Yeah, another repost
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Manipulations to War | ||||||
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Category: Pre-OotP Characters:Sirius Black Genres: Drama Warnings: Death Story is Complete Rating: R Reviews: 19 Summary: Sequel to Harry's second Christmas. James and Lily are dead, and Sirius, Remus and Anwen are living in the Potter keep with Harry. They want him to have a well balanced childhood, but the need to keep him safe is greater. Sirius is working to unravel where the Potter money went while Anwen wants to discover why they were in Godric's Hollow and not safely in the Potter's home. Hitcount: Story Total: 18928; Chapter Total: 671 Author's Notes: |
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Chapter 13: Moon Madness Saturday, June 24, 1983 "These bubbles need to vacate the premises soon," Anwen said in a rather petulant mood. She hiccupped again, and another battalion of bubbles sprang from her mouth. Sirius laughed at her from across the room. He was packing a bag to leave at the edge of the woods he and Remus went to for changes. Occasionally his clothing suffered if Sirius had to transform over quickly. He much preferred to undress and then change over rather than risk his jeans and shirt turning into something resembling a furry black bathrobe. Neither Anwen nor Remus had let him forget that mistake a few months ago. "They will subside shortly, sweetheart," Sirius said with a patronizing kiss to her forehead. "I need to run. We want to be far enough out in the forest there won't be any questions about whether someone sees us or not. The first change after Anwen told them she was pregnant, the gents attempted to stay closer to the keep. They were seen by several village members, and had Sirius not intervened and done a few Obviation Charms, a hunting party would have been formed. "Go, Emme is staying in the big house with me tonight. Remus is worried about her being alone." Hiccup. "She still has bad dreams. Amelia and Susan are coming over too. It will just be one big," hiccup, "slumber party." “If those don’t stop in another few minutes, talk with Monty. I’m sure he has something safe to take while pregnant. Emme is excellent at potions,” Sirius said before he kissed her softly. “Sleep and take care of yourself and my little Black bean, okay. Love you.” “I love you, too.” Hiccup, hiccup. “This is getting old.” Sirius passed Harry in the doorway, and the man gave his godson a ruffle of his hair and then walked to the stairs and went down. Harry was enchanted by the bubbles in the master suite. "These are cool, Winnie-Mama," he said. Anwen smiled at her title and then hiccupped again. Another flurry of beautifully iridescent spheres sprang out of her mouth. She discovered that if she didn’t keep her mouth open, the bubbles would come out of her nose and ears, and that was much worse. “You doing dis?” "Yes, I am," Anwen said unhappily. "Your little sister or brother has their foot up against my diaphragm, and every time they give a little push, I hiccup." To demonstrate the point, she hiccupped, and more bubbles appeared. “Dat’s so cool,” Harry said, overly impressed at what she was doing. “Why bubbles?” Harry went to the end of the bed and clambered onto it. He then came to sit next to Winnie’s lap. He didn’t fit in it very well. "I wish I could tell you, but sometimes when mummies are growing babies, their magic gets a bit wonky. So, this is either my wonky magic or your sibling can do magic already." “I did magic before I born?” "Well, as I said, it could have been your magic, or maybe it was Lily's, but tangerines often flew through the air at Lily. If she peeled it and ate it, she wouldn’t be bombarded any longer.” “I wuv tanga’greens,” Harry said. “Tangerines,” she corrected. “I know, which is why I think it was your magic and not Lily’s. I seem to remember her only liking citrus fruits when she was pregnant. She also ate a lot of crisps when she was growing you. Lily generally wasn’t a crisps fan. She really didn’t snack much at all, but if she did, it was biscuits or tea cakes or sweet things.” “Reawly? I don’t wike tea cakes,” Harry told Anwen. “I know, but you both love Chocolate ice cream.” "So, do you," Harry said as Anwen tickled him, and she realized she hadn't hiccupped for about a minute. She breathed out, hopeful…and then she hiccupped again. Both she and Harry laughed at the bubbles. The pair were surprised when Amelia, Susan, and Emmeline walked into the Master bedroom together. Susan started giggling at the bubbles. Wilken must have let them into the house, or perhaps Emmeline saw them and let them in the kitchen door, how she usually entered the manor house. "This looks like fun," Amelia said, raising an eyebrow. Anwen opened her mouth to explain but instead hiccupped. "Ah, magical pregnancy mishap," the DMLE official diagnosed. "How long has it been going on?" "Nearly five minutes," Anwen answered. Emmeline was batting the bubbles to Susan or Harry, who were popping them. "Yeah, Winnie-Mummy said de baby kicking her dia' frame, and dat's why we's get bubbles." "Diaphragm, Harry, but otherwise, he's right. This little Black bean is kicking up a storm," she managed to get out before another hiccup. "I know a Muggle method to get rid of them," Emmeline said, and Anwen waved her fingers as if to say, 'Give it to me.' "Do you have a cup in your bathroom?" Anwen nodded yes, put her hand out flat, and it materialized on her palm. "That's so cool, now fill it with water." Anwen did, and Emme lifted it up, just before Anwen hiccupped again. “So, I’m going to hold this so you can drink from it, while holding your arms above your head. I had a neighbour who swore by this method. Ready?" Anwen nodded, and Emme held the cup, letting Anwen drink very slowly, arms over her head. She felt the baby kick her insides, but she didn't feel the need to hiccup. When the glass was empty, Anwen's hiccups were gone, and the baby had shifted, so now she was being kicked or punched just above her belly button. Harry, Susan, and Emme all got to feel the baby moving before Black bean slowed down. “I’ll feel them next time,” Amelia said gently when Susan asked why she hadn’t taken a turn. "So, we're going to have a slumber party tonight," Anwen said brightly. "Amelia, did Wilken or Peng show you your room? Susan, did you see the nursery?" “Your house-elves did a wonderful job of welcoming us,” Amelia said. “Excellent," Anwen said. "I thought maybe you two would like to play for a while, and then we can have a little late-night snack?" The two children cheered, and Harry took Susan's hand and led her down the nursery hallway. The rooms weren't far apart, but Anwen tapped on the mirror beside her bed, and the nursery flicked into view. “What is that?” Amelia asked, her eyes excited. "It's a charmed pair Sirius made. The other is high on a small shelf in the corner of the room. Alice and Neville are here frequently, and it's a way for us to keep an eye on the pair.” "That's brilliant," the other woman said. "Do you think Sirius would make me a pair? It's not that Susan is a problem, but sometimes I hear her at night, and I never know if she's awake or asleep. I've woken her up several times." "I'm sure he would; remind me tomorrow morning, and I'll ask him when they get here for breakfast." “Is this how you manage when all the kids are here?” "Well, I'm not alone with all five. Usually, Remus is with me; Emme here is with us, especially if we are outside and have three house-elves. Most of the time, though, it's just Harry and Neville, and those two are so quiet it isn't an issue; the real problem is when the Weasley kids are here." "Oh?" Amelia asked. Susan had recently begun being part of their playgroup but did not go to the Weasleys because Amelia had her in the Ministry daycare on Wednesdays. Alice and Anwen were willing to have Susan Mondays and Fridays, so Susan only did daycare on the three middle weekdays. “Ginny and Susan play lovely with each other, but sometimes when Harry and Neville break off to do something, Ron gets angry. I wish I knew another little boy to invite, but six would be a handful, especially with a new-born. I think Ronnie is a bit lost in his own family. His twin brothers are a handful." “Well, when I take my month off in August, I expect you to let me take all five some days,” Amelia said. “So, other than having pregnancy hiccups that produce bubbles, what’s new with the two of you?” Emme went on to talk about how her healing was going and that she'd put a large vegetable garden near the cottage she shared with Remus. They'd keep some of it, although they usually ate at the big house. What they couldn't use she was going to take into the village for the free food market the parish had each week. "I'm also helping some of the villagers put in their own gardens in the allotments. I love having my hands in the dirt and helping things grow, with or without magic." “Do you think you’ll come back to work?” “I don’t know,” she said honestly. “What I was put through…I’m still frightened to leave the enchantments here. I don’t know if the person who took me wants me back or if the werewolves are after me still. Remus says no, but I can’t imagine them all forgetting and forgiving.” “You shouldn’t have ever been in that position. Honestly, Dumbledore should have left the protection of vital witnesses to us." Everyone had been round and round about what should have been done or could have been done. The reality was that it was in the past, and Emme wasn't doing anything for the Headmaster anytime soon. Dumbledore was also still being investigated for his financial improprieties. Conversations turned away from things as dire as Emme's kidnapping and instead went to nail polish colours and whether Amelia should cut her hair. Shortly after midnight, Anwen awoke with a start, swearing she heard a werewolf howl. "Well, that's silly; they're nowhere near here," she muttered aloud and then went back to sleep. “Anwen,” Sirius shook her shoulders gently, “Anwen, Luv, I need you to wake up.” She clawed her way back to consciousness, even though she would much rather stay wrapped in the warm, dark blanket of slumber. Sirius gently kissed her lips, which finally roused her. “Sirius, it’s barely light. What are you doing here?” "Anwen, there was a werewolf attack last night in the village," he said quietly. "Three children were taken." Anwen sat up, rather too quickly, and her stomach lurched in response. The 'morning' sickness had abated some, but it was a poorly chosen name since it could strike her at any hour of the day. “Was it the Wales pack?” “Remus doesn’t think so,” Sirius said. “He’s down there now, just walking the streets to see if he recognizes any of the scents. He knows the Wales pack’s members and their smells well.” “I know,” Anwen said. “What can I do?” "Stay here with the kids," he replied. "I've already awoken Emme because Remus shouldn't be out walking anywhere in the state he's in. He should be in bed. I'm hoping she can sit on him and make him rest the remainder of the day." “How old were the children?” "One was eight, and the other two were twelve," he answered. “We should go and visit the families today, let them know we will work with the police to find them,” Anwen suggested. “When we know that the kids won’t ever be able to come home. Anwen, if they’ve been bitten, even if they’re returned, they can’t stay with their families. We’d need to find foster families for them, which would be nearly impossible. The only other option would be sending them to Wales to live with the more civilized pack.” “This is awful,” Anwen said, her eyes clouding with tears. “Why?” “Anwen, Remus thinks it’s Greyback,” Sirius said with disgust. “If he smelled Remus nearby, or because we’re living here…I don’t know. It feels like it’s either retaliatory or he’s”” “He’s rebuilding his pack,” Anwen said as she lifted her hand, and two small blueish-white birds flew away. “Who?” "King and Frank," she said. "They're the best at impersonating Muggle detectives, well, except for me. They can also do subtle Memory and Distraction Charms. When Amelia awakens, we can tell her what's going on and what steps I've already taken. I don’t know who completes the crime scene analysis, but at least I know Amelia can give me the reports.” "I want to get out there with Remus; I'm worried because he's weak. When you're up and dressed, we can go visit the families." "You're going to need to shower; you stink." Hours later, long after Harry had gone to sleep, two couples were sitting in the lounge at Linfeld Hall, discussing the implications of Greyback biting new children. “His smell was off,” Remus said. “Like he was unwell. I know that he was hit with a spell when we had him cornered just before James and Lily were killed. I don’t know what it was that Kingsley hit him with, but we can find out if it has any long-lasting effects.” “Could it have been one of the wolves he’d bitten?” Anwen asked. “Maybe they’re breaking off and making their own pack?” “No, it was him,” Remus said. “There is a salty, tangy odour to him. The only other thing I’ve ever smelled which was similar was Stinking Bishop cheese.” “Oh, please don’t mention smelly cheeses,” Anwen said, looking a bit green suddenly. The others chortled at her expense. "Why would anyone name a cheese that?" Emme asked, and Remus shrugged. “So, none of us believe Tom is gone,” Sirius said. “If Greyback is feeling the need to build a bigger pack, does that mean Tom is going to attempt to return?” “I don’t know,” Anwen said. “If there was any news about him, even vague mentions, someone would tell us, and Amelia is rather high up in the knowledge chain.” “So, nothing new about Isobel?” Emme asked timidly. "No, the French Aurors have been looking for her, and they've found nothing," Sirius said. "Frank gave me the most recent reports when he stopped by today. Your case is being moved to off the 'active' pile in France." “We don’t have all the pieces yet,” Remus said. “But we’re getting more every day. I just wish I knew why child werewolves were important because the only answers I come up with are an active threat to Harry.” “What do you mean?” Emme asked. “Well, what better way to get to Harry than have another child become his friend,” Remus answered. “We’d never let him out on a full moon night,” Sirius said. “Perhaps, but what if the wolf was already inside the walls?” “As much as I’d like to say Harry is going to go to Muggle primary school and have loads of Muggle friends,” Anwen said, “the reality is he’s too magical to do that. He can control his magic at just shy of three years old. Imagine what eight or ten will look like. No, we’re going to be tutoring Harry, or he will have tutors familiar with the wizarding world. The only werewolf inside these walls will be you, Remus, and you would never hurt Harry.” Remus looked at her, not so sure that was true. |
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