Building a Better Burrow

Sirius Black was a far different man that he had been just a year before. A year ago he was a trainee under Alastor, getting prepared to fight against Voldmort, but was still a pranking Cassanova who thought he was invincible.

A year ago he found one of his oldest friends had succumbed to the draw of the Dark wizard who styled himself a lord. All of those trips to take care of a sick mother were in fact Peter Pettigrew reporting in and taking part in attacks on remote muggles.

It was perhaps a blessing that it had been found when it was. The Order had just started to come under direct attack. A couple of members had been ambushed and died. Under veritaserum, Peter confessed to providing information which led indirectly to those deaths.

The Order also found about the Dark Mark. Up until then, no one knew how Voldemort called his followers to him or had so much control over them. The Dark Mark was found to be a Protean charm sealed with a cruciatus spell after the person receiving it performed one of the unforgivables.

Peter had imperiused a muggle girl to accept rape. After receiving the Dark Mark, he had become more vicious and tortured and killed her as well. He was sitting in Azkaban now and the True Marauders, as they now referred to themselves, had all both celebrated and mourned.

He still loved a good prank but, having matured, he knew that life wasn't one big game.

Often times he worked with James. James was still technically unemployed but had volunteered his time to help with attacks. The Aurors were taking any help they could get and the Potters were an old Light family.

James was so trusted that he was invited to the Halloween party for the Aurors who had just graduated basic training with a Senior Auror. He smiled when he remembered that party. James and Lily had both become a bit … happy thanks to the firewhiskey. They, like a number of those attending, had "celebrated." He would have pranked them but Lily was vicious when interrupted.

Besides, he was the one who kept plying them with the booze. Frank and Alice were two other victims of his on that score.

Anyway, Sirius was now much more focused and driven. He had even volunteered for this shift. He was patrolling Diagon Alley ahead of Yule and Christmas.

Suddenly, he saw two other Order members among the shoppers. He whistled. When they looked up he waved.

Gideon and Fabian smiled when they recognized him and made their way over.

"Look at this, brother!" Fabian said.

"Yes, a poor junior Auror stuck on his feet all day," Gideon continued.

"It's a damn shame."

"Such a young and virile wizard should be out."

"Yes, he should be plying his wares with the young witches."

"But instead, he's stuck here watching the world pass by."

"Yes, a damn shame as I said."

Sirius laughed, "How are you guys? Out shopping for Christmas?"

The Prewitts grinned and nodded. "Yes, and picking up a few things for Molly," Fabian said.

"With our sister once again encumbered due to her far-too-lascivious husband, she asked us to," Gideon volunteered.

Sirius grinned. "I'd point out that it takes two to Tango and so you shouldn't blame Arthur so much, but I don't want to be hexed." He paused. "Or pranked."

Fanian sniffed. "Our sister was obviously corrupted."

Gideon nodded solemnly. "Yes, corrupted. He somehow controls HER into kicking us out when he wants to satisfy his dark urges on our innocent sister."

Fabian said, "His vile influence cannot be doubted."

Suddenly, all three chuckled. Gideon asked, "When do you get off?"

Sirius looked at his watch. "In about an hour. I've got it until 4:00."

Fabian said, "When you get off, meet us in the Cauldron."

"We'll share a pint," Gideon added.

Promptly at 4:00 Sirius' relief arrived and he made his way to the Leaky Cauldron. He spied the two red-heads and walked over.

"Ah, Sirius! Finally released from Durance Vile?" Gideon called out.

Fabian turned and motioned to Tom. "A pint for the poor weary grunt, please."

Tom nodded with a grin. There were some customers that always provided a bit of levity.

The three enjoyed a light-hearted chat while drinking their ale. In the middle of a story, suddenly Fabian stopped. The other two looked to where he was facing.

"Gary!" Gideon called.

The man saw the group and walked over. "Back in town, I see!" Fabian exclaimed.

"Yes, I just got in." Gary grinned.

Gideon said, "I hope you plan on stopping in to the Burrow."

Fabian added, "Molly would skin us alive if we saw you and didn't bring you to visit."

"Also, the boys miss their favorite uncle."

"Young Bill and Charlie were not happy you left. And Percy agrees with them."

Gary smiled. "I was just going to get a room and find out what's happening but I can definitely visit the Burrow."

Fabian looked at Gary with horror. "Get a room at the Cauldron?"

"Are you TRYING to upset Molly?"

"If she heard you refused to enjoy her hospitality,"

"She'd be heartbroken!"

The two red-heads stood up. "Sirius, want to finagle a meal at the Burrow?" Fabian asked.

Gideon said, "She's already planning for extras. You two won't make much of a difference."

Sirius stood. "Molly always sets a good table. I'm in."

The four made their way to an apparition point. Fabian grabbed Gary's arm. "I'm not letting you get away. I'll take us."

Gary protested, "I can apparate just fine!"

Gideon gave him the gimlet eye. "Well, you best arrive or we'll have to hunt you down."

Fabian nodded solemnly. "Molly would insist."

Gary gave a rueful smile and disappeared. There was no noise to speak of.

Sirius whistled. "That's good technique."

Gideon grinned. "Yeah, Gary's talented. I'm off. See you there."

Molly was in the kitchen cooking. Her brothers were going to eat with her family and she always put extra effort when there would be visitors.

She heard the front door open and she called out, "Guys? Is that you?"

She heard Fabian calling back. "Yeah, it's us." She smiled at the confirmation. She then heard Gideon add, "And two extras!"

Curious, Molly wiped her hands and made her way to the nook, where her brothers always went to when dropping off things.

She walked in and saw who was there. "Gary!" she shrieked. She rushed over and hugged him – as much as she could with her new bump.

"Hello, Molly. I see it was a good thing we planned for a whole quiddich team." Gary was smiling.

Molly blushed and then smirked. "Well, this one will be number six. I guess I'll have to have at least one more after."

Sirius laughed and said to the Prewitts, "I told you it takes two to tango. That puts a kibosh on the idea that it's all Arthur 'slaking his dark urges'."

Molly snapped her head toward her brothers – who were both staring at Sirius in mock horror.

"Sirius! How could you?"

"You've sold us out!"

Molly looked at the two and said, "Do you know what this means?" Both looked at Molly in fear. "This calls for a bit of punishment."

She whipped her wand out and shot two quick stinging hexes. Sirius seemed to be far too amused and she soon joined the Prewitt brothers in rubbing his thigh. She looked at Gary.

He raised his hands in submission. "Hey, I'm good. I didn't say anything about Arthur's dark urges!" He grinned at the look she gave him and said, "Oh look! Time to visit the boys!" He turned and rushed toward the family room. Molly was too quick and he soon was rubbing his posterior while grinning.

The other three men joined him. "Molly said they're upstairs," Gideon said.

Gary moved toward the dining room stairs. "Is it just me or is she much freer with the hexes when she's pregnant?"

Fabian replied. "No, it's not just you. She's always more vicious when hormonal."

Sirius, who was bringing up the rear, grinned in amusement as he said, "Obviously her husband's dark spawn affecting her."

All four chuckled – while nervously looking toward where Molly was to make certain they weren't heard. She definitely was more vicious when pregnant.

Gary motioned the others to be quiet as he moved to the door to the room which was both the family library and, with the age of the youngest ones, the playroom.

He quietly opened the door and looked in. Bill was reading a book. Charlie was writing in a workbook. Percy was also reading. The twins were playing with blocks.

He moved the boor back slowly and then violently opened the door and jumped inside.

The kids all looked at the man interrupting. He called out, "Oh my god! It's like a sea of red hair!"

Bill was the first to recognize the man. "Uncle Gary!" Charlie and Percy now knew who he was. The oldest ones crowded around him – although Percy hung back a little bit.

"Hello Billy Boy, Charlie (I'm going to start calling you Chaz), Percy, and there's the two terror twins, Fred and George."

Percy said, "It's Percival."

Gary grinned. "Yes, but Billy Boy here is also Bill or William and Chaz could be Charlie or Charles. Percy is more friendly for family and friends. I could always find another nickname for Percival. At least I'm not calling you Perky." He always hated the mangling of Percy's name to Perky Weatherbee, even if he had not protested when Ron first made fun of it.

It, perhaps, was unfortunate for Percy that Sirius was right behind him. For the rest of his life Sirius Black always referred to him as Perky; for all that Sirius had grown more mature he still had a horrible sense of humor. Percy learned to live with it – eventually.

Percy was already a bit of a grammar snob and said, "Friendlier." At Gary's curious look, Percy said in his childlike voice, "It's not 'more friendly' it 'friendlier.' It was in a book I read."

Gary sighed. "While that might be right usually, it isn't always." Gary hadn't imagined he would be giving a grammar lesson to a precocious five year old.

Gary had a tough time explaining grammar to such a young boy – most five year olds were happy with mangling language. Percy was very much what like he imagined a young Hermione to be like.

Even Charlie – or Chaz as Gary started calling him – and Bill couldn't understand why these rules were so important as they sat in on the lesson. Neither did Gary really, but it was definitely was right up Percy's alley.

It didn't help that the Prewitts grabbed the twins and all three men acted as though they were in a classroom. Unfortunately, the three were into acting Percy's age instead of their own. The twins laughed whenever the three men did.

And they talked about bad influences.

Dinner was a raucous affair – well, as raucous as Molly would allow.

Sirius, Fabian, and Gideon had fun telling stories of pranking to the oldest kids. Gary told a few of his stories, suitably edited for anyone not knowing who he was. Arthur was goaded into telling some of the more interesting work stories. And Molly pretty much rand herd – although her homey stories were eagerly enticed out of her by Gary.

If and when those within this time stream learned his actual identity, he might be asked why he decided to cozy up to the Weasleys and not the Potters. His answer would be quite simple: In his own world, the closest he ever had to a mother was Molly Weasley.

While even he would admit that there were a fair few corrupt versions he had met, the ones who were actually good were priceless to him. And when he could provide a push in one direction or away from another? It was all good to him.

After dinner, the adults sans Molly moved to the nook and Gary learning of what had been occurring.

Thanks to Pettigrew and his testimony under veritaserum, the Ministry was aware of exactly what the Dark Mark entailed. As a result, a measure had been passed which negated pureblood privilege in questioning when someone was found to carry the Dark Mark. A number of purebloods who had claimed Imperius when caught suddenly found they had no leg to stand on.

It didn't mean that things were all rosy and bright though. Because those caught no longer could be assured of an easy pass they fought all the harder to not be captured. Several Aurors had been killed and more wounded in firefights.

Sirius, who remembered something discussed quite a while earlier, asked, "Were you the one responsible for the ward against those that have the Dark Marks?"

Gary looked at Sirius. "Responsible?"

"Er. A particular location seems to be warded against those that have the Dark Mark. That was a shock, let me tell you. However, no one knew where the ward came from."

Gary nodded. "I've run into them in the past. I helped devise it."

Sirius asked, "Can you give us the scheme for it? It would help certain families a lot."

Gary looked surprised. He turned to Arthur. "Arthur? Don't you remember where my warding notes are?"

Arthur, as well as the Prewitts, all looked gobsmacked. Fabian and Gideon went so far as to knock their own heads. "Why didn't we think of that?" Fabian asked.

Gary said to Sirius, "Also, James could have asked Sharpclaw – they have co-ownership of the warding scheme. Weasley, Prewitt, Potter can set them without inducing a fee but otherwise Gringotts gets a royalty – at least until 2008." He turned back to Arthur. "I never mentioned it but you have the scheme already on the main ward stone. I wanted to make certain the Burrow was protected against the idiots."

Gideon, who was sitting closest, patted Gary's shoulder in thanks. Arthur quietly said, "Thank you, Gary. That's a relief and no mistake. I'm certain Molly will want to thank you when she finds out."

Gary shrugged. "When we set up the wards, I wanted to make certain that all the interlocking wards were included."

Due to the nature of the Fidelius, Sirius who was listening to the conversation, never twigged on the fact that the wards on Headquarters were some of those that were included in the that. The Prewitts did though – being the only two who were members of the Order who knew of the secret of exactly where The Redoubt was. Albus knew but could never speak of it. Arthur knew, but didn't know it was Order Headquarters.

The fact that the entire scheme needed the holder of the secret to be aware had annoyed Gary when it first hade come up. However, he had been certain that Dumbledore couldn't meddle much. He himself had forgotten about the Redoubt being Headquarters as well – he wasn't tied into the secret.

Soon, the Prewitts had left and Arthur, Sirius, and Gary all made their way to where the family was. Gary spent a bit more time playing with the boys, as did Sirius. With no plans for the night, playing with children was a good improvised activity.

Soon, Arthur and Molly were putting them to bed and Gary was seeing Sirius out. Sirius sighed, "I wish I had grown up in a family like the Weasleys."

Gary, who knew the answer already (even if Sirius didn't know that), asked, "What is your family like?"

Sirius made a face. He described his parents, cousins, and grandfather. "The only one I can deal with is Andromeda. The rest are pureblood supporters, likely to be Death Eaters." He sounded bitter.

Gary asked, "Even your brother?"

Sirius said, "Yeah. I was hoping to keep him away from that but my lovely mother had too much influence. It didn't help that he was Slytherin and I was Gryffindor."

Gary said, "Different houses is a poor excuse for families to break up. You ought to at least reach out. Write him a letter or something. Tell him that if he ever wants to get out of that influence, you'll help him."

Sirius looked cheered but then immediately lost that. "I don't even know how to reach him anymore. Any owl I sent would be intercepted by my mother and I am definitely not currently welcome at the family home – and that's okay cause I never liked it there growing up. I wasn't even asked to attend my father's funeral."

Gary looked at Sirius with some annoyance. "You're a bright boy. Figure it out." He paused. "I assume your family has house elves. You could always call on and ask it to deliver the letter."

Sirius considered that. "I don't know. I'll think about it."

Regulus sat in a chair in his room, thinking about what he know knew. Just two weeks earlier, the Dark Lord had used his house elf to test defenses. Kreacher had come back only because he had ordered the house elf to return after finishing the task that he was set. He had spent three days nursing Kreacher back to health.

Regulus decided that he had to act. While he had grown up learning a number of dark arts, there were limits and the Dark Lord had crossed them. He could no longer follow such an evil man.

He fingered the locket he had commissioned from Kreacher's description. If he was to act it would have to be soon.

Suddenly, Kreacher popped in to his room. "What is it, Kreacher?"

Kreacher replied, "Disappointment called me and ordered me to bring this to you, Master Regulus. Blood traitor insisted."

Regulus was curious. Why would Sirius be sending him a message via Kreacher? He took the letter. "Thank you, Kreacher. Tell no one of this. Go back to your duties but I will be calling you soon."

"Yes, Master Regulus." Kreacher popped back out of the room.

Regulus opened the letter from his older brother – the first communication he had gotten from him since Sirius moved out after his fifth year.

Dear Regulus,

I don't know if you are sanguine about receiving such a letter as this from your "discraced" older brother, but as it is the Yule season I decided that it was time to send it.

I know that our parents have encouraged you to follow the Dark wizard currently plaguing Great Britain. And, if that is your choice, I cannot stop you and I only would hope that such a path doesn't damage you as it has damaged the ties which once held our family together.

I followed my own path because I could not countenance the path that our parents had mapped out for me.

But perhaps, just perhaps, you have found that path they set you on is not the glorious road that they claimed it was. As your brother, I find I cannot sit back and say nothing.

Should you ever truly wish to break away from the family-ordained path, contact me and I will do my upmost to help you. I don't hold out much hope for most of our family, but the Blacks have traditionally kept themselves above and away from such people as the man who our parents wanted us to follow.

We were always told that Blacks bow to no one. So why have our parents tried to make us bow to one such as he?

Maybe this letter will make no difference. Perhaps you are happy to follow that road. And perhaps you wish to follow a different one.

Regardless, I write this with the wish that you are satisfied with your life, or can achieve such satisfaction.

I am,

Sirius Black

Your elder brother

Regulus pondered the letter in the light of what he had just been considering. Maybe there was hope after all.

Gary was enjoying the pleasant afterglow of another Christmas at the Burrow. He had been in this world for another week and a half and in that time, he had gotten Gringotts the take care of the Ring which was the only item he knew of that wasn't currently under the direct control of either Voldemort though his followers or Dumbledore.

He had paid the fee out of Weasley, Prewitt, and Potter. It was perhaps lucky that the goblins had started instituting the sale of magical LED technology in America and Japan. It wasn't prudent to market it currently in Britain, but Gringotts wasn't as hidebound as Britain's magical world made itself.

This meant that the money needed for the action was available. And Gary had carte blanche to use the vault as needed.

Arthur had reported that his family had profited much already. He had already paid for his first two children's entire education. Without this profit, Arthur could just imagine having to pay year by year for each child – a much more expensive proposition.

In fact, it wasn't a very well known fact that this could be done. When his brothers-in-law had offered to pay for the twin's education this way from their own profits, he learned that this was common in a number of families. His father had known but had never told him - as by that time their family was never in a position to do this.

Although muggleborns didn't get charged more than purebloods who paid on a yearly basis, the implication that they weren't offered such an opportunity outright stuck in his craw a bit. He resolved to bring up the possibility of such a payment structure to any muggleborn family he encountered due to his job.

After all, who was to say why a muggleborn's family might enquire of such a possibility? If seven years was the normal length of a Hogwarts education, it was not inconceivable that a family might ask if they could pay it in one lump sum.

The boys were all napping after the large meal Molly had prepared. Arthur and Gary were sitting in comfortable chairs in the family room.

"So, you're going out with the reversal squad?" Gary asked.

Arthur said, "Yes. With the obliviators so busy, they need the extra hand. At least I'm not sent out to the attack sites on young muggleborns."

Gary thought about that for a moment. "Aren't muggleborns only contacted right before the first year?"

"Yes. But there is a record of younger ones that are found through accidental magic and other means," Arthur replied.

"So my question is: How do the Death Eaters know where to go?" Gary asked.

Before Arthur could contemplate that or answer, there was a loud knock on the door. Arthur stood up and moved to answer it. From his seat, Gary heard Arthur say, "Sirius! Welcome! What brings you here today?"

Upon hearing this, Gary stood up and moved toward the door. He heard Sirius say, "Is Gary here?"

"Here I am. What do you need?" Gary asked.

Sirius looked almost frenetic. "Gary! I did as you suggested and now I need your help!"

"What can I do?"

He looked at Arthur and then back to Gary. "Can I speak privately?"

He shrugged. "Excuse us, Arthur. We're going to talk in the shed."

Arthur nodded cheerfully and went back to once again sit back and "digest his meal." The previous conversation he was having slipped his mind due to the distraction. It would come back to him the next time he saw people coming back from an attack.

Sirius and Gary moved outside and into the shed. As soon as the door was closed, Sirius turned to Gary and said, "My brother sent a letter back through Kreacher. He needs help with something that will affect Voldemort. He got cold feet after seeing some of the things that Voldemort was doing."

Gary said, "Okay. So what do you want to do?"

"I need to figure out a place where we both can be safe if we meet. If I went to almost anyone they would want me to use this to capture him. I can't trust him necessarily until I meet him. You had the idea so I thought maybe you would have an idea for this."

Gary thought about it for a moment. "You kept mentioning your parents and how they wouldn't take you back. Any family member you can trust? Who actually heads the family?"

Sirius leaned back. "Well, my grandfather is the head of the family. He stays neutral in all of the infighting. He went along with disowning my cousin when she eloped with a muggleborn but he refused to actually disown me when my mother insisted."

Gary was curious. "Was it that she married a muggleborn or that she married without permission?"

Sirius was taken aback by that. "Now that you mention it – her marrying without permission was likely more the problem. It's a big thing in old families like ours. If it was with someone who was politically powerful it would have been overlooked. With a muggleborn … well, they don't usually become politically powerful."

Gary shrugged. "Well, that may change – you never know. The question I have is can your grandfather guarantee both of your safety if you two were to meet, act as a neutral host?"

Sirius thought about it. "There are spells in the family … I'd have to request it."

Gary nodded. "My suggestion is: Either send a request through your grandfather or hire an accounts manager from Gringotts to use one of their offices. Sharpclaw, for example. They'll keep it to themselves."

Sirius huffed. Both options were possible but contained risks.

"Or, do both. As the eldest Black male except Arcturus, ask him to host it through Gringotts."

Sirius grinned. That might work. The Black family would pay for it – it wouldn't come out of his vault – and he could gauge his grandfather's mindset. It had been a long time since he had seen the old man.

"I'll try that. I'll send a message to my grandfather."

Gary nodded. "Okay. Good luck."

The two left the shed and Sirius apparated away. Gary moved back inside. It was time. He farewelled Molly and Arthur and the children before the pull became irresistible.

Arcturus Black, Paterfamilias for the Black family, sat in an ornate chair in the office of the account manager for the Black family. He had promised safe passage for both of his grandsons.

Truthfully, he was glad for this chance. It would give him an opportunity to see the both of them together. This might go far toward deciding who would lead after he was gone.

He knew his son's wife had demanded he make Regulus the main heir, but he hadn't actually chosen. The only somewhat sane reports he could use in his calculations were from Narcissa – and even she was biased although her bias was properly masked.

In his opinion, Bellatrix was far too biased for there to be any chance that her opinion should carry weight. He had stopped responding to her requests to officially align the family toward the man who called himself a Dark lord.

Walburga had similarly been ignored after her tirade to him during the funeral for his son Orion. He had been disappointed when the shrew, as he privately called Walburga, had proudly reported that his eldest grandson was not invited to the funeral.

So, here he was in one of his rare trips outside of the family wards for the main seat, preparing to listen to the conversation his grandsons would have so that he could gather data.

Both grandsons arrived and both greeted him properly.

Their discussion was interesting. Regulus had started to think for himself … good. He listened as Regulus described what had prompted this. Suddenly, Regulus reported something that made his blood grow cold.

"What?" Both of his grandsons looked over to him nervously. "Repeat that."

"The Dark Lord forced me allow his use of Kreacher, our house elf. Because I had ordered him to return after completing his task, I learned that he used Kreacher to test the defenses of his Horcrux."

Arcturus was mightily offended. There were limits that were allowed – and that broke them. "Call your house elf! I would hear this directly!"

Regulus called out, "Kreacher!"

Into the office popped the house elf that served his son's family. "Master Regulus called for Kreacher?"

Arcturus interrupted before Regulus could reply. "I ordered him to. Regulus has reported what the Dark Lord used you for. I want to hear complete details!"

Kreacher, seeing the head of the Black Family, bowed in supplication to him. "Yes, Master!" Kreacher then described exactly what happened and how it was resolved.

Arcturus looked at Kreacher. "Repeat the exact words the Dark Lord used when he told you of this task."

Kreacher thought back. "'Elf! Your life will now be used to ensure that this protection for my immortality will remain safe! I order you to come with me and follow my directions exactly!' Kreacher performed as ordered – until the Dark Lord left. But Dark Lord is not master! So Kreacher followed Master's order to return. Master Regulus did help Kreacher and saved his life."

It was a sign of how much this affected the house elf that he had regressed to speaking in the third person. The Black elves were trained out of that and used proper language – unless they became ill, reached a great age, or were under enormous stress.

Arcturus looked to his sons. "Did either of you notice?"

Regulus was confused. Sirius looked thoughtful. Suddenly he gasped. "He said THIS protection! That means that there are likely more!"

Regulus looked at Sirius in horror. Arcturus acknowledged his grandson with a grim nod.

Suddenly, the three were interrupted. "Lord Black. I received a report from another manager which you might find interesting." All three looked to the goblin whose office they had been using. For the goblin to actually interrupt meant that there were matters of an urgent nature involved.