The study in our new home was too big for the furniture and books I owned. I always thought I had too much stuff until we moved into the brownstone. Three of the four walls were lined with built in shelves, and the fourth wall was mostly made of windows. The shelves were barely full; I had sorted the books into fictional and magical collections. The fictional stories was a much smaller collection and took up two shelves on the north wall of the study; while the magical collection took up the entire south wall. I had set the desk in front of the windows and turned it to face out into the room. The leather couch and chair sat towards the center of the room, on the small area rug I owned. I needed to get (or conjure) a bigger rug, spread the furniture out and maybe get a two more arm chairs and some end tables for the room to look complete.

I was sitting at the desk with the oil lamp burning steadily next to me while I wrote a letter to Sirius explaining why Carrigan and I wouldn't be able to come stay with him for the holiday. I had sent a short letter to him earlier in the day, which he surprisingly responded to right away with an angry inquisitive letter. What could possibly stop us from coming? Everyone was at Number Twelve because of Arthur's accident, and we should be there too.

Just as I signed my name to the bottom of the page, there was a knock at the door and then it opened. Carrigan stepped in with a slight frown on her face.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"Dad is here," she said.

"You're not happy to see me?" Sirius Black questioned as he entered the room from behind Carrigan. He looked handsome in blue jeans, black button up, deep purple vest and charcoal grey cloak. His hair was well kept and neat, but long and hanging in front of his eyes. He had shaved recently, so there was only a light five o'clock shadow on his face. He looked charming as he stood next to his daughter, who despite what so many people said, did have some of his physical qualities. Obviously, they shared the same eyes, but Carrigan also had Sirius' high cheek bones and well shaped chin.

Sirius pinched his daughter's cheek affectionately, which prompted her to smile up at him.

"It's not that," she said. "I am happy to see you, but whenever you two are around each other you fight. I don't want to hear you fight anymore, it's exhausting."

"We think it is too," I said softly as I remained in my chair at the desk. "We're trying to be better at that, Carrigan."

"Alright," she nodded. She stood on her toes and kissed her father's cheek softly before leaving the room. Once the door was shut, Sirius turned to me with an aggravated expression. My heart dropped. Apparently, we were going to fight today.

"You got here fast," I said softly. "I just sent a reply letter."

"I realized shortly after I had sent my response that it would probably just be better to come over," he said as he moved across the room. He didn't look at his surroundings, only kept his navy blue eyes on me. My heart skipped a beat as he stared at me in that manner. It was normal for Sirius to look at me with lustful eyes, but there was something about the aggressiveness in his expression that made me catch my breath. He hadn't had an effect on me like that in years, but there we were, in my study and he was making me melt.

"Did you meet Henry downstairs?"

"Yes," Sirius nodded as he pulled the leather arm chair across the floor to my desk. I frowned as he carelessly scratched the legs of the chair across the wooden floor, leaving slight indents to the newly laid panels. He took a seat in front of me, indifferent of the scars he just made on my floor, and folded his arms. "He seems like a nice kid."

"Gabriel is afraid that he's trying to seduce Carrigan," I said with a faint smile.

"The thought crossed my mind," Sirius shrugged. "But I'm more worried about Benjamin who rolls around with Carrigan while they're training."

"Benjamin informed me that there isn't much training going on," I said as if that would ease Sirius' mind. "Mostly because Carrigan skips or shows up late because she was with Henry."

The last comment did not ease Sirius' mind at all. He frowned deeply in response and sat up straight in his chair. "She needs to be training, as you've constantly said. Have you discussed it with her?"

"Not yet. She doesn't know that Benjamin told me."

"When did he tell you?"

"Just after they came home from their jog today," I said. "She went to shower and he came to update me. He said that she was progressing, getting better control specifically of her telepathic abilities, until she met Henry. Then she started to regress again. He said, this is why he thinks that she should be home-schooled and not return to Hogwarts."

Sirius nodded his head slowly. "But school and her social life keep her sane."

"Not much point of being sane if she ends up killing herself and others because she can't control her physical powers."

"I will talk to her," Sirius whispered. "Perhaps coming from me it might be better received. If you or Gabriel talk to her she'll put up her defenses."

I frowned, but Sirius had a point. Gabriel and I harped on Carrigan's training so much that she would get defensive the first time we mentioned it. "I still don't understand why she changed so suddenly. I remember when she was ten and she begged me to teach her Legilimency. She wanted to learn everything I did so badly."

"She was little and wanted to be just like you. She is thinking for herself now," Sirius said. "She is finding out who she wants to be, and apparently she doesn't want to be powerful."

"But really, Sirius, she is taking the same path as I did. I never completed my training," I advised. "Perhaps that is something you should remind her. If she is so set on being different then me then she should remember that."

"I just want her to be happy," Sirius smiled. "I know you do too."

I nodded. "But Carrigan's training isn't why you came over here, Sirius," I smiled.

Sirius smiled, recognizing my transition into the true conversation he wished to have. He nodded his head before running his fingers over his chin and scratching under his jaw line.

"I think you should still come and stay at Number Twelve. Have you spoken to Dumbledore about Henry to see what he knows about him?"

"I have not yet," I replied. "It is rather late, I didn't want to send him a letter till the morning."

"Have you talked to Henry at all to see what his father told him about the Order?"

I frowned. I hadn't thought of that. I was so worried that Henry could be a spy for my father, I didn't think to ask him if he knew anything already. But what if by asking him I let on to more information? Was I really becoming that paranoid?

"I have not," I admitted.

"Well, perhaps we should call him and Carrigan in here," Sirius said standing up.

"How did he take you being a wanted murderer?"

"He didn't at first," Sirius said honestly. "But Carrigan said that I am innocent and either he believes it or not. If he believes it then he also, by deduction, believes that Voldemort has returned, which given the circumstances of his father's death it seems that he does. She also added that he could stay if he believed it, or leave if he didn't, it was his choice."

I smiled. "You don't have to go down to get her," I said. Sirius looked at me perplexed, which caused me to smile more mysteriously at him.

Carrigan, please come upstairs to the study with Henry.

It was easy to find her in the house with Legilimency because she was so close. She seemed to be expecting my call.

I was wondering when you'd want to see us.

Within a moment the door to the study opened and Carrigan entered, followed by Henry who shut the door behind him. Carrigan had changed her clothing since she last entered the room with Sirius. She was now wearing tight black yoga pants and a red pull over sweatshirt. I assumed she was getting ready for bed. Henry was still dressed in his travel clothing; jeans and a grey sweater. He looked young, but handsome and charming. When they first entered the room he didn't take his eyes off of Carrigan, but he quickly reverted them and looked at Sirius with hesitation and distrust.

Sirius was giving Henry a stern glare; the type of glare that says 'keep your eyes on me and off of my daughter.' It surprised me how fatherly Sirius looked as he peered at Henry and Carrigan standing in front of the study door. Carrigan saw Sirius' stare and looked up at Henry. She sighed loudly and turned to close the door sharply. When it snapped shut, Sirius broke the glare he was giving Henry. He relaxed in his chair and turned to face me. Henry's expression immediately relaxed. His muscle were no longer tense and his eyes did not shine with intimidation.

"What's going on?" Carrigan asked as she came forward to lean against my desk.

"Your mother and I have some questions for Henry," Sirius said as he looked to his daughter. Henry moved forward and stood on the opposite side of the desk as Carrigan, to my left.

"Yes, sir?" Henry addressed Sirius with politeness.

"Henry, why do you think Death Eaters killed your father?"

When I asked the question, Henry redirected his attention to me. He folded his hands behind his back and looked at the top of the desk before looking me in the eye.

"Because I know he was active against Voldemort's return."

"Why do you believe that Voldemort has returned?" Sirius asked. Henry looked at him, slightly offended. Sirius had not asked the question delicately. He was very blunt with his words.

"I was raised on the fact that he would return someday," he replied.

The answer did not seem to satisfy Sirius, but he nodded his head in acknowledgement. I was studying Henry as he responded to Sirius and my questions. I was looking for a sign of betrayal or lies in his eyes. But Henry was relaxed and posed. He seemed to be expecting such questions, which only made me worry a little more. Perhaps I really was becoming too paranoid…

"Were you aware of your father's affiliation to groups outside of the Ministry of Magic?" I asked the question that we really needed to know the answer to.

"If you are referring to the Order of the Phoenix, then yes, I am aware of his involvement in an organization outside of the Ministry of Magic that seeks to stop Voldemort."

I gave Henry a very serious look as I peered at him with intense green eyes. He met my stare and returned it straight on. He didn't look away or break.

"I am also aware," Henry continued. "That he was probably killed by Death Eaters because of whatever he was doing for the Order."

"He wasn't doing anything specific for the Order," Sirius said before I could respond. "We don't know why he was targeted."

"But you have your suspicions?" Carrigan asked softly.

"Of course," I replied. Both Carrigan and Henry were looking at me with eager eyes. They wanted to hear our theories for motive of Thrett's murder. "We assume that he was killed for his knowledge of the Department of Mysterious, where he worked in the Ministry."

"Why?" Henry asked.

"Because Voldemort is trying to steal something out of the department," Sirius said. "At least, that's what we think."

"But you two should keep that information to yourselves," I advised quickly. I was not going to tell Henry or Carrigan why we thought Voldemort wanted information about the Department of Mysterious, but since Sirius had said it already, I wanted to make it clear that it was not something that should be shared. "And when I say 'should,' I mean that you will keep that information to yourselves. Do you understand me?"

"Yes," Henry and Carrigan said at the same time.

"Alright," I bowed my head. "We will be going to Number Twelve tomorrow, make sure that your bags are packed to stay there over holiday."

Carrigan smiled and nodded. "Come on, Henry." She motioned to the door and he smiled.

"Good night," he said politely before following Carrigan out of the room.

Sirius watched the two teenagers exit the room. Once the door was shut, he looked at me with mild surprise on his face.

"You made up your mind that easily?"

"Well, since you told him more then Harry knows, it's hard to say no now," I replied with irritation as I stood up. "Good night, Sirius. I will see you tomorrow. I trust you can show yourself out."

I left the study before he could retort to my comments. I did not want to fight with him. Like Carrigan had said, it was exhausting.