CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR: 12 GRIMMAULD PLACE

"Come along now everybody! We need to get back to headquarters!" Mrs Weasley finally announced after the scene between Snape and Tonks.

"If it wasn't for Remus, Molly, Snape would be in a headlock on the ground!" Tonks snarled still trying to free herself from Remus, Feed and George laughed at this but Mrs Weasley glared at them, they fell into silence.

"Now everyone grab your trunks! We shall be apparating!" All the adults scuttled around trying to pick up the childrens trunks apart from Fred and George's. George quickly picked it up to avoid anyone seeing the inventions.

When everyone had hold of their belongings each adult took one of the childrens hands and apparated. The twins apparated themselves holding on tightly to their inventions. A moment later all found ourselves outside the Order of the Phoenix headquarters, where just inside in the hallway a little black dog was pacing.

"Sirius!" Breathed Harry excited at the fact he was going to see his godfather again, there was a bit of barking from inside and Remus led everyone into the hallway.

The black dog that had been pacing was now standing upright in human form speaking warmly to Harry. Ron made his way into the kitchen and with a wave of Sirius's wand the trunks vanished to upstairs.

"So what about that girl of Snape's? Is she coming?" Sirius asked looking over the heads of others, looking to see if he could see Lucy herself.

"She isn't coming Sirius," said Mrs Weasley giving Fred a weak smile before turning back to Sirius.

'Has mum guessed I'm dating Lucy?' Fred wondered as George ran his trunk upstairs.

"Severus took her home, it was as though he was refusing for her to come to Headquarters. I don't see why he kept her there because he's going to be visiting here every day for meetings!" Tonks huffed and breezed into the kitchen, Remus following faithfully behind.

"That's a shame...say, does Snape's girl look like him?" Sirius asked with curiosity to anyone who would listen.

"I didn't see her up close I — " Molly began but Fred spoke up.

"Not at all." Fred interrupted.

"She dodged a bullet there, certainly," Sirius laughed but Molly gave him a look and he silenced.

"Kreacher does not wish for a filthy half breed to enter the noble house of Black, what would poor mistress say?" A voice croaked from below, Fred looked down and saw a house elf, it was Kreacher. Everyone but Hermione despised him.

"SHUT UP KREACHER!" Sirius and Fred yelled in unison, everyone looked at Fred a bit surprised, he shrugged

"Blood status is irrelevant," he huffed and made his way upstairs to join George.

*

After lunch the knock at the door came.

Sirius' mothers portrait subsequently began to scream.

Sirius growled and dashed upstairs, forcing the curtains to close and muttering things like: 'we have told people not to knock!' and 'I wish that old hag would shut up, just for once!'

Meanwhile Tonks dashed to the door and found Snape standing there, a classic sneer etched upon his features.

"Watch out, wind will change and your face will stay like that," Tonks opened the door wider.

"You are oh so original, Miss Tonks," Snape didn't even look at her as he passed the threshold.

"Mrs Lupin," Tonks huffed and glared at him. She was about to shut the door when she saw Lucy standing there. "Cor — you really did dodge the Snape genes."

Lucy stood there with a smile upon her face, waist length hair dancing behind her and a twinkle in her green eyes. She extended her hand to Tonks. "Dodged? I had to use the right footing and a defence spell to keep away from them — it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh!" Tonks took her hand, close to happy tears. "A sense of humour too! Are you sure she's yours, Snape?"

"I collected her from the hospital, I am most certain," Snape was beginning to get bored over the chit chat.

Tonks smirked at him slyly. "Is that where your mama told you babies came from?"

"Severus," Remus greeted, coming out of the kitchen in an attempt to diffuse the tension. "The meeting is just about to start."

Snape gave a final glare at Tonks before heading into the kitchen. Remus extended his hand to Lucy:

"Lovely to see you again, my dear."

"And you, Professor Lupin."

"Oh no, I'm no longer Professor; please call me Remus."

"And you can call me, Sirius."

All looked up as Sirius rejoined them.

"You can't be Sirius!" Lucy grinned as she extended a hand to him. "My fathers told me a lot of things about you."

"All bad I hope," Sirius laughed as he took her hand. "Say, that must mean you're — "

"Snape's daughter," Lucy confirmed.

Sirius looked at her dumbfounded.

"Don't worry, we were just discussing my gene pool." Lucy turned to the side. "I didn't get the nose if that's what you were wondering."

"Lucy? More like lucky what with those looks and a decent sense of humour," Sirius then looked at her strange. "You know you sure do look like — "

"Sirius!" Molly called from the kitchen, he and Lucy were the only ones still in the corridor.

He kissed her on the back of the hand. "Lovely to meet you, my dear, give Snape hell for me."

"Every day," she winked.

Molly smiled at her from the doorway as Sirius went in. "They're all upstairs, Lucy, dear."

"Thank you, Mrs Weasley," Lucy did a small bow before heading up the stairs.

She heard voices coming from upstairs and located the door they were coming from. She didn't knock and instead pushed it open so it creaked. "It's me."

"Lucy!" Hermione gasped and ran over and embraced her. "How lovely to see you!"

"You too, 'Mione!" Lucy laughed, warmed at the enthusiasm she was greeted with.

"No doubt your father is downstairs for the meeting," Ron chipped in.

"That's the cover story," Lucy lowered her voice. But then couldn't conceal her smirk as she saw the others' baffled faces. "The truth is he just can't keep away from Remus."

All burst into laughter. A moment later Lucy heard a crack and Fred and George were stood either side of her.

Fred patted her on the shoulder. "Thought we heard your giggle."

"Fred! George!" Lucy said in surprise. "How lovely to see you both."

"You're just the person we need," George cocked an eyebrow. "We need your help."

"Still haven't learnt to do your ties boys?" Harry smirked.

"Well, Harry," Fred shrugged as they led Lucy out of the room. "It's our last year."

George shrugged. "Why learn now?"

They dragged Lucy off to their room and then shut the door. Fred gestured for Lucy to sit on the edge of his bed and he sat next to her while George reached under his bed and handed her a pouch full of coins.

"Weasley's Wizard Wheezes continues to be a success," he beamed at her. "And those Fainting Fancies were the next step. So that's your share of the profit."

"If this is my cut," Lucy rested the pouch in her hands in awe. "You two must be rich."

George lifted up the cover to his bed so Lucy could see further underneath the bed frame. There was a suitcase tucked neatly under there, just barely shutting. He dropped the cover and said nothing

"We're slowly getting enough to buy our own shop," Fred admitted, looking down at her. "All because of you."

"Then I want to give back," Lucy reached into the pouch and pulled out a handful of coins.

"No!" Fred's eyes widened. "That's your share — "

"You deserve it," the twins said in unison.

"Honestly, guys I was just expecting to have enough money to buy some Every Flavour Beans a bit more often and now I have that and more. You need it more than me," she pressed the coins into Fred's palm and placed his other one over it.

"Well, we promise you're not just our cash cow. We want to keep earning so we can give you more and you won't feel bad," George took the money from Fred. "Can you help us with any more inventions?"

"Filthy half-breed," the sour voice of Kreacher came from the crack in the door.

"Kreacher!" Fred hissed and George got up and opened the door and shooed Kreacher out.

Without warning Fred leaned in and kissed her, Lucy was caught by complete surprise.

"What was that for?" She breathed, amused.

"George could be back any minute, I have to steal one at any opportunity I have." He smirked at her, his lips brushing her face.

"How about another?"

He grinned and then kissed her again, holding on for a little longer this time. He was about to go in for a third kiss when the door opened again.

Fred pulled away just in time as George sat opposite them again. "So how about it?"

Lucy rested her hands in her lap. "How about a love potion?"