Amelia woke up and went to the kitchen. In the galley she found Hermione and Monica Granger, along with Anima the house-elf. The females in place nodded to each other.
Amelia intoned, " Tempus "
The message in bright gold lettering said, 3:30 am. January 4th, 1992.
Anima placed tea cups in front of all and a teapot began to serve in mid air. Monica smiled. Magic by candle glow was delightful.
"What happened?" asked Amelia.
Monica nodded and said. "We were summoned, wait, there are a number of people missing. They promised to join our circle,"
Pandora and Luna were popped in by Kreacher and Dobby.
Anima disappeared and reappeared with Andromeda and Nymphadora.
The new arrivals sat at the table and greeted the rest. Then they settled down and Pandora spoke.
"Back on November 5th, I had a revelation," said Pandora.
"Sirius Black was going to be murdered and Harry Potter would disappear from the Wizarding World." Added Luna.
Continued Pandora, "Arcturus was going to call due the life debts of all of the wizards and witches that owed the Potter's for their sacrifice and then declare blood feud over them. With this killing the bunch and making the Wizarding world collapse."
Luna added, "The Grangers would take the Pensieve and display the chaos in London's Wizarding community to the ICW, they would get in touch with the muggle Queen and the final thing was that a new and more gruesome conflict that involved magicals and muggles would erupt and at last the muggles would conquer, and just like Sirius said, in yesterday's speech, our culture and way of life would come to an end,"
"But that wasn't Sirius, that was Lord Black disguised as Sirius, oh Merlin, I harassed Lord Black," Amelia facepalmed.
Monica, Andromeda and Anima giggled. Hermione smiled and said, "Let us tell you what happened,"
Amelia nodded not without a healthy flush in her face.
Hermione added, "At the beginning of November, Harry received a house trunk. Inside there was the Cloak of Invisibility his father had left as a borrow in Dumbledore's hand. A variety of rare potion books and other war spells that belonged to the Potters. The wand of Destiny, taken from Dumbledore as he was ejected from Hogwarts and a time turner that used to belong to Lily Potter. The resurrection stone had been cleaned and like a magnet the three pieces attracted to Harry's bloodline. That night he became the first Potter to hold the three Deathly Hallows. Before it had been the Peverells, Harry's ancestors." Hermione said.
"On November sixth, after we made sense of the message from the Gods. We met with Hermione and Monica." Said Pandora.
"Andromeda was there and so was Tonks." Said Monica.
"Together we figured out that we had to take measures." Said Hermione.
"And you didn't trust me enough with the details. I mean, I was out of my mind with worry, when Anima took me to Black Hall and Sirius was there. I almost lost it and hexed Sirius for the stupid prank at the Wizengamot. But, I noticed Harry and the rest of you were kitted for the mission. I had to stop," said Amelia in a rush.
"If Harry or Sirius died, it would have been catastrophic, but we had to let the day continue until we found out where Sirius was taken originally in order to avoid his demise. Once we knew it was the Riddle Sea Cave, then Arcturus made the switch," said Monica.
"You were involved as well?" asked Amelia.
"Yes, I couldn't leave Harry or Hermione without reason. We had to prepare for at least five different scenarios. Guns, Poison, time turners and elves, besides the scope of the Blackheart magic," said Monica.
"It was not a surprise, then? He knew? I felt useless when he was taken. But the signs were so small, I, I just missed them." Said Amelia.
"Please, don't be angry at Sirius, he wanted to kill Dumbledore." Said Tonks.
"But, he figured that hurting his ego was the better idea. Sirius in the original time, had not only gotten into a fight but made a far more vicious speech. Lord Black, Arcturus impersonating Sirius was diplomatic, and just as effective." Said Andromeda.
"In both timelines, my dad sent a Patronus. In the first timeline, Anima did take you to the sea cave but," Nymphadora went silent.
"Sirius didn't make it," confirmed Amelia.
"Yes," said Andromeda.
Pandora said, "Harry didn't react well. He's the master of the Hallows, it was heartbreaking, Arcturus had a stroke, Hermione was able to rein in Harry's tendencies, but only barely. With this scenario, Polyjuice and time turners, there was no need to get anyone other than the people at this table to participate."
"You didn't lose him, and now, you are part of the Black family," said Andromeda.
"I'll say, but seriously, this family needs to work on their rites of passage into the clan, I don't think I can survive another fright like that one," said Amelia.
"You won't have to," said Arcturus from the door.
Amelia dabbed her tears. Arcturus held her and said, "There, there, no more of those pesky tears,"
"I'll try," said Amelia.
Sirius appeared in Paddy's shape and then shifted to his human guise. He cleared his throat, though it did sound like a growl and said. "Did I miss something?"
"Yes, you did, birth control," said Arcturus.
Amelia was rendered speechless while Sirius's eyes became misty.
Luna added, "They are going to be brilliant, troublemakers that love to prank the world, just like their parents and forefathers,"
"They? What do you mean, they?" asked Amelia with fright.
"In our household, auspicious matches always bring more children than expected," said Andromeda.
"And nothing more auspicious than Black and Bones," said Arcturus.
"Aw, don't worry madam, as a working lady, I'll show you the secret handshake," said Monica.
"Secret handshake, no, I'll wring his neck for impregnating me, how dare you? And, out of wedlock?" asked Amelia.
"Well, if we get technical, you believed you were dreaming the first time you and I… exchanged vows," said Sirius, trying hard not to laugh. But then, shook his head, and said, "Lady Bones, I was going to ask in a much more romantic setting, but as always, life waits for no one. I never thought I was going to love again. As it turn outs, I was overwhelmed by your loyalty, fierce devotion to justice, and your wreckless heroism, but most of all by those eyes of yours when you said I was so fucking sexy. I realised I was an idiot, I still am, but now I want to be your idiot," Amelia pulled him in a hug and kiss and said, "Shut up already, I loved you since I saw you half naked in that failed potions class,"
Sirius pulled an engagement ring out of his pocket that had all the ladies staring. It was a diamond that changed colour to match the grey so much like Sirius's eyes.
"That was a sweet proposal, better than the shotgun wedding," said Pandora looking at Monica.
"How did you know? Oh, nevermind, Wendell lost a bet then crashed a party and we ran away. Why do you think my mother doesn't invite us for Christmas?" asked Monica to Hermione.
"Delightful," said Arcturus.
"What is?" asked Harry.
"A bunch of rebels and misfits around this table," said Luna.
Everyone turned to Luna and her choice of words. While Harry added, "You don't say, stop reading my Grandad's mind," said Harry to Luna.
"It wasn't your Grandads, it was Anima's," said Luna.
Everyone laughed as Anima cleared her throat and served breakfast. No words were needed, only cheers as the weak rays of sun made their entry through the kitchen windows. They were safe, and the past was gone. Magic was real. They would fight, they would always fight. Death was not the last enemy, it was a friend. But it was their secret and secrets were made to be kept under a Black heart.