Persephone POV
I stand at the front of the Ballroom, listening to Sirius give a speech. We may not have known each other long, but we are family. My new dads, Moony and Padfoot, each lead me in a dance before leaving me to my 'suitors'.
Each man to ask for a dance gets progressively worse. At least the first few guys were my age! Throughout the night, my fellow fosters cut in on dances when I start to get overwhelmed. The extra 'affectionate' ones don't get a polite dismissal, instead receiving stinging hexes to their... wedding tassels*. All night, I hold the locket Regulus gave me to my chest.
When the night comes to a close, Sirius gives a final speech. "We would like to thank everyone for coming tonight. Not only has Persephone became of age as Heiress Black, she is now the standing Lady Slytherin, last of her line. Now, it is expected of an adult witch and wizard to start looking for a match upon their majority, so following tradition, Persephone will be betrothed before returning to finish out her last year in Hogwarts. Anyone who wishes to put themselves forward as a candidate for her hand will be given a chance to woo her, with her choice being announced in both the Prophet and Quibbler August 30. We will inform the suitor a week in advance so that he may help with the article. Thank you for coming, and safe travels."
As I scan the courtroom, I see a few vindictive faces in the Wizengomet, while others look confused.
"Mr Potter, you are charged with performing the Patronus charm while under seventeen, do you deny?" A pink toad like woman asks.
"No, I don't," Harry answers honestly.
"And this is not your first offense of underage magic?"
"No, I was given a warning in 1992," Harry tells the courtroom. When Umbridge asks if he wishes to defend his actions, he replies, "No, because there is nothing to defend. October 31 of last year, I was magically emancipated. The Goblet only accepted of age wizards. My participation makes me an adult in the eyes of magic. I've even claimed the Potter Lord's ring." The charges are dismissed immediately. Getting back to Grimmauld Place, Luna Lovegood waits on the steps with her trunk. "I'm moving in," she sadly tells us. "Daddy hasn't been home since picking me up from Hogwarts. I know he loves me, he really does, but he's easily distracted. I'll be safer here than alone at home."
Without a word, Harry grabs her trunk, leading her to the room next to Pansy's.
The day after the trial, the household residents sit around the table, planning Harry's birthday, when the oldest Weasley son pop into the room.
"We need help. The Death Eaters attacked a Muggleborn home. The boys are too injured to transport, and one is experiencing Cruciatus shakes," Bill says. Quickly Accioing my med bag, I grab his arm to apparate.
"Harry, prep the Med Bay!"
Landing in the backyard, I see members of the Order gathering two severely abused adult bodies. Hestia Jones is knelt beside one of the boys, holding his shaking body. The other boy is sitting with Dora Tonks, crying in her lap.
Getting to work on the older boy, I pour pain potions down his throat. The nerve relief potion isn't working like it should be, though. "Hey, Kid. How many Crucios did he experience?" The young one tells me three or four times. Apparently, the older boy, Colin, kept jumping in front of the younger one anytime someone aimed their wand at him. "You were very brave, Dennis. I know a way to help your brother, but I'll have to hurt him a little for it to work. If you don't want me to, I won't do it."
"Help him! Please," the boy begs. Nodding, I conjure a small scalpel, dropping beside the older brother. Instructing the Order member, minus Dora, to hold Colin on his side, I make an incision on the back of his neck, severing his brain from his nervous system. Healing temporary spinal damage, even paralysis, is easier than apparating with an unstable passenger. Immediately, he stops moving, face relaxing as he loses consciousness.
The Order members stare in horror at my methods, but who are they to judge? I'm actually helping the boy, not standing around with my thumb up my rear. Only Dora and Hestia were even helping the boys. Bill and Moody, I can understand. Moody is currently filing a report on this evening's events, while Bill took the mother to St. Mungos for advanced help.
Lifting Colin into my arms, I apparate home. "Sirius, Remus!" Both men rush into the med room, waiting for orders. "Get Regulus in here. I'll need his help with reattaching the nervous sustem. Kreacher." The elf pops in. "I need the anatomy book from my room."
For the next several hours, Regulus reads me instructions on how to heal Colin. Each nerve has to be reconnected separately to ensure a complete recovery. Reconnecting the last nerve, I heal the incision in his neck, and clean him up.
When I stumble out of the med room around dawn, I see the whole household waiting for news. "He'll be okay. He won't be able to walk for a few days, while his spine heals, but he will recover soon," I tell everyone. "Go to bed, everyone. I'll get Dennis settled in with Colin to get some sleep."
Everyone goes their separate ways, leaving me with a scared little boy. I walk him in to see his brother. "I know last night was scary, but you did good. I don't know if I would have been as put together at your age. I'll be right next door, so if you or Colin need me, just call for me."
Just before the door shuts, his sweet voice says, "Thank you, Persephone."
A knock sounds at my bedroom door shortly after nine. Jumping up, I rush to check on Colin and Dennis. Swinging the door open doesn't reveal the twelve year old, but Sirius.
"Madame Bones is here to escort you to St. Mungo's. Mrs. Creevey asked to speak with you."
Madame Bones apparates us to the hospital lobby , then leads me through the corridors. "I'll be honest with you, Ms. Gaunt. She's experienced too much magic damage for her muggle body to handle. She won't make it through the night," She says, sadly.
"Why am I here? My methods wouldn't be accepted here," I ask, cautiously.
Bones opens the door to the Creevey mother. "Mrs. Creevey, this is Persephone, the woman the healers told you about. She's the main caretaker of the House of Sanctuary, a wizarding orphanage of sorts."
Amanda Creevey asks many questions about the house, other foster children and educational requirements of the house. I assure her the house is a safe place, going so far as to show her photos of Grimmauld. "The only requirement needed to stay with us, be in need. Any child without a home or safe living environment is welcome, regardless of blood status, intelligence levels or any additional help needed. I promise, as long as I have breath in my lungs, I will protect your son's to the best of my ability. If they join our home, they will be treated as family, and our family sticks together."
Amelia Bones calls in a few favors to get parchment flowing. By the time I gather the boys for a final goodbye, Amanda has signed custody over to me.
Dennis and Colin each hold their mother's hands, until she breathes her final breath.
A/N: wedding tassel is an Austin Powers reference
