“Drying in the bath you old fool” Mandy teased as she stood between him and the window, a mug of coffee in her hand “Strong and black, and boy, are you going to need it.” she laughed as he gratefully took the mug and smirked up at her.

“And why is that? How much damaged did I do?” Duncan asked as he took a large swallow of the coffee, “gheez Mandy, that’s strong enough to put hair on your chest.”

“Which is why ‘you’ are the one drinking it, I expect Sirius and Remus will be needed some as well. You three certainly made a night of it. …although I must say I’m surprised you gave into Sirius so easily.”

Duncan froze mid-sip, “What do you mean, I gave into him?”

Mandy grinned knowingly, “Why don’t you remember sweetie? You gave him your blessing to marry Kitty. It was really rather touching and very, very sweet the way you…….hey, were are you going?”

“To find him and make sure he doesn’t do anything, what else?” Duncan replied as he dashed out the door.

Mandy smirked as she sat down and counted to three, at which point Duncan ran back into the room, a bright blush on his face as he grabbed a pair of trousers and a shirt. “You could have said something.” he commented as he pulled on his trousers.

“Now where is the fun in that?” Mandy teased, playfully throwing a pillow at him…….

Severus winced as he looked around the brightly lit room, he felt as if an small, ill-tuned brass band was playing polka music inside of his head. The feeling was only made worse by the sight of Cash lightly dozing in the chair that Rick normally sat in. Gingerly lifting his head from the pillow, he looked around the room, he was in Catri’s room again.

“So, sleeping beauty finally awakes” Cash said groggily, startling Severus who’s dark brown eyes immediately fixed on Cash’s. “Don’t worry wizard, I’m not here to cause you any harm, I just want to talk to you.”

Severus nodded his head, trying to ignore the pain as he focused on Cash. “Is Rick alright? Has something happened?” he asked, his normally silky voice sounding husky and strained. Cash smirked “Rick is fine, he’s keeping some of the Caitiffs company, I thought he could use a rest himself, he’s been at your side almost constantly since the attack. And you better rest that voice, I think you over did it with all the singing last night.”

“Singing? Me? I think not” Severus retorted, “obviously you had too much to drink last night if you thought you heard me singing.”

Cash couldn’t hide his smile any longer, “I know exactly what I heard Severus. And might I add, what a lovely baritone voice you have, Roel is positively jealous of you now.” he laughed out loud as Snape scowled at him. “No really, the duet you and Rick did was positively smashing, had the girls all over you two. You know, you can actually be charming when you’re not trying to be so miserable.”

“Is there something ‘important’ you wanted to talk to me about? Or did you simply wish to amuse yourself at my expense?” Sev asked, narrowing his eyes at Cash, but feeling a complete lack of anger as he looked into the Gangrels’ laughing blue eyes.

“Both, actually. But before we start on the important stuff, how about you get up and walk around a bit. I want you wide awake and coherent for our little talk, the house elves will be bringing up some tea and breakfast shortly.” Cash explained as he reached out and gave Sev a hand up out of Cat’s bed. ……

“Look, the dead have risen” Tris teased as Remus and Sirius finally made their way downstairs. “So, how are we feeling this morning?” she asked, grinning wickedly.

“Do you really have to ask?” Remus grumbled “I feel like something crawled in my mouth and died.”

“Well honestly, that would be a toss up between the haggis and the whiskey.” Cat teased, kissing his cheek as she handed him a glass of orange juice. “And how are you fairing Siri? You didn’t seem to be feeling any pain last night.”

“If only the same could be said of this morning” he smirked, holding his head in his hand. “Would you be an angel and get me a cup of coffee gra. And please, please tell me Duncan is in just as bad of shape as we are.”

Cat smiled and laughed lightly, “Sit down, I’ll get you some coffee, and as for Duncan, I haven’t seen him this morning. I think he may still be sleeping it off.” she added, winking as she placed a mug of coffee in front of a grateful Sirius, “How about you Lupy? Coffee as well?”

“Don’t go spoiling him too” Tris teased, “next thing you know, they’ll be expecting us to make them breakfast.”

Remus smiled mischievously, “Well, now that you mention it, breakfast would be nice. Eggs and bacon perhaps?”

“I don’t know Moony, it looks like she’s going to use the frying pan on your head, and not the stove.” Sirius chortled as he pulled Cat close to him, resting his head against her belly as they watched Tris and Remus bantering back and forth. He sighed softly as he felt Cat’s fingers combing through his hair, as much as he had wanted to share himself with her, he was glad she refused him last night. He wanted it to be special between them, just as it always had been, and the last thing he wanted was for it to turn into a desperate, empty act, he had had more than enough of those to last a lifetime. He wanted and needed love, her love, the love of her clan, of Harry, of little Edana, even the love of the child he felt sure was growing within her.

Sirius closed his eyes and focused on Cat, the sound of her breathing, the beating of her heart, the touch of her fingertips against his scalp. He wanted to remember every moment, savour each and every touch, he never wanted to forget how much he loved her, how much she meant to him.

“Siri? Sweetie? Are you asleep?” Cat asked softly as she looked down to see a peaceful smile on Sirius’s face.

“No gra, but I am dreaming” he responded quietly as he rubbed her belly with the palm of his hand. “Siobhan and Orpha keep telling me you want to have children soon. Do you really want to start a family Cat? Personally, I can’t think of anyone who would make a better mother than you.” he added as he gently pulled her onto his lap. “So is what they say true? And if yes, when would you like to start? I’m available at the drop of a hat.”

Cat giggled softly as she rubbed her nose against Sirius’s, “So what else is new? You always were the willing one.” she teased, only to jump as Tris dropped the pan creating a racket that had both of the men holding their heads and groaning. “Tris, that wasn’t very nice.” Cat laughed, knowing it had been no accident the moment she saw the devilish look on Tris’s face.

“So…who ever said I was nice? And he deserves it.” she added, sticking her tongue out at Remus, “Now he’s telling me ‘how’ to cook. I think I should make him cook his own.”

“Actually, he’s not a bad cook” Sirius chimed in, ‘although I doubt today would be the best day to prove that.” Seeing Tris holding up another pan, preparing to drop it onto the stone floor, Sirius added. “Have mercy Tris, he’ll make it up to you later. I swear he will, I’ll make him if I have to.”

“Don’t bother, because if she doesn’t keep the noise down, ‘she’ won’t live long enough to enjoy it.” Duncan growled as he shuffled into the kitchen, walking passed Cat and Sirius on his way to the coffee. He paused for a moment and back tracked, stopping behind Sirius and slapping the back of his head. “I said you could ask Magnus for her hand in marriage, ….didn’t say anything about mauling her.” he quipped as he continued towards the coffee.

“Well someone’s in a lovely mood.” Cat deadpanned as she quickly rose from Sirius’s lap, kissing his cheek as she did so. “Serves you right Duncan, you never should have challenged them, and you know it.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever Kitty. Nice to know I can rely on my family to help me out.” he added sarcastically.

“Well we would have, honestly we would” Tris interjected, “but we were laughing so hard at the three of you, we could barely stand, let alone try to help any of you. In fact, I think little Sara may have gotten most of it on tape. And may I add Duncan, the mid-air surfing as you attempted to dodge Sirius’s water cannon-thingy…. Truly a wonder to behold.” she stated, winking as the three men groaned and blushed with embarrassment……

“Do you need help with that Severus?” Cash asked as he watched the potion master mixing together several ingredients. “Don’t you need a ‘hair of the dog’ to finish that?”

“Thank you, but no.” Sev said flatly, “I doubt I will ever even look at that dog again. What exactly did you try and poison me with last night, if you don’t mind me asking.”

“Poison you? Why Severus, you wound me. …and I’ll have you know that was the finest barley bree ever to cross a mortals lips.”

“Barley bree? What in the name of Merlin’s beard is that supposed to be? Another of your quaint yet morbid customs, such as dancing with deadly weapons?” Sev countered, shuddering as he remembered Catri’s dancing with the swords the night before.

“You just won’t let that one go, will you?” Cash asked as he sat on Sev’s desk, waiting patiently for the professor to finish his potion. “I promise you she is fine, and after our little chat, I may even let you see her if it will settle your nerves. Because I have the distinct feeling that your mood isn’t entirely due to a hangover.”

“And what ‘do’ you think its due to?” Sev asked, trying to remain cool as the Gangrels eyes bored into the back of his head.

“I think it has a lot to do with your little comment from last night, wizard. The one about Angel carrying your child…care to expound on that a bit for me?”

Severus cringed as he heard the words, of course he knew he would pay for letting that little suspicion of his slip, but he had truly expected Rick to be able to protect him from the brunt of Cash’s furry, not leave him alone with the very man who more than likely wished him dead. Taking a deep breath and squaring his shoulders, Severus turned to face Cash, “I don’t care what you think about me Cash, I know you do not like me, and that you have this insane belief that Black is somehow a more fit husband for her than I am. But I love her, and she loves me. I am not ashamed of what we did, and I have every intention of marrying her when she returns.”

“No, you won’t” Cash stated quietly, yet firmly. “She’s not meant to be with you Severus. I know she loves you, I have never denied or discounted that, but you would never survive in our world, and she will never leave ours.” Cash walked to the potion master and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “We have all been trying to help you understand this, but you refuse to listen to us, even to Rick. I need you to understand why I will not allow you to marry her Severus,….”

“Well I do not understand” Severus hissed, “what makes you think you have the right to decide such things for her? You yourself just stated that you know she loves me, and that I love her, strange how that doesn’t seem to matter to you. And what of my child Cash? What will happen if she is carrying my child? Will you destroy it? Destroy her?” he asked, his eyes flashing with hurt and anger.

Cash narrowed his eyes as his voice became deathly quiet. “Never would I allow her to be harmed, and her children are ‘my’ children…..and no one, but no one harms my family.” he stated, his fist clenching as he fought back the urge to beat the arrogance out of the wizard.

“No one but you.” Severus shot back, “or have you decided to take the role of her husband yourself? Since ‘her’ children are now ‘your’ children.”

Cash easily grabbed the wizard by the neck of his clothes, lifting him as if he were little more than a doll. He strode across the office and tossed Severus into the chair behind the desk. Leaning on the arms of the chair until he was no more than an inch from the potion master’s face, he growled. “Fine, I’ve tried to be nice about this, but obviously that isn’t working, so let me draw you a picture. Angel, the woman you call Catri, is MY childe, my descendant. Her great-great-great-whatever-grandmother was my twin sister Cathane. So, she is ‘mine’ as are her children, Harry included. This entitles me to a certain amount of control over her and her choices, that and the fact that she loves and trusts me deeply, just as I love and trust her.”

“She has come to ask my advice countless times over the past three decades, and she will continue to come to me in the future, and I will be there for her, her children, her children’s children, just as I always have been.” Cash took a step back, allowing the now silent wizard room to breathe. “Believe it or not Severus Snape, I am only trying to spare you heartache, as you’ve seemed to have had more than your share in this lifetime. I won’t prevent you from trying to win her heart, that would be pointless.” he explained as he walked over to the now boiling cauldron, extinguishing the flame with a wave of his hand. “If you insist on pursuing her, know that I will not allow Rick or any of the other Gangrels to assist you. We decided several weeks ago who was best suited to be her husband…” Cash became suddenly quiet as he saw the pain and hurt deep within the wizard’s eyes.

“And what criteria did you use to ‘judge’ me? My ability to accept your ‘clan’ as it were? The depths of my feelings for her? My ability to provide for her and our children?”….

“Do you want the honest truth Severus?” Cash sighed as he ladled the potion into a goblet, “I will tell you if you really, truly want to know why we decided against you. But I warn you, you won’t like it.” he added, his voice now soft and gentle as he handed the potion to Severus.

“The whole and complete truth?” Severus whispered as he took the potion from Cash.

Cash nodded, “You are both equally strong, you both love her more than you love yourselves, you both want to have a family. You do have the added bonus of respect amongst your peers and the ability to move ‘unencumbered’ through the wizarding world. But you lack the ability to accept.”

“Accept? That is it! I lack the ability to accept, …accept what?!” Severus snapped.

“Her clan, at least the non-human ones; her ways, she’s offered to teach you Gaelic at least twice and you have refused, we won‘t even bring up our customs; and the most important of all, her son. You refuse to accept him, in fact if you aren’t trying to make him miserable, you flat out ignore him. And the way things are looking right now, she may very quickly be asked to become mother to two others, and trust me, she will willingly accept the role if it is asked of her.”

“To two others? Cash, what are you talking about? What others?” Severus asked, his eyes full of confusion.

“Do you remember the little girl Sirius was holding? The one I caught you weeping over?” Seeing Severus shyly nod his head, Cash continued. “That is her god-daughter, Edana. Her father is Padriac, he is a warrior, a young warrior, and the clan has doubts as to whether he is capable of raising Edana on his own. His sister Siobhan helps, but she has a family of her own, and a full plate if you understand my meaning. If the crones even think Paddy is not able to raise Edana, she will be given to Angel.

Sev nodded numbly, “and the other you mentioned?”

“Little Calli…. Callista, you’ll meet her when she comes to Hogwarts with the others.” Cash sighed, “She’s an orphan now, she needs parents, and Angel would be the first choice as she and Calli’s mother were first cousins. And Sirius has already proven his willingness and ability to accept another man’s child as his own.”

“Is that what will happen to my child then?” Sev asked angrily, “Without my consent or knowledge, my child would simply be given to Black to raise as his own?”

Cash paused when he saw the twitching of the wizard’s eye, this was simply too much for the man, he just didn’t understand clan laws, clan ways. “If and that is a very, very large IF, Angel is with child. It is ‘her’ child, the only thing that is known for certain is who the mother is, the father is never assured, no matter what.” Before Snape could argue, Cash cut in, “Think about it Severus, if she went from your arms to his within the space of say…. a week… could you say with absolute certainty that ‘you’ were the father?”

“But she would never do that.” Sev replied meekly, “She isn’t that sort of woman….”

“Well, I don’t know about the rest of you” Cat smiled, knocking Harry’s feet off of the sofa as she sat down, “but I’m board to tears. Who wants to see a movie?” She couldn’t help but laugh as Harry all but shot straight up from his reclining position.

“A movie? Really? Can we, please?” Harry asked excitedly. He had never been to see a proper movie, unless you counted the one time his Aunt and Uncle were forced to take him along when they couldn’t find a baby sitter for him, but he had only been eight, and was forced to wait in the lobby as they didn’t feel they should have to pay for him to actually sit and watch the movie with their precious Dudley. But the old man at the snack counter had been a kind and gentle soul, he had given Harry some candy and asked the man who ran the projectors to allow Harry to sit with him. He had been absolutely fascinated by the film, it was a cartoon, one of the big Disney ones, and now, he would actually be able to go and see one properly.

“Sure sweetie” Cat replied smiling widely when she realized Harry shared her love of movies. “Anyone else want to come?”

“Count me in” Sirius chirped, “I’ve decided that until you flat out tell me no, I’m considering you my bride to be, and that means only ‘I’ get to take you out on dates.” he winked, chuckling as Cat rolled her eyes and Harry smiled widely.

“Yea, O.K, Siri, whatever gets you through the day.” Cat replied sarcastically, but smiling all the same. “Anyone else? Or is it just me and …uhm…’mine’…as it were.” she quipped, shooting Harry a dirty look as he playfully shoved her against Sirius who had just joined them on the sofa.

“I’ll come” Sara shouted, making Remus and Duncan groan and hold their heads. “So will I” Calli added, making sure to keep her voice soft “And I know Tanja and LJ would want to come too.”

“Alright, go round up anyone who wants to come, we’ll wait here for you, but hurry up, I like to see the previews and cartoon.” Cat stated, smiling as her nieces groaned and ran off. “How about you Remus, a dark theatre may just help that headache of yours, what do you say? I‘m sure Tris is going to come along, aren‘t you Tristessa, dear?”

Tris gave Cat a mean glare, “Well I guess I am now, aren’t I? Or do you just want me there to chaperone that one?” she asked, motioning to Sirius who had already slipped his arm around Cat’s waist.

“Don’t push your luck blondy” Sirius growled playfully, as the inhabitants of the room ohh’ed softly, “Moony isn’t the only one with a headache.”……..

Fang leaned against the stone walls, made frightfully cold by the bitter January winds, and wondered what he had done to upset Cash. It wasn’t like the Gangrel to be so standoffish to him, in fact, Cash and Angel had always been the two he knew he could rely on, or at least he thought he could. But with Angel away, and Cash acting so oddly towards him, he wasn’t sure what to think anymore.

And then there was the strange shift in the Gangrel’s attitude towards the Slytherin Professor, once hated and now molly coddled by the very vampyres who should be howling for his blood. It just didn’t make any sense to him at all, why had they all changed so much? It couldn’t be due to his Alpha status, Cash had been the first to tell him to stop fighting it, that he was the best one for the pack. So what had changed over the past week, what had he done? Why were they suddenly friends with the Slytherin and acting like enemies to him?

Fang wiped at the tears that were slowly dripping off of his muzzle, he hated this, he hated not being able to go to anyone for advice. As much as he had always pretended to sneer at the words of his elders, in truth, in his heart, he paid attention to each and every word, especially Cash’s. Fang turned his face into the harsh, bone-chilling wind, he was tired of this, the Slytherin must have done something to the Gangrels, there was just no other explanation for it. The only question now was, what could he do about it?……

Cat and Sirius laughed as Harry ran through the house, trying to round up the other cousins who were planning on going with them. “I can’t believe he is ‘this’ excited over a movie, I mean, they aren’t ‘that’ great.”

“Hush your mouth Sirius Black” Cat teased, sticking her tongue out at him, “he’s obviously my son, and like his mother, he adores movies..” she squealed as Sirius lunged at her, capturing her in his arms and squeezing her tightly as he gently bit at her neck. She tried to struggle against him, but in truth she felt far too content to put up much of a fight, especially when she heard the heart-felt laughter erupting from him.

“You never seem to grow tired of teasing me, do you Cat?” Sirius asked, sighing contentedly as he inhaled the perfume of her freshly shampooed hair. “This is some marriage we’re going to have, but I guess I’ll get used to the abuse, eventually.”

“Oh, that sure of yourself are you? And what happens if I won’t marry you? Hmmmm”

“Of course you will, you told me you love me,” Sirius stated softly but confidently. “I held you in my arms last night and I heard you say it plain as day. Not to mention our son would never forgive you if you refused to make an honest man of me.” he added, teasing her playfully, rubbing his cheek against hers as she groaned at his comment.

“That’s a low blow Sirius, you really shouldn’t use Harry like that.” Cat sighed while nuzzling against him, thankful that his strong arms held her once more.

“Use me like what?” Harry asked as he came bounding into the room, several of his cousins in tow.

“I’m using you as yet another excuse to get her to marry me, Harry. So, what do you say? Have any problems with that?” Sirius winked, knowing full well what his godson’s feelings on the matter were.

“Nope, none at all. In fact, Aunt Siobhan and Aunt Orpha have suggested that I write Grandpa and ask him to give his blessings now.” Harry said casually, smiling as he saw the look of shock on Cat and Sirius’s faces and heard the soft cheers from his cousins. “So, are we going to the movies yet?”

“Oh boy, he’s fitting in a little too well” Cat smirked as she pulled out of Sirius’s embrace. “Alright, everyone who’s going, get in a circle. Harry you’re next to me, Siri, you take my other side. Tris, I take it you’ll keep an eye on Remus.”

Sirius smirked, “He’ll be lucky if her eyes is all she keeps on him.”

“Correction my friend” Remus grinned, “I’ll be lucky if that’s all she keeps off of me….. Oww… I’m just joking Tris, no need to get physical.” Remus yelped as Tris swatted him yet again.

“Black, don’t encourage him” Tris sighed, “I honestly don’t know which one of you is worse at this point.”

“Aunt Trissie has a boyfriend, Aunt Trissie has a boyfriend” Callie sing-songed as the group laughed. Harry only just noticed the blush on Remus and Tris’s faces when he felt Moira’s hand slip into his own.

Looking up at his older cousin, he smiled when he saw how much better she looked. “How are you Moira? Well enough to join us, I hope.”

“Are you kidding?” Moira responded as she took her place next to Harry in the apparation circle. “I would have to be on death’s door before I missed going to the movies with your mum. Besides, Aunt Orpha wants me to spy for her, do you want to help?”

“If in involves my Mum and Dad? You bet I do.” Harry stated, smiling broadly as Moira laughed softly.

“Not just them anymore” Moira whispered as they began to apparate, “Aunt Orpha is getting ideas on Remus and Tris too.”…..

“Milady, Milady” Kalliope sang out as she saw Lady Emma pass by the entry way. “Milady, did you see the letter? The one from Fernglennis? They will be here in just a day or two, in time for the celebration.” she gushed excitedly, “Your Father told me the Rion de MacLeod and the young prince are to visit Armagh tomorrow and then join us shortly thereafter.”

Emma smiled kindly as she heard Kalliope sigh wistfully “What do you think its like in Armagh? I’ve never been to a city under the water, much less on the bottom of the sea. I wager its lovely, full of pretty shells, and coral, …..do you think they all have tails like our mermaids do?”

“Calm down and take a breath Kalliope” Lady Emma advised, “and no, they don’t all have tails, at least not all the time. And yes, the city is beautiful, amazingly so.” Emma paused for a moment, regarding Kalliope carefully before she continued, “I know we touched on this subject before, but I want to make sure you feel comfortable about it. You don’t need to go if you don’t want to, you may want to meet Tanja first, make sure you two get along. I know you’ve never been off of the islands before.”

“Exactly, I’ve never been anywhere, and I want to Lady Emma, I truly want to. I want to see the world, meet different people, learn new things.” Kalliope insisted. “I know not everything will be nice and wonderful, I know there are people and places that will hate or fear me because I’m not like them. But isn’t the Rion taking Lady Tanja to a magical school? They must know about us, and if they don’t understand, they must at least be accepting, right? I mean, we’re all magic users.”

“Oh Kalliope, I wish it were that simple.”……..

“Here we are,” Cat state, squeezing Harry’s hand happily, “Montefalcon Cinema, home of the best films ever. I hope Maurice is here today, I’m sure he’ll want to meet you. Okay, lets take a head count, who exactly do we have with us. Moira, Calli, Sara, Mea, Tanja, LJ, Einy and Zach. Let’s see, Zach and Moira, your definitely in the adult category, uhm..Sara, Calli…”

“For the love of heaven woman, get in here and stop worrying about it.” a slight, older man with curly, white hair teased. “Come on, hurry up before the sky opens up, the storms are coming and I’m terribly board. No one wants to come to the cinema today, they are all at home sleeping it off it seems.” he added, laughing as the raindrops began to fall and the group dashed inside of his cinema.

“Hello Maurice, dear” Cat smiled, kissing each of his cheeks as she clasped his hand. “I was hoping you would be here today. I have a few people to introduce you to.”

“Do you now, wonderful, I so enjoy meeting new people, especially young, excited people.” he stated, smiling happily at the flock of children surrounding Cat. “How many of them are yours dear?” Maurice looked up as he heard Sirius’s laughter, “And who is this fellow? I recognize Tristessa, Sara and Moira, but not the rest of your little clan.”

Cat introduced everyone, saving Sirius and Harry for last. “And these two are ‘mine’ as you would say. This is Sirius, Harry’s father..uhm..godfather…uhm...”

“Father” Sirius corrected her, winking at Cat as he shook Maurice’s hand.

Cat sighed, shaking her head as she realized how confusing this was going to get. “And this is my son, Harry. I think you may remember him.”

Maurice turned his milky-grey eyes to Harry and smiled broadly, “Indeed I do, how are you my dear boy? I am so glad you have finally been reunited with your family.”

Harry gasped as he shook the man’s hand, he did know this man, he had met him once before, “But how? I …. You were the man from the snack counter, the one who was so nice to me, you gave me candy and told the man to let me watch the movies from the projector room when the Dursley’s made me sit in the lobby.”

“Ah, so you do remember me.” Maurice gushed, “Such a dear and pleasant child Catri, it is no wonder you were so heartbroken to be separated from him. And yes, dear boy, that was me, but don’t look so surprised. Your mother recruited us, all of us to watch over you, to make sure nothing happened to you. If only they would have allowed her to take you back,” he sighed, “but what is done is done. And we are both happy and relieved to see you back were you belong. I only wish your other parents could be here as well, I miss you other mother very much. She and Catri would sometimes spend and entire Sunday in here, watching film after film….” his eyes hazed over as he remembered the girls. They were always so happy together, sometimes they would even sing along with the films, creating all sorts of special effects or even causing the characters to spring to life and join the audience. Yes, it was never dull when the ‘ginger twins’ were about, how much he missed their antics, and even more, their laughter.

“You know about my parents?” Harry asked uncertainly, “but how, Lily and James Potter weren’t MacLeods, were they?” he asked, becoming confused by the way the old man seemed to know them.

“Well certainly not James Potter, but Lily, well, she was another story.” Maurice turned to look at Cat, “Two peas in a pod they were, I still can’t believe they weren’t twins. And as for what happened to them” he hung his head in sorrow, “we didn’t know at the time, but…well… your mother there has quite the wicked temper. It wasn’t long before everyone in Edinburgh-sa’ mheadhon had heard exactly what had happened.” he turned a scolding eye towards Cat. “It seems that your mother, in all her anger and pain, tore quite a few riffs in the veil over the days following your parents deaths. Cause a whole world of trouble, it took no less than twenty of the strongest and brightest mages to repair the damages, and she refused to stop until she had you in her arms. Needless to say, they sent a small troop of Gangrel to bring you to her immediately.”

“I’m NEVER going to live that down, am I?” Cat sighed, trying to brush off the looks she was getting from the children who were far too young to remember her rather dangerous, grief inspired, outbursts of the time. They had always known her as a protector, a defender, never as someone who needed to be stopped. But Maurice was right, the moment she felt Lily‘s life being torn from this plane, she had lost it. But at least the magical bonds they forged allowed a piece of Lily to live inside of her, although unfortunately, the piece of her that was in Lily died with Lily. Just as she opened her mouth to defend herself yet again, she felt Harry’s warm hand take hers, squeezing it gently as his eyes filled with tears.

“You did all of that just to get me? And they still refused to let me stay with you?” Harry questioned, his voice barely a whisper.

“I think its time we changed the topic of conversation.” Tris insisted, nudging both Sirius and Remus to help her “I don’t like that look in your eyes Kitty Cat, its over and done, your son is with you now. Let the past rest.” she added, nodding as Sirius took her other hand and she shot Maurice a look that brooked no disobedience.

“Quite right” Maurice agreed, “I prefer to discuss movies and popcorn, what do you say children, shall we pick our shows and get you all settled?” he smiled as the children cheered at his suggestion. “So what shall it be? Action, Comedy, Musicals, Film Noir?”