Chapter 241
In some ways, he could appreciate she had a point; Harry had performedmagic on her child without her consent, magic which had compelled her toparticipate in a way not dissimilar to an Imperius curse. She hadn't beenraised with the same magical traditions and viewed the family magic andtherefore Harry's use of it with high suspicion. Worse still was that they hadbeen unable to immediately tell her the specifics of the gift that Harry hadgiven her because of the presence of the Malfoys – regardless of the vows, Sirius didn't want them to know exactly the nature of Harry's protection. But Harry had apologised and Anna's attitude had made the dinner particularlyuncomfortable for Harry as she'd all but ignored him. Simeon had tried tomake up for it by being jovial with Harry himself but the damage had beendone; Harry had tried not to be affected but he was hurt and Sirius couldsee
the shadows of the Dursleys' criticisms of him flickering once more in Harry'seyes. He could have cheerfully throttled Anna for that. After dinner, Harry had requested to return to Griffin House and Sirius hadlet
him go sending Remus along to comfort and reassure him. Sirius had sat
down with Anna and Simeon and informed them exactly what kind of
priceless protection against evil Harry had bestowed upon their son
(protection created through the sacrifice of his own mother's life) and Annahad been somewhat abashed. At breakfast that morning, she had apologised wholeheartedly to Harry for her
standoffishness and thanked him for his gift and it was good to see her
continue to work past the initial misunderstanding and conflict by spendingtime with Harry on the tour. He still wanted to throttle her for ever hurtinghisson and he suddenly had more sympathy with Molly's treatment of himearlier
in the Summer.
It occurred to Sirius that he was effectively loitering in the hall procrastinatingand he sighed heavily. He made his way through the manor to the large studyon the ground floor. The study door had been locked when Remus had gained entry to the estateand it wouldn't open for him. Remus believed that it would only open for theHead of the House of Black and Sirius couldn't argue with him. What he hadargued was the need for the room to be opened at all. His reluctance surprised even himself. It wasn't as though he had particularlybad memories of his grandfather. Arcturus had been a ruthless bastard, apolitical shark and a hard task-master but he had been proud of Sirius during
his childhood, surprisingly encouraging of his mischievous streak (probablybecause it was a sign that he had some Slytherin cunning) and, in hindsight, he had done a great deal to mitigate the cruelty of Sirius's mother. But unlocking the study that belonged to his grandfather was somethingthat
Sirius didn't want to do. Perhaps, he mused as he stared at the dark wood, hewas grieving for the old buzzard in an odd way; perhaps he didn't want togoinside the study because that would be acknowledging his grandfather wasactually dead. Sirius shook his head, trying to dislodge the thoughts because he didn't want
to grieve for his grandfather who had so embraced the pureblood agendaandbigotry that had led to Voldemort and the war and the loss of his friends, hisreal family… He took a deep breath and placed his hand on the handle. The ward
recognised him and the lock clicked open allowing him entry. The door swung open.
..... His grandfather's study looked exactly as it had the last time Sirius had
entered it. There was a roaring fire in the hearth to his right. A wide cherry desk filledthetop right hand corner of the room; a matching table ran the length of the right
wall and had an old pensieve as the central ornament. A tall cherry cabinet
filled half the wall space floor to ceiling to his left; it would be locked but thesecrets within might be valuable containing blackmail material and
intelligence on a number of individuals and families. Apart fromthe cabinet
and two tall windows on the right wall, the rest of the walls were floor toceiling bookshelves stacked tightly with books. Remus was going to have a cow when he saw the books, Sirius thought fondly. He finally stepped across the threshold and closed the door behind him. Hemade his way over to the desk and was surprised to see it was clean, devoidof dust and debris. There was an empty inkpot, a gleaming silver letter opener
and a single envelope addressed to him. Sirius felt his heart leap in confusion and astonishment. His grandfather hadto have known about his imprisonment – there was no way that he couldhaveassumed that Sirius would be the next Head of the House… He approached with trepidation and sat down in the worn leather chair. Hepicked up the letter and opened it.
"My Dear Grandson, You will have many questions and I request that you bear with me throughthismy last letter for I am not long for this Earth and I know I will not see youagain.
On November 2nd 1981 I visited the Ministry where Bagnold took great delight
in telling me that you had been imprisoned in Azkaban on executive order for
high treason, the murders of James and Lily Potter, the murders of somemuggles and Peter Pettigrew. I left Bagnold determined that I would see
justice done; the House of Black's reputation had taken a hit with the defeat of
the Dark Lord and the triumph of the Light over the pureblood agenda, but I
knew I could probably prevail on Albus Dumbledore to at least get you a
proper trial where I was sure the truth would out. I know you, Sirius; I never
believed you were guilty.
I also planned to lend my support (although in a very discreet way) to theLongbottoms who I knew were to have custody of the last of the Potters (I
refuse to use the appalling appellation that our world has called him). I couldguess at why Albus had made the decision to leave him with his blood
relatives but a child of his power has no place with muggles. Why then, you may ask, did I leave you both all this time in such wretchedhells?
Why indeed, thought Sirius darkly.
"When I arrived home that day, I found an old friend of mine on the doorstep; atrue Seer by the name of Oona O'Neil. She and I had been in Slytherin together. Over tea, she explained that she had the night before dreamed two possiblefutures.
In the first, I continued with my original plan and fought for your trial. Unfortunately, in such a future, our world was doomed by my doing so. Yourefused your role in the House of Black and only credited Albus with helping
you achieve your freedom. Although the WOO awarded you custody onceyouproduced the will (the Longbottoms' fate was not revealed only that they werenot able to take Harry), Albus convinced you that Harry was safest with hismuggle relatives. While you were eventually reunited, your relationship wasirreparably damaged by your insistence that he remain living with them. Hedidn't trust you, and ultimately the war faltered on this breech of trust allowingthe Dark Lord to win. Eventually, the Dark Lord's indiscriminate killing
attracted the muggles' attention and the wizarding world was eliminatedthrough one of their weapons (while I initially scoffed at this, my researchsince has upheld the truth that the muggle world holds weapons capableof
such a feat).
In the second possible future that Oona dreamed, I discontinued my effortsand retreated. You remained locked away in Azkaban and Harry in the muggleworld until his Hogwarts education began. Then, you escaped fromAzkaban. The rest was unclear to Oona with multiple paths possible but in one youbecame Lord Black and rescued Harry, obtaining custody of himand takinghim away from the muggles. Your relationship was built on a foundationof
trust that strengthened those that would oppose the Dark Lord. And therewas, Oona said, the possibility and hope that the Dark Lord would not win."
"Dear Merlin's wrinkly arse!" Sirius sagged in his seat, wrenching his eyes
away from the letter to stare unseeingly at a distant corner of the room. Hecouldn't quite comprehend his grandfather's words. He had met Oona onceat
some gathering for his grandfather's, he was sure of it; a mature Irish lady
with black hair and laughing blue eyes who had told him that he would
become a dog with the heart of a lion. He hadn't understood – he'd beeneight, nine? – but in hindsight her words had been prophetic correctly predictinghisschool House allegiance and his animagus form. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 242
The two versions of the future written out in black and white sent shivers
down his spine. The first because he could so easily see that if he had been
freed within weeks of being put into Azkaban, he would have angrily deniedhis grandfather any credit or gratitude. He had been so naïve and stupidly
righteous in his faith in Albus in his youth and so it would have been easy for
Albus to have convinced him that the greater debt was owed to him; that
Harry would be happy and safe in the muggle world under the blood
protection. And Albus would have had years to manipulate Sirius, and
probably Remus too had they reconciled (although that wasn't guaranteed), into blindly following him, and thus not acting in Harry's best interests but tofurther Albus's agenda for Harry. Just the thought of it had his skin crawling. But the second version of the future also disturbed him because there wasonly the possibility of hope and winning not a guarantee. It was, he mused, better than an apocalypse but he would have preferred some indication of
success other than vague hints. His eyes drifted back to the parchment he held.
"It must be patently apparent which path I chose to take.
I would apologise for your suffering but I won't ask for a forgiveness that I donot deserve. An apology wouldn't lessen or excuse my culpability in your
wrongful imprisonment or in Harry's situation since his life with the muggleshas not been easy according to my investigations. As much as I despise
Albus Dumbledore, I agree with him that sometimes sacrifices are requiredtosave the world, but unlike him, I believe it is only right to take responsibility for
the hurt caused and our role in causing it."
Sirius was torn between anger that his grandfather hadn't tried to find another
way and a strange kind of pride that his grandfather hadn't tried to dismissjust how much hurt had been caused by his decision. His grandfather hadbeen a ruthless bastard but he had always owned the decisions he had made. And… He sighed heavily. He wasn't entirely certain he wouldn't have made the same decision in hisgrandfather's shoes; years of misery but eventual rescue versus guaranteeddoom? Indeed, if he'd been told he had to stay in Azkaban for thirteen yearstoprevent an apocalypse he might have agreed to it. But to make a decisionthat
would mean Harry would suffer…no. There had to have been a third option, Sirius told himself briskly, even if his grandfather had never tried to findit.
"I wish I could have explained this in person but Oona informed me that either
path would evolve without me; I would live for less than ten years more. Onceshe had left, I called my personal Healer and he confirmed that I had the earlysymptoms of the degenerative wasting disease Oona had predicted. My bodywould waste away (and it has, I am bedridden these days) but my mind wouldremain as it always was until the end .
I was coming to terms with the news about my health when the arrest of your
cousin, her husband and his idiot brother combined with your situation left theHouse of Black's reputation in tatters. (I would have made reparations toAugusta but I feel she is more likely to accept them from you – if you haven't
already offered her a formal apology, I would encourage you to do so. Shewas the power behind her husband and will make a formidable ally.)
I had a choice then; I could remain in public for as long as I could and try torebuild the House of Black or I could spend the years in isolation doing asmuch as I could to ensure that you would have the resources you and Harryneeded to defeat the Dark Lord when you finally escaped. Again, it must be patently apparent which path I chose to follow." What?!
Sirius blinked heavily and reread the last part of the letter. Why? Why wouldhis grandfather have made such a choice? Nothing had been more important
to him than his reputation and the House of Black…
And it still was, Sirius answered his own question with a surge of cynical
surety. His grandfather must have known that rebuilding in the wake of theLeStranges and his own incarceration would take years – probably years hedidn't have physically. No, option two would mean his grandfather couldconvince himself he was doing the right thing while hiding his disease fromeveryone.
"Self-serving old…" Sirius muttered under his breath.
"There are many things to tell you but where to start?
Firstly, I would talk about the House of Black. You will have realised I left youas Heir and hopefully assumed your rightful place as the Head of the House. I'm certain you will have adopted Harry and made him your Heir but if youhaven't, you should. Do what you wish with Bella and her husband. Lucius Malfoy has already wormed his way out of trouble but he was Markedand quite frankly has illusions of grandeur. He has consolidated some power
among the old Black alliance by the time you read this. He will do anythingtosave his own skin. You may find some of the information gathered on himuseful to keep him in line. Narcissa wasn't Marked and could be useful toyou;
she has a head for politics. Their child, according to my sources is a spoiledbrat; I leave his fate to you. The rest of the minor lines I have ignored to date given my belief their squibblood or undesirable matches weaken the overall strength of the House of
Black." Sirius snorted. That right there was a major political difference betweenhimself and his grandfather. Well, he didn't care about those things; family
was family.
"However, my acquaintance with Lily Potter changed my mind about the latter
so I leave it up to you to determine their inclusion or exclusion. Speaking of which, my next topic is Harry." Wait. What?! Sirius frowned heavily. When had his grandfather and Lily
become acquainted? And he suddenly remembered Bertie's memory of hisgrandfather seeing Lily when Sirius had been captured; of promising Harry thefamily magic.
"Sirius, you should get Harry's health checked out as soon as you can. I hadawizard private investigator track down Harry in the muggle world once hewasof school age and to say his report was alarming would be an understatement. The muggles have badly neglected him. The man I hired was so incensedabout the state of the boy when he returned to deliver his findings to me that I
had to obliviate him so he wouldn't do something rash and bring Albus's
attention to my interest in Harry. I did have the situation reported
anonymously to the muggle authorities but they failed to do anything of
substance. Secondly, he is a powerful wizard and will need training. I have left memoriesin the bottom drawer of the desk that you need to see. If you do nothingelse, Sirius, please watch these memories." Sirius paused in his reading once again and unlocked the drawer. He withdrewwhat looked to be a custom made box filled with vials of silvery memories. Hesighed and set it on the desk top. He picked up the letter again.
"In the middle drawer of the desk is all my research about family magic –youwill understand the importance of this when you have watched the memories." His grandfather had researched family magic? Of course, he had seen Harry'saffinity for himself. He unlocked the middle drawer and drew out three
journals filled with notes; two rare books and a thick folder of parchment.
Remus was going to drool, Sirius thought bemused.
"Lastly, the top drawer contains all the information I could gather about theDark Lord – his real identity, likely boltholes, his secrets. I fear he retains anexistence thanks to making a horcrux – Regulus asked me about thembeforehe disappeared. I have included all my research on these foul things in hisfile. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 243
I hope I have provided enough for you to win against the bastard." Sirius scrambled for the top drawer and once again found a veritable stackof
paper. Clearly, his grandfather had used his isolation well. He returned oncemore to the letter.
"You were always my favourite, Sirius. You are an intelligent, powerful wizardwith strong values and ideals. Beyond the bloodline it was the reason why youwere always my Heir. I failed to rein in your mother – I had thought formallymaking you Heir would be enough to curtail her insanity – and I regret that
more than I can say. If you had come to me that night rather than the Potters, Sirius, I would have chosen you, protected you. You have a weighty responsibility with young Harry. He will need you andI
know you will not falter in caring for him and guiding him. Know that I have been and always will be very proud of you, my Grandson.
May Merlin and Morgana bless you both. Your Grandfather, Arcturus Sirius Black." His eyes were stinging with unwanted tears by the time he finished andSiriusdropped the letter back on the desk while he brought himself under control. A knock had him surreptitiously swiping at his eyes before he called for hisvisitor to enter. It was Remus. His friend's eyes narrowed on him immediately. "Are you OK?"
"Fine." Sirius answered brightly.
"Uh-huh," Remus said knowingly, "I believe I've heard that 'fine' before whenyou got ambushed by your brother and friends, and almost ended up in theinfirmary for a month because you ignored the fact that one of your ribs wasbroken."
"None of my ribs are broken now." Sirius said irritably. He waved Remus over
to the desk and pointed at the stack of information. "My grandfather's
research on family magic."
As he predicted, Remus was happily distracted.
"Merlin!" He exclaimed, picking up one of the books reverently. "This is
incredible! Minerva, Bertie and I have been searching high and lowfor a copyof this book." His head snapped around to Sirius. "Why would your grandfather
have it?"
"Probably because one of these memories," Sirius tapped the box he'd
unearthed, "will be the one Bertie played for me in the pensieve." Remus nodded slowly. "I wouldn't mind seeing that memory." He frowned. "There's more?"
"Here." Sirius handed Remus his grandfather's letter and moved away, ostensibly to examine the books but really to hide. Eventually, he heard Remus clear his throat. "We should probably see if thisIrish Seer of his is still alive."
"Yes."
"Sirius…"
"Don't, Remus." Sirius ordered briskly. He shook himself and turned back, avoiding the sympathetic eyes of his old friend. "Where are Harry and theothers?"
"Out in the garden in the old Summer pavilion." Remus said. "The house elvesbrought elevenses. Do you want to join us?" Sirius shook his head and retook the seat behind the desk. "I should gothrough the memories." Remus nodded, understanding without Sirius saying anything that he wasn't inthe mood to rejoin the family and act as though nothing was wrong. "Right, well you set up the pensieve and I'll go and tell Andy to take over the tour. I'll
be right back." He started for the door.
"Remus, I can go through the memories myself and…"
"Don't be stupid, Padfoot." Remus cut him off and caught his eyes firmly. "You're not going through them alone." Sirius didn't really want to argue; wasn't sure he could with the lump in histhroat so he settled for a sharp, brief nod. Remus hurried out and Sirius went
about setting up the pensieve, losing himself cleaning the bowl and ensuringthe runes were good to prevent himself from thinking about his grandfather'sletter.
"If you had come to me that night rather than the Potters, Sirius, I wouldhavechosen you, protected you." He hadn't even thought about going to his grandfather in his flight fromGrimmauld Place. He had taken the Knight Bus to the Potters' place, hidinghisinjuries as best he could. He had walked up the long driveway with nothingbut
the robes on his back and his wand. He had managed to ring the doorbell andthen he had collapsed. He'd regained consciousness, sobbed his heart out onCharlus Potter's shoulder, been ushered into bed where a Healer had takencare of the worst of the damage and Dorea had fussed over himbefore asleeping potion had been poured down his neck. He'd woken the next day withJames sprawled on the bed next to him, snoring away. Three days after that, Charlus had brought him his possessions from Grimmauld and told Siriusthat
it was official; his grandfather had agreed that Sirius would stay with the
Potters. Charlus had sent them to the French chateau for the Summer. Sirius took a shaky breath. He had later learned from his brother that his
grandfather had confined their mother to Grimmauld Place for her actions. Hehad assumed at the time that his grandfather had only punished her becauseshe'd gone after the Heir not because she'd gone after Sirius. Maybe he hadbeen wrong about that.
"Ready?" asked Remus gently, startling Sirius out of the past and back intothepresent.
"Yes," Sirius said before he sighed, "no."
"We don't have to do this now." Remus pointed out in the same gentle tone.
"Yes, we do." Sirius countered. He squared his shoulders and opened theboxof memories. The vials were set out neatly in holders and numbered. He
picked up the one marked '1' and poured it into the pensieve. Remus nodded at him and they entered at the same time. The memory was the same as the one Bertie had shown himon the day of
Harry's adoption and blessing – only the viewpoint differed. Sirius watchedamused as Remus clutched at his arm as Harry took over Lily, as he took
control of the family magic. As Sirius arrived back and his grandfather
swooped over to tend to him, the memory faded and they were pushed backout into the study. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 24
"Merlin!" said Remus awestruck. "You told me and I believed you but to seeit!"
"I know!" Sirius agreed. It was his second viewing but he was still blown away.
"Yes," Remus continued, "that right hook of Lily's was just miraculous!" Sirius's head whipped around to Remus's mischievous 'gotcha' face so fast
that Sirius felt a rush of dizziness. He did the only thing he could do; he burst
out laughing. If the giggles at the end edged hysteria, neither he nor Remuscommented about it.
"Thank you, Moony," Sirius said eventually, as he straightened up and brushedaway the tears of laughter that had eked out the corners of his eyes, "I neededthat."
"Shall we take a gander at number two?" Remus gestured at the box andamoment later Sirius had emptied the pensieve of the first memory and theywere diving into the second. They landed in a St Mungo's waiting room. Sirius's grandfather sat on oneuncomfortable chair by the door while on the other side of the room, Bertie, Albus, Bagnold and Crouch conferred in low voices. It took a moment for
Sirius to figure out that Charlus and James would probably be with Lily whomust have been taken off to a Healer after Harry's impromptu take-over. Thefour officials seemed embroiled in a heated discussion with Bertie on oneside and the rest on the other. A shiver of foreboding ran down Sirius's spine.
"May I sit with you?" Lily's sweet voice yanked his grandfather's attentionawayfrom the group and he rose to his feet automatically, his wand already out andtransfiguring the seat next to him into something more comfortable evenashe gestured for her to take it.
"You are recovered?" Arcturus asked politely as they sat down. Lily nodded, a faint hint of a blush on her cheeks. "Thank you for your
understanding about my son borrowing your family magic."
"It is his family magic too." Arcturus said mildly.
"You've," Lily unusually stumbled over her words and had to start again, "you've made him your Heir?"
"Sirius is my Heir but he will be Sirius's." Arcturus informed her as thoughthematter was a fait accompli.
"Even though he carries my blood?" challenged Lily in a way that Sirius
remembered well. Arcturus made a vague hand wave. "The only blood he carries that mattersfor
the family magic is Black." Lily rubbed her protruding abdomen. "Then why all the fuss about purity of
blood?"
"Those of us in magical families with generations dating back years whohavecreated and maintained the traditions of our society wish to protect them." Arcturus explained with more patience and less vitriol than Sirius had
expected. "Marrying someone who shares the same history and culture helpsin that protection. New magical people tend to want to challenge the statusquo."
"If the status quo isn't challenged occasionally, how will society move forward?Grow?" Lily argued passionately. "Traditions and culture are important but a
society will stagnate if it clings so furiously to the past that it doesn't allowfor
a future."
"And there is the crux of the political argument at the heart of the wizardingworld." Arcturus tapped his cane lightly on the floor.
"So you agree with Voldemort's position that all muggleborns should be
killed?" Lily asked pointedly. Arcturus tilted his head in her direction. "The Dark Lord wishes to kill us all, Madame Potter, not simply the muggleborn."
"Call me Lily," she said absently, continuing to soothe the stirring baby withinher, "and if you know that, why do you support him?"
"I neither support nor oppose him." Arcturus replied sternly. "Do not confusethe House of Black with the antics of those that have taken the Mark."
"Ouch," whispered Remus, "I'd forgotten just how sharp a tongue your
grandfather had at times." Sirius nodded. Lily was embarrassed; her cheeks aflame.
"My apologies, Lord Black." Lily inclined her head, her red hair cascading
forward. Arcturus huffed but nodded. "Accepted." He sighed as though disgruntled. "I
cannot blame you for your confusion when most of the younger generationhave lined up under the Dark Lord's banner and embarrassed the House." Hecast a look towards the door and the rest of the hospital outside. "All except
my Heir, of course." Pride was evident in Arcturus's voice. Lily smiled. "Sirius is one of the most stubborn men I know." Her smile fell
away. "Charlus and James went for news." Apparently Arcturus picked up on her evident worry as much as Sirius did. "Sirius is a survivor. He will recover."
"He'll be staying with us." There was another faint hint of a challenge in her voice but Arcturus bowedhis head in agreement. Lily's eyes flickered to the group on the other side of the room. "They're talkingabout my son, aren't they?"
"I'm afraid so." Arcturus said. He played idly with his cane – a sure sign that hewas internally agitated. "The boy will be a very powerful wizard. They will wishto use him for their own gain, even Albus Dumbledore, and they all are
refusing to acknowledge Bertie's authority to restrict their knowledge of theevent." He cocked his head. "Bertie has been arguing that it is too dangerousin these times for them to retain the knowledge especially when the childisnot yet born." Lily paled. "I wish I could obliviate them but I couldn't take on three by myself, and Albus; he's another four wizards just on his own." Arcturus glanced over at her sharply. "You agree they shouldn't remember at
all?" Her green eyes met his determinedly. "Protecting my son is more important
than their memory of the event." Sirius wondered whether Lily had known of the prophecy at that point.
"You're a father," Lily continued, "would you not do everything you coulddotoprotect your child?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 245
Arcturus was about to respond when Charlus and James entered. Their facesshowed a modicum of surprise at seeing Lily seated with Arcturus and theyboth walked over quickly.
"Sirius?" asked Arcturus immediately.
"In a healing coma." Charlus said succinctly. "He was tortured badly andhewill need extensive therapy to walk again but he'll be fine in the long term."
"That's a relief." Lily leaned into James who had sat beside her, placing hisarm around her shoulders.
"A word, Charlus?" Arcturus motioned to an empty corner of the room. Charlus nodded briefly, bemused. Arcturus erected a privacy ward. "Lily has expressed concerns that the
Ministry will seek to use her son and not comply with Bertie." Any hint of Charlus's usual good humour disappeared and his brown eyeshardened. "Your observation?"
"Confirms her fears may be valid." Arcturus said without turning towardthegroup. "They have been in a huddle since we arrived and Bertie is quite clearlythe only one arguing that they should restrict the knowledge."
"Bastards!" muttered Charlus. "So we're obliviating them?"
"We'll need to use the family magic," Arcturus said quietly, "Albus is toopowerful." Charlus nodded.
In a move that surprised Sirius never mind the collective in the waiting room, Charlus and Arcturus turned as one, his grandfather taking down the privacyward at the same time as they both called their family magic forth.
"Familius magicus protectus!" The snake and griffin erupted into being, shocking the life of the room's other
occupants.
"Dad, what are you…"
"Leave them, James!" Lily restrained James as he made to stand up. Charlus and Arcturus pointed their wands in unison. "Bind them."
Sirius could see the alarm enter Albus's eyes, the movement to bring his wandto bear…
But it was too late. The snake surged forward to bind the three that had been selected.
"Obliviate them! You will remember instead that Sirius was found by the familymagic as called by Arcturus and myself." Charlus ordered. The griffin flew at the three bound, blinding them with a fierce light. Amoment
later, it was over. Albus blinked. "I'm sorry, I can't seem to recall…"
"I was just saying Sirius will be fine, Albus." Charlus said soothingly. "Thankyou for your concern though but if you need to get back to Hogwarts, we
understand."
"And I should return to the Ministry." Bagnold said officiously. "Crouch, weshould get back to work rather than lollygagging around here." Bertie remained behind as the others took their leave and departed. He hadkept silent but looked over at them suspiciously. "Am I to be obliviated too?"
"Only if you intend to use the boy for your own purposes." Arcturus replied.
"You have my word that I won't." Bertie sighed heavily. "The others…they will
need watching once the boy's powers are known."
"And we shall watch them." Charlus said. "We'd like to count on your support."
"You have it." Bertie said simply. "I should head back before they begin toquestion why I remained with you." Arcturus lifted his cane. "I shall walk with you." Charlus cleared his throat. "You could stay, Arcturus. Sirius will wake by
morning."
"And he will not want to see me." Arcturus said simply.
"Lord Black…" Lily rose from her chair awkwardly but offered her hand. "Thankyou." Her gratitude for his action in protecting her son shone fromher
expressive eyes.
"Yes, thank you." James added stiffly. Arcturus nodded an acknowledgement at James but he took Lily's handandkissed her knuckles. He straightened as he let go and smiled at her. "My dear
Lily, since your son will be Lord Black one day, you should call me Arcturus." The memory ended; Remus and Sirius fell out of the pensieve. Sirius thrust a hand through his hair and tried to gather his fragmented
thoughts. "He told Lily to call him Arcturus."
"I know you said Bertie told you they ganged up but to see it…"
"He told Lily to call him Arcturus." Sirius repeated.
"And it wasn't the first time the two of them worked together," Remus added, "you could tell that they'd done it before but when and where and to whom?"
"He told Lily to call him Arcturus." Remus scowled at him. "Merlin, Sirius, there are more important…"
"We already knew what the memory showed us," Sirius shot back, and therewere personal aspects of the memory that he didn't want to think about tooclosely (that his grandfather had waited for news, that he'd been concerned, that he'd clearly understood Voldemort's agenda better than anyone elseat
the time), "but the fact that my grandfather asked Lily to call himArcturusisimportant!"