Chapter Two:

Panic was setting in. Regulus and Morgan had sent their children off to camp, promising to explain everything to them when they got home that afternoon, called their restaurant and fixed it so someone else was filling their shifts. That way they had the entire day to mull over their options.

The letter had welcomed Sapphire into Hogwarts, with the attachment that a professor from the school and some other students would make a visit later in the evening to explain things further if necessary. While Morgan feared what letting their daughter do magic would bring, Regulus feared who exactly was Professor Malfoy.

There were several options. It could Lucius, though he doubted it because as much as Dumbledore was a fool sometimes he wouldn’t put such a man in a teaching position. Lucius was just not the best option, not to mention he’d probably think it something beneath him. There was Narcissa, but while she probably make an excellent runes teacher she probably would not have offered to welcome a muggleborn student. Which really only left Athena but as far as he knew his brother had married the girl before he was in prison. Or at least he should have. There was probably no woman out there better suited for Sirius then Athena Marie Malfoy. She was as headstrong as her boyfriend/husband and probably could keep Sirius in line when his temper got in the way of rational thought, which happened from time to time.

“Well, we can’t not let her train at Hogwarts. Untrained magic is often worse then those who know what they can do with it and knowing Sapphire, she’d figure out how to tap into her magic with or without the teaching.” Morgan said as she sat down on the couch beside her husband. “And it is safe there, with Dumbledore still in charge.”

“Dumbledore isn’t the end all, Morgan.” She sighed and rolled her eyes, knowing full well that Regulus wasn’t too fond of Dumbledore…respected the older wizard yes, but didn’t like him. “But you have a point.”

“Thank you,” she said sarcastically. He gave a pointed look. “But having thought it over I think it would be the best thing. She’ll know how to protect herself. And maybe if she learns the charm to making one’s bed, she’ll actually start doing it,” she joked rubbing his shoulder. She understood that this was harder for him then her. She had come back to what she had been used to for the first ten years of her life, hadn’t changed her identity. She had just stopped using magic, or talking to her friends that did. He on the other had had given up everything he was used to. He had grown up surrounded by magic, surrounded by the idea that muggles were inferior. He had such a hard time adjusting to being a muggle when he became one that putting himself back in, even vicariously, seemed like a stupid thing to do. There was little worry that someone would recognize him as Regulus Black. It had been 17 years since the former Slytherin had gone by that name and everyone thought he was dead. Only his brother perhaps could have figured it but she doubted that as well.

She had started to think about going back a few years ago anyway. For the past year or so, Regulus had been suffering pain attacks due to the dark mark on his arm. She had explained it away to their children and friends that he had infected tattoo that never really seemed to heal, which was true enough. But sometimes he would be in such pain that she wondered if she should see if a healer from St. Mungos could have something to give him for it. She knew that it hurt because he was resisting the call, but even she wouldn’t suggest he give in. It wouldn’t suit him now, especially after all that he had done, to give in. Besides he was a Slytherin, and like Gryffindors stubborn as all get out. She knew he wouldn’t go to St. Mungos even if she suggested it. He would be afraid of being found out and bringing harm to their family.

Sometimes she really wished she could go back in time and shoot Tom Riddle. Then she wouldn’t have to worry about all this, and just be discussing with her daughter what house she was going to be sorted into and wither she’d try out for quiddich her second year.

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Sapphire was not happy. She was old enough to realize that showing this fact would bring attention she didn’t want, so she sat in a corner of the day camp center working on her drawing while she thought. Her brothers were still upset that they hadn’t found out what was in the letter she had received but she had noticed her parent’s expressions. They knew without opening the letter what was inside and they were scared.

She was not an idiot. She knew full well that her parents had not-so-good childhoods. She could remember times when her mother or father would start to tell a story and abruptly stop. Particularly her father. Mom would tell stories all the time about her family, but her father would always look sad when anyone asked him. She knew he had to have one…even at eleven she knew that babies did not come from storks, no matter what people may tell you.

She had only seen her dad look that scared once, when someone had pulled him into the lake when they went to visit Aunt Virginia. Her father hated deep bodies of water. Every time they went somewhere to swim, he never did and as far as she knew he didn’t like baths (but to be honest, she didn’t care). Apparently Mom understood his fear, but everyone had been surprised when he had started to freak out.

Mom had that worried look on her face every time Dad had one his attacks. Remembering them made Sapphire sad. She really worried about it. Her Dad was one of those people you never saw crying. But a few weeks ago she saw him crying in pain as he held his arm, lying in his bed. It just didn’t seem right that something like that would make her father cry.

So to see those expressions on their faces when it was just the mail told her that there was something wrong about her getting that piece of mail. She had made up her mind. She wouldn’t accept it. If her parents feared it, then that was reason she should.

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By the time the children had arrived home, Morgan and Regulus had come to decision. Sapphire would go to Hogwarts if only to learn how to better protect herself. They had explained that she was a witch to the three children, but Sapphire only frowned while the boys continued wondering what their sister could do and if they would get the letter when they got to be eleven as well. Morgan smiled when Regulus assured them that they would get one…after all he still couldn’t picture any of their children being squibs. While he had given up most of the prejudices that he had grown up on, there was still a few here and there. He was still very proud of his magical linage, if not the people in it.

She explained to them about how Hogwarts was a private school that Sapphire would be going to during the year but she’d be able to come home during the holidays. The boys were excited at having the house without the girl in it (she smiled and asked what was she and got the response that she was a mom and that made her different) but Sapphire was not as enthusiastic about it.

“I don’t want to go.” She stated with a quiet voice. “It can’t be that great. You guys didn’t think it was so great this morning.” Morgan sighed and looked over at her husband.

“Your mother and I were concerned this morning, that’s all. It has been a very long time since we heard anything about the magical world it seemed a little odd to be seeing it once again.”

“Wait…so you’re a wizard too?” James asked, sharing a look with his brother.”

“Yes.” They looked at him, expecting more and Morgan rolled her eyes. Regulus was being shut in again.

“Your father and I went to Hogwarts ourselves when we were your age. He was in Slytherin and I was in...”

“Slytherin?” Sapphire asked.

“Well, Hogwarts is divided into houses…teams I guess you could say. There are four of them. I was in Ravenclaw while your father was in Slytherin. There was also Hufflepuff and Gryffindor.” She sighed when she got blank looks from them and the fact that her husband was laughing at her. Sending him a glare, she turned back to the kids. “You’ll understand more when you get there.”

A little after supper, the guests arrived. The boys were the first to the door, and had already opened it before Morgan or Regulus could actually get there. Morgan made it to the door to welcome the professor but Regulus stopped at the end of the hall.

It was Athena Malfoy. Regulus hadn’t seen her since before he had left. Probably 77. The one time he had seen Zara, she hadn’t been home. But she had always been more believing in him then his brother, but it could be because they shared the same house and understood each other a little more.

Behind her stood a few people who looked to be ranging from fourth year to sixth, maybe seventh. One he recognized as Harry Potter (is there anyone else who looked so much like James) but he didn’t recognize the redheaded boy (Probably a Weasley though, looked like that friend of Thena’s) or the girl. However he knew the other boy could be nothing but his nephew. Sure there were some slight differences, some Malfoy-isque qualities but he looked almost exactly like his brother. He must have been born after Sirius was in prison because the one time he had ventured to see him (pretending that Regan Smith wanted to see his cousin’s killer) he didn’t seem to know anything about a son. He had only mentioned Zara, his then seven year old daughter.

“Hello, Mrs. Smith, I’m Professor Athena Malfoy. Minerva said you would be expected me.” Athena gave Morgan a smile.

“Yes, she said a Professor Malfoy and some students would come to explain to us some of the Hogwarts information we received.” Morgan looked back at him as she led them inside. “This is my husband, Regan and the three children are Arren, James and Sapphire.”

“Well, with me is my son James Black, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, who was a muggleborn like Sapphire.”

“Muggleborn?” Arren asked.

“A wizard or witch with non-magical parents.” Regulus answered his son. Athena seemed to go still and turned to look at him. It was clear that while she might not have recognized his appearance (after all it had been 19 years) she had recognized his voice. She walked over to him and looked at him for awhile.

“Regulus?” He smiled at her.

“Hi, Thena. Miss me?” And as he watched her eyes change to a darker grey, he realized that was probably the last thing he should have said.