Sirius stiffened and glared at her. Draco's half-disgusted expression, on the other hand, amused Sirius no end.
"Something unspecific but along the lines that I having witnessed his power for myself now believe he did defeat the Dark Lord should suffice," Lucius said, "for the purposes of swaying my allies to the Boy Who Lived. We won't, of course, discuss the details."
Sirius met Lucius's cold gaze and read the truth in his hard eyes; Lucius did believe it now. Not surprisingly; Ron had put it rather inelegantly but Harry's magic had summoned the spirit of the most powerful witch of all time.
"You have my authorisation." Sirius repeated, knowing that if he took away the Dark Lord's political allies half the battle was won. He sighed. "You're already covered by the Vows you took this morning but you can stay and take this additional one or leave."
"We will take our leave." Narcissa said, her hand falling to Draco's shoulder. "My Lord Black." She curtseyed; her husband and son bowed their heads and Sirius escorted them to the door where Kreacher appeared to take them to the floo.
Sirius shook his head and made his way to Andy and her family. "Like dear Cousin Narcissa and her family, you're covered by your oaths to the family magic. If you wish to leave, you may do so."
Ted looked surprised and Andromeda shook her head. "I can stand on behalf of the House of Black for the Vow for some people, speed things up."
"Thank you." Sirius said truly grateful for her assistance.
"I won't ask how powerful he is, Sirius," Andromeda said quietly, "but that was incredible. I felt the magic flow through him. It was unlike anything I've ever felt."
Sirius nodded tiredly. "He's…just a kid though, Andy. I would never have agreed to the blessing ritual if…"
"I think everyone knows that, Sirius." Andromeda comforted him. She nodded towards the front of them room. "I think they have a Vow they can work with."
Sirius made his way to the front and Remus handed him the parchment.
"Harry?" asked Remus.
"Asleep; Minerva's watching over him." Sirius answered quickly. He read the Vow. 'Will you [insert name] keep the blessing of the ritual by Lily Potter's spirit secret? Will you keep the blessing of Harry Potter by Morgana Le Fey and the words she spoke secret?' He nodded. "OK, let's get on with it."
Molly coughed and caught his attention. "I'm sorry but I'm still not really comfortable with the children undertaking this kind of Vow. They are too young to accept the responsibility."
"Mrs Weasley, we have been through this already," Bertie beat Sirius to the punch, "children as young as twelve have taken the Vow before and lived enormously long and fruitful lives because they understood that to break the Vow will mean serious consequences. If you are unwilling to trust that your child can keep the Vow, then we will need your permission to obliviate him."
"Mum!" The uproar from Ron was immediate.
"I'm not sure that you have the authority…"
"And as we've already established: I do." Bertie said forcefully, suddenly looking like the very powerful wizard he was rather than an eccentric old man. "As Head of the DOM I can declare any magical event to be need-to-know. I have issued that declaration for the blessing ritual."
"And he has my support as Minister of Magic." Cornelius added, puffing up with responsibility.
"And mine as the Head of the DMLE." Amelia confirmed grimly.
Arthur sighed and placed a hand on his wife's arm. "I share your concern, Molly, but as Bertie has said we've already been through this and I think Ron and the others of his age here are aware of how serious it is to keep a Vow."
Molly subsided again into a chair with a huff.
"Madame Longbottom?" Sirius said. "Would you be willing to go first? Remus will act as our Bonder."
"Of course." Augusta said.
"Andy, can you perform the Vow for the Weasleys, please? Bertie, if you could be Bonder?" Sirius requested as Augusta took her place beside him.
For the next half an hour, there was a stream of Vow taking that blurred in Sirius's mind until the last was done. He had escorted people out as each family or individual had completed the Vow and they were free to leave. The adult Grangers, being muggles, in the end had to be obliviated of witnessing the spirits although they were left with their memory intact otherwise; Hermione was able to take the Vow. Finally, there was only Sirius, Remus and Bertie left. They'd encouraged Penelope to head out.
"I should take the Vow too." Remus argued.
"You're under oath to both the House of Black and the House of Potter," Sirius pointed out exasperatedly, "and not to mention you'd die before you'd betray any of our secrets to anyone ever."
Bertie looked on amused.
Remus sighed. "Director Croaker?"
"I would normally insist on it, but I agree with Lord Black," Bertie said, "you are covered by the oaths just as the Tonks' and the Malfoys." He paused. "And you would never betray the secret to anyone."
"We should get back home," Sirius said urgently, worried about Harry, "Minerva's waiting for us."
"Sirius, if I could have a word?" Bertie said with enough authority that Sirius knew it was a demand rather than a request however it had been phrased.
"Remus, can you…"
"Head back." Remus nodded. "I want to check on Harry myself. I can't help feeling this was my fault."
"Your research and calculations looked impeccable, Mister Lupin," Bertie assured him, "and I doubt very much for any other wizard, their magic would have been powerful enough to call forth spirits in such a way."
Remus sighed. "Perhaps you're right."
"It wasn't your fault, Moony." Sirius comforted him. "Now, go on and check on my son."
Remus's eyes gleamed with a brief flash of happiness as he recalled the earlier and less tumultuous adoption ritual. He patted Sirius on the arm as he passed – a silent message that it wasn't Sirius's fault either.
Bertie waited until the study door was closed before he turned back to Sirius. "There's something you should see. Do you have the pensieve handy?"
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