AN Sorry for long wait Betaed by my faithful beta Cecile

Chapter 6: Of letters and Movies

The morning came for some too early, at least for some. Those who were woken in the middle of the night by a high-pitched twelve syllabic cry of Harri.

Harriet and Karen entered the kitchen first and they started to fill their plates when the rest of the Black clan started to slowly to fill the kitchen. Most of them were sending dirty looks at the couple and muttering various grumbled variations of the theme 'What happens in your bedroom is not our concern and we don't need to hear it.'

Then, suddenly Harriet froze. Karen traced Harriet's frightened look to the magnificent snowy owl that just flew into the kitchen. The owl silently descended on the table, right in front of Harriet who started to stammer.

"Hed..hedwig..I..I" that was as far as she got before the owl smacked her with her wing and hooted angrily.

"Hoot, Hooot, Snickt HOOOT" the owl hooted at her and glared at Harriet angrily.

"No...I" Harriet tried again but was silenced by the owl's glare followed by a series of hoots and screech.

Karen leaned to Dora Lupin and whispered to the witch.

"So is this normal in the wizarding world to be berated by your own pet, like a five-year old misbehaving child?"

Dora whispered back riveted in her seat by the display. Nope"

"I thought so, should I try to bail her out?" Karen muttered.

"Now that's a tricky question. You could but, on the other hand you don't want to anger someone who is the closest to in-law you can get now, don't you?" Dora answered.

"True enough." Karen whispered back, when Harriet shot them a dirty glare before she was forced by Hedwig to pay attention on her berating.

They weren't as quiet as they thought, Nymphadora grinned saucily at Harriet, while Karen rolled her eyes mouthing, "You broke it, you fix it."

Harriet gave her best puppy dog look complete with trembling lip. Karen caved and went to rescue her young lover.

Karen walked and leaned slightly on Harriet's chair and rested her chin on her wife's head her wife and looked directly at Hedwig.

"Hello Hedwig, I'm Karen and the reason why the runt couldn't contact you sooner."

Harriet frowned at the runt part, but Hedwig stopped her tirade and she looked directly into the blonde's eyes and gave a questioning hoot.

"Well, you see I married the runt."

Hedwig's eyes widened comically as she looked at Harriet who gave a weak nod. Hedwig blinked few times and swayed. Harriet briefly feared for the few seconds that Hedwig might faint.

Karen reached and stabilized the bird. Hedwig then surprisingly slightly jumped at Karen's stretched arm and shuffled to her shoulder where she lowered her head and quietly hooted something into Karen's ear and then looked into Karen's eyes and gave her long searching look.

"Don't worry it won't happen." Karen said seriously to the owl.

Hedwig gave her another long look before she nodded and snatched a sliver of bacon from Harriet's plate and flew with her loot to the perch in the kitchen where she started to munch on it.

"What did she told you?" Harriet asked.

"Hmph, my owlese isn't that good but I think that she just threatened me that if I break your hearth she will haunt me for the rest of my life. She is very protective of you." Karen answered.

The rest of breakfast was spent in silence. The silence and tranquility of the morning was interrupted when Karen and Harriet were heading to their room as the curtains around Walburgas' portrait opened and the painted (b)witch started another of her rants.

"MUDBLOODS, BLOOD TRAITOR WHOR-EEIIIII…." It didn't get far in her rant as Karen with an exasperated sigh interrupted "Oh, For crying out loud!" She ripped the offending painting from the wall. The sticking charm held against her strength but the same couldn't be said for the bricks under it. n In short they didn't.

Others attracted by the noise filled the hall and gaped at Karen who was holding leisurely the offending painting in one hand with a layer of bricks stuck on the back of it.

The scene wasn't finished as Kreacher who heard his mistress cry, popped into hall and gaped at first at the hole in the wall where his mistress used to be, then at the "muggle" that held the painting, casually, clutched his chest as his heart gave out and toppled on the floor—deader than a doornail before he hit the floor tiles.

The silence was interrupted by Harriet's comment. "Talk about killing two birds with one stone."

That started a round of awkward laughter. "Dobby" Harriet called and when the small excitable elf appeared, she told him. "Please, would you kindly tidy Kreacher up? Put that painting somewhere where it wouldn't disturb. The dungeons would be ideal."

Dobby with a "Yes miss," popped with the two things away. They didn't know it, but Dobby took Harriet's words to an extreme, as he put Walburgas' portrait into Snape's dungeon apartment in Hogwarts. Severus Snape was not amused by his new wall decoration.

Meanwhile Remus asked partly jokingly what was on his mind. "Just how strong are you?"

Karen gave him a saucy wink as she innocently said, "My strength doesn't have a limit."

That left him with more questions than answers.

But before he could pursue this, both Karen and Harriet disappeared in their bedroom and shortly after reappeared in the library both writing letters.

Harriet, to Hermione inviting her for a visit at number 12 Grimmauld and also suggesting to get her home and her parents' office warded ASAP. She also sent a letter to Ginny and the twins inviting both parties for a meeting at a boardroom at the Leaky Cauldron.

Karen was writing to the Gringotts. In her letter, Karen was outlining in which companies should the Potter and Black portfolio be invested; where they should be withdrawn as well several specific instructions.

An instruction to buy enough shares in the Grunning drilling company. The Potter portfolio had a 25 % share in this company and Karen instructed the bank to buy further any available shares to get a majority in the company.

Another thing she had found out was that the house the Dursleys lived in while it was a wedding gift to Petunia and Vernon but never bothered to pick up the deed of the house from the Potter Trust, it still belonged to Harriet. The Dursleys was living there rent-free. It was high time for the Dursleys to pay all of their rent due. After each finished their respective correspondence, they sent Hedwig with it.

Meanwhile at Hogwarts

Albus Dumbledore was an angry, sore and tired fellow.

He had spent most of his time after that blasted will reading trying to consolidate his loses.

The loss of funding from the Black and Potter's vaults hurt. Didn't that fool of a Black knew that he needed them for his plan of the greater good? The loss of his family vault, while not used and not holding much money hurt him too and being publiclly called a persona non grata at Gringotts was a real blow for his reputation.

The Potters' brat's condescending attitude to his person and her gall to dismiss him like some servant really angered him. He had spent a good time of the night going through his contacts in the Ministry of Magic in the States, but those fools were so divided that every bloody state there had its own ministry!

He managed to procure the copy from the British MoM hall of records, but it only confirmed that there was a bonding ceremony between Lady Potter-Black and Karen né Zor-El (Starr).

What a strange name, but it told him nothing about her. He was unable to find anything about her so far. On top of that he had to listen to Snape's temper tantrum as that blasted painting from number 12 Grimmauld had suddenly appeared in his bedroom this morning. He was so tempted to use the Cruciatus curse on the professor, but it was too easy to give himself into temptation of the dark side. He was a light wizard, as he liked to tell himself. Still it was really tempting. He tuned out Snape's ranting and barely missed the man's abrupt exit complete with a door-slam.

He sighed as he returned to peace and quiet.

He noticed that Fawkes was huddled next to a sorting hat. Both of them hunched over some colorful paper as if reading it quietly, chirping and whispering back and forth. He didn't dwell on that for much longer. He had more important things to do as he started to write a letter to that Potter brat. He didn't even notice that the Sorting Hat and Fawkes disappeared for a few hours later that evening.

He took notice only much later that his favorite method of sending his letters disappeared to god-knows-where and apparently it took the Sorting Hat with it. He briefly wondered where those two disappeared again but confident both would turn up soon.

Later, he asked the hat several times, but the only thing it told him was "none of his business" and when he tried to force it to answer him, the hat had clammed up. Fawkes refused to do anything for him for a month afterwards.

If those two weren't connected to the Hogwarts' wards, he would have blasted them. Although he liked to present and convince nearly everybody that Fawkes was his familiar, he knew that the phoenix was bonded to the school. He sighed. Sometimes those two really irritated him.

Number 12 Grimmauld Place

Karen has just finished dressing and was now waiting for Harriet. They were planning to hit the clothing store for a new wardrobe for Harriet. She was looking forward for playing dress up for her wife and vice versa. She used the moment when Harriet was occupied, wanting to talk to Remus and Dora about handing revenge to the Dursleys for Harriet. The last time she saw him, he was headed for the library. As she reached the door of the library, she noticed one curious thing. She couldn't hear anything coming from inside.

So she opened the door.

She blanched and quickly closed it. Steadying herself by holding it, her face in a grimace.

Narcissa who was just walking by intending to go into the library, looked curiously at Karen blocking the door.

Karen shuddered slightly as she said. "You…you probably don't want to go in there."

"Why?" asked Narcissa eyeing the young blonde.

They were interrupted by Harriet's arrival as she chirpily said "There you are babe…" then her voice trailed a bit as she saw Karen's face" What's the matter?"

Karen grimaced a bit as she said. "Dora and Remus are playing their own little version of Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Werewolf. I mean seriously? That's cheesier than anything I had ever seen and I had to put up with Toyman's and Flashes brands of what they thought was their irresistible ways of seduction on a weekly basis!. For this though, I might even need a brain bleach."

Harriet grimaced before grinning with an idea and asking, "Will it help if I try to kiss it better?"

"You know it might" said Karen with her own smile as Harriet drew her in a passionate kiss.

Narcissa just rolled her eyes and made herself scarce. She didn't need to see what was happening in the library or outside of it.

Later Harriet and Karen hit the stores in the city, buying new wardrobe for both of them, while idly chatting about many different things. After their dinner, Harriet suggested ending their shopping date with a movie and Karen agreed that it sounded like a great idea. They had chosen the movie "Forest Gump" as the synopsis appeared interesting. .

Karen and Harriet settled in a nice loveseat in the half-empty cinema and watched as movie trailers started to be shown before the featured movie started.

Karen heard a quiet swish from the stands behind them. She discreetly turned to see what had caused the strange sound and froze a bit. Truth be told, she was already getting used to wizarding eccentricities, but this was weird even by those standards.

There in the back of the hall on one seat were a big, red, swan-like bird and beside it a tattered, ancient wizarding conical hat.

A popcorn bag rested next to the bird. A cup of coke with a drinking straw led into a 'patched leather mouth'—lacking for a better description—on the hat's surface. They were no eyes on the hat that she could see.

Karen shook Harriet's shoulder and gently guided her eyes to the strange sight. She whispered, "Honey? Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

Harriet blinked. That explained why the hat shouted when she 'killed' Tom's diary in that basilisk business in her second year! "We came, we saw, we busted its ghostly ass! Now who you gonna call?" She replied, "Yep, if by that, you meant the sorting hat and Fawkes, then yes, I see them. I didn't think they were movie fans though."

"Come again?" Asked Karen, "you know those two?"

"Yep. The hat is sentient and sorts students at Hogwarts. The phoenix saved my life once, but he supposedly belongs to Headmaster Dumbledore. Although, I read in one obscure note in 'Hogwarts and History' that there was a phoenix bonded to school, so who knows? Though I didn't think they were movie fans. With their ages, I bet they have a hefty 'Senior' discount. "

"Huh… okay." Said Karen. Still a little bit taken aback.

Harriet just gave a soft wave to the Hogwarts' duo before she too turned back to the screen. She still heard the conversation between those two.

Fawkes chirped quietly to the hat slurping on its drink, before it answered, "Yeah, yeah, they have seen us, so what?"

"Chirp, chirp, chirp?" replied Fawkes quietly.

"We have a bloody right to go out once in while! It's not like we didn't pay for ours snacks and the movie!"

"Chirp, Chiiirrp."

"And who would they tell? The old fool? Nah, it's not like he owns us now does he? And most importantly, who would believe them anyway? Now, be quiet! I heard a lot of good things about this movie and I want to enjoy it in peace and quiet."

"Chiirp."

The hat just huffed, "Of course I was right, and to whom do you think you're talking to?"

Karen just shook her head as Harriet cuddled into her side. They enjoyed the movie forgetting the two more unusual viewers in the back.

After returning to Grimmauld place, they met up with the rest of the Blacks in the library.

Curiously Remus and Dora met Karen's eyes, they both blushed. Somebody was talking. Karen's eyes turned to Narcissa who just smiled at her stating, "I reminded them to use locking charms. I hope Harriet is proficient with them."

Harriet looked like a kid with a hand in a cookie jar. Apparently not.

With the awkward part done, Remus pulled an unopened letter and waved it.

"Harriet, this came today for you. If it is from Dumbledore we didn't open it, but we checked. The envelope was cleared of any charms. It has a tracking charm that would stick to a person on contact, coupled with a compulsion charm. We destroyed them both, and waited for you before opening it here and now." he said seriously.

Harriet nodded her consent. Remus got to work as he took two pairs of long tweezers and opened the envelope. Skillfully pulling the letter from it with the tweezers, he waved his wand over it in several complex movements. He motioned to Dora. She did another set of complicated waving too above the folded letter and confirmed what Remus found. Together they dispelled whatever they found.

"So what was that?" asked Harriet.

"Another two compulsion, two loyalty charms and another tracking charm. All dispelled. That man's really desperate wasn't he?" Answered Remus.

Dora then continued, "We cannot say to whom the spells were keyed to or what the compulsions were intended to do. For that we would need a professional arithmancer and charms specialist to do it, sorry." she ended apologetically.

Harriet sighed thinking, ' The manipulating, old goat!'

"There was one strange thing though." said Remus. "An ordinary Hogwarts school owl delivered this letter. Normally Dumbles likes to send anything important thru Fawkes."

"He and the Sorting Hat went for a movie nigh,t so I guess they were otherwise occupied," replied absentmindedly Harriet as she started reading the letter.

That stunned Remus as he slowly asked, "Wait, wait… did you just said that Fawkes and the Sorting Hat went for a movie? "

"Yes?" replied Harriet briefly lifting her eyes to meet the incredulous gaze of Remus.

"Sweetie, are you feeling all right? You're telling us that the hat and the phoenix went to see a movie. Surely, you can't be serious." Asked Dora concernedly.

"I feel perfectly fine," replied Harriet "and don't call me Shirley."

Karen snorted at that. That drew few confused glances at her.

Harriet continued, "What? It's as if nobody has ever seen airplane… No of course not, sorry Iforgot- Wizards!, As soon as I figured out how to make a VCR running in the magical environment, you all will have to be movie educated!" She said with a long-suffering sigh.

"So what does he want?" Karen asked curiously.

"Just some empty platitudes; that he will meet us in a week's time and in thinly veiled words. He basically was ordering me to open the Grimmauld place to the Order so that more people can protect me; that I shouldn't believe everything Sirius said blah…blah, more platitudes. I should forgive the Weasleys and give them their inheritance from Siri, blah…blah ." Harriet replied casually.

Karen nodded, "So, it seemed he hoped that his charms worked and in case they don't, he doesn't offer anything. "

But then Harriet exclaimed "Son of a bitch!"

"No, that was your adoptive dad Sirius" Remus butted in.

Harriet sent a glare his way.

"Okay, so old, senile… goat fucking cunt, happy now?" She said

"Better." Remus nodded satisfied.

Karen asked, "So what has he done now?"

"He…" Harriet angrily sputtered, " He had insinuated that you are not what you claim to be and an unsuitable companion for me because you are overly violent. It's very well hidden, between the lines." Harriet's face was contorted in an expression of fury. It was a miracle she didn't rip the offending parchment into pieces.

Karen pulled her younger wife gently into her lap, squeezing gently, conveying an assurance 'that will never happen.'

Remus on the other hand was burning to ask a question that was bugging him ever since he met Karen. He knew it was tactless, but he couldn't see a way around, plus as an honorary godfather, he wanted the daughter of his dear lost friends safe. He had already failed to protect her all those years ago while he crawled into the bottle and then it was mightily impossible for him to contact her afterwards. He sighed inwardly, 'Time to play villain,' thinking wryly as he spoke.

"Not to be rude, Karen and while what he said was dreadful and I quite disagree with it, it opens up the question, what are you?." Remus cringed a bit, as he expected a tongue lashing from Harriet.

Harriet looked at Karen mouthing, "What should we say, should tell them truth?."

Karen looked pensive for a second before she nodded and turned to Remus and with casualtyy of discussing the weather she said.

"I am an extraterrestrial being, from another planet. I was strayed between dimensions and found myself here."

That left jaws hanging open.