“Yes, Harry, she’s up,” Sirius smirked, “and you can open your eyes, we’re just hugging.” he added, teasing his godson. “Hey, no sticking your tongue out at me” he grinned, “show your elders ‘some’ respect.”

“Good Morning, Harry” Cat interrupted, “as you can see, Sirius is recovering quickly. Or at least his mouth is.” she stated, rolling her eyes and making Harry laugh. “So, who sent you up this time?”

Harry grinned sheepishly, after all, he had looked in on them nearly half a dozen times this morning alone. “Uncle Paddy. He says your god daughter has a right to know what’s going on.”

“Yeh, and I bet it took a lot to convince you, huh?” Cat remarked, shaking her head as Harry blushed softly, “Come on then, Har. Seeing as how your godfather refuses to listen to my advice, either medical or womanly,” she added, pointedly staring at Sirius, “maybe you can see fit to help me get him downstairs.”……

“Shhhhh, I hear them coming,” Sara hissed as she ran back to her seat at the table.

“Good, I was getting worried. Harry was gone awfully long.” Paddy grimaced, “I hope Sirius is as well as we’ve heard. I still find it hard to believe he survived it all.”

“Believe it” Luke grinned as he and Duncan ran into the room, quickly sliding into their seats, jostling some of the clan as they got settled. “we saw them coming and ran around the back stairs. He’s moving slow, but he is moving.”

“Praise the goddess” Siobhan sighed, “after the night Bruid had, I was positive I would wake up to hear he had…..never mind” she added quickly as she saw Sara and Calli staring up at her with their large eyes.

“Mum, is Da going to be alright?” Sara asked, worry evident in her eyes and her voice. “I thought Uncle Sirius was the only one who was attacked.”

Seeing Siobhan was close to tears herself, Duncan lifted Sara onto his lap and wrapped his strong arms around her, only to dip her down until her head nearly touched the floor, eliciting a laugh from the others. “When did this clan become a such nest of worriers? I mean, granted, its nice to know you think of us when we’re out righting wrongs and protecting our clan, but still…..” he laughed as Sara narrowed her eyes at him, trying to convince him she was upset. “Oh no…. angry eyes, angry eyes….shield your face before you melt..” he teased.

“And here I thought you would all be on pins and needles,” Cat said sarcastically as she and Harry escorted Sirius into the room. “to hear ‘some’ people talk even the babies, or at least Edana, was insisting….”

“Alright, alright” Paddy sighed, “don’t rub it in. Besides you can hardly blame us, and to be honest, you both look like you could use a few weeks on a nice warm beach somewhere. I don’t know which of you looks paler.”

“Or more worn out” Remus added as he rose from his seat and embraced Sirius. “You had us frightened half to death, Padfoot. You almost had me believing I was the last marauder, and I did NOT like the feeling.”

Sirius gave Remus the best smile he could manage, “Come on, Moony, it takes more than a tree with an attitude problem to keep me down. Besides” he added as he wrapped his arms around Cat and Harry, “I had my family to help me through it…speaking of which, where are Calli and Edana.” He was almost knocked backwards as Calli ran to him at the mention of her name, flinging her arms around his middle as she buried her face against him.

The only thing more rewarding to Sirius than the heart-felt hug of Calli, was the look of pure adoration and approval he saw shining from the eyes of both Cat, and of Aunt Orpha, who was approaching them from the other side of the room.

“Calli, dear, don’t hug him so tightly, he still has a lot of healing to do. Don’t you dear?” Orpha insisted as she took his face in her hands, kissing his cheek softly as she pushed the hair off of his face. “Well, you are certainly looking better than I thought you would. But that cut..” she clucked her tongue as she ran a gentle finger along his cheek.

“It will be forgotten in a day or so.” Cat assured her, quickly taking Sirius’s hand in her own, “Its his chest that worries me, it was badly scarred before from…..” she looked to Sirius, unsure if she should mention Azkaban in his presence.

“Its nothing but a bad dream now, gra.” he assured her, “Although I would rather not talk about it. How about we sit down and eat? I’m getting a little weak in the knees.”……

Drew took out his ‘squeeze box’, his concertina, a small accordion that was so popular among the Roma and the Celts; and began playing it as he wandered through the woods. He couldn’t be more than two or three days from this wizard’s school now, and as much as he hated to admit it, he was excited to finally meet the Gangrel known as Cash.

Cash had been little more than a legend among the Gangrel, often spoken of, seldom seen, but known to all. He was what they all wanted to be one day; ancient, powerful, and free to do as he chose with no allegiance to any prince or conclave. Although the stories of him killing primogens that he felt were unfit to lead was more than slightly unnerving. Yet, for the most part, the Gangrel spoke of him not with fear, but with awe and adoration as if he were their protector, the keeper of their ways. Drew smirked, they were sounding more and more like the Nosferatu.

And what of this school? Elsabeth had told him it was in an enchanted castle, surrounded by a bewitched forest and lake. It smacked of fairy tales; he was half expecting her to tell him of a fire breathing dragon that guarded its gate, or maybe a sleeping beauty in one of its turrets. He shook his head and laughed softly as he imagined himself as a knight, or better yet, Prince Charming. It was all so ridiculous to him, but then so many things seems pointless and preposterous to him nowadays.

And numbering among the most outrageous was Prince Daithi’s insistence that he lure the Rion to her doom. He had no doubt that Elsabeth was correct in her assumption, that this ‘fallen wizard’ would waste little time in dispatching the Rion and her son to the next world. Although he would dearly love to know why, it was obvious that quite a lot of information was being withheld from him, perhaps Cash would be able to enlighten him when they finally met……

“Catrianna Marzia!” Orpha snapped, “So help me, if you don’t stay still, I will summon ALL of your brothers to hold you down.”

“And if you do that, who is going to stop Shane from killing whomever he thinks got me this way?” Cat shot back, angry and embarrassed to be in such a position. “I told you before, when I know, I’ll tell you.”

“I’ve seen the way you’ve been ‘forthcoming’ with information lately, little girl” Orpha stated, “You went with that man for one reason and one reason only, and I know what you get like when your mind is made up. I would be amazed if you weren’t with child. And speaking of your professor, I saw him last night.”

“You did? How is he? Is he well, Rick said he was attacked, has he healed?” Cat blurted out, her words tumbling over one another.

“You do truly care for him, don’t you?” Orpha asked, her voice suddenly soft and compassionate. “I know you love Sirius, but you love him as well, I can see it in your eyes.”

“Yes, I do, but I don’t think I love him enough…..and Harry detests him. I can’t marry a man my son hates.” Cat replied, sighing softly “So, what is the verdict on the state of my womb.” she cringed as Orpha scrunched up her face.

“To early to tell” she said flatly, “but I’ll check you the moment you get back.”

“Ahhh, Merlin warned me about this” Cat winked as Orpha gave her a warning look, “he told me not to argue with you, just go wherever you told me to.”

“And what did ‘you’ say to that.” Orpha asked knowingly.

“I said as long as Harry came with me, I’d go wherever you thought was best. I’m actually being agreeable this time,….. imagine.” she teased.

“Imagine indeed, you must be more exhausted than I thought.” Orpha countered, “And before you ask, the answer is Dia. It is the only place I feel safe sending you in your …probable…condition.”

“My condition, or Sirius’s?” Cat asked, a keen gleam in her eyes as she stared at Orpha. “And I still don’t have a clear picture of what happened yesterday, care to enlighten me? Because if what I overheard of Bruid‘s story is true, it wasn‘t an accident.”

Orpha froze, she didn’t have the patience or the strength to go through this right now. “I don’t have all the fact yet either, and before you press the issue, I need to tell you some very sad news…..”

“Roel?” Cat guessed, “I felt something last night, but to be honest, I’m so tired….” she fell silent as Orpha wrapped her arms around her. “I should have been there, I’m so sorry for making you go through that. It was my responsibility, I should have found a way to.”

“To what?” Orpha countered, “To abandon Sirius after you had finally managed to pull him back to the land of the living? To risk your own life and possible someone else’s” she asked, placing her palm over Cat’s abdomen. “No, all things considered, it went well. And if nothing else, I did finally meet Professor Severus Snape, and he does miss you very much.”

Orpha helped Cat sit up and straighten out her dress as she continued. “I want to ask you a few questions about this professor. Do you know his parents well? Most particularly his mother.”

“I ‘met’ them, his father was a murderous brute, I despised him, he treated Sev and his mother with coldness and cruelty. He didn’t deserve to have a family, much less anyone as dear as the two of them.”

“And his mother? Was she the same way as his father?”

“Serena? No, the compete opposite.” Cat smiled, “She was the sweetest woman you would ever want to meet, and she loved her son with all her heart. I could see how much it hurt her when her husband would make those horrible comments about ‘mud bloods’ or other ‘creatures’, such as myself.” Seeing Orpha’s raised eyebrow, Cat explained. “His father belonged to the school of thought where the only people worth their salt were those of ‘pure-blooded’ descent. Witches and wizards all the way back, no ‘muggles’ or other ‘dirty blood’ allowed.” she scowled.

Seeing the angry scowl on Cat’s face, and not wanting to get her anymore upset, Orpha changed the subject, hoping to ask her more about the Snapes at a later date. “So tell me, Kitty, have you decided which children will go back with you to the school?”

“School….hmm… Well, Sara, of course, and I think I’ll pretty much ‘have’ to take Callista, won’t I?” she laughed, grinning as she thought of how close Calli had grown to both Harry and Sirius. “I’d like to take Moira and Zach as well, I know they’re older, but they both have good minds and a keen interest in the wizarding world. And I think Moira would do very well teaching after she gets used to the idea, Tris and I can take her under our wings and show her.”

“I think that is a very good idea, she needs to get out more and she’s always been responsible….but I’m surprised by Zach.”

“Why? Because of his fascination with human science?” Cat shrugged, “Science is their magic, and I think it’s a very good idea for him to study whatever interests him. You know what they say of an idle mind.”

“I believe that is ‘idle hands’ dear.” Orpha grinned.

“Well if the hands alone can get into that much trouble, imagine what the mind could do.” Cat replied, sticking out her tongue as she picked up a quill and began writing out names. “So, Sara, Calli and Moira….can you please agree with me on Zach,” Seeing Orpha roll her eyes, Cat smiled and added his name. “who else?”

“What about Tanja, she seemed quite interested, provided, of course, you were willing to take that ridiculous snake of hers with you.”

“Hey, I like Monty…goofy critter that she is.” Cat laughed. “That’s five then, plus Harry, any one else?”

“Not off the top of my head, and I don’t want you to take too many right off.” Orpha advised, “but let me think about it and we’ll make a final decision closer to you going back. But right now, I need you to pack, I want you and your clannad on your way as soon as possible. Would you like to pack for Sirius, or shall I ask one of the boys to help him?” Seeing the strange look that suddenly passed over Kitty’s face, Orpha placed her hand on Kitty’s cheek, “What is it child? Has something happened I should know about?”

“No, no…nothing like that.” Cat sighed, “Orpha, I’m sure you must have realized, Sirius came here with nothing. Just the clothes on his back and….it bothers him, Aunt Orpha, I can see it in his eyes.”

“I noticed” Orpha interrupted softly, “but you must realize things will not always be this way for him. He has hope now, he has Harry, he has you…and perhaps even Edana and Callista…he has a family again, Catrianna. He has something to care about, people to live for, people to love and who love him in return. He didn’t ‘honestly’ have that before he came here.” she watched as the sadness still filled Cat’s eyes. “What else?”

“I’m just worried, I know you’re not telling me the whole truth, Aunt Orpha. I can see the secrets in your eyes, and Luke’s, and Merlin’s….have things gotten so bad I can’t be trusted anymore? Have I made ‘that‘ much of a mess out of my life?”

“Oh, child, it that what you think?” Orpha cooed as she wrapped Cat in a tight embrace. “My poor, dear, girl. It has nothing at all to do with ….. Things are happening, you know that, but you, my little girl, have more than a full plate, and you MUST learn to let others help you. You must trust your clan to do what is best for you, just as we trust you to do what is best for your clan. If we are keeping anything from you, it won’t be for long, we just need to be sure before we burden you with our concerns.”

“But I have a very bad feeling I already know what at least one of those concerns is,” Cat countered. “This wasn’t an accident, I ‘know’ that. And neither was the fact that the night I left the school is the time that was chosen for Harry, Cash and Sirius to be attacked..” She slumped her shoulders, hanging her head as she whispered, “Its one of us, isn’t it? One of our own is betraying us.”

“It does seem that way, Kitty, but we still have no proof.” Orpha replied gently, “Which is one of the reasons I want you and the others in Dia, Mac Lir will protect you there as will Deo. I know the man has his faults, but that can be used to our advantage. His ambition will lead him to protect you, Harry and Sirius at all costs; to aid Clan MacLeod in their time of need? To say the least, his stature will be quite elevated amongst the people of that region.”

“To say the least” Cat agreed, “why does it have to come to this, Aunt Orpha? What have I done to cause this? Who would betray their own clan?”

Orpha shook her head as she stood up “That is quite enough, young lady.” she insisted, “Stand tall and proud, brush yourself off and move on with your life. You have far too many souls relying on you to fall into that endless pit of depression and self pity. Come on now, you need to pack for yourself and your son, I’ll take care of Sirius. And I may be sending some of the children along in a few days, but I want you to get settled first.”

Cat nodded, “Sirius is going to need so much attention, but I don’t want to make Harry feel as if I’m ignoring him. Maybe I should take at least one of the cousins along with us now.”

“Don’t be ridiculous” Orpha chastised, “Harry understands more than you think. He saw what Sirius looked like, he knew how bad it was, that we may lose him. If you want, I’ll send Sara along to Mickey’s with you, she can lend you a hand with your men. But she’ll need to come back after that, at least for a few days.”

“Mickey’s? We’re going to stop at Uncle Mickey’s?” Cat asked, a bright smile suddenly appearing on her face. “I haven’t seen him in so long, and Tanta Minnie asked me to get her presents to them, there a bit late, but still.”

Orpha shook her head as she watched Kitty rush upstairs to start packing, glow or no glow, that girl had to be with child. It was the only way to explain the mood swings she had just witnessed and she did seem to have that ‘look’ about her. But either way, it was best that her condition remain nothing more than a guess at this time, no one would talk of it unless they were sure, and no talk meant no chance of Maharet hearing about it.

Now, she had to see to the wizard who would be a father. Bless his heart, he had actually summoned the strength to make it downstairs, proving to everyone that he was well and whole, but he did look worse for wear. Poking her head into the room, she smiled as she watched Duncan doing his best to get Sirius to ‘eat a little more’; heaven help her, Duncan finally found a man he didn’t mind losing his sister to.