September 20th, 1995
London

"You're making a mistake. You all are."

"And you're beyond reckless. Stop pinning this on everyone else just because you feel slighted that Dumbledore doesn't want you out and about much, Sirius."

With a glare that most people would run from, Sirius stared Delia down from across the room. Looking through years of artefacts and information, Lily only paused every so often to ensure things were not escalating. I've always joked the only people she's always nice, always reasonable with are her husband and their kids. It's ridiculous, being jealous of her and Cornelius for that. Then again, their family wasn't ripped asunder… Lily set everything aside when she saw Sirius take a step towards Delia, who, despite being over a foot shorter than him, seemed particularly imposing. He stopped, however, thinking better of it when he saw Delia was shaking. Bloody hell, woman. You're terribly addled with anxiety and have been for years and, yet, are also completely insufferable and often nothing short of a bitch. How in the hell did you get like this? He stepped back, a little, when Lily stood up, briefly glancing between her and the woman he had been arguing with for the better part of an hour.

"There is nothing," Delia said, regaining her composure. "Nothing else to be done right now. Not reasonably, that is."

"You're all lying to yourselves," Sirius said flatly. "You of all people should know that. Someone must act, aggressively, dauntlessly, and –"

"You don't know what you're talking about, Sirius, and that's because you don't know anything about playing politics," Delia snapped. "You aren't going to be able to win without at least some twisting. And, frankly, acting to keep the public calm and relatively satiated is something which –"

"There are better ways than pretending things are not as bad as they are," Sirius snapped back. "But I suppose this is the perfect opportunity to ask you about some of your own –"

"Don't you –" Delia hissed.

"We all know you want to be in the room where it happens," Sirius cut in. "So, tell me: do you know anything about compromise?"

"Yes," Delia coldly replied. "Because there are times where you have to hold your nose and close your eyes."

Sirius' eyes narrowed. "I assume you also know the people expect their leaders to save the day."

"And no one gets a say in what they trade away," She countered. "Which is exactly why politics is a game. It is also why it is incredibly difficult to –"

"There's an obvious –"

"There is never an obvious and easy solution!" Delia briefly calmed herself to take out her earrings and slip them into her purse before slipping her wand into her hair. "Did all those years in Azkaban truly destroy judgement? Or have you always been this way?"

Sirius took a step back. "That's a line too far," He said, his voice darkening. "You're asking for a duel, Delia, pushing boundaries like that, but, then again, I suppose it's not surprising. You and your husband care about nothing other than preserving yourselves and your kids, which –"

"Well," She suddenly grabbed a book Remus had left on the table before storming towards him. "How about I push the boundaries of your head with this book and –"

"Stop it, both of you!" Lily stepped in between them and, albeit after a moment of hesitation and with angry muttering, Delia lowered the book and eventually dropped it back onto the table. "Sirius," She said once they had gone silent. "Delia is right that there isn't an easy nor obvious solution to stopping him. But," She turned to the petite auror. "Sirius is right that treating this like a political game is not helping things."

"You're both wrong," She muttered. "If this were under my jurisdiction, it wouldn't be a question. People would be out there, figuring the location, and able to either capture or kill You Know Who."

"This isn't your jurisdiction," Lily reminded her. "And MACUSA's track record when it comes to doing such things or similar is not exactly a good one."

Delia scowled. "Don't."

"We're all beyond stressed," Lily said as reasonably as she could. "I strongly disagree with your husband's strategy of just about pretending it isn't happening, but I acknowledge most people are more comfortable with that, including those in other high up positions."

"You're all making a mistake," Sirius swore under his breath. "And," He sent Delia a dark look. "I'm still annoyed with you for throwing a stapler at my head when I came into your office unannounced the other day."

Lily laughed. "Did that really happen?"

"Yes," Delia said irritably. "I was startled, and it was the nearest object I felt could be used as a distraction ahead of a potential duel."

Sirius grimaced. "I would rather not duel you. For many reasons, not the least of which being that I have no desire to end up back in Azkaban."

After a few seconds, he sent Delia one last dark look before leaving the room to find and speak with his husband. Lily sighed, tiredly rubbing at her eyes, and Delia leaned back against the wall, legs crossed at the ankle and her arms folded across her chest.

"I've known you for years, Delia. I know you have a hairpin temper at times, and I know you have been worried about Cornelius and your children even more than usual since everything that has happened since the summer," Lily eventually said. "But are you alright? Or are you hiding behind anger?"

Delia scoffed. "What do you – no, what does everyone – want from me?"

"That's a fair question."

Lily turned around towards the door in surprise, letting out a light sigh of relief when she saw it was only Kingsley.

"But I, have to say," He continued, sending Delia a pointed look. "That it is more than apparent you will never be satisfied because you –"

"I'm not in the mood for lectures," She coldly looked between him and Lily. "I –"

"You need to learn to hold back," Kingsley finished. "Everything you say or do, especially impulsively, is free ammunition for your enemies, and I suspect you know that."

"Right," She said dryly. Because everything is my fault. Everything is Delia's fault, I see how it is."

"That's not what anyone means," Lily shook her head. "Delia, please let yourself pause, even if just for a little. It would be more than for the best for you."

Delia raised an eyebrow. "Lily," She finally said, her voice unusually quiet. "Look me in the eyes and tell me I'm not going to regret this"

September 24th, 1995
Hogwarts

"Severus, your concerns about Nymphadora are ridiculous, and you know it," Minerva said, her fingers tapping against the edge of his desk. "She is not who you ought to be thinking about in terms of members of the Order, let alone members of the staff."

"I said I am concerned she has…a conflict of interest with her treatment of a few members of my own house," Severus said, his voice seething with contempt. "I never said she was as absolutely insufferable as Gilderoy Lockhart."

Minerva raised an eyebrow with a faint smirk. "I would sincerely hope not. He is one of the most obnoxious humans I have ever met."

Severus rolled his eyes. "I will remind you, Minerva," He said, his voice darkening considerably. "I had the displeasure of teaching him just a few years before he became…whatever it was he became before Dumbledore put him up for the Defence Against the Dark Arts Post."

"I will remind you that I taught Cornelius, and watched him become Minister Of Magic," Minerva replied without a second of hesitation. "We all have wounds, Severus."

"His wife is much worse. And their eldest child is much like her. Much like James Potter, incidentally," He could not hide the disdain in his voice. "Speaking of Cat, tell your students to stop encouraging them to torment other members of their house. I have them slated for detention in a few minutes, and for –"

Snape turned around suddenly upon hearing the door to his office creak open. Sure enough, and just barely on time, Cat Fudge stepped into the room, wearing a tattered, zip up hoodie, tank top, and leggings. Both teachers frowned, and Snape's eyes narrowed when the bony teenager slumped down in the chair in front of his desk. To his annoyance, they looked both as if they were bored and as if they had done something they weren't supposed to. McGonagall eyed them closely for a few seconds, and then sighed and left the room. Snape waited until the door slammed shut to begin pacing, well aware they had been likely eavesdropping. He watched them pull off their glasses and examine them against the light, and he watched them casually flick their wand as if it were a nervous habit. He could tell they were resisting the urge to say something which, he imagined, would be reason enough to give them more weeks of detention. They pulled off their clip on moon earrings, and slipped them into the pocket of their hoodie. Seeing them squirm was amusing to watch, at least, for a little while.

"You would do well to set a better example for your siblings, though your brother is, of course, a Ravenclaw," Snape said coldly when they put their glasses back on. "Honestly," He irritably continued. "I cannot fathom what led you to think this was a good idea. Do you any idea how absolutely ridiculous your actions were? Are you so unaware that you thought it would be perfectly alright?"

Cat squirmed. "Is this about the fireworks on the third floor?"

"Is that not why you are here?" He silkily countered. "As I understand it, Professor McGonagall has Fred and George Weasley in detention for the same matter after Gryffindor finishes their…quidditch practice."

Cat laughed. "What we did wasn't that bad!"

Snape eyed them strangely. "While not the primary concern, you took off your earrings before punching another student in the face."

Cat shrugged. "My mom told me to always take off earrings before getting in fights. It shows you're not going to play games. And that girl deserved it. She was being mean to my brother! And he's several years younger than her!"

"Regardless –" Snape frowned, his gaze darkening again when Harry entered the room as well. "You're late, Potter," He spat. "Gryffindor can spare one quidditch practice without their prized seeker."

Harry warily glanced at Cat. "Why is Cat –"

He turned around suddenly when the door opened again. Much to his surprise, Luna awkwardly skipped into the room.

"Sorry I'm late, professor!" She chirped. "I'm afraid the nargles got me for a little."

"Excuse me, nargles?" Snape could barely mask his confusion behind irritation. "Miss Lovegood, I hesitate to ask what you're talking about, however –"

"Oh, it's no matter," She turned to Cat. "How are your parents doing with assassinations?"

Cat stared at her in horror. "What the hell are you talking about? My parents have never –"

"It was a rumour," Luna clarified. "I'll have to tell my dad it was just proven wrong. I had my suspicions against it, but –"

"I hope you didn't say that to Eddie," Cat said, standing up quickly and, briefly looking dizzy. "He –"

"I would only ask someone like you," Luna cheerfully explained. "Because I know you –"

"The only person we know who wants to kill people is my mother," Harry quickly put in. "For…pretty understandable reasons."

"I've always wondered what my fate will be after I die," Luna wistfully remarked. "Will it be a never ending peace, or will I haunt people? Who knows!"

"I'll haunt people when I die," Cat muttered. "Not sure who, yet, but I'll haunt people."

"Enough. You three," Snape dropped down to heavy crates in front of them, startling all three students. Luna squeaked. Cat jumped back. Harry looked between them uncomfortably. "Are going to clean some cauldrons by hand for me," Snape smirked at them. "Some first years very nearly made poison, and I would rather not see anyone die again, particularly after last year."

Harry, Luna, and Cat shared a confused and vaguely disturbed look.

"You three will not use magic," Snape continued, catching Cat slipping their wand into their person. "And, if I catch any of you using magic. I will tack on another month of detentions. Catherine Fudge, you are already on thin ice for not being in uniform, so do bear in mind I have little patience for you."

Cat grimaced and wrinkled their nose in disgust when they saw the thick, tar like substance in a few of the cauldrons.

"You expect me to touch…that?" They shuddered. "Surely –"

"I will not repeat myself," Snape said, his voice increasingly dangerous as he gestured to Harry and Luna. "If you need to be taught how to do this, I imagine Mister Potter and Miss Lovegood can assist you."

Harry, Luna, and Cat watched Snape walk towards the back of the room. Luna suddenly hugged Cat, startling them, feeling rather bothered by assuming the worst of their parents. Sometimes I forget daddy doesn't like them. He hasn't liked Cordelia since she slapped him that one time back in 87' and he hasn't liked Cornelius since then because he defended her. Cordelia is scary, though. Like a vampire. I think daddy said she and the Minister are like Morticia and Gomez Addams from that muggle series. After a minute, Cat managed to pry Luna off of them, but did awkwardly pat the top of her head for a moment. Harry eyed the two of them strangely, already starting to clean the damn cauldrons. The sooner this is done, the better. Luna quickly began to do the same, although they both paused to watch Cat as they set down their purse and slid off their jacket to drape it over their shoulders. Hesitantly, they approached a cauldron with the cleaning supplies. He tried not to laugh when they poked at it, as if they expected it to attack them, but Luna, unable to stop herself, began giggling.

"This is disgusting," Cat let out a small yelp upon some of the residue meeting their skin. "It's –"

"It isn't that bad," Luna eagerly told them. "I promise, it won't be as bad as you think."

"Haven't you cleaned things before?" Harry asked, watching them try to distance themselves as much as they could from what they were doing.

"Not really," Cat replied, shuddering. "I've put things away, I've run the dishwasher, I've done laundry, but nothing like this. This is one thing magic is for."

Harry rolled his eyes and playfully socked them in the arm. "Alright," He said with a laugh. "Clearly there are some things you can't get out of."

Luna nodded, using a slightly damp cloth to jokingly swat at them. "You're going to learn some useful muggle skills today!" She declared.

Cat frowned, primly adjusting their glasses. "I know how to live like a no-maj!" They protested. "All of mommy's family are no-majs!"

Harry smirked. "Okay," He said, putting up his hands. "You can do this yourself? Prove it."