Thank you to:
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The French Dark Lord- Not quite that long x
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mangagirl18- I'm glad you didn't think it was too sickly sweet x

Chapter Forty Two

Harry fell out of the grate at the Headmasters feet and quickly pulled himself up.

'Are you alright Harry?'

'Yes Sir,' Harry nodded feeling slightly sick as the fireplace roared again and Lukyen followed him out.

'The fighting's dying out' the professor said over his head to a grave Dumbledore 'but Sirius was hurt, Rhoan said he'll get him out, I thought it was best to make sure Harry got back safely.'

'Quite right,' the older man grasped his own handful of floo powder 'I want you make your way back to the Ministry after you've seen Harry safely to his house quarters and have spoken to Minerva and have updated her on what has happened.

'And Harry,' he switched his gaze to him 'well done my boy for staying calm.'

Harry nodded his movements slightly jerky as the adrenalin wore off and his worry for Sirius increased.

When the Headmaster had gone, Lukyen turned to him,

'Sirius will be fine, I stopped the bleeding and it should hold until he gets seen by a qualified healer.'

'But Sir, why would they attack now? I thought Voldemort was trying to keep a low profile, making sure people didn't realise he was back.'

'That's a good question Harry,' a flicker of concern passed the mans face 'perhaps Voldemort knows that if a Minister such as Madam Bones is elected she is far more likely to believe the claims of his rebirth, maybe he believed it to be better to show a strong front at the start so it doesn't appear as if he's been hiding out of fear of discovery.'

'But the Death Eaters are losing aren't they? Why would he look strong if his followers all get beaten?' Harry asked as they walked towards the door to the office.

'It shows he has followers to spare, it's psychological, if he's got that many to spare how many must he have in his actual army? It wouldn't matter if he has lost a significant number because the public will believe he has more and that will keep people scared. But…' he paused and looked down at Harry 'if his return to existence is not believed than it will just look like a lot of desperate wizards are resolved on reliving the glory days of darkness and power.'

'I wish he'd never come back.'

Anton gave him a quick smile 'don't we all, but you did good today, you showed a lot of nerve and courage.'

'You think?' Harry said a glowing feeling filling him almost making up for how bad a day it had been.'

'Definitely.'

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The now cleared courtroom smelt smoky and unpleasant, aurors milled about looking angsty, they were near the end of transporting the captured Death Eaters to the holding spells, it was hardly the haul they had expected, most were low ranking and the numbers made up mainly of wizards and witches under the imperious, most had to be questioned to ensure they were telling the truth but it appeared Voldemort had been unwilling to sacrifice his higher Death Eaters or the she-devil incarnate.

'How is it looking?' Rhoan sidled up beside him.

'The healers are with Fudge but they doubt he'll pull through, there are other ministry workers that have been killed, Madam Bones isn't sure of the numbers yet.'

'My departments like a madhouse, everyone's trying to get lists of names and such. But it also looks like quite a few of Fudge's key supporters are going to be resigning.'

'That makes our job that much easier, not as many people will be against us.'

'In theory,' Rhoan stepped over a patch of blood, 'there are still others that didn't support Fudge but are distrustful.'

'Have you spoken to Dumbledore?' Anton asked his gaze flickering to a fire that was being put out.

'I saw when I got back from St Mungo's after I took Sirius in, he's around somewhere talking to a few of Wizengamot.'

'I think I'll drop in and see Sirius,' Anton scanned the room quickly before turning back to his brother 'there's nothing else to see here.'

'Well I'm not going anywhere, I'll floo if anything interesting happens.'

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

'How are you feeling? The Healer said you lost quite a bit of blood.'

'I can't believe that I got stabbed,' Sirius groaned plaintively looking up at him, thankfully he didn't appear to be in much pain 'one minute I'm leaning in to get a better view and the next this shifty wizard next to me drives a knife into me.'

'Constant vigilance,' Anton smirked dropping into a seat next to his bed.

'Oh shut up,' scowled his godfather 'I've already had Moody deliver that statement along with enough comments about my fighting skills to make me want to hang myself.'

'Lost your edge, have you?'

'Very funny, but you can wipe that smile off your face, you're babysitting until I get out of here.'

'But I've got lessons to teach.'

'I've cleared it with Dumbledore.' This time it was Sirius's turn to smirk.

'What about Tonks and Lupin,' Anton said quickly 'It's not that I don't like spending time with Cass and Teddy it's just…how am I supposed to teach and try and bring down Voldemort and protect Harry if I'm looking after two kids?'

It wasn't that he didn't love spending time with both children especially the opportunity to look after Teddy, but it had been so long since he had looked after him and there had always been others around helping, plus he'd nearly got Teddy killed when he had had guardianship over him.

'It's the full moon, and all ministry workers have been called in to deal with paperwork, and that includes Tonks and Rhoan, so you're my only option,' Sirius looked gleeful 'have fun.'

'I hope you pick up a really nasty infection.' Anton replied grumpily.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

'Now both of you I mean it when I say don't touch anything I haven't said you can touch.'

'That's like Sirius's rules,' Cassie informed him from her cross-legged position on Anton's carpet in-front of his sofa, paint brush clasped in one hand 'he said there are dangerous things disced as nice things.'

'You're getting it wrong!' Teddy exclaimed looked up from his own picture 'it's disgised not disced!'

'Shut up!' Cassie howled glaring at Teddy 'Sirius said so!'

'It's disguised' Anton cut in pulling on his boots 'now the pair of you stop it. Now can I trust you for ten minutes not to argue while I go and do something, it's not to long before we have to go down to dinner.'

He'd been gone five minutes at most, five minutes, and now his living room floor was looking like an advertisement for modern art, the art that sold for thousands and comprised of what looked like someone had tipped over a few pots of paint on a canvas and splodged it around with paintbrushes, in this case the canvas was his carpet and the paintbrushes were the two children.

'What happened!' the two jumped at Anton's sudden shout and looked guiltily at each other paint of multiple colours dripping off each other, as Teddy was largely purple and Cassie mostly green it wasn't a huge step for Anton to work out what the two had done.

'Sorry,' both said sheepishly 'we didn't mean it.'

'I am very disappointed with the pair of you!' Anton exclaimed waving his wand at the carpet and muttering a scourgify, the paint maybe lessened slightly, the same with the children, both remained paint covered. 'Ok into the bathroom, we're running late as it is, and you are both in big, BIG trouble…but, in trouble after you've had a bath, and I'm telling Sirius.'

'Aw Anton,' Teddy began to protest.

'Now! Quickly, move it!'

Both children dived for the bathroom leaving a trail of multicoloured footprints behind them. And after calling for the house-elves and apologising for the mess he followed them.

--=-

The pool sized bath flooded with crystal water and turning another tap a stream of thick bubbles gushed out and with a flick of his wand they turned to green and purple which delighted the two mischief makers but resembled a horrible colour when put together, shucking off their ruined clothes Cassie and Teddy dived into the water causing a huge splash of water to soak Anton who had been on his knees by the taps.

He drew back quickly and cast both and drying charm and a repelling charm, and aimed a glare at the pair, but they were too busy splashing each other to notice, giving a sharp whistle he had them snapping to attention.

'We're running out of time, shampoo now, don't make me ask again,' he handed them shampoo keeping clear of any stray water.

'But Sirius always does my hair,' Cassie protested 'I can't get all the soap out!'

'Or me!' Teddy jumped in with 'Sirius also washes it out, and he makes toys float about.'

'Well there are no toys today, as we've got about five minutes, so heads over here,'

He quickly dolloped shampoo onto each head of hair and tried to rub it in even faster ignoring the complaints.

'You're not doing it properly.'

'Sirius doesn't do it like this.'

'You have to make sure you get it all out.'

'Sirius does it more slowly.'

'Sirius tells us stories.'

'You're being too hard on my head.'

'Sirius…'

'Enough!' Anton ordered 'I'm afraid I can't do it like Sirius does it, and if you hadn't had a paint fight you wouldn't even have to go through this, ok heads under the water.'

Somehow with a lot of water going everywhere and a lot more grumbling and moaning both Teddy and Cassie were clean and Anton was soaked despite the charms. Grabbing a couple of towels he lifted first Cassie out then Teddy wrapping them securely in the thick material.

'Go and wait in the living room, I'll dig out your pyjamas, don't touch anything messy, actually don't touch anything at all, just sit quietly for two minutes, that's all, just two minutes.'

Both wrapped up children trundled off and Anton made empty the bath, he got as far as removing his wand he took a step towards the bath slipped on a puddle of water and found himself heading head first into the tub, unable to stop himself he entered the water and discovered it was possible to be even wetter, he choked his way to the surface and spitting out water he ungracefully hauled his body out of the water landing with a wet thud on the bathroom tiles.

'I am way too young for this.'

His inelegant adventure into the bath had two heads peering round the door but one look at Anton and his expression had them darting back out.

-===-=-=-=-=

Finally, fifteen minutes later and nearly ten minutes late for dinner he was in blessedly dry clothes and Cassie and Teddy were in their sleepwear, colour choices were at least an easy indication as whose clothes belonged to who, their slippers made little tapping noises as they scurried along beside him, Teddy was undaunted by having dinner in the school hall filled with hundreds of much older children having done it before but Cassie was lagging behind slightly fiddling with the hood of her dressing gown, Anton held his hand out to her and she gratefully latched onto it.

They entered the Hall by the entrance to the side of the teachers table, the food had already been served and the majority of people were tucking in, heads raised in interest but then went back to their own meals, after all two children weren't exactly interesting news.

Extra chairs had been placed at the table Anton sat in the middle one with Teddy on the side next to McGonagall and Cassie by Snape who had eyed her like someone eyed a poisonous snake. Serving them quickly he made sure they had their food cut up before securing some for himself.

The meal went easily enough until Cassie decided that the potions professor would be the ideal candidate to pump for information. Anton hadn't realised at first what she was doing as Teddy had secured his attention after tipping his goblet of pumpkin juice over, it was Severus's icy tone that had him swinging around.

If possible the man looked even stiffer his back like a poker as he glowered down at her, Cassie by comparison was far more relaxed and had her head resting on her propped up hand her head twisted up to look at him.

'Listen to me you small child, for the final time I have no interest in animals swimming or otherwise, other than ones I use in potions.'

Where most would have extricated themselves as fast as possible when the Potion Masters famed glare surfaced Cassie kept her gaze fixed on the older mans face, she regarded him quietly for a few moments before asking.

'How 'bout flying animals? I saw a hippygriff today.'

'Lukyen!' Snape strangled out 'would you please impress upon this…child, the need to be quiet!'

Failing to hide a smile Anton whispered 'maybe you should tell Hagrid about the animals, he likes animals more than Severus does, he might even tell you about some if you ask.'

'Ok then,' she shot him a bright smile and jumped down from her chair 'Bye Sev, I'll talk to you later.'

'What!' the man thundered, but she had already gone dashing off to Hagrid who lifted the girl onto his lap and when asked about 'hippygriffs' looked like Christmas had come early.

'If I didn't know better, I would say that girl was Sirius's full-blooded daughter,' McGonagall hid her amusement with more success 'there now Severus, I don't believe any of the students heard.'

Snape let out a sound reminiscent of a furious kettle.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Both children were fast asleep an hour later on conjured beds set up in the centre of the living room, so as not to wake them Anton had retreated to his bedroom kicked off his boots and propped himself up on his bed with a thick book, he had spoken to Rhoan half an hour earlier when his brother had flooed in to tell him Fudge had died and as expected Madam Bones had taken up the job.

-=

'We need to get rid of the Diadem,' Anton insisted taking a swig of pepper-up 'as soon as possible.'

'The Ministry's in chaos' Rhoan anxiously ran his hand through his hair 'we're getting close to the end I'm sure, with Voldemort I mean, I can't see this dragging out this time, so much has changed, I don't think he'll wait.'

'Then we'll deal with him,' Anton said calmly.

'And her? She's had the drop on you so far and you're the more powerful one, sure I can control wind, but I'm an average wizard at the end of the day.'

'Don't be stupid,' Anton ground out 'you may once have been average but now that's crap, you're more powerful than most wizards and you are definitely as powerful as me, the only difference when we were younger is that I somehow managed to keep surviving and that was mostly luck. She may have used surprise as an advantage but we're ready for her, there are two of us now, that makes us a hell of a lot stronger put together.'

Rhoan's face relaxed slightly,

'Sorry,' he muttered 'but it just puts me on edge, old insecurities I suppose, I've jus always wondered why I got picked you know, I always felt like I'd been picked just because I was friends with you rather than through my own skill.'

'What so the most powerful magic was gifted to three strong witches and wizards and their mate who hung round with them but wasn't all that good? What do you want an ego boost? Ok then ego boost coming up, need I remind you that Destiny sends the gifts to the four most powerful witches and wizards of the time when absolute war is about to break out…'

'Okay I get it.' Rhoan looked sheepish 'anyway why are you taking pepper-up?'

'I had to give the gruesome twosome a bath,'

'Please tell me you kept well clear, because you with a cold is painful.' Rhoan shook his head before looking more closely at Anton's face 'what happened?'

'Ifellin,' Anton mumbled quickly.

'What?'

'I fell in!'

'Seriously?'

'Shut up.'

-=-=

Putting the book to the side Anton shirked off the rest of his clothes and pulled his pyjamas on before returning to bed and picking the book back up, Pyra jumped up onto the fireproofed bed and laid her head on his lap he had barely turned the page when a small knock came at his door and it opened slightly Teddy crept through,

'Anton…' he said tremulously 'I had a bad dream, can I sleep with you?'

'Course you can champ,' Anton nudged Pyra to the floor, where she immediately returned to her own bed and curled up in it, Teddy hastily jumped onto the huge four poster and curled up next to him 'do you want to talk about it?'

'Uhuh,' Teddy shrugged 'it was just about before…you know, before we came here. I thought the masked people were coming for me.'

'Shhh,' Anton comforted 'they're not going to get you in here, Hogwarts is the safest place I know.'

'Sirius said that if they came into his house he'd make sure they'd think twice before coming back.' Teddy shared with a yawn 'he said he won't let any dark wizard catch me when I'm sleeping.'

'Of course he won't,' Anton leaned over and extinguished the floating flame 'you up to going back to sleep?'

'Yep,' Teddy muttered already half asleep.

There was another patter of feet and another small bundle jumped into his bed, and Anton found a smile lifting his mouth.

I hope it wasn't to sickeningly sweet x More action with next chapter I promise.