A/N: I know, I skipped the actual Christmas. I'm not good at writing about most gifts and the lists I've seen in fan fiction are annoying. I'm glad you're still with me; my plot abandoned me for a while. It's back now! Read, enjoy and as always… review!

Chapter Nineteen- Order Meeting

Sirius Black stood for a long moment outside 12 Grimmauld Place. He'd hated the family townhouse as a child, a change in age and priorities didn't lessen the dislike. Of course, the screaming portrait of his dearly departed mother didn't help. There was heavy amount of sarcasm in his voice whenever he spoke of Walburga Black. He fully believed she had something to do with Bellatrix's insanity.

He hadn't wanted to leave the Manor, especially after a wonderful Christmas holiday with his son. Rial was no doubt putting his nervous energy to work on homework while he waited for Sirius' return. Severus stood to his immediate left and Remus on the right. Eyeing the still prominent changes in his friend he smiled. If nothing else came of his relationship with Lucius Malfoy, something he highly doubted, the pureblood had already earned his respect for the help he'd given Remus so far.

Gritting his teeth he strode up the few stairs and opened the front door. He breezed past his mother's covered portrait, Auror training making his footsteps noiseless. He couldn't hear Severus or Remus for that matter. Remus always moved with surprising lightness for someone his size and Severus making any sort of noise was unusual. Thus they strode into the dining room of Grimmauld completely unheralded, grabbing surprised glances from some of the others.

Sirius seated himself in a chair close to the wall, crossing one leg over the other and leaning back in apparent boredom. Resting one elbow on the arm of the chair he rested his head on his fingers, lazily half-hooded grey eyes and listened. As if on cue, Walburga Black began to shriek at the top of her lungs. They could hear raised voices down the hallway and a moment later, James Potter swept into the room, followed by Lily and Zachary.

Sirius' eyes narrowed at the sight of the Potter heir. The more he considered the arrogant brat the more he congratulated himself on getting away from the family entirely. To say he'd been shocked when Lily had shown at Black Manor would be a major understatement. Apart from his well-deserved anger at the woman, he'd felt a slight bit of pity for the redhead.

She had finally learned, 18 years too late, that she'd married a man who did not appreciate a woman who could think for herself. A man who thought that fidelity in a marriage was 'old-fashioned', who had already been on the track to becoming what he was today, a bigoted, controlling arse who's lust for power was unlimited by person or object. James had become the type of person who would turn their back on a best friend for a promotion without a second thought.

Regulus seemed willing to help her out. Sirius chuckled inwardly, amused. For a half-moment he let his mind wander, debating the possibility of having Lily Evans as his sister-in-law. Judging by the few glances he'd seen Regulus throwing her way it seemed pretty likely. All he knew was that he would let Regulus tell Rial about it if the relationship went that far. Rial was giving all indications that he would never fully trust the woman again, nor forgive her for past actions. Sirius wasn't inclined to argue.

For now, he was wondering why Zachary Potter was present at all. True, the boy was 17 like Rial, but his father couldn't possibly want to have him inducted into the Order, could he? James wasn't likely to risk his heir's precious hide like that, he'd want to keep him as sheltered as possible until the end. It showed as well, in the boy's complete and utter cowardice.

Albus turned to Severus and asked, "What did Lord Voldemort want at the last meeting?"

Severus didn't flinch at the name, but his eyes narrowed into slits. Sirius knew he wasn't fond of saying the man's name out loud and Dumbledore knew as well, which was why he constantly pushed the man. Gathering his thoughts the Potions Master spoke after a long moment. "For the most part this last meeting was drivel, repeats of his desire to take out the Potter heir. The most disturbing matter was his certainty on the impending attack on Azkaban prison."

Several people murmured uneasily, shifting in their seats. "Has he mentioned anything specific?" Albus asked sharply.

"He is concealing all details of this plan; he grows suspicious that there is a spy in his ranks. He has yet to accuse any of the Inner Circle however."

"That suspicion wouldn't be there if you did your job correctly," James said smoothly.

Severus turned cold black eyes on the Auror and said silkily, "And you no doubt would be happy to show me what is wrong in my technique if it didn't sully your family's reputation. After all, I have to be doing something wrong to have survived the past 20 years."

Sirius snorted slightly, amused. Severus' voice was heavy with irony and sarcasm. To have survived 20 years in a double life was incredible and everyone here knew it. The idea of anyone 'showing what was wrong' was laughable.

He spoke up, to break the tension building between Severus and James. "Albus, I must ask. What is the purpose behind a 17-year-old's presence at an Order meeting? Had I known this was to be an open discussion I would have brought my son Rial."

"Your squibling is unwelcome, as are you Black," James muttered venomously.

"If that is true than you will be looking for another Headquarter and will lose an Unspeakable as well," Sirius shot back coldly.

"Now now, gentlemen," Albus said a bit anxiously, throwing a glance between the two purebloods. "Sirius, this is not an open meeting, I had decided that Zachary needs to begin listening in on these meetings, the information may be important for him in the future."

Severus snorted. "I highly doubt that's going to have a use if he runs away from the first sight of the Dark Lord, Albus."

"Now Severus," Albus scolded mildly, "Zachary merely panicked. It's a perfectly acceptable reaction, Voldemort does inspire great fear."

Rial didn't panic, you old fool, Sirius thought in anger. Albus seemed determined to ignore the full events of that night, however. Sirius knew there was nothing he could do to change the old man's mind and sat there in silence, ignoring the rest of the meeting.

As it wrapped up he winced, Rial was not going to be happy to hear Zachary had been present.

-D-N-S-D-

As it happened, Rial wasn't even at Black Manor at the moment. Draco had popped up through the Floo and asked if he wanted to come over for a bit. Rial jumped at the opportunity and left his father a note on the table. So at the approximate time his father was leaving the meeting, he was stretched out on a chaise lounge chair in a beautiful sunroom at Malfoy Manor.

At the moment his eyes were shut, so he didn't see Draco's wondering gaze as the blonde let dark grey eyes run over his elegant, refined features. Draco was at the moment stunned with his good fortune. It had more than irritated him when Zachary Potter had turned down his hand of friendship 4 years ago. And to base that decision on his family name of all things…

He shook his head. Now he was glad he wasn't friends with the stuck-up Potter heir. The slight, shy figure on the train in his 4th year had intrigued him. He'd been half-tempted to leave without speaking when he saw the name Potter on the trunk. Curiosity and a desire to know who the quiet boy was made him stay.

He would never regret that decision. Even if this tentative relationship fell through he would always be glad that he'd chosen to offer a hand of friendship to Harry Potter, now Rial Sirius Black. The Black heir was intelligent, charismatic and stunning. Magically he held an awe-inspiring amount of power, yet he was content to remain an average wizard in the eyes of wizarding society.

Rial opened his dark green eyes, looked over at Draco and said quietly, "I like it here. It's very calm and peaceful."

"I'm glad, this is one of my favourite places to be in the Manor. I like doing my meditation sessions here, sitting in the sun. It helps me calm myself and concentrate better."

Tracing the edge of his snake tattoo Rial murmured, "I'm worried, Drake. This war, it's almost as if Voldemort's already winning. There's so much unrest amongst the Light and my father finds it difficult to see anything positive in the future."

Draco stood up, walked over and slipped behind Rial, so the other boy's head was resting on his shoulder. Reaching down he intertwined their fingers, feeling the edge of the carving under his hand. Kissing the soft, smooth skin of his cheek he thought for a long moment and said, "It will get better, Rial. It's true that the future seems dark right now, but nothing's set in stone. We'll get through this and in 20 years or so Voldemort will be little more than a bad memory, a figure in a history book."

Rial sighed softly, a warm breath whispering over their joined fingers. "I hope you're right, Draco. I really do. Otherwise, the future of our world is to grim to contemplate. But since when have you sounded like an optimistic Hufflepuff?"

Draco looked into teasing green eyes and arched an eyebrow like his godfather Severus was prone to do. "Me, a silly Puff? I'd rather be a Gryffindork!"

"Better dye your hair red then, so you'll fit in with the Weasels," Rial quipped back.

Draco huffed slightly, putting an exaggerated pout on his features. His answer was the delighted, clear pealing laughter of the usually reserved Slytherin.

"What do you say we go out and chase the practice Snitch?" Draco suggested.

Rial stood slowly. Turning a smug half-grin, half-smirk on the Malfoy heir he said, "Do you think you'll even catch it this time?"

Then he took off at a full run through the Manor, avoiding the fingers of an irate, amused blonde.