Soo... Seeing as I took ages with the last one, I'm being nice... This chapter was actually easy, because it's not really in the book's storyline, so I don't need to go back and re-read anything \o. I hope you all like this one... And warning: there's a sort-of-cliffhanger at the end! :p

Thanks to...
Dream Lightning - I just love it when my readers express their feelings towards my pairings *-*

Megan Allard - Ahh o Josh ainda vai falar porque nao gosta do Cedric, don't worry (ainda posso mudar de ideia sobre a explicacao dele, mas veremos :p) O 'care to join us?' foi minha fala favorita do capitulo todo :x - ela geralmente domina minhas falas favoritas. Ta entre ela e os momentos de revolta da Jess... Tipo ela zoando com o Tom Riddle... Athos e sermao? Maaaagina. Aquele ali é da paz gente :p Mas enfim, acho que voce vai gostar desse capitulo ~~ Tem bastante Josh. :p

usuihentai727 - heeeey! I haven't seen you in a while! I hope you're enjoying everything! \o

Poseidon'sdaughter3 - OMGG... YOU'RE HERE! I haven't seen you in SUCH a long time. This story without wheelchair threats just isn't the same. And it's actually strange seeing someone not wanting HarryJess, because lately that's all I've been reading! But you are warned - there's still more Cedric to come... But he dies, so it doesn't really matter :/ (poor thing).

Yeey! So happy to see usuihentai727 and poseidon'sdaugther3 back on my reviews! I was starting to think they'd given up on me! But, no need to worry my lovely readers, I love you all! Let's get down on it ~ Enjoy!

Let It Snow

The ride back to Selwyn mansion was filled with tension, though Jessica had no idea why. Her father had attempted conversation a few times, but he seemed distracted. She only hoped her family wouldn't embarrass her in front of Harry. The last thing she needed was him thinking that her family was dysfunctional, or something. Josh had been exceptionally moody. He barely talked and slept most of the time. Christmas was supposed to be a family time, where everyone was cheerful and happy, but it didn't seem as though it would be that way.

Harry was in complete awe when the car came to a stop. After seeing that the Selwyn's had a driver, he thought nothing else would surprise him, but nothing could've prepared him for the giant house. It was simply magnificent. The outside walls were a light brown stone, all different shapes and sizes; there was a large black door, and countless grand windows. Athos allowed him in, telling him more than once to make himself at home. He wasn't entirely sure what to explore first. The peach coloured, marble floor shined so perfectly, that he could practically see his reflection on it; the walls were painted a soft crème colour, making the rooms feel even bigger than they already were. The stairs were wide and had the same marble flooring. The railing was wooden and seemed almost antique, and a small part of the upstairs hallway was visible, forming a sort of veranda. Jessica happily gave him a quick tour of the house, reminding him constantly that her mother's drawing room was completely out of bounds. After spending almost three whole years at Hogwarts, this didn't seem strange to him. There was a library at her home, which immediately made him think of Hermione and how she'd love to be there right now, and it was filled with countless books, a few armchairs and sofas, some shelves and random sheets of parchment flying around.
"That's usually my dad's work doing some necessary research." She told him.
There was a smaller room, with a few more armchairs and a centre table. Jessica told him it was mostly used when visitors were around. Her father liked having separate areas for family and for visitors. The family room was large and very comfy looking. There was an extremely large fireplace, where the fire was burning beautifully bright. The dining room had a long, black, stone table, and Harry was certain they could fit almost fifty people there.

Jessica's room was nothing like he had imagined. The walls were painted a lilac colour, apparently her mother changed the colour of the walls every now and then and she was always surprised when she came home, she had a king sized bed, a few paintings and mirrors spread across the long walls, and a very, very large bay window.
"Wow." He managed to breathe out.
"You'll be staying in the guest room, just by the stairs." She smiled.
"There's more?" He asked, incredulously.
Indeed there was more. They walked past Josh's room, which Harry managed to notice a solar system painted on one of the walls, Anna's room, her parent's room, two different bathrooms, and finally they came across another set of stairs.
"Your room will be this one, because it's got the best view of the garden... Well, actually my room's got the best view, but this one is second-best." She grinned as she led him through a door, right by the other staircase.
It wasn't as big as Jessica's room, but it was undoubtedly bigger than anything he's ever slept in. There was also a king sized bed, with a plain white bed set. The room had a crème coloured carpet, like all the others, and the walls were painted white. There were a few rectangular mirrors near the window, forming an interesting shape on the wall. He was completely amazed by it all, that he couldn't really care about the view.
"Come on, I'll let you settle in once we're done." She said, excitedly.
She directed him up the stairs, and toward the famous drawing room, and reminded him once again that he wasn't allowed in there, and then she showed him where her father's office was. What really caught his attention, however, was the room reserved for the Graham-Selwyn family tree. He'd never seen anything like it before. Jessica tensed by the doorway, she was certain her heart was beating so fast that he could possibly hear it.
"Wow."
"You've said that already." She smiled.
"It's just... This place is so big. I'm surprised you don't get lost." He laughed. She eased slightly when she realised he started walking away. Either he hadn't taken much notice to the names, or he was faking it.
Harry nearly lost his breath when she showed him the owlry. He didn't even know that people could have owlries in their homes. He recognized Brownie instantly, and realised she was standing next to Hedwig. There was also a beautiful falcon, which stared intensely at him.
"That's Flapjack, he belongs to my dad, and he doesn't really like strangers. He'll get used to you eventually, but for now, just ignore the staring." Harry didn't even know birds could be so on guard like this, but he had to admit that Flapjack was an astonishing creature. "This one, over here, is also quite moody, but I'm pretty sure she'll like you before Flapjack does."
Harry found himself face to face with a Golden Eagle, and he was pretty sure he'd never seen anything like it. He wanted to hold it on his arm, like Jess was, but he ended up backing away when she started screeching and flapping her wings.
"Reminds me of Buckbeak." He laughed.
"A much smaller version, of course. Her name is Pasties, by the way."
"Is it just me, or are all your pets named after sweet things?" He grinned.
"With the exception of my newest, adopted street dog, yes."
"You have a dog?" He asked, dumbfounded. He didn't really think more pets were needed when you had an owlry in your own home.
"Yes and no... Come, let's go see if he's around." She grinned, placing Pasties back in her place and removing the thick glove from her hand.

The outside was just as brilliant as the inside, even if there wasn't really much out there. He noticed there was a conservatory, which had access from the family room. The long field of grass had been covered in snow, and he could only imagine what it looked like during the summer.
"It's a shame there aren't any flowers." She sighed.
"I could always come back another time." He smirked.
"That would be great! We should spend a summer here, all together." She grinned. Harry followed her all the way toward a very big tree, and stopped right behind her. Just a bit further down was a small, black, iron gate, which let outside. The wall, that surrounded her house and garden, was mostly covered with twigs. "We aren't allowed further than this tree. Don't ask why... It's another one of my mother's senseless rules."
"She probably just fears that some random stranger might stop by the gate." Harry shrugged. He really didn't care about her mother's motives. The house itself was just too mesmerising.
"I highly doubt it; no one ever goes back there." She said, thoughtfully. "Let's get back inside, it's freezing!"

x.x

Elena barged through Joshua's bedroom door, closely followed by Athos, who was continuously sighing and trying to get his wife to calm down. Joshua wasn't exactly fazed by this scene; he had expected something of the sort, after all. He tapped his fingers on the surface of his bed sheets and continued to stare at the ceiling while his mother rambled on and on. Athos decided to take a seat, not too far from them, seeing as this wasn't going to end any time soon. It was a good thing Jessica and Harry were hidden in the library... Though, he hoped they weren't doing anything he wouldn't want them to do.
"We have to do something about this, Athos. I don't think them simply not seeing each other is going to work. This is completely ridiculous, Joshua! A library! What were you thinking?" Elena screeched.
"Darling, yelling about it won't solve anything. You and I know very well how to deal with him." Athos sighed. He noticed a slight smirk growing on his son's face, and that's when he knew it was his turn to speak.
"Whatever we've been doing for the past sixteen years obviously hasn't worked." She spat.
"How long has this been going on for?" Athos asked, rubbing his forehead.
"Do you two seriously want to hear about my sex life?" Joshua asked, with a single eyebrow raised.
"You don't have a sex life! You're sixteen for goodness sake! You're in school! You have a lifetime ahead of you, and you'll have all the time in the world to get that done!" Elena bellowed.
"I really don't see what the big deal is. I love Lila, and she loves me. I don't go round doing it with every girl I see; no matter how much they want it." Josh said, rolling his eyes slightly.
"Well, that's actually very reassuring-"
"There's nothing reassuring about it, Athos! For goodness sake, could you please be a man and help me deal with your son?"

Athos was known to be a very calm and patient man. He wasn't too open about his feelings, and didn't always express his emotions clearly. He was mysterious, but that was one of his biggest charms. Nothing ever really unnerved him, but it was always easy to tell when he was no longer in a calm and peaceful mood. His hazel-green eyes, identical to Joshua's, would darken slightly, and the snowy skin of his cheeks would tint red. Joshua remembered seeing him this way only once, but it had been a very long time ago. He had been around the age of four at the time. He would never react physically, toward anyone or anything. He wasn't that kind of person. He would take a few deep breaths, a sip of anything liquid, and eventually go back to normal. The fact that he remained silent the entire time seemed to make it even scarier than it was intended to be.
"Look... I know all the contraceptive charms and methods. I'm aware of the consequences of doing it without protection, and quite frankly, I'd rather not be a father at sixteen. I love her. I have for a very long time, but never really had the courage to just go for it. I know she's the one for me because, well, I could have any other girl I want, but I want her." Josh explained, as he sat up and looked both his parents straight in the eyes. He was going to make them understand, one way or another. He always did.
"I've had enough of this. You're either going to do as I say, or get out of my house." Elena said, darkly.
"No one's leaving the house, Elena, especially not our son." Athos sighed. "I understand, okay? I really do. I think it's perfectly fine for two people to express their love for each other... But did it have to be in a library?"
"Yeah... That was kind of the thrill of the moment." Josh laughed, nervously.
"Which is why you got into trouble. You need to control certain urges, because not everyone wants to see it." Athos said.
"That's it? He gets suspended for two days and that's all you have to say?" Elena screeched once again.
"Mum... Why don't you meet her? You'll like her too, I swear-"
"I've met Lilith Davis before, when she was much younger, and I still disapprove of this relationship. You're too young!" She stomped her feet against the ground slightly, which came off a little immature, but tended to work.
"I was trying my best not to bring this up... But I recall you becoming a mother at eighteen. Weren't you too young then? Also, what was that about random trips to the Herbology greenhouse? So... me doing it in a library is a diabolical sin, but you two getting down and dirty in a greenhouse is perfectly okay?" He didn't mean to sound so sarcastically sneaky, but it ended up that way.
"How dare you... How dare you talk to me like that! I am your mother, not some random whore you met on the streets!" Elena shouted. She was definitely furious now.
"Okay... I suggest we all take a break from this conversation, before it gets even more awkward." Athos sighed, getting up from his seat. He carefully took his wife by the hand and led her out the room, hoping she would push back inside to continue yelling.
"Dad..." Josh called out, making Athos stop right by the door. "I didn't mean it like that... I mean, I did... But-"
"I'll handle her. You should take a shower before tea... You smell like train." Athos smiled.

x.x

Remus arrived at Selwyn Mansion on the twenty-third of December, right after lunch. Athos had unexpectedly been called to the Ministry, but he was just as happy to be around Jessica and Harry. Josh, however, wasn't as welcoming. He'd shut himself away in his room, claiming he had some painting to get done.
"Mum's been yelling at him ever since we got back." Jessica said, while she looked for a decent pair of gloves for Harry. His aunt and uncle weren't exactly ones to buy him decent clothing.
"Well your mother is one to yell." Remus chuckled.
"Here you go, Harry." She said, handing him a pair of very warm gloves. "We're going to have a snowball war outside... My mum should be back soon, so you can just make yourself at home."
"See you later." Harry grinned.

Remus did indeed make himself at home, just like he usually would. The Selwyn household always had a welcoming sensation; even if Elena was slightly intimidating at times. He slouched into an armchair, in the library, with a big book cradled in his arms. It happened to be an old potions book, one he remembered using back at his time in Hogwarts, roughly around the time when Athos found out he'd be a father...

-Flashback-
Remus Lupin sat patiently in front of the fire, in the empty and silent Gryffindor common room. The only people keeping him company were his best friends. They were the inseparable group of mischief makers. James Potter, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, Athos Selwyn and himself. It was the last night before their Christmas break and the initial plan was to get together to plan their early morning prank. The only one missing from the room, however, was Athos.
"Where is that twat? He's never late for anything." Sirius groaned, impatiently.
"He probably got lost in the greenhouse." James smirked.
"That would be more accurate if his girlfriend was still at Hogwarts." Remus stated.
"He could be with someone else. It's unlikely that he and Elena will last." Sirius said, rolling his eyes. Sirius had never been too fond of his best friend's girlfriend.
"What makes you say that?" Peter asked, curiously.
"She screwed around with-"

Sirius never got a chance to express his thoughts toward Elena Graham. At that very moment, a shaken, soaking wet, tearful and desperate Athos entered the common room. The four boys jumped up instantly, fearing the worst.
"What happened to you?" James exclaimed.
"Why are you wet?" Sirius wondered.
"I-it's... Rain... Raining... Outside."
"Calm down, mate, just tell us what's wrong." James said, trying his best to hold the boy up. Athos' breath was shallow and quick. He was hyperventilating. Remus cautiously rubbed circles on his friend's back, hoping it would calm him. It didn't. Athos broke down in even more tears.
"Please don't tell me you've killed someone." Sirius sighed.
"Now isn't the time for jokes, Sirius." Remus glared.
"Listen to me; we can't help you if you don't tell us what's wrong." James said, kneeling down and grabbing Athos by the shoulders, shaking him into reality.

"E... E-Elena... Pregnant..."
-EndFlashback-

"I thought you'd be arriving later." Elena said, standing by the library's entrance. Remus looked up, slightly startled by her sudden appearance, and smiled.
"Nope... I came on time, but Athos had some errands to take care of."
"As usual." Elena sighed. "Would you like something to drink?"
"Why not?" Remus chuckled and lazily picked himself up from the armchair.

Remus noticed they'd changed the dining room table; it was much bigger since the last one. He silently wondered if it was ever entirely used, but it didn't matter. He knew all too well that Elena liked everything big and beautiful. The outside hadn't changed much, though he was pretty sure the big tree had gotten bigger. The mansion's garden had always been the best thing, especially during the summer. Jessica and Harry were clearly still outside, apparently rolling in the snow, or at least Jessica was.
"Remind me to get those two inside in a few minutes, otherwise they'll end up with a cold." Elena said, as she drank away her Vodka.
"I never took you for a heavy drinker." Remus remarked, slightly amused.
"I've had a long day, Remus." She sighed. "Can you believe he was here? At my doorstep?"
"Who?" Remus asked, curiously.
"Who do you think? Black, of course! The nerve of that man, showing up on my doorstep. I've shooed him away once before and now he's back." She said, irritably.
"He knows Harry's here." Remus sighed.
"He won't get near him, not while we're around." Elena said, confidently. "Perhap's they should come in, though. It would be a lot easier to keep Sirius away from Harry if he's inside."
"I couldn't agree more." Remus smiled. He looked out the windows once again and saw that the two were already planning to head back inside. Something odd caught his eye, however. Something that he was certain wasn't there before. "Where does that door lead to?"
"What door?" Elena asked, paying more attention to the Daily Prophet on the table than to what Remus was doing. He was certain his heart started beating faster. He wasn't sure what it was, but he was getting a bad feeling, and his unofficial goddaughter was heading straight to it.
"The one outside... The one Jessica is heading to-"

Elena pushed passed the man and desperately looked out the window. Her daughter was beyond the tree, clearly breaking one of the house rules, but at that moment, Elena didn't care. She could only care about that door.
"How... She couldn't have..." She took a few steps back and tried to catch her breath. This couldn't have been happening. Not now. She had kept that thing very well hidden. It wouldn't simply appear without being summoned. Jessica didn't know about that entrance. Aside from Elena, only one other person knew of its existence... "Sirius."

x.x

Ten minutes into their snowball war and Harry and Jessica were both fully covered in snow, and freezing cold. They settled on simply lying on the fluffy ground, just under the big tree. Their conversations never seemed to make any sense whatsoever, but it was always interesting. Harry had talked her through many things about the muggle world; some were very intriguing, whereas others were just plain strange. They were just about to start a pretty sad conversation about Harry's living arrangements, when a large amount of snow fell on Harry's head, making Jessica roll sideways, laughing hysterically. His expression was priceless.
"Stupid tree." He muttered.
"You're face..." Jessica continued to laugh, uncontrollably.
"It wasn't that funny." Harry smiled. It had been pretty funny, especially since it startled him.
Jessica eventually took a deep breath and got on her feet, walking back to where Harry still sat. His hat and scarf were still completely covered with the snow that had just previously attacked him.
"We should go inside for a while, or we'll end up freezing." She said, still grinning. He almost answered, but something by the iron gate caught his attention. An overwhelming sense of sickness took over him and he tried to keep himself from panicking. After his Quidditch game against Hufflepuff, he'd been rather sceptical about everything he saw. He was so completely lost in his thoughts, that he didn't even notice that he'd spent at least five minutes staring at nothing. "Harry?"
"Did you see... I thought I saw... The dog." He said, quietly.
"A black dog?" She asked, almost too excitedly for his liking. "Scruffy!"
"Wait, I thought you said-" Jessica ran down toward the gate, leaving Harry without knowing what to do. They weren't allowed by the gate and he didn't want to be kicked out of the house.
"Are you sure you saw him, Harry? I can't see him anywhere." Jessica frowned and walked back toward the tree. "I'm sure he'll show up eventually."

Harry began walking back toward the house, with Jessica following closely behind and trying not to fall in the snow. She glanced back toward the gate once again, but the dog wasn't there. She did, however, notice something to the right of the gate. Something that hadn't been there before. She knew the garden from all angles; therefore she was always aware when there was something different, or odd.
"Hang on a second, Harry!" She called out, making him turn back, with a very curious look spread across his face.
In that moment, she didn't worry whether or not either of her parents were home. Her curious nature was calling her toward the mysterious appearance. Once she was close enough, she examined the strange intrusion. It was a door, and there hadn't been a door there before. Ever. It wasn't a very big door, but it was easy to tell when it was there. It was black, possibly made out of iron, and it clashed with the rest of the wall. The doorknob was a golden colour and it looked ancient. There was something different about it, however, something dark, almost dangerous even. That didn't make her want to leave it be. Instead, it made her even more curious to know what it was and why it was there.
"There's nothing on the other side, though." Harry said, as he leaned against the gate to look out.
"Magic, Harry." Jessica said, though it was barely audible. She cautiously turned the doorknob and pushed against the hard, unused door. It opened, without making the faintest noise.
"We should go back inside." Harry said, worriedly. The image of the giant Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets was still imprinted, clearly, in his mind. Jessica, however, didn't seem too fussed. She instead pulled out her wand and pushed the door further.
"Lumos!"

The sudden dog bark startled both of them. Scruffy anxiously jumped against the gate, trying his best to catch the attention of the two teenagers.
"I'm assuming this is Scruffy." Harry laughed. The dog did indeed look rather scruffy. Harry almost felt embarrassed for thinking this black dog could be anything dangerous.
"Not now, Scruffs, I'm busy." Jessica said, but it was no use. The dog barked, whined and cried, if possible, even louder. With a sigh, Jessica walked toward him and pulled out a small bag of grapes. "Sorry if you don't like grapes."
"We should head back, Jess, your mum doesn't want you over here." Harry warned.
"She's probably not even home yet." Jessica shrugged.
"Okay... But I don't want you to go in there alone." Harry said, nodding toward the strange entrance.
"Then come along." Jessica grinned. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Jess-"

"Get back! This instant!" Jessica visibly winced at the sound of her mother's screech. The colour from Harry's face drained and he tried to keep himself from shaking. Scruffy backed away from the gate and got ready to run off. Jessica wanted to call him back, but her mother was already too close. "A few simple rules! I give you a few simple rules and you can't even follow them? I don't know what I've done to deserve such disobedient, ungrateful brats for children!"
"We're sorry, it's just that-"
"Don't you dare give me excuses! Get inside, now!" Elena shouted. She was trembling and staring blankly at the open iron door. Jessica's brown eyes were wide, but angry. She couldn't understand why she had to live hidden behind so many rules and secrets. She stomped back up to the house, with Harry following closely behind. Remus sighed loudly. He hated being in the middle of family feuds. Elena waved her wand and the door disappeared into the wall, but the image of it being there was still clear in her mind.
"Elena... What was-"
"Not now, Remus, I need to deal with her first." She said, angrily.
"No, you don't. Tell me what that was... Because if it's nothing of importance, then you wouldn't have gotten so angry at her." He was getting frustrated. He'd been getting things together in his head for a while now, and it was worrying him. There was something more to this, he was certain of it. "Does it have anything to do with the Death Eater that was here, earlier this year?"
"What? What are you talking about?" She asked, dumbfounded.
"You know what I'm talking about." He said.

The sound of the conservatory door closing and seeing Athos running toward them caught their attention, allowing Elena a little more time to think things through.
"What's going on? Jessica's crying and apparently you've been shouting again." He said, trying his best not to sound irritated, though failing slightly.
"Sirius Black was here and your daughter disobeyed me." She said, breathing in deeply and calming herself. Remus ran a hand through the little hair on his head and sighed loudly. "Honestly, Athos, you better do something about them. Talking won't keep them from misbehaving."
"I don't believe in punishment, Elena, you should know that by now." He frowned.
"Which is why they're like this! They think they can do whatever they want, whenever they want! This is my house and-"
"This is our house, and not allowing your daughter to explore her entire garden is completely ridiculous. I told you these rules of yours wouldn't work when you determined them. They're meaningless! I suggest you go inside and talk to her, so we can actually have a decent Christmas." He said, frowning.
"I have nothing to say to her." Elena huffed, irritably. She began making her way back to the house. All she needed right now was more alcohol in her system.

Josh groaned loudly as he heard the screeching sound of his mother's voice yelling outside. He often wondered whether she got stressed out easier as she got older, it definitely would make sense. There was no doubt Jessica had gone beyond the tree. It was such a stupid rule, in his opinion. Why keep them away from the gate when no one was ever seen at the park, behind their house? He also wondered how, and why, his father put up with it. No matter how much they loved each other, his mum was going beyond her normal level of crazy. He heard the front door closing and he was certain his father had just arrived back. Everything had been changing around the house lately. Strange things were happening... For instance, Anna had suddenly decided to tour the world, and she couldn't even be bothered to come home for Christmas. She'd sent them a few letters, but she never mentioned when she'd be back home. Anna wasn't one to spend much time away from family. Her first three years at Hogwarts had been the worst for her, she'd send letters home every day, begging for someone to take her back for the night.
"You busy?" Josh lazily turned his head toward the sound of the small voice. It was Jessica, in tears, and a very embarrassed Harry hiding behind her.
"Get in here, quick, before she decides to lock you in the dungeon." Josh laughed.
"You have a dungeon?" Harry asked, flabbergasted.
"No... But I wouldn't be surprised if I suddenly discovered one." Josh shrugged. "What did you two do, this time? If it was the dog-"
"Did you ever notice an iron door out there?" Jessica whispered. Her teary eyes were wide and he was pretty sure she looked rather pale. Almost as if she'd seen a ghost. Though, after spending time at Hogwarts, ghosts weren't really as shocking.
"What door? I'm pretty sure there's an iron gate, but not a door." Josh said, trying to understand what on Earth had just happened.
"It wasn't there before. I took in every detail of that garden and I'm certain it wasn't there before." Harry nodded.
"So a magic door appeared, out of nowhere, in the wall?" Josh said. "Well, we are all wizards, so that wouldn't exactly be out of the ordinary."
"But why did mum fuss over it so much?" Jessica insisted.
"You were about to go in, Jess." Harry said, in a very Hermione-like-tone.
"Have you lost your mind, Munchkin?" Josh suddenly said, in complete shock. He disliked being the overprotective older brother, mostly because it came off really annoying, especially when she was aware of it, but after the vision of his baby sister being swallowed by a Basilisk had been imprinted in his mind, the act was getting worse. If it were him who'd found the door, he probably would've made a run for it, even with his mother yelling out his name. That didn't mean he wanted to see his sister do the same. "Look... You know mum, she's full of little secrets here and there... Maybe you should just let this go, okay? If you do see it again, tell me before you decide to go inside."
"Harry and I fought a giant serpent last year, you know? I think we can handle a mysterious entrance." She laughed. He didn't though; he shuddered at the thought instead.

x.x

Christmas morning finally came round and it was almost as if a cloud of peacefulness had spread across the mansion. Elena hadn't yelled at anyone, or anything, for over twenty-four hours, and everything was going perfectly well. Athos' parents arrived early on Christmas morning, their bags and presents floating graciously behind them. Harry was in quite a shock when he saw the Christmas tree. Never in his life, not even at the Dursley's, had he seen so many presents. Jessica was the first to dash toward the Christmas tree and start going through everything. Even Joshua, who had a reputation as the cool kid at school, looked like a child that had just met Father Christmas. Their grandparents, Benjamin and Alicia, were two of the nicest old people Harry had ever met. They had the craziest stories, most about their past adventures and travels around the world. Harry almost felt as though he too was a Selwyn, and part of this insane, yet lovable, family.
"Don't be shy, Harry, there's loads in there for you too." Benjamin chuckled.
"For... For me?" He asked, shocked.
"Of course, dear! We wouldn't show up empty handed, now, would we?" Alicia smiled. Jessica eagerly beckoned him over and he did. There was, in fact, more than twenty presents, just for him. He couldn't help but count them.

Everyone present had gotten a very generous amount of chocolate, countless clothing items and books. Lupin, apparently, had gotten a few potions, which no one other than him and Athos had understood what it was about. Grandpa Ben had received an old vinyl disk, which he insisted on playing immediately. It played a few classical songs and he pulled Grandma Alicia to dance with him. It was a beautiful sight and a part of Harry wished it wouldn't end.

Later, that same day, Jessica sat patiently, and comfortably, in an armchair, reading the book of fairy tales. She was waiting for Harry to finish up in the shower, so they could find something interesting to do. Grandpa Ben was sitting opposite her, reading a small book about garden gnomes. He would sometimes quietly chuckle, making Jessica wonder what could be so funny about garden gnomes.
"Ah these pesky little creatures..." He said, once he'd finished the book. "You know, your grandmother and I had to tackle a few about three years ago. They simply decided to invade our garden!"
"I don't think we've ever had troubles with gnomes." Jessica wondered.
"Well, with your mother screaming like she does, they'd be too scared to show up!" Ben chuckled. He knew all too well what his daughter-in-law was like. "So tell me, pumpkin, what did it look like?"
"What did what look like, grandpa?" She laughed.
"The Basilisk." He said, quietly.
"Oh... Well... It was big... And-"
"You heard it, didn't you?" He asked, leaning forward slightly. She opened her mouth to answer, but no words came out. She knew that he knew about her ability, but she didn't realise he'd make a connection, or actually bring up the conversation. She continued to try to think of an answer, but he chuckled, making her lose focus. "I knew it... I knew it! You're the Heir... It's about time someone else appeared. Now that good-for-nothing, Tom, can stop acting like he owns the world. I'd love to see his face when he finds out that the power finally lies within the hands of a direct-descendant!"
"Grandpa... I didn't tell anyone, so-"
"Well I'm certain your father knows! He's always known!" Ben chuckled. "He came to me when you were just two years old, and you know what your father's like. He dramatically thought there was something terribly wrong with you!"
"It's not really something I'm proud of." She pouted, slightly.
"I don't see why not. You were chosen, by Salazar Slytherin himself, to control his most precious creature. You've earned the right to the Chamber and all its glory." Ben smiled.
"Grandpa... There's really nothing glorious about it. I'm not even in Slytherin, I'm in Gryffindor... Not to mention Slytherin hated those who weren't purebloods-"
"It's true, Salazar did have a bad reputation, and it is said that he disliked all who weren't purebloods... But those were ancient times, Pumpkin. Nowadays, everyone has a little mix here and there. There are no longer any truly pure wizard families. It also doesn't matter what house you're in. You're in Gryffindor because of your personality and characteristics... But that doesn't change the fact that you're his descendent." She wanted to tell him that she wished she could refuse Slytherin's offer. She didn't want to be his Heir. There was nothing good about it. But the proud look on his face made her think otherwise. He was her old, beloved grandfather, and she wouldn't ruin this moment. No matter how much she disliked it. "Let's not forget that you, pumpkin, have a great heart."

"Father, Remus and I could use a little help upstairs." Athos said, cutting their conversation short. Grandpa Ben gave Jessica a small nod, before placing his book back on the shelf and heading out the door.
"Do you know if Harry's done yet?" Jessica asked her father, seeing as he was still standing by the door.
"Not sure... But I do hope that conversation helped, sweetheart." He smiled. She panicked slightly, completely unaware of what to do.
"No one else knows, so-"
"I know! I know!" He said, placing his hands up in defeat. His voice fading as he got further away from the library door.

x.x

Josh laid, wide awake, in his bed. It was past four in the morning already, but he couldn't bring himself to sleep. His mind kept thinking back on everything. He knew something strange was going on, but now he couldn't be more certain. Whatever it was, it was bad.

He'd woken up roughly around two in the morning, with his stomach rumbling uncontrollably. He decided he'd head down to the kitchen and see if there was anything left over from their Christmas dinner. Insignificant magic, like instantly heating up food, wasn't traced by the Ministry, so he had nothing to fear. He'd lazily, yet surprisingly quietly, walked down the grand staircase and made his way to the kitchen. He stopped by one of the rooms, however, when his father's voice caught his attention. He was talking to Remus, and they were talking about the iron door. The door Jessica had mentioned. The mysterious entrance that appeared out of nowhere.
"Remus, don't hide things from me... If there's something going on-"
"Our top priority right now is Sirius Black... I can help you with this later if you wish."
"I'm capable of handling both situations at the same time, you know? Please..."

His father's hushed voice sounded strange. It was almost desperate, and it made Josh wonder if the man had been crying. Father's didn't cry. In fact, parents didn't cry. It was just strange to think of such a thing happening.

"I... I can't be sure. A few things that have happened this year made me believe that Elena's still on the other side, but-"
"That's unlikely, Remus. I know she's difficult at times, but she wouldn't... We have three children. She just wouldn't."

Josh could feel his chest tighten and he wondered if that was what his father was feeling. If he hadn't spoken to Remus back at school, he probably would've been lost in their conversation already. He almost wished that was the case, but his mind was quickly putting things together, and he was dreading his conclusion.

"What if she is, Athos? Maybe that's why Black's been here. You said he came before, didn't you? What if he wanted to talk to her about something?"
"Tell me, honestly, that you truly believe Sirius Black is the reason they're dead."

That got him confused. Sirius Black, also known as one of their best friends, had handed James and Lily Potter to the Dark Lord. Everyone knew that story.

"I know it's hard to believe... Sometimes I wish it weren't true. I really don't see Sirius as a murderer, but it's a fact and-"
"No one ever looked into it, Remus! However, even if he really is a murderer, that doesn't explain why he was here."
"I told you... He must've wanted to speak to her... You need to check this, but be careful about it."

Remus wanted his father to check if his mother was a Death Eater or not. He felt sick. His mind had thought about it, the day he'd spoken to Remus, but he immediately scolded himself for thinking such a thing. It couldn't be true. His mother, no matter how loud and insane, wouldn't do it.

"I trust my wife, Remus."
"I don't... Not right now, at least."

Josh rushed back up the stairs, making sure his footsteps were as light as possible, as soon as he heard Remus heading toward the door. He would be dead meat if he'd been caught. Though, he could easily talk his way out of trouble, and perhaps even get a chance to help, but this wasn't something he was willing to do. He wasn't going to believe that his mother was on the dark side.

"It was Elena as a Death Eater... Jessica's Boggart. She'd seen one, during the summer, talking to Elena, just outside. She was in the library at the time. She didn't understand why it was there, or what it was, but it scared her. She also mentioned something about the drawing room... Perhaps you should start there." Remus said, regrettably. Athos lost the remaining colour on his face. Anything that involved his children would give him motivation and that's what Remus needed. He didn't want to get Athos involved so soon. He also feared his best friend would murder him for having such thoughts. However, he couldn't do it alone. He didn't have all the resources to do such research.
"That's... I..."
"I will help you, Athos, but you need to consider all possibilities here. She truly might not be on their side. She truly might be threatened to join them. We don't know, but we need to find out. It wouldn't be surprising if she was being threatened, because we both know she'd be too proud to ask for help, and she wouldn't allow anyone to touch Anna, Josh and Jessie." Remus said.
"Is it bad that I hope that's the case?" Athos wondered, rubbing his forehead. Remus shook his head, because he too silently hoped the same.
"You should get some sleep, my friend. We'll get things started once the holidays are over."

Josh hadn't managed to sleep, or eat, after everything he'd heard. His mind raced, trying to put things together. He glanced toward his clock, and it read five in the morning. Sighing, he turned on his belly, burying his head in his pillow, and closed his eyes. His mother wasn't evil. She was loud, insane, did the strangest of things, but she wasn't evil. There was an annoyingly bad feeling growing in the pit of his stomach, making him clench his eyes tighter. It wasn't true... But what if it was? He turned on his back once again, his dark blond hair already a complete mess, and stared at the ceiling. If his mother did hide anything from them, she wouldn't hide it in the house. There wouldn't be anywhere she could hide it without it being found-
"The drawing room." He said to himself, sitting up so quickly that he almost got dizzy.

And scene.

So, first off... Will Josh find something in the drawing room? Will Mr. Selwyn find something in the drawing room? Either someone's going to find it before the other, or they're just going to bump into each other and have a very awkward conversation. You shall find out... Eventually! muahaha

But Josh is a pretty badass character and he will play a big part in all the "finding out things". \o

Secondly - no mistletoe! D: But... I have a reason for everything, I suppose... then again, the holidays aren't over :x but what will happen? dum dum duuum...

Spoiler for next chapter - Harry gets the map and he discovers that Sirius is his godfather :o (but you all knew that already, didn't you? hehe)

Until next time! XOXO