Title: The Beginning of the End (01)
Author: Procella Nox-noctis
First Category: Mystery
Second Category: General
Keywords: Dumbledore, Snape, Sirius, Zabini
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: PS/SS, COS, POA, GOF, OOTP
Summary: Summer brake had been his favourite time of year. Until he had to spend it with Hermione Granger. And that was just the beginning of the story.
Sneak-peek: "You know first impressions on me were always like that. Of course, before they dropped glasses because I was handsome, now, well, lets not talk about that."
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters. No money is being made out of this, and probably none will ever be made.
A/N: This could sound familiar to VelveteenMemories' cookies and/or fic-in- construction, but I can assure you it isn't. There is just a fact that is the same, as you will soon notice, but all the rest facts are purely coincidental. Dedicated to all the persons at HMS O&U. That being said, on with the show.
Prologue: Matters Into Our Hands
"Honestly, Albus, must we do this?" Minerva McGonagall's lips turned into that thin line all her students knew so well.
"I am afraid, Minerva, that if we don't take matters into our hands, Voldemort will. And then it would not be a pretty sight." Albus Dumbledore answered, his voice sounding tired for the first time in years.
"Besides, if we allow him to turn to The Dark Lord, well, I'm pretty afraid we can loose all hope. Even with Potter and all." Severus Snape concluded.
"I guess you're right. We could use someone like him on our side."
"Even though he doesn't' know he'll be on our side." A serious-toned Sybil Trelawney added.
"And even though he has no idea what he can do yet." Leonard Vector concluded.
"Yet. There is your answer, Minerva. He doesn't know yet. But when he does, if he still has his opinion on us, we'll be the first to fall." Dumbledore massaged his temples.
Silence settled in the Head Office. The candles flickered almost to the point of being put out. Adrianna Sinistra entered the room through the balcony's door. She nodded at her fellow workers, and seated herself.
"I've watched the stars tonight. It has begun. We have three months. Maybe less, knowing the kid. We should take action now." Her crispy voice sounded throughout the room.
"Then it is settled." Dumbledore concluded. There was no mistaking in whatever Sinistra said, or what she found out from the stars.
"Question is, who will tell him?" The quietest member of that gathering asked. Heads turned to the man sitting in the corner of the room. "Oh, no, I'm not going to be that person. Kids don't listen to me. They never did. Look at Harry."
"Then, I guess you could transform into that big bad black dog to convince him, right, Sirius?" Remus Lupin grinned.
One: Walking zombies
Sun blasted through the heavy curtains of Zabini Manor, lighting up the macabre house. In one of the many dormitories, the second child of the Zabini family curled himself further in his bed sheets.
The chirpy voice of his older sister was the first thing he heard the morning that changed his life.
"Blaise, dear brat of a brother, please remove yourself from bed, there is someone here to see you." Arrabella Zabini's voice cooed in his ear.
"Yeah, yeah, I love you too, Bella, but leave me alone, we barely just started summer break and I intend on sleeping more than until 9.30."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, I guess I'll have to take out my secret weapon then. CORALINE!"
Blaise groaned into his pillow as soon as his younger sister began bouncing on his bed, dangerously close to his head. Deciding it would be important or else Bella wouldn't torture him with Cora's presence so early in the morning, Blaise woke up completely.
"Blaise get up, guess what, there's a man to see you, and he's really tall, and skinny, and he looks like you only that he isn't you, cos he's older, I could see he had wrinkles, and I think Bella likes him, but she won't say it, see she's blushing, and the man said he was looking for you, and get up, cos I made you coffee like mom used to, and the newspaper said something about Potter again and- "
"I'M UP! Thank you for the up-to-date of today Cora, was really well received. I'll get dressed and come down in a bit, you go and wake Silly up, okay?"
Coraline nodded feverishly and was gone in two seconds. Blaise looked up at his older sister, who was sitting in the doorway and smirked.
"Well, falling in love with strangers again, eh Bella? How old are you? 12?"
"I'm not falling in love with him, I merely noticed he's cute, and it's 27. Now get dressed, before I make you." With that she left the room.
Blaise clutched his head remembering what Coralline had just said. Coffee like his mom made. He sighed; five months had passed since his mom had died. He had been left under the care of his older sister Arrabella, which was also taking care of his other sisters. They had managed, somehow, to bring some joy to the house. They were orphans now, his father had died when he was twelve, Coraline was four and Silly two.
About half an hour later Blaise descended the stairs and entered the Draing Room, where, indeed a man in his thirties, of black long and sleek hair, and blue eyes was chatting happily with his very younger sister, Selene.
"Silly, don't talk to strangers."
"Blaisey!" The next moment he was engulfed in his sister's embrace. He twirled her around, like he always did when they met, and put her down. Selene delivered a quick kiss to Blaise's cheek and ran out of the room.
"Blaise Zabini, I presume." The black haired man lifted his hand in front of him.
Blaise looked at the hand, but didn't shake it. He spoted the cup of coffee his sister had left him of a table, and got it, finally waking up.
"I don't talk to strangers either."
"That is a very wise thing to do, Mr. Zabini. My name is Sirius Black."
The cup fell from his hand smashing on the floor. A murderer was in his house. Wait, no. A dead murderer was in his house. It had been last year, after the capture of the presumably dead Peter Pettigrew, that everybody found out that Sirius Black was innocent, and dead.
"You know first impressions on me were always like that. Of course, before they dropped glasses because I was handsome, now, well, lets not talk about that."
"I'd prefer not talking to you ever again. What the heck are you doing in this house?"
"Ah, I see you're still the same squirt that took me in three years ago."
"Lets not resurfaced bad memories. You were a great dog, but personally you suck as a human."
"Good to see you too, squirt." Sirius laughed, as Blaise finally accepted his hand.
"Last I remember, you were an escaped convict, who died last year. Explain?"
"Yes, well, there's the problem, I wasn't dead, I was behind the Veil."
"Oh, the Veil, of course." Blaise's sarcasm was clear.
"Don't get that tone with me, you're the first person your age who saw me in a year. I didn't even see Harry yet."
"Bet the bugger's still crying his little heart out."
"Blaise."
"Just because you like him, doesn't mean I do. In fact, if my memory is right, I hate him."
"That's a pity, because you'll have to live with one of his friends."
Ending notes; what is happening to Blaise that the teachers want him on their side? How come is Sirius alive? How does Blaise know Sirius? Who will he be staying with? And will Bella really fall in love with Sirius? What happened to Blaise's family? More, in the next chapter. (This is staring to look like the end of a comic book.)