tomorrow. It won't be as strong as the normal brew, but it's hardly my fault that I wasn't informed sooner. We shall see how it will work at the full moon."
"Eat something so we can leave," his father interjected quickly.
It took him ten minutes to gobble down three sandwiches and two cups of coffee.
"I'm ready," he said firmly.
"Good," his father acknowledged. "Both of you come here," he pointed at the floor in front of him.
They hurried over and stood in front of him.
He fished a small golden pendant on a long chain from an inside pocket of his robe and held it out for them to touch.
Sirius grabbed the chain, Mirzam's hand closed over his and both hands were covered by Orion's. Then the man called out, "The Sanctuary."
There was the familiar, sickening pull of a portkey and before realising what had happened, they landed in the middle of a very dark forest, a suspiciously familiar one at that. Were they in the Forbidden Forest?
"Where are we?" Mirzam asked anxiously.
"Very close to the Sanctuary," Orion placated her.
"What is that so called Sanctuary?" Sirius wanted to know.
"A sanctuary," his father rebuffed him and hesitantly approached an old oak standing roughly ten feet ahead of them. "Ah, here it is," he murmured.
"What?" Sirius and Mirzam responded in unison and rushed to his side.
"What do you see?" Orion gestured at the the tree.
The visible coat of arms triggered something in Sirius memory. He figured, he must have seen it somewhere before. Close to the top were two white, five-armed stars, one to the left, the other to the right. Underneath them ran two white ribbons meeting above a sword with its blade pointing up.
"It seems familiar," Sirius stated.
"So it should," his father snorted. "Okay now, Sirius, put your hand on the left star, Mirzam, do the same with the one on the right side."
They did as they were bidden and when their hands rested on the stars, Orion covered the sword with his and ordered, "Repeat after me, Mirzam, you first."
She nodded in acceptance.
"I'm Lady Mirzam Black, Lady Protector of the innocent. I'm the Canis Major Beta, a harbinger of magic in my family, a hilt to my husband's sword, a shield to those of his blood, and the next Lady of the Sanctuary. My Lady Harbinger allow me to pass." he intoned.
"I'm Lady Mirzam Black, Lady Protector of the innocent. I'm the Canis Major Beta, a harbinger of magic in my family, a hilt to my husband's sword, a shield to those of his blood, and the next Lady of the Sanctuary. My Lady Harbinger allow me to pass." Mirzam repeated warily and after a few seconds she added, "Nothing happened."
"Keep your hand where it is, Mirzam. Now you Sirius," his father turned to him. "Repeat. I'm Lord Sirius Black, Lord Protector of the innocent. I'm the Canis Major Alpha, a descendant of magic in my family, the blade to my wife's hilt, my family's shield and a son of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. My Lord, my father, allow me to pass."
"I'm Lord Sirius Black, Lord Protector of the innocent. I'm the Canis Major Alpha, a descendant of magic in my family, the blade to my wife's hilt, my family's shield and a son of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black My Lord, my father, allow me to pass." Sirius repeated quickly.
"Still nothing," Mirzam muttered.
"Speak together," Orion smiled at them. "Toujours Pur."
"Toujours Pur," Sirius and Mirzam declared in unison.
"Welcome to the Sanctuary, my dear children," he proclaimed cheerily.
Suddenly the oak vanished and in its place a huge, gothic castle with five towers appeared before them. They were standing at the gates.
He smirked at them and pressed the handle to the gates while inviting them, "Up for a tour of the Palace des Noir?"
Sirius wrapped a comforting arm around Mirzam's shoulders and together they stepped through the gates. On the other side of the wall was a beautiful garden full of various flowers and wild fruit-trees. On both sides of the brick road leading to the front entrance of the castle were fountains.
"It's amazing," Mirzam marvelled at the sight.
"Quite an eyeful, isn't it?" Orion chuckled, while proceeding to the castle's doors.
"You could say that," Sirius admitted flabbergasted.
"Now your assistance is needed elsewhere, you can come back and inspect the garden after our furry friends are safely hidden in the confines of the castle," his father informed them and walked through the door. "Mind the third step!"
They hurried after him. The entrance hall was quite large, from both sides of it two wide staircases led to the next floor. To the left, right and middle were huge oak doors.
Sirius was so overwhelmed by astonishment that he didn't pay attention where he was going and tripped on the third step.
"I told you to mind that one," his father chortled, turned to the portrait hanging on the door to their right, spoke to it briefly and the person in the portrait vanished.
"That banner on the tree is the Black family coat of arms, isn't it?" Mirzam concluded audibly. "This place belongs to the family, am I right?"
"Yes to both of your questions, Mimi," Orion replied as they stopped next to him. "We are in the Sanctuary. The first residence of the Black family and the only one that can't be bequeathed by last will even down the direct line, because only those who have been inside can pass it down to someone else."
"Orion Sirius Black!" someone called from upstairs. "How dare you not visit us for such a long period of time!"
Sirius turned to the direction the voice had come from. There, on the landing to the right two pearly white figures, ghosts, were floating. One of them was a man with long hair and the other was a smiling woman with a very long braid.
"I was otherwise occupied, my Lord Black," his father claimed.
"Dragon dung, my boy, no one can be too busy to not pay at least one little, a hour worth visit to his ancestors," the man reprimanded Orion.
"Sirius Orion Black, you will stop this instantly," the woman commanded with a stern voice and whacked the man on the back of his head.
"Yes, my Lady," the man obeyed with a wince. "So, Orion, who did you bring along?" he inquired as both ghosts floated down the stairs.
"My Lady, my Lord," his father gave them small bow. "I bring before you my son Sirius Orion Black and his wife Mirzam Mira Black from the house of Verascez."
"Verascez?" the woman pondered. "Was your family magical?"
"No, my Lady," Mirzam informed her. "I'm a muggle-born."
"You are of muggle birth?" the man raised a ghostly eyebrow in speculation. "This shall prove to be rather interesting, there is hope for the family, yet. Sirius and Mirzam, huh?"
"Sirius!" the woman warned him off.
"What, my dear Lady? I was just being curious," the man deflected.
"I would call it rude," the woman admonished. "You are forgetting your manners."
"I did not!"
"Did to."
"I did not!"
"Oh yes, you did."
"As delightful as listening to your dispute is, my dear ancestors, we have a very urgent matter to attend here," Orion interrupted the ghosts solemnly. "This house wasn't named Sanctuary just because it was such an appropriate name for a castle. There are about a thousand people whose lives are in danger at this very moment and we are in dire need of a suitable hiding place for them. Most of them are werewolves and they need a secure and warded location for the oncoming full moon."
"Children of Lycaon?" the female ghost queried gently. "Of course, Orion. The dungeons are at your service, you may prepare them for the occasion. Sirius, my dear, go to the kitchen and alert the house-elves that there will be a large influx of guests, so quarters can be set up for them prior to their arrival."
"Yes, Milady," her male counterpart concurred. "I trust that you will take care of the future Lord and Lady of the Black family."
"Indeed," the woman acknowledged with a smile.
Orion had wandered off towards the left door and stepped through the same moment the male ghost vanished.
Sirius and Mirzam stared at the ghostly lady in wonder.
There was no doubt, when still among the living, the woman had to have been one of the most beautiful women high and low. She was about ten inches shorter than both of them and incredibly slim. Her face was heart-shaped, her salient eyes were full of kindness and her smile was gentle. She was watching them with curiosity like she hadn't seen anything interesting in ages.
"Orion didn't properly introduce us, my dear children," she indicated. "My name is Mirzam Mira Black, I originated from the Spanish family of Verascez and I was the first Lady Black. Allow me to give you a tour around the Sanctuary."
"Mirzam Mira?" Mirzam shook her head in disbelief. "I feel like I got stuck in a fairy tale."
"Rather a history book in all probability, my dear girl," the ghost Mirzam replied. "So, let's start with history first. Are you likely to be of Spanish descent?"
"I 'd sooner doubt it," Mirzam shrugged. "I was born and raised in England and so were my parents."
"You have black hair, my child, and that curly look is quite common among Spanish and Portuguese ladies. So is this nose of yours," the woman pointed towards it with her fingertip as if trying to touch. "One of your ancestors had to be a Spaniard. Your eyes tell a different story, they are violet of colour, just like my mother's, she was an English girl my father had met when he was supposed to deliver a message to the British king."
"This might sound rude, but when did you live, Milady?" Mirzam queried tentatively.
"Not rude at all, my dear. I was born to Maria and José Verascez on the eve of Christ's birth in 760. I married my dear, horny hare on All Hallows Eve in 777 and died at the tender age of seventy-seven in 837. Your family ...," she turned to Sirius, "... is directly descended from my youngest son, Malikiyy, in your times this name is more commonly known as Regulus."
"Explains why this name is so frequent in the family," Mirzam realized.
"Not as common as Sirius," said the woman. "But both names have their importance in our history. They were always given to male children when the family sensed that there came a time for turning the tide. They are the names for great expectations bestowed upon the child. Though never had a girl in this family been named Mirzam, I wonder why?"
"I have no idea," Sirius answered truthfully. "I rather like the name myself."
"How do you pronounce it?" the ghost asked. "Mirtsam or Mirzam?"
"Mirzam," Sirius answered.
"My father pronounced it Mirtsam. I prefer the way Sirius says it," Mirzam stated quietly.
"To me it's more melodic this way," Sirius explained. "Mirzam. Mirzam Mira."
"Admirable harbinger," the ghost acknowledged.
"Admirable lioness, more likely," Sirius smirked.
"The husband knows his wife best," the woman suggested. "Now allow me to show you around the castle a bit."
"Milady, can you tell us where we are?" Mirzam wanted to know suddenly.
"I won't tell you," the woman dismissed gently. "I will show you. Follow me, if you please."
They followed her up the stairs to the right and then down the corridor until they met a door.
"Just press the handle," the ghost advised and went through it.
Mirzam opened it carefully and they entered a tower. They climbed up its narrow staircase for about two minutes when they reached the top. Through the small windows they saw the familiar towers of … it couldn't be Hogwarts, could it?
"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Founded by Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin in 991 on the lands Orion Black, our great grandson, sold to Gryffindor twenty years earlier. The Sanctuary is within six hours walking distance from the castle. Orion's son, Cygnus had required of the founders to leave the forest around the Sanctuary. Therefore it was named forbidden for students," the ghost explained.
"If the castle is within walking distance from Hogwarts, how is it possible that no one can see it from there?" Mirzam queried sceptically. "I mean, I spent seven years at that school and the Sanctuary is quite large, it should be impossible to miss."
"Magic, my dear ," the ghost reminded her. "The castle can only be seen by those who have been inside of it at least once."
"That's quite a paradox," Mirzam contemplated. "You can't find the castle until you already know where it is …"
"Exactly," the ghost quipped.
"Then how did my father discover it?" Sirius pried curiously.
"He wandered through the forest one day and during his walk, he saw the tree that guards the entrance. He was an inquisitive young man and recognized the coat of arms on the tree. Took him two hours to come up with the proper password, but in the end he managed to get in. Back then he was younger than you are now, still a student of Hogwarts," the woman recounted.
"Mirzam, my fairest Lady," called a voice from below. "Be a dear and take the children to the Place."
"Indeed," she startled. "I forgot all about it. Come on, children."
After he had left his son and daughter-in-law with the two ghosts in the hall, Orion spent the following five minutes snickering silently, while he was leaning against the wall of the corridor that led to the dungeon. Sirius and Mirzam were about to receive a very long lesson in family history, something he didn't envy them in the least, once in a lifetime was certainly enough. Not that the ghosts of the Black family weren't entertaining, but listening to his ancestor relating the story of how he had courted his dearest wife for the hundredth time, would even bore a vampire to death. Additionally, Sirius had no sense of subtlety and whenever he saw an opening, he started talking about sex, a horny hare as his wife liked to call him. It seemed that approximately one thousand years without the ability to leave the castle or any visits for long periods of time, didn't help at all.
"I don't envy you," he smirked at the thought of his son and daughter-in-law. "Not in the slightest," he added and traversed the corridor until he reached the door leading down to the dungeon.
A quick inspection of it confirmed that the place would be big and secured enough for five hundred and somewhat werewolves, but he added a few wards of his own, one would rather be safe than sorry after all.
He was about to leave when Kinky, one could only blame Sirius for naming his house-elf such, appeared in front of him with huge goblet of fine wine.
"Lord Sirius told Kinky to bring Master Orion his favourite wine and report that the castle will be ready at dawn for your guests and their families," the elf informed him as she handed over the goblet.
"Thank you, Kinky. Tell my ancestors that we shall arrive at eight o'clock. Young Lord and Lady Black will remain here, just remind them that they are mortals and will need a break for a bite to eat and maybe a short nap, they did have a very long day after all," Orion gave the order after accepting the goblet from the elf's hands.
She bowed and smiled at him, "It's good to see you back in the Sanctuary, master Orion."
"It's good to see you too, Kinky," he admitted.
The elf disappeared and Orion smiled fondly at that. It did feel rather good to be back here, indeed. He quickly downed the wine and after setting the empty goblet on the floor for the house-elves to collect later on, he grabbed the portkey pendant and whispered, "Take me home."
After Orion, Sirius and Mirzam had left the house, Walburga sent the rest of the family to their respective homes after thanking them for their help. When they were gone, she sent Kitty Hitcher and Henry McDonald to the remaining guest bedroom. Wherever the werewolves and their families were supposed to end up tomorrow, or today rather, Henry's assistance was going to be needed for the transfer of so many people to one place.
She quickly checked up on all children and then peeked into the ballroom for a moment, where all occupants were fast asleep, before she went to the kitchen and together with Kreacher and Dobby she started preparing breakfast for their guests.
"Is there a chance in getting one of these?" she heard Orion's voice behind her.
"I always thought you weren't too fond of gingerbread sandwiches," she said without looking up."So, where is our oldest son and his dear wife?"
"At the Sanctuary," Orion replied as she heard him dropping into a chair. "They will remain there for quite a while, there is no need to worry about them. How is Severus holding up?"
"He went to sleep, finally. Regulus went out, though the reason for it eludes me. The Lupins are at the Tonks' place. Kitty and Henry are upstairs, sleeping, I hope. Gemma has minded the children until I sent her off to bed. Cissy is at your parents' house together with Cassie," she listed and then turned around to face him.
His face was calm, but it bore this mischievous grin, he always had, when he thought that no one knew what he was up to.
"You are keeping a secret, Ori," she assessed in her firmest voice.
"I might," he chuckled. "A huge one at that."
"Shame on you," she scolded him half-heartedly.
"Maybe, maybe not," he shrugged. "Something isn't right, you know?"
"Do you sense something? Is there trouble in the air?" she inquired.
"Something wicked this way comes, Wally, and I'm not referring to the werewolves business. No, this is a different matter entirely, something bigger, more sinister. It also may be the case that I'm just getting too paranoid with age," Orion sighed.
Sirius and Mirzam followed Lady Black down the stairs obediently. The whole situation was rather surreal. First the castle, then the Lordship and in the end two ghosts of his ancestors.
"What did your husband mean, when he mentioned that there was still hope for the family?" queried Mirzam out of the blue.
"The Blacks are a pure-blood family, my dear," replied Lady Black. "But it wasn't supposed to be this way. Of course marrying witches or wizards was preferred by everyone, but we never wanted to end like the Callahans, pure-blood philosophy nearly destroyed them and that was something, we didn't want to happen to our descendants. Those of pure blood are easier tempted to descend into darkness, introducing fresh blood into the family every now and then reduces the chance for this to manifest. The whole philosophy is rather pointless, because pure-bloods tend to forget that their ancestors in the beginning were half-bloods or, like Sirius and me of muggle birth."
"Uncle Cygnus would have a heart-attack, if he even got wind of the suggestion that our family wasn't pure-blooded from the very beginning," Sirius snickered.
"Being a pure-blood is overrated," Lady Black discarded. "Of course it has some perks like not having to work too hard for influencing the society, because your ancestors took care of it already by weaving connections between the bloodlines, but in the end, it can very easily trap people, also. Sirius and I had always hoped that our descendants would be sensible and keep intermarriage with the other pureblood lines to the absolute minimum, but alas, it was a foolish hope, I can say now after thousand years of experience."
"I have a question, Lady Black," Mirzam requested tentatively. "It might be rather insensible though."
"Ask away, my dear, I have probably heard worse," the Lady claimed.
"Why are you and your husband ghosts? From what I know about the subject, only those with unfinished business or fear of death remain behind."
"We wanted to see what would become of our family," the Lady depicted sadly. "We worked very hard to build up a good basis of income in our world, the houses, lands and villages. We had a countless number of grandchildren and we really wanted to see them grow up. So as we got older, we decided together that upon our death, we would choose to stay behind and watch over our progeny and give them guidance. Ghosts, with time, become bound to one place though and since poor Sirius Homam Black's visit, shortly before the Great Fire of London in which he lost his life, until Orion's visit in 1945 we didn't see anyone. Even Orion's visits were only few and far between, the last one he paid us, was at the 12th of January 1959, the eve of his wedding to his second cousin Walburga. He hadn't made an appearance ever since, if it wasn't for the family tree, we would never have found out about his offspring, you Sirius and your younger brothers, Severus, Regulus and Sadalsuud."
The latter made Sirius trip on the last step and if it hadn't been for Mirzam catching him at the last possible moment, he would have ended up on the floor face first.
"Milady, you are severely mistaken," Sirius opposed her. "I only have two younger brothers, not three, and I'm quite certain my mother would remember having a third son."
The Lady turned to face them and smiled at him sadly before she informed them, "Sadalsuud was born at 13th of January 1963, he was stillborn. From what we gathered, Orion erased the knowledge of his birth from yours, Regulus' and Walburga's memories before he obliviated himself. You were in France around that time, so no one knew that your mother was expecting. He has been aware of having only three sons for a long time now."
"But the family tree would show him," Sirius argued defiantly.
"If you are talking about the family tree at Grimmauld Place, let me assure you that it is very easy to be tampered with by magic. You can't manipulate the one we have here, at Sanctuary. It shows every child, every ancestor, even if they were erased from the tree at Grimmauld Place," the ghost oppugned.
"Why would anybody do such a thing?" Mirzam asked incredulously.
"The pain, my dear, the pain. I doubt that Orion's marriage belonged to the happiest ones, but certainly he would do anything for his children. Sadalsuud's death caused your parents such heartache that he preferred not to remember it at all." the lady indicated.
"I would prefer to remember," Mirzam voiced. "Even in death, it would still be my child, born of my flesh and blood."
"Same here," Sirius agreed.
"I am sorry for raising the subject," the ghost regretted. "The dead should remain buried for all we know."
"They should," Mirzam nodded in accordance and Sirius immediately hugged her tightly, because he knew, she was thinking about her mother.
"Now I finally want to introduce you to the Place," the Lady started floating away. "Just follow me."
She led them through a long and dark corridor onto a staircase they descended.
"I will meet you at the other end, my children," she informed them and disappeared through the wall.
"I'm sorry about your brother." Mirzam commiserated
"Thank you," he muttered as he hugged her close. "I had no idea of his existence, hence I can't actually miss him. Of course it saddens me, but what's worse …" he shuddered, " ... is the fact, that I can't even begin to imagine, how much it must have pained them to see him dead. If it was me … I know that my choice would be to remember, but then again, I don't know what I would do aside from that."
"So, reckoning that twins run in the family, what's your idea for a reasonable amount of children?" she changed the subject cheerfully.
"I was thinking about five in total," he smiled into her hair. "At least one of them a girl to spoil rotten. What did you have in mind, Mimi?"
"Four actually," she replied as she pulled away from him a bit and grinned. "A boy and a girl."
"Mother and father wouldn't mind six or seven," he chuckled. "Though their sex wouldn't really matter as long as they were healthy, would it?"
"We could even raise a dozen," Mirzam snickered. "We already have a head start with the twins and my sisters. If we aren't insane by next year, it would mean that we are able to raise more than seven."
He softened at that thought. He had envied James and Frank their sons, not too much, but the thought of being a father himself some day had always been a cheering one for him, especially since he dreamed of Mirzam to be their mother, and here they were, together, with two toddlers and plans for the next handful or two after Voldemort would kick the bucket for good.
"I think that we should catch up to our dear ancestors, before they will decide to come back for us," Mirzam reminded him.
"After you, Milady," he bowed and waited for her to precede.
In the meantime, they had arrived at the end of the staircase and stopped at a heavy, wooden door. Sirius pressed the handle, they entered the room and were quite astonished to find the ghosts seated at a table that looked like it was made of marble, with two bodies visibly laying on top of it.
"Come on in, children," the Lord invited them.
They slowly advanced further into the room after closing the door behind them.
"Come closer," the Lady prompted them. "Stand by the table."
Stepping up to the table, it became clear to Sirius that the bodies on top must have belonged to the ghosts at some point of time.
"We want you to have these," the Lord pointed at two golden bracelets with a plethora of gems set into them.
"It's a gift from us to the next Lord and Lady Black," the Lady exclaimed with an inviting gesture. "They are charmed, only those with knowledge of them can actually see them. Sirius, you will have to put it on your wife's wrist and you, Mirzam, will have to do the same with your husband's, this is the only way for them to work properly."
"What can they do?" Mirzam inquisited.
"They show your partner how you feel when wearing it. Each gem represents a different mood. Aquamarine shows your partner that you are calm. Amethyst shows your happiness. Sapphire means a troubled mind. Ruby is lust just like diamond is love. Lapis lazuli means sickness. Red jasper shows anger. White pearl stands for sadness while black pearl stands for death and onyx … onyx is only on your husband's bracelet, my dear girl. It will tell him when you are with his child," Lady Black detailed.
"I don't know," Mirzam objected. "I mean, they are yours."
"Don't be modest, we don't need them anymore," the Lord discarded her dissent. "We are dead and I assure you that wearing them will make you feel better. So?"
Sirius chuckled and gently removed the bracelet from the female body to put it on Mirzam's left wrist. The resizing charm caused it to adjust itself immediately. Then a sighing Mirzam did the same with the Lord's bracelet. They both look deep into each other's eyes and then down to their adorned wrists.
Amethyst. Sapphire. Diamond. Ruby. White pearl. Onyx. Wait a moment, onyx? Wasn't that for the wife's pregnancy?
"Lady Black?" Sirius piped up. "I have an onyx."
"Congratulations, my boy," Lord Black's voice boomed. "This means your wife is expecting."
"I'm pregnant?" Mirzam stuttered in surprise. "But when … how … I mean, we use a contraceptive potion every month and a charm on top of it and still ... it's unbelievable,"
"My dear girl, you are forgetting one very important fact," the ghostly Lady smirked at her. "Whom are you married to?"
"Sirius Black," Mirzam replied tentatively.
"Exactly," she snickered. "You married a Black. There is no charm or potion to stop the son of a Black from extending the family line. Let me tell you from experience, Dear, during our sixty years of marriage I gave birth to twelve sons and three daughters and I assure you, I had enough after number five."
"Nothing she cooked up seemed to work for too long," her husband mocked. "Well, except a separate bed of course. Took me four years to beg my way back into the master bedroom after Felix was born."
"And it took you only one night to produce Onyx," Lady Black snorted.
"What can I say, my darling wife," Lord Black wriggled his eyebrows suggestively. "I have never been able to keep my hands away from you."
"Thank Merlin for you losing that bet to Salomon Slytherin back then, because I don't think, I could have managed to bear even one more child after Malikiyy," Lady Black groaned. "You should know something ...," Lady turned to Mirzam, "... the men in this family were always exceptionally horny when married to beautiful women."
Mirzam scowled at Sirius and raised her left eyebrow in challenge.
"What can I say?" Sirius defended himsilf. "It's HIS fault," he pointed at the ghost of Lord Black.
Mirzam couldn't suppress a giggle and Lady Black burst out in a whole-hearted laugh. Lord Black pulled a hurt grimace and shook his head, "Youngsters nowadays. No respect for their elders and dead ones at that."
"I wonder when it was conceived," Mirzam pondered.
"There is a very nice charm called Foetus Tempus," Lady Black informed her, then turned around to face her husband and added, "Onyx."
"Was a great guy," Lord Black replied with a grin. "You should use this charm, my boy. Simply touch your wife's womb with the tip of your wand and say foetus tempus."
"What's your guess, Mimi?" Sirius wanted to know.
"Your mother's birthday party. Yours?" Mirzam chuckled.
"When you pounced on me after Ravensworthy's attack," Sirius snickered as he pulled out his wand to perform the charm on Mirzam's abdomen. "Foetus tempus."
The tip of the wand glowed a faint lilac and a light mist of the same colour arose from it to form 13th of May 1982 in the air.
"I was correct," he smirked. "It happened when you pounced on me."
"So, this means you are going to have a little girl at St. Valentine's next year," Lady Black surmised.
"A girl?" Sirius and Mirzam looked at her in surprise.
"The mist was lilac, Dears. Lilac is for a girl. Sapphire is for a boy. Congratulations," Lady Black advised them happily.
"Mother will smother me to death," Mirzam sighed with a smile on her face.
"We don't have to tell them yet, if you don't want too," Sirius promised. "It's only three weeks, not three months. We can keep them in the dark for another three weeks, if you like."
"It would be wise to withhold the merry news until after the ball," Mirzam agreed pensively. "Otherwise it won't ever take place, once your mother and aunts are made aware. Besides, we do have a few other important things to take care of before the party."
"Our lips are sealed," Lord Black supported.
"It's your decision when to tell the family," Lady Black added. "But for now, I think you two should retire to bed before your guests will arrive in a few hours time."
"I won't object," Mirzam surrendered and yawned.
"Neither will I. You are pregnant and you had a busy night. You need rest and complete pampering," Sirius decided firmly and wrapped an arm around Mirzam's shoulders.
He looked at his bracelet and saw amethyst, sapphire, diamond, ruby, white pearl and onyx.
Awaiting criticism - like always. I'm replying as long as you leave me your email or you log in while reviewing. Bring my ego down ;)
So Orion was hiding quite a big thing, don't you think? I was so excited when I was writing this one, especially the ghosts. Names are significant but not very much, it's more like the family is coming back to its orgins and starting anew, no hidden meaning. I loved the bracelets, this idea was swiming around my head every since Sirius and Mirzam got married. You won't find the meanings of the gems anywhere at the web, unless you count diamnond and ruby.
So Mirzam is pregnant even after I kept saying in few post chapter notes that she won't become pregnant... okay my fault I just couldn't resist. It will complicate few things for her and Sirius and that's what I'm counting on, plus I just can't resist giving them a daughter to pamper. But what I'm going to say now will remain truth, after this kid until Voldemort kicks the bucket for good young Mrs and Mr Black aren't going to have more kids (just Homam, Remus, their little girl plus Mirzam's sisters).
Someone expressed their concern about the house at 12 Grimmauld Place, it's a mansion folks. It's huge. I managed to count at least twenty bedrooms in total and there is still lots of space for other rooms like libary, living-room, drawing-room, ballroom etc. Four storeys plus the attic and the basement.
Next chapter: The Blacks at the Sanctuary. Secrets are running around like hares in the spring. More orgins of Black family thrust here and there. Someone starts 'too old, too poor and too dangerous' talk and it's not Remus. Mirzam decides that she has enough and in the end she plays matchmaker.
Chapter teaser - because we had one year anniversary:
He glanced down at his bracelet and saw amethyst, ruby, diamond and onyx. He smiled at the last gem. Onyx. A child, his child, his little daughter.
"Esperanza," he whispered to himself.
"Espe what?" Severus asked.
"Esperanza," Sirius replied a bit louder. "Hope in Spanish."
"What hope has to do with playing matchmakers?" Severus asked curiously.
"Nothing," Sirius sighed. "It's just…" he paused and then looked at his brothers sternly. "If I hear that one of you split it out before the ball I'm going to skin the delinquent off, by the balls."
"Yeah, right, go ahead," Severus waved at him, his face showed that he was curious.
"My lips will be sealed," Regulus said solemnly.
"Mirzam is pregnant," Sirius announced.
"Pregnant?" both men gasped in unison.
"How far along?" asked Regulus curiously.
"With whom?" Severus asked tentatively.
"Three weeks, with me," Sirius snickered.
"I was asking about the sex of the child, idiot," Severus muttered.
"A girl," Sirius chuckled. "We decided to name her Esperanza Onyx."
"I can guess why Esperanza but why Onyx?" Severus asked curiously.
"Just because," Sirius replied with a smile. "We don't want to tell the rest, yet. Not before the ball anyway because if mum or aunts will get the wind about it Mirzam is going to be smothered for life. Though I bet that Gemma is going to know by now."
As if to confirm his guess Mirzam and Gemma walked into the greenhouse from the direction of the garden. Both were holding one boy in her arms.
"So hope is for hope of getting rid of the Dark Lord in the future?" Gemma asked curiously. "Do you plan to have more?"
"Not if I can help it," Mirzam giggled and then she added more seriously. "Not before the Dark Lord kicks the bucket. We didn't exactly planned having other children than the twins but since it happened anyway we are going to be sickeningly happy about having a daughter."
"But why Onyx?" Gemma asked pleadingly. "There are so many beautiful names. Not that Onyx sounds good with Esperanza. But why?"
"Because," Mirzam snickered.
"You could be more specific, Mimi," Gemma sighed.
"If you stop asking me why Onyx I will give you my muggle handcuffs, Gimmy," Mirzam snickered.
Gemma blushed furiously before she muttered, "Oh, shut up."
"So do you have any other ideas to prove your point?" Mirzam asked impishly.
"I have one," Gemma snickered. "Don't listen to your advices. So do you plan to stop working now, Mimi?"
"Nope," Mirzam shook her head. "Everything is fine so hopefully I will be able to work till Christmas, Gimmy."
"But you are pregnant," Gemma said fiercely. "You are a pregnant auror, it's dangerous."
"I'm pregnant auror with two little boys and five little sisters to take care of, Gimmy. I was planning to ask Madam Bones for a lighter job in the department as soon as this whole werewolf mess is cleared off a bit," Mirzam replied.
"Work at the desk?" Gemma asked.
"Not exactly," Mirzam replied. "I was thinking about something else but I'm not telling more till I had a chance to talk it over with Sirius and Madam Bones. It's just a thought which occurred me recently."
"Come on, spill the beans," Gemma said, she sounded curious.
"Nope," Mirzam shook her head. "So Gimmy, my dearest sister where you are planning to work after finishing Hogwarts?"
"I won't tell you until you tell me what you are planning," Gemma said.
"Smooth but since I won't tell you until I know that it will work you are going to be blissfully unaware," Mirzam snickered.
"You are mean and bossy," Gemma giggled.
"I'm pregnant. I'm allowed," Mirzam said and she stuck her tongue at Gemma.
"Childish too," Gemma added with a small snicker.
"Congratulations Mirzam!" Severus called out as they got closer to them.
"Thanks!" she called back and then said to Sirius, "So you babbled it out."
"Just to them and look who's talking," Sirius chuckled.
"Mother of your children," Mirzam replied. "Sirius, Severus I'm going to need your help in the library. Gimmy give me Remmy," she said and she turned to Gemma.
Gemma handed the kid to her and Mirzam quickly went past her and marched out from the greenhouse.
"You could be less obvious," Severus snickered after he and Sirius caught up with her.
"I could spell the doors locked but I didn't," Mirzam snickered and she handed Remmy to Sirius. "So how do you think it's going to end?"
"A snog on the dirty ground," Severus said.
"A very uncomfortable discussion about feelings," Sirius added. "Come on let's ride the library."