"Is that why we're just standing here?" "Yeah," Sirius said with his crooked grin. "My cousin's about to yank her hair out. I'm enjoying this. Call it payback for all the years she and Lucius tortured me as a child. Their frustration is quite pleasurable." "Rather juvenile of you, isn't it Padfoot?" Harry asked and Sirius shrugged." - I enjoyed Sirius' enjoyment of Bella's frustration.
"Are you there, Black?" Malfoy yelled. "Why don't you come out here and fight like a man? A real man doesn't steal another man's wife!" "Bloody hell, what a moron. She's my cousin," he whispered. "I'm protecting her, not bedding her!" "He's not a man," Bellatrix taunted, "not after what you did to him in Azkaban. Shrivelled up and fell off, didn't it, Sirius?" Sirius's blood went cold and he felt light-headed. He knew someday he would have to share the particulars of his injuries with Harry, he knew too much already and the recovery was going to take weeks. This, however, wasn't the way he wanted the boy to find out about the horrors of Azkaban. Barely able to breathe, Sirius looked to his ward who was slack-jawed and wide-eyed. "What did they do to you?" Harry asked. With only the smallest shreds of innocence left to his soul, his voice announced how tenuous his guileless was. This would tear away what little childhood Harry yet carried inside him, and Sirius suspected the rupture of his heart would lead to some rash outpouring of grief. He wouldn't let Harry risk himself like this, not when there was no true threat to their safety, or the safety of Narcissa and Draco. Sirius shook his head, girding his spirit to ignore both the compassion and worry in Harry's eyes and the gleefully spiteful words Bella might spew. "Not now, Harry, please." In a show of both submission and love, Harry didn't ask any more, nor did he demand an explanation. Instead, Harry reached for his godfather's hand and held it tight. That simple action of loving support nearly broke Sirius Black. It was moments like these that Harry most reminded Sirius of his mother. It also restored the jaded man's faith in humanity, for Harry didn't learn to be loving and compassionate at the Dursley's, it was part of him, gifted like his green eyes, from the biology of his mother." - That was SO moving, what Harry did.
"for Harry didn't learn to be loving and compassionate at the Dursley's," - "at the Dursleys"'.
"other spells would take away the victims sight," - "take away the victims' sight".
"What about you son?" - "your son".
"from his parents, from Aurors, from former Death Eaters;" - "by his parents, by Aurors, by former Death Eaters;".
"tank the heaven's," - "tank the heavens,".
Bless the Potters for having Lily's and James' portraits done.

Oh my problems on the Horizon...looks like fun for us!

Oh wow.
I always love your teaching. I know you do extensive research & right now, I'll believe anything you say.
And you ended on a Cliffie. . . oh dear.

I am really enjoying this story. Looking forward to the next chapter.

Great chapter! Very interesting adding in the old Celtic religion as magical. One little thing, the holiday that you are referring to here as Imbolic is spelled without the second i, Imbolc. I completely understand if you changed it on purpose, though. Very much looking forward to the next chapter.

FYI, I think St. Brigid was first an Orthodox saint. The Roman Catholic church didn't emerge until after 1054 AD. Up until that time all Christians (pretty much) were Orthodox. Interesting chapter. Can't wait to find out what is happening at Stargazer's. Some of the cracks are starting to show, now that the initial high is wearing off. Sounds like quite a few people need to sit down and talk and work some things through.

Keep going

I hope Narcissa and Draco are okay.
I don't mean to sound as if I bate GXH, but why is Ginny being so clingy and acting like she wants to get marriedbto Harry right then and there? I mean, she's only fourteen. I get that she wantsbto spend time with Harry, but at thistle point Harry really does have more important things than a relationship to deal with. I'm all for the pairing, but there is enough drama without that being added. This really isn't against you just the whole concept. It just creates friction where it isn't needed, though it does at tension to the story.

Quote:"She'd claim he was under the Imperious Curse," Sirius replied. "I forgot you were related to her too.":End Quote

Yup, the Imperious Curse … makes people get a big head …

:D

Anyway, nice chapter. Like the history/culture lesson.

Bit mean of them to wash the leprechauns out. Though you'd think they would escape the painting quickly.

Till next chapter! I wonder what happened to Draco. Will whatever that is going to happen strengthen ties between Harry and Draco? I guess we'll find out soon …

At least I hope it is soon…

Cheers!

can't wait to see what happened:) Great chapter

What a fantastic offer that was of Daphne's.
I do not think I will ever understand the concept of siblings being friends: My sister loathes me and the feeling is oh so very mutual.
Clingy Ginny nauseates me a fair bit, to be honest.
"Ginny had always had her Mum and Dad, so she wasn't patient when Harry said he wanted to talk with his Mum, Dad and the Marauders." - Beg, borrow, buy or steal a freaking clue, Ginny Weasley, you inconsiderate bint.
I have one pair of jeans with a tiny hole on one knee from my having fallen on an unevenly paved and dug up sidewalk (we call them "pavements" in South Africa) on my way to work one afternoon a couple of years back when the roads between my flat and the office were dug up. My mom is always on my case ever since that fall to get rid of that pair of jeans, but I will not, as long as the hole stays only a quarter of an inch or less big.
"Never liked that picture anyway," Freddie remarked. "Who in their right mind decorates with a painting of the inside of a dingy bar?" "I would," Sirius piped up. Freddie looked at him with love and amusement. "Of course you would," she replied drolly. "Maggie, dear, don't let him decorate anything on his own, please." "Promise," Maggie replied with a good laugh." - Depending on who or what is inside a dingy bar, I would hang a painting of it in my house too.
"While James and Lily had kept the days with his family after their death, it wasn't quite the same. They never understood why their friends didn't visit, and why little Harry wasn't being raised in the Potter family estate, as was decreed by their will. For all of them, today was truly something to be thankful for, and it brought home for them the true meaning of the day." - AW!
"Harry mumbled. "At least he's not another Snape." "No, Harry, my uncle showers." Maggie deadpanned and the Hogwarts students all laughed. Oisín looked confused, so Daphne leaned forward and whispered in his ear. "He was our Potions teacher and definitely never met a bar of soap he was willing to get personal with," she explained." - Hehehe.
I am sad that Eldon is seemingly not taking to Luna.
"She'd claim he was under the Imperious Curse," - "Imperius Curse".
"shared and hopeful glance." - "shared a hopeful glance."
Staring Ginny is creeping me out.
"Maggie produced blueberry scones and blush wine from the kitchen for a festive version of cakes and ale." - That wine sounds yummy, but I hate any and all forms of cooked blueberries. My mom has a regrettable fondness for making and serving blueberry muffins and I do not have the heart to tell her I find them utterly icky.

An interesting discussion of the holiday and some intriguing snippets of personal relationship info. I feel a bit sorry for Ginny, though, as Harry seems rather preoccupied. I'll be looking forward to seeing what's going on at Sirius' house.

I thought it was really interesting learning about their Holy Day of Imbolic. I can see Ginny acting a bit clingy to Harry, holding onto him whenever possible, just because she misses being near him - totally understandable. I just can't see her not understanding his need to spend time with his family, since she knows what kind of childhood he had. I'm glad we've gotten to see Maggie's accent again - I missed it when it "went away" for a while! Looks like her hottie cousin would have his pick of admirers in the house - can't say I blame him for taking the seat between Neville & the wall! (Girls can be a bit "scary" when they're crushing on a nice guy...they don't expect it, so they don't know how to handle it!) Looking forward to Harry's & Sirius' conversation about Ginny...am curious what Harry will do?

Argh! Not the dreaded cliffie! I keep trying to press the next button, BUT IT'S NOT THERE! HELP! Please-more story!

I am SO IN LOVE with this chapter. The way you described the making of the wands, what they were made off, the cores. . . all so intricate & believable. Knowing you, you must've strewn in some hints here and there.

Ever the Romantic. . . who shall be Daphne's love interest in time?

I totally LOVED THIS!

ps: Have already gathered the ingredients for your banner. . . now to mix it. . .