When it came to going home the group were met with a dilemma. The train compartments were not big enough for Harry's friends and Rose's friends if they all wanted to share. In the end It was decided they would have to split up.
Rose, Daphne, Blaise and Capella took one leaving Harry and his friends plus Ginny to take one close by so they could move between them easily enough. When the Slytherins were sitting in their compartment Daphne looked at Rose and Capella who were sitting exceptionally close.
"So this is official then?"
"Well we are still young and so are just going to see what happens." Rose replied, with Capella nodding and agreeing.
Blaize who had been listening in looked at Rose and Capella a little confused.
"What are we talking about here?"
This caused the occupants of the Compartment to laugh and Capella to lean into Rose further.
Daphne was looking at Blaize like he was stupid.
"Do you really not get it? How could you not?" Daphne asked her clearly, thinking he must be joking.
"Blaize you idiot, they like each other." Daphne announced in a deadpan voice.
"I know that much." Blaize commented but it was clear he was still not getting it. Deciding to just show Blaize Rose leant down and kissed Capella lightly. They hadn't kissed much at all since getting together but it seemed the best way to get the point across.
To say Blaize was shocked was an understatement he went bright red and left the compartment. Rose, who was pretty confused by the action, looked at Daphne, Who sighed and explained that wizard views were a little backward. She did mention that she thought Blaize would come around eventually.
Despite Blaize's reaction Rose still felt like what she was feeling was normal and right and so refused to change how she was acting with Capella, though it did make her wonder just how Sirius and Marlene would respond.
Daphne and Rose spent a while after that incident talking about potions and trying to work out the best ways to improve them, something they liked to discuss in their free time. Capella, who wanted to follow in her dad's pranking, was listening intently to the conversation and raised questions about how she could utilise potions in pranks.
At some point later in the journey Ginny joined their compartment. Despite being a Gryffindor Daphne held no ill content to Ginny and actively engaged Ginny in conversation. The talk moved away from potions and onto wizarding families after Ginny arrived.
Rose was curious why Ginny and the Weasleys, who had been told, meaning Fred and George, had been more accepting of where Blaize had taken off. She knew that the wizarding world seemed to be stuck in the past but had never really explored her world's views on such matters, it never mattered before now.
Now on the subject of families Daphne announced to the compartment.
"Mother has requested a formal Dinner with the Potters and Blacks. I don't know if you have been told yet."
"Oh? Why a formal dinner and not informal?" Rose asked her curiosity now piqued.
"I have a guess but I cannot say for sure. I think Mother would like to make a formal declaration of friendship. Sort of like an alliance from the times of old." Daphne announces choosing her words carefully.
"Is your family not worried about losing their position on the sacred twenty eight?" Capella asked, drawing the attention of Rose and Ginny.
"The what?" Rose asked.
"The sacred twenty eight barley has many families left in it to be fair." Daphne responded looking at Capella.
"Right but what is it?" Rose asked again.
"It is a list of pureblood families. But it is exclusive, only containing the richest and oldest families." Ginny surprised everyone by telling them.
"The Weasleys for instance, while still a pure blooded house, were removed from the list in the last war due to our stance on blood purity. Daphne's house being Noble, wealthy and have not yet shown their blood loyalty is still on that list, as is house Malfoy, house Flint and Avery. Other houses that were removed are Longbottom, Abbot and of course Prewett, my mothers house."
"For a Weasley you are very well informed." Daphne said, looking surprised at the amount of information Ginny had relayed.
"I found a book in our attic talking about the twenty eight. I assume it came from my mom's side since Dad's side never really cared for stuff like that."
"I am unable to answer that question Capella. I do not believe my mother would care for such things any longer though since she left her family." Daphne was looking at Capella.
"I assume the Blacks were removed in the last war too thanks to Sirius?" Ginny asked the topic interesting to her.
"We could have been removed for a number of reasons. Daddy doesn't share their beliefs but also Mommy is only half blood. But I don't know if anyone actually updates the book anymore so our name may still be on it." Capella mentioned thinking about the book.
"Did people really care so much about this?" Rose asked, perplexed by the idea blood status mattered so much.
"The list Is still actively maintained by the Nott family that made the list." Daphne added as an off hand comment.
"It is quite ridiculous if you ask me." Daphne added, addressing Rose's statement.
The conversation had lasted them quite some time and by the time that they had finished discussing it the train was quite close to London. Talk soon changed to summer topics Ginny extended an invite to the Burrow to all in the compartment and nearly burst out laughing when Rose mentioned Ron would flip having three Slytherins in his house.
Despite this the three other girls agreed to go and visit Ginny, extending invitations to their own homes too. Daphne who was shrewd as ever told Ginny to tell her parents to expect a formal invitation too, shocking Ginny quite a lot.
"Why would my family be invited?"
"Well it seems that you are already pretty close with the heirs of house Black and Potter. If we are going to be friends openly with them your family would have to be included too. No doubt Sirius will already be planning on making a public announcement of the friendships of your houses"
Ginny seemed to think about this for a moment before nodding her head in agreement.
"My Dad doesn't really stand by this stuff but I will tell him and try to make him see it as a good thing."
What none of the children in the compartment knew was that Sirius was indeed already talking to the Weasleys about a similar topic at the station while they waited. When the train arrived the conversation was cut short as they prepared to meet their children.
With the station in sight Ginny returned to Harry's compartment to gather her things. Hopping off the train, Rose and Capella were pulled into bone breaking hugs by Sirius, who got lightly scolded by Marlene who was hugging Harry with more care.
When the hug broke Marlene scooped up the girls hugging them next. Once hugs were exchanged the five went over to the Greengrasses where polite conversation was exchanged before parting their separate ways.
Just like at Christmas, Rose and Capella travelled with Sirius and Harry with Marlene. When they appeared at the house an odd feeling washed over Harry and Rose, a feeling of being welcomed home that they did not feel in Sirius's home.
"Where the heck are we?" Capella announced looking around for all she could see were steep mountains around them and she could feel the cold of the Scottish highlands.
"Why are we at a castle and not your home uncle Sirius?" Rose asked not yet knowing Capella could not see the castle. Before Sirius could answer, Capella started looking around thinking she was crazy.
"There is no castle here, Rose." She finally said.
"Harry, Rose please tell Capella where we are so she can see it too."
Harry and Rose just looked at each other stunned.
"Erm uncle Sirius, we don't know where we are." Rose said slowly.
"Sirius, you were supposed to tell them the location before you left." Marlene scolded and hit his arm. She tried to tell Harry where they were and looked frustrated when she couldn't. Sirius seeing this took over.
"Harry, Rose this is Potter Castle." Upon hearing the name of the castle both Rose and Harry knew exactly where they were.
"This is Potter castle. The ancestral home of house Potter" Harry announced when he realised he knew.
Upon saying that aloud Capella jumped in shock as a beautiful three story castle designed in white alabaster stone came into view. It had a traditional mediaeval english design with turrets in the four corners. A huge wall surrounded the property and the group were currently standing outside a gate house at the edge of the property.
A lot of the grounds could not be seen through the wall but the people observing could see that the wall stretched far and wide.
"How do we get inside? It is freezing out here." Capella asked. Recovering first.
"Well Since this is the Potter Castle Harry or Rose will need to command the gate to open." Marlene told the gathered group. Upon hearing this Rose turned to Harry.
"Well Lord Potter, want to do the honours?" Rose asked. Making Harry blush at being addressed so formally.
"I Lord Potter request you open for those who stand before you." Harry said to the gate, shocking himself and those around him except Sirius who just smiled knowingly.
"Erm, that was creepy." Rose said, still looking at Harry.
"I said the same thing to James when he first brought me here." Apparently any potter that tries to command the wards here should instinctively know how. Something about blood wards being used in the foundation of the wards.
"Honey I am sure that this conversation is one you have been wanting to have but how about we do it inside where it is warm." Marlene announced.
Upon hearing Marlene Rose and Capella agreed and started walking to the door. As the two neared the large metal gate started to rise. Both Harry and Rose felt another flood of warmth take over them as the Castle welcomed them.
The group made their way straight to the main door. As they walked to the door they noticed looking around that despite the outside being covered in snow, the interior gardens were lush green and the flowers were in bloom.
The large double doors swung open when the small group approached and the warmth of the castle flooded out welcoming the guests. Once in the large grand hallway the doors swung shut.
The second the doors closed several loud pops broke through the air.
Standing before the small group was a much larger group of around fifteen elves all looking excitedly at the group, some of them tearing up slightly upon seeing the guests. Unlike Dobby these elves were wearing neat clothes all proudly showing the Potter house crest
After a few moments Sirius stepped forward and lowering himself he addressed the elves.
"Is Mimsey here?"
The elf that stepped forward was wearing a blouse and on the chest of her uniform was a crown above the crest. This elf bowed low to the Potters before addressing Sirius.
"Young Master Sirius Black has returned, welcomes."
"Mimsey it is good to see you here again, I have brought Harry and Rose."
Sirius told the elf who was fighting back tears of joy. The elf in question bowed respectfully to Sirius before walking around him and looking up at Harry and Rose.
"This elf is called Mimsey. I is being the head elf here. I is in charge of making the elves here do right." Mimsy stated proudly.
"I am Rose and this here is my brother Harry." Rose announced stepping forward and kneeling before the elf. Harry copying Rose knelt down and offered his hand to the elf that took it shaking it looking nervous to be doing so.
Mimsy started to introduce the other elves in the buildings and Harry and Rose wondered how they would ever remember all their names. Once the elves were introduced they all left to do their duties. Leaving just Mimsey with the small group of humans.
"Would you like a tour?" Mimsey asked the group.
"Mimsey, we have some things we need to discuss first. Please show us to the War Room and bring some tea."
Mimsey bowed low and started to walk to the west wing. The room that Mimsey led the group to was a large room and inside sat a table long enough to seat at least thirty people. The table was grand and made of Marble. The seats too were marble but with deep velvet cushions purple in colour.
Several brass chandeliers hung from the roof to illuminate the room. At the head of the table stood two chairs that looked grander, tall backed with Griffins adorning the tops. The walls showed pictures of knights and soldiers fighting a war. The head of the Marble table was octogonal and not rectangular like the foot of the table; it was also deeper and currently held a clear liquid.
The head table had several banners that were rolled up so you could not see what was on them but as Rose and Harry entered, two of the banners fell. Both were red and gold, both had a house crest. One proudly showing Gryffindor and the other house Potter though the crests were not too different.
When Sirius entered the room with Capella and Marlene he spoke to the room.
"House Black stands with house Potter."
Upon saying this the banner closest to the potter banner fell. It was a deep black with a silver crest. Rose, who knew the black crest, looked at it suspiciously.
"The crest is wrong." she announced.
"When I left my family, your Grandmother Euphemia and Grandfather Fleamont took me in. They raised me alongside James and when I left Hogwarts and joined the war against Voldemort I created a new crest, even registered the crest with gringotts, and recently changed it in the Wizengamot too.
This said Sirius led Harry and Rose to the far end of the table.
"Harry, your place is on the left. Rose as the current Lady of house Potter you sit beside him on the right"
Harry and Rose felt a little uncomfortable sitting at a grand table but sat in the indicated seats. Upon doing so the seat to the left of Harry changed slightly to show the crest of House black on the top. Sirius smiled and took the seat.
Marlene sat to his left and indicated Capella sat on her left. It felt a little strange sitting like this when the entire table was empty and Harry turned to look at Sirius.
"What is going on here? I can feel the magic charging the room but I don't get why."
Rose was surprised to hear this because she couldn't feel the charge. Sirius took a serious look and started to speak.
"When the Lord and Lady Potter hold court in this room magic itself prevents those allied to the house from lying or presenting false information. We didn't use it in the last war because Albus insisted his order handle the defence of britain. He was after all the most magically powerful."
Sirius took this moment to take a deep breath and seemingly think about how he was going to proceed.
"This time we are doing things differently. Too many secrets were held by Dumbledore and too many secrets kept from the other members of the order because Albus believed it was his job to save the world. We know this time it is not him who will end this war."
Marlene too Sirius' hand at this point trying to reassure him and give him strength to keep talking.
"Harry, Rose. Before you were born there was a prophecy made. A prophecy that inadvertently changed the way the war was looking. Most people do not put much stock in divination, me either. I believe that prophecies only come true when one person believes in it and acts accordingly. In this situation Voldemort believed and feared the prophecy, too stop it coming true he hunted the Potters not to kill James and Lily but you Harry and you Rose"
The statement left a chill in the air and Harry and Rose couldn't help but wonder if this could be true. Harry believed what Sirius had said about magic preventing lying and believed this.
"I Lord of house Black request to submit a memory to be viewed." Sirius announced to the room.
Rose without knowing why spoke after.
"I Lady of house Potter accept the request" Harry turned to her stunned and smiled a little.
"Yeah that is creepy." He commented before jumping back as the octagon slid down the table. Seeing the shock on the Potter children's faces Sirius laughed despite the situation.
"I forgot you did not grow up with this." He commented before holding his wand to his temple. He was silent for a moment and he got a far off look on his face. After another short moment he removed his wand and the children gathered watched as a sliver string of energy followed the wand movement before breaking away from Sirius' head.
He smiled at the children gathered enjoying their surprise. He deposited the energy in the octagon bowl before him and waited a moment. What he was waiting for became clear a few seconds later. The bowl flashed green and then the octagon slid back up to the head of the table.
The tabletop suddenly changed from white marble to a clear finish. Instead of seeing the floor underneath the table was now showing a living room and two men. One of the men was Sirius and the other everyone realised was James Potter.
Looking up the table the same scene could be seen wherever they looked as long as it was on the table. A small sob of pain could be heard from Sirius' seat and it was clear to the group that this was hard on Sirius.
After a short time Sirius looked up and turned to Rose and Harry.
"One of you needs to command it to start."
"Start." Harry commanded. Like pressing play on a muggle movie the scene started to change and Lily Potter came into view.
"Sirius, I wish you were seeing us in better circumstances but we need to tell you something." Lily told Sirius who had his arms around a younger looking Marlene.
"We found out today why Voldemort seems adamant on targeting us." James added almost seamlessly after his wife.
"You may want to sit down, Sirius." The projected Sirius sat down pulling His wife into the seat with him, his hand rubbing her belly.
"There was a prophecy." At this Sirius snorted and received a slap on the arm from Marlene.
"This is what it says." James continued acting as though nothing had happened.
The Hero of the war arrives Born as the seventh month dies.
Born with his most trusted advisor by his side.
The pair will be equal to the Dark Lord and with the right guidance,
Would surpass him. The Dark Lord will mark
The Hero and neither the Hero or the Dark Lord
can survive while the other exists.
The hero comes as the seventh month dies..
"Hero?" The projected Sirius asked, looking at James.
"Harry, Albus believes, is the Hero. He is convinced Voldemort was told at least part of the Prophecy and this is the reason that he has strived so hard to attack us these past months. He wants us to go into hiding."
The table returned to solid marble and the room was quiet.
"That was our parents?" Harry asked, already knowing the answer.
"Some of the greatest people I ever met." Marlene announced to the group. Sirius smiled at this and nodded his head in agreement.
"By attacking you that night Voldemort all but sealed the world's fate. He guaranteed the prophecy would have to be fulfilled." Sirius told the members of the table.
"Until the end of your first year at Hogwarts we believed that you had won by killing voldemort as a baby. But when the wrath of Voldemort tried to steal the stone we knew the war was not yet won." Marlene continued.
"You children are going to be right at the front of this part of the war. The scar on Harry's head marks him as the Hero. Albus has demanded we tell you nothing until you are older but we will not have you enter a war unprepared like we were during the last part of the war." Sirius told them.
"We don't want to take your childhood away from you." Marlene hastily added.
"No we don't but we also don't want to see you fail and lose you like we lost James, Lily and so many other families." Sirius told them unable to hide his worries.
There was a heavy weight on the table as the reality of what was being said was absorbed by the children in the room. It was a hard thing to accept but at the same time It all seemed to make perfect sense to them.
Harry looked at Rose and Sirius could see the cogs turning in their mind as they seemed to have a silent conversation.
"I am no Hero." Harry started looking at the group.
"I have no intention of being a Hero. But I won't turn my back on people in need.
This caused Capella to laugh out loud as the situation was too much for her to take in in one go.
"Harry, that kind of sounds like something a Hero would say."
This statement had everyone in the room laughing and with that the tension was broken despite knowing exactly what needed to be done.
"Rose?" Sirius asked.
"If Harry wants to fight I will stand by him. I want to help protect people too." Harry pulled Rose close and hugged her for a moment before Sirius smiled and let out a breath he was holding.
"I will be training you in Occlumency and Defence." Sirius said to the group.
"I will be teaching you advanced Charms, Healing and Advanced potions." Marlene added when Sirius stopped talking.
"We will be looking into hiring potential Transfiguration, runes and special combat instructors to join our group." Sirius added.
"Harry. As much as you do not want this you are the one that will have to end this war. As such you will have to learn to lead. You and Rose both since she is supposed to be your advisor. That is why we chose this place to inform you. In the times of the old House Gryffindor led wars and commanded battles. The last thing you need to know today is, that banner did not fall because you were sorted into Gryffindor it fell because you two are the heirs of Gryffindor. If you both choose to accept the Gryffindor mantle You Harry would be Lord Gryffindor and Rose would Permanently hold the Title Lady Potter."
This was far too much to take in for the children and they couldn't help but question this further. For the next few hours Sirius was questioned about what being a Gryffindor heir would entail. The benefits and drawbacks.
In the end Harry decided to take the Gryffindor mantle but only people in their group would know. Rose had insisted that Kingsley be brought into their group not wanting to keep out the man that had raised her. This had made Sirius smirk and tell her that he knew she would say as much.
With the heavy stuff out of the way the five went to enjoy a meal provided by the elves who were positively bouncing off the walls with happiness now they had people to serve again. After the meal the group moved to one of the sitting rooms at this time Sirius and Marlene turned to Rose and Capella.
"So something you want to tell us about?" Sirius asked, his face impassive.
"I am sure there are a few things we could talk about. Daddy. Want to narrow it down?" Capella asked, trying to look innocent.
"How about the closeness of you and Rose there?" Marlene asked. This comment made Rose and Capella blush pretty much telling Sirius and Marlene all they needed to know.
"We like each other quite a lot and have decided to see how things go," Rose replied after some time. Rose saying this so openly and without fear made Capella blush dark red.
"Let me ask clearly." Sirius said after hearing the response.
"Are you falling in love with each other?"
Capella was now dark red and the open way that Sirius had asked left Rose feeling embarrassed. Capella was the first to recover and looking straight into her Dad's eyes answered him.
"I think so Daddy, yes."
Sirius pumped his fist and held out his hand to Marlene who handed him some galleons.
"I told you Capella was smitten with Rose. House Potter and Black may finally join yet" he exclaimed.
"Let's not jump that far yet, Sirius love." Marlene playfully scolded.
Sirius accepted the telling off admirably and pulled the two girls close.
"We hope you two will take it slow, okay don't rush anything just because there is a war looming."
With the conversation out of the way Rose and Capella headed off to their separate beds ready to sleep.
It was clear to the five occupants of the castle things would be different from now on.
With this Book two is complete. I have been working hard on Three and have been happy with it so far.