Disclaimer: We all know how these work, I acknowledge that J.K. Rowlings, Warner Bros. and Scholastic own Harry Potter and all other characters and settings from cannon, and I get to write whatever I please and even add in characters of my own as long as I don't get any money. The no money sucks but there you go, at least I don't get lawyers knocking on my door.

Addendum: If you recognize a name of a character from elsewhere it isn't mine.

Sirius' Savior

Chapter 25 Moving

The magical President and his wife were fighting, and he had been banished from their bed. He had spent twenty eight years married to Maryanne and this was the first time in all that time when they had been under the same roof but were in different beds. He couldn't quite figure out how it happened; they had been having their monthly Sunday night dinner with the family and all of his sons portkeyed in from their various homes around the States.

After dinner Beth had pulled out the photos from her trip to show Nic, Carson and Thomas.

"Beth, baby, what are those?"

" Don't call me baby I'm thirty two for heaven's sake. They're pictures from my vacation Daddy."

"Put them away now! I don't want to see pictures of you and that...that criminal."

"No one said you had to look at them and just because you don't want to see them doesn't mean everyone else here feels the same way. And Sirius isn't a criminal, he's a good man!"

"That Criminal can't even enter this country because if he does his soul is forfeit! What kind of person gets that assigned as a punishment? I said put those pictures away now young lady or I'll make you!"

"They're just pictures..." Maryanne tried to placate her husband.

"Incendio!" the pictures burst into flames.

"How could you? You... I HATE YOU!" Beth left the room.

The hurt on his daughter's face at that moment had made him feel guilty, but Sirius Black was a criminal and there was no way he would allow his precious daughter to soil herself by associating someone of that caliber. His son Nic had stood, given him a dismayed and disgusted look and bid Maryanne goodnight and left. His other sons were too confused to voice an opinion they couldn't understand why he was so upset by pictures. Maryanne had glared daggers at him while bidding the rest of their children goodbye. The argument that followed in their private quarters rattled the windows. It had ended when Maryanne had walked to the door and opened it and said in a voice so cold Antarctica would seem warm by comparison, "I have been your wife for twenty eight years and I have always supported you even when I didn't necessarily agree with you. There have been many times when I put you first instead of the children which is as it should be because you are my husband. BUT this time Rick, I have to side with my daughter. She is a woman grown not an awkward adolescent or a baby as you so often call her, and I have read the file security put together. Beth has a good head on her shoulders and despite being a squib, she is a capable person. I will not put you ahead of her this time, you may rejoin me in our bed when you have made amends with our daughter and I would suggest you start by reading the file that security has put together." She gave him a shove out the door and then closed and magically locked it behind him.

Elsewhere in the castle after exiting the bathroom where she had just lost her dinner Beth called, "Bess!" The house elf popped in. "Bring my trunks!" She went back to her bathroom and started to pack her toiletries. When had gathered them all, she stepped back into her bedroom. The two trunks sat waiting. Beth loaded her belongings from the bathroom into the trunks. She moved to her closet and started on her clothes. She systematically went through and packed all her belongings into the two trunks. The last item she packed was the large photo of her and Sirius. Mentally she thanked God that she had only taken the pictures that she had taken, not any of the ones Harry had sent. She would be able to get reprints tomorrow, She glanced at her watch, make that today. George would have just come on duty two hours ago. Winry would be off in another two. Beth used her cell phone to call her boss' voice mail and let him know that she wouldn't be in that day. She called for Bess, "I need you to get George and Winry to join me." A few minutes later a knock sounded on her suite door.

Winry opened the door, "What do you need Beth?" there was a half second pause then it was followed by a "What the...?" As she realized that none of the touches Beth used to personalize the suite were in place.

George came in and he looked at the two trunks in the middle of the floor. "Is there a trip I'm not aware of?"

"No however I have every intention of leaving the castle today and I will not return even if that...Jerk that calls himself my father manages to pull his head out of his ass. You've got two hours to figure the best place, I'm inclined to go to Nic's. He won't mind my crashing there until I get my own place, and he already has appropriate security in place. Thought's?"

George looked at Winry as a mind healer he was aware of how stressed Beth had been for the last couple of weeks. He and Winry had been keeping a close eye on Beth, "Your brother's is an excellent idea at least for short term. How about you contact him so his security doesn't go crazy when we show up, and I'll arrange for a car." He looked at Beth's very pale skin then asked. "Will you let Winry run a scan once we're there?" He actually wanted to run it now but he could tell in her current mental state odds were good in wouldn't be accurate anyway due to stress.

Beth nodded. She moved to the land line in the castle and then remembered her suspended phone privileges, and frowned at how adolescent that phrase sounded. Then pulled out her cell phone. She let the phone ring. It was a dozen rings before Nic's sleep fogged voice came over the line.

"Whosit?

"Nic It's Beth I'm moving out today. But I've not had a chance to find a place is it possible for me to crash with you until I find a place after what happened last night I can't stay at the castle anymore. I'm all packed I just need your okay and for you to tell your security I'm coming."

"Beth? What? Give me a second...So you're on your way here?"

"If that's okay with you."

"Well that's better than running half the world away. I'll see you when you get here. What time is it anyway?"

Beth suddenly realized that in was only two thirty in the morning and what exactly that meant. She felt the flush of extreme embarrassment sweep over her, followed by a wave of nausea. Winry read her expression and conjured a basin to catch the vomit just in time.

Winry picked up the phone Beth had dropped and spoke to Nic. " Beth is throwing up at the moment I'm sure she be back with you when she finished."

"She's sick?"

"Yes. If being pregnant weren't enough, she's stressed..."

"Bring her here, she's welcome even if it's.... it's...tempus...two thirty in the morning!?!"

One and a half hours later Winry exited the guest bedroom of Nicolas Stevens guest bedroom. She was met by Roy, Rachel, George and Nicolas Stevens. Roy voiced the thought that was on all their faces."How is she?"

"Not as good as I would like, she has actually developed a small ulcer so I'm going to get Walter to brew a course of potions. We're going to have to substitute a few ingredients from the standard ulcer potions because she's pregnant. I'm telling her to take the week off from work, the NATO update is done until January anything else is likely to be more intense than I want her doing. She's stressed because of this situation with the President, she's worried about what's going on with Sirius Black and Harry, and frankly if her ulcer gets any worse she may very well lose the babies."

"Wait a second did you just say babies, as in more than one?" Rachel demanded.

Winry nodded. " Triplets. I didn't tell Beth but she's already at risk because of her ulcer but a multiple puts her in a higher risk category for pregnancy complications. I hope just being outside the castle will reduce her stress enough that the potions will get rid of the ulcer."

"Is there anything I should do or not do to help my sister?"

George spoke "We should do everything we can to get Black and Harry here by Christmas. I know Beth was working with that goal in mind. I think maybe some distraction in the form of Christmas shopping, would be good and she needs to start the work of finding a place. So I think a goal for today is getting together with a real estate agent."

Nic nodded, "I'll file the stay of extradition today. And if Beth has those copies of that file I'll see to it that Matthais Beckley and Silverton Richards get copies of it today. It probably works to our advantage Silverton hates Albus Dumbledore and he was the Wizengamot judge in Black's case although that should have been a conflict of interest right there since he claimed guardianship of the Potter kid."

Rachel and Roy both nodded. Roy spoke, "I'll get Hawkeye to come in a little early and pull Radar from support for the day then we can get the shopping covered. I really appreciate you opening up your home like this Mr. Stevens. I nearly had a heart attack when George called me that Beth was packed and planning to leave. I haven't had a chance to be briefed on what set all this off."

"Dad did. We'd had dinner, after dinner Beth got out pictures from her trip to show me Carson, and Thomas. Dad flipped out, told her to put them away. Beth's always been a bit of a mouse when it came to Mom and Dad. Imagine my surprise when the mouse roared. Dad incendioed Beth's vacation pictures. Next thing I know Beth yells I hate you at Dad and leaves the room. I at least had a clue of what was going on I'm sure my brothers are all confused as hell because all she was doing was showing pictures from her vacation they didn't even include the ones showing Black.

"As far as the real estate agent problem, my secretary Mabel just bought a place I'll ask her for the name of her agent and I'll call Carroll Wrexmann she helped me get my place that will give Beth a couple of choices. I'll also ask Madison who the hotshot of custody cases as I know that according to Beth that is one of Black's biggest concerns. As far as opening my home, Beth's my sister and contrary to the beliefs of my father she is quite capable. She may not be able to summon or banish or conjure but she sees the heart quite clearly and has a wisdom that let's her work a magic all her own."

"Thank you in any case for sparing me the nightmare of trying to figure out security concerns and solutions for a new place in a two hour timeframe."

"No problem. Now if you don't mind I'd like to get another hour and a half of sleep." He turned and moved back to his room.

Three hours later Beth's phone woke her, "Mmm..Hello?"

"You sound sleepy love did I wake you?"

"Uhm Hmm," Beth sleepily hummed. She heard a soft chuckle.

"Beth should I let you sleep some more?"

"Huh-uhn, Didn't go bed till almost four."

"Well that almost made sense."

"Sorry, slow to wake up."

"I can tell." Sirius' voice made Beth feel like she had sipped on hot chocolate, it was warm rich and sweet. "Why were you up so late, don't you have work today?"

"Moved out. Winry told me take the week off. I've been a little sick. I found you the best lawyer and he said the Brits case had holes in it big enough for semi trucks, he's filing a stay of extradition today. He recommended that on the custody issue you sign guardian ship over to someone here until the whole custody issue could be resolved by forcing the Wizengamot to unseal the wills of James and Lily. I will call the Secretary of State today to see what he has to say about slipping you in on the sly, but it sounded as if he needed to check with the Muggle President first. How goes stuff on your end? How's Harry?"

"Harry and I packed up the house we're staying in a muggle hotel through tomorrow; the memories at the house are to much for him. I've put the house on the market. Most the arrangements for Liana's family are done. Sri's executor is one of the healer's at St. Michaels I meet with him later today I'll get Harry's medical record while I'm there. The funerals are tomorrow our flight to Guam tomorrow night. Harry is a little lost, he's really missing Hadi, Liana, and Sri. He's taking a bath at the moment. I wanted to get more details on what's supposed to happen when we get to Guam."

"I'll call Jack once we're off the phone. He's coordinating air force special forces in the Asian Pacific region. But they station the job at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam near the Bomber wing but he is a lieutenant colonel, he and his wife Sarah and their son Charlie have a house in base housing you'll stay with them until the clearance goes through then he'll see that you and Harry will get on your flight and you'll fly here to Washington where you'll be met by me and probably some aurors."

"I can't wait to see you."

"Me too. I have something to tell you, but it's the sort of news that should only be given in person so don't ask."

"Okay."

"What do you and Harry want for Christmas?"

"To be there with you... away from here. I never realized how much Harry and I depended on all of them. They gave us so much and at the moment it hurts to go through those moments when you see something and you think I should tell Sri that and then you remember that she's gone. Or when I crack a joke and expect Liana to try and smack my head but nothing happens. It's just hard. I've been through it before so I know it passes but Harry was too little when James and Lily died so he doesn't remember. It's hard for me watching him go through this."

"I can imagine. I was thinking of going shopping for presents today. Any ideas?"

"He'll need warmer clothes and warm pajamas everything we have is tropical weight. I started thinking; we're going to need a place to live. And Harry's going to need a school and I have no idea what's there. I just keep coming up with more stuff I'm going to have to deal with."

"Stop. I will take care of some of this I was planning on talking with a real estate person today so they're going to want a budget and financial info to start. I will get you and Harry three warmer outfits each and one set of warm pajamas, but to do that I need sizes. And if you want me too,"

"Your house budget is up to five million US, I'll get Gringott's New York to transfer funds to an account at Bromley's there in Washington. I'll authorize you to draw on that account, first thing tomorrow morning. If you find a house you absolutely love that's more let me know. As far as house goes plenty of room, pool would be nice, it would be better to be muggle rather than magical. OF course you'll need wards but with Harry, damn I guess I'll have to put off working on a magical computer in favor of figuring out the wards. As far as sizes I wear men's large for sweaters and the like. I'm a thirty four waist, thirty six length. I wear a sixteen and a half neck and thirty five sleeve. Harry wears a boys twelve."

Beth sat there in shock Sirius had to be kidding, "Did you just say my house budget is...Five million dollars?"

"Of course. That should be enough right? Or is it that you don't think we're ready to get a house together? Ah here's Harry."

"Beth?"

"Hiya, kiddo. How you doing?"

"I don't know. I miss Hadi. I kinda wish I was in school because it would be something to do."

"Well I'm working on getting you and Sirius here. I suppose I'll have to look into schools too. Is there any no ways I should be watching out for?"

"No choir requirement, I sing like a bull buffalo."

Beth chuckled. "Don't you mean a bull frog?"

"Frogs sing prettier than me. Why do you think I chose to learn guitar and cello? I like music but I have to work at it."

"Okay no choir. Anything else?"

"Languages, they've gotta have Latin. Japanese would be nice too. Beth I... Am I really going to be with you soon?"

"As soon as I can make it."

"Will it be safe for Sirius?"

In that minute Beth realized how affected Harry had been by Sirius' fugitive status. It made her mad that such a young boy had to be aware of such things. He had definitely learned to be aware, to plan for them. Both he and Sirius, they both cared for each other, looked out for each other. Harry for all his privileged life style didn't take security for granted, it was terrible that he had been denied that basic tenant of childhood. He wasn't the only child that was true of but he was the only one she personally knew. "As safe as I can make it."

"Okay then. I'll let you talk to Sirius. Night Beth."

"Night Harry." Beth waited for the two minutes it took Sirius to get the phone back from Harry and wish him goodnight. "He sounds a little better."

"Getting out of the house helped, he's no longer being overwhelmed by memories from all directions. It's helped a lot him having something to look forward to."

"Hope always helps. You kinda blew me away with that budget. And I didn't get the sizes down."

"Harry boys twelve, me thirty four waist, thirty six inseam, sixteen and a half neck thirty five sleeve, men's large. What do you mean you got blown away by the budget I gave you?"

"I knew that you and Harry were wealthy, I mean Palau Pacific Resort isn't a budget hotel and the two of you stayed in a suite but that you just roll that huge of a figure off as if it is nothing just kinda made it more real."

"I.. I guess I take money mostly for granted. The figure I gave you for a house budget represents what I make in a year between businesses I own and investments since I inherited the Dukedom in Alsace. I figured that would be a good baseline. I'll probably make twice that next year as Wizarding cell phones take off. I've invested pretty heavily in companies that are expanding in the cell phone market. Harry's income would be similar but for the chunk the foundation eats. The Potters unlike most of the Blacks believe in noblese oblige as result a huge portion of their income is given away. Doesn't stop Harry though he's actually increased the Potter income from investments last year."

"Wow. I'm stunned."

"How bout I let you go so you can call your cousin before it gets to late. I'll call tomorrow, Love you Beth."

"I love you. Rest well." Beth got out of bed and looked for her address book so she could call Jack.