Make The Wizarding World A Better Place

Past & Future Mixed Up A Little

A thought occurred to Lucretia as Sirius carried her down the last flight of stairs.

   "What about Marius? Is he also here?" Lucretia asked worriedly, because it seemed too good to be true that in this world everything would be perfect. Sirius stopped and Lucretia began to worry.

   "He is still a squib, unfortunately, but at least he will have a good childhood. All family members have agreed to make sure of this and then when time comes, you will be allowed to stay in contact with him after his seventeenth birthday." Sirius responded and she was ready to cry right there. Her big brother was also here, and he was alright and unharmed.

Sirius heard where her thoughts were going and he sighed, apparently his newfound uncle had had as much of a terrible childhood as he had. And that was saying something. He kept going towards the sitting room, subtly testing her magical core and it was strong and healthy.

It appeared that the family had gathered in the sitting room awaiting him. When he arrived he smiled gently to Melania and gave her her baby girl, laughing in his and Lucretia's minds as she didn't want to be held by her mother, but get to her big brother that she hadn't seen in years.

   "Her core is healthy and strong." He responded to the tense silence that had settled over the sitting room, and everyone burst out in cheers as they heard this news. Marius himself let out an excited squeal, claiming big brother rights as soon as his mother would let him hold his baby sister.

Sirius almost let out a yell of shock when he for the first time heard Marius speak in his own mind.

   "I wonder if I will be allowed to stay in contact with Lu after my seventeenth birthday this time around. That would be great. But I wonder why the family has let a vampire in." Marius frowned thoughtfully and Sirius smiled softly as he realised that Marius had also retained his memories.

   "Do not worry yourself, child. I am certain that they will allow that this time around." Sirius whispered in Marius' mind and the child startled. He looked around with curiosity, wondering who it was that had spoken in his mind along with overhearing his thoughts, and Sirius laughed softly in Marius' mind while meeting the child's eyes. Marius' eyes widened comically and he was obviously startled.

   "As for the reason that they let me in. . . Well, that is a long story that will come up during your future history lessons." Sirius thought back in amusement and Marius physically froze at the mention of a lesson. Sirius realised his mistake one moment too late. Marrius almost started crying until Lucretia poked his cheek, reminding him that she wanted his attention.

The evening ended when Sirius stated out loud that the children still needed to sleep and everyone bid them goodnight before retreating to his rooms, carrying the two children with him. When Sirius didn't enter either of the two children's rooms, Marius froze in Sirius arms while his eyes teared up. Lucretia looked at her big brother and was startled to see him ready to cry.

   "Sirius, nephew, why is Marius on the brink of crying? No one has been mean tonight, have they?" Lucretia asked her nephew worriedly and Sirius startled.

   "I believe you two would like a word with me, especially as you both have retained your memories from your first life." Sirius spoke in both of their minds and Lucretia and Marius gasped. Marius looked at Lucretia in happiness and confusion and worry at the same time. Lucretia looked back at her brother with wonder and happiness.

   "Unfortunately, you two are too young to be able to communicate with one another just yet. I believe it will be easier once you have grown a bit more, although I fear it will not be easy for you, Marius, as your magic is quite weak, to learn how to use legilimency in this fashion." Sirius explained gently to Marius as he used the shadows to open the door to the guest room, where he usually stayed during the summers. Although nowadays he stayed here year around instead of at Hogwarts, even if he held the proxy seats of the Founders along with the seat of the Merlin family in the Wizengamot and therefore held all authority over Hogwarts. But Sirius had not used this authority in a few centuries now, and thus no one knew of this fact - simply because no one could remember it.

The shadows closed the door behind them and a fire blazed up in the fireplace, though it was a very strange fire, Lucretia noticed.

   "Sirius, what is that?" Lucretia asked, looking at Sirius with a narrowed gaze and Sirius smiled ruefully.

   "That is Fiend Fire." Sirius stated and Lucretia started going off on a safety rant about the use of Dark Arts, but got cut off by Sirius' soft laugh in her mind.

   "Do not worry yourself over it, Lucretia. I have used this magic for over nine centuries now. I would not use it unless I was certain that I had control." Sirius said softly and sat Marius down on his bed, handing him his sister. Sirius sat down opposite of them, the shadows reaching out to him as he did so and solidified into a big, almost wolflike, black dog with orange glowing eyes. Marius gaped at the huge dog as it moved to lay down behind Sirius.

   "What is that dog? It's huge!" Marius gasped with a happy glint in his eyes and Sirius gave him an amused look.

   "He is a mix between a grim and a hellhound, Marius." Sirius gently explained, noticing how the boy tended to flinch a little each time he was directly spoken to, and frowned slightly as he resolved to have a private conversation with Marius at a later time. Marius had a look of wonder overcoming his features as he heard this and Sirius laughed softly in his mind.

   "Do you enjoy learning about new creatures, Marius?" Sirius asked and Marius flinched nearly unnoticeable, but Sirius had been looking for it, before nodding hesitantly. Marius now realised that Lucretia had fallen asleep in his arms, something that surprised the young boy considering her usual distrust of Dark creatures.

   "Yeah, I like magical creatures. The first time around, I wanted to be a magizoologist when I was a kid. That was before my letter never arrived and I was branded as a squib." Marius explained sadly and Sirius' heart ached from the loneliness in his words. It was a loneliness he had grown up with himself, until he found the Potter's that took him in.

   "A magizoologist you say? I believe muggles have a similar job, although they don't work with magical species." Sirius said thoughtfully and Marius looked at him in surprise making Sirius look at the boy curiously.

   "My grandfather was furious when I mentioned it but you simply accept it. Aren't you going to reprimand me?" Marius asked hesitantly and Sirius winced. That was the exact question he had asked Fleamont Potter when he'd accidentally destroyed an old Potter family heirloom.

   "Yes, I do recall my father mentioning that his grandfather tended to not hold back in his curses when he reprimanded someone." Sirius admitted quietly and Marius was again surprised and wondered if this could be the reason his sister was so comfortable with the vampire. Sirius was amused by the boy's thoughts, but didn't say anything.

   "Does that mean that you aren't exactly born yet?" Marius wondered and Sirius laughed quietly.

   "No, child. I am not born yet for another generation. I am your nephew as I am Orion's son." Sirius explained gently and Marius' eyes went wide as he figured out how many years would be left until Sirius was born again.

   "But now the night is growing blacker and it would be an apt time for little humans to sleep. I on the other hand have some hunting to do before the sun rises and I also need to check up on Hogwarts, it has been far too long since I did." Sirius remarked and let the shadows wrap around Marius and Lucretia after wishing them a good night's sleep and taking them to their separate bedrooms, while humming an old lullaby in their minds as Marius slowly fell asleep. 

AN: This is the last chapter for a while now, but I hope you found this a good start and that you're now interested to see how this goes. Next chapter will be about Orion Black's birth and I hope you're all as excited for it as I am. But, until next time, see you!

:)