Carefully opening the door to Harry’s dorm, Cash’s body was tensed and ready to attack anything that moved. Unfortunately, the first thing that moved was a rather large toad belonging to one of Harry’s classmates. “Bloody Hell” Cash swore as he shook the goo off of his hand “I’ll be paying for this one” he grimaced as he looked over to the form of the sleeping boy he had seen carrying the toad through the school. “Great, just great. I come to keep my clan safe and kill Trevor the Toad.. Oiy, I’m gonna burn in hell for this one, I can just see it.”

Grabbing an errant towel that one of the boys had left draped over the edge of their bed, Cash quickly wiped of his hand and gathered up the evidence of his lightening quick reflexes. “I promise, I’ll make it up to you.” he whispered as he walked pass Neville’s bed on his way to check on Harry. Cash sighed deeply as he watched Harry sleeping soundly, completely unaware of the danger that was closing in on them. “You look just like your mother when you sleep, it’s the only time she stays out of trouble too.”

Cash silently sat down on Harry’s bed and ran his fingers through the young man’s hair as he smiled tenderly at his descendant. “I wonder if you have any idea at all how proud your mum is of you? You’re all she ever writes home about, did you know that Harry? And the smile she gets on her face when she sees you” Cash shook his head “it’s nothing short of amazing. You’re a good kid Harry, and you deserve a family, a real family. I’m trusting you’d be satisfied calling Sirius da.” he whispered as he gently kissed Harry’s forehead. Standing up Cash took another long look at Harry, “Don’t you worry about anything Harry. Your great-great-great-whatever- uncle is going to make sure everything works out the way it should.”

Cash took great care to check every nook and cranny of the dorm before he left, and cast a protection charm over the door just for good measure. “Now, to find that father of yours” Cash sighed “this would be so much easier if I could hear someone’s thoughts besides Olia’s.” Cash paused for a moment as a thought struck him “Olia? Do you know where Sirius is?” After a brief silence a voice whispered in his ear, with a huge smile on his face, Cash took off towards Angel’s room, hoping Olia’s spirit was correct. . . .

Severus was overcome with emotion as he gazed adoringly at Catri’s sleeping form. He had half thought the whole night had been nothing more than a dream. He felt delirious as he realized that the night of passion they had shared had been real. And it had exceeded every expectation he had ever dare dreamed of. Sev gently brushed her hair off of her face as he tenderly caressed her cheek, he held his breath as he heard her sigh softly and nuzzle against him. He held her in his arms as he drifted off to sleep, his mind whirling as he thought about their future and his dream. . . .

Cash stood in the doorway, a bittersweet smile on his face as he watched Sirius sleeping in Angel’s bed. He seemed so peaceful as he lay in her bed, not his usual state of affairs; Cash had realized early on that Sirius never slept well, how many times had he popped in to check on the wizard, only to see the man’s body convulse and hear the tormented whimpers of pain and horror coming from his friend’s sleeping form. Cash shook his head as he recalled all the stories Remus and Albus had told him of Azkaban, how could anyone send Sirius to such a place, and how did he ever manage to survive without losing his mind and soul to the despair.

Walking quietly to the bed, Cash reached out and barely touched Sirius’s face, allowing the wizard’s thoughts and emotions to enter into him. Cash nearly cried as he felt the intense love in Sirius’s heart for both Angel and Harry, they were indeed the entire world to the man, his sole reason for continuing the fight. Brushing away some of Sirius’s straggly hair, Cash felt a new rush of thoughts enter his mind, Sirius was dreaming again, only this time there was no torture, no dementors, no pain. It was a dream of his past life with Angel, how happy they had been, how safe and secure they had felt in their love. Cash smiled tenderly as he watched the dream unfold in his head, Harry was there now, sharing in the love and warmth of his new family.

Cash bent down and gently pressed his lip to Sirius’s head, “I swear to you my friend, I will see this happen. I will see you her husband if it is the last thing I ever do. She should be in your arms, your bed, just as she is in your heart. And I promise you, she still holds you deep within her heart as well. She loves you Sirius, not him, not the way a husband needs a wife to love him.” . . .

“But if you’re right, and the sea is represented by Sirius, who is the earth?” Orpha asked as she looked at the lists and rough sketches that Tristessa had provided them. “If we assume the werewolf has no part in this, and at this point I am NOT willing to count him out, then how does this Severus fit in?”

Maharet knit her brow as she thought over everything Tristessa had told them. “You say he teaches potions, is that right?” she watched as Tris nodded. “Is there any reason that *needs* to be taught in the dungeons?”

Orpha rolled her eyes “Isn’t that stretching it a bit dear?” she asked “He’s bound to the earth because he teaches under it?”

“Or within it” Maharet responded “depending on how you look at it.”

“I still say it’s a stretch, and how does Catrianna’s son fit in with the air? His broom? I think not.” Orpha deadpanned “And what is ‘that’ look for Tristessa?”

Shaking her head and laughing, Tris replied “I was just thinking of what Cash would say on the subject. As much as he adores the wizard Sirius, he despises Severus. Cash has made it well known that he intends for Sirius and our little girl to marry.”

“Oh really? And since when does a man dictate such things?” Maharet questioned as her eyes grew dark. “I don’t care if he is the Greenman, its is NOT for him to decide.”

“Shush, Maharet” Orpha chided her, “it’s not like Cash to take to outsiders. Tell me again what you know of Sirius Black and his relationship to Cash and Catrianna. . .”

Severus awoke to a bright and cheerful morning, it had been ages since he had slept so late into the morning, but then again, he could never remember having such a wonderful reason to stay in bed before either. Carefully sliding himself out from Catri’s warm embrace, he shivered as he felt the chilly morning air against his skin. Grabbing a dressing gown, Sev quickly slipped it on as he gazed dreamily at Catri. His mind ran wild with ideas of how he would propose to her, if there had even been a sliver of doubt in his mind about making her his wife, last night had completely obliterated it. Dozens of romantic fantasies filled his head as he recalled the dream of his new family, it would be so nice to see this house, his family’s ancestral home, filled with love and happiness. Not wanting to wake her, Sev quietly left the bedroom and walked downstairs, he paused midway down the stairs as a vivid flash of last nights dream flashed through his memory. He had tore down these very same steps last night, only to find his wife and children in the salon.

Smiling warmly, Severus made his way to the salon. He opened the pocket doors and shook his head, he had almost expected it to be filled with toys. Looking up over the fireplace, he saw the portrait of his mother, Serena Snape. She had been beautiful, too bad his father had never appreciated her beauty or kindness, he had only been interesting in her power. Severus stared at the painting of his mother holding a rose as she smiled softly at him, reaching up, he gently touched the canvas, feeling a terrible pang of loneliness over her loss. It had been nearly twelve years and he still felt the emptiness her death had left within him, aside from Catri and his precious daughter Serenity, she had been the only other person he ever felt he could trust with his heart. She had done everything she could to protect him, and in the end, had paid with her life to keep him alive, to give him a chance at a new life.

Severus sighed deeply, wishing he could speak with her again, he had always been able to talk to her, to confide his deepest fears and hopes to her. If only he had been a better son, if he had been stronger, maybe she would still be alive, maybe his father’s temper wouldn’t have ended her life. Sev cringed as he recalled rushing through the doors of this very house when he heard his mother’s screams, only to see his father striking her repeatedly, not that that was anything new. But this time there had been a madness in his eyes that Sev had never seen before, and something else. . .fear.

“Mother, if only you could be here now. I have finally won her away from them. She is with me now, I know how much you adored her, you always told me how lovely and sweet she was. We are together now, and I intend to make her my wife. I want to begin again, have a family. . .I swore one day this house would know kindness and love, I just wish you and Serenity could be here to share in it.” He blinked as the tears welled in his eyes, gods how he missed them. . .

Sirius woke as the bright sunlight streamed in through the tall windows. He smiled warmly as the scent of Cat filled him with peaceful and loving thoughts, that was until he realized she wasn’t there, or more precisely, where she was.

“Don’t let it concern you my friend” Hamish smiled, he didn’t need to read the wizard’s mind to know what he was thinking. “Cash is positive things will chance quickly when Angel realizes you are not spoken for. In fact, he’s already planning the wedding, he told me he’d leave the honeymoon up to you.” he winked as the wizard blushed.

“Does Cash know I slept here?” Sirius asked as he felt his cheeks turn crimson under Hamish’s searching eyes.

“Now what do you think?” Hamish teased as he grinned widely. He paused as he gave the wizard a critical look-over “Well, she’ll need to fix you up a bit, do something with that mess you call hair, put some meat on your bones, . . .but I agree with Cash, you would make a wonderful husband for her, and a good father for Harry.”

“Nice to know I have her clan’s approval” Sirius smiled back “now all I need is hers. Hey, where is Cash? I thought if anyone would be left to harass me it would be him.” He watched as Hamish’s normally cheerful demeanour darkened considerably. “There was an attack last night, Sirius” he placed a reassuring hand on the wizard’s shoulder as the man nearly sprang out of the bed. “Calm down, Harry wasn’t involved, however Olia is dead.”

“What?! How” Sirius asked as he twisted out of Hamish’s grasp. Jumping out of bed, he pulled on his boots, asking testily. “Why didn’t anyone get me?”

“There was nothing you could do, there was nothing any of us could do. Its that cursed Tremere. ..” Hamish snarled “He’s placed spells around the school, we can’t even hear each other, not just Kindred to Kindred, but even my own Clan is silent. Olia sacrificed herself to end the spell, but the effects won’t dissipate for a few more hours. Hopefully in time to call Angel.”

“NO!!” Sirius gasped, “You can’t call her, she and Harry are probably his first targets,. . .” Sirius became suddenly quite when he saw the look on Hamish’s face. “What aren’t you telling me Hamish?”

Hamish hung his head, avoiding Sirius’s piercing glare, “Cash has stood watch over Harry and instructed me to watch over you. The Tremere told him he would kill Angel’s son first, he wants to see her driven mad by the grief and guilt.”

Sirius hardly heard Hamish yelling after him as he bolted out of Cat’s room, he was heading towards Gryffindor Tower. His insides tightened with dread and terror, what if Hamish was wrong? What if something had happened to Harry? Sirius felt a soul-chilling shiver settle over his heart, he couldn’t even bear to think about it. Shifting shape as he ran, Snuffles sped through the nearly empty corridors, he had to make sure Harry was safe, he needed to see him with his own eyes . . ..

Severus startled as he felt a pair of warm hands circle around his waist, he melted as he realized it was Catri. He felt her lips press against the soft silk of his dressing gown as she kissed him through the fabric. He could not help but smile when he looked at her, she was wearing his shirt from last night, her hair tumbling over her shoulders and down her back. Lifting his arm so Catri could stand next to him, he squeezed her tenderly as he recalled the weekend she had spent in this house when they were students. “She always spoke of you, and especially your voice, you all but mesmerized her when you sang,” Severus said softly as he stared at the portrait, “you made quite an impression on her. She always referred to you as enchanting, very high praise from her. ”

Catri looked up into the indigo eyes of Mrs. Snape and smiled, she had been such a sweet woman, but so timid, she almost seemed afraid to be in her own home. “She was so pretty, and so sweet, although she did keep insisting I sing for her, she said it reminded her of her sister.” Catri remarked as she remembered Mrs. Snape playing the piano while she sang several arias, she had felt very silly at first, but Sev’s mother was such a dear Catri simply could not say no to her requests.

“she had a sister?” Sev asked as he stared at Catri “Father told us she was an orphan, no family at all.”

Catri shrugged her shoulders, “I’m fairly certain that’s what she said. Although it has been years….

“Mornin’ sleepy head” Cash smirked as the large, black dog leaped onto Harry’s bed, licking Harry’s face happily. Looking around to make sure the dorm was empty, Sirius reverted to his human form as Cash closed the door, locking it securely behind him.

“Harry, are you alright?” Sirius asked as he gave his godson a heart-felt hug, he had been terrified that something had happened to Harry. Sirius shivered as the thought of life without his godson flitted through his mind. Pulling away from Harry, Sirius blinked his eyes as he cupped his godson’s face in his hands, searching Harry’s eyes to assure himself that he was unharmed.

“Yes Da” Cash sighed “our little boy is just fine. No one’s been near him all night, trust me.” he winked as Harry rolled his eyes.

“Yes, trust him” Harry agreed “he won’t tell me what’s going on, and he won’t let me leave my dorm. Poor Ron had to sneak food up from breakfast just so I wouldn’t starve.” Harry looked up at his godfather imploringly, hoping Sirius would intervene.

“Starve?” Cash replied, his eyebrows shooting up “becoming a bit melodramatic are we?” he teased “Or are you always like this in the mornings….”

“We have very good reasons for being so worried about you Harry” Sirius explained softly, “It’s not just Voldemort anymore, it’s the MoM, the Tremere, and heaven only knows who else.” Sirius looked at Cash for support, they both knew how headstrong Harry could be sometimes. Sirius sat on one side of Harry as Cash sat on the other. “Harry, we need to talk, something happened last night.”

Harry’s eyes grew wide as he saw the horrible sadness on Sirius and Cash’s faces. “No, not mum. Please, please… don’t”

Sirius hugged Harry tightly as he reassured him “No Harry, it’s not Cat. As far as I know she’s fine and she’ll be back soon.”

“The sooner the better, she shouldn’t be with him at all.” Harry said dejectedly “Sirius, why didn’t you tell her about Azkaban? Why did you let her think you were married?”

“WHAT?” Sirius nearly yelled “Does everyone know about this but me?” he asked as he held his head in his hands “Harry, I only found out after Cash accused me of misleading Cat. It never even occurred to me she thought I married Esmeralda Filch. If I had only known….” Sirius shook his head sadly, closing his eyes against the waves of emotions sweeping over him.

“Enough of that” Cash said softly “It was a mistake, a miscommunication to use the popular term. She comes back, we kill Gustavas, and we tell her the truth about you.. . Not necessarily in that order.” Cash added as he smiled and winked at Harry.

Becoming suddenly serious Cash continued “I’m actually glad I have you both here. I need to ask you something, something very important and very, very personal.” Pausing to take a deep breath, Cash thought of the best way to phrase his request. “I’m not sure if you realize how much power Angel has, actually I’m not sure if *I* realize how strong she really is. But we’ve, the Kindred Clans and I, have been keeping watch over the two you using Angel’s connection to you both.”

“Wait a minute Cash” Sirius interrupted “I can understand her connection to Harry, he’s her son, but what connection does she have to me?”

“She loves you Sirius, plain and simple, and I’m not talking romantic love here. You, Harry, Hermione, those Weasley kids, Albus, Minnie, Remus…. All of you, she carries a deep love for all of you in her heart. That allows her to ‘sense’ you at almost all times. Now, whether she’s consciously aware of this or not I’m really not sure, personally, I think its mostly subconscious. It’s simply her nature. . .”

“However, with her gone, its very hard for any of us to keep track of you. We have to be able to see you, and that presents several problems. As I’m sure Harry here will be the first to tell you.” Cash added as he tussled Harry’s hair.

Sirius chuckled as Harry rolled his eyes and tried to flatten his hair, it was positively scary at times to see how much he resembled James. “So what are you suggesting? Locking us up in Cat’s bedroom until she comes back?”

Cash shook his head “No, something a bit more permanent. I’ll save the locking up part for Sirius and your mum, just in case either of them do something stupid. . .like not telling each other everything about their past.” Cash replied, looking pointedly at Sirius.

Ignoring Cash’s barb, Sirius asked “What do you mean ‘more permanent’? Cash you don’t intend to embrace anyone, do you?” he questioned, feeling suddenly uneasy.

“Not exactly embrace, more like a quick peck on the cheek” Cash responded “I would like to forge a direct link with you both. Blood to blood, that way I can keep in direct contact with both of you at all times. I need to make sure you’re both safe, you two mean a great deal to me.” Cash explained as his eyes misted over with unspoken emotion.

Harry looked at Cash without any fear in his eyes and asked “How will sharing blood help that? It doesn’t last forever, does it? I mean, according to mum, the blood you drink only lasts a few days to a few weeks depending on the age and strength of the vampyre.”

“Normally that would be true Harry” Cash agreed “but remember, I’m not using this to feed, I’m using this to forge a bond with you. And even if it were for feeding….well Harry, I’m pretty near ancient as my kind go. I walked the earth with Napoleon, Da Vinci, Joan of Ark, Magellan, James Dean, Cleopatra, Constantine, Pythagoras,… blood lasts a very, very long time when you’ve made it to my decrepit age.” he said, winking at the look of pure amazement on Harry’s face.

“What exactly do you have in mind Cash?” Sirius asked, his brow knitted in obvious concern. “I don’t want Harry doing anything that might harm him. OR anything that Cat would disapprove of.. .”

Cash shook his head sadly “Gheez man, I haven’t even married the two of you and already she has you henpecked. ' or anything Cat would disapprove of ', Sirius Black, what had gotten into you?” Cash chuckled as he tried to keep a straight face, he had been doing fairly well until he caught the huge grin on Harry’s face, the kid was absolutely loving this discussion, and it showed. “And just so you know Sirius, Angel and I have done this several times, usually every year or so.” . . .

Harry laughed loudly at the conversation between Cash and Sirius, it was wonderful to see Sirius happy and laughing. Harry could almost see the man his godfather once was, the man from his parent’s wedding photo, the man Cat had fallen in love with. He sat back on his bed and watched the two men banter back and forth, teasing each other mercilessly until Cash had finally won by commenting on Sirius spending the night in Cat’s bed, causing Sirius to turn beet red and become extremely quiet.

“No need to ask what you dreamt of last night, is there?” Cash finished only to turn and wink at Harry.

Harry shook his head at the two of them “Do you two always carry on like this? It’s a good thing Remus isn’t here, I can’t even imaging the trouble the three of you could get into.” Pausing for a few moments as the three sat in relaxing silence, Harry finally asked “Will it hurt? I mean, . . .if I allow you to do whatever it is you’re asking.”

“Not much” Cash replied as he smiled warmly at Harry, leave it to him to be brave and trusting. “I just need to make a small puncture, and pull some of your blood into me. Then I need you to take some of mine” Cash laughed as Harry screwed up his face at the thought. “Don’t worry kiddo, it won’t even take a mouthful, you’ll get sleepy and nap for a bit, and you’ll be able to call out for me mentally of course. Aside from that, I doubt you‘ll even notice a difference.”

Seeing Sirius was about to argue, Harry spoke up quickly “So all it does is make a link between us? Like I have with mum?” He looked from Cash to Sirius, who Harry noticed still looked worried “Honestly Sirius, I don’t see anything wrong with it, and Cash is right, mum’s told me about blood bonding before, she mentioned I might be asked when I go home with her.”

“If you’re sure Harry” Sirius replied softly “it’s your decision, just remember, it can’t be undone, so make sure before you say yes.”

Harry gulped loudly as his godfather’s words echoed in his head “Is that true Cash?” Harry took a deep, calming breath as he saw Cash nod, thinking it over for a moment, Harry weighed his options. Without his mum around, Harry had to admit, he felt lonely, even when they were on opposite sides of the school, he could still feel her presence, he ‘knew’ she was there, keeping her eye on him. In fact, so far, this had been the calmest year he had ever had. He felt safe and loved, he knew he wasn’t alone anymore, but after Cat left, Harry felt their bond weakening, as if she was being distanced from him, it made him feel like he was floating on a vast ocean with nothing to rely on, nothing to cling to for support. It was exactly how he had felt all those years he had been forced to live with the Dursley’s, he hated that feeling, it tormented him to feel so vulnerable, so lost. “Do it Cash” Harry said softly. “I trust you. Mum trusts you, you’re family.”

Cash gave Harry a heart-felt smile as he ran his hand through Harry’s hair, resting his hand on the back of his neck. “Are you sure Harry? I don’t want you to feel pressured about this, it is entirely your choice.”

“I’m sure Cash” Harry replied as he exposed his neck and winced, waiting for Cash to bite him. Hearing soft laughter Harry looked up at Cash, whose deep blue eyes were sparkling with a mixture of love and laughter.

“No Harry, not like that.” Cash chuckled as he tussled Harry’s hair again. Picking up Harry’s hand, he pushed up the sleeve, exposing Harry’s wrist. “I only need a little, besides, you’re a little young for anything like that. That area tends to be a bit. . .Uhmm. . .intimate…for someone your age.”

Cash gently rubbed Harry’s wrist, bringing the blood to the surface “Are you ready Harry?” he asked, seeing Harry’s nod, Cash placed his mouth against the thin skin of the inside wrist. Biting as quickly and cleanly as possible, Cash’s sharp fang’s tore through Harry’s skin like razor blades, he heard one sharp gasp from Harry as the blood poured into his mouth and straight to his soul.. ..