Chapter 24

A/N : My usual rambling (if not more) at the end. I am SO incredibly sorry for the delay in updates... but I'm still alive! And back!

The last week before the start of term arrived rather quickly. Niko was still in France with his father and was supposed to be coming back home the next day. Meggan and Neil had left to practice Quidditch with the Weasleys while the rest of the family, Sirius and Aveline were sitting in the living room doing various activities. Nora looked up and saw an owl at the window. She recognized the Diggory's owl and went to pick up the letter.

"Mum, Julianne send you another letter." Nora called from the window. Julianne had sent a few letters lately.

"Just put it on the counter Nora." Brooke said dismissively.

"Don't you think she's going to start asking questions? You used to be inseparable and now you don't answer her letters and you never see each other." Nora asked.

"You should take a day off. I could watch the girls. You don't have to keep an eye on me all the time. I am a grown up you know." Sirius teased.

"And what do I answer when she asks me who's babysitting?" Brooke asked raising her eyebrow at a smirking Sirius.

"Then just tell her! I really don't mind. It's not like we've never met." Sirius said raising his hands up in defence.

"She still thinks you're the reason we lost Lily and James. And what if the wrong people find out? I'm not loosing you again." Brooke said firmly as someone knocked at the front door.

"Well I'll get that." Nora said with a grin looking from her mother to Sirius as Aveline and Nataleigh refrained from grinning as well at the tension.

"Yeah, I'll help you with that!" Aveline smiled as they went to open the door.

Julianne was standing there seeming rather impatient.

"Hey! How are you?" Nora smiled.

"Annoyed with your mother you?" Julianne said with a smile."Is Brooke home?"

"Yeah but..." Nora started but Julianne stepped in and headed towards the living room. Sirius must have gone to the kitchen with the younger girls because the only people left were Nataleigh and Brooke.

"Jules!"Brooke said getting up. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? You've been ignoring me for well over a month! I'm worried about you! I get that you've had a rough year but shutting everyone out is a really stupid thing to do!" Julianne said desperately.

"It's more complicated than that." Brooke said defensively.

"Then uncomplicate it! What the hell have you been hiding? You can't shut everyone out and run away like you did last time!" Julianne asked with a concerned expression.

"Jules..." Brooke hesitated.

"We don't lie to each other Brooke! We never have! You were the first person I told I was pregnant. Amos didn't even know! And you did the same! You hadn't told Sirius but you came to me! And we went through all the loss in our lives together! The last time you hid something from me was in sixth year when you were running around with Black!" She said heatedly.

"And you won't ever let us live that down will you Jules?" Sirius said with a grin leaning against the door frame.

"Sirius! What in the world are you doing?" Brooke shouted.

"Oh come on Brooke! She's not going to tell anyone!" Sirius said gesturing to Julianne who was still absolutely gobsmacked.

"But...but...you gave up Lily and James...What the hell is going on here?" Julianne said still evidently in shock.

"Well I'll get the owl who's at the window and then we're leaving. I think that you all have some catching up to do." Nora said as she noticed her brother's owl at the window. She took the letter from it and it bit her fingers roughly.

"Damn it! I swear Niko trained it to do that!" Nora said giving her mother the letter as Ella tugged at her skirt. Nora picked up her sister and watched as her mother's eyes quickly scanned the letter before throwing the paper away.

"What's wrong?" Nataleigh asked.

"Jules I'm really sorry but I've got to go. I swear I'll explain everything soon enough." Brooke said without looking at anyone in particular.

"Brooke what's wrong?" Sirius asked with a concerned look on his face.

"Can you watch the girls for today? I can't bring them." She sighed into her hands.

"Mum what did Niko say?" Nora asked as Ella played with her necklace.

"I can stay with the girls if you want." Julianne said.

"Niko says he isn't coming home. At all. I've got to go talk with Cecilius, he is not taking my son from me." She said as she went to get her bag.

"He said what?!" Nataleigh and Nora yelled as Aveline looked up from playing with Addie.

"I've really got to go. Jules you really don't have to stay." Brooke added as she grabbed her wand.

"If you tell me he isn't insane and a killer I have no problem staying here. I trust you. Just take care of your family." Julianne said kindly.

"Great! We can catch up. And tell Cecilius to go screw himself for me will you?" Sirius said trying to make light of the situation.

"Yeah sure. I'll see you all later." Brooke said as she apparated.

It took a moment before anyone said anything.

"So...you're what she's been hiding for the past few months." Julianne said with a suspicious glare at Sirius.

"Yep!" Sirius said with a grin.

"Well...We're going to let you guys catch up and go to the Weasley's." Nora said needing some air and some time to think. She handed Ella to Julianne as the three older girls left.

They walked for at least ten minutes before any of the girls talked.

"Do you really think he'd leave. As in for real? I mean I guess that he's always been insane but..." Nataleigh said.

"You saw what happened at the world cup. Things aren't going well. But I still think there's something more. Even though he can be an ass he still loves Mum." Nora said looking straight ahead.

A few minutes later they arrived at the Burrow. Hermione was sitting next to the field talking with George as the others were playing Quidditch.

"Hey girls!" George said as he went to peck Aveline on the lips making her blush.

"Hey Georgie." Nataleigh laughed at Ava's blush.

"Well now that Hermione has company I'll go back to the game. Are you coming Nora?" He asked.

"No thanks. I'm good for today." Nora attempted to smile.

"Suit yourself Freckles." He said as he took his broom and kicked off.

"Should we tell them?" Nataleigh asked Nora.

Nora sighed looking at her siblings playing Quidditch.

"Just let them enjoy themselves for a little while longer."

"Yeah. Knowing won't change anything." Nataleigh said looking away.

"What's going on?" Hermione asked with a confused expression.

"Niko sent a letter saying that he's pretty much giving up on Mum's side of the family and that he's staying with our father from now on." Nataleigh sighed.

"Sorry." Hermione said with a sincere expression.

"Yeah...so are we." Nora sighed rubbing her face with her hands.

After telling Megg and Neil, the entire family headed home. Brookelle came home after diner, and the family went unusually quiet after she announced that Niko would not come back.

Nataleigh spend the night sketching while Nora and Aveline were getting ahead in their readings.

Nora woke up early the next morning having a hard time getting any sleep. She put on shorts and a tank top thinking that a morning run would be the perfect thing to wake her up and get her ideas in order. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs hearing two voices arguing.

"The girls have a right to know Brooke! They're not children anymore!" Sirius said harshly, clearly trying not to yell.

"This is not your decision to make! I can't..." Her mother said frustration clear in her tone.

"This should be my decision just as much as it's yours!" He said his tone rising.

"Oh really!? As far as I recall I was the one who raised them for the past sixteen years!"

"And that's supposed to be my fault?! I lost twelve years of my life, of theirs, for something I didn't do! And where the hell were you all that time!" Sirius shouted no longer being able to keep it in.

"I already lost one child over this, I'm not losing the girls too. We're not telling them Sirius..." Brooke said coldly. Nora tried to stay quiet, she thought about leaving but curiosity got the better of her.

"The girls hate Cecilius as much as I do! Why would you want them to keep believing that the piece of shit is their father?!" He said not calming down.

"Keep your voice down!" She whispered harshly just as Nora slipped off the side of the step. She cursed herself as the adults quieted down and walked towards her.

"Oh Nora..." Her mother said wiping tears from her eyes. "Please let me explain..."

"I think I got most of it..." Nora said as Sirius passed his hand through his hair seeming to be cursing at himself as well.

"Nora... it's so much more complicated..." Her mother started.

"I just need to be alone right now..." Nora sighed walking pass her mother.

"Nora please don't leave... Just let me explain. I'm so sorry... I didn't want you learning about it like this..." She begged.

"From what I heard you didn't want me to learn about it at all." She snapped back. "I'm not leaving Mum, I just want to be alone for a while."

"Nora... I love you..." She smiled sadly.

"I love you too Mum, I'll see you later. I promise." Nora said passing them and heading outside.

She sighed closing the door not knowing what to think. She had always joked around with Nataleigh about how amazing it would be if they had been adopted and were not related to their father but learning this was still a shock. If it was good or bad she was not sure yet. She ran along her usual path in the woods grateful for the summer breeze and heat. After an hour she stopped, trying to get her thoughts together. She did not want to go back home, she was still mad at her mother. She could not believe she had made her spend her entire childhood being criticized and put down by a man who was not even her father. She wanted to talk to someone who had answers and she knew exactly where to go.

Nora knocked at the door she knew very well and waited for an answer.

"Nora! What a pleasant surprise! We don't see you nearly enough anymore." Julianne Diggory answered with a warm smile before hugging Nora. "What brings you here? Coming to see Ced?"

"Actually I came to talk to you if you don't mind."

"Sure... Come in." She smiled as they entered the house.

"Nora! What brings you here? I hope you've been practicing Quidditch because Ced is out there now and by the looks of it he might take that cup from you this year." Amos said kindheartedly.

"I'm sure I'm still up to par." She smiled.

"How about we go talk in the garden?" Julianne proposed. "Do you want anything to drink?"

"A glass of water would be appreciated I've been running for over an hour." Nora chuckled.

"Wow, so you have been training! Gotta give Ced a run for his money." Amos winked as he handed her a glass of water.

"Oh I always do." Nora teased before thanking him and heading to the garden with Julianne.

"So what is going on? Not that I'm not happy to see you but you haven't come to see me for a talk in a while" Julianne smiled as they sat down.

"I know." Nora laughed. "But I didn't know who else to go to... I'm too confused to talk about it with Mum..."

"What is it?"

"You know who my father really is right?" Nora asked taking a deep breath.

"Did she tell you?" Julianne asked putting a motherly hand on Nora's arm.

"Not exactly. She was fighting with Sirius about telling Nat and I and I overheard."

"I'm sure she wanted to tell you eventually..."

"Actually she didn't... Sirius did though. I just can't believe she lied about that..." Nora sighed.

"You won't hear me saying this often but I agree with Sirius on this one. Don't be mad at her Nora... She was trying to protect everyone."

"By what? Making me spend my life feeling like a piece of crap because my father was always criticized me and nothing I did was ever good enough for him?!" Nora asked annoyed.

"You need to talk to your Mother. She was in a very complicated situation and she did what she thought was best for you." Julianne said kindly.

"What was so complicated she couldn't tell me who my father was?!"

"Had Cecilius known about Sirius being your father, he would have killed at least Sirius and I don't know what he would have done to Brooke or you all. Making him believe that you were his kept you all safe." She said with an empathic expression.

"You always knew?" Nora asked.

"Yes. I remember the day your mother told me she was pregnant clear as day even though it seems like another lifetime now. She loves you so much Nora, and she's been through a lot to assure your safety. And even if I hadn't known, you and Nat have Sirius' eyes. I'd recognize them anywhere." She smiled. "Just talk to her alright."

"Yeah..." Nora sighed as Cedric came towards them carrying his broomstick.

"Hey! What are you doing here?" He asked with a surprised smile.

"Coming to whine about my family." She said half-joking.

"How bad is it this time?" He asked with a chuckle.

"Well my father is not my father and my actual father is Sirius Black." Nora said as Cedric looked at her with a confused look.

"Are you joking?"

"Absolutely not. Fun times at the Montgomery household!" Nora sighed.

"Well I'll leave you both. Talk to your Mum alright? I know her well enough to know she's probably sending herself in a crazy anxiety mode right now."

"She's always in a crazy anxiety mode." Nora teased.

She stayed a few hours chatting with Cedric and playing Quidditch before heading over to The Burrow not feeling entirely ready to face what was waiting for her at home.

"Nora! What a pleasure to see you!" Molly smiled as Nora entered the kitchen.

"Nice to see you too. Can I ask you something?" Nora asked.

"If it's about my trouble-making son, you probably know him better than me. Did he do something stupid?" She laughed wiping her hands on a dishtowel.

"Not at all. Fred's is more than a gentleman." Nora laughed. "How well did you know my mother when I was a baby?"

"You mean during the war?" Molly asked.

"Yeah..."

"I knew her well as a teenager actually. She dated my younger brother for a while."

"Did she really?" Nora chuckled. "What about the period when I was born?"

"I saw her occasionally at meetings but didn't know her that well. Why?"

"Did you know who my father actually is?"

"I think I have my suspicions... Rumors and all." She smiled kindly. "Are you alright?"

"Shocked more than anything... I'm just so mad at her right now... I can't believe she'd keep that from me... And everyone seems to know... Everyone but me..." She said shrugging her shoulders.

"Everything she has ever done was to protect her children. She loves you more than you know." Molly said smiling.

"That's what Julianne said." Nora chuckled.

"Well she is the one who knows your mother best." Molly smiled. "Now go relax a bit and then go talk to your mother. The boys and Aveline are in their room."

"Thanks." Nora smiled before heading upstairs.

She heard the twins and Aveline chattering in their room and opened the door. They quickly scattered trying to hide something before they noticed it was her.

"Thank Merlin! We thought you were Mum!" George sighed falling back on his bed as Fred grinned and went to kiss her quickly on the lips.

"Do you always kiss your Mum like that?" Nora teased.

"Only on special occasions." Fred teased pulling her to sit down next to him.

"So what are you three up to?" Nora asked.

"I'm fairly innocent! Reading our new Potions manual." Aveline said putting up her book.

"Working on ton-tongue taffy. You know how Mum is about our pranks." George said with a chuckled leaning up on his arm.

"What's wrong?" Fred asked putting an arm around her.

"Does it have anything to do with why you were gone so early this morning? Your mum seemed like a ball of nerves... Not that I blame her with Niko and all..." Aveline said kindly.

"Don't really want to talk about it... I've already been through it with the Diggorys and your Mum." She sighed feeling Fred tense up a she mentioned the Diggory family. "Please don't worry about this Fred... I went to talk to his mother and he was there..."

"Who said I was getting jealous?" Fred said defensively.

"You're always jealous about everything..." George teased.

"Oh shut up!" Fred rolled his eyes. " I'm fine!"

"Oh course you are." Nora chuckled resting her head on his shoulder. "My crazy jealous Freddykins." She teased making George laugh as Fred rolled his eyes as he kissed the top of her head.

The boys worked on the ton-tongue taffy while Nora and Aveline were going through the more technical aspects of production and trying to diminish side effects.

"Nora!" Molly called.

"Yes?" Nora called out opening the door.

"Your mother just flooed, she sounded really anxious." She said making Nora rolls her eyes.

"Merlin... I'll see you later, I have to go deal with crap at home..." She said kissing Fred on the cheek before heading downstairs.

"You better tell me all about it later." Fred smiled.

"Instead of going to Diggory first." George teased.

"Shut up Georgie!" Nora laughed leaving the room.

As she opened the front door to her house, Nora felt her mother crash into her and hug her tightly.

"I'm so sorry Nora...I was so scared you wouldn't come home... I should have told you all, I'm so sorry..." She rambled holding her daughter tightly.

"Where would I even go?" Nora teased sarcastically. "I'm not that mad Mum. But you have to stop treating us like we're children. We're not..."

"You'll always be my babies. No matter what." Brooke smiled wiping a tear from her

cheek.

A few minutes later, she called the other children down. Nora felt a twinge of pain not seeing Niko come down the stairs with Nataleigh, Meggan and Neil.

"What's up Mum?" Neil asked tripping down the last step.

"You might be clumsier than Nora! Wow!" Nataleigh teased.

"I think I owe you some answers." She sighed heading into the living room where Sirius was reading the newspaper. Brooke sat down next to him as he naturally seemed to grab her hand. The four teenagers sat on the opposite couch waiting to see what this gathering was about.

"You smell nice today." Neil said matter of factly to Nora who burst out laughing.

"You have a nice hat. Very hipster." Nora laughed.

"I think she wants to have a serious conversation here..." Meggan said rolling her eyes at her siblings making Nora and Neil burst out laughing as Nataleigh and Megg looked at them weirdly.

"It's a blond thing." Neil joked.

"Well of course the conversation has to be "Sirius" if he's here..." Nora answered with a smile as Sirius laughed and Brooke rolled her eyes.

"Hadn't heard that one in quite some time." Sirius smiled.

"That's not a bad thing... You used to use it far too much." Brooke chuckled. "But Megg is right I do have some serious things to clear up with you all. I know I've been quite secretive about my past and I've kept you in the dark but know that it was always to keep you safe."

"Get on with it Mum, you're stressing me out now." Nataleigh said half-joking.

"Right.. I don't know how else to put it... Cecilius isn't the triplets father... Sirius is." She breathed out. There was an uncomfortable silence that settled.

"Wait what?!" Nataleigh asked after a moment. "You made us spend years! Years with that dickhead and he wasn't even our father?!" She said her voice rising.

"Nat..."

"No! Who's bloody stupid idea was this?!" Nataleigh asked furious.

"It was both of ours." Sirius said finally speaking out. "We both decided it would be best if Cecilius thought you were his children. It kept you safe. No one would have dared touch his children. Had they known you were mine, you would have had a target on your back from the day you were born and so would your mother."

"I knew very well from the conception date that it was impossible that you were Cecilius' children. So I had the healer falsify the chart. We were lucky, Nora and Niko looked mostly like me so that wasn't an issue but Nat as a baby was the image of Sirius, the dark hair, the gray eyes. I was terrified Cecilius would notice but he was, in his own way, too enamored by you all to notice."

"And why didn't you tell us after you got divorced?" Nataleigh asked still obviously mad.

"I though Sirius had betrayed us. I believed that he was the reason our friends were dead and he was taken to Azkaban. I couldn't deal with any of it myself and you were all too young. That's why we moved to Ireland. I didn't even want to stay in England. I had too many memories I was trying to forget. And keeping contact with Cecilius still ensured your safety."

"Does he still think that we're his?" Nora asked.

"I don't know if Niko has told him or not. He figured it out but I'm not sure if he's told Cecilius. I'd rather him not. Cecilius can be a very dangerous man when crossed." Brooke sighed.

"What about us?" Megg asked after a moment.

"You're Cecilius' children... I had Sirius tested for paternity when I ran away from Cecilius during the war." Brooke answered.

"Well... That's that..." Neil said nodding his head.

"Well said Neil..." Nataleigh sighed.

After talking for a while longer everyone helped out and got supper ready together while Aveline spend the evening with the Weasleys.

"Aren't we a big happy family?" Neil joked as he passed a salad bowl to Nora who raised an eyebrow at him as Sirius laughed while Meg and Brooke rolled their eyes.

"Too soon?" Neil asked.

"Well we've always been dysfunctional so maybe not." Nataleigh said shrugging her shoulders.

"Good point." Nora laughed.

Later that evening she got an owl from Fred asking her to sneak-out and meet him at the lake house. She waited until everyone was in their rooms before heading downstairs. Nataleigh was more than used to her sister sneaking out and having done a fair share of sneaking around as well, she was not going to say a word.

Nora smiled seeing Fred reading a book on the couch. He looked up and beamed noticing her.

"Hey." Nora smiled walking towards him though Fred could tell that she was exhausted.

"Hey to you Freckles." He smiled pulling her down on the couch with him and kissing her passionately.

"So what is going on?" He asked after pulling away.

"Do you really want to know all the crazy crap going on with my insane family?" She asked with a chuckle resting her head against his chest calming herself down with the even rhythm of his breathing.

"Of course I want to know. As crazy as it is."

"If I tell you this, you have to swear not to tell anyone. George is fine but that's it. This cannot get out..." She sighed.

"I swear Nora." He smiled kissing the top of her head.

She went on to explaining the entire situation about her mother, Sirius, what happened with Niko. She talked for what seemed like an eternity and Fred listened intently rubbing her arm absent-mindedly.

"So that's pretty much it..." Nora sighed biting her lip looking up at him. "Are you traumatized?"

Fred laughed before kissing her quickly.

"Of course not. I love you Nora. You'll have to come up with much worst to get rid of me."

"You're pretty wonderful Fred Weasley, you know that?" She smiled brushing a strand of hair away from his face.

"Of course I know." He teased hugging her close to him.

A/N : I cannot believe how long it has been since I have updated this story... I still love writing it but I had a few major events in the past year, a few that required traveling and some that were simply time consuming.

I cannot tell you how grateful I am for everyone who is still reading this story. I'm really excited to be back to writing. I truly missed it. If you have time to review it would really mean a lot and would show me that people are still reading my story. I'm looking forward to writing the triwizard tournament, it is one of the things I was always looking forward to with the tasks and the yule ball.

I love you all XO