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Practice to Deceive	By : SailorSol Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 12424 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
- 18
Disclaimer: Any characters & situations you recognize belong to J.K. Rowling. Any characters you don�t recognize belong to me. You can borrow them, but email me first and check on the characters.

Author�s Note: This story is AU after book 5. It contains NO REFERENCES to book 6 or 7 in any way, shape or form.

CHAPTER 16: TABULA RAZA

Astrid moved over and sat down on the arm of Severus� chair while Harry got over his surprise at seeing Sirius.

Eventually, Harry calmed down and pulled away looking Sirius over.

�You�re so different,� he said. �Your animagus form was different.�

�I noticed that,� Sirius replied. �It just happened. It might be a side-effect of what happened.�

�What did happen, Black?� Severus asked, sliding an arm around Astrid.

�I don�t have to answer to you, Sniv � I�m sorry Severus. I�ll explain in a moment,� Sirius replied. �Can I get anything to eat?�

�Of course,� Lilith said. She summoned a house elf and told it to bring a plate of sandwiches. It bowed low to her and disappeared.

�So what did happen?� Astrid asked. �Don�t try to lie, I have the Slytherin Gift.�

�I don�t need to lie,� Sirius said. �What happened to me is strange enough.�

�Don�t stall,� Astrid said. �We�re going to have to either tell the Headmaster about you, or find a way to justify Harry having another familiar around him.�

�I don�t have one,� Ginny spoke up. �We could tell them that he was mine. Dumbledore doesn�t have to know.�

�That depends on what Mr. Black has to say,� Astrid said. �Well?�

The house elf reappeared and deposited a tray of sandwiches on the table, as well as two pitchers of pumpkin juice.

�That Veil in the Ministry,� Sirius said, rising to his feet and moving to sit on the couch. �It dumped me into a snow bank in Tibet, with no memory. I didn�t know English anymore, couldn�t remember my magic, and I couldn�t even remember how to walk.

�I was found by some native wizards there,� he continued. �They took care of me while I re-learned to walk and talk and take care of myself, in Chinese. They taught me some of their magic, in Chinese.� He picked up a sandwich and started eating it as though he hadn�t had a decent meal in a long time.

�If you didn�t remember anything,� Astrid said, leaning against Severus. �What are you doing here?�

�I was out meditating one day,� Sirius said. �I saw a large male deer run past me. I said my first word in English: Prongs.�

He looked over at Harry, who had retreated to sit with Hermione and Draco. Ginny sat in Viktor�s lap and twined her arms around his neck.

�My next word was Harry,� he told his godson. �After that, things started coming back, in leaps and bounds. I remembered everything very quickly. When I did, I also remembered a few things that I had apparently been, um, �encouraged� to forget.�

He looked over at Severus and then at Max.

�I was as perfect a pureblood as anyone,� Sirius said. �Until I started school. I remember seeing Dumbledore on the train, and him casting a spell on me. After that, I was sorted into Gryffindor and James made friends with me. I thought that what he said made sense. Now, I think it was the spell.

�Peter was already James� friend,� he went on. �We met Remus, and I made friends with him because he didn�t have any friends. James and he made friends after a while, but Remus was my friend first. Then, after we got older, Remus and I got � closer.� He looked at Harry hesitantly, as if he were worried about Harry�s reaction.

Harry grinned and put one arm around Draco and the other around Hermione.

�Don�t worry, Sirius,� he said. �I can hardly look at you and Remus funny for something that I�m doing, can I?�

�Is that a tattoo?� Sirius asked, gesturing to Harry�s wrist, and the purple and green vine around it.

�No, Sirius, it�s a Binding mark,� Harry said. �I found Lilith out of her mind, because she thought Astrid was dead. I Bound myself to her to stabilize her, and then we found out that Astrid was alive, so we made it a three-way Bond.�

�What�s the big deal?� Sirius asked. �What�s the story with them?�

�We�re complimentary twins,� Astrid said.

�Impossible,� Sirius said. �Complimentary twins are always identical. The best that fraternal twins can hope for is neutral.�

�We�re the first in history,� Lilith said. �We also have multiple animagus forms. I can turn into anything non-magical and warm blooded. Astrid can turn into anything non-magical and cold blooded. She and I each have one magical form.�

�Amazing,� Sirius said, his eyes wide. �My parents would have murdered for children like you.�

�That�s not all,� Hermione said excitedly. �They have fourteen OWLs and NEWTs each, and seven WARTs. They also each have three Masteries.�

�Trust you to think about their academic achievements,� Sirius said, smiling fondly. �The one thing that I wondered about, Severus, was Lily. I remember her hating James with a passion, and liking you. The next thing I know, she�s married to James, and they have a baby boy that they want me to be the godfather of. I�m as fit to be a godfather as Remus is to guard a child during the full moon. The whole thing was ridiculous, but I agreed to it. I agreed to anything that James wanted to do.�

�I remember,� Severus said, tightening his grip on Astrid.

�Yes,� Sirius said, looking uncomfortable. �I � wanted to apologize for that, not that an apology is enough.�

�Actually,� Severus said. �An apology was more than I ever expected. I know how difficult that is for you. Your apology is accepted.�

�Thank you, Severus,� Sirius said. �Now, all I have to do is find a way to apologize to Lucius for turning coat on him when I started school.�

�That�s going to be a bit difficult,� Max said. �Lucius is an escaped convict, hiding from the Aurors.�

�But I caught a whiff of him in the forest,� Sirius objected.

�It was probably Draco,� Harry said. �We were in the forest yesterday, before we went to the party.�

�Why?� Sirius asked. �That forest is dangerous. The centaurs are on the warpath, and there are acromantulas and other unsavory things.�

�Not yesterday,� Harry said cheekily. �The centaurs were getting ready for the party, and the acromantulas were distracted by the fairies.�

�So do we tell the Headmaster about you?� Astrid asked.

Sirius looked at her in horror.

�You�re well matched with that one, Severus,� he said. �She�s vicious. I do not want Dumbledore informed of my presence until I�m ready to tear his heart out. I just wish there was a way to get back at him.�

�How badly do you want to get back at him?� Astrid asked, rising from her seat and walking over to Sirius.

�I�m thinking about having Severus take me to Voldemort,� he said gazing up at her. He smiled and looked over at Severus.

�You certainly have an eye for beauty, Severus,� he said. �I think she�d give Circe a run for her money.�

�Just remember that Circe turned men into pigs,� Astrid said, her face absolutely serious. �My sister is a Transfiguration Master.�

�Ouch,� Sirius said. �What are you, head of the Death Eater�s Assistance League?�

�No, the Serpent�s Tooth,� Astrid said. �Answer my question first. How badly do you want to get revenge on Dumbledore?�

�Severus,� Sirius said, turning towards the black-clad wizard. �I want you to take me to Voldemort. I want to join him, on the condition that he stop trying to kill Harry.�

His declaration was met by silence, and then smiles, and then laughter.

�Snape!� Sirius roared, rising to his feet. �Stop laughing at me! I�m serious, dammit!�

Severus was smiling as he beckoned Astrid back to his side. She returned to him with an alacrity that reminded Sirius of a hawk returning to its handler�s glove.

�I�ll be damned,� he said, going from anger to admiration in a few breaths. �You�ve got her trained to come when you call.�

�Hardly,� Severus said, slipping his arm around her once she had resumed her seat on the chair arm.

�Yes, hardly,� Astrid agreed. �I simply cannot stand being separated from Severus for any great length of time. I need him like I need food, or air.�

�Back to the original subject,� Sirius said. �Will you take me to Him, Severus, or do I have to find my own way?�

�Do you realize the commitment that comes with taking the Mark, Black?� Snape asked. �You are bound by a Wizard�s Oath to present yourself when Summoned, and to do as he tells you without hesitation and without question.�

�I did that for years, under a geas,� Sirius said. �At least this time, it would be of my own free will.�

�Astrid?� Severus said, looking up at his silver goddess.

�He�s sincere,� she said. �He�s also angry with Dumbledore, and we�ll have to make him a better Occlumens than he is, or we�re all doomed.�

�What does that mean?� Sirius asked.

�You can�t keep up the illusion that you�re a dog forever,� Astrid pointed out. �One of these days, Dumbledore will find you out. When that day happens, we need to be certain that everything is safe.�

�He�ll never know me like I am now,� Sirius argued.

�That�s not the only complication,� Astrid said. �You�re not the only Marauder here.�

�They�re letting Remus teach again?� Sirius asked. �That�s wonderful! Moony won�t betray me!�

�Not the werewolf, you stupid mutt,� Severus said.

�That�s not bloody fair,� Harry said. �He doesn�t know. How could he when the Advanced Flying Instructor never leaves the bloody castle?�

�That�s true, Harry,� Severus said. �My apologies, Black; force of habit, and all that. It seems that yours is not the only miraculous survival among the Marauders. Dumbledore has hired your old leader to teach Advanced Flight to our Quidditch teams: James Potter.�

Sirius turned pale, and his eyes immediately flicked over Astrid, Lilith, Hermione, and Ginny.

�He can�t turn James loose with authority over children,� Sirius objected. �Lily�s not around to control him.�

�Actually,� Astrid said. �After Harry�s birth, it was more a case of him controlling her. He gave her a matrimonial potion.�

�I didn�t think she cold stand him,� Sirius said. �Wait, you said after Harry�s birth. That would mean that Harry wasn�t James� son. But the only man I ever remember her smiling at was � � He looked between Severus and Harry several times, understanding showing on his face.

�That explains everything,� Sirius said. �Back to my question. Will you take me to Voldemort? If so, will he agree to my terms?�

�Take pity on him, Astrid,� Lilith said, deliberately using Parseltongue.

Astrid sighed, and then reached down the neck of her blouse and pulled out her medallion. When she nodded, Hermione and Ginny did the same, as did Lilith. Viktor pulled up his left arm, revealing the Dark Mark. Harry held out his hand, with the white line of the scar clearly visible.

�Voldemort and I have an agreement,� Harry said. �He leaves any Hogwarts student from any of my years alone, and I don�t fight against him in the final battle. We worked some other things out over breakfast. We�re all going to turn on Dumbledore at the final battle. He�ll know what hit him, just barely.�

�Where did she learn Parseltongue?� Sirius asked, gesturing to Lilith.

�From my sister,� Lilith said, gesturing to Astrid.

�It�s part of the Slytherin Gift,� Astrid said. �I inherited the Gift from my father, a virtue of being a descendent of Salazar Slytherin.�

�But to be a descendent of Slytherin,� Sirius said, frowning in thought. �Your father would have to be � � Understanding showed on his face again.

�Yes,� Astrid said, pulling out her wand. �Now, are you going to follow through, or do I Obliviate you?�

�You�re not going to kill me?� Sirius asked.

�No,� she said, smiling at him. �It would upset Harry. I�d just Obliviate you and get you to turn back into a dog, and then Obliviate you again, so you forgot how to turn back.�

�What do you want me to do and say?� Sirius asked.

�I want a Wizard�s Oath that you will obey me in all things,� Astrid said. �You will stand behind me, and follow my orders without question. You will support me even if you do not immediately understand my actions. In return, I will see to it that any insult or injury to you is dealt with in an appropriate manner. I will make certain that you and yours are cared for and provided for, no matter what the outcome of our cause.�

�I can�t be much good unless I�m exonerated,� Sirius said. �I�m not going to ask that Peter be turned in, but if he shows himself, then that would show that I didn�t kill him, and by extension, I didn�t kill those Muggles.�

�I can arrange something,� Astrid said. �I think it�s time that the Ministry�s handling of all situations to be called into question.�

Sirius pulled out his wand, a beautiful thing covered in black lacquer and intricately painted swirls and leaves. He moved over to stand in front of Astrid, and then dropped to one knee in front of her. He raised his wand, and then watched as she touched the tip of her wand to his.

�I, Sirius Black, head of the Noble House of Black, give you my oath as a wizard,� Sirius said. �I will obey you in all things as my liege lady and follow your orders without question. I will not hesitate because of lack of understanding, but I will trust you to know better than I do. I will support you to the end of my strength, being willing to lay down my life if necessary. If I fail to fulfill this oath, then may my magic desert me, never to return.�

A soft glow began to surround Sirius and Astrid as he spoke his oath. The glow grew when Astrid responded.

�I, Astrid Evans-Tyler of the house of Slytherin, give you my oath as a witch,� she said. �I accept you as my vassal. I will not unnecessarily put you at risk, and I will never ask you to do something that I am not willing to do, myself. I will avenge wrongs done to you as if they were done to myself, and I will care for those under your protection or close to you as if they were my own to care for. I will provide for you if it becomes necessary, and make certain that you are never in want, no matter what the outcome of our cause. If I fail in this, may I meet the fate that I intend for my enemies.�

Still touching, both wands moved to touch Sirius� chest, just below his collarbone on the right side. He hissed in pain as they touched, and there was a brief glow. When he lowered his wand and shifted his shirt, he found a tooth-shaped mark on his chest.

�Welcome to the Serpent�s Tooth,� Astrid said. �Outside of these rooms, you will be in Animagus form only. You will keep your ears open, and you will tell me anything you hear about us, Harry, his future spouses, or my father. You won�t need to shift out of Animagus form to report to me, or to talk to Harry. Due to his bond with me and my sister, he can speak to you as a dog.�

�As you command, My Lady.�

�Congratulations, my dear,� Max said after it was over. �You are now on your way to becoming exactly what Dumbledore wanted you to be.�

�No, Max,� Astrid replied, smirking at him. �Dumbledore wants me to become a menace to the Wizarding World, so that he can save it from me. Instead, with Harry and Lilith, we are going to become the saviors of the Wizarding World, and Dumbledore will end up in Azkaban, or worse.�

�What could possibly be worse than Azkaban?� Sirius asked.

�An ancient spell,� Lilith responded. �It strips a wizard or witch of their magic. For the rest of their lives, they remember what once was, and know that they are never going to be anything more than a squib.�

�That�s cruel,� Sirius said.

�It�s justice in Dumbledore�s case,� Lilith said. �He has manipulated three generations to accomplish this. It is only fair to manipulate him in return. He has used his position as a powerful wizard to fool people. He deserves to lose his magic.�

TBC
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Practice to Deceive