MiB 21

Friday, June 27

Sirius and Andromeda gathered the group of children up at the Black Estate. They had Harry, Draco, Neville, and Blaise in addition to Daphne, Susan, Tracey and Hannah and had planned for an outing for the day. They were able to arrange for a port-key to take them to London, at the back of a building owned by some magicals. The group then went to visit one of the parks, and Sirius had chosen St. James Park.

After a short walk around, pointing out some of the sites, Sirius led the group to the Duck Island and the kids were entertained by the many pelicans they could see. Next they made their way to the Blue Bridge, where they could look from the middle of the bridge to see Buckingham Palace. Sirius was starting to explain to the children about the British government when there was a sudden loud bang.

He looked around and noted that there was a magical dome that had appeared over them and men holding wands were at either end of the bridge.

"Doesn't this violate the Statutes of Secrecy?" called out Susan.

"I don't think these people give a damn about any statutes," replied Andromeda.

A large rough looking man took a few steps closer. "We're just going to remove some of those brats from your care, so don't do anything rash."

Sirius slipped his hand into his pocket.

"And don't even think of drawing your wand on me, Black," sneered the man.

Sirius slowly pulled his hand out of his pocket and held up a small coin. "Just holding a coin, no wand," he said.

The man scoffed at Sirius. "Hah, I figured you would be all about fighting us off, being a big bad Black and all. But I guess those years in Azkaban made you soft!"

"No, not soft," replied Sirius. "Perhaps a little wiser, though."

"Wise enough to not try and funny business then," said the man as he continued to get closer. "Just hand over the Malfoy brat, and might as well add the Potter brat and even the Bones girl while you're at it."

"I don't think so," said Sirius as the children mostly were trying to hide between him and Amanda who had her eyes on the men slowly approaching from the other end of the bridge.

"And what are you going to do to stop us?" called out another man.

"Me? Oh, I don't think I'm the one who is going to stop you," said Sirius as a grin appeared on his face.

"And just who is going to then? That blood traitor mud blood loving causing of yours? I doubt that!" called back the leader.

Sirius shook his head. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

There was a sudden loud crash, and Sirius called out to the children to quickly lay down to the ground. The anti-apparition bubble collapsed and there was flashes of spell fire over their heads.

Dru had appeared and was casting spells quicker than those panning to abduct the children could block them. Andromeda sent out a patronus messenger to Amelia Bones. Within two minutes several Aurors had arrived who then called in a group of Obliviators to deal with the crowds that had witnessed the attack.

Amelia had Rufus Scrimgore bring all of the apprehended wizards to the holding cells at the DMLE while she accompanied Sirius, Andromeda, Dru and the children back to the Black Estate.

They were all grateful that no one was actually hurt, other than several of the wizards who had tried to carry off the abduction who had multiple injuries and broken bones.

Narcissa and Amanda were seeing to the children, making sure they were okay and feeding them chocolate bars and lemonade.

Amanda started with questioning Sirius.

"Do you have any idea who those men were who tried to kidnap the children?" she asked.

"Never seen them before," stated Sirius, who was still angry with himself for allowing the attack to happen. Then he started to turn pale.

"What's wrong now?" asked Amelia.

"Maybe its my fault that this all happened," said Sirius as he looked up at the ceiling, not willing to look anyone else in the eye at that time.

"What do you mean?" asked Dru.

Sirius took a deep breath before continuing. "I was talking about the kids with some witch I met at a bar on Diagon Alley. It's not like I went to some sleazy place in Knockturn Alley."

"Who was this witch?" asked Amelia.

"Dunno, I think her name was Marilyn or something like that," answered Sirius. "She was very cute. And very well proportioned," he added with a grin.

"And?" prodded Dru, wanting to get him to get back to the point.

"And she didn't mind buying me drinks. Asked me lots of questions about what I had been doing since I was released from Azkaban," added Sirius. "She was very interested in me. "

Amelia commented, "No, she was interested in the children."

"Show me the memory, I am sure Arcturus has a penseive here," said Dru.

Arcturus had arrived in the room at this time and told them all to join him in his office where he retrieved his pensive.

The group then were able to view the memory.

This Marilyn did not look familiar to any of them. Dru shook his head as it seemed obvious that she was coming on to him for a reason.

"So, Mister Black, what has the great and mysterious Sirius Black been doing since he was finally released after his wrongful imprisonment?"

Sirius smiled, "Oh, not much. My first goal was to gain my health back."

She rubbed a hand up and down one of his arms. "That looks like it was definitely a success," she said with a sly wink.

Sirius just smiled in return.

"But you must be doing something with your time," said the witch as she continued to rub his arm.

"Well, I do look after my cousin's son, and his friends, and all that. Mostly I supervise the little ones playing Quidditch on toy brooms." Then he added with a smile, "It's all good and safe, but they're having a great time."

"Of course they are. Didn't you play Quidditch at Hogwarts?"

Sirius grinned some more. "Of course I did, I was a beater. Took out all the best players on the other team so we could score more points."

"Do they do anything else besides play Quidditch? It must get kind of boring for them, just hiding out, staying at the Black residence."

Sirius downed another drink she had provided. "No, I don't think they're bored. They seem to be having fun."

"Maybe kids that age would like some sort of adventure. Like explore London. Go to one of those muggle parks and things like that. She what muggles do for a day."

Sirius grinned again. "That sounds like a great idea. I haven't been to muggle London in a while. Not sure which park would be the best one to take them to, though, as I haven't the foggiest idea."

"St. James Park has a small lake. Kids can feed the ducks bread or brings nuts to feed the many birds. There's even a great view of the muggle palace from that bridge in the middle of the park."

"That sounds wonderful, the kids would love that."

"Oh, dear, look at the time," stated Marilyn. "I'm late for dinner with a friend. We will have to find a way to meet up later," she added with a wink. And then she quickly exited the bar.

Dru and the others then exited the memory.

Dru shook his head with frustration. "Why are you such a pushover? Do you not know how to use your brain to think and not the broken area between your legs?"

Sirius sat there, his jaw hanging open.

Amelia looked at the others in the group. "Does no one have any idea who that Marilyn is?"

None of the people present had seen her before.

Amelia shook her head. "I need to head back to the DMLE office and deal with those fools. Once they are properly processed we might ask someone to come over from St. Mungo's to check on them." Just before she left the room she turned to Sirius and added, "I have trusted you to watch over my niece and her friends when they are here. Don't do anything more that could cause me to think that trust was misguided."

After Amelia left, Sirius sat feeling dejected while Arcturus and Dru sat and stared at him. Arcturus had already received a brief update on what had transpired.

Sirius looked up at Dru and finally had a slight smile. "It's a good thing you gave me that coin that has that charm on it. It was brilliant, and it helped save the kids, not to mention my ass. Where did you come up with an idea like that?"

"The coin? A friend of mine from when I was a student at Hogwarts came up with the idea originally," said Dru.

Arcturus turned to look at Dru, and his expression seemed to be one of anger.

Sirius shook his had a moment and then turned to Dru. "When you were a student at Hogwarts? You've never been a student at Hogwarts!"

The room was silent for a minute and then Sirius jumped to his feet and had his wand in his hand. "Who are you and what did you do to my cousin?"

Arcturus snapped at Sirius. "Put your wand away you idiot. You know you wouldn't last ten seconds in a duel with him, even if he didn't have a wand."

"What the hell is going on here?" asked Amanda as she and Narcissa walked into the room.

"Dru has some explaining to do," said Sirius, who still had not lowered his wand.

Dru looked to Arcturus who simply held his hands up. "This is your mess, not mine, young man."

"Merlin's balls," muttered Dru. "Fine, I guess I do owe you, and others, a little more of an explanation."

"So, let's hear it then," snapped Sirius.

"First, you will put your wand away," said Dru. "And, close family need to hear this, and I will only say this once."

"Is that truly wise?" questioned Arcturus.

Dru turned to Lord Black. "You know it needs to be done. But can it be done, and kept a secret?"

Arcturus actually chuckled slightly. "Do you mean can we protect the information with the Fidelius? Of course we can. I presume you will be the secret keeper."

"Of course," agreed Dru.

"And who will you allow to hear this?" asked Arcturus.

"Sirius, of course. And Andromeda, and Narcissa," said Dru.

"And what about Amanda?" asked Arcturus.

Dru took a deep breath. "I suppose I need to let her know the truth as well."

Dru ran a hand through his hair and then turned back to Sirius, who had a stunned look on his face. "If you would let your cousins know to be here, in this room, for a meeting at 7 this evening. I will speak with Amanda."

Dru turned and walked out of the room, followed by Arcturus. Sirius was left standing, his wand hanging loosely in his hand. "What the hell just happened?" he asked himself.

"You'll get your answers at seven tonight," Dru called back before the door to Arcturus' office closed.


MiB


7:00 PM that evening

The group had assembled in Arcturus' office. Sirius was seated next to Amanda, facing Arcturus' desk, which Dru was leaning against. Arcturus stood behind his desk, his hands folded behind his back. Andromeda and Narcissa walked in and took seats to Sirius' left and sat down.

"What is this all about?" demanded Narcissa.

Dru held his hands up to appease everyone. "Now, we will get this going shortly. What I am about to tell you all is a family secret. And to keep it as such, Arcturus will be casting the Fidelius charm so as to make it a secret. I will be the secret keeper. I ask you to allow me to tell you everything I need to, and then I will let Arcturus know when the information I have relayed to be kept under the Fidelius is complete. Then, and only then, I will answer your questions."

"Did you kill somebody?" asked Andromeda.

Sirius spoke up next, "All I know is that he told me earlier he attended Hogwarts, as a student. And a friend of his taught him the protean charm."

Dru shook his head and laughed awkwardly. "Please, just let Arcturus cast the charm, then I will tell you a long story. Then we will complete the charm and then I will answer your questions."

Sirius was about to speak but Arcturus gave him a glare and he swallowed his words.

Arcturus then began by speaking the spell, and concluded by stating that the information that they were about to hear was the information that would be what is protected under the charm, and the one speaking would be the secret keeper of the information.

Amanda and Narcissa both raised eyebrows as they noted that Arcturus did not state a name.

Dru bowed his head for a moment and then stood up straighter. "I made a comment to Sirius earlier today, as he alluded to. I dd tell him that I had learned the protean charm, and to use it on the coins like I did, from a friend of mine when I was a student. At Hogwarts."

The four present were about to say something but Dru held his hands up in front of himself indicating that he needed them to stop. "Now, I need you to be quiet, and wait. I will allow questions, but let me tell you all I have to say." He took a deep breath and then he continued. "I was born in 1980. I started my first year at Hogwarts in 1991. When I was twenty-five years old, I traveled back in time. I met Arcturus when I arrived and we created the backstory, that you have all learned. My name is Harry James Potter."


AN:

Sorry for the long delay.

I did find myself having some dilemma about where I was really heading with this story. And this is the start of my dealign with those dilemmas….