"Of course, you do," James said sarcastically, "exactly how many times has Sirius asked for this woman to be removed from his team? I bet he's done it every report. He'd know she was prejudiced against him and he'd request the transfer rather than risk the mission. Only you suspect him just as much as she does, so you disregarded his requests and kept her on the job probably to 'keep an eye on him.'" He stabbed a finger towards Crouch. "I hold you responsible for this!"
"You seem to have forgotten that I'm your boss, Potter!" Crouch said coldly.
"And you seem to have forgotten that you're talking to the Heir of an Ancient and Noble House!" snapped Charlus.
"The girl will be charged," Arcturus stated firmly, "remove her from my presence."
Moody grumbled under his breath. "Come on, Kelp. Let's get you to a holding cell and a healer for that shiner." He swung around to wink at Lily as he marched Kelp out. "Excellent right hook, Mrs Potter."
Lily blushed.
"It was a very good right hook," Sirius commented, blinking back new tears at the sight of his old friends defending him. "She punched me once."
"That doesn't surprise me." Bertie said dryly. "It all descends into a bit of a shouting match now."
It did. Bagnold and Crouch were arguing they didn't have the resources to track Sirius down; James was arguing with them that they did along with his grandfather and Charlus who both were offering to fund European wide searches for him as he'd been captured in Romania. Younger Bertie was trying to calm everyone down along with Dumbledore. It was mayhem.
"Enough!" Lily cried out.
Silence descended as they all turned to the pregnant woman.
"This isn't helping to find Sirius and we have to find him!" Lily burst into tears which she wiped away angrily. "He's been in their hands all this time; it'll be a wonder if he isn't dead and…"
James started over to her but magic was stirring – the air thick with it.
"…and we need to get him back, we need to…" Lily's robes were swirling around her, her hair flying as magic whirled like tornado with her at the centre.
"Lily!" James cried out, his face a picture of panic.
Sirius felt his own panic rise. What was going on?!
Suddenly, she stiffened and her hand snapped out, palm face downwards, directing the magic that swarmed over her, down her arm and through her palm to fall in two separate streams of gold and silver that gave form to two very familiar family totems.
Arcturus jerked, offended that the Black family magic had been stolen by a muggleborn woman – even one who had married into another Ancient and Noble House.
"No, Arcturus!" Charlus reached out and prevented Sirius's Grandfather from drawing his wand. "I don't think it's Lily that's summoned them!"
Sirius's eyes widened as he turned again to look at his dear friend.
She looked formidable; red hair streaming backwards, her robes billowing and her green eyes alight with magic.
"Mummy upset! Mummy wants Padfoot now!" Lily said in a childish voice. "Go get Padfoot!"
The griffin and the snake looked at her and looked at each other. The griffin stooped and the snake wrapped itself around it; the griffin took wing, flying around the room once before surging to the outer wall and disappearing.
Sirius tore his eyes away from the sight of the totems being commanded in such a way.
James took a hesitant step towards his wife. "Lily?"
"That's not Lily, James," Young Bertie commented warily.
"Indeed not," Dumbledore agreed, his eyes twinkling, "to whom are we speaking?"
"Daddy calls me Pronglet." The voice said cheerfully. "Mummy calls me Harry."
"The baby?" asked Arcturus in disbelief. "It's the baby?"
"It has both Black and Potter blood." Charlus said shakily. "That must be how it summoned both our family magics."
Young Bertie turned to look at Lily with open curiosity. "Incredible."
"There is no doubt that the child will be a powerful wizard if its unborn spirit can manifest in such a way." Dumbledore agreed.
"Pronglet?"
James looked calm but Sirius could tell his old friend was worried out of his mind.
"Pronglet, is Mummy OK?" James asked.
Lily's head nodded sharply before her eyes widened dramatically. "Uh-oh."
"Uh-oh?" James paled.
"Mummy called me Harry James Potter. Mummy mad at Harry." Her lips trembled as her eyes filled with tears.
"Well, you did take over Mummy's body, Harry," James said reasonably with a shaky laugh.
"I'm sure Mummy understands that you only wanted to help." Charlus added warmly. "But you will need to give Mummy her body back now and return the Potter family magic to me."
"Your Grandfather Potter is quite right, young Harry," Arcturus added, "you'll need to give the Black family magic back to me, your Grandfather Black. It's quite dangerous for you."
Lily – or rather Harry – pouted.
"I'm sure, young Harry, you will get both back in time." Arcturus said with a smile.
Sirius gaped at his grandfather.
"In fact I give you my oath, Harry James Potter, Heir of the House of Potter, Heir to the House of Black that the Black family magic will one day be yours to command." Arcturus promised.
"And I give you my oath Harry James Potter, Heir of the House of Potter, Heir to the House of Black that the Potter family magic will one day be yours to command." Charlus said formally.
"Merlin!" Sirius breathed out in shock. "They both named Harry as an Heir back then?! Before his birth even?"
Bertie nodded beside him as his younger version continued to watch. "I believe they both meant for Harry to follow after you and James but yes, they couldn't deny what was rightfully his; what he had successfully summoned."
"Magic back now." A finger pointed to the centre of the room.
The griffin flashed in and deposited a form wrapped in a silver snake which slithered away to reveal Sirius; naked, half-dead and bloody.
Lily's eyes rolled up and she swooned. James caught her before she hit the floor.
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