A/N: This chapter sets the stage for part II, where things will be getting interesting. Someone asked how long this will be, I get the feeling it will be around forty chapters. Also, I meant the total page count of the entire story was more than 150 pages on Word. Thanks for reading and review!

Chapter 27- A Busy Summer

By the first weekend of the summer, Sirius had received positive replies from the parent's of Rial's friends. Come September 1st, the group of five former Slytherins would be educated by tutors bound under complex secrecy spells. They would be under the Fidelius Charm in an Italian residence that belonged to the Black family. Sirius would Apparate to and from there to his job at the Ministry, though he would not be the Secret-Keeper.

After much persuasion on Sirius' part, Severus Snape would hold that position. On August 31st, the Potions Master would simultaneously send his resignation letter to Albus from both the Order and Hogwarts and wouldn't attend the expected Death Eater meeting. He was turning his back on both of his former masters and taking the open position at Riley's Institute of Magic. Severus was already looking forward to leaving behind children who saw Potions as a required class rather than the art form it truly was.

Sirius' original plan had been to lock Black Manor itself with Regulus as Secret-Keeper, but after some thinking he'd chosen the Italian villa instead. Choosing Severus as the keeper was an obvious choice, he would be able to get out from under both Voldemort and Dumbledore. If Sirius had it his way, Severus would never have to spy again. As far as Dumbledore withholding information about Severus' position during the last war, he had a few plans.

Sirius had plenty of time to think, by two weeks after Rial came home from Hogwarts he was able to limp around the Manor for limited amounts of time, leaning heavily on a polished cane to support his weak legs. Normally Healers at St. Mungo's would have been able to heal his injuries in trice, but these had been given with Dark Arts and they had to heal on their own. Injuries like this required close care and he had never appreciated Severus' presence in his life quite as much as he did now.

At the moment he was limping down a long corridor, headed for a small family sitting room. Present currently were Severus, Rial, Draco, Lucius and Remus. Regulus was on his way as well. The purpose of the small meeting was to discuss, in detail, Rial's third side. If they were to survive a war on two fronts, they would need to plan and be always aware and at least a step ahead. For now Lucius intended to keep his position amongst the Death Eaters, though Remus had protested heavily.

Sirius frowned. Remus had been acting odd recently. He was overly nervous and anxious the past few weeks and even Lucius had commented that he'd been preoccupied and easily startled. When he'd been unable to talk Lucius out of spying on the Dark Lord he'd sulked for a good three hours.

Shaking Remus' odd behaviour out of his thoughts, Sirius walked into the sitting room and took his place next to Severus. Looking at the quietly conversing Draco and Rial he suppressed a grin. It had taken an entire year, but what he'd noticed on the train at the end of the previous term had come to pass. The pair were so tightly bound they had begun to anticipate the others' mood and actions. They were light and shadow, two complex individuals with a fine yet contrasting difference between them.

Rial stood and walked over to give him a hug, which he easily returned. Rial had been clingy the first week of vacation, Sirius didn't mind. He was glad and touched at how important he'd become to the teen in one short year. Rial was equally important to him and the thought of him hurt or dead was enough to make Sirius wish he could panic.

"Thank you for dropping by, Lucius. The purpose of this little gathering is to discuss in more detail the plans and goals of Rial's third side. Rial gave us two basic ideas, remove both Fudge and Albus from power and defeat the Dark Lord. Zachary Potter and by extension Albus have already been partially discredited with the death of Zachary's father. Do any of you have an idea of how to remove Cornelius?"

Remus frowned in thought. After a long moment of contemplation he said, "I remember part of Rial's conversation with James from the Department of Mysteries. James mentioned he'd been financing Cornelius for a while. Is it possible to trace James' accounts and find which one he was using? If it were brought before the Wizengamot that Cornelius was accepting outside funding, he would be brought in for inquiry."

"That may be possible. I have contacts with the goblins and Lily Evans has control of Zachary's financing for another few weeks. Would Regulus be willing to ask her if James had any foreign accounts she knew of?"

Rial had crinkled his nose at Lily's name. When it was brought up in the same sentence as his uncle he frowned. However, he remained quiet as Sirius replied, "He probably wouldn't mind. Regulus and Lily have already volunteered to stay in the Order of the Phoenix and bring what details they can."

Rial said darkly, "We will have to make sure she won't be able to give information about us right back. I would suggest an Unbreakable Vow."

"Rial, you have a good reason to be angry with her. However, we can't let this get between us and the information we possibly need to reach our goals."

Irritably Rial snapped back, "A contract of some sort then, if the Vow is unacceptable. I will not have her listening to our plans and stabbing us in the back."

"Watch your tone, Rial," Sirius growled, suddenly sounding like his animagus form.

Rial stiffened. "Yes sir," he replied flatly.

"Rial," Draco said quietly, "tell them about your idea from the train."

Rial explained his idea about educating the pureblood families with minimal expression, still angry about Lily Evans. He also mentioned the compartment ride and Torian's vow of debt.

Lucius blinked expressive silver eyes and said, "Be careful with how you treat that debt, Rial. Purebloods do not easily swear those vows and the easiest way to insult them is to call it in on something menial."

Rial inclined his head curtly and said, "Did you hear about his grandfather Taryen?"

Severus answered this time. "My father contacted me by Floo. He was quite shaken at the death of his old friend. He said Rodolphus was able to leave with Torian but Rabastan was killed before Taryen finally succumbed to his injuries. Torian must be quite shaken; his father is a malicious character."

"I happen to know that there are several people in the Order of the Phoenix that may be interested in helping us instead. Nymphadora Tonks for one, she's Andromeda's daughter. Her boyfriend is the oldest Weasley son, Bill. He's a curse breaker in Egypt, it would be a useful skill for our ranks. Your friends may also be interested, Rial," Remus put in.

"The other two are a possibility, but I would rather have my friends as allies than open members. Enough of us are risking our lives as it is," Rial said softly. "We need a name for our group. It should suggest our purpose."

A long quiet followed his words. Several suggestions were voiced, but it was Draco who finally came up with it. "Remember on the train, Rial? Torian said we were trying to restore balance. What about Keepers of Balance?"

"It has merit," Severus approved. "Translate it to Latin, however. Custodis Pondera."

Sirius smiled. "That sounds about right. Now, I know it's getting late. How about we meet again at a later date and by then we'll have thought of some way to keep information secret and prevent betrayal?"

They all nodded. Lucius, Remus and Draco departed through the Floo attached to the sitting room. Rial stood, looked momentarily at his father and Severus before turning on his heel and striding out. Sirius sighed and leaned against Severus shoulder as he muttered, "I messed up, didn't I? I know he doesn't like or respect Lily, neither do I for that matter. He still needs to respect different opinions than his own."

Severus dropped a kiss to his soft hair and handed him a cup of tea from the tray that had just appeared. Taking his own and sipping quietly he answered, "Rial is 16 years old, love. You didn't mess up, he just let his temper get away with him. Once he calms down he will realise this. We tend to forget just how young he is."

Sirius sighed, relaxed and said, "You're right of course. Where would I be without you, Sev?"

Severus snorted at the nickname and said dryly, "Much lacking in wit and intelligence, I would think."

Sirius scowled and swatted his shoulder. "I was being serious!"

Severus affected a mock-puzzled look and said, "How can you be anything but yourself?"

Sirius groaned and gave up. Severus smirked.