Sirius stormed back to Grimmauld Place, followed by Remus and threw himself on a chair and stared moodily in front of him. 'Why?' he asked Remus who had come in behind him and sat down opposite Sirius. Why, Remus thought as he looked at his friend, who was staring at him as if he would provide all the answers. It had taken an awful lot from Sirius to make that admission for Harry's sake, and Remus was very proud of him, but he knew the fight was far from over. Sirius had just taken a step backwards. But Remus knew he would at every given opportunity try to make Harry aware of just evil he thought Snape was.
'Why what Sirius? Why does Harry admire Snape?' Remus asked him and frowned as Sirius snarled at Remus.
'Must you keep reminding me of that? I am sure Snape is doing this for spite Remy. Perhaps he had given Harry a potion or something and it has addled Harry's brains. That must be why Harry likes Snape. I am sure.' Sirius jumped up and looked at Remus wildly, as if asking confirmation about his suspicions.
'Sit down Sirius.' Remus frowned more as Sirius started pacing the floor up and down in agitation. 'Sit down Sirius. I said sit down.'
"Why?' Sirius asked him as he sat down in a show of violence that almost rocked the chair backwards.
'Harry likes Snape. More than likes I think he admires him. More important than that Sirius, is the fact Harry loves you and does not want to hurt you. He was prepared to stop interacting with Snape when he realized you were more than unhappy with it.'
'What can I do Remy? When I think of that snivelling git and Harry, I just can't help but feel I have let James and Lily down.' Sirius almost shouted in frustration.
'Letting James down is one thing, even then I don't think I'll agree. I think Harry would have wanted to be close to Snape, even if James was alive, and then I think he would be a lot more stubborn about it. But Lily? Lily would have been happy Sirius. You know it and I know it.'
'And James would have felt terrible.' Sirius finished heavily. That thought had been hounding him since he had received the letter.
Remus had no answer to that. he knew James would feel more than terrible, but then Remus was practical; whether it was his werewolf side, that made him see things in a less frenzied and emotional manner or was he the way he was naturally he did not know; but he knew Harry liked Snape. Perhaps that was all Lily that Harry was reflecting. Whatever it was, Remus knew it would hurt Harry badly to force him to stop being friendly with Snape.
'I hope James will understand.' He said after a long pause. 'For Harry's sake.'
Sirius looked up at Remus, but did not say a word. After some more silence, 'Let him just put one step out of place and I'll kill him; simply kill him.' Sirius told him, his eyes still furious.
'Who? Harry?' Remus asked amused at his friend's petulance. While he understood what Sirius was feeling, he also understood that Harry had a mind of his own and he for what ever reason, wanted to establish a relationship with Snape. While he did not know why Harry should feel for Snape, who was certainly not very friendly towards Harry, Remus could not but respect Harry's strange and baffling decision to acknowledge Snape and admire him openly.
'Of course not.' Sirius looked irritably at his friend who was laughing. 'Go ahead and laugh. But I tell you there is something about this I just don't understand. Snape of all people. And how could Harry be so happy?'
'Sirius, I am not going to spend the rest of my day sitting here, trying to make sense of why a kid likes and admires Snape. I am happy he likes us and for you he would even stop being friends with Snape. That's enough for me and it should be for you too. Don't fuss.'
'Remy, Harry would do it for you too; he loves you.' Sirius told him earnestly and Remus laughed and stood up. Sirius too got up reluctantly, pulling a half smile on his face with difficulty as they attended to their other jobs.
Lucius Malfoy went to his Manor after he left Snape. Narcissa was waiting for him anxiously. 'Lucius!' she called when she saw him, get out of the carriage and went outside to meet him, observing him all the time. Lucius was looking normal and Narcissa breathed a sigh of relief. He could get nasty when he was angry or very worried and she was very grateful that this news had not shaken him up.
They did have company among the other death eaters who also had muggleborn relatives, but it could still cause problems if they were related to someone that could prove to be a problem later on. Narcissa had been hoping along with Lucius, that they would not have any relatives among the students and if they did, it would be someone they could accept. When Lucius had received Draco's letter, he had been shocked as she had been; he had not written about Hermione Granger, only that some muggleborn called Colin Creevy who was sorted into Gryffindor of all Houses was related to the Malfoys. Draco had sounded so desperate and horrified, that Narcissa knew that this Creevy was not the Malfoy standard among the muggles.
Lucius had come to her, leaned in and kissed her briefly, before following her inside. Narcissa did not speak as she led the way inside. The Manor was opulently furnished and Lucius followed Narcissa to the library and from that into their study, which had all kinds of wards and charms in place. Lucius had nothing to discuss of that nature, but Narcissa apparently did not want to take chances. The study in contrast to the otherwise opulent home was very simple almost stark in comparison. The whole room was full of books, with a biggish table in the centre and a few comfortable chairs placed in such a way that showed they were meant for serious discussions.
'How are they?' Narcissa asked him, abruptly.
'Pathetic!' he replied, shaking his head in utter contempt for the Creevys. 'I would not keep then as slaves really. Why did my forefathers not kill the bloody squib?'
Narcissa smiled at the frustration in his voice. He saw her smile and scowled. 'Don't smile Cissy. You have not seen them. They are…' Lucius shuddered. Words failed him, really. What could he say about the exuberant family he had glimpsed? Lucius shuddered again. The Malfoys did not even know to show that kind of cheer, and they were related to someone, who literally bounced up and down and caught the sun in their teeth. If this were old times a crucio would not be out of place for all members of that family.
He told Narcissa everything, 'And you and Bellatrix are related to Potter's friend. Her name is Hermione Granger and Evans, Potter's mother is related to Severus.'
'What?' Narcissa was shocked as she looked at her husband. He nodded. 'Yes, Severus is related to Lily Evans. He was very bitter about it; that man and his hatred for James Potter sometimes amuses me; what I would not have given Cissy to be related to Harry Potter? It would have worked well for us. But he is related to Severus and that foolish man is bitter, can you imagine, bitter about it love.'
Narcissa nodded her head as she looked at Lucius thoughtfully. 'Yes I can imagine. Severus was so jealous that she chose Potter over him. And she told him off in front of the whole House and never spoke to him again. He loved her for a while, but later, became very bitter about her choosing James. Didn't he ask our Lord to spare her?'
'Yes, but I doubt the Dark Lord would grant favours like that Cissy. Severus must be thankful he was not crucioed to death for asking. He was in a good mood that day. The spy, whom we wrongly thought was your great Cousin Black, had brought him good news, I remember. But it was not Black but the mouse Peter. That was a shock let me tell you; I never expected that boy to be a death eater and a spy for us in the Order. I thought he could not hold his wand properly.'
Narcissa smiled. 'I was shocked too, when I came to know that the spy was Sirius. I never expected that from him and that too betray Potter of all people; Peter seems more believable for me more than Sirius; Sirius adored James and thought of him as his brother more than Regulus actually.' She smiled and leaned on him.
They sat in silence for sometime, before they went about their normal routine, deciding to forget by common consent the Creevy family and Hermione Granger.
The Daily Prophet made the Ancestry potion its headlines in its evening paper
ANCESTRY POTION REVEALS THERE IS NO MUGGLEBORN, ONLY PUREBLOODS AND HALF BLOODS was the main the title;
Yesterday's sensational news was the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry spearheaded by its Potions Professor and Head of Slytherin House, brewed the most expensive Ancestry Potion for all its muggleborn students. And every muggleborn student found themselves related to a wizarding family.
The words muggleborn has been erased forever yesterday because of this potion. All the teachers as well as many students contributed to the making of the potion to meet its cost and after almost six continuous months of everyday brewing and attending to the potion; the potion was declared completed and ready to be administered. Yesterday it was given to all students who were muggleborn or had a muggleborn parent and it was found that every student including the Boy-Who-Lived had wizarding relatives.
The Boy-Who-Lived is related to a man who was tried for death eater crimes during the war. Severus Snape, Potions Professor and present Head of Slytherin House. He was found not guilty of his crimes, but this reporter wonders if the Boy-Who-Lived's guardians would allow him to mingle with a man who has the mark.
This sensational news about the Ancestry Potion has rocked the Wizarding World and has turned it on its head. While Dumbledore the Headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry assures all of us about the integrity of the potion as such; perhaps, an independent study should be conducted by the Ministry so that the results that have been pronounced are indeed valid.
There are a lot of pure bloods who are unhappy indeed at the results shown. We spoke to Lucius Malfoy at his Wiltshire Manor. He appeared very relaxed with no dissatisfaction with the actual brewing of the potion.
' I really do not think there is any mistake in the brewing of the potion. The potion was brewed by the best potion master in all of wizarding Britain. There can be no doubt in my mind about that. Severus is also a good friend. But he is not the one who is the supreme authority at Hogwarts. That position belongs to Dumbledore who did not invite anyone when the potion was actually administered. I would like the Ministry of Magic to come forward and repeat this exercise so that no one is left in any doubt, whatsoever.'
Mr. Malfoy refused to comment on the fact that muggleborns were no longer outsiders, but a cruel testimony to what the wizarding families had done to those not blessed enough to be magical.
This reporter tried to get Dumbledore's version to make it fair and present both sides of the issue, but the Headmaster was simply not available for comment, making one wonder if indeed he has tried to manipulate the results of the potion. As I am finishing this article, I have received information that the Ministry of Magic will indeed brew the Ancestry potion and administer it to all muggleborns and half bloods who have a muggleborn parent. This will ensure that the potion at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has been administered properly.
Rita Skeeter
After Sirius and Remus left Dumbledore's office…
Harry skipped to the common room after his meeting with Sirius, Remus and Snape. The fact Sirius was willing to accept Snape on some level for him made him feel very nice inside. Hermione and Neville were inside, waiting anxiously for Harry.
'Harry, Sirius never met me. And why did it take you so long? He's…; he's okay with me being his relative and all that isn't he?' She asked him, just a little apprehensive and also a little hurt.
'Of course Hermione. Sirius was planning to meet you, but it got late and he told me to tell you, he would write to you later, and also arrange to meet with your Mum and Dad. He told me to tell you he's very happy you are family.' Harry beamed, hoping that she would be reassured by that. She was. She beamed back.
'Okay. I'll write a short note to him, shall I?' she asked him.
'Sure. That would be fantastic. Write your letter and we'll send it off to Sirius. I'll write one too.' Harry told her and then the topic changed to the potion.