"Alright listen," Sirius said the next day at breakfast. "Listen Rigel you're a teenager and since I wasn't there and you and Eliza have been dating for over a year now, you are both fifteen, and it's natural you want to . . . experiment."
"Dad we don't talk about that during breakfast." Rigel sightly said incredously.
"Well, I'm just saying." Sirius grinned. "Remus knows a few contraceptive charms just in case-"
"DAD!" Rigel practically yelled as everyone silently snickered. His face and hair were probably bright red.
"Good morning everyone!" Eliza said brightly as she stepped into the kitchen. She kissed Rigel on the cheek and took his slice of toast.
Rigel grumbled but didn't say anything.
"Good morning." Tonks came equally bright. She tried to steal Rigel's toast but he slapped it off. "Ow!"
"Get your own toast," Rigel said chewing his cereal.
"But Eliza took your's!" Tonks pouted indicating an innocent-looking Eliza munching on her toast.
"She's an exception." Rigel waved off.
"Ha!" Eliza yelled looking smug.
"I can't believe the girl who lived stole my cousin." Tonks moaned.
"There there," Remus said half amused half exasperated.
When Rigel finished his breakfast, he noticed that Harry and most of the Weasleys were staring at the Black family tree.
The tapestry looked immensely old. Nevertheless, the golden thread with which it was embroidered still glinted brightly enough to show them a sprawling family tree dating back to the Middle Ages. Large words at the very top of the tapestry read:
The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black
"So you found the great Black family tree," Rigel's dad said sarcastically walking into the room with Eliza.
"Where are you?" Harry asked scanning the tree.
"I'm there," said Sirius, pointing at the name Sirius Black III but there was no face on it. "Blasted off when I was sixteen."
"There's one burn mark here," Hermione said pointing to a large cigarette-like burn.
"Yeah the family motto used to be there," Sirius answered. "We're in the market for a new one. There's Rigel."
A double line of gold embroidery linked Sirius Black with Kiara Sayre, and a single vertical gold line from their names led to the name Rigel which unlike his father wasn't burnt off.
"Wait how come you're there but not Sirius," Eliza asked.
"You really think my grandmother would've disinherited a parseltongue heir?" Rigel asked raising an eyebrow. "And I'm pretty sure she hoped I would become a better heir than dad."
"Wait a minute, you're related to Tonks?" Ginny asked suprised.
"Oh yeah, her mother, Andromeda, is my favorite cousin," said Sirius, examining the tapestry carefully. "Yes, there she is-"
He pointed to the name Andromeda (whose face was also burnt off) and was between two names, Bellatrix and Narcissa.
"Andromeda's sisters were never burnt because they made lovely, respectable pure-blood marriages, but Andromeda married a Muggleborn, Ted Tonks, so —"
Sirius mimed blasting the tapestry with a wand and chuckled.
"You're related to the Malfoys!" Harry exclaimed.
"Yep." Rigel grimaced.
"What!?" Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny said at the same time. Sirius and Rigel nodded.
"The pure-blood families are all interrelated these days," Sirius explained. "If you're only going to let your sons and daughters marry purebloods your choice is very limited, there are hardly any of us left. Molly and I are cousins by marriage and Arthur's something like my second cousin once removed."
"Isn't that your brother?" Eliza said pointing to a name underneath Sirius that said Regulus Black II
"Yep, little Reggie," he said fondly then scowled. "A much better son than me, as I was constantly reminded."
"But he died," said Harry.
"Yeah," said Sirius. "Stupid idiot . . . he joined the Death Eaters."
"You're kidding!" Ron said.
"Come on, Ron, haven't you seen enough of this house to tell what kind of wizards my family was?" Rigel said testily.
"Were — were your parent's Death Eaters as well?" Harry asked.
"Oh no, Kiara's parents hated Voldemort no, but my parents on the other hand. Believe me, they thought Voldemort had the right idea, they were all for the purification of the Wizarding race, getting rid of Muggle-borns, and having purebloods in charge. They weren't alone either, there were quite a few people before Voldemort showed his true colors, who thought he had the right idea about things. . . .They got cold feet when they saw what he was prepared to do to get power, though. But I bet my parents thought Regulus was a right little hero for joining up at first."
"Was he killed by an Auror?" Harry asked tentatively.
"Oh no," said Sirius. "No, he was murdered by Voldemort. Or on Voldemort's orders, more likely, I doubt Regulus was ever important enough to be killed by Voldemort in person. From what I found out after he died, he got in so far, then panicked about what he was being asked to do and tried to back out. Well, you don't just hand in your resignation to Voldemort. It's a lifetime of service or death."
"Lunch," said Mrs. Weasley's voice.
She was holding her wand high in front of her, balancing a huge tray loaded with sandwiches and cake on its tip. The others moved over to her, eager for some food, but Harry and Eliza remained with Rigel and Sirius, both were bent closer to the tapestry.
"I haven't looked at this for years. There's Phineas Nigellus . . . my great-great-grandfather, see? Least popular headmaster Hogwarts ever had . . . and Araminta Meliflua . . . cousin of my mother's . . . tried to force through a Ministry Bill to make Muggle-hunting legal . . . and dear Aunt Elladora . . . she started the family tradition of beheading house-elves when they got too old to carry tea trays . . . of course, anytime the family produced someone halfway decent they were disowned . . ."
"Lestrange . . ." Eliza said aloud
"Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black." Rigel said with a scowl on his face.
"They're in Azkaban," said Sirius shortly
The twins looked at him curiously
"Bellatrix and her husband Rodolphus came in with Barty Crouch, Junior," said Sirius in the same brusque voice. "Rodolphus's brother, Rabastan, was with them too."
"You two never said she was your —"
"Does it matter if she's my cousin or if she's my cousin?" Sirius snapped. "As far as I'm concerned, they're not our family. She's certainly not family. I haven't seen her since I was your age unless you count a glimpse of her coming into Azkaban. D'you two think me, Rigel, and Andromeda are proud of having a family like her?"
Rigel didn't say anything just folded his arms.
"Sorry," said Eliza quickly, "Sirius I didn't mean — I was just surprised, that's all —"
"It's alright" Rigel mumbled "You have nothing to apologize for. We just don't like the house."
It's ideal for headquarters, of course," Sirius said. "My father put every security measure known to Wizard-kind on it when he lived here. It's Unplottable, so Muggles could never come and call — as if they'd have wanted to — and now Dumbledore's added his protection and Rigel's parseltongue wards, you'd be hard put to find a safer house anywhere. Holly the house-elf is the Secret-Keeper for the Order, you know — nobody can find headquarters unless she tells them personally where it is — which is frankly impossible. . . ." Sirius gave a short, barklike laugh. "If my parents could see what we made use of their house . . . well, my mother's portrait should give you some idea. . . ."
"At least you try to contribute stuff," Rigel mumbled. "Meanwhile I'm stuck at home doing homework of all"
"You can contribute by staying out of trouble," Sirius said rolling his eyes. "And Harry don't worry about the trial I'm sure they're going to clear you, there's something in the International Statute of Secrecy about being allowed to use magic to save your own life."
"But if they do expel me," said Harry, quietly, "Can Eliza and I come back here and live with you?"
"Of course," Sirius said without any hesitation, and Harry and Eliza brightened up. "Though Eliza and Rigel are in the same house-"
"Shut it!" Rigel and Eliza snapped while Sirius just cackled.
--------
"I knew it!" yelled Ron, punching the air. "You always get away with stuff!"
"They were bound to clear you," said Hermione, who had looked positively faint with anxiety when Harry had entered the kitchen and was now holding a shaking hand over her eyes. "There was no case against you, none at all. . . ."
"'There was no case against you, none at all." Eliza grinned.
Mrs. Weasley was wiping her face on her apron, and Fred, George, and Ginny were doing a kind of war dance to a chant that went: "He got off, he got off, he got off . . ."
"That's enough! Settle down!" shouted Mr. Weasley, though he too was smiling. "Listen, Sirius, Lucius Malfoy was at the Ministry– "
"What?" said Sirius sharply.
"He got off, he got off, he got off . . ."
"Be quiet, you three! Yes, we saw him talking to Fudge on Level Nine, then they went up to Fudge's office together. Dumbledore ought to know."
"Absolutely," said Sirius. "We'll tell him, don't worry."
"Well, I'd better get going, there's a vomiting toilet waiting for me in Bethnal Green. Molly, I'll be late, I'm covering for Tonks, but Kingsley might be dropping in for dinner– "
"He got off, he got off, he got off . . ."
"That's enough - Fred - George - Ginny!" said Mrs. Weasley, as Mr. Weasley left the kitchen.
" 'Course, once Dumbledore turned up on your side, there was no way they were going to convict you," said Ron happily, now dishing great mounds of mashed potatoes onto everyone's plates.
"Yeah, he saved my arse," Harry replied. then suddenly the twin's winced and held their scars
What's up?" said Hermione, looking alarmed.
"Scar," Harry mumbled. "But it's nothing. . . . It happens all the time now. . . ."
Rigel wanted to say something but refrained. Soul magic was something he shouldn't talk about.
"I bet Dumbledore turns up this evening to celebrate with us, you know," Ron said happily,
"I don't think he'll be able to, Ron," said Mrs. Weasley, setting a huge plate of roast chicken down in front of Harry. "He's very busy at the moment."
"HE GOT OFF, HE GOT OFF, HE GOT OFF —"
"SHUT UP!" roared Mrs. Weasley.
"Books list arrived finally," said Fred handing them the letters.
"Only two new ones," Harry said, reading the list. "The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, by Miranda Goshawk, and Defensive Magical Theory, by Wilbert Slinkhard."
"It means Dumbledore's found a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," said George.
"What d'you mean?" Harry asked
"Well, we overheard Mum and Dad talking on the Extendable Ears a few weeks back," Fred told Harry, "And from what they were saying, Dumbledore was having real trouble finding anyone to do the job this year."
"Not surprising, is it, when you look at what's happened to the last four?" said George.
"One's dead, one's memory removed, one's a werewolf and sacked and one locked in a trunk for nine months," Harry said, counting them off on his fingers. "Yeah, I see what you mean."
Rigel couldn't but notice that he had an extra letter. Why would Hogwarts send him another letter? Was it regarding his transfiguration lessons?
Rigel shrugged the ideas off and read the letter:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Black,
As your head-of-house, I am pleased to inform you have been selected by the Headmaster as one of the fifth-year prefects for Gryffindor House. Your school record shows that you have exhibited quick-thinking in stressful situations, the ability to lead others, and the bravery that Gryffindors have long been lauded for. This is a responsibility that I know you will not take lightly, as your record speaks for itself. You will be responsible for other students' conduct when professors are not present and you will be expected to uphold all school rules and regulations to the letter.
This is an important leadership position. We expect nothing but the best from our prefects. As a perfect, you will have access to certain school facilities that are not available to the general student population, and you will be required to attend regular meetings of all of the prefects in the fifth, sixth and seventh years, which are led jointly by the Head Boy and Head Girl. Enclosed please find your Prefects Badge, which should be worn on your school robes at all times.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
"What's up with you?" Ron asked. Rigel did not answer. He was standing very still with his mouth slightly open, gaping at his letter from Hogwarts.
"What's the matter?" said Fred impatiently, moving around Rigel to look over his shoulder at the parchment.
Fred's mouth fell open too.
"Perfect?" he said, staring incredulously at the letter. "Prefect?"
"No way" Ron leaped forwards, seized the envelope in Rigel's other hand, and turned it upside-down. Out fluttered a gold and scarlet bandage.
No one could believe it. He had been selected as a prefect. Rigel always assumed that Dumbledore would choose Harry or even Ron. Guess he thought it was best to not give you more things to think about with all that's happening. Besides, he did have better grades than him. But Rigel did get into his fair share of trouble several times, maybe they hope that being a perfect change his attitude.
"Oh, Sirius's going to be revolting," groaned George, thrusting the prefect badge back at Ron as though it might contaminate him.
"You think I'm not." Rigel grimaced. The son of a marauder? A prefect?!
The door banged open. Hermione came tearing into the room, her cheeks flushed and her hair flying. There was an envelope in her hand.
"Did you — did you get — ?"
She spotted the badge in Rigel's hand and let out a shriek.
"I knew it!" she said excitedly, brandishing her letter. "Me too, Rigel, me too!"
"Wait isn't anyone surprised that Rigel got a prefect badge?" Harry said slightly annoyed.
"Well, he did kill the basilisk," Ron said.
"And got his dad free," Hermione added.
"Not to mention he does get better grades than the both of us mate," Ron spoke.
"And he does do N.E.W.T. level transfiguration."
"And-"
"Alright alright, I get it," Rigel said with a shake of his head
The door behind her opened a little wider and Andromeda backed into the room carrying a pile of freshly laundered robes.
"Eliza said the booklists had come at last," she said, glancing around at all the envelopes as she made her way over to the bed and started sorting the robes into two piles. "If you give them to me Dora and I'll take them over to Diagon Alley this afternoon and get your books while you're packing. Rigel, I'll have to get you more pajamas, these are at least four inches too short, I can't believe how fast you're growing . . .what color would you like?"
"Get him red and gold to match his badge, Mrs. Tonks," said George, smirking.
"Match his what George?" Andromeda said absently placing Rigel's robes on his bed.
"His badge," said Fred, with the air of getting the worst over quickly. "His lovely shiny new prefect's badge."
Fred's words took a moment to penetrate Andromeda's preoccupation with pajamas.
"His . . . but . . . Rigel , you're not. . . ?"
Rigel held up his badge.
And Andromeda let out a squeal and hugged Rigel.
"I don't believe it! I don't believe it! Oh, Rigel how wonderful! a prefect! That's another one in the family!"
"Another one!" Rigel blinked.
"Well of course." she said in a 'duh' tone. "Bella, me, and Cissy were prefects and head girls. Regulus was a prefect. Except for your father, we all had a prefect or a headboy." she beamed at Rigel. "Wait until your father hears! Rigel, we're so proud of you, what wonderful news, you could end up Head Boy just like Ted and Dora, it's the first step! Oh, what a thing to happen in the middle of all this worry."
"Well, what do you want." Andromeda grinned. "Dora got a broomstick when she got the head girl badge. To be honest I'm still surprised about that. But you already have a firebolt-"
"What?"
"You've got to have a reward for this!" said Andromeda fondly."You're father wont mind. What do you want?"
"Well." Rigel shrugged. "I would like an owl."
Andromeda smiled. "Of course! we'll get an owl. What a simple gift."
she ruffled his hair and then bustled from the room.
Fred and George exchanged looks.
"You don't mind if we don't kiss you, do you, Rigel?" said Fred in a falsely anxious voice.
"We could curtsy if you like," said George.
"Shut up" Rigel grumbled
"Or what?" said Fred, an evil grin spreading across his face. "Going to put us in detention?"
"No." Rigel grinned back. the same grin that his father wore. "But I do know a few good curses-"
"Oh no." George said though he did eye Rigel warily. "looks like our law-breaking days are finally over,"
Rigel took out his wand and the twins disapparated.
"Ha! So fun to scare them." Rigel grinned. "I wonder how Eliza would react?"
"Listen, Rigel — well done, mate," Harry said
The smile faded off Rigel's face."I never thought it would be me? I thought it would be either you or Ron!"
"Nah, I've caused too much trouble," Harry said, echoing Fred.
Rigel snorted. "And I haven't. Well, we'd better get our trunks packed, hadn't we?"
It took them most of the afternoon to retrieve their books and belongings from all over the house and stow them back inside our school trunks. Sirius and Andromeda returned from Diagon Alley around six o'clock, laden with books and holding a parcel wrapped like a cage.
"Never mind unwrapping it now, people are arriving for dinner, I want you all downstairs," Andromeda said, but the moment she was out of sight Rigel ripped off the paper in a frenzy and grinned.
The owl was young guessing by her size brownish-gray, with vertical streaks and long ears.
"Long-eared owl," Sirius said proudly. "One of the rarest breeds in Britain. What will you name him."
Rigel murmured. "I'll name him... Gandalf."
Sirius didn't understand but Harry and Eliza did and sniggered.
Down in the basement, Mrs. Weasley had hung a scarlet banner over the heavily laden dinner table, which read:
CONGRATULATIONS
RIGEL AND HERMIONE
NEW PREFECTS
"I thought we'd have a little party, not a sit-down dinner," she told them as they entered the room. "Arthur and Bill are on their way,"
"Hey!" Rigel said when his dad slapped them on the head.
"That was from me," said Sirius. "As a Marauder, I'm very disappointed in you two." He then gave them a tight hug. "And that's from your mother who would certainly be immensely proud. Bubbly in fact."
"Ah, you think so?"
"Course!" said Sirius at once. The two grinned happily at the thought. A hand shot out to slap Sirius over the back of his head.
"Ow!"
"And that is also from Lily and Kiara," said Remus with a grin of his own. "I might have been made a prefect to keep my friends in line, but I've no doubt you earned this one Rigel."
"Thanks, Remus," Rigel said, chuckling at the two friends' antics.
Sirius, Remus, Tonks, and Kingsley Shacklebolt were already there and Mad-Eye Moody stumped in shortly after Rigel had got myself a Butterbeer.
"Oh, Alastor, I am glad you're here," said Mrs. Weasley brightly, as Mad-Eye shrugged off his traveling cloak. "We've wanted to ask you for ages - could you have a look in the writing desk in the drawing-room and tell us what's inside it? We haven't wanted to open it, just in case it's something nasty."
"No problem, Molly . . ."
Moody's electric-blue eye swiveled upwards and stared fixedly through the ceiling of the kitchen. "Drawing room . . ." he growled, as the pupil contracted. "Desk in the corner? Yeah, I see it . . . yeah, it's a Boggart . . . want me to go up and get rid of it, Molly?"
"No, no, I'll do it myself later," beamed Mrs. Weasley, "you have your drink. We're having a little bit of a celebration, actually . . ." She gestured at the scarlet banner.
"Prefect, eh?" growled Moody, his normal eye on Rigel and his magical eye swiveling around to gaze into the side of my head. "Well, congratulations, authority figures always attract trouble, but I suppose Dumbledore thinks you can withstand most major jinxes or he wouldn't have appointed you . . ."
Rigel looked rather startled at this view of the matter but was saved the trouble of responding by the arrival of Mr. Weasley and Bill. Mrs. Weasley was in such a good mood she did not even complain that they had brought Mundungus with them too; he was wearing a long overcoat that seemed oddly lumpy in unlikely places and declined the offer to remove it and put it with Moody's traveling cloak.
"Well, I think a toast is in order," Sirius said when everyone had a drink. He raised his goblet. "To my son Rigel and Hermione, the new Gryffindor prefects!"
Rigel and Hermione beamed as everyone drank to them and then applauded. Eliza kissed Rigel on the cheek
"I was never a prefect myself," said Tonks brightly from behind hairy as everybody moved toward the table to help themselves to food. Her hair was black and waist-length today; she looked like Rigel's older sister. "My Head of House said I lacked certain necessary qualities."
"Like what?" said Ginny, who was choosing a baked potato.
"Like the ability to behave me," said Tonks.
Ginny laughed.
"What about you, Sirius?" Ginny asked.
Rigel snorted. "Dad as a prefect would mean making Fred and George prefects."
"It's true." Sirius chuckled. "No one would have made me a perfect, I spent too much time in detention with James. Lupin was the good boy, he got the badge."
"I think Dumbledore might have hoped that I would be able to exercise some control over my best friends," Remus said with a small smile. "I need scarcely say that I failed dismally."
"Here here!" Rigel said with a small smile.