Disclaimer: see chapter 1
"We'll run away to Africa and start our new lives as profession explorers!" said Portia as she dumped out her school trunk
"You're jumping to conclusions." Said Galatea trying to calm her cousin down
"We'll take the guns, the knives, the wands, and this picture!" said Portia holding up the most recent family portrait.
"We even have guns." Said Galatea dryly
"Right here!" said Portia as she pulled a toy gun out of her closet. Galatea rolled her eyes.
"You can't hurt anyone with that." Said Galatea
"Yes I can, see?" said Portia as she pulled the trigger. Galatea pushed the gun away and Harry got a face full of soot.
"Stop it, you're making a mess." Said Persephone as she packed the knives, wands, and that picture. Harry seemed oblivious to what was happening.
"It's my room and I'll do what I want with it!" said Portia as she shot Persephone. Persephone dodged the blast and threw her shoe.
"If we're running away can I at least cast my vote for Australia?" said Galatea folding clothes
"What's in Australia?" asked Portia from under Persephone
"We can hide in the desert and farm those magical kangaroos that can carry you in their pouches." Said Galatea sarcastically
"I like it." Said Persephone getting off of Portia. Portia stuck her tongue out and Persephone slapped her over the head.
"No, that sounds boring." Said Portia fixing her bow. Harry sat very still and was seeming looking at nothing. Portia hit him over the head with her wans and accomplished nothing.
"Fine, we'll liberate the penal colony and start our own country." Said Galatea handing Persephone her shoe.
"I like it." Said Persephone putting her shoe back on. Portia began to hit Harry over the head with her wand.
"What would we call it?" asked Portia giving up on Harry.
"Avalon!" said Galatea picking up the Grimourum Acranorum and waving it madly above her head. Even Harry looked at her in shock.
"There's already and Avalon…Avalon." Said Persephone
"It'll make for an adventure." Said Portia
"Angering Oberon?" asked Persephone
"Yes, we'll have a grand fight where we ultimately triumph over the king of the fairies!" said Portia jumping onto the bed.
"No, I mean we can journey to Avalon and start new lives there." Said Galatea pointing to the notes in the Grimorum.
"I think this Magus guy is full of it." Said Persephone as she read it. It was very close to old Remordierian
"He really existed and he was a great wizard." Said Galatea
"I thought he was a Magus." Said Persephone
"What do you think about what they were talking about?" asked Harry out of the blue. He had been mostly oblivious to what was going on around him.
"I think he must have been a great wizard because they didn't have wands or schools back then." Said Portia
"What?" asked Harry
"Can't you follow a conversation?" said Portia
"No, I meant about Sirius Black. I get the feeling that they were talking about me." Said Harry
"No, were talking about the Magus." Said Galatea
"I thought we were talking about Avalon." Said Persephone
"No, I'm talking about what mother and father were discussing." Said Harry
"They want to send father away to India and separate us, that's why we have to run away." Said Portia motioning to her suitcase
"I think that they might have been talking about me. I mean, I used to live with muggles when I was very small but then father rescued me." Said Harry
"You mean like in Cinderella when her father died and left her with her squib step mother and sisters but then it turned out that she was descended from fey and left her home for Avalon and married Oberon and became-" said Persephone reading from her children fairytale book. Galatea took if from her and put it in the seemingly bottomless suitcase.
"Maybe, it's hard to remember. I think I slept in a cellar or a cupboard." Said Harry trying to remember
"Maybe you got displaced when they sent us to India like our squib cousin." Said Persephone
"No, I don't remember anything about India." Said Harry. Galatea rushed over towards the bookshelf
"Tell me what you do remember." Said Galatea flipping quickly through 'Divination for Dunderheads.'
"I remember a big man and a small woman." Said Harry
"You must be remembering mother and father." Said Portia
"No, mother is bigger than father." Said Harry
"Father is much fatter." Said Portia
"Keep remembering." Said Galatea impatiently
"I remember a green light." Said Harry
"Green light? Might have been some sort of spell or maybe the boat you were on to India exploded in a flash of green light and some evil muggles took you in to be their servant." Said Persephone
"What are you four on about?" asked Addie with forced cheer
"Green light." They all said at once
"Well that's certainly interesting but Peter has something important to speak to you children about." Said Addie motioning for them to follow her. They all made their way back to the parlor where Peter Pettigrew sat nervously next to an angry looking Margareta.
"Children, there are things that you need to be informed about." Said Peter. He gave Margareta and Addie a pleading look. Margareta gave an exaggerated sigh and continued.
"Things, affairs in the outside leave much to be desired so because of this changes must be made." Said Margareta
"We know, we've began packing." Said Portia
"Packing, daughter where do you plan on going? Not running away to slay dragons and conquer the savage lands are you?" asked Addie. Portia gave a sheepish look.
"Only to free a penal colony and become their leaders." Said Portia
"Or to run off to Avalon dear aunt." Said Galatea
"I wanted to stay under the bed but that wasn't an option." Said Persephone
"Where are we to go, mother." Said Harry looking up at her. Addie stomach dropped when he called her mother but she regained her composure.
"We may have to go but you three will…return to Hogwarts for the time being." Said Addie looking over towards Peter
"For the time being? Mother, does she mean that we won't be returning to Hogwarts next year?" asked Galatea
"It depends on whether or not Sirius Black is caught." Said Margareta
"He may come after Ha…Galatea." Said Peter catching himself before he could let things slip. He didn't know how much they had heard but he was going to try and play this right.
"Me?" asked Galatea in surprise
"Yes, Sirius Black is your father but he went bad and abandoned us many years ago. After that we lived on Peter and Addie's hospitality."
"You told me he died in the war!" said Galatea not appreciating being lied to
"I had to but I trust you all to understand this turn of events. Daughter, we will discuss this later but as of now we will have to be on our toes." Said Margareta leaving with a rustle of her long purple dress.
"Will we be returning after the holiday?" asked Harry
"Yes." Said Peter
"So we won't have to liberate the penal colony?" asked Portia upset at the wasted adventure
"No daughter, we won't." said Addie
"Father?" asked Harry hoping to get some answers to his questions
"Yes?" asked Peter wearily. Harry noticed this and decided not to say anything. It would just upset him.
"Nothing." Said Harry. And with that they left the parlor in a Christmassy state, each of them lost in thoughts.