AN: I hope everyone is ready for the next chapter. I feel like I'm taking the right step in moving back towards possibly posting every two weeks, but we'll see. As for this chapter, special thanks goes to Thrivean and malevolant for helping beta read this chapter. Thrivean also wanted me to make a recommendation for people to reread the last chapter before starting this one. He found it helpful. Also, there's also a nod in this chapter towards one of my favorite stories, The Family That Chooses You by WorkFriedIce. A fantastic story about the Quidditch Team stepping up after noticing how abused Harry has been. Several sequels to it as well. As always, thanks for your support and let me know what you think.

Nightwing2013 - Definitely a bit filler, but still important. As for why the Dursleys are wanted . . . I guess you'll just have to wait and see! Also, glad to see you've been enjoying my SW story.

GreengrassRebel - I've definitely got plans for Ron, which is a nice switch from how I've handled him most of this story. Bella being saved was definitely long overdue, and yes, I think it will be fun to show how Bella and Angelina bond. I'll definitely remember to throw more slice of life in the story.

scrappy8 - Thanks! Yes, Bella is home.

WinkingSkeever - Thanks!

sonofthechaos - Thanks! It's nice that people love the deities being thrown in so much.

Acoustic Ghost - I have some plans for why Voldie wants the Dursleys, but that connection is close. I do agree. I think a lot of people do forget Lily's maiden name. I've even seen fics show that with major characters asking "who Lily Evans" is.

Kalvin Ellis 80 - Hmm. Very interesting idea. I'm not sure how that would work either, but I can at least think on it. Persephone's control of flowers or maybe just spring could translate in some way, I'm sure. I do agree that among the Olympians, Hades and Persephone do seem to have the healthiest marriage.

Chapter 70

"Lina get up!"

Angelina rolled out of her bed, one of Harry's knives in her hand from where it had been under her pillow. She pointed it around, wide-eyed, seeing a sheepish Alicia already starting to shoot her an apologetic look.

"What the he–" Angelina's scolding died immediately as she took a better look at her best friend and sister, and took note of the black and gold phoenix on her shoulder.

"I'm not the only one either," Alicia said, gesturing for Angelina to turn around, and she did, and saw a beautiful young moon raven perched on the head of her bed. The bird almost cheeped at her in greeting, before it did a small take off and landed on Angelina's hastily raised arm, using her as a perch.

Angelina felt a rush of cold flow through her body before she felt another mind link to her own, and she stared at the bird in shock.

The bird climbed up her arm light, and nuzzled her on the cheek, getting a laugh from Angelina before the bird took flight and landed back on her bed. Angelina turned back to Alicia, who's phoenix was still perched on her shoulder.

"Not just the familiars either," Alicia said, pointing towards Angelina's end table, and Angelina saw a ring, three books, and a wand.

Angelina gasped as she moved forward, ecstatic to have a wand again, having lost hers in the Department of Mysteries. The one she'd taken from a fallen Death Eater had been confiscated for evidence, leaving her wandless.

She touched the wand and felt more warmth and power than she'd ever felt from her old wand as gold sparks flew from it. It was some sort of dark wood, and she felt a similar connection to the wand as she did to her familiar.

"What's going on?"

Angelina and Alicia turned to see three of their roommates observing them with interest. It was Patricia Stimpson who had asked the question. Angelina and Alicia had always gotten along with their roommates, well enough that is. There had been a few issues now and then, like both of them making the Quidditch Team, but peace was always regained. That is until the whole fiasco with the Triwizard Tournament.

Then things had gotten a bit strained, with several of them angry that Harry had been chosen, and not them. Both Quidditch players being very involved, including participating in the one event hadn't helped anything. Then everything with Voldemort had come out and half of their roommates had been of the opinion that Harry had cracked, and most of the rest had simply chosen to stay uninvolved.

That still meant that it had been rather tense over the past school year, with Angelina now Harry's direct sister, and Alicia a cousin on paper, but publicly claimed as a sister. It didn't help that Angelina and Alicia were constantly in conflict with Umbridge, and off with Harry rather than in the common room. Add NEWTs and the two girls rarely interacted with their other roommates anymore.

The divide was just easy to see, especially now that Harry was "a hero" again, and Alicia and Angelina had been involved in the battle. Everyone undulated between wanting to demand answers from them and walking on eggshells around them. It seemed they couldn't decide whether they should look at them with awe or with some shame, for the ones who had mocked or berated them.

"We both received patronage and matronage last night," Angelina answered slowly, not sure it was wise to reveal family patronage.

There were plenty of families, especially among the purebloods, who saw family patronage as the honor it was, but it also was a sign that they all had godly items of incredible value.

"Both of you!" Veronica Tidwell exclaimed in shock.

"Hades, Zeus, and I reaffirmed my matronage with Athena," Angelina answered, looking at her wand arm and seeing all three godly tattoos present.

"Hades, Asclepius, Thalassa, and I reaffirmed my matronage with Athena as well," Alicia added."

"Multiple deities!" Jessica Carmichael and Lacey Barron both muttered in shock and awe.

"We should talk to Harry about this," Alicia said.

Angelina nodded, putting her new signet ring on, threw on some robes, and then grabbed her new tomes, while Alicia did the same with her own new items.

Her new familiar hopped onto her shoulder, and they walked out of the room, leaving their roommates in disbelief.

They made their way over to the boys' dormitories, but as they were reaching Harry's dorm, Neville came walking out. He eyed the birds on the girls shoulders with wide eyes for a moment, but finally shook off his surprise.

"You girls just missed him," Neville said. "He just went to the hospital wing. Something he needed to see or well, probably someone."

"Thanks, Nev," Angelina and Alicia both threw friendly smiles at the boy, who smiled back, and they made their way back down the stairs and out of the Gryffindor Tower.

*HP*

"MS. BELL! Control your familiar!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed. "This is a hospital wing!"

"He's a puppy!" Katie retorted, smiling wide, watching her new familiar race around the hospital wing, getting laughs from the other Consortium members that were still recovering, though most were still asleep. "If you let me out, just for a bit, I could . . ."

"No," Pomfrey said sternly.

"Nice try," Gabrielle Truman said with a smirk.

She was the last of those with rather mild, in comparison, injuries that were still in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey had been unwilling to release her, since she'd been put under the cruciatus curse, despite her damaged leg being fixed up quickly.

Other than her, it was just Ava, Ron, Hermione, Marina, Phoenix, Katie herself, and then one other . . .

"I don't blame her for wanting to get out of here," Bellatrix said sullenly. "I've only been awake for an hour, and I want to get the fuck out of here."

"Ms. Black, you are not too old for me to scold," Madam Pomfrey said, wagging her finger at her.

"It's Bellatrix Lestrange, didn't you hear?" Bellatrix nearly growled back.

"I see the same girl who got into trouble all too often with Lily Evans right in front of me," Pomfrey retorted. "Do not try my patience, Ms. Black."

Bellatrix smiled softly for a moment, before her face fell, and Katie felt pity for the young woman, who was having to face a new harsh reality.

"Poppy, what if I help supervise them both?" a voice said, and they looked back towards Madam Pomfrey's office, where Sarah Spinnet was now walking out, brushing off soot. Jamie walked in behind her, also doing the same thing. Katie assumed they'd just come through Madam Pomfrey's floo.

"Oh! It's so pretty!" Katie exclaimed, admiring the snowy-white dove-like bird on Sarah's shoulder. "And such a cute kitten!"

"Yes, he is a very handsome bird," Sarah agreed, and she smiled at Katie's new hellhound puppy, who was still zooming around the hospital wing.

"I know! She's adorable!" Jamie agreed, clutching her mostly black kitten, which had a large white spot on her belly. The little thing was glancing around curiously, but seemed content to stay purring in Jamie's arms.

"Ah, so this is what you wanted me to come to the hospital wing for," Harry's voice rang out as he entered the hospital wing with Ginny. Astra immediately went to greet Katie's new puppy, and then started leading the pup on a merry chase, both barking and yipping happily.

"Oh, you've got a moon raven!" Katie exclaimed, staring at the beautiful midnight black bird that was resting on Ginny's shoulder. Ginny nodded happily, petting the bird, which leaned into her strokes.

"And you got yourself a nice energetic bundle," Harry admired the playing hellhounds, and then he smiled over at Bellatrix. "How are you, Aunt Trixie?"

Bellatrix's eyes narrowed. "Aunt Trixie? I'm going to kill Sirius."

Harry chuckled. "So, can I not call my favorite godmother that?"

"Don't you play that game with me, Harry Potter!" Bellatrix scolded. "I'm your only godmother, and I am not going to fall for it."

"Please?" Harry asked, putting on a sad, doleful expression, and Bellatrix's scowl faded slightly, and finally she grinned.

"Gods dammit, Lily used to have the same stupid look," Bellatrix said fondly, and a bit sadly. "Ah, fine. I'll be your Auntie Trixie. Don't think that will work every time though!"

Harry laughed. "So, Madam Pomfrey, can you let the venerable Healer Spinnet watch over these two? It would help make this room a bit less chaotic?"

"You've been spending too much time with Daphne, talking like that," Ginny muttered, amused.

Harry rolled his eyes, and Katie giggled.

"Fine," Pomfrey said with a sigh, "but I expect the best behavior, Mr. Potter, Ms. Weasley. Do not think that I don't know the gossip about you three."

All three blushed, and Jamie laughed, while Sarah smiled, and hid a laugh behind her hand. Bellatrix eyed them speculatively, a devious smile starting to take place. Further conversation was cut off as two more people came into the hospital wing, and took in the chaos.

"Oh, another little shadow hound puppy!" Angelina exclaimed in delight.

"I know, he's such a handsome boy!" Katie exclaimed back happily.

Ginny was nodding in agreement, and then Angelina and Alicia noticed the moon raven hanging out on Ginny's shoulder and screamed in excitement again, which was matched by Ginny and Katie who were screaming in excitement at the two older girls' own familiars.

"Gods, stop screaming!" Harry pleaded.

"Ms. Potter! Ms. Spinnet!" Pomfrey scolded.

"BUT LOOK AT THE LITTLE PHOENIX!"

"ANOTHER MOON RAVEN! ANGIE AND I ARE TWINS!"

"THAT CATSITH IS SO CUTE!

"OH MY GODS! THAT'S A CALADRIUS!"

"Young ladies, control yourselves!"

"Alright, Astra, lead us out!" Harry ordered, and with a bark that could have been construed as a laugh, Astra raced out of the hospital wing, the pup following. Harry ushered his sisters, his girlfriends, and his aunts out of the dormitory, Sarah laughing as he did so, and Bellatrix smiling wistfully.

"Harry, take us with you!" Ava and Gabby both called out.

"Sorry! I'll be back!" Harry called back, and then he turned to the rest. "Alright, let's head to the Room of Requirement," Harry said.

"Oh, you've found that?" Bellatrix asked, impressed.

"Yeah, in my fourth year," Harry said. "It was a great training room during the Triwizard, and has been great ever since."

"Wait, Triwizard . . . the Triwizard Tournament?" Bellatrix clarified in amazement, before she frowned. "That returned?"

"Yeah, and it was a huge problem," Angelina answered darkly. "Harry won though."

Bellatrix frowned further, worry creasing her brow.

"After this, we can start catching up, Auntie Trixie," Harry said softly. "There's a lot to tell you."

She nodded slowly, but didn't respond.

They didn't make it far before they were intercepted by a patronus, but not the one they expected compared to the voice that came forth.

"Little brother," Dora's voice echoed. "I'll meet you in the Entrance Hall in ten minutes. I need your infinite wisdom."

Harry snorted, and Angelina was with him. Both of them could almost picture Dora saying that with a teasing grin, and mock doleful eyes.

"Didn't she used to have a jackrabbit patronus?" Ginny asked, with a confused look.

"Yeah, even up to a few days ago," Harry confirmed.

"So do you think it changed for the same reason we wanted to come see you?" Angelina asked excitedly.

"Highly likely," Harry agreed with a grin. "We'll find out soon!"

They enjoyed watching the familiars playing while they waited. Jamie's Catsith kitten had finally ventured from Jamie's arms, and was attempting to chase after the hellhounds, who happily involved her in their game. The three birds were cawing, chirping, or trilling as they did a sort of aerial version of 'follow the leader.'

Finally, the entry doors swung open and a laughing Dora strolled in, chasing after an exuberant grim puppy, who stopped and stumbled over itself, gazing at the other playing familiars. It cocked its head for a moment before it rushed to join the game, barking joyfully.

"I guess that explains your new grim Patronus," Harry said, hugging Dora, and getting kissed on the cheek by her.

"Yep!" Dora responded brightly, looking around. "Seems our patrons and matrons were all quite generous last night. I woke up to my bundle of joy, figured I should come see you."

"Well, seems like there is a lot to talk about," Harry agreed.

"Hi, Auntie Trixie!" Dora greeted happily, and Bellatrix groaned as Harry snorted in amusement.

"Not you too!" Bellatrix responded with a glare. "Can't you call me Bella?"

Dora's eyes widened and her smile was almost blinding. "Yeah! Hating Black given names. Auntie Bella it is!"

"Alright, let's get moving, you lot!" Angelina called over.

The three hellhounds led the way, the two puppies chasing Astra, and occasionally getting distracted by each other, but still balls of energy that kept them all amused. When they got to the Room, Harry made a giant field for the familiars to all run and play, with a small section of comfy furniture that was out of place for the field, but perfect for them to comfortably talk.

"Alright, let's just start with everything that clearly happened last night," Harry said, taking charge. "Let's hear about everyone's interactions with gods and goddesses."

It took them a fair bit of time, with all of them having met with a god or goddess, and most of them having met several, but eventually they all had at least a slight understanding of everything that had happened.

Everyone admired the tattoos and rings that every one of them now sported, with the rings having the sigil of each god or goddess that supported the person. Bellatrix stared at them all, observing, but she didn't say anything. Katie admired that she was content to wait and either figure things out as she went along, or knew she would get answers after everything ended.

"Alright, Sarah, we'll start with you. I will admit that I don't recognize what type of bird you received."

"He's a Caladrius," Sarah responded with a smile, as they looked at the snow-white bird that was flying in the sun and singing like a songbird. "Very rare magical bird. Similar to a phoenix, they are known for their abilities to heal, though they heal disease and chronic pain, rather than physical injuries, like a phoenix."

"Hades and Asclepius," Harry observed.

Sarah nodded, and then she pulled out a small coin. "I also received this."

"Isn't that a medical coin?" Alicia asked, curiously, and Sarah nodded.

"A what?" Ginny asked.

"When you graduate as a healer, a medimagical, or any sort of specialist in the medical field, you get a coin, like this," Sarah said, showing the dark silver coin that had Hades's helm on one side, and Asclepius's staff on the other. "It's more tradition these days than anything. A long time ago, medics or healers would carry them to help barter for souls to cross into the afterlife peacefully."

"Oh, paying Charon!" Katie exclaimed, remembering her mythology.

"Exactly," Sarah said with an approving nod. "To this day, we all still carry them, sort of as a symbol of our profession. I guess I didn't check, but this might have taken the place of the one I had."

"It has to do something, right?" Katie asked, and Harry nodded.

"Can I see your tome?" Harry asked her, and she handed it over easily, and he flipped through it and nodded. "Yep, I suspect my own shadow tome will have been updated to reflect as well. There's a section on our new 'hallows' for lack of a better word."

"Wait, really?" Dora asked in shock, opening her own tome, something that was copied by the other members of Clan Potter.

"So what do they do?" Ginny asked eagerly, and his eagerness was reflected on Katie's face.

"Sarah's coin can help temporarily prevent a soul from moving on, using a mixture of shadow and her own life force," Dora answered.

"Basically, I will be able to stop death for a short time," Sarah added, seeing a few confused looks. "Long enough to try and heal the damage and save lives." She glanced down at her coin in awe, knowing just how incredible the gift was.

"Wow," Alicia said, staring at the coin in fascination.

"Alicia?" Angelina asked excitedly, taking her friend's attention.

"I've got this armband," Alicia said, showing the stygian iron bracelet around her non-wand wrist. "It creates both a magical dome shield around me, when activated, and it can create an actual metal shield in front of me."

"So, it provides perfect cover for you to care for people," Dora said, eyes wide. "Magical defense, and a physical one against the unforgivables."

"My patrons know what I want to do," Alicia agreed, eyeing Dora.

"I thought you wanted to work at St. Mungos," Katie said, tilting her head.

"I do, eventually," Alicia agreed, "but first, I want to go be a medic in the Aurors, for the duration of the war. We're going to need people who can heal under pressure, who can save lives in the middle of the fight. I want to be that person. Mrs. Longbottom already agreed to help me."

"I certainly won't complain about getting to train up and work with my sister," Dora exclaimed enthusiastically.

They all understood why she'd been given a phoenix for a familiar. A phoenix could help heal injuries, move her to injured people fast, and carry hurt people away. A phoenix could also fight. That was a clear difference between mother and daughter. Sarah's Caladrius would help her in the hospital, Alicia's phoenix would help her on the battlefield.

"Jamie?" Harry asked, moving on.

"I got this necklace," Jamie said, showing them a stygian iron necklace that seemed rather simple on first look. As you looked closer they could see that the chains were interwoven godly sigils, mixed with House Potter. "It makes it so people can't lie in front of me."

"Does it force them to tell the truth?" Dora asked eagerly, admiring the small necklace.

"No, they just can't lie," Jamie said. "It will actively stop someone from saying something untrue in my presence."

"That will be useful for your job," Ginny said. "Plus no one can claim anything about you forcing anything."

"Exactly," Jamie agreed happily. "It's perfect! Though, I'm still a bit confused about my new catsith. I love cats, and she is adorable! So, I certainly won't complain, but I don't understand."

"Catsith can gain premonitions of a sort," Harry said slowly. "They can guide you where you need to go. You won't know why, of course, but if you follow your familiar, she'll help guide you to where you need to be for something."

"Oh, interesting," Jamie said thoughtfully. "So, she might be able to help guide me to leads for my job. She might be able to help guide me to stories to report on. Things to uncover."

"Possibly," Harry agreed.

"Or she can just be an adorable little kitten," Jamie said, with a loving look over to where her kitten was still attempting to chase after the hellhounds, but not nearly large enough to keep up.

"I think we're going to need to ensure you're always the court reporter," Dora said, her smile devious. "You'll get to report on everything going on, and ensure the bastards can't lie their way out of justice. Hell, if I can find some way to get you clearance to be there for interviews, I'm going to."

"You won't hear a complaint from me," Jamie chirped with a grin.

"Angie?" Harry asked, moving on.

"Well, I got my beautiful little moon raven," Angelina said, "and I also got a new wand."

That drew the attention of them all, even Bellatrix.

"A new wand . . . like the elder wand?" Ginny asked, eying Angelina's new wand with interest. Bellatrix glanced at her sharply, before glancing at the wand in Angelina's hand.

"No," Harry said, with a shake of his head. "Yes, it's similar in that it's a gift from the Lord of the Dead, but it doesn't increase her power, like the Elder Wand did. The tome says her wand is ebony wood and a moon raven feather core. With that combo, it seems it has a special affinity for shadow and air elemental magic. Also there is some sort of enchantment that will help her learn and master practical magic at a faster rate."

"How?" Katie asked, curiously.

"I suspect it helps her mind organize the theory in some way," Harry said with a shrug. "I'm not really sure."

"They say that the Diadem of Ravenclaw had a similar type of magic," Dora offered up. "Something about increasing the wisdom or intelligence of the wearer. Perhaps it subtly corrects your form when casting spells, or yeah, maybe it reinforces your mind. Somehow it brings forward the theory and knowledge of the spell from when you learned it. We'd have to test it, and even then we may not understand it."

"Still, I have three elements to master and three magehoods to accomplish," Angelina said with a huff. "This is going to be a big help."

"True," multiple people agreed, while Bellatrix eyed Angelina, looking impressed.

"So, what's with the moon ravens?" Dora asked.

"I suspect it's because both of them are flyers," Harry said with a smile, glancing at Ginny and Angelina. "We all take on a bit of our familiars. I have better endurance and speed because of Astra. You both will become better flyers, and I bet your eyesight improves. A moon raven's call causes fear in those not allied with it. If a person's fear is great enough, it can even cause them to become almost paralyzed."

"Can they shadow travel, like Astra?" Ginny asked, and Harry nodded.

"Yes. Moon ravens were considered the messengers of the Underworld. Their cries would strike fear in all, and they'd deliver their message which was said to portend death."

"I'm just content with how pretty they are, and having a nice companion to bond with," Angelina said, staring up at the four birds still flying.

"Speak for yourself," Ginny said with a grin. "Striking fear in the heart of some Death Eaters or Tom himself sounds really good to me."

Giggles echoed around the room, and Harry shook his head.

"So, is that sort of the same reason you think that you, Katie, and I got hellhounds?" Dora asked with a tilt of her head. "I am, and you both want to be Aurors. Hellhounds are Hades enforcers, right, so it's because they can help us?"

"That would be my guess," Harry agreed. "What did you get Dora?"

"These boots," Dora said, but she smiled, lifting a leg to show her boots that looked similar to Harry's own shadow boots. "They allow me to pull natural ambient magic to fuel my spells."

Harry blanched. "All of your spells?"

Dora grinned wickedly and nodded.

"Wait, what does that mean?" Katie asked.

"What's the main benefit to elemental magic, Kat?" Harry returned.

"You can pull the power from the environment, rather than your own magical core," Katie said.

"Exactly," Harry said. "With those boots, Dora can pull all ambient magic to fuel her spells or replenish her core. It's not like the elder wand, which amplifies her power. She's not firing stronger spells. However, she'll never tire, like the rest of us. She can fire fullpower spells to her heart's content. Her exhaustion will all be mental, not magical."

"Which is huge for my style," Dora added. "Transfiguration naturally takes a fair bit of power. Conjuration takes even more. Add the animations I do, and basically I'm always using a lot of magic. That's what got me in the duel with Voldemort. I ran out of steam after the battle at Holyhead and then the duels in the Ministry before fighting him. Now though? With these boots, I'll be able to help contain him as long as I don't make a mistake."

"Bloody hell," Ginny muttered, with nods and laughs being shared around the group.

"That just leaves you, Harry," Alicia said. "What did you get?"

"I received these robes," Harry said, gesturing to the dark robes he was wearing.

"I assumed those were your shadow robes," Ginny said.

"Nope, something new," Harry responded. "These allow me to become ethereal, avoiding physical objects. The only catch is that when I'm ethereal, I can't affect anything else."

"Wow!" Alicia and Angelina both exclaimed.

"Still really cool," Katie agreed.

"A hallow designed to help make sure you avoid getting cursed?" Dora muttered. "A hallow after my own heart."

Harry grinned at that, with the rest of Harry's sisters nodding in agreement to Dora's words.

"Well, you all have your new toys, but you still have to learn how to properly use them," Bellatrix said. "So what's your plan? It seems to me that you all are dead set on opposing Voldemort, not that I blame you for that, but do you think you can truly challenge the Dark Lord? Many have tried and failed."

"We have to find a way," Harry admitted. "Many of our deities have granted us these gifts with the demand that we kill Voldemort. He killed my parents because he was targeting me. He'll keep coming after me and anyone that's close to me until he kills me."

Bellatrix's aura sparked a bit at that.

"Why?" she demanded.

"A prophecy was made," Harry answered bitterly. "A prophecy that Voldemort has not heard all of. However, what he heard pointed him towards a choice between my parents or the Longbottoms. I'm sure he would have eventually taken care of the Longbottoms as well, but Pettrigrew was their Secret Keeper . . . and he betrayed them."

"Tell me he's dead," Bellatrix said quietly, her voice cold. "Tell me somebody ripped his balls off and burned him alive."

There were some shivers in the room at her tone, but Harry shook his head.

"He's still alive. He was presumed dead for a lot of years. Everyone thought Sirius got him . . . everyone thought Sirius betrayed my parents and that Pettigrew died a hero."

"What?!" Bellatrix demanded. "Who the fuck would think Siri would betray James? Betray Lils? Preposterous!"

"Pretty much everyone did," Dora admitted. "It was common knowledge that Sirius was the Potter's Secret Keeper. Everyone knew it. Nobody, except Aunt Lily, Uncle James, and Sirius knew that they'd actually used Pettigrew. Nobody knew it was a bluff. Well, Voldemort attacked. Aunt Lily sacrificed herself to save Harry, and Voldemort's spell backfired on him, vanquishing him. Harry became the Boy-Who-Lived, having survived a killing curse and defeating Voldemort."

"You survived a killing curse?" Bellatrix said in shock, and Harry moved his bangs to reveal his scar. She frowned. "Clearly something is missing, since the Dark Lord is very much alive, as is Pettigrew."

"A lot," Dora agreed. "Before any details could be looked into, Sirius went for revenge. He tracked Pettigrew down."

"Of course he did," Bellatrix said, a mixture of pride and exasperation in her voice.

"But he underestimated Pettigrew," Harry continued. "Pettigrew shouted off for all to hear about how Sirius betrayed my parents, and then he fired off a powerful curse that killed twelve muggles and blew the street apart. The Ministry arrived on scene to see Sirius holding the last scraps of Pettigrew, or so everyone thought. Pettigrew, in actuality, turned into his rat animagus form and escaped into the sewers."

"Everything should have been revealed, but Barty Crouch and the Minister sent Sirius to Azkaban without a trial," Dora finished, and Bellatrix's eyes widened. "He was there for thirteen years before he escaped after figuring out where Pettigrew was. That's how he came back into our lives."

"Fuck," Bellatrix swore, sitting down into a chair with a huff. "This nightmare just keeps getting worse." She glanced at Harry. "So, who did you grow up with? Andi?"

Harry shook his head, while Dora's expression darkened. All around, the rest of them didn't look much happier.

"I grew up with my mom's sister, my muggle relatives."

"THEY GAVE YOU TO THAT BITCH!" Bellatrix roared, standing up angrily. "Who the fuck thought that was a good idea?!"

"Dumbledore," Dora muttered darkly.

"Why the fuck wouldn't they give you to Andromeda and Ted?" Bellatrix demanded.

"Blood protections," Harry said with a sigh. "My mother's sacrifice created a powerful protection against anyone harming me as long as I was with my kin."

"If Petunia wasn't such a jealous and heinous bitch, I'd say that makes sense," Bellatrix retorted. "The amount of times I had to comfort Lily crying about that woman. I even had the misfortune of meeting her twice. Once would have been bad enough. Two times was two times too many."

"Then you can guess that Harry didn't have the happiest of childhoods," Dora said, glancing at Bellatrix with approval. "We weren't even allowed to contact him. He grew up muggle. I started writing to him in his first year at Hogwarts, just after my parents passed." Bellatrix's fire cooled slightly. "I visited him the summer after, and then removed him from that hellhole the very same day once I saw how they treated him."

Bellatrix smiled again. "Just like Andy. Overprotective and loving."

Dora beamed for a moment. "The best decision of my life. Since then, our family has only grown. We got Sirius back the next year. Angelina here had an upbringing like yours. She broke free, and she and I both are blood adopted as siblings to Harry. Alicia, Jamie, Sarah, and Mad-Eye joined our family last year, and Mad-Eye and Sarah try to be the mature adults for the family. Sirius doesn't quite pull that off."

Bellatrix snorted at that, nodding in agreement, gazing at all the people that her family considered family.

"Ginny and Katie are wonderful, of course," Dora said with a mischievous grin, "and I still have high hopes of them being my sisters-in-law one day."

Harry and Ginny blushed, while Katie rolled her eyes. Bellatrix eyed them closely again, and Katie felt like she was under the eyes of a predator. Clearly Bellatrix already had a fond sense of love for Harry, by his virtue of being her godson and being the son of her best friend. The question was going to be how she would view Ginny and Katie.

"So, then what do you plan to do? How do you plan to fight the Dark Lord?" Bellatrix asked, going back to her initial question.

"I don't know if I have an answer to that yet," Harry admitted. "Dora and I kept up with him for a bit the night we recovered you. We still lost though. Dumbledore was beating him, and I managed to hit him with a lightning spear . . . but he basically shrugged it off. We know one of the things he did to make himself as close to immortal as he can, and we've almost undone that . . . but we don't know the other things he's done. Professor Dumbledore might."

"For now, our focus will just be getting stronger," Angelina added. "Harry has his mastery in shadow magic, and probably is pretty close to his lightning one, but none of the rest of us have mastered an element yet."

"And a fair few of us have to master multiple now," Alicia muttered, with Angelina and Harry nodding in agreement.

"Beyond getting stronger, we'll keep working to figure out how to kill Voldemort," Harry said.

"In the Aurors, we're working to counter and destroy his support base," Dora briefed. "Harry and Sirius both had victories in the Wizengamot which affects those that support him. I would consider the battle in Holyhead to be a victory for the Death Eaters, but the fight at the Ministry was a resounding loss for the Death Eaters. Most of his forces there were captured or killed, including you."

"The students in the hospital wing with me," Bellatrix said. "They were part of that battle?"

Harry nodded.

"The Death Eaters managed to kidnap Angelina from Hogwarts, and sent her to the Ministry," Katie said, grimacing as she remembered her part in Angelina's kidnapping. "Harry's been running a secret defense organization all year, and he rallied members and called in other hellhounds to go and save her."

Bellatrix nodded slowly.

"What do you want to do, Auntie Trixie?" Dora asked, looking at the woman intently. "While your youth was restored with the ritual, you still lost a lot of years. I know that all of us just wanted you back in our lives. Beyond that, we just wanted to give you back your life."

Bellatrix was slow to answer, looking thoughtful, before anger started to appear on her face.

"Back during the last war, I didn't care to oppose Voldemort," she stated. "I didn't agree with him, especially with Lily being a good friend, but I didn't care. I didn't see that as my fight. I'd fight for my own, of course, but actively going out to engage his forces . . . that held no appeal to me. In the end, that got me nowhere. I was forced to serve him, forced to marry that bastard, Rodolphus, forced to hurt my friends and family, and I still lost almost all that I cared for most."

Bellatrix's eyes blazed, and her aura seemed to exude power.

"I don't know what I want to do in life, but I do know I want revenge. I want to tear apart every fucking last one of those bastards. I want to make them beg for mercy, for which they will receive none. I want to raze the Lestrange family to the ground, and salt the fucking earth. I want to take everything they've ever loved and make them rue the day they decided to take my autonomy. I want to fight, this time, for what I have left. That's what I want to do."

"I think I can say that we're happy to help you with that," Angelina said, with a smile, one which was copied around the room.

*HP*

"So, I hear you've had an exciting day," Sirius commented, as he walked up to his cousin.

"That's one way to describe it," Bellatrix muttered back. "Harry and his – our family busted his girlfriend and I out of here for a bit." Bellatrix and Sirius both glanced over to the girl in question, who was fast asleep. "I got to see a glimpse of what they've accomplished in a short amount of time. Even I was impressed. I then got to learn a little bit of my godson's life . . . and how much Lily would hate it."

"It didn't start out how I would have liked," Sirius agreed.

"It didn't start out how anyone would have liked," Bellatrix nearly spat. "I failed. I let our stupid fucking poor excuses for parents get the better of me, and because of that, I wasn't there. I wasn't there for the last bit of Lily's pregnancy. I wasn't there for Harry's birth. I wasn't there when she went into hiding, and I wasn't there when Lily and James needed me most. Beyond that, I wasn't fucking there to do the one thing Lily ever asked of me."

"You aren't the only one who let them down," Sirius said quietly. "I was there, and it didn't matter."

"But everyone knew about you and James," Bellatrix said dismissively. "Few really understood how close Lils and I were. I always played it down. I was fantastic at being a bitch when I wanted to 'be alone' and ditch the annoying and inconsequential 'purebloods of note' in Slytherin. I did it often enough, and I'd go hang with Lily. Sure, openly we tangled, had our arguments, but it was always good fun."

"Good fun for everyone watching too," Sirius said with a fond smile. "Especially fun for those of us who really knew you. Save for Andi, we'd never met anyone who was able to put you in your place. Not until Lils. Her wit and sharp tongue always provided entertainment."

Bellatrix chuckled. "James didn't appreciate it those first few years . . . but even as first years, I liked it. She was just the 'stupid mudblood' that shouldn't have been worth my time, but damn did she know how to scrap with the best of them. Verbally and physically. I couldn't hide how much fun I had, and then she had to go and recognize that and decide we were going to be friends." Bellatrix laughed. "It was like it wasn't even a choice for me. She said we were going to be friends and we were. Despite our upbringing, despite everything, we were. She was the truest friend I ever had . . . even if her taste in men was rather poor."

Sirius barked a laugh. "You liked James. Stop lying."

Bellatrix gave a watery chuckle. "He got better," she conceded. "Still, if I had been around, maybe I could have been the Secret Keeper. Few knew about me, and even fewer dared challenge me."

"It wouldn't have mattered," Sirius said quietly. "Voldemort wanted them badly. He went after them himself, and Pettigrew was always a rat. You might have bought them time . . . but eventually you would have died, and then you wouldn't be getting to know Harry now."

"Is it bad that I kind of wish that were the case?" Bellatrix asked in a soft, sad voice. "I miss my friends . . . I miss my sisters, my family. Andi . . . Ted, you, Reg, and even Cissy. She's dead to me now, but back then she was my little sister. Sure, she often had a stick up her arse, but she was still my little sister, and I loved her. Ted was always so good to me, and so good to Andi. Little Dora was so tiny when she was born, and I loved watching Andi go spare dealing with her. I miss forcing prim and proper Regulus out of his shell."

"And seeing the fun and much more devious little brother he could be," Sirius added softly.

"I loved Harry from the moment Lily asked me to be godmother . . . the moment she basically called me a sister and wanted to ensure we would always be in each others' lives . . . but I wish I had fallen and not awoken in this fucking nightmare. Does that make me a bad person?"

"No, it doesn't," Sirius responded kindly. "It's very understandable. I too have had many, many moments over the years where I wanted it all to just end. Even after I was freed, I had moments, early in my recovery, where I couldn't help but think that Dora and Harry would be fine without me. I could just end it all, leave them all the resources I never thought I'd have, and just let them continue on as they had."

"What changed?" Bellatrix asked, hopefully.

"Well, the Black in me . . . the vindictive bastard that always got along with you, really wants revenge," Sirius admitted with a bark-like laughter. "I want to gut Wormtail and make him eat his own entrails, and I want to mount Voldie's head on a pike and then use it for target practice."

Bellatrix chuckled a bit at that.

"I also, though, really wanted to be in Harry and Dora's life. As strong as they are, they've suffered a lot of loss in their short lives. Something we can relate to, of course. Still, I wanted to try and make it better for them. I love getting to watch them grow. I get to tease them, watch them enjoy life, watch them fall in love. Those are things I'd miss . . . and Andi, Ted, James, Lils, they'd absolutely murder me if I missed out on that."

Bellatrix laughed a watery laugh.

"That's very true. So, how does our new family take to these bloodthirsty demands?"

"Oh, Dora would have fit in quite well with our generation of Blacks," Sirius said. "She's very much like Andi, just with Ted's more jovial nature. Harry's generally kind, but he's scarier than you when he wants to be. I predict that soon, if it hasn't happened already, that the Death Eaters are going to fear encountering him on the battlefield. Probably as much as they fear dueling Dumbledore."

Bellatrix smiled at that.

"His sisters are quite overprotective," Sirius continued. "I think you'll really get along with Angie. She's got a stubborn streak a mile wide, but a determination that knows no bounds. She grew up like we did, a bastard of a father who only saw her as someone to sell off for more prestige. Alicia is kinder, but she's firm. She'll be a great healer someday. Jamie is a great older sister. Unfailingly kind and tenacious. Sarah is a wonderful woman who opened her heart and home to danger, all because she felt it was right and grew to love the orphans that her daughter gathered."

"They sound great," Bellatrix muttered softly.

"They are," Sirius confirmed, "and they really, really want to know you, Trixie."

"Then I guess I'll get my shit together and be there for them," Bellatrix finally stated with determination. "Thankfully, I can get to know my family, get my feet under me, and get some revenge at the same time."

"What did you conjure up in that tricky mind of yours?" Sirius asked eagerly.

"You didn't annul my marriage yet, did you?" Bellatrix asked.

"No, I wanted your say so," Sirius said. "Figured enough people have made decisions for you."

"Thanks," Bellatrix said gratefully. "Still, I think my dear old husband owes me something. I think I should empty his family and personal vaults. What do you think?"

Sirius grinned devilishly. "I think it sounds like a marvelous idea."

"And then I need to talk to Dumbledore."

*HP*

"What is going on?" Thaddeus Nott demanded. "Where did the Malfoy seat go?"

"Draco Malfoy agreed to cede his House Seat to House Potter as atonement for his actions at Hogwarts," Sirius responded with a hint of relish. "He decided to give it to the Spinnets."

There was an uproar from the Voldemort aligned Houses, at having lost yet another seat.

"House Potter and House Black need to be put in check," Marcus Rowle growled out. "They came in here demanding all this change, but all they are doing is taking power! The Spinnets aren't even a Noble House! They're nothing! And they fall under the reorganized Clan Potter!"

"And yet there is no law that said Houses within a Clan have to share seats," Sirius remarked simply

"Legally," Cyrus interjected mildly, "what 'checks' would you have us place? They took House Seats that they had a legal claim on. If those families hadn't been so foolish, then they'd still have them. Do you want to demand that they give up seats simply because you don't like it? What if that gets turned on you?"

"I don't see House Rowle stealing House Seats," Lucia Zabini said darkly.

"I think it's rather rich for you to say anything about House Seats, Lady Zabini," Sirius retorted. "Your son was a participant of the kidnapping at Hogwarts."

"Something that has not yet been proven in court," Lucia responded coldly.

"Something I doubt my sister cares about," Jamie spoke up entering the room, with Bellatrix at her side.

"What is she doing here?!" someone yelled, and a fair few people drew their wands.

"Enough," Dumbledore said. "Lady Black was cured by the same ritual that cured Lord and Lady Longbottom. She is in command of her faculties, and does not have any loyalties to Voldemort or his Death Eaters."

Sirius grinned, seeing that all the Death Eaters were staring at Bellatrix in shock and horror. Voldemort's lieutenant was gone. Bellatrix Lestrange was no more, and Bellatrix Black was prepared to fight.

"I'm here to sit in and observe how this body has fallen," Bellatrix remarked with a sneer. "Lady Spinnet has agreed to let me sit in as her advisor for today."

"So, House Black controls five seats! Something must be done about that!"

"I didn't see anyone arguing when Lord Malfoy had access to four seats at one time," Augusta Longbottom remarked dryly. "Certainly didn't see complaints with the Minister effectively having four seats either."

"This is getting off topic," Dumbledore interjected. "This meeting was called to discuss the implementation of the new departments. With Voldemort more dangerous than ever (over half of the room flinched at the name), it is imperative that we help remove the werewolves as a potential enemy."

"You would say that," Elijah Yaxley sneered. "You hired one of those monsters at your school."

Dora glared, but Remus shook his head, ignoring the barb.

"Choose your words more carefully in this hall, Lord Yaxley," Dumbledore advised cooly, surprising many in the room. "Further insults will warrant censure."

Dumbledore had rarely shown himself as confrontational in the past. Dora knew what had changed, but the Death Eaters were going to learn that Dumbledore was adapting to the new situation.

"Well, we still need to figure out the new Head of the Department," Leroy McDonald said, trying to move on. "I recommend Lord Lee for the position."

"I would accept the position," Cecil Lee responded easily.

"I object," Remus said, a frown on his face.

"I do as well," Chiara voiced. "He was head of the werewolf capture unit and showed himself to be quite biased against werewolves then. His remarks in this body have not shown any change in disposition. He will be the last person we want in charge."

"He has the greatest knowledge on interacting with werewolves in the Ministry," Benjamin Kama countered. "Should we not judge his future actions rather than the past when things were different?"

"We don't need someone who treats them like their animals," Rick spoke up. "We need someone who will treat them like the witches and wizards they are, while acknowledging the hardships they face."

"I think House Lee is fine," Dora offered up, "but the wrong Lee was named. I vote for Barnaby Lee to be made the Head."

"My nephew?" Cecil clarified in surprise. "He hardly has the experience to –"

"He is a well respected magizoologist, and has been a large proponent of change for rights for magical beings," Dora cut him, and retorted. "He also has known, been friends with, and interacted with a werewolf for years."

"I trust Barnaby," Chiara agreed. "He would be a wonderful Head."

"I don't know Mr. Lee, but I trust Lady Potter and Lady Lobosco," Remus said. "If they vouch for him, then I would agree."

"Barnaby is the type of fellow that makes friends with anyone," John McAvoy added. "He's a great choice. We need someone who's great at creating friends out of enemies."

"I think that is enough proponents for," Dumbledore said. "A proper vote is in order. All for?"

A short vote later, and Dora's old friend and classmate, Barnaby Lee, was the new Head of the Werewolf Liaison Office.

"Next up is the Inspector General and Internal Affairs Office," Dumbledore said.

"I nominate Pius Thicknesse for the position," Theodore Travers stated calmly.

The Order members all exchanged startled glances. Pius Thicknesse was a good choice, which meant they had no real way to counter the nomination. They had no intel on why, though they could hazard several guesses.

"He is a respected Head of the Major Crimes Subdivision in the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol," Amelia Bones agreed. "A fine choice. This would give him a well deserved promotion, and he has the experience needed."

A short vote later, and Pius Thicknesse had the job, and he was going to soon have a tail from the Order of the Phoenix.

*HP*

"Ah, welcome Harry," Dumbledore greeted with a pleasant smile. "Lemon drop?"

"Sure," Harry humored the man, who delightedly offered a small candy bowl for Harry to take a few lemon drops from.

Harry smiled over at Mad-Eye, Sirius, Dora, and Bellatrix, who were all present in the room.

"I'm sure you're wondering what this is about."

Harry nodded, and Bellatrix sighed. Mad-Eye snorted in amusement, while Sirius rolled his eyes, and Dora giggled.

"I will attempt to move this along, for Ms. Black's sake," Dumbledore said, with an apologetic smile. "Sirius had her marriage annulled today, but before they did so, Bellatrix emptied the Lestrange vaults."

"Couldn't have happened to nicer people," Mad-Eye said sarcastically with a feral grin.

"Seems like a good start," Harry agreed, smiling at Bellatrix who nodded.

"Well, it was also fortuitous," Dumbledore said, and he pulled something out of his desk and set it down in front of Harry.

Harry leaned forward in shock and excitement. "Is that?!"

"It is," Sirius confirmed, with a grin. "Hufflepuff's Cup, found at last. It seems that old Voldie entrusted it to the Lestranges to hide in their vault. Luckily I was with Trixie when we cleared out the vaults. I noticed it, had Dora's new pup, Cocoa, confirm it . . . or at least her growl confirmed it to me, and then we destroyed it."

"He's mortal," Harry nearly gasped out.

"As far as we know," Dora agreed. "Whatever rituals he's done are still in place, so I don't know if we really can kill him . . . but if we do succeed, he will die."

"Which means our entire focus will now be on Voldemort and the war," Dumbledore said. "I understand that you have some expectations that have been laid before you, and I will help. I hope to take away the burden of defeating Voldemort from you, but I intend to ensure that you have the best chance that you can, should you find yourself in those circumstances."

"We're going to push you hard for the last few months of this school year," Mad-Eye said gruffly. "You'll have time off, for your friends and family, but when you're in class, or in training, you're on."

"Trixie is taking over as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor," Sirius said, and Harry glanced at his godmother in surprise, and she grinned. "This will allow her to spend time with you and pass on her knowledge, while adjusting to her new situation."

"You have a mastery in defensive magic?" Harry asked, surprised.

"You're not the only prodigy in defensive magic," Bellatrix responded dryly. "I always had a high affinity for the dark arts and dueling. I also am an air elemental, and once had aspirations of being a curse breaker."

"Tonks and I will be stopping by to work with you, your normal motley crew, and your club at various times," Mad-Eye added gruffly. "Bellatrix will also take you all under her wing when she has time. She'll evaluate you in the next weeks and see where you can be pushed, where you need work, and where you can simply continue as you are. That will be true for the lasses, and Weasley."

Harry glanced back at the destroyed cup.

"We can do this. We really can kill the bastard."

"Damn right we can!" Dora exclaimed. "We're going to kill the bastard."