“Yes Harry, they do, although, as you will shortly realize, the familial bonds of a clan of this size are not as….shall we say ‘strict’ …..as they would be for smaller groups.” Puneet explained. “Some of the people referring to you mother as their aunt may actually be her second and third cousins, or a fifth nephew once removed by marriage.” he laughed, “It simply gets too confusing to keep track, so eventually everyone is reduced to parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle, cousin…..”

“Is that why I suddenly have so many grandparents?” Harry asked as he finally began to understand. “I was really beginning to think something was wrong.”

Puneet smiled as he stood next to Harry’s bed and brushed the hair from the boy’s eyes. “You simply need to get used to it dear boy, after all, you have only just arrived. Tomorrow will be another day, filled with adventure and learning for you. Enjoy it my charge, for here you are safe and loved.” he added smiling softly as Harry yawned.

“Puneet? Would you tell me a story about the clan? About its history” Harry asked sleepily.

“Of course, what would you like me to tell? Perhaps of our encounters with the wizarding and mortal worlds that you have come to know so well.” Puneet suggested, seeing Harry nod, he began his story.

“Many centuries ago, we, the people of the hidden realms, the Fae, Sidhe, Elf, Gia and others mingled freely with the denizens of the mortal world. We roamed the lands and even fell in love with mortals, marrying and bearing their children. We lived in a nearly idyllic world for several hundred years, until the coming of the monotheists. They were unlike the other religions and belief of those days, they were unyielding and unforgiving of those who did not agree with them. If you did not follow their beliefs, they branded you and any who knew you as damned, and felt justified in killing you, your family, even your entire village.”

“We, of the hidden realms, saw the danger of these ways and tried to halt its progress, but the ways of mortals are strange and even the best intentions are easily corrupted by them. After several bloody and meaningless battles, we decided to leave humanity to its bloody fate, and pulled our people to the Northern realms of the mortal world. Many of us had wanted to leave entirely, but not all of our children were able to pass through the veil, some were simply too mortal, too fragile to survive. These children became the forerunners of your wizarding world, they were too mortal to join us, but to powerful in the ways of majick to be considered mortal, or muggle, as you call them.” Puneet smiled when he saw a chuckle escape Harry. “They formed their own world, the wizarding world, and did their best to protect themselves and others like them. All was well for a time, until the monotheists began moving north, into our lands pillaging and ravaging as they went.”

“Through fear and intimidation they pushed further and further north, until they reached the northern seas. Armagh and Mac Lir stood in their way, leaving this land reasonably safe from them, and even when they did finally cross over and set foot on the sacred island, the people of Hibernia refused to give into them, in fact, the monotheist found themselves falling into our way of doing things. Even when Catholicism was at its height of power, during the crusades and inquisitions, Hibernia and Caledonia were held apart from the madness. The faith of the mortals of this land, the unwavering belief in us, the constant prayers of mothers to the Sidhe for the protection of their children, to the Gia for bountiful harvest, to my people for health and prosperity.” Puneet shook his head with amazement. “The human spirit is both an amazing and strange thing my charge, capable of both the highest sacrifice and the lowest disgrace.”

“So my clan was safe from the danger?” Harry asked, he was fighting to stay awake, but he wanted to hear about this, how the wizarding world began, how his clan was involved.

“Most of them, yes. But sadly, some had stayed in the Southern lands which fell under the dictatorship of the monotheists. Luckily, many of them bonded together to create their own havens within the mortal landscape. Your mother owns homes in most of them, the Eastern Coast of Spain, an island off of Greece, a cottage in Holland.”

“Holland? That seems like a strange place to hide.” Harry remarked, “but I think I remember Professor Binns mentioning something about it during the witch hunts.”

“Yes, it was the safest place in the mortal world. The Dutch were notoriously free thinkers. Many witches, wizards, artists, philosophers,… anyone who found themselves under attack from the harsh ways of the monotheists ‘conversion techniques’ found their way to Holland. Papal decrees, condemnation, screams of blasphemy … they all fell on deaf ears. The Dutch didn’t believe in closing their minds to ideas just because someone else decided they should. Our kind found many kindred souls among them, and once more married into many of the old families of Holland. When the burnings and torture, or as you mother refers to it, the woman’s holocaust, was finally over, and they felt safe to travel across the land once more, they brought with them many of the traditions, language, and mind sets of their adopted home. I’m sure you’ve noticed how some of the clan uses the terms oma, opa, tanta, ohm, and such. It is because of this blending of blood and culture that had happened during the madness. Our kind have never forgotten the kindness they showed our children, and to this day, we do everything within our powers to keep them safe from the foolishness of the mortal world.”

Puneet paused and waited for Harry to ask him more about the forming of the wizarding world from the half-breed children of the hidden realm, hearing nothing, Puneet looked over to Harry, only to see him sleeping peacefully in his bed of braided Oak and Rowan roots. “Good night little prince, sleep deeply and well” he whispered as he removed Harry’s glasses and tucked in the warm blankets, just before he faded from sight…..

Severus whimpered in his sleep as he dreamt of Catri returning to Hogwarts with Sirius Black at her side and his ring on her finger. He actually felt his heart crumbling within his chest as he watched the way she gazed at Black, a look of undisguised love in her eyes. He saw himself staring at them in Dumbledore’s office, saw his tears running down his pale face, leaving a stark trail in their wake. He cringed when Catri turned to look at him, but instead of the apathetic look he was expecting from her, her eyes shown with compassion and pity for him. She alone knew what a farce his cold exterior was, she was the only one he had trusted with the truth, with his fragile heart. He held his breath as she dropped Black’s hand and walked towards him, he couldn’t even manage to say her name, he simply stood there silently, waiting for her to speak.

Instead she took his face in her soft hands and forced him to look into her eyes, which were quickly filling with tears. “Severus” it was only one word, simply his name, but it meant so much more. He had shared everything with her, all the tenderness, all the hope, she had filed the void in his life. He threw his arms around her, burying his face in her long hair as he sobbed uncontrollably……

Harry groaned softly, he didn’t want to wake up, he was having a wonderful dream about his new life. His uncles were teaching him how to track and fight, Aunt Orpha was teaching him how to read and write in several Elven and Sidhe languages so he could help his mum when she went on her next journey, although judging from the size of her belly, that would be quite a while. Harry sighed and smirked as he watched his mum trying to get up from the couch were she and Aunt Siobhan had been talking. “Need help, Mum?” he asked as she tried to manoeuvre herself to a standing position. He extended his arm and was amazed at how strong it looked, his pale, childish skin was now growing thicker and tanner as he joined his uncles and cousins more and more. He felt the strength of his own muscles as he pulled his once slender mother up from the couch. His hand instinctively went to her belly as she groaned softly with the weight of the twins ……

“Harry, come on Harry” a young girls voice spoke, “You’re going to sleep though the whole day soon, come on now.”

Harry yelped as he felt a sharp pinch on his belly. “Ouch, knock it off” he murmured as he lay half awake, buried in the warm blankets and cradled by the roots of the trees above him. He turned on his side and blinked open his eyes, he heard the soft chatter of his new family as they woke up and got ready for the day. He felt around the roots that surrounded him and finally felt his glasses hanging above him. Laying back down for a moment, Harry took the time to enjoy this moment, there was no one screaming at him to make breakfast, no Madam Pomfrey hovering over him with a worried look in her eyes, and the ever present fear that Voldemort was around the corner was no where to be found. For the first time in a very, very long time, he felt safe, loved and completely happy.

“Haaarrrrrryyyyy” Sara called out again as her fingers hovered over his belly, “I’m really gonna get you this time if you don’t wake up and get moving.”

“Gheez Sara, I’m up, I’m up.” Harry replied, laughing at the way Sara had her fingers poised over him, as if she were a viper ready to strike at him. “And if you pinch me like that again, you’ll be sorry.” he teased.

“Oh really?” Sara replied as their cousins ooohhed and rolled their eyes.

“Now you’ve done it Harry” Bree teased, “She’ll take that as a challenge, trust me.”

As if on cue, Sara tore back the covers and pinched Harry sharply right above his bell button, causing him to yelp loudly. She giggled and ran away as Harry chased after her, leaping over cousins and grabbing a pillow on the way.

“Look out Sara” Meg laughed as she came into the room to see what was keeping everyone, “he’s armed and he looks serious.” Pulling Callista over to her, she asked “So what did she do ‘this’ time?”…..

Sirius stretched out, loving the feeling of freedom and family, after all these years to be able to go anywhere and not fear every noise, every shadow, it was pure heaven for him. He wondered how Harry was adjusting to suddenly going from an only child to one of about forty or so, but knowing his godson, he was loving it every bit as much as Sirius himself was. Looking around the room, Sirius noticed Remus was still sleeping soundly, as was Paddy and Edana, how ever Frank was nowhere to be seen. ‘someone’s an early riser’ Sirius thought as he got out of bed and shuffled off to the bathroom only to scream loudly…..

Paddy’s eyes flew open as the sound of a man’s screams hit his delicate ears, instinctively, his arm flew around Edana bring his infant daughter close to his chest as his free hand summoned his sword. He watched in amazement as a blue skinned man with long crimson feathers jumped onto Remus’s bed and shook him roughly. Edana woke up and cried loudly at all the noise and confusion, which caused the creature to turn and stare at her. Paddy held out his sword as he approached the creature, who was straddled over Remus, his hands around the collar of the man’s nightshirt and a look of complete confusion on Remus‘s face.

“Paddy, be careful, you’re holding Edana to tightly, I think you’re hurting her” the creature spoke “And don’t point that sword at me, point it at Moony here and tell him to turn me back.”

Remus shook his head “I swear Sirius, I had nothing to do with this” he insisted.

“Sure, Moony, sure. And who else would have turned my skin blue and put red feathers all over me? Edana perhaps….. And Paddy if you don’t tend to her I’m going to take her to Siobhan or Cat, she’ll get a belly ache crying like that.” Sirius said flatly, not turning his eyes from Remus for a moment.

“Sirius?” Paddy asked as his sword disappeared from his hand “What happened to you?”

Before Sirius could answer, a deep laugh filled the room. Remus and Sirius turned and looked at Paddy for an explanation. Cradling the whimpering Edana, Paddy shook his head and said “Frank…. Over there, behind the door.”

Remus and Sirius took one look at each other and leaped out of the bed, hot on the heals of Frank as he dashed out of the room, laughing the whole way. Paddy stood in the room shaking his head as he soothed Edana. “I don’t know what to tell you Edana, except your Aunt Kitty is going to have her hands full this morning.”….

Frank howled with laughter as the two wizards tried to catch him, he skidded down the hall, listening as the sound of two bodies hitting into the wall was heard behind him. “Maybe I should have warned them about that throw rug back there” Frank mused, “nah.. They’re wizards, they’ll be fine” He paused long enough to catch his breath and make sure Remus and Sirius were still chasing him before he turned and ran down an adjoining hall.

“He’s going down” Sirius growled “and this had better be reversible” he added as he pulled at the long crimson feathers sticking out of his back.

“If he can’t Kitty can, come on, he’s getting away.” Remus replied, tearing down the long hall and going into the entrance Frank had just passed through. Pausing, he motioned for Sirius to go into a different entrance, in the hopes that they would be able to take Frank by surprise. Sure enough, Remus’s plan worked and Frank found himself trapped between the two wizards.

“Come on boys” Frank grinned, “show me what you’ve got” he said as he motioned Remus and Sirius with his hands. He watched warily as Remus pulled out his wand, only to realize too late it was merely a distraction as Sirius tackled him to the floor. Laughing and yelling, the threesome quickly began to wrestle with each other, rolling around on the floor and causing quite a ruckus. Sirius yelled out a few choice words as Frank got him into a headlock and began to rub his head with his knuckles as Remus fell over them, laughing as he did so. Just as Remus stood up and prepared to help Sirius, he felt a chill run through him as his body froze mid-stride. Turning his eyes, he saw that both Frank and Sirius were also frozen in place, a look of dread showing in their eyes as they looked up to see who had done this to them.

“Honestly! What do you three think you’re doing?” Siobhan chastised them. “And Sirius, let me be the first to inform you that those particular shades of blue and red clash terribly” she added as she placed her hand on his head, reverting him back to his former self. “Well, I would ask what happened here, but I think I already know.” she said as she stared down at Frank. Waving her hand over them, she released them from her spell. “Remus, Sirius, go to breakfast and stay out of trouble. Frank, you stay, I want to talk to you.” she said as she crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot impatiently.

Remus and Sirius looked at Frank, not really sure if they should leave him alone with an obviously cross Siobhan. He walked over to them and told them “Leave before she changes her mind. Her temper is just as bad as Kitty’s, all the women in this clan have ‘that’ sort of temper. Trust me, I’ve been dealing with it my entire life.” he added as he winked and walked back to Siobhan.

Siobhan waited until Sirius closed the door behind him to speak. “What do you think you’re doing? And to Sirius none the less, you do realize he may well end up being your brother-in-law, don’t you?”

“That’s why I’m breaking him in now” Frank replied, smirking playfully “If he can’t take it now, its best he leaves.”

“Best he leaves?” Siobhan replied “And then what? Do you think the crones will simply stop pressuring Kitty? They want heirs, the blood must continue forward, and if she can’t find someone they approve of, she will be stuck with their decision. Do you want to live through another Wanda? Only this one will be much more powerful, and much more deadly.” Siobhan clenched her fist as she remembered how many members of their clan had been lost when Wanda’s pain had finally overwhelmed her and caused her to go mad. “For once in your life cousin, stop and think of the results of your actions. Think of what will happen if he is frightened away, or what will happen if you hurt him. Have you looked at him? Really looked at him? He’s skin and bones, he’s not well. And according to the letter Cash sent to us last night, he came very close to dying yesterday. He tried sacrificing himself to save Harry and Cash.”

Frank knitted his brow and looked down at the rug, “I had no idea. I thought he just didn’t know how to take care of himself, you know, the whole bachelor thing. And I don’t want Kitty selling herself short, I think she can do better than him.” he added “He’s a nice enough bloke, but he’s not exactly up to our standards.”……

Remus and Sirius leaned against the wall just around the corner from the room Frank and Siobhan were in. “Its pretty quite” Remus noted “maybe she’s not that angry after all.” he said hopefully.

“I wouldn’t count on that” Sirius corrected him “I know that look. She’s upset and worried, I’ve seen the same look in Cat’s eyes. And as far as I’m concerned, Cat’s a lot safer to be around if she’s yelling and screaming, when she gets quite, she gets dangerous.” The two friends waiting patiently until Frank walked out of the room and headed towards them.