"Well, don't leave us hanging? Tell us already Hellcat." Harry yelled out in frustration. Daphne's dramatic pause was driving him crazy. Ginny looked like she was about to bite through her bottom lip, and he had definite plans for those luscious lips later on.

"Shadow you have no flair for the dramatic at all, but since you insist I will tell you…um, what were we talking about again?" Daphne teased. Ginny screamed out in frustration. It was very apparent that she didn't want to be named Sparky. Harry reached out his hand and made it look like he was choking an invisible person.

"What are you doing?" Daphne asked in mild curiosity at his odd behavior.

"I'm using the force to choke you. What does it look like?" Harry answered with a duh expression.

"The force?" Both girls asked together.

"That's it! We're having a freakin movie night I'm tired of explaining everything." Harry said as he threw both his hands up in the air in frustration. When he was met with more confused expressions he added. "We'll pop popcorn, make nacho's, have a food fight, and then my mum will ground me for making a mess. You'll love it."

"Sweetie, I love the way your mind works. Have I told you that lately?" Ginny asked with a look of complete contentment on her lovely face.

"I'm surprised he didn't suggest a pillow fight." Daphne added with a false glare.

"A lingerie pillow fight? Now that could be fun. See I knew there was a reason I liked you Daph." Harry shot back with a wink.

"He just a randy little bugger, isn't he?" Daphne asked Ginny while shaking her head in disbelief.

"Welcome to my world." Ginny answered as she rolled her eyes at her boyfriend. Then she copied the force choke move he did earlier to which he blew her a kiss. "Then again, he would look cute in a red garter, fishnet stockings, and a nice pair of stilettos." Ginny added with an evil grin.

"No, no, no! Mental picture! Go away, go away!" Daphne yelled as she crunched her eyes shut and massaged her temples. Harry wasn't sure if he should be offended by that or not. Yeah, like that's ever going to happen.

"How's about noooo." Harry answered in his best impersonation of Dr. Evil. The girls gave him a questioning look again at his antics, but the room was soon filled with laughter. They guessed it was one of those Muggle things they would just have to accept, and with it the weight of the day seemed to lighten considerably. None of them seemed to feel the need to regain their respective composure; in the end it was Daphne that achieved it first.

"Celestial Fury or maybe Fury for short." Daphne said as she looked intently at Ginny. The said girl sat up from the position that she was laughing in and looked back in shock.

"Really?" Was all Ginny managed to get out. Harry looked back and forth from Ginny to Daphne, and then back to Ginny again. Daphne was nodding approvingly at Ginny. She in turn mouthed thank you.

"I take it there's a story behind this name?" Harry finally asked both girls nodded without breaking eye contact.

"It's a Celtic Legend that my mum once told me." Daphne told Harry as she broke eye contact with Ginny. "The story goes that a powerful vampire ruled over his land. Once every hundred years he would take a young maiden as a bride in exchange of only killing what he needed to survive. Most of the time, he killed travelers that were passing through his land, so the villagers didn't really care all that much. He would send his servants to collect whichever young maiden took his fancy. When they came to collect their Master's prize none of the villagers would oppose them. Parents would freely hand over their daughters of fear of what would happen if they refused.

The village girls were raised to believe that it was an honor and their sworn duty for the good of the community. Most of the maidens accepted their fate, of course some would resist it, but they always went in the end, save one. She was said to have hair like wildfire and a will to match it. When they came for her she fought back with all she had. It was said that a traveling rogue was the only one to come to her aid. The two fought back to back until the last of the vampire's servants fell. According to legend they fell in love the moment their eyes met, but isn't that the way these stories always go." Daphne started.

"I always loved that part." Ginny added and continued where Daphne left off. "Well, as you can imagine the vampire was not pleased to say the very least. The next day he sent more servants only to be killed again by the young lover's. And so on and so on it went, until that fateful day when they finally lost.

The village leader slipped the rogue a potion that made him sleep for three days. The maiden was forcibly handed over to the vampire, betrayed by her own people all for the good of the village. Still she fought against the vampire to the very end, but she eventually fell and was turned. When the rogue awoke she had already been in the ground for two days. He wept at her grave through a thunder storm refusing to leave her.

At sunset he sought out the leader of the village and killed him without blinking an eye. The rogue warned the village that if anyone tried to bury the body they would share the betrayer's fate. He then went to the nearest inn and waited for his love to rise. When she did the vampire was waiting for her. He ordered her to kill the one she loved most in the world so her soul would be lost forever. So she sought out her lover and found the remains of her betrayer laying in the street. It was said that she laughed at his disemboweled body before following the trail of blood that led her to her love." Ginny stopped to catch her breath and Daphne took over.

"She never spoke a word to him. Just offered him her hand and he took it without hesitation. She led him to his room. It's said that it was her love for him that allowed her to resist the blood lust. She made love to him for the first and last time that night. Just before sunrise they left the room and wandered out into the street. The vampire watched from his darkened carriage as they waited for the morning sun. He and the villagers watched as she silently turned to dust in her lover's arms.

Now, the vampire knew dark magic and summoned her ashes to him then the carriage sped away to his castle. The rogue followed them and it took a full day and night to reach the vampire's castle. As the sun rose up to meet the last day of his life the rogue waged a one man siege on the castle. He slaughtered every one of the vampire servants and waited for the dark creature to wake. When the vampire did he was not alone, for the rogue's love was at the vampire's side. By then she had already killed her parents and had lost her soul forever, or so the vampire had thought.

The rogue dropped his sword and offered his neck to his love without pause. A hair's breath from biting him she hesitated and told him that death couldn't stop her from loving him. He told her to drain him so that they would always be together. She gave him his last wish, and took in not only his blood but his soul as well. Reunited once more in body and soul she picked up her dead lover's sword and attacked the vampire.

The battle raged for an hour and a large amount of the castle was destroyed in the brutal clash. Outside another powerful thunderstorm waged its own war. The villager's seeing the error of their ways had come to help the rogue. They bore witness to the tragic climax to the star crossed lovers. On a half destroyed tower the vampire tried to flee. He jumped off the tower and tried to transform into a huge bat. The maiden leapt after him and buried her love's sword to the hilt through his back. The part of the sword that was sticking out of the vampire chest was struck by lightning.

Neither of them was ever seen again. The only proof that it ever happened was the rogue's sword that fell to the ground. Baptized in the vampire's blood that would never wash off. The storm seemed to take on a life of its own, as if they continued their battle in the heavens. The castle was hit repeatedly by lighting until only rubble remained. From that day forward the maiden was referred to as Celestial Fury. When I looked into your Animagus eyes Ginny, that's what I saw. So tell me, am I off or did I hit the mark?"

The silence of the room was deafening as Daphne waited for their response. The similarities were just too numerous to explain away as coincidence. The Vampire Lord demanding his prize, the leader of the village surrendering her for the greater good, and the villager's blindly following what their told. It was enough to make Ginny ill. Harry reached out and grabbed Ginny's hand to steady her. She looked into his eyes and knew that he would die before he would let history would repeat itself.

"I would say that was dead eye accurate." Ginny confessed when she mustered up the strength to look at Daphne. "Kind of creepy how you can do that. I'm just glad you're on our side." Harry had heard this story before, but through a different venue, and not so detailed. If he was correct, then the Blood Sword may very well be real and not just a legend. His mum always told him that legends were always based in fact.

"Fury…I like it. Gin we make our own destiny." Harry added and gave an extra squeeze to her hand to emphasize his point. She gave a weak smile. Sometimes Daphne hated how accurate her guesses could be. She didn't need to know the details, she knew in time she would get it when she had earned their trust.

"You'll get your happy ending Ginny." Daphne told her with absolute conviction. Ginny shot out her other hand to Daphne. The girl took it without reservation. Harry took Daphne's other hand, the Triquetra was complete. The Celtic Trinity Knot held many meanings for some it meant body, mind, spirit, or to others it was power, intellect, love, and in certain circles it meant creator, destroyer, and sustainer. It mattered little, Harry, Ginny, and Daphne represented them all on some level or another.

"Fury, Shadow, and Hellcat, I like's. It has an intimidating sound to it." Ginny speculated.

"No Shadow, Fury, and Hellcat, now that has a better ring to it." Harry modified.

"Why do to two get top billing? It should be Hellcat and her bitches." Daphne finished with before they broke out laughing again. A popping sound alerted Harry that they were no longer alone. A moment later Fred, and Hesta walked into the livingroom wearing Slytherin boy's uniforms. Hesta wasted no time in removing the unwanted garments. As luck would have it, she had the good sense to have her regular clothes under it.

"How'd it go and where's George?" Harry asked them. Fred immediately blushed and started to rub the back of his neck. Hesta had a toothy grin that was more than a little unsettling, even for someone as experienced as Harry was.

"George had to go see Angelina off. She was only back for the one day you see. She's got a game in Paris tomorrow. As for the little prank we just pulled. Well, you see- the thing is-"

"Harry James Potter! What did you try to make my brothers do?" Ginny shot at him with a glare that sent a chill down his spine. He gave her an innocent shrug that she didn't buy for a second.

"Oh stop pussyfooting around and tell him already." Hesta ordered her new lover as she slapped him hard in the bum. So hard in fact that he went up on his toes and winced. Ginny looked amused by the display, and Daphne looked shocked. If it was because she had never seen a female Goblin before, or the fact that she realized that the two had already had sex Harry couldn't decide.

"Well it started off as planned. Me and the green temptress here took the Polyjuice potion to the fourth floor corridor and took are positions in the broom cupboard there." Fred started.

"Are you mental? That is the most used broom cupboard in the school. Terry Boot and Fay Dunbar practically have their own plank on the ruddy door. She's the biggest gossip in the school. What were you thinking sending them there Harry?" Daphne asked in total shock. Harry should have known better than that. The smile that spread across his face told her he did. He then looked over to Fred and Hesta.

"What happened?"

"Well, we did like you suggested and downed the potion before class let out. Sorry Harry, I just couldn't do it. I know it was Hesta, but she still looked like Crabbe." Fred started.

"Yes, he was being a little girl about it, so I took matters into my own hand." Hestia continued as she rolled her eyes.

"Quite literally I might add."

"I didn't hear you complaining?" Hesta shot at him with a pointed look.

"Well no bloke is going to complain when a girl does that."

"Do you want it to happen again?"

"Yes"

"Then quite you're bitching. Just stand there and look pretty. Momma got this." Fred was about to retort when Harry whistled and brought to their attention that others were in the room.

"If I'm reading through the lines correctly, am I to assume that when the door was opened Boot and Dunbar had the pleasure of seeing Crabbe giving Goyle a hummer?" Harry asked. Hesta winked at him and Fred turned red and looked anywhere but at his sister. Ginny gasped and Daphne closed her eyes and started to message her temples again. It seemed that she was trying to erase yet another mental image from her mind. That was the sight George walked into.

"What did I miss?" He asked the group.

"Well it seems that thanks to Fred and Hesta, Crabbe and Goyle now have the nickname Kneel and Bob." Harry told him.

"Neal and Bob?"

"That's Kneel with a K sweetie, do try to keep up." Daphne teased the confused George. It seemed she had recovered from the mental picture quicker than she did last time. It was then that George recognized her. Daphne was afraid he was going to go into Gryffindor mode, and call her evil of something lame like that. He just smiled at her, but the way he was looking made her blush a little.

"Just my luck they go and change the girl's uniform after we graduate." George told Fred, but didn't take his eyes off Daphne.

"I don't think Angelina is going to like you ogling other girls George." Ginny said with her wand pointing at him. Daphne had been through a lot today and didn't need for her idiot brother perving on her. If she had looked over at Daphne, she would see by the smile on her face that suggested she wasn't minding all that much.

"We're keeping it casual I'll have you know, she's focusing on her career and travels a lot. Neither of us wants to end up resenting each other down the line for…missed opportunities." George told her, and Ginny nodded her head in understanding. "Besides, I was appreciating, not ogling. There's a difference you know."

"Good, now that that's all settled. Hesta I need you to give this to Griphook, he'll know what to do." Harry said as he handed her a sealed scroll. He then handed Fred and George another vial and vault key each. "I need Crabbe and Goyle to be seen going to Gringotts and emptying their Trust Vaults, try to look nerves doing it. Then go to the Quidditch Supply shop and buy two of the new Firebolts that just came out. Fly out of Diagon Alley; make a big display out of it." Harry finished. It hit Daphne in a wave; they didn't have to hide the fact that Crabbe and Goyle were dead or how they died. Hogwarts gossip was like an article from Rita Skeeter, it only requited a sliver of truth and a lot of imagination. By dinner there would be so many theory's that the truth would never come to light.

"He's just his own special brand of evil genius," Daphne said to Ginny with a look of awe. "I would have never thought up something as devious as that, and I'm a bloody Slytherin."

Due to her upbringing Narcissa Black as she was now called had been taught the benefits of being patient. She prided herself for mastering this subtle art, for it had served her well. Even as gifted as she was at it, she knew that she had reached her limits.

Finding Rose Lancaster was not a terribly difficult feat. Tedious yes, but not very difficult for a Witch of her caliber. The poor woman suffered a complete mental breakdown shortly after retiring from the Ninth Street Orphanage. The unfortunate Muggle that she was married to for over forty years couldn't for the life of him remember that he was ever married at all, even with the endless sea of pictures that were all around his house. His family probably mistook it for Alzheimer's, but Narcissa knew better. Whoever was behind this was good, but didn't take into fact that the Witch that came looking for this woman was a daughter of the House of Black.

The man's mental defenses were nonexistent, and the pathetic excuse for the charm on his mind was laughable at best. Whoever performed it was either not expecting anyone to figure it out so they didn't put forth the proper effort, or just plan weak in magic? Regardless, she was able to return the man his mind and at least forty years of memories with his wife. She wished she could have done more. She was a Witch for Merlin's sake!

What she didn't expect was how her heart felt lighter when she looked into the man's eyes and saw the memories return. Nor the tears that swelled in her eyes when he thanked her for the little gift she had given him. These Muggles were a strange lot, but the thought of getting to know them better didn't seem all that bad.

It seemed that they chose to hide her in plain sight. After going to the hospital that her husband told her she was at. Damn Muggles and their annoying rules on disclosure, it took a few mind probes but she found out where she was transferred to. After seven different hospitals and even more mind probes she found that Mrs. Lancaster was taken to St. Mungo's of all places. These people were really starting to piss her off.

Taking a wild shot Narcissa went straight to the fourth floor and directly to the Janus Thickey Ward. Their sitting in a chair looking out a window was Rose Lancaster. As she approached Rose an elderly Healer approached her.

"Hello, I'm Healer Osborn are you a friend of Rose?"

"I'm afraid I've never met her before. She was my last lead. I was hoping she could help me find a little girl's parents." Narcissa felt that honesty would serve her better. Apparently Lily had rubbed off on her more than she thought. Of course the Ministry documentation she presented the Head Healer said she had Auror status, as did all Marauders thanks to Sirius. That should cover any encumbrances that the Healer might throw at her. Sometimes bureaucracy is a good thing if one knows how to use it properly.

"That's a shame, I'm afraid that poor Rose can't help anyone anymore," Healer Osborn said sadly.

"What happened to her?"

"One of my Trainee Healer was taking a tour of a Muggle Hospital and recognized her. She was brought here. It seems that she been repeatedly Obliviated over several years."

"Do you know how many times?"

"Our best guess is close to twenty. No one comes back from something like that. I'm afraid the woman she was is gone for good. I'm sorry dear, but I don't think she's going to be able to help you find that girl's parents."

"Would you mind if I sit with her for awhile?"

"Certainly, she doesn't get many visitors."

"But she does get visitors? You wouldn't happen to have a list of them do you."

"You just don't give up do you?"

"It's not in my nature."

"I'll be right back," Healer Osborn said before leaving Narcissa with Rose Lancaster. She sat down next to her as the woman looked blankly out the window. She reached out and took the woman's hand. Narcissa had hoped that some human interaction might spark some response. No such luck.

"Hello Rose, you don't know me, but I want you to know that I've met your husband earlier today." She looked for any sign of recognition, but found none. Narcissa pushed forward. "He misses you very much." Still no response perhaps it was time to change tactics.

"I talked to Adam." Rose's eye twitched for a second, and then she was lost in her own world again. All those years watching over children that weren't her own, perhaps on some level they were. Mother's instinct, they could never take that from you.

"He's a good boy. I know what they did to him." Her bottom lip quivered.

"Emma made it to Hogwarts. She has people that care about her there." Was that a smile?

"I need to find her parents." Her brows crunched together for a moment then nothing. A Trainee Healer passed by and Narcissa felt his eyes on her. She repressed the urge to snap her head around and glare at him. She had made them, but they didn't need to know that. She slipped her wand out and silently cast the charm to ensure their privacy.

"If I can find them, then maybe I can help both Emma and Adam. They were meant to be friends." Rose gave a little nod. That's not a coincidence. A smile ran across Narcissa's glamour altered face.

"The cat lady took that from them didn't she?" Rose slowly closed her eyes and then opened them again. Narcissa was starting to get the feeling she wasn't as bad off as she appeared. She silently reactivated the charm to detect magic. Rose's wedding ring had a strong protection charm on it. One or both of the squibs parents were probably in Slytherin. Before she could confirm this, Healer Osborn came back with the Visitor Ledger. She gave it to Narcissa and told her that she had rounds to make. One look at the ledger told her all she needed to know. Several different visitors appeared to have the same hand writing. It seemed that Dr. D. Fudge was now Mrs. D. Fudge. I do believe I've just found the cat lady's alias.

Narcissa took out a compact to check her makeup and scan the room with the mirror. She wasn't at all surprised to see that the Trainee Healer kept looking in their direction. He was being too obvious about it to be one of them. Most likely he was paid or threatened to keep an eye on Rose. She would have to Obliviate him before she left.

"Rose I know they're still watching you. I'll be back when their eyes are sleeping. Daughters of the House of Black never give up." Narcissa whispered in her ear as she gave her a hug. She never felt a folded piece of parchment being slipped into her robe. She needed to talk to Andy and Lily, come midnight they were going to break her out.

Arthur Weasley just returned from lunch with his son Bill. It was a very eye opening experience to say the least. The Order Meeting that he went to last night was a complete waste of time. Unless the goal was to make his wife insanely mental, if that was the true purpose then he would have to admit it was a smashing success.

Augusta Longbottom's constant snide remarks on Ginny's supposed betrayal of her precious Neville only enraged his wife more. She all but said that his daughter would be nothing more than Longbottom House entertainment if she had anything to say about it. He was well aware of how certain Noble Houses conducted business. Concubines were often offered up to sweeten the deal as they say. Of course Neville played up the mortally wounded boyfriend for all it was worth. Molly begged for him to give Ginny another chance. She swore that if was the last thing she would do she would free her daughter from Potter's immoral influence.

He actually had to stop his wife from accusing Lily's son of using an Unforgivable to control Ginny. To accuse a Noble Lord with no proof of such an act would have brought down grave consequences on his family. He had only met Lily Potter the one time, but he highly doubted that she would raise a son that would do something like that. To have stated that thought out loud and in the presence of his wife had earned him a night on the couch. Not that he minded all that much; he wasn't too terrible fond of his wife when she went on these kinds of rants, which was becoming more frequent of late.

He still loved his wife as much now as when he was a hormone driven teenager, however there were times that she would push him to his limits. She was a good wife and a very loving mother. He never doubted that, but she wasn't without…issues.

He had allowed her to rule the roost as they say, because she seemed to need the control. After what she had endured in her life it seemed like a little thing to surrender for his wife's piece of mind. He was now seeing that perhaps that a series of check and balances would have been a better decision.

Molly for all her strong opinions and single-minded determination was for lack of a better word a follower, and Dumbledore's word she followed without question. She was an honest person and naively thought that Dumbledore and the Longbottom's were too. His job at the Ministry had stripped him of that illusion long ago.

He supposed that his faith in Dumbledore first started to falter when he let things get so out of control during Ginny's first year. A Wizard as old and knowable as him should have figured out that a Basilisk was on the loose with the clues that were presented. Ginny's Life Debt to Neville never felt right to him. Molly and he were so overwhelmed the night Ginny was returned to them that he didn't challenge Dumbledore about it. Arthur was just happy Ginny was alive. They misguidedly took Dumbledore's word without pause. Every time he thought to look into it the contemplation would leave his mind just as quickly as it came. Over time he just accepted it as fact.

When he was notified that Ginny was captured by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named psychotic second in command Arthur was understandable enraged, but when Dumbledore told him Ginny was a Casualty of War his faith in the man shattered completely. He had failed his daughter and in his grief fell into darkness.

It was Remus Lupin that pulled him out. He had secretly told Arthur that Ginny had been rescued and was recovering in a very safe place. Remus assured him that she would be back home in a week, but blind faith was not something he would give to anyone again. He didn't let up until Remus told him that James's Lily-flower was watching over her. He knew of whom Remus spoke and knew she would protect Ginny with her life if need be. From that day forward Remus Lupin had his trust and Lily Potter his undying gratitude.

After reading the morning Daily Prophet, Arthur arranged for lunch with his son to get the real story. He got to meet Bill's lady and he would have to admit the boy sure could pick them. She was quite beautiful and even more opinionated, he had learned to his regret. Arthur had inquired about young Lord Potter's intentions for his daughter. His words may have been accusing in nature, he really wasn't sure. What he got in response was a drink in his face and a lot of unfriendly French words that he didn't understand thrown at him in rapid succession. After she stormed off, Bill informed him that Fleur and Harry were childhood friends. Arthur also learned from Bill that he owed the young Lord a very heartfelt thank you. When he opened his office door and saw Molly waiting for him, he knew in the pit of his stomach that things had just gotten worse.

"You were quiet at lunch today Sirius. Is there something you need to talk about?" Lily asked attentively as she walked back to her classroom with Sirius. When he gave no response that he had heard her, she slid her hand into his and hugged his arm that was on her side, then put her head on his shoulder. "You know that I'm going to get it out of you sooner or later Mutt. Come on, I'll scratch you behind the ears." Lily teased and got a laugh in response, but it was gone to soon. "I'll even rub your tummy." She added, but he barely registered that he was listening. She decided it was time to pull out all the stops.

"I'll show you my boobs." Now, that ought to do it.

"Really?" Sirius asked after he almost snapped his neck to look at her.

"No, just seeing if you were paying attention." Lily answered with a giggle.

"I hate it when you do that." Sirius growled out. Lily laughed and reached up to playfully scratched Sirius behind his ear.

"Men really are simple creatures. Promise to show them your boobs and you have their undivided attention," She said as if she was talking to a dog. "Just imagine what I could get you to do for me if I offered to put on a naughty cowgirl outfit and give you a lap dance." Lily finished with wiggling her eye brows and gave him a smile that could melt ice.

"With chaps and spurs?" Sirius asked with a hopeful expression.

"And nothing else." Lily teased with a wink. Sirius's eyes widened and then narrowed.

"I would call your bluff." Sirius countered, he wasn't going to fall for that again.

"Who's bluffing?" Lily told him pointedly.

"Really?"

"No"

"Arrrhhh! Why am I friends with you?"

"Oh you love the abuse and you know it." Lily shot back as she bumped his hip with hers. Sirius started laughing, because he knew she was right. She always knew how to get him out of his moods. He probably would have turned into a bitter man like Snape if she hadn't been there to anchor him. He bumped her hip back with his as they continued down the hall with Lily's head back on his shoulder.

"You really seem to be in a good mood today. After that Howler Harry got, I would have thought you would be in a right foul mood."

"Actually, I haven't felt this light in years, and I have Molly Weasley to thank for it." Lily grinned out.

"Holy Shite! You went after her didn't you?"

"Did you think I was going to let her off with just a Howler?"

"No I suppose not." Sirius answered with a chuckle. "You didn't kill her did you?"

"No, I just unleashed sixteen years of bottled up emotions all at once, it was quite liberating actually, but there was a moment there when I was really tempted to hurt her. I may have said a few things that I'm not completely proud of, but she implied some really nasty things about you and me. It would seem you down played what that bitch Skeeter wrote about me."

"I'm not going to apologize for that. You had enough to deal with. The last thing you needed was to have to deal with the collection of lies she was spewing out."

"How bad was it, and does Harry know?" Lily asked even though she was sure she didn't want the answer.

"One very, and two if he did she would be dead right now. It was sixteen years ago Lils, I would have assumed people would have forgotten about it, or realized it was a pile of dragon dung to begin with. That was one of the reasons that we got the hag under our control to begin with."

"There are still some that blindly believe everything she writes as if Merlin himself had written it." Lily's statement was laced with resentment.

"Good, we can use that to our advantage."

"Don't change the subject Sirius. With the exception of sex, you have played the part of husband and father for me and Harry as well as James could have done. I know I tease you all the time, but I am grateful that you never left us."

"And I never will. You and Harry are my family," Sirius said as he stopped and looked at her pointedly.

"I saw a Grim Patronus running across the grounds last night. Kind of says it all, doesn't it? Are you still in love with her?"

"Just as much as you're still in love with James."

"She's another man's wife."

"She was my mate first, and like it or not she always will be. I foolishly thought that if I slept with enough women I would burn out this hold she had on me. I know now that will never happen. I talked to her for only five minutes today and…Oh who am I kidding, she had me hooked in one minute flat. It took all my self-control not to follow her through the floo."

"WHAT? She was here? Oh, so that's her scent I smell on you. You better not get to close to Daphne Greengrass. She's an Animagus, if she smells her mum on you. Well, let's just say that's not going to be a very pleasant conversation."

"She already knows that me and Gaby were lovers."

"You told her?"

"She kind of tricked it out of me. Clever little witch, she's definitely her mother's daughter through and through."

"Just how deep are you?" Lily asked with a hand on her hip.

"Half way to China luv, half bloody way to China." Sirius shrugged out. Lily walked up to him and moved as if she was going to him a hug. As he leaned down to accept it, she smacked him in the back of his head.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Because you're an idiot!"

"Could you be more specific?"

"As I see it you have two choices. One let her go. It will be hard, but not impossible. Two grab onto her and never let go. The choice is yours." Lily told him sharply.

"Wait, are you actually encouraging me to?"

"Sixteen years ago I would hex you for even thinking it, but I'm not that woman anymore, nor are you the same man, and the Greengrass's for that matter. Life has a way of changing your view of many things. Take it from a woman that hasn't had the love of her life to keep her warm at night. If James was still alive and the only thing standing between us was my magic. I would surrender it in a heartbeat."

"It's more complicated than that Lils."

"Then uncomplicated it Mutt, since when has there been a problem the two of you couldn't overcome? She's had sixteen years to think about it. She used the floo in your office for a reason; I think you owe it to her to hear what she has to say. Then together decide what's best for the two of you. Or here's a shot in the dark. The three of you could act like adults and come to an understanding."

"You really are an amazing woman Lily. I would have been lost without you." Sirius told her. She knew from the tone in his voice what he was talking about. Lily cupping his face into her hands, and looked tenderly at him.

"Right back at you." She told him and was hard pressed to keep her voice even. "But if you see your shot, you take it. Don't worry about me and Harry. You take your shot."