“Sirius, dear” the stately, older woman said as she watched him placed the child back into the cradle, “why don’t you go back to dinner, you need to pay more attention to Catrianna, that way you’ll have your own children to fuss over.”

Sirius blushed as he heard the laughter and saw the winks and knowing glances from the woman and her friends. “From your mouth to her ears” he grinned as he nodded to them and returned to the table, hoping Cat would be as receptive to the idea as most of her family appeared to be..

“Well, look who finally found his way back” Remus shouted as Sirius walked through the doorway. “Getting practice with babies are you?” he added, giving an exaggerated wink as Cat groaned and shook her head.

“Never hurts to be prepared” Sirius replied as he took his seat next to Cat. “Does it gra?” he added, waiting expectantly for one of her sarcastic remarks. Instead he saw her blush deeply and avoid his gaze entirely. Sirius raised an eyebrow as he looked at her, then over to a beaming Remus. “Do I want to know what was discussed while I was gone?” he whispered in Cat’s ear as his hand instinctively held hers.

“You can discuss that later” Orpha interjected. “Now its time for the best part, dessert, and then the each of the children can open one present tonight.” she explained as a several bowls full of bright green and purple flames were set on the table.

Seeing the concern on Harry’s face, Cat leaned over and whispered, “Don’t worry sweetie, it’s a type of crème brulee, its very, very good. They sprinkle sugar and liquor on top of a crème custard, then torch it, so its hot and crunchy while the custard stays cool and smooth.”……

Sirius felt as if someone would have to roll him into the family room by the time dinner was over. Although it felt wonderful to have a stomach full of good food, a warm home around him, and a loving family everywhere he looked. Part of him was hoping Harry never wanted to leave Fernglennis, he had the distinct feeling they could be a very happy family right here. A feeling that was confirmed as Harry’s jaw dropped in surprise at the amount of presents waiting for him and his cousins in the family room. Sirius smiled broadly as Harry turned to look at he and Cat, as if to ask if this were nothing but a dream. ‘I know how you feel’ Sirius thought as he stood behind Cat and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face in her long, silky hair.

“Just remember children, only one” Aunt Orpha reminded them as several of the cousins dashed forward.

“Go on Harry” Cat encouraged “yours are over there, just pick one.” she suggested, smiling softly as Harry’s eyes quivered with both joy and sadness. She knew he had never known the joy of a true family before and it was becoming plainly obvious that Harry was quickly becoming overwhelmed by the experience. Turning to gaze up at Sirius, she saw the same worried expression on his face that she knew must also be on hers. “Sirius? Should we just have him call it a night now?” she whispered softly as Sirius brought his ear to her lips.

“Not yet, lets just watch him and see how he does.” Sirius said as he squeezed her gently, rubbing his cheek against hers. “He’s a lot tougher than you can imagine Cat. He’ll do fine, if not tonight, then tomorrow. He just needs time to adjust.”

Harry paused as he looked over the mountain of gifts that had his name on them. It wasn’t even the amount that had caused the lump in his throat, but the names on the tags. If they had all been from Cat or Sirius, or even Remus, he would have told them they had over done it and that would be the end of it. But there were so many names his didn’t recognize, aunt this, uncle that, grandpa, grammy, pappy, mammy, nana, cousin….

He blinked his eyes several times, the last thing he wanted to do was to cry right now. He turned to look at his cousins, seeing Einy tearing apart a package, Sara whooping and smiling as she held a globe-like necklace in her hands and rushing to her father to have him put it on her. Although everyone stopped and turned when Callista screamed loudly as her present jumped out of its box. Every face in the room turned and smiled as Cali gushed over the little golden colour puppy as it licked her face and wagged its tail. “Oh, she looks just like Nova” she sighed as she buried her face in the puppy’s soft fur “I think I’ll call her Starry.”

“Nova? Starry?” Sirius whispered, “anything you’d like to share?” he teased as Cat fidgeted uncomfortably in his arms. Feeling her body tense, Sirius loosened his embrace and half turned her to face him, and saw the tears forming in her eyes. “What is it gra?”

Pushing Sirius back outside the circle of clan, Cat gave a hurried explanation for her behaviour. “Callista and her family were hunted down over the summer. They tried to make their way to a Sidhe hollow, but her father was too human to pass through. They sent Callista on ahead to get clan to open a passage for her father. Paddy got there within minutes of Callista entering the hollow, but it was too late.” she choked, shaking her head sadly. “The hunters killed them all, even her dog. We don’t even know why, they were living as humans, Callista and her mother were very, very careful not to let anyone know what they were. Fortunately, her brother and sister were away, visiting with other clan when the hunters arrived. Now she‘s our responsibility, a true child of the clan, we are all her parents, her protectors.”

Cat leaned into Sirius as his arms wrapped around her again, grateful for his compassion and understanding. She didn’t need to go into long and detailed explanations for him. She was hurting, she needed his comfort and understanding, that was all he needed to know, she thought as she felt his lips brush against her face.

As soon as Cat had gathered herself, she looked into Sirius’s blue eyes and smiled softly. “We should check on Harry, he might need us.” she said quietly as Sirius nodded and released her, only to take her hand as they walked back to the large gathering. ….

Harry dropped to his knees and played with Cali and the puppy, who was playfully tugging at Harry’s sleeves. He laughed as the puppy yelped with confusion when Cali picked her up, only to yap happily when she was sat on Cali’s lap and stroked lovingly by her new owner. “Wow, I can’t believe you got a puppy.” Harry sighed as he allowed the puppy to gnaw lightly on his finger “you are so lucky.”

“Hmmm, seems as if our boy would like a puppy of his own.” Sirius teased as his arm went around Cat’s shoulder. “So what do you say mum, shall we get him one?”

Cat raised an eyebrow as she stared at Sirius, “First, not as long as he’s living at school. Second, doesn’t her already ‘have’ a dog, one named Snuffles I believe.”

“Oh, well,… about that….” Sirius said, looking suddenly very uncomfortable. “it’s funny you should mention Snuffles.”

“I’m assuming this is not one of those funny, ha ha, sort of things.” Cat replied dryly, waiting to hear what had happened to Harry’s dog. But before Sirius could reply, Orpha was at his side, staring intently at Cat.

“Kitty dear” Aunt Orpha said pointedly “I think your son could use some direction, the clan is waiting.” Orpha smirked with satisfaction as both Sirius and Cat immediately turned to look for Harry. They would make wonderful parents for any child, that much was plain, and at the rate things had been happening in the outside world, they might just be called upon to foster a few children, at least until the safety of the hollows could be assured. After all, they had all thought Godric’s hollow had be secure and look what had happened to poor Lily……

“Harry?” Cat said softly as she placed a warm and gentle hand on his shoulder. “You really need to open one now, everyone else has, and people are waiting.” she explained, smoothing his unruly hair as he stood to face her.

“But what if I pick the wrong one.” Harry whispered back, fidgeting nervously as his eyes darted around the room, “I don’t want to mess this up, I don’t want to be a disappointment to you.”

“Never Harry” Cat insisted as she kissed the crown of his head. “You could never disappoint me, no matter what. Besides, this isn’t some sort of test or rite of passage or anything, its just a present. Pick one.” she said as she guided Harry towards his presents.

“Anyone? Just pick one and open it?” Harry repeated as he slowly knelt down in front of the stack of presents. Seeing Cat nod, he reached out and picked up an old fashioned looking wooden box. Carefully undoing the bright blue bow, he lifted the hinged lid of the box to see a beautifully embroidered book which he lifted gingerly from the box. He ran his hand over the intricate cover as tears formed in his eyes. He turned to smile at Cat, noticing the way she held onto Sirius’s hand to stop him from running to Harry when he saw his godson’s tears. Cat nodded slightly, signifying the gift was in fact from her.

Turning his attention back to the book, Harry opened it, turning the pages slowly as the pictures waved at him. It was full of photographs of his clan, his friends, and his parents. Harry let his fingers trace gently over the picture of Cat and Lily, standing side by side, large grins on their faces as James and Sirius stood behind them, arms around their waists. ‘Both of my parents’ Harry thought as he studied the picture, only to stop when he felt Sirius place his large, strong hand on his shoulder.

“You alright Harry?” Sirius whispered as he knelt next to Harry, seeing Harry nod, Sirius remained quiet for a few moments, watching the way Harry studied the pictures in the album. Then, leaning close to his godson, Sirius whispered, “Take a good look at the cover Harry, I think it will explain a lot.” he hinted, remembering all too well the realization that had hit him when he saw the needlepoint in Cat’s room.

Obediently, Harry closed the album and looked at the cover, smiling as he saw his name embroidered in the lower centre of the cover, with Lilian Rose and Catrianna Marzia on either side of his name. Following the intricate leafy vines, he smiled as he saw his grandmother’s names Violet and Diedre, he kept following the twisting vines, smiling at the buds that appeared, bloomed and disappeared under his gaze. It wasn’t until he looked up at Sirius and then looked back that he realized the vines formed a heart, and that the heart connected, several generations back. He wasn’t just an adopted member of the clan, he ‘was’ clan, he was truly one of them. That must have been what they meant when they kept welcoming him ‘back’ to the clan…..

Harry slowly climbed the stairs as he made his way to his bed, his cousins at his side and the album held tightly in his arms. He smiled as Sara as she leaned sleepily against him “I think I ate too much” she sighed, laughing softly. “I ‘know’ I ate too much” Harry agreed, and I haven’t been ‘this’ tired in ages.

Sara nodded “So, what did you get that made you get all weepy? Something good I hope. I recognized Aunt Kitty’s needlework, she does the neatest things with flowers and stuff, I love the way she can get them to bloom and everything.”

Harry sighed “I was hoping nobody saw that part” he explained, trying to stifled a yawn, “it’s a photo album of my parents, ….both of them.” he added, smiling slyly, as he held open the door for his cousin.

“Both of them? Can I see?” she asked as Harry nodded and placed the album down, opening to the photo that had caught his attention earlier and explaining everything to Sara. One look into her sparkling, aqua eyes told him he had found an ally.

Sirius pulled Cat closer as they sipped on warm cocoa and sat quietly in front of the fireplace. “So, do you think Harry will be alright? I’m not sure that that was the best way to break it to him.” he said softly, not wanting to upset her.

“Break what to him?” Cat asked, lifting her head to look into Sirius’s eyes. “He knows he didn’t come out of my womb, he knows Lily gave birth to him, although he is my son.”

Sirius shook his head, he had forgotten so much about the ways of her clan. Of course she didn’t understand what he meant, it would never even occur to her or her clan. “No, I mean about you and Lily…..Cat, I didn’t even know the two of you were related.”

“How could you not know that, you and James were forever calling us the twins and sisters and everything. Of course you knew.” Cat remarked, knitting her brow at Sirius’s apparently lack of memory as she reached up to feel his forehead, checking for a fever.

“No, we just did that to tease the two of you. Neither he nor I had any idea there was any blood between you.” Sirius explained as he reached up and interlocked his fingers with the hand that was gently pressing against his head. “I didn’t realize it until I saw the needlepoint in your room and saw the bloodlines you were stitching.” he said as he tenderly kissed her hand, refusing to let her go. “Don’t pull away from me Cat, please. I swore to Aunt Orpha I would wait until tomorrow to tell you everything,” he said softly as he rubbed his nose against hers, fighting off the urge to go further. “we need a few uninterrupted hours to talk, ……. something that appears to be a rare commodity in this house.” he added as he heard Duncan come in and clear his throat. “Hello Duncan, hello Luke” Sirius smiled as Cat’s brothers shook their heads and sat down across from the couple……..

The next morning came quickly, Harry rubbed his eyes as he heard Sara and Cali calling his name as and older cousin, Clara, who had arrived the night prior, pulled his arm, trying to get him up and moving. “Come on Harry, honestly, doesn’t even Christmas morning make you get up and move” Clara stated as she tugged at Harry’s arm.

Opening one eye, Harry stared at the latest cousin to present herself, Clara, he had seen her last night. Very pretty and very, very petite, her curly brunette hair pulled off of her face with a hair band, and her sparkling amber eyes glinting with a mischievous look. “I’m up, I’m up” Harry groused as he sat up and ran his hand through his messy hair. “What is it with you people and getting up at the crack of dawn?” he asked as he yawned loudly.

“Hey” Sara teased, giving Harry a playful punch on his arm “just cause you city kids don’t know how to…”

“Watch it, cousin” LJ shouted from across the room, “I’m still big enough to whomp you.”

“You and what army?” Sara retorted, sticking out her tongue as Harry and Clara laughed.

Ariel walked up to LJ and hit him with her stuffed bunny “Knock it off, I want to open my presents. Its not fair, you get to open them before we do” she pouted.

“Only one” LJ shot back, “gheez, you’d think it was the end of the world or something. Come one everyone, lets get moving before ‘someone’ throws a fit”

“Or another bunny” Clara added, rolling her eyes. “I just want to get some breakfast, so lets get going.”

Harry washed up quickly and brushed out his hair as his cousins waited impatiently for him. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” he told them “but honest, you don’t have to wait for me, I can find my way downstairs on my own.”

“Yeah, right” LJ grimaced, “and watch a certain someone go half mad wondering what happened to you. No thanks, my da’s warned me what nutters his sisters are.” …..

Sirius and Remus joked with Paddy as they made their way down the long and winding stairs. “Hey, there’s that carousel again” Remus commented “I don’t know why, but something about it seems very familiar to me.”

“Well we can discuss that later” Sirius commented, “Come on Moony, I don’t want to miss Harry opening his presents.”

“Yeah,” Paddy grinned “and I’ll bet he doesn’t want to miss a moment of my cousin’s arms either. The two of them certainly seem to be quite….’comfy’…. I think that’s the right word.”

“Well, that’s one word” Remus chimed in, artfully avoiding Sirius’s playful swat. “although I can think of a few, shall we say, more ‘correct’ terms that could be used.”

“Very funny Moony, keep it up and someone will be waking up with a very nasty surprise tomorrow morning.” Sirius retorted, snarling good-naturedly at Remus as Paddy laughed hysterically.

“As long as it doesn’t involve those tacky red feathers..” Paddy gasped between laughs, hardly noticing the deep red blush on Sirius’s cheeks…..

“Where is everyone” Cat yawned as she gratefully accepted a hot mug of coffee from Orpha as they sat at the table. “I thought the children would beat us down here by hours.”

“Well they might of, but I think everyone had a fairly late night.” Orpha remarked, then narrowed her eyes slightly at Cat. “Although I noticed you went to bed alone once again. So I don’t see why you would be tired.”