£ Cat tongue £

$ Serpent tongue $

: High Mind Speech:

SPRB

Harry landed and spun out of Andi's embrace, clutching Winky close. Once his breathing was under he checked over the Elf. Getting her nod, he set her down. Glaring at the Witch, am I to presume that we are in the Black Estate here in Rio?"

"We are. Until His death, only Uncle Alphard used this place. Too muggle. If you want a place in Italy, then you have to deal with Cassiopeia." Andi looked about. "I have not been here since my Honeymoon."

"In that case. Winky. You are Home. As Sirius Black's Elf and this is where Sirius Black will be living for the year, this is your Domain. Please send any Elves to me. Find your Cubby, Dobby will take care of things until you are ready to care for all in your care." He rubbed her wimpled head.

"One minute Winky." Andi stepped forward and ran her wand over the Elf. "Good, you have found the Ward Stone and have transferred your siphon…the little one… ones…" Andi drew back. "Congratulations Winky. Twins are Rare. Find your Cubby and make yourself comfortable. You are in for a rough weekend."

"Weekend?" Harry asked.

"Yes." Andi looked at him. "Elf pregnancies are tricky things. Your keeping her close allowed the embryo to grow quickly. She should be finished with delivery by this time next week."

"Emma is a Healer." Harry rubbed the head under his fingers again in affection. "She is going to want to be part of the birthing if possible. It is a Muggle Motherhood thing. Hermione is going to be interested because she is still having trouble with the whole 'the Bond is not Slavery' thing." He smiled at the Elf. "After all, Winky will be there when my children are birthing."

Winky hiccuped as she hugged his knee.

"Stop playing with her emotions. Her Hormones are out of whack." Andi huffed, but she was smiling. "Winky, you must find your Cubby."

"Does the house have a Master Guest Room?" Harry asked, "Dan and Emma are going to be assigned there unless you have already taken it."

"This is a Black house. The Grand Master Suite is built over the Main House, but each of the three other Corners have two, two level suites."

"Then, please take Winky to the lower Suite, not taken, that has the best view of the sunset. While Winky is Sirius's Elf, Emma will enjoy having her at hand. Dobby is going to be with me now matter where I end up, Hermione will need to be close to the Library, and Tasha and Daphne will be close to the open yard or garden."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Daphne is three, but has awoken her Animagus form."

"And how did she do that?"

The night after a wizard tried to steal her from Tasha, Tasha was needing to relax. Dan and Emma got her drunk and allowed her to forget… Hermione and I took Daphne for a nap… that lasted eighteen hours. The Fact that to trap while not scaring the child, she was being cuddled by her new kitties. In that time… she tapped into my core and turned into a siamese Kneazle. She can change between the two forms on her own at will."

Andi drew her wand again and waved it over Harry. "I thought you were just a bit better than average…but you are only at half power… after feeding Winky to this point in one month… and allowing a child to draw deep, and your pruning of House Potter…" Her eyes growing wider as she went.

"And just think… he has yet to turn his attention to House Black." Sirius said from behind Ted.

"What are you saying?" The Healer Witch snapped about.

"Andromeda Tonks, nee Black, allow me to introduce my Godson, Harkon James Potter-Black, Lord of Potter, Heir of Gryffindor, Heir of Slytherin,... And Lord Black."

"And Lord Black?" Three female voices chorused. Each with an emphasis on a different word.

Sirius grinned from behind Ted. "Yes. One of the reasons I didn't want you to be talking in public."

SPRB (Three weeks ago.)

Cyrus Greengrass stumbled into the Prophet and Drunkenly demanded to the Editor and Rita Skeeter.

"Now that you have the two of us here, what can we do for you Lord Greengrass." Cuffe huffed.

"I have a few questions and I would like… no, let's be clear. I Demand the Prophet look into this! This is something that the DMLE can not handle. A cousin of mine was Claimed by Lord Potter. My Daughter is Engaged to Heir Black but Draco Malfoy is Not wearing the Heirship Ring. On a side note, Lucius Malfoy is still making demands from House Greengrass." Cyrus slapped the desk with the folder in his hand. "But the Contract is Closed and the Money has been paid." He released the folder on the Desk to open his flask and pull deep. Closing the flask and having to focus to put it back in his pocket, he looked at the two of them and blinked. "Oh, and get this. The reason the DMLE can't look into this is because they are looking for some muggle born witch Grunger, Grupper, uhh."

"Granger?" Rita Skeeter perked up.

"Yeah, that's her. Little bint keeps my little viper from taking the lead in all her classes."

"I can promise you that we will look into it. Just to be clear, what are we looking into?" Rita was now interested.

"Who is this Lord Potter that grabbed my cousin, Who is the Heir Black if it is not Draco?" He belched, "And why is the DMLE so busy hunting for a witch with no presence in our Society?"

"That Last one I think I can give you, but I need a promise that I can't be fired from the Prophet for any reason for five years." Rita Skeeter glared at Barney.

"How good is this detail?"

"Three Front Page Stories. That's just what I know now. Given some time, the dirt I can dig… and that's without my quick quotes…"

Cyrus snickered drunkenly. "I heard about your stories about her, but only because she was dating Krum and the Boy who…"

"Done!" Cuffe was quick to lock in his money maker. "But for a starting point… Lord Greengrass, we are going to need permission to inspect your House files in the Archives." Cuffe slid a slip of parchment before the drunk Lord, who drew a squiggle and pounded his ring down to imprint the sheet… washing everything on the desk with his magic.

Cyrus staggered to his feet, and stumbled out. "I think I will go tell my wife… by way of the Tavern… I think I need a drink."

Cuffe pulled the slip to him, by using the folder on his desk. "We will keep you updated, milord."

Once the Lord was out, Rita was across the desk from the Editor. "Which do we look at first?"

Cuffe opened the folder. "I would say Lord Black. It will throw another wedge before the DMLE, Ministry, and House Malfoy. Lucius has been a burr on my arse for too long. We have three Financial Backers. Care to Guess who they are?"

Skeeter peeked at the paper before Barney. "I am afraid to ask."

"House Black and House Potter each own thirty percent. House Greengrass owns another twenty. The other twenty percent are open to the public. It's why we can keep the paper so inexpensive. It is time that we retake our own voice. At this time, Lord Greengrass is the only one who can tell us what to print… as a free press." Cuffe grinned evilly at his best Dirt Digger. "For this assignment, I need you to keep everything ironclad. That means that you keep a 'true blue' dicto-quill on you. You can post your quick quotes in the opinion section. And Rita… I never said what you would be doing for those five years. I get my three stories or you can be a beetle in a tank for five years."

Fear flashed through her eyes before greed returned. "Sir." She grabbed the folder, the notes, and scurried to her Desk. She had a Story to sketch out. "Bozo! I need your best Pictures of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Cyrus Greengrass. Clearwater, I need you to get everything I wrote Last Year from Halloween to the end of the school year. Double and Triple check my Facts. Make notes on your corrections!" She assembled her writing supplies and opened the folder.

And dropped it.

It was an inner DMLE File Folder.

It was an inner DMLE File Folder on Sirius Black.

It was an inner DMLE File Folder on the Night that Sirius was arrested and sent to Azkaban.

But there was no trial that night…

"Oh… heads will roll."

SPRB 3wb

After he stumbled out of the Prophet's office, Cyrus stopped, smiled as he smoothed his hair and beard, and stroled into the Crowd of people… sober as a judge.

SPRB 3wb

That morning, the Prophet was a little thicker than normal. The Front Page held three major stories, and an appeal from the Editor.

From the Desk of the Editor in Chief: In the Silence from our Lord Backers, we had gone for the quick Knut. We have bent knee to the whims of the Ministry. We have gone for the juicy tabloid over the in-depth researched truth. For this We apologize. Going forward, and for the enjoyment of our public… our Loyal Public Customers… we will be offering both. - Barnabas Cuffe.

(Picture of Cyrus Greengrass) Lord Greengrass has Questions. He has Asked for Assistance in finding out why his Cousin, (to be named later as we continue our Research) was Claimed by Lord Potter. Another Question is Why His Daughter is Bound by a Contract to House Black… but House Malfoy is still trying to squeeze more before signing. Also, House Malfoy has yet to display the Heir Ring. (More on page …) - Rita Skeeter

(Picture of Hermione Granger, end of Fourth Year.) Just who is Hermione Jane Granger? Why is 'half of the DMLE' Hunting for her. I know I was not the nicest person to her last year, and I smirk at her vicious revenge on me. She has bested me at my game. But that's not why so many Law Wands would be looking for her and her family. (More on page …) - Rita Skeeter and Penelope Clearwater.

(Picture of Harry Potter before he entered the Maze of the Third Task.) Our Savior or the Next Dark Lord. Harry Potter has been hailed as both and now he has Vanished into the Night. The Main Link of Leverage England had over Him has gone missing.(Read above), and no one is looking for him. When this reporter inquired with the Archives for the public information on Potter, Harry James… it was reported that there was no Potter, Harry James listed in the England Archive. (Read More on page…) - Rita Skeeter. Fact checked by Penelope Clearwater.

To say that by Noon, the Shite hath hitith the Fan-th.

"I need everyone to Calm Down!" Fudge's voice cracked from all the yelling he had done in the last hour. (That most of it was from under a silencing hex is beside the point.)

A cannon blast Hex went off. Runcorn lowered his wand. "The next person who speaks without reason will be… dealt with."

"Uh… yeah, thank you." Fudge turned back to the gathered. "I have ordered Director Bones to handle this Personally. She is going to be sending her best to find both Potter and Granger. As this will critically lower the numbers of our public safety officers, I have enacted emergency measures that empower the DMLE to expand its numbers back to pre war footing. This means that Enrollment is open, and the forced retirement is lifted."

A hand in the Back was raised. "And the House Black Matter?"

Lucius has yet to contact me." Fudge smiled his political smile. "I have requested that he see me as soon as possible. I have also asked the Goblin Envoy to inquire with the Bank for any Details that they can provide."

"Rita Skeeter for the Prophet." The blonde in Sapphire blue stood up. "Will this be enough to hold dealings with House Malfoy as Acting House Black?"

Amelia Bones stepped forward. "That is between House Malfoy and the People. But The DMLE has asked that the Bank Close all outgoing movement on the Accounts. While nothing has been said about Line Theft, we are treating this case as such, so that every branch is inspected and stone turned. We have written to the Hall of Heritage of Gringotts for them to check our findings and to confirm the Facts. We sent our first draft this morning… we should get something back tomorrow. Now unless you have other businesses within these Halls, please allow us to do our jobs. Any leads and options for the cases from the Prophet, can be sent to either the DMLE post desk, or to the Prophet post desk. As we will be sharing information on a daily basis if not more often. Now return home and wait for the reports. If you must know more… The Wizard Wireless will have an hourly update, but expect it to be 'nothing new at this time'. Now get and let us do our Jobs." She started to turn away, turning back. "Open Recruiting for the DMLE is on floor three, open six am until 8 pm. Thank you."

In the lift to the Ministry Level. "One more thing, Fudge." Bones hissed at the Minister. "Get that Toad on a leash or I will pin her to the Wall in the Atrium and leave her there to Rot! I caught her trying to get the request for a brace of Demetors so she could have Potter Kissed. Right now, that's Conspiracy. Alone that's a stiff fine, a slap on the wrist and fired as your undersecretary. Had she actually released the foul things… attempted murder… and your signature was on the paperwork." The lift stopped on the second floor. The cage opened. The Director stepped out. "Good Day and Good Luck sir. I hope that the next time I see you, one of us will have good news." The cafe closed between them.

SPRB 3wb

In the Bullpen every Auror who is not on the injured list was waiting on her. "Yes, I am sending out two groups of four to look for Potter and Granger. You are to look for both, and to report back once you find them. Observe and Report. Nothing else. You are going on half pay, and suspension for the time. You will be traveling on the Minister's Account, so keep on mission. You will be traveling outside our borders so be polite and respectful."

She shifted to a parade stance. "Now the Bad News. Everyone who has a family. That being a wife, husband, children and/or ailing parent. Step Forward." Half the people did. "You are dismissed. This is not a crime search or a witch hunt. And more importantly, this is not a kidnapping… yet. I have reason to believe that they left on their own. This is just a global Wellness Check… for the Boy Who Lived and the Witch who has been a tether to him." The Dismissed sighed and returned to their desks.

"Now considering who it is we are looking for… all muggle raised half bloods and muggle born, to my left please, and all Ancient House Edict trained to my right. Everyone else takes a step back." Four moved to the left. Five to the Right. The rest moved back.

One did not move.

"Rookie Tonks. Why did you not move?" Bones glared at her through her monocle.

"Because I am both a Muggle raised Half-blood, Ma'am. And my Mother, while cast out, was Andromeda Black."

Everyone but Bones took a step back.

"The only Witch that could beat Bellatrix Lestrange one on one." The director nodded. "See me after." She looked around at the two groups. "Let's make a game of this. Witches verses Wizards. Vance, Brown, and Tate. You run with the Rookie. McTavish, Ogdin, Creeper and… Jones. Sorry Shacklebolt, but I need you here. You are going to be acting Head Auror and are going to handle the Black Hunt and Search under every rock and whatnot for Potter and Granger here in England. Rufus. You are going to take a turn as Command during the Night Shift. With the Roles open, I am calling for Moody to return to run the Academy. Teams will meet me and Shacklebolt in my office in ten. The rest of you have your own duties. Dismissed."

TBC