Sirius was in a tough spot. Dumbledore went through the proper channels and submitted Remus Lupin's resume at the first Board Meeting of the summer. Everything was in order, exactly as it should be, minus one glaring omission. There was no mention of Moony's furry little problem. Were it any other job and were he in any other position, he would have let it slide? But he was a member of the Board and if he signed off on it without saying a word and something happened to a student, he would never forgive himself. He thought of Rhea, finally entering Hogwarts. He thought of his own 5th year and almost getting Snape and Remus killed. There was no choice.
"Headmaster, why has your candidate for the DADA position failed to list his status as a victim of Lycanthropy?" Sirius could tell that both Dumbledore and McGonagall were surprised by his action, Dumbledore cleared his throat, "I didn't think you would bring it up. You yourself struck down a bill aimed at hampering their ability to find work." Sirius didn't take the bait, "I helped defeat a discriminatory law that made no provision to give victims of Lycanthropy the necessary safeguards in order to do their work at no harm to others. I am a member of the Board of Governors and securing the students' safety is one of my duties. The absence of his condition on the document also shows an absence of documentation on any safety measures you as Headmaster would take to safeguard the student population during the full moon, in an environment where your professor can't head home to lock himself away with or without a dose of wolfsbane."
While Dumbledore looked annoyed, Minerva looked ashamed. It seemed she didn't know about Albus' attempt to hide the truth from the Board. Sirius pressed on, "Based on past experiences, I believe Mr. Lupin would make a suitable instructor for Defense against the Dark Arts and I would personally be happy to sign his application, but only if you provide a solid plan that ensures both Mr. Lupin's and the school's wellbeing." The meeting ended soon afterwards, with Sirius feeling a little sick but not regretting his choice in the least. When he described the meeting to Rhea and Sabrina the two hugged him warmly, Sabrina going as far as kissing him in a surprisingly tender moment.
That night he received two very strongly worded letters from James and Moony. Sabrina didn't leave his side for a week. Dumbledore submitted a safety plan to allow Remus to teach at Hogwarts safely. Sirius made him write a second one before he signed it. Wards on the Shrieking Shack alone didn't stop him from almost getting Snape killed years ago when he was a student and it is not likely to do much better now, especially when who knew what was going on with Voldemort and Dumbledore still playing with the lives of innocents. Informing the students and having Moony locked up in a Reinforced Silver Cage until sunrise in the Dungeons under Snape's supervision should hopefully make sure everyone goes home in one piece. He wasn't one of Mad-eye's best students for nothing.
Seraphina didn't have a Parseltongue curse-breaker as a member of the family, but they did have one working for them in India. While Sabrina would have loved to quiz him on Subcontinental rituals, he was sadly pressed for time and refused to speak his real name. It was a safety measure among Indian curse-breakers apparently. So Sabrina decided to focus on the next pressing matter; Rhea spending 10 months of the year away from home. They had already made plans for all Hogsmeade weekends and for Yule and Easter Breaks. Sirius had even prepared to get her dispensation to leave Hogwarts for Samhain, Imbolc and Beltaine. The added bonus of communications mirrors and Rhea's red eyed, pitch black owl familiar, Nyx, would certainly make sure there wasn't any chance of losing touch with her.
That didn't mean Sabrina didn't get anxious. The ladies back at the shop said she was getting the symptoms of "empty nest syndrome." She didn't disagree and while their suggestion of having her way with Sirius as often as possible wasn't unpleasant, it didn't make her anxiety go down any less. Rhea had been the focus of her attention for 4 years now. A part of her couldn't remember a time when Rhea wasn't in her life, and she was happy about that. Sabrina sighed. She knew she was likely to get back to more potions experiments, but her life now also included being by Sirius's side, as his potential Lady Black. She was not looking forward to all the socializing that would entail. So she decided to start small. While Lucius was getting poked and prodded by their Indian friend, she was going to meet Andromeda's sister and Lucius' wife, Narcissa.
She found her at "Twilfitt and Tattings", picking up some packages. "Lady Malfoy." She could feel Narcissa's scrutinizing gaze rove her body. Apparently it is a Black trait. "Yes?" Sabrina curtsied, "Pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm Sabrina Prasinos. Your husband is currently being serviced by an employee of my family and I felt it prudent to meet you." Narcissa lifted her eyebrow. "I thought he was meeting with someone else." Sabrina smiled, recognizing an attempt to catch her in a lie. "As fun as playing who can outsmart whom can be, I personally prefer a more upfront approach. You didn't think your cousin was vanishing every month for nothing, right?"
Ahh, there was the patented "are you good enough for family" scrutiny. She was so happy Andromeda had skipped that phase. Then again, telling her how she had stunned, bound and pulled the truth out of Sirius' mouth had probably earned her that reprieve. Narcissa, however, wasn't impressed. "I feel like I have heard the name Prasinos, but I can't be certain. Continental?" Sabrina smiled, "Born and raised. Been in Britain for a bit over a decade now, but decided to have some quiet time for myself and my daughter." Narcissa nodded, "how old?" Sabrina had a bittersweet smile, "13 next week. Left her home with Kreacher. Don't ask me how she got on his good side, even Sirius is too scared to get it out of Kreacher, orders or not."
Narcissa pointed towards a café nearby and they both sat down and ordered some coffee. "That reminds me of my sister, Bella. She got on well with Kreacher and the elf would always get her some extra pastries after dessert." Sabrina laughed, "Don't I know it? Kreacher has been doing the same with Rhea. At least Rhea has the good sense of letting me know when she gets them." Narcissa took a sip of her coffee, "My Draco would often order extra dessert from the elves in his room. I don't think he knows I am aware and that I gave them instructions on how much he can eat." The two enjoy their time together and plan to meet up again, with Andy getting an invite. As they are about to stand up and leave, a voice cuts into their pleasant time, "Must admit, I didn't expect to run into you out here, Narcissa." Narcissa's eyes narrow as she turns towards the redhead. "Nor I you, Lily. Running errands for your husband?"
The redhead keeps her eyes on Narcissa, who certainly takes notice of a change in the magic around them. Before Lady Potter gets another word in, Sabrina addresses Narcissa directly, "Well, it's been a pleasure Narcissa. I look forward to spending more time with your family. I'll let you pick when we should meet and see if Andy is free to join us. Good afternoon." Sabrina bows softly at Narcissa before steadily walking away, her magic barely controlled. She certainly loses control when someone grabs her arm, a zap of magic forcing the person to let go. "A bit of advice? The Malfoy's aren't the best people to get to know." Sabrina turns towards the redhead, giving her a very condescending smile. "Ah, then allow me to give you some advice back, Lady Potter. Best not to assume who is and isn't the best to talk to here. The most dangerous people tend to be the ones you have never heard of." With that Sabrina leaves Lily Evans-Potter behind, the latter feeling as if she just had a run in with death.
Rhea could tell that something had bothered her mom when she returned home and went straight to the Master Bedroom. She had Kreacher make some of her favourite foods when she wasn't feeling the best, pushed her Dad straight to their Room, told him about Kreacher's preparations and told him she'd see him in the morning. The Silencing spells took a beating that night, but they held, while Rhea kept practising some magic with her familiar. Rhea had been giddy with excitement when she could align her magic with Nyx' perfectly. The two would often be seen staring at each other, the latter giggling every once in a while. Sirius had at first called it creepy before he found the owl seemingly stalking him wherever he went. He eventually apologized to Rhea, who hugged him warmly.
Dad had said that Diagon Alley got full around August when the students started preparing for school. He wasn't kidding and she could now understand why so many wixen would buy their potion supplies at her mom's shop. While her mom and Lady Malfoy had wanted to introduce her to her cousin Draco in the summer, Rhea had simply said that she'd meet him on the train or at Hogwarts. She wanted to meet him where he didn't need to put on a mask for his parents. Narcissa begrudgingly agreed, though they did agree to a Black Family get together after Yule.
After spending some time getting school robes (Rhea thanked her goddess she could get them modified slightly, no way she was wearing a skirt without some leggings underneath. Or without her boots), Sabrina led Rhea to the one shop they had to visit that day. Pushing in the door, they could feel the magic in the air, thousands of wands stored away in boxes littered the whole shop. "Ah, I must admit, you are not my usual customers." Stepping up to his side of the desk came a man with white hair and piercing eyes. Those eyes focused on Sabrina first. "I don't believe I had the pleasure of selling you the wand you carry. May I see it?" Sabrina nodded and took out her wand from her wrist holster. Olivander held the wand in his palms reverently and brought the wand to his ear. "Olive wood, 13 inches. Firm. The core is … oh my. A Harpy's feather. Haven't seen such a wand since my last visit to Spain. May I ask who is the wandmaker?"
Sabrina took back her wand. "I wish I could say. The one who made it is family and none are sold to outsiders. I am sure you understand." Olivander nods. "My daughter here had been tested by them to see if they could find or make her wand. They found that none of theirs would match. We are wondering if you might have one that would match her." Olivander smiled. "Ah, a tricky customer. Let's see, which is your wand arm, young lady?" Rhea shook her head, "Both, sir." After the wandmaker's measurements were done he spent some time looking at her. "I must admit, young lady, I am hesitant to give you a wand to try. I imagine many would react poorly to you. But I do have a few that I thought I would never sell. Perhaps they would suit you better." He brought many close to her, but before placing it in her hands he would put it away. He brought out a box he held tightly and pulled out a wand. "Vinewood, 11 inches. Phoenix tail feather."
He placed it in her hand and for a few seconds, nothing happened. Then the sound of a bird's cry was heard, and the wood caught on fire and quickly burned to ash. Olivander looked at the former wand now turned to ash and then back at a shocked Rhea's face. "Not to worry, dear. That wand had been made as three of a set. I had expected its rightful owner to walk through those doors one day soon. But perhaps it would be better if it saw its end. Now let's see." He went back into his rows of wands and remained missing for close to half an hour. He then came out, holding a grey wand box, covered in dust. "This wand is not one of mine, but instead it is my father's. His last wand before he passed away. He worked long and hard to get it right. Perhaps it is time it sees the light of day."
The wand he took out was beautiful, a grey colour, wrapped in Celtic symbols and runes, the carvings heavier in the base before smoothing out towards the tip. He presented the wand to Rhea who took it gently into her hand. The air grew cold and still as magic poured into the wand. Then a howl was heard, sounding far away, yet close at hand. Olivander gave her a sad smile, "Yew, 12 inches. Grim's tail hair. Unwieldable to all but you, I am afraid. A Grim never gives it loyalty but to one. It will not tolerate another's magic. Take good care of it, young lady, unless you should take up wand making, I doubt you'd see the like again." After buying a wand holster and service kit, Rhea and Sabrina were about to leave the store, when Rhea turned back to Olivander.
"Sir. Your father, did he by chance see the Grim at Kensal Green Cemetery in London?" Olivander nodded, "That he did. He was burying his old friend Charles Babbage. He thought it odd for a Grim to let itself be touched. As soon as he took the tail hair, the Grim vanished. I take it you yourself are familiar with it?" Rhea nodded. "Yes, sir. He is my friend." Olivander looked her straight in the eyes. "Take good care of all your friends and family, my Lady Peverell. But most importantly, take good care of yourself."
On a lone island in the North Sea a solitary shadow moved through the mostly empty passageways. The sound of mad wizards and witches would often echo from cell to cell, leading to long nights of endless noise and madness. The night guards themselves were always quiet, their shadowy forms melding into the walls in the low light. The only way any of the inmates knew the guards were about was the cold. The prison and its cells were always cold but never as cold as when the guards' gaze was upon you. On that night she felt their gaze upon her almost constantly, as if they knew she was planning to escape. Perhaps they did. They eventually moved on and she sighed.
12 Years. She had been in the cursed prison beyond the shores of Britain for 12 long years. In that time she had waited for death, even welcomed it, but it never answered. Not once. She remembered the last orders her husband had given her. How could she not? They would repeat themselves in her head over and over again, even as she never saw him again when they were both sentenced to life imprisonment. She wished the voice would go silent. The only times it did was when she meditated. She had to thank her beloved cousin for teaching her the meditations when they were both students at Hogwarts. It was the only thing that kept her sane in her cell.
What had surprised her was actually achieving the purpose the meditation was designed for. Her cousin had given up and used a potion, getting his form early. She had no means of getting the potion, but the meditations helped and she had been surprised where they led her. The trees, the plants and the noises of the night were all unfamiliar. They reminded her of books she had read as a teen, written by muggles. They told tales of far off jungles in Africa and the Americas. Places full of life and wonder, but also predators and death. She had felt dead leaves and wood underneath her hands and feet. Her body was longer, leaner, more graceful. Her ears picked up every sound around her.
It was her eyes though that had given her the greatest delight. Here, in the place where she could dwell in peace and quiet, her eyes would show her a beautiful night sky. Once she was out of the dense trees and plants she could see the starry night. She could look up and see the stars whose names were shared with her Most Noble and Most Ancient Family. She could see the ones whose names matched those of her beloved cousin and sisters. In her mind, she could hear their voices and see their smiles. It felt like home. The illusion would break every morning when the human guards would check the cells and bring the food. She hated these guards most. The shadowy creatures may force her to relive her worst memories, but these bastards kept adding whole new ones. She had never hated herself as much as she did now, but she hated the human guards more.
So, one night late into July, the woman forgot she was a woman. Her body took on the graceful form of the beast that gave her freedom in her meditations. Her emaciated body allowed her to squeeze through the bars of her home of 13 years. She walked the corridors of the prison and all but panicked when she felt the cold against her skin. The living shadows that were guards saw her. They stared at her with empty eyes and she thought that perhaps death would finally take her in tonight. Just as she felt the cold linger it soon left. The guards left her alone. Her graceful body rushed through halls of stone and bars of steel. Then she found a set of bars that carried a different smell behind them. It smelled of salt and fresh air. She squeezed through these bars and tumbled. The floor would eventually catch up to her and her arms and legs stung in pain, but the scent of stone was mixed with water and salt filled her lungs.
She followed the paths of stone, both shaped by nature and man until she reached a pier. There was no boat and she would likely be caught if she waited for one. So she took the direction of the pier as her own and threw herself into the water. She felt the bite of the cold but didn't mind it, the night guards felt colder. Breathing was hard, keeping her head above the water, but she refused to concede. She had welcomed death in a cage but she would fight to live in the wilds of an open world. The feline lost track of time, her muscles aching, her lungs coughing up water, but eventually she got her wish. She didn't know where she was but her paws were now on sand and the air smelled of dirt and grass. Her body shifted and the feline remembered she was a woman. She fell on her back and began to laugh and cry. She was free!
It wasn't long before the incessant voice of her husband shattered her peace. She had ignored it before but she was free now. She could hunt the brat down and kill him. Then the voice could finally go quiet and leave her alone. Her mind resolved, she took on her feline form once more. The night was too cold for a woman's skin and her stomach was too empty. Time to find something to eat.
Rhea sat down in the empty train compartment, watching other Hogwarts students and their parents milling about, and saying their goodbyes. Rhea herself had said her goodbyes much earlier, not wanting to be caught with unpleasant company. Her mom really took it hard and she had begged her dad to take care of her. Especially out of the bedroom. That had made them all laugh, which is what they needed. She had sent Nyx ahead on her own and had already shrunk her own trunk. All that was left was to wait and see what happened at Hogwarts.
Someone opened the door and looked inside. "Excuse me, do you mind if I joined you? You have the least amount of Wrackspurts floating around your head. I wondered if you could share with me how you made them leave you alone." Rhea looked at the blonde girl wearing Ravenclaw colours and shrugged. "You're welcome to join me. Can't promise I will be a good conversationalist." The girl seemed to have trouble pulling in her trunk, so Rhea cast a feather weight spell and a shrinking spell. Luna looked at her much lighter and smaller trunk and back at Rhea. "Thank you."
After placing her trunk above her head the young witch turned back and curtsied. "Merry met. I am Luna Lovegood, of the Lovegoods of Ottery St. Catchpole." Rhea smiled and bowed her head. "Merry met. I am Rhea Black, Heiress of House Black. A pleasure to meet you." Luna looked as if she were thinking of something far away. "Oh, was that your cousin who broke out of Azkaban?" Rhea sighed and softly banged her head against the headrest. Of all the things her dad had planned for, his cousin's escape from Azkaban had not been on the list. When the press asked him about it he made sure to reference the law stating that if, and a very big if, she requested asylum, it would be dad's choice to give it and that any member of the House of Black wasn't obligated to aid the Ministry in her retrieval. Head Auror Potter had not been amused. "Yeah, that caught us all by surprise." Luna nodded, pulled out a magazine called "The Quibbler" and started reading.
A few minutes before the train started to move, the door opened again. This time there were two girls, both wearing Hufflepuff colours, one had nice dirty blonde hair while the other had pretty strawberry blonde hair in a ponytail. "Mind if we join you? The upper years are all hunkering together and the Slytherins and Gryffindors seem to be trying to see who can get the other house to go negative by the Starting Feast." For a second Rhea was looking at the girls speechless, until her occlumency barriers came down hard and she was able to respond clearly, though Luna did give her a weird look. "Sure…," Rhea looked at Luna who shook her head, "... we don't mind." After helping them get their trunks up on the racks, the blonde sat beside Rhea while the redhead sat by Luna.
Rhea could tell the redhead was checking her out, unsure what to say until she spotted the heiress ring on her hand. She kicked her friend who yelped as she stood up and gave Rhea a respectful bow. "Merry met, Heiress. I am Susan Bones, Heiress of House Bones. My friend here is Hannah Abbott, Heiress of House Abbott." Rhea smiled and bowed her head softly, "Merry met, Heiress Bones and Heiress Abbott, I am Rhea Black, Heiress of House Black. I am unsure if you're acquainted with my companion here, Luna Lovegood." Luna looked at her oddly, apparently surprised to be brought into the discussion. "I wish to offer some apologies to you, Heiress Bones. I believe my father, Lord Black, has been keeping your Aunt quite busy since taking his Seat. Not to mention the trouble my cousin is making since she fled Azkaban."
Susan shook her head, "I appreciate the gesture but my Aunt Amelia loves her job. As for your cousin, well, there won't be a lot of people happy with that, especially with the Dementors at Hogwarts." Rhea stilled. "What do you mean the Dementors will be at Hogwarts?" Susan looked sad, "Because of Bellatrix Lestrange, Minister Fudge decided to post Dementors in and around Hogwarts, despite my Auntie saying that her Aurors can handle it. Dumbledore wanted to keep both of them out, but the Minister overruled him." Rhea took the time to count to ten in her head, in both English and Greek before she pulled out her communication mirror. She said "Dogfather" and a few seconds later Sirius' face appeared in the mirror. "Pup, we weren't expecting you to call till after the Feast."
Rhea sighed "Sorry to bother you early Dad but Heiress Bones has informed me that the Minister is planning to have Dementors at Hogwarts. I am guessing neither he nor Dumbledore decided to inform the Governors." A few choice expletives were heard from the other side. "Also, do pass on an apology to Madam Bones, Lady Abbott and Mr. Lovegood. Pretty sure you just scandalized their daughters with your vocabulary." Sirius coughed dramatically, "Uhm, sorry young ladies. I didn't realize you were there. I will be sure to apologize for this. Rhea, do you mind looking after them? I am sure they are good kids and could use your help should the Dementors pay a visit to the train."
"Sure! Have fun ripping Fudge and Dumbledore a new one. Grimpup off." The compartment is quiet as she puts her mirror away. Susan breaks the silence, "You and your Dad seem to have an interesting way with words." Rhea shrugged, "Dad has been having a hard time dealing with the bureaucrats since he came home. Mom taught me how to behave in public but that doesn't mean I don't take after her either. She can probably swear my Dad into the ground….if she wanted to." Susan shakes her head at her. "What did your dad mean by looking after us? And what year are you joining in, since I don't see any colors on your uniform." Rhea was about to answer when the door slammed open again. This time there was a blonde boy and two larger kids with him, almost like bodyguards. His eyes scanned the compartment and didn't find what he was looking for. Rhea did recognize him from a photo though and stood up and curtsied. "Merry met Heir Malfoy. I am Heiress Rhea Black. A pleasure to finally meet you, cousin."
It took a moment for Draco's brain to register before he gave her a bow. "The pleasure is mine cousin. Mom and Dad have been debating which house you would join. You wouldn't happen to want to join me in Slytherin?" Rhea smiled, "Oh, I am sure I would look great in green and silver. The portraits in Grimmauld would love it too. Sadly, I think I will be wearing blue and bronze. Pretty sure it's safer that way too. From what I hear my Dad and your Godfather have some bad blood between them." Draco looked a bit disappointed but nodded. Before he could leave though, Rhea pulled him into the compartment. "You mind if your friends wait outside? My Dad asked me to look after the Ladies here and your Mom would probably be crass with me if I didn't offer you the same." Draco shrugged and gestured for his guards to wait in the hallway before closing the door.
Rhea wandlessly and silently cast privacy charms on the compartment and pointed at Susan. "Heiress Bones informed us that the Minister in his limited wisdom sent Dementors to Hogwarts. While I doubt they will be in the school proper, they may search the train. I have a way of warding the effects off you, but for it to work I need an unenchanted item that you would wear on your person, preferably against skin." Everyone begins to pull out something she could use, in the case of Draco, Susan and Hannah it was necklaces with charms on them. Luna took out a locket, but she hesitated. Rhea could tell it meant something to her and left her for last. "What I am about to do stays between us. Don't inform anyone except your parents and they aren't to share it with anyone except between each other and with Lord Black, got it?" Everyone was a bit unsure but all agreed.
Rhea conjured a table in the middle of the compartment, startling everyone as they didn't see a wand or hear an incantation. She set the three necklaces on the table and pulled out her wand from her holster, pushing the tip against her index finger and letting magic poke a hole in her skin. She muttered two phrases as her blood came in contact with the chains. "The blood was a medium, not the focus of the enchantment, so it's not exactly Blood Magic. The chains will now award you immunity from the effects of Dementors and the benefit of a warming charm since they do have an environmental effect. They should hold up to a year, as long as they are with you. Your magic will help sustain them." She returned the items to everyone else and then looked at Luna.
Luna begrudgingly gave her the necklace and locket. Rhea allowed a bit more of her blood to bond with the chain while letting two drops touch the locket itself as she muttered several phrases no one could understand. She vanished from the table and turned to Luna, placing the locket gently in her hands. "Aside from the warding and warming charms, I made it mostly invulnerable and applied a notice-me-not charm on it. They will hold for a year as well unless you ask me to bind it to you, which will require your blood. Your magic will then protect it indefinitely and only you or I will be able to see it." For a second Rhea thought she had read her wrong. The girl just kept looking back between her and the locket. The next thing Rhea knows is that her head has made contact with the floor and a blonde little Ravenclaw is hugging her, whispering "Thank you!" over and over again.