Max sighed as she sat down away from the hustle and bustle of the other students. The energy around the castle was crazy with the news of the other schools soon arriving for the tournament. Honestly, Max didn't see the point of a tournament designed to possibly maim or kill the contenders, but apparently it was good for morale.

She didn't know how that worked but-

"You totally earned that detention."

"No I didn't!"

"What did you think was going to happen, hm?"

Max looked up, brow furrowing. Aidan, Aries, and Adele walked around the corner, Aidan pouting. Aries looked up and snorted, waving.

"Ms. Black."

"Aries. What are you three arguing about?"

"Snape gave Aidan detention."

"Already? For what?"

"He decided to not do his homework for potions."

"I'll have you know I did...half...but that still counts!" Aidan defended.

"And then proceeded to mock him about it. You're lucky he didn't hex you."

"I asked if I could get a peek at yours!"

"And we said no." Adele and Aries said simultaneously. Max glanced at them amused.

"Oh come on. You guys have let me look at it before."

"Uh-huh, and we've gotten lectures from Flitwick for it. We're nipping this in the bud. We've been lenient ever since the second year train ride. Learn to do your homework yourself and not steal ours!."

"Hey, the second year wasn't technically stealing. He had to give it to me fair and square." Aidan argued and Max looked at him confused. Aries however blushed.

"Oh shut up. That was Potter's fault!"

"...What did Harry do?" Max asked.

"When Mr. Lazy over here-"

"Hey!"

"When he didn't do his summer homework, he asked Adele who refused. He then found me and wouldn't stop begging to let him look at it. I told him when cars fly…" Aries said, folding his arms across his chest.

"Oh?...OH!" Max said suddenly realizing. "That was when Ron and Harry stole Mr. Weasley's car wasn't it?" she asked. Aries nodded.

"Of course seconds after I said that, Harry and his friend come flying by, Harry dangling out of the car, screaming his head off,." Aries grumbled.

"Ah, it was a message sent by Merlin himself. Who else could find a way to get a car that isn't supposed to fly, to come flying by the moment Prince said that?" Aidan said satisfied. "He had to give me his homework then for the entire year." He added and Max had to hold herself back from laughing.

"And I have regretted it since then." Aries grumbled. Max snorted and tried, honestly she did, to stop herself, but she couldn't. She just started laughing. Aries stared at her before his mouth twitched, Adele began choking as she failed to hold back her giggles, and Aidan began to laugh. Aries followed soon after, chuckling.

"Max! MAX!"

Max turned to see Ginny, rushing up to her panting hard. "Hey Gin…something up?"

"We were going to study potions together, remember? So we didn't have to worry about trying to cram the homework tomorrow night?"

Max blinked and then looked at the courtyard's clock, blinking.

"Oh...whoops."

Ginny rolled her eyes as Max smiled sheepishly, before looking at the other trio and standing

"Sorry, I have to go. I for one don't want detention with Professor Snape."

'A smart move. See you later." Adele said, rolling her eyes as Aidan gave a low bow, winking at Max before following the other two. Ginny snorted, looking at Max amused.

"That boy has such the crush on you."

"He is not."

"Oh he totally is." Ginny said with a grin, looking back towards them. "And he's pretty good looking."

"Then ask him on a date. I'm sure he'd be willing to take you out to Hogsmeade." Max said with a huff and Ginny laughed.

"Oh not me. I'm talking about you. Aidan might be a good match for you."

"Match?"

"You know. As a boyfriend."

Max paused, brow rising.

"Aidan? What in Merlin's name makes you think that?"

"He's pretty funny. Charming too. Plus I don't think he understands the concept of fear."

"And that's a plus, because...?"

"Whoever winds up dating you is going to have to go against Sirius Black and Harry Potter. They're going to need balls of steel."

Max snorted, flipping her hair slightly.

"Coming from the girl who has six older brothers. Gin, I'm not really interested in finding a boyfriend right now." She said and Ginny laughed.

"Well didn't you read that article in the Daily Prophet from that advice columnist? You and I are in our prime when it comes to dating possibilities." She teased dramatically. Max rolled her eyes with a huff.

"Alright, fine. How about I go and ask Percy for a date. He's pretty cute in a 'follow the rules down to a T' kind of way."

Ginny's nose scrunched up in disgust.

"Ugh, don't joke like that. He might be my brother, but I love you enough to not subject you to him."

"I think Daddy would just make him snap anyways. There's only so much rule breaking he could take if he married into the Black family." Max admitted.

"Exactly." Ginny said sagely. "So Percy is out of the question. But Aidan..."

"And how's your quest to gaining Harry's hand?" Max interrupted teasingly, earning a blush from the redhead.

"Oh sod off."

Max giggled, slowing when they spotted Nysa walking by, a frown on her face. A frown settled on her face as well and both she and Ginny stopped. The two watched as Nysa continued by them, not noticing them.

"Has Nysa been acting strange lately to you, or is it just me?" Ginny asked as though reading the other girl's mind, and Max blinked.

"She's been sullen since she heard about the tournament." She agreed. "Maybe it's because of the other schools that are coming?"

"Why would that make a difference?"

"I think barring her father and her, her family went to school at Durmstrang. Maybe it reminds her of home?"

"Maybe." Still it was strange. Nysa had had no problems before about talking a little about her homeland before, mostly complaining about the weather. Now when anyone asked, it was short, almost curt. Especially when anyone asked about Durmstrang. It was though she was trying to avoid the inevitable. The inevitable what, however, was unknown to them.

"Do you think we should ask?" Ginny suggested. Max contemplated.

"It's probably not a good idea. You know how defensive she gets talking about her family and how she's been lately..."

"I guess. But still, what if it's something bad?"

"...it doesn't hurt to ask, I guess. But if she doesn't want to say anything, we shouldn't push too much. She'll tell us when she's ready."

"Yeah, yeah." Ginny said as they continued down the hall. "Maybe if someone is teasing Nysa I can throw a hex at them."

"Nysa...being bullied?" Max said with a snort and Ginny shrugged, though she grinned as well, before the two of them began to laugh.

"We'd have to protect the bully." They both agreed before hurrying towards the Gryffindor tower, laughing the entire way.

Moria hummed slightly as she walked through muggle London. Weekends were nice, that hadn't changed much in her opinion. Trying to locate an ice cream shop that would be willing to make her concoction...not as nice.

"Slow down!"

"Aunt Madge, you really should know by now that when I'm on a mission, I can't be slowed."

"Yeah, yeah...but you're going to cause Sirius to have a conniption!"

"Don't drag me into it. Rather not be in the dog house when she's not even home for me to be in the dog house."

Moria snorted as she paused, letting her aunt and husband catch up.

"How is the pregnant woman walking faster than you two?"

"Because we have morals and don't bowl over small children."

"I did not bowl over anyone!"

Sirius's grin only grew and she glared at him.

"Keep it up, and you'll have to eat three spoonfuls of whatever I choose to get for ice-cream."

"Okay, I'll be good."

Madge snorted at the look of panic on Sirius's face and Moria stuck her tongue out impishly. They continued walking through the streets, Moria slowing to be by Sirius's side. Madge watched them silently from behind them. It was all so familiar, yet so different.

She could still see the same couple she would watch nearly a decade ago. Yet at the same time, that couple she knew in the past was gone. Both changed from the events of their lives.

But still, she could see Moria soften when she glanced at Sirius, those built up walls vanishing the moment he laughed, and the light that was noticeably absent in his eyes returning for the briefest of moments when she smiled at him. They weren't completely gone. She shook her head following them as they finally reached the ice-cream shop.

"So how's school been, getting the kids ready for maternity leave?"

"More like preparing them to be bored out of their mind again with Binns."

"He's going to be teaching them again?"

"Well he never left the school, so it makes sense for them to use him while I'm on leave." Moria said with a chuckle. "Thankfully they're leaving me alone to help prepare for the other schools arriving. So I can prepare in relative peace."

"For that Triwizard tournament thing right?"

"Mhm." Moria said taking a spoonful of ice-cream. "It's got everyone excited."

"It sounds like fun...but, I'm worried about the kids." Sirius admitted, and Moria paused looking at him.

"Why? None of our kids are old enough. Not even Geoffrey. I think Remus would have a heart attack if that was the case."

"Because Karkaroff who is a former Death Eater is going to be entering Hogwarts. I don't like that he's near the kids, going to be near you."

"Why is this...Kraken bloke going to Hogwarts if he's a known felon?" Madge asked, frowning.

"Karkaroff. And it's because he's the Headmaster of Durmstrang; one of the schools that is joining the tournament." Moria replied with a frown, leaning into Sirius, who wrapped his arm around her waist. "I don't think he'd do anything right under Dumbledore's nose. Plus with Mad-Eye there, he'd be stupid to try. Dumbledore has at least some restraint. Not so much with Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody."

"Maybe so. But the Death Eaters a bunch of nutters." he pointed out. "Or did you forget my cousin? The crazy bitch with a deep fondness for the Cruciatus Curse? You know…the one who bullied you when you were younger till she graduated."

"Yeah, like I could forget any of your cousins." Moria said dryly. "Look, Karkaroff sent a bunch of Deatheaters to Azkaban so he could walk free…he's a wimp." She explained. "He'd never risk ending up in a cell there again."

"...true. They'd find a way to kill him within the week." Sirius agreed and Madge sighed in exasperation.

"Only you two could talk about a man not surviving in prison with the same ease of asking about the weather." She exclaimed and both of them grinned.

"Are you surprised?"

"Sadly no." Madge said, taking a bite of her own ice-cream. Moria chuckled.

"So did you hear any news about that Ball?" Sirius asked and Moria rolled her eyes.

"Yup. Yule Ball is happening. I think they're hoping I'll be able to chaperone, but-"

"Yule Ball?"

"Oh it's a d...ance…" Moria trailed off looking at Madge who had a familiar glint in her eyes, "Aunt Madge, no."

"A dance you say?"

"Aunt Madge-"

"Have the girls gotten dresses yet?"

"I doubt it, I mean I don't know-" Moria began to protest weakly, before Madge's grin turned almost feral.

"Perfect, tell Molly and Jean to not even worry about Ginny and Hermione's dresses!" Madge said happily. Moria groaned in exasperation.

"Aunt Madge, Hermione might not want to go, and Ginny's too young-"

"Please, that girl will have boys asking her to the dance left and right! Hermione too!"

Moria let out a whine, covering her face with her hands as Sirius laughed.

"Well you walked into that one, Love." He teased, earning a glare.

"You planned that, you arse." She hissed and he winked.

"Oh and Max too! Maybe even Luna, Charlotte, and Nysa if they want!" Madge exclaimed earnestly and Sirius went rigid. Moria snorted as she could see Sirius's life flash before his eyes at the thought of his daughter going on a date, clearly remembering what they had done at the dance they had had at school.

"She's too young."

"Oh no one is too young for a dance!" Madge squealed, before standing up quickly.

"I really don't think-"

"I'm going to head home. The creative juices are flowing. I'll call later for measurements." She interrupted before practically skipping away. Moria glanced at Sirius's ashen face, and snorted, kissing him lightly on the cheek.

"You walked right into that one, Love."

"Oh shut it woman."

Moria chuckled before taking a bite of her ice-cream, leaning into Sirius's familiar weight. What a year this was turning out to be.

Geoffrey frowned as he flipped through another book, the aged smell making his nose tingle. He fought back the urge to sneeze, if anything to avoid Pince's shriek about damaging the books with his mucus. He sighed, taking a few more notes about the side effects of the root of Aconite.

"Why am I not surprised that Wolfsbane seems to be a crucial ingredient for anything werewolf related?" Geoffrey muttered, before closing the book and pushing his chair out to stand.

Two seconds later a teen holding a large amount of books tripped and toppled over, books clattering all over the place.

"Bloody hell!"

"Shit, I'm sorry, are you-"

"SSSHHHHH!" Pince's voice cleaved through the air. Geoffrey flinched before kneeling down. "Are you alright?" He whispered.

"M'fine. I broke the fall with my face." the other teen muttered, rubbing his face as he sat up, before going to grab the books.

Geoffrey glanced at the boy, beginning to help. He paused for a moment.

"What's your name?"

"Alvaro Jenkins." The boy said after stacking his final book on his pile. Geoffrey smiled.

"Gryffindor, I see. Happen to know Fred and George?"

"I'm in the same dorm room as them." The teen grumbled. "And the amount of times that I've been smoked out of it, there's now way I wouldn't know them."

Geoffrey laughed.

"True. But you have to admit, it's funny."

"Funny? I look like I've rolled around in a chimney."

Geoffrey fought back a smile.

"I apologize, I shouldn't tease. They are friendly once you get past the exploding shit part."

"...And you are?"

"I'm Geoffrey. Geoffrey Lupin. I'm in Ravenclaw."

"Lupin? You're the son of the old DADA professor, right? The one that's a werewolf?"

Geoffrey frowned.

"Yeah...and?" He asked coolly.

Alvaro blinked in confusion and stared at him for a few moments before his eyes widened and he shook his head frantically.

"Shit, that sounded rude, I'm sorry. There's nothing wrong with being a werewolf, I mean there's things that are wrong with it, like the stigmatization and being outcasted and all, but he was a great teacher even with all those problems, and… and that sounded worse. I mean Professor Lupin was an awesome teacher, even though-" Alvaro stopped, his face a brilliant red.

"...Please pardon me, I need to go find a staircase to leap off of." He muttered after a moment as Geoffrey stared at him. He then snorted lightly.

"It's fine. Apology accepted."

"You sure? I mean..."

"It's not the worst I've heard. Trust me."

Alvaro nodded, his face still red, before he glanced at the books in Geoffrey's arms.

"Interesting selection of books." Alvaro commented and Geoffrey shrugged.

"Just some light reading."

Alvaro gestured to the book.

"That's as big as my head. What do you define as 'light reading'?"

Geoffrey smirked before shrugging.

"It's an interest of mine."

"So you like herbology?"

"You could say that."

Alvaro stared at Geoffrey as he collected his books, an easy going smile on his face as he turned to look at him.

"Sorry 'bout the faceplant. Especially on such a handsome face." He teased, earning a red face and Alvaro letting out flustered sounds, before he grinned and waved, hurrying away. "Nice meeting you!"

He walked out and only managed a few steps before what he said caught up with him and his face began to burn like he was on fire. He hurried away, barely pausing when he ran into a figure offering a half-hearted apology before he raced around a corner.

Crouch stared at where he had hurried off to; a frown set deep on his face. He then turned and headed towards Dumbledore's office.

Sirius didn't know what to think of Mason.

Looking at him, he could see the similarities between his wife and her half-brother. The eye color, that particular wave in the hair. Yet personality wise, they couldn't be anymore different. Where Moria was quiet and secretive, almost to the point where others who didn't know her saw it as a chilly demeanor, Mason was loud, fiery.

Which made one getting a tattoo from him...interesting.

"Sweet Mother of God, is it a family thing that you and Moria both got shitty tattoos originally?"

"Mine are prison tattoos. Meaning they were done in prison."

Mason muttered under his breath as he worked on a sketch.

"And how did that work in...Azkaban? Or whatever that prison of yours is called."

"Trade secret I'm afraid."

"Of course it is. Just make sure when Max gets a tattoo it's through me. Don't need some idiot's tattooing some shit on her."

Sirius's head snapped up.

"Over my dead body!"

"...Wouldn't that be that her call?"

"She's not even of age yet! Hell, she might not want a tattoo. I'm not going to let you tell her and get in her head that you-" He paused as he glanced over at Mason who was smirking, "...you...you planned that, didn't you?"

"You looked about ready to bolt out the shop. I had to think of something that was a good icebreaker."

"Giving me a heart attack is a good icebreaker?"

"Okay, your wife blurted out she was my half-sister when we first met. As far as heart attacks go, she wins that hands down."

Sirius snorted, settling back into the chair. Silence followed for a little bit.

"How was she...when you first met."

"As in at that moment? Or just in general?"

"General."

"She was...tired, I guess. Emotionally more so than physically. I mean, keep in mind she had just found out we were related. So that was a major emotional trigger at that point, but she missed you, that much was obvious." He said, and Sirius blinked several times.

"You talked about me?"

"A little bit." Mason admitted. "More during Harry's second year. The defense teacher got on her nerves."

"She told me as much." Sirius groused. "If the git hadn't obliviated himself, he'd be getting up close and personal with my fist."

"And you're not doing still? Hah! Chicken." Mason teased.

"Wouldn't be fair."

Mason humphed before looking at his sketchpad.

"Are all Wizarding folk this honor bound?"

"Not in the slightest." Sirius said with a laugh, "but I'd rather not listen to Moria yell at me over it."

"...touché. And look...for all its worth, I'm glad you're out of prison. Moria didn't talk a whole lot about it...I mean she doesn't seem to be the person who does that a lot, but it was clear that it was hurting her being alone. Just visiting her over the summer this time, she was definitely happier."

Sirius blinked.

"Ah...thanks?"

"But if you break her heart over anything, be warned I will end you. I got three decades of being an overprotective brother to make up for."

"Why do I have a feeling you would have been worse than her uncles and her guardians put together?"

"Brother and sister privilege. Have any siblings?"

"...One."

Mason looked up.

"Not close?"

"He's dead. Murdered."

"Oh. Sorry about that."

"It's not your fault. He's been dead for years, and even before then we had a falling out. And he died because he wanted to please our parents too much and got in over his head. He was younger than me, and a much better son, as I was constantly reminded by my parents."

"Shit, that sucks."

Sirius snorted.

"I didn't really care what my mother thought of me and she could shove her ideals up her arse."

"And your brother?"

Sirius was about to respond when the bell for the front door rang as someone entered.

"Papa!"

Mason looked up and a smile brightened his face as a small girl came racing into the room, a small sparkly backpack clutched in her arms.

"Is that my Melody?"

"Yes! Yes!"

"...Can't be. My Melody is missing her two front teeth and draws on her arms with markers. Now I don't see any markers on her arms, do you Sirius?"

"Can't say that I do." Sirius joked with a grin as the girl looked between them, eyes wide.

"I do! I do! See!?" She exclaimed, yanking up her sweater. Sure enough scribbles covered her arms and when she smiled both her front teeth were missing.

"It is Melody!" Mason exclaimed and she squealed, rushing into his arms with a giggle. Sirius smiled.

"Well I better not keep you. I'll come by in a few days, if that's alright."

"Sure. Say hi to Moria for me."

"If Hogwarts lets me see her for more than five minutes, I will." Sirius replied with a chuckle. Mason laughed.

"Good luck."

Sirius grinned and left the shop, listening to Melody's laughter echoing. Shoving his hands into his pockets he strode down the street. He slowed as he thought back.

He hadn't thought about Regulus in years. He hadn't had that luxury in prison. Now in the company of silence, he wondered what type of man Regulus would have become. Would he have become like their father or someone different? He sighed. Too little, too late. His brother was gone. He kicked a can that scattered down the street.

He was the last of the pureblood Black family. His family now carried that line, and it would be for the better.

He would make sure of it.

Moria sighed as she walked down the hall. She'd have to push back learning about the Goblin Revolution for the sixth years after they got into a heated debate earlier in class. Which was going to make next week's homework practically moot. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

"Maybe Sirius was right, and I should have taken this year off." Moria muttered, turning the corner. She slowed and blinked as she spotted Harry, Ron, and Hermione surrounding...

"Neville?"

Neville jumped and looked around.

"Oh hello, Professor" he said, his voice much higher than usual. "Interesting lesson. Thank you for it. I wonder what's for dinner, I'm-I'm starving, aren't you?"

Moria glanced at Harry and the others.

"Neville? What's wrong? Are you alright?"

"Oh yes, I'm fine," Neville said in the same unnaturally high voice. "Very interesting dinner - I mean lesson - what's for eating?"

Moria's worry grew.

"Neville, you need to breathe." She said gently and he swallowed roughly, looking at her then at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, then back to her frantically.

"I'm...I'm fine."

"No you aren't. Neville, what happened?"

"Just...Professor Moody's class. He...ah...interesting lesson. Learned about the Unforgivables, and...and…"

Neville's voice rose an octave higher and Moria felt like ice cold water had been thrown onto her.

The Cruciatus Curse. Alice and Frank.

"Oh Merlin." She thought as she walked over to Neville, hesitating.

"Neville-"

"Longbottom."

They all jumped and turned to where a clunking sound came from, and Moria frowned as Mad-Eye exited his classroom.

"It's all right, sonny," he said to Neville, glancing at Moria. "Why don't you come up to my office? Come on we can have a cup of tea."

Neville looked even more frightened at the prospect of tea with Moody. He neither moved nor spoke. Moody turned his magical eye upon Harry.

"You all right, are you, Potter?"

"Yes," Harry, almost defiantly said.

Moody's blue eye quivered slightly in its socket as it surveyed Harry.

"You taught them about the Unforgivable Curses." Moria muttered.

"I did."

"And knowing you, you demonstrated them."

"Yes."

"Why did you do that?"

"Dumbledore's orders." Moody replied, his eye roving to Moria, before looking back at the kids.

"They've got to know. It seems harsh, maybe, but you've got to know. No point pretending. . . well. . . come on, Longbottom, I've got some books that might interest you. "

Neville looked pleadingly at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, but they didn't say anything. He looked at Moria, who was glaring at Moody.

"He'll be fine, Black."

"...go along with him Neville." She said after a moment, with a great look of hesitance. Slowly, hesitantly, Neville nodded, so Neville had no choice but to allow himself to be steered away, one of Moody's gnarled hands on his shoulder. Moria looked back at Harry.

"Harry-"

"I'm fine."

"No. You're not." She replied evenly and Harry looked away. "I'm sorry, I knew that he would talk about them...I didn't think it would be so soon into the school year."

Harry looked away.

"It was...really quick." He finally said and Moria swallowed roughly. "Is it always like that? Was it like that for Mum and Dad?"

"Unfortunately."

"You've seen it before."

"Not before I graduated, but yes, I've seen it." She said after a moment. "It was during the war mainly."

Harry looked down.

"You shouldn't have had to see it. I'll have a word with Dumbledore about it."

"It's fine."

Harry was quiet. Sullen even and Moria pulled Harry over, drawing him into a hug. Ron and Hermione said nothing and she felt Harry relax for a moment, before pulling away.

"I'm alright. I promise. Sorry if I worried you."

"Never apologize for something that's a part of my job." She said and he smiled, but it fell slightly, glancing where Neville had gone.

"What about Neville?"

"...if you haven't seen him in an hour, find me." Moria said and Harry nodded. She stared at where Moody had taken Neville, before turning around and heading back to her classroom, the idea of dinner forgotten. All she saw was Frank and Alice. The last time she had seen them had been a few days before Halloween, visiting Neville. They had been so happy. Tired, of course...but happy.

They couldn't have imagined that in a few days, their lives would be irrevocably changed. That all their lives would be changed one way or another. She bit her lip.

Maybe she should have gone with Neville. He-

"Love?"

She yelped, and jumped backwards, going for her wand, only pausing when she spotted Sirius staring at her in surprised amusement. She let out her breath slowly.

"You scared the crap out of me!"

"Ah, language."

"Don't start." She muttered.

"I just watched you pace for almost five minutes. Something the matter?"

"I'm contemplating murdering Moody." She replied and Sirius snorted

"Why? What did he do this time?"

"Because he taught Harry and the others what the Unforgivable Curses are."

"...okay? Not that it's any fun to learn about them, but-"

"Let me rephrase that. He taught them the Unforgivable Curses, by showing the curses. And proceeded to use the Cruciatus Curse on a spider in front of Nevile and the Killing Curse in front of Harry."

Sirius blinked owlishly.

"I'd wring his neck if I didn't know that he'd stun me before I even got close, but still."

"Are they alright?"

"Harry says he's fine. Neville...I don't know, he looked about ready to pass out when Moody went to talk to him. He told me he would handle it. But still!"

"...From when I worked with him, he was harsh...but not unreasonable. It might not have occurred to him how much it would affect Neville." Sirius said slowly after a moment.

"That still doesn't make it right. And I'm pissed."

"You're right. He shouldn't have shown them, even if he thought it was the best way to go about it. And you're their godmother. Of course you're pissed. You have every right to be."

Moria froze, before sighing, pushing her hair back.

"Yeah."

"I'm honestly surprised he didn't come and tell you first."

"Why would he? I doubt Augusta told him who I was in relation to his family."

"You never told him?"

"It's a bit difficult to tell a boy that for thirteen years his godmother was living in a different country and didn't try and contact him."

"Uh…Love?" Sirius quipped, gesturing to himself.

"There is a difference between being thrown into prison and just being in a different country." Moria muttered, turning and heading back to her desk. "You know that."

"I do, but I get the feeling that it's not because of that you haven't told him that Alice made you his godmother."

Moria frowned, pausing at her desk.

"Love...what happened to Alice and Frank wasn't your fault. You were in a muggle hospital. Unconscious. You couldn't have stopped it."

"I know that. But...it's not that part that's the problem, Sirius." Moria said. "It's more...how do I explain to him that for most of his life, I wasn't there for him? Yeah he had his grandmother and the Longbottom family, and I know for a fact that they are good people, but I wasn't there. One day I was visiting him, the next every single one of us was gone, and his parents were tortured into insanity."

Sirius was quiet.

"I don't want to bring up bad memories. He went through enough as a child." She said. Sirius sighed, pulling Moria into a hug.

"I don't think you would, you know."

She sighed, glancing at him.

"Maybe...How was your visit with Mason?"

"Fine. He has some ideas about a tattoo, but he has to work on it. Melody is adorable, by the way."

Moria smiled, looking at her study plan.

"Of course she is. What did you two talk about?"

"You, our families. We talked about Regulus. It's been...I don't know, maybe over a decade since I've talked about him. It was strange to think about him after so long."

Moria glanced up from her papers, a frown on her face.

"Sirius…"

"It was nothing...Regulus was too far gone. I couldn't have saved him if I had tried."

"You did all you could to try and get him away. You were a kid too."

"I know...but sometimes I wonder if I could have done something else to save him."

"How? He was under your mother's control. And even if you had tried to take him with you, your mother would have hunted you down."

"He was my brother."

"Yes. And I know you, and if you could have you would have protected him."

Sirius was quiet, sighing as she cupped his cheek, running a thumb over his cheek bone.

"Do you know how attractive you are right now?"

"Sirius, I have to get ready for tomorrow's class."

"Oh come on."

She snorted, looking at him.

He pulled her to him.

"You're making it difficult to concentrate on my planning." She murmured, and he smirked, nipping at her pulse point. "Sirius…"

"Like you don't have your plan ready for tomorrow already." He said with a snort and she rolled her eyes, before they fluttered shut as he explored lower, feeling her lean into him.

"Cheater." She muttered and he grinned, pulling her to him.

"You know what Love? All's fair in love and war."

Her stomach growled at that very moment and she snorted as he started, looking at her.

"I...may have skipped dinner."

"Moria."

"I was upset!"

He rolled his eyes and gave a grin, before offering his arm.

"Come along then, Milady. Let's fetch some food." He said and she snorted, before taking his arm.

"Lead the way."

He was in front of Peter, on that street. Peter was yelling at him, accusing him of Lily and James's murder. His heart was in his throat. He couldn't stop it. History repeating itself on a never ending loop. Then he heard a voice, one that sent his heart skipping and plummeting at the same time. He turned.

Moria running towards him, wand out and ready.

He didn't even manage to get a word out before an explosion blinded and deafened him.

"You can't protect anyone can you?" a voice spun out and he looked up, and his heart now followed his stomach as he spotted a familiar still form lying several feet away from him, his wand just inches away from the man's slack hand. His eyes were vacant from behind the pair of glasses he was wearing, only halfway opened. Just beyond him was a woman with red hair fanning around her, eyes just as vacant as her husband's. They seemed to be staring at him, accusatory.

"Lily and James's death is your fault you know." The phantom voice said, almost in a sneering tone. "You sent them to the gallows the moment you suggested Pettigrew." The voice said. Sirius was now trembling as the voice began to cackle.

"You can't protect anyone. You couldn't protect your brother, your best mate, you can't even protect your wife!" The voice echoed and Sirius looked up, his eyes widening as a new form appeared, crumpled and still in front of him. She stared blankly upwards, blood dripping down her chin. He lifted her up and she was as limp as a ragdoll. He cradled her close a sob breaking out before it became a scream.

No…

No.

NO!

Sirius sat up violently, his throat throbbing from the held back yells. He was-

He was...in…a bedroom?

Definitely not the bedroom back at Grimmauld Place. It took a few moments to remember that he was in Hogwarts and even then it took a few minutes for him to remember why.

October 31st.

Right.

Moria had insisted that he spent the night at Hogwarts, refusing to let him be alone. He blinked several times, glancing at his hand that was shaking violently, before cursing under his breath.

"Sirius?" he heard and felt a soft hand press against his shoulder. He turned to see Moria sleepily rubbing her eyes as she sat up—albeit slowly—before staring at him in a mixture of confusion and concern. "What's wrong?" she asked yawning.

"Nothing…" he said. "Nothing. Sorry I woke you up, Love." He said, kissing her temple gently. She stared at him, before snorting, tapping his forehead lightly.

"You're a lousy liar."

He flinched, rubbing the back of his head after a moment.

"It was just a small nightmare. You don't need to worry about me. The twins-"

"Are fine." she interrupted him. "So...what's the problem?"

"Just remembering I suppose. This is the first Halloween where I'm a free man. The last time…" he trailed off and she frowned.

"The last time was when we lost James and Lily." She finished with a soft sigh, resting her head on his shoulder.

"It's stupid, I know. There are more concerning things going on with the tournament coming up than a stupid-"

"It's not."

He glanced at her and she brushed back a strand of hair.

"It's not stupid, Sirius. You lost your best mate who was as good as a brother because you were betrayed by another. You thought you lost me and you thought you lost your daughter."

"You lost one of your best friend's too."

"Alright, for one, I've had nightmares of people I've seen die for years, Sirius. At this point I'm sadly desensitized by it. Two, I wasn't blamed for Lily and James's death and locked away in a hellhole." She argued.

He sighed softly, flopping back onto the bed, rubbing his brow. Moria settled next to him, resting her chin on chest.

"...so? What was the nightmare about?" She asked after a moment. He ran his hand through her hair.

"It's nothing major."

"Seemed pretty major for you to nearly jump out of bed because of it."

Sirius was quiet, refusing to look at her. She felt his chest rise and fall slowly, as though steadying himself.

"...I was back on that street, chasing after Pettigrew. It always was the same thing when it comes to tonight. I've had it every year since. You come running over, trying to stop the fight..."

Sirius went quiet. The nightmare always played out the same. There was an explosion, and suddenly Moria was gone, the street was gone, and Peter...Peter was gone. Running into the sewer and into freedom while he dealt with the carnage and destruction. But it never ended like the actual event. It never ended with him being dragged to Azkaban, thrown in a cell and forgotten by the world. He would have preferred it if he was being honest.

"...it ends with me seeing James and Lily dead. You dead. Blaming me. Because I trusted him with all your lives. I gambled and I lost." He said softly.

Moria sat up, staring at him, though he refused to look at her, staring at the ceiling as he swallowed noisily.

"You were dead...and I didn't protect you."

"Sirius, look at me." She said softly cupping his cheek, running a thumb gently over it. Slowly he did so, her hand sliding down his jawline, outlining his shoulder and lifting his arm, pressing his hand to her neck, at her pulse point.

"Do you feel that? My heartbeat?" She asked and silently he nodded. She slid his hand further down, resting it against her stomach. "And that?" She asked as she felt a soft kick. A small smile crossed Sirius's face.

"Strong as ever."

"It all means that I'm alive Sirius...and you may not have thought you did, but you did protect me that night. You told me to stay away and that gave me enough hesitance to throw a shield spell out. If I had been a few inches closer, I don't think the shield would have helped...and I might have missed the window and crashed into a wall, and if I didn't wind up dead from that, I would have been far more injured."

Sirius swallowed roughly.

"It was not a gamble because you trusted someone you knew as a friend Sirius. You would have never thought in your wildest dreams that he would have done something like that."

"You keep saying that."

"And I will keep doing so until it sticks." She hummed softly, and he smiled. She laid back down, pressing her cheek against his chest, listening to the steady thrum of his heart. He ran his hand through her hair, exhaling slowly.

"…I love you." He said a little while later as his eyes grew heavy. She let out a soft laugh, wrapping her hand around his. Softly in the dark room he heard her soft reply.

"I love you too."

The staring was unbearable. Harry actually had the phantom feeling of holes being drilled all over him where everyone's eyes landed. That was supposed to be a fun night. He had hoped it would be his first Halloween in Hogwarts when there wasn't any trouble.

But he had hoped too much.

His name shouldn't have been called out for the tournament. For one, there was only supposed to be three, not four. And two he was underage.

He shouldn't have been called.

Nobody had applauded this time. Not like they had when Victor Krum, Fleur Delacour and Cedric Diggory had been called. No, he only got the stares. And couldn't blame then – him being called was very wrong.

He glanced at where the teachers were. They were all staring at him, as were the Beaubaxtons Headmistress, Olympe Maxine and Headmaster of Durmstrang, Karkaroff. But when he glanced at his godmother who was staring at the goblet with an unfathomable expression, one he was fairly sure he had only seen once and that had been during the whole Alma incident in Italy, his heart jumped. He swallowed roughly, practically jumping when he felt Max grip his wrist. Pure fear flooding silver eyes is what greeted him when he looked to his left.

"Harry…"

"I didn't put my name in." He hissed out desperation. "You know I didn't. I couldn't have." He pleaded.

"I know, I-

"Harry Potter!" Dumbledore called again, rising from the staff table. "Harry! Up here, if you please!" The headmaster, didn't smile, didn't frown. He was expressionless, unreadable.

"Go on." Hermione whispered to Harry, giving him a slight push so he would get up. He looked over his shoulder to see Max rifling through her bag, but barely managed to wonder what she was doing before he was pulled through a door and then Moria was there, gripping his arms tightly.

"Mum, I didn't. I-"

"I know you didn't." She soothed. "Alright? I know you didn't. You do a lot of things that drive me up a wall, but there's always a reason. You wouldn't do this."

A small amount of pressure fell off his chest and he gulped, nodding as she brushed back his hair.

"And you're not going to. Like hell am I going to let them put you into this." She said.

"Harry Potter."

Both turned and looked over as several teachers followed Dumbledore. Moria's frown grew.

"Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?" Dumbledore asked calmly

"No," said Harry.

"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?"

"No!" said Harry vehemently.

"Ah, but of course 'e is lying!" cried Madame Maxime.

"Excuse me?!" Moria snapped, taking a step forward towards the Headmistress. "My son is not a liar!"

"He could not have crossed the Age Line in any case," McGonagall snapped "I am sure we are all agreed on that!"

"Dumbly-dorr must 'ave made a mistake wiz ze line." Madame Maxime admonished, shrugging.

"It is possible, of course,"

"Dumbledore, you know perfectly well you did not make a mistake!" McGonagall angrily said. "Really, what nonsense! Harry could not have crossed the line himself, and as Professor Dumbledore believes that he did not persuade an older student to do it for him, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody else!"

"Mr. Crouch... Mr. Bagman," Karkaroff turned to the two men, "you are our judges. Surely you will agree that this is most irregular and shouldn't be permitted?"

Bagman wiped his face with his handkerchief and looked at Crouch, who was standing outside the circle of the firelight, his face half hidden in shadow. He looked slightly eerie, the half darkness making him look much older, giving him an almost skull-like appearance. When he spoke, however, it was in his usual curt voice.

"We must follow the rules."

"He's not participating." Moria said.

"He has to." Crouch replied before Dumbledore could.

"He has-! What the hell do you mean he has to?! No, he doesn't!" Moria exclaimed angrily.

"Mrs. Black-" Crouch started to say. One glare from her however stopped his plea dead in its tracks. Her gaze returned to Dumbledore.

"He's fourteen Dumbledore! He's not even close to being of age, and I say he can't compete because I'm his guardian. He's just a boy! People have died in this tournament!" She retorted, barely keeping her voice controlled.

"We all agree, Moria." Dumbledore told her in his usual calm voice. "But we have no choice."

"Why?! They-"

"Moria!"

She stopped and turned in surprise, seeing Sirius entering the room, panting heavily. She blinked several times as he rushed over to her and Harry's sides.

"Sirius?"

"I was at Hogsmeade. Max called me from the mirror and Hagrid let me in. What's this about Harry?"

"His name came out of the Goblet of Fire. He's being forced to compete."

"He's not of age."

"I know, trust me. I know."

"So there are two champions for Hogwarts?"

"Unfortunately." Moria muttered.

"And I insist upon re-submitting the names of the rest of my students," said Karkaroff. He had dropped his unctuous tone and his smile now. "You will set up the Goblet of Fire once more, and we will continue adding names until each school has two champions. It's only fair, Dumbledore.

"But Karkaroff, it doesn't work like that," Bagman replied. "The Goblet of Fire's just gone out-it won't reignite until the start of the next tournament -"

"- in which Durmstrang will most certainly not be competing!" exploded Karkaroff. "After all our meetings and negotiations and compromises, I little expected something of this nature to occur! I have half a mind to leave now!"

"Empty threat, Karkaroff," growled a voice from near the door. "You can't leave your champion now. He's got to compete. They've all got to compete. Binding magical contract, like Dumbledore said. Convenient, eh?"

Moody had just entered the room. He limped toward the fire, and with every right step he took, there was a loud clunk.

"Convenient?" said Karkaroff. "I'm afraid I don't understand you, Moody. "

"What is this magical binding contract?" Moria asked, interrupting before the argument could go any further.

"The Goblet of Fire produces Magical Bindings. The moment Harry's name came out, he had no other choice but to participate."The Goblet of Fire produces Magical Bindings. The moment Harry's name came out, he had no other choice but to participate." Dumbledore explained and Moria swallowed roughly.

"Isn't there a way to break the magical binding at all?"

This time, Ludo Bagman stepped forward. Moria's eyes narrowed. She remembered him briefly from the World Cup, but at that moment didn't much care for pleasantries.

"There isn't...But I'm sure that if any kid is able to surv-" Ludo stopped, trying to think of a better wording, "...Er… finish the tournament, it is Harry."

"But why him!? Cedric Diggory was already chosen!"

"It's very simple, Black. Someone put Potter's name in that goblet knowing he'd have to compete if it came out. " Moody muttered.

"Evidently, someone 'oo wished to give 'Ogwarts two bites at ze apple!" Madame Maxime exclaimed.

"I quite agree, Madame Maxime," said Karkaroff, bowing to her. "I shall be lodging complaints with the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards -"

"If anyone's got a reason to complain, it's Potter," growled Moody, "but...funny thing...I don't hear him saying a word."

"Why should 'e complain?" burst out Fleur Delacour, stamping her foot. "'E 'as ze chance to compete, 'asn't 'e? We 'ave all been 'oping to be chosen for weeks and weeks! Ze honor for our schools! A thousand Galleons in prize money - zis is a chance many would die for!"

"Maybe someone's hoping Potter is going to die for it," Moody suggested, with the merest trace of a growl.

Silence followed. Tense silence. Harry glanced at Moria, whose grip had tightened on his arm until it was near bruising, but he didn't say anything, the lump in his throat making it almost impossible.

"Moody, old man. . . what a thing to say!" Bagman exclaimed nervously.

"It was a skilled witch or wizard who put the boy's name in that goblet."

"Ah, what evidence is zere of zat?" Madame Maxime exclaimed, throwing up her huge hands.

"Because they hoodwinked a very powerful magical object! It would have needed an exceptionally strong Confundus Charm to bamboozle that goblet into forgetting that only three schools compete in the tournament. I'm guessing they submitted Potter's name under a fourth school, to make sure he was the only one in his category."

"Alastor!" said Dumbledore warningly and the Defense teacher went quiet. "How this situation arose, we do not know," Dumbledore continued, speaking to everyone gathered in the room. "It seems to me, however, that we have no choice but to accept it. Both Cedric and Harry have been chosen to compete in the Tournament. This, therefore, they will do. . . . "

"Ah, but Dumbly-dorr -"

"My dear Madame Maxime, if you have an alternative, I would be delighted to hear it. "

Dumbledore waited, but Madame Maxime did not speak, she merely glared. Snape looked furious; Karkaroff livid; Bagman, however, looked rather excited.

"Well, shall we crack on, then?" he said, rubbing his hands together and smiling around the room. "Got to give our champions their instructions, haven't we? Barty, want to do the honors?"

"Yes," he said, "instructions. Yes. . . the first task. . . " He moved forward into the firelight. With great reluctance, Moria released her hold onto Harry, who took a hesitant step forward. He looked so small compared to the other Champions

"The first task is designed to test your daring," he told Harry, Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor, "so we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard. . . very important. The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and a panel of judges. The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests."

Mr. Crouch turned to look at Dumbledore.

"I think that's all, is it, Albus?"

"I think so," Dumbledore said, who was looking at Mr. Crouch with mild concern. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay at Hogwarts tonight, Barty?"

"No, Dumbledore, I must get back to the Ministry. It is a very busy, very difficult time at the moment. I've left young Weatherby in charge...Very enthusiastic...a little overenthusiastic, if truth be told."

"You'll come and have a drink before you go, at least?" Dumbledore suggested.

"Come on, Barry, I'm staying!" said Bagman brightly. "It's all happening at Hogwarts now, you know, much more exciting here than at the office!"

"I think not, Ludo," Crouch said with a touch of his old impatience. Moria glanced at him, a frown on her face. The other schools had already left the room, dark looks of anger on their faces. Dumbledore glanced over at Moria and Sirius after a moment.

"I will allow Harry to have a few moments with you before we send him back to the Gryffindor tower."

"Thank you." Moria managed. The wizard left the room, and Moria swallowed. Harry shifted.

"Mum…"

"Come here."

Harry didn't hesitate, and Moria pulled him into a hug, running her hands over the top of his head.

"You have three weeks to prepare. Do you think you can learn defensive spells by then?"

"If I can get help."

"And you will."

"But...you can't help me, Mum. Dumbledore said-"

"I can't. But Sirius can, and I know Geoffrey, the twins, and Hermione can and will teach you what they know." Moria said, brushing back Harry's bangs. She was shaking, just enough for him to swallow roughly. Moria took a deep breath before talking, the shaking vanishing in an instant. "You'll get ready and you'll do fine," she finally said. "Whoever put your name in the Goblet is in one hell of a disappointment."

"You sound so sure."

"Because I am." She replied offering a smile. "If there is any 14 year old who can make it through this, it's you. Knowing you, you'll probably win."

"I'll be happy if I just live through it." Harry said with a small smile.

"You'll do fine, Kid." Sirius assured, ruffling his hair. Harry let out a shaky sigh, before glancing at the antique clock.

"I….I guess I need to go back to the common room."

"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

He nodded and then left the room.

The moment Harry turned around the corner, the small smile fell and Moria cursed under her breath, her hands in tight fists that were shaking in fury. Sirius's arm circled her and she felt he was tense as well.

"I'm beginning to believe what Remus said and am wondering how in the world our kids have gotten into more trouble than we could ever have done or imagined." Sirius said and Moria let out a choked laugh that sounded very broken.

"...do you think Moody is right? That someone entered Harry into this solely to try and kill him?" Moria asked.

"It makes sense…" Sirius said with great reluctance. "But it's not going to happen. We're not going to let it happen."

Moria was silent. She hoped he was right. She prayed he was right.

But deep inside her, something squirmed that they were missing something.

And she didn't know if she wanted to find out what it was.