The seven of them headed to Lion's Den Estate in a muggle automobile. As it was only an hour's distance, Evie's dad preferred the drive. And it gave Evie time to brief Sirius on the relatives of hers that would undoubtedly be there.

"Ok, so let's start with my dad's side since it's their party and all," said Evie in between James and Sirius in the very back seat, "Now my grandparents are Algernon and Althea. But you'll probably just call them Mr. and Mrs. Bloxum. My grandpa Algernon retired seven years ago as Head of the Auror Office. So he likes to go on about ol' war stories and about the 'Gryffindor legacy' as he calls it. My grandma is really fantastic. Real insightful, honest type. Used to be a healer. My grandma's family, the Bones, the Flints, and the Ollertons will probably be there, but I doubt you'll even talk to them so we'll just skip them. Then there's the Malfoys-"

"You're related to the Malfoys?" asked Sirius surprised.

"Not by choice, but yes. Lucius Malfoy's grandmother is my grandpa's sister. But I always ignore them at these things. Moving on, my dad's got one brother and one sister. Apollo and Audra. Now Apollo is married to my aunt Daphne. Because she's a Hopkirk they'll probably be there. Apollo and Daphne've got five kids: Alban, Belinda, Tabitha, Farrah, and Alaric. Alban's twenty, married, works for the ministry. He's got a wife, Carla; she'll be the fat one with swollen ankles swarmed by people touching her large stomach. They've got a daughter named Annelie. Belinda will probably be there with her fiancé Daniel Davies. They've both graduated but he insists on remaining as obnoxious a Ravenclaw as ever. Anyways, my cousin Tabitha's a good sport. Really funny, plays seeker for the Holyhead Harpies. She'll be the one with the out-of-place looking muggle on her arm. That's her boyfriend Mitchell Turpin. Now, Farrah and Alaric are a year younger than us, twins, and completely different. I can't stress that sentiment enough. Alaric is really cool and easy going, much like his brother Alban. Farrah however, is Satan. With me so far?"

"Right, so you're related to the devil."

"She's not saying this lightly," Agreed James, "Farrah is a nightmare."

"Alright, continue," said Sirius, now completely amused.

"Alright so then there's my wonderful Aunt Andra. She works for the Wizarding Wireless network. She's married to this bloke Theus Macmillan. And from them are my cousins Myron and Scarlett. Myron's a year younger than us, real nice guy, just kind of quiet. Scarlett's two years younger than us. Really sweet, smart, lovely girl. Constantly getting bullied by Satan."

"The nerve of Satan!" joked Sirius.

"Exactly! Which is why I've got no problem putting her in her Satanic place."

"Evandra, stop referring to your cousin as the devil." Called Mrs. Bloxum from the front seat.

"Yes, mum," said Evie with an eye roll, "Anyways, now onto my mum's side. Now my mum's got a bunch of family too. Mostly cheerful ol' Hufflepuff types. Not my grandmother though. My grandmother, ever the Ravenclaw, is a tough, sharp cookie, and I really mean it. My gram is Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Her name's Ethelinda but she'll probably just make you stick with Mrs. Dearborn unless she gets to liking you after meeting you a couple of times. My grandpa Galahad is dead, but through him and my grandma there's going to be a lot of extended relatives, mostly Blishwicks, Dermotts, and Gamps. Also some Muldoons and Browns. Anyways, my mum's got two siblings. The younger one being my uncle Caradoc. He's an unspeakable. That'd be Felissity's father. She'll be there with that tosser of a boyfriend Amos Diggory. Felissity and her dad are related to the Longbottoms. So they'll likely be there. She's really close to her cousin Frank and his girlfriend Alice Olsen. Then there's my mum's sister Evelance. She's a retired Quidditch player who now heads the Quidditch sector of the Department of Magical Games and Sports. She's married to Luke Abbott, and he works for my grandmother at the Ministry as a trial judge. He'll be the scary looking one that looks as if he's peering into your very soul. Their son is my cousin Craig. He graduated from Hogwarts a couple years ago. He's a seeker too as a matter of fact. Just got drafted by the Wimbourne Wasps. He'll more than likely be there with his girlfriend Jane Doge. Her family is always invited to these things. Her great-grandad Elphias is mates with Dumbledore and sometimes he comes along. So we might see him. Then there's always all these old friends of theirs and Ministry people."

"Well I can see why Slughorn is so fond of you." Remarked Sirius as they drove up a steep hillside road.

"Oh yes, poor bloke. So many relations it keeps his head spinning." Laughed James.

"Apparently he can't remember a time when he didn't have a Bloxum in his class. It's ridiculously unethical of him to play favorites the way he does. Remus is a loads better than Fenrius Nott or Rabastan Lestrange." The dialogue circulated around badmouthing Slytherins, what was to be expected from next year's Quidditch tryouts, and which flavor bean would you force-feed Snivellus, before they finally made it to Lion's Den.

The furnishings and style of the place were more outlandish than Sirius had initially pictured. Two lion statues straddled the sides of the massive oak front doors, which above held a sculpted coat of arms. Sirius craned his neck to get a better look at it but was instantly ushered in by Evie.

"There's a better one inside. Remind me to show you the Paterfamilias wing," she whispered as they made their way through the marble foyer. The wooden staircase above them split to their left and right. Golden marble fireplaces flanked them on either side as they made their way down a long hallway before they were greeted by an elderly pair, both with graying golden hair and extravagantly dressed. Both bore a striking resemblance to Evie's father. The man, clad in scarlet satin robes lined with fur, and the woman, adorned in a scarlet and gold dress had to be Evie's grandparents.

"Aldion, my boy, Happy Christmas," said the man as the elder Mr. Bloxu, took his eldest child into a fatherly hug.

"Happy Christmas, Dad," he replied with a smile before hugging his mother. The elder Mr. Bloxum gave his daughter-in-law a hug and a kiss before greeting the Potters and turning his attention to his granddaughter.

"Evie, my dear little princess, how's grandpa's favorite girl?" said Mr. Bloxum before giving Evie a long hug.

"Grandpa, you're not supposed to play favorites," Said Evie, not even bothering to hide the proud smile.

"What's the use in being the head of this family if I can't play favorites? Life would be less interesting," laughed Mr. Bloxum before turning his attention to Sirius, "You look rather familiar."

"Grandpa, this is Sirius Black, a friend of mine and James's from school. He's spending the holidays with us," Said Evie.

"A Black you say? Oh you must be the one that's had the old purebloods talking. Quite a stir you made, my boy. Getting placed in Gryffindor and all. But who could blame you? Placement in the house of the brave and bold is most coveted," Said the man with a laugh, "I'm Algernon Bloxum. And anyone who can ruffle the scales on a Slytherin as thoroughly as you did is as good as family in my book."

"I think he likes you," whispered James.

"Yes, dear, now let's get everyone to a table before we marry this boy off to Evie before the first course, shall we?" said Althea Bloxum with the same twinkle in her eye that Sirius had come to recognize in Evie's. The two of them blushed at the statement, but followed nonetheless, all the while ignoring the kissing noises James was making.

Evie's family was as warm and welcoming to Sirius as Evie had been. He could certainly see where his friend got her nerve and ferocity. Two hours into the night, after a slew of introductions, courses, and laughs, Sirius noticed Evie had disappeared.

"James, where'd Evie go?" asked Sirius as his eyes wandered over the dance floor.

"Oh yeah, she does that. She's all social and whatnot at first, then she goes off with her gran for a while. I swear those two are so similar it's like they're Siamese twins. Have you noticed how eerily similar they look, wrinkles aside? Anyways, right about now she'll be wandering the halls." Said James after looking at his watch.

10:34 pm and still the Prewetts hadn't arrived. James and Sirius sat at their table, slightly bored as neither of them wanted to dance or talk to anyone else. A red haired girl approached the table earning a groan from James.

"Fine, Potter, I won't say hello," Snapped the girl.

"Isn't there someone else you can irritate?"

"Well I was looking for that cousin of mine, but since I can't find her I'll just have to settle for you," she said before looking at Sirius, "You're new."

"And you're charming," he responded sarcastically.

"I take it you're Evandra's friend then."

"I take it you're Farrah then," at this she smiled.

"So you've heard of me?"

"Oh you know, just that they'll be exorcising you any day now," remarked Sirius. James couldn't control the laughter that overtook him at the look on Farrah Bloxum's face.

"Oh really, did Evandra tell you that?"

"Yes, but it's only been reinforced by this meeting," said Sirius before rising from his chair, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go find the pleasant Bloxum."

As he walked out of the room Sirius could still hear James's laughter. It took him a while and several wrong turns before he finally found her. The door to a dimly lit hallroom was cracked slightly and inside was Evie staring up at numerous portraits that lined the walls.

"Tilly's not here yet, is she?" she asked sensing his presence.

"No." he said walking in the room.

"Probably had another fight with Molly," she said absentmindedly as she walked from one portrait to the next.

"What is this place?" he asked as he looked from portrait-covered wall to portrait-covered wall. It was much like the portrait hall back at Mane Place only on a much larger scale as everything else in Lion's Den seemed to be.

Only one wall wasn't completely covered in portraits. The east wall had one rather large portrait that took up much of the space. The portrait flanked by tall, narrow bay windows depicted a large, brave looking man with long caramel blonde hair, the same shade as Evie's. In his hand was a ruby encrusted sword. On the other side of the windows were two portraits. One contained a woman who appeared to be the man's daughter as she had the same golden hair and smirk. The other portrait was of a man with slightly reddish hair and a bold demeanor.

"It's the Paterfamilias Wing. The portrait of every Bloxum and close relative of Bloxums that's ever lived and died is in here. One day I'll be in here. Just another portrait to take up wall space," said Evie absentmindedly as she stared at a portrait of a young happy looking girl, hardly older than Felissity or Molly. The engraving on the frame read:

Jubilee Robin Bones

1927-1947

"Who's that?"

"That's my grandma's youngest sister," said Evie in a soft voice.

"What happened to her?" asked Sirius from next to Evie.

"'Love was her undoing', as my grandmother puts it."

"What do you mean?"

"Few people know Voldemort's real name," he heard her say, slightly shocked that she'd say the name so calmly, "but my grandmother knew the second he emerged. Tom Riddle was his name when he was just a student in the same year as Jubilee. For some reason they were friends and she trusted him. That eventually developed into a relationship. But the more powerful he got the more twisted the relationship got. I don't know the whole story, but it came to the point where she gave him an ultimatum. Her or his so-called destiny. He said that he wasn't going to choose and that she'd stand by him no matter what it took. He killed her when she tried to leave him."

"That's unbelievable. Voldemort having a heart for one, but Voldemort having a girlfriend…How does your gran know it was him?"

"Because he disappeared soon after they found her. They never could track him down. Some of his friends said he went to Egypt. Others said he made his way to Albania. But when he came back…she just knew. And I don't know how. My gran is so insightful sometimes that I have half a mind to accuse her of being a Seer. It's just her thing I guess."

"You're really close I wager?"

"Well yeah. Even more so after the incident with my mum. She's been really involved, but we've always been close."

"Speaking of warm fuzzies, I met Satan."

Evie laughed loudly at this, "Oh yeah? What'd that stinker want?"

"Looking for 'Evandra', she said. My guess was just to annoy you."

"Well she does that so splendidly well. Why on earth would she ever give up her calling?"

Sirius took another look around the room before seeing what appeared to be the same coat of arms he'd seen at Evie's house and outside.

"I hadn't noticed, but is that lion holding a wand?" asked Sirius.

"Yeah. Whoever came up with that must've been barmy."

"What's that say?" he asked moving closer to read the inscription at the bottom of the crest, "For born are the brave?"

"Family motto. It's part of a poem that Rowena Ravenclaw composed as a wedding gift to Gwendoline Gryffindor and Alagos Bloxum," said Evie.

"Can I hear the poem?" asked Sirius as he turned around.

"What makes you think I know it?"

"Because as far as I can tell this has all been pounded into your head. Are you going to try to deny it?" he challenged. She gave him a disgruntled look.

"Fine maybe I do know it. It's called Born are the Brave, if you needed any indication." She muttered.

"Well? Go on," he encouraged.

She closed her eyes, summoning the words that had been grandly spoken about her bloodline for a thousand years.

"'Bold until the Last Breath

Brave into the Last Battle

Lion is the Heart that Lives

For Born are the Brave'

"And that's all you'll get out of me for now, because I can't remember the rest."

"See, now was that hard?"

"Oh shut it. This isn't without compensation." Remarked Evie.

"And what kind of compensation does Evie-bee require?"

"Hmm, well what's your family motto?" he grew silent before muttering something that sounded French. "What was that?"

"I said 'Toujours Pur'. It means-"

"Always pure. I do know some things, Mr. Black." She retorted before sitting on a chaise longue chair in the center of the room. Sirius made to join her.

"Yeah well what else do you know?" he asked softly.

"I know that this has been a really great holiday, and a lot of that's got to do with you. I also know that come next week we're going to be in a bit of a tough spot with Remus." She replied with downcast eyes.

"Yeah. That'll definitely be a tough spot. But I mean, as long as he knows we're in this for the long haul and that we're not just going to dessert him, I think we'll be alright." He said reassuringly. She surveyed him for a second before he uncomfortably asked what she was staring at.

"Sorry, just wondering where my friend Sirius went. That was far to mature a thing for him to say." She said with a laugh.

"Yes, Sirius Black is just full of surprises."