The Guardian

Disclaimer- I own none of this, except Rhiannon... I make no money from this either
A/N- okay sorry this took sooooo long, I had a horrible case of writers block!! didn't matter what I did, the muse had gone on vacation and she refused to leave her beach chair, nice view and pretty little drink with the silly little umbrella. Damn I hope she had fun.
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, and even though I cant seem to find you thanks to Charlotte...
Chapter 23
Family Album, Cabin Fever and a trip.

Sirius stared, open mouthed at the shimmering tattoo on Rhiannon's arm. Last night as she had slept he had examined it in the low flickering light of the dying fire. He could make out the snout of a dog and a couple letters, beyond that the tattoo was a closely wound set of lines with runes sketched below.
It had changed, the dog was large, its long body stretching from the base of her thumb to just above her wrist on the top of her hand. A Celtic cross with it's many knots and twists rose above the animals' large head. 'Sirius Orion Black' was scrawled across the arms.
“It's a grim.” He whispered, turning her hand this way and that, making it flicker wildly. “It's me. You're bound to me.”
She didn't say a word just nodded softly. Sirius traced his fingers gently over his name. His heart was pounding so hard he knew she could hear it. The jealousy he'd felt at the idea of another man holding her heart and soul while she was married to him faded quickly, replaced by wonder and annoyance that she hadn't just told him from the beginning.
“I'm sorry.” She whispered not daring to look into his eyes, too afraid that he'd be angry at her for not giving him the choice of being bound together for an eternity. She could feel his heart pounding in her own chest, just under hers, the rhythm within a half beat of her own. With her confession of love to him the bind was complete and on her part irrevocable. All the twinges and stinging over the past weeks had just been her heart slowly giving into what the elders had demanded from her. “You don't have to stay with me if you don't want to.”
Sirius wasn't sure what he was supposed to say to that, he stared open mouthed at the top of her head. Did she doubt that he was in love with her? Had he not, just moments ago, told her how he felt? It was killing him, seeing her so nervous and unsure of herself. Part of what he loved about her was her poise and self assurance, but at the same time some part of him wanted to throttle her for torturing him all these weeks. He scowled at the top of her head, arguing with himself over which side to give into first. Love won out.
“Rhiannon, look at me.” He pleaded, “Why wont you look at me?”
She squeezed her eyes shut tears racing a track down her cheeks, how did this man have the power to make her cry when so many others had tried and failed? His warm breath, smelling sweetly of the butterbeer they'd drank with dinner, caressed her face. She breathed deep and for a moment recalled the amortincia potion Severus had made them brew her sixth year. Wet dog, not the unpleasant dirty wet dog smell but a just washed wet dog, a spicy cologne and leather had been what she smelled, it was what she smelled now, as if she needed any further proof that she loved her husband. With another deep breath she whispered, “I don't want to see you angry at me, I mean I know that we will fight and make each other mad, but I don't want to see you angry this soon.”
“Why would I be angry at you?”
“Because I didn't give you the choice of being bound to me.”
“The way I've heard it you weren't given much of a choice in binding yourself to me.” He pushed her chin up and ran his fingers over her bottom lip. “So I can't be mad at you.”
“I had a choice.” She opened her eyes, catching his gaze and holding it. His eyes sparkled with love, making her heart skip and a small blush rise to her cheeks.
“Keep telling yourself that, but it is I who should be sorry. You took one look into Harry's memories and were captivated by my dashing good looks and devil may care attitude. You had no hope witch!” He declared with an arrogant smirk.
Rhiannon scoffed, Sirius' declaration making her forget her fear, “Oh I had a choice alright, I could have left your mangy arse in that veil. Just ignored your constant chatter for the rest of my life.”
Sirius rolled his eyes in mock agreement, “Poor diluted woman, thinks she could have resisted me.”
“I could have, I still can.” She boasted. “I bet you couldn't resist me.”
He looked her up and down for a moment, “You are probably right my dear wife. You are obviously the more stubborn of the two of us.”
“Sirius Black, you take that back right now, I am not stubborn.” She snapped.
“Yep see now who is angry.”
She growled low in her chest before laughing at his antics. “Fine I give. But you do know how permanent this is right? Even if you didn't choose to bind to me we are still bound.” She paused obviously having something else to say but unsure of how to say it. Sirius watched her worry her bottom lip until he thought she'd bite through it.
“Out with it before you make your lip bleed.”
“The bind to a Guardian is much different than a normal bind. If...” She paused taking a deep breath and biting down on her lip before continuing, “When I die so will you, within hours.”
Sirius opened his mouth to speak but wasn't sure what to say that certainly wasn't something he'd been ready for.
“Please don't hate me. I know you are mad at me but I couldn't stand it if you hated me.” her tears were falling again.
Sirius took a deep breath, and answered honestly, “I don't hate you, and can't really be mad at you for being what you are. I won't lie and say I am not annoyed, I wish you had just told me it was me you were bound to at the start of this. It would have saved a lot of jealousy on my part.” He grumbled, “I do have one question though, What will happen if I die first?”
Rhiannon dropped her head, wrapped her arms around herself and moved away from him to watch the dinner dishes as they moved neatly from the counter to the shelves.
“I will live a half life for a full month, the loss of my love eating at me until there is nothing left but a shell. Then I too will die.”
Sirius felt cold, she defiantly had the worse end of this deal. He moved to wrap his arms around her waist needing to feel her warmth. “Merlin thats a crappy way to go.”
She turned in his arms, so she could see his eyes. “You are taking this really well.”
“I'm still processing all of it I think.” He shrugged, “But I love you and you are the only reason I am here now. Without you I don't know that I could go on.”
He grew silent for a long time listening to her ragged breathing. Without a word he turned and dragging her with him entered the library.
“Sit down Rhi.” He nodded to the sofa and waited until she settled herself into the corner. He hadn't lied, if she hadn't come into that veil and gotten him he would never have gotten out. If she had gotten him out but left right after he would have gone nuts in this house all alone with no one to talk to but his demented mother. No that was no kind of life, he would have offed himself within weeks, maybe thrown himself off the roof. Wouldn't that have been interesting to the muggles? Man throws self from invisible rooftop...
“Stop thinking that, it would have scared the crap out of everyone.” Rhiannon's voice gave him a start, he hadn't realized he'd been staring at her.
“Sorry love. Just lost in a couple morose thoughts.” He turned away reaching for the book he'd found the other night. Gathering it he moved back to the sofa, settling next to her. “This is something I have never shown anyone.” He moved the large Gryffindor-red book to her lap. 'Family Album' was etched into the cover.
Rhiannon glanced at him a moment before flipping it open. The pages were filled with pictures of James, Remus and Sirius. There were scorch marks in some pictures that made her raise a questioning brow at him. The headless figure had to be Peter Pettigrew.
He shrugged sheepishly, “Mother had one thing right, it was cathartic.” referring to the Black Family Tree and the burnt names.
Further into the book Lily made an appearance and a young girl with glossy blackish brown hair.
“Thats...” Rhiannon pointed to the girl, eyes wide with recognition, mouth opening to voice the girls identity.
“Remus's cousin.” Sirius smirked.
“Yes, Remus's cousin.” She agreed easily.
The last page was a picture of James, Lily and Harry in front of a Christmas tree. “They are the only family I've every really had. James and Remus and Lily, even Athena. There was a time when Peter would have been included in that.” he reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small envelope, after enlarging it he pulled a small stack of photos out. “Remus brought these to us.” They were from their wedding, Rhiannon hadn't even noticed anyone taking them, but was happy someone had thought of it.
“Oh look at this one.” She thrilled grabbing a picture of the two of them at the alter, Dumbledore had his arms raised over them, as they faced each other. On each side was Severus and Remus the former was actually grinning and the latter openly smiling as the pair in the middle kissed and flower petals rained down on them.
“See you are my life. You gave me a new family one that I can be proud of, even if it does include the bitchy Potions master.” He waved a photo of a scowling Severus at her. She smiled in response still not convinced Sirius wouldn't rethink his acceptance of their bond but she decided that she would enjoy the happiness while it lasted and withstand the fall out when it came.


Malfoy Manor
“We will portkey her here. That way her familiar won't be summoned too.” Lucius's voice was dangerously soft as he spoke to the three forms around him.
“Can I play with the itsy guardian, Master?” Bellatrix asked, her voice child-like in it's glee.
“Of course my dear, you are such a joy to watch.” Voldemort hissed, running a scaly hand over her glossy hair.
“Pettigrew, you will go to the Burrow. You do remember where that is don't you?” Lucius sneered.
“Bu...but they all know me there, I...I can't go back.” the traitorous Gryffindor's watery eyes shifted nervously.
“You will be disguised as The Guardian you stupid arse.” Lucius snapped. “Now stop whining. You will go to the Burrow, get Potter if you can, but kill his two insipid companions. Without them he will be much easier to get rid of.”
The group kept planning, oblivious to the other presence in the room. Draco Malfoy had learned a lot in the past weeks. Not being able to talk gave him time to listen and in doing so he'd realized a few things about his beloved father and his cause.
He'd begun questioning his own beliefs and wondering what would happen if the Dark side won. As a Slytherin he couldn't help but worry about where he'd end up at the end. He moved silently away from the slightly open door he'd slipped through earlier and up the hall to his room, pausing only briefly to listen to his mother sobbing in her room.

Grimmuald place
It took two weeks. Two weeks of not being allowed out, two weeks of little to no activity from Voldemort and his followers to drive the newly weds nuts. The Order had only met once during that time which left the pair alone for thirteen days. Cabin fever had long since set in, making both snippy and curt with each other. The smallest things set them off, fights could be waged based on the color of the sky or the sound of a bird outside the window and turn quickly into wild accusations. The passion they shared in the bedroom naturally spilled over into their disagreements, leading to hexes being thrown and dodged. Although never with the intent to permanently injure.
They were in the middle of a heated debate over whether or not the entire library would fit into their new quarters at Hogwarts, which led down a twisted path to Rhiannon only taking the job so she could be near Severus. Neither were honestly sure where this particular line of thought had come from, nor the rejoining idea that Sirius just wanted to go back to the school to stare at the Seventh year girls. The start wasn't as much of an issue now that hexes were being thrown. Showers of rainbow colored sparks were hitting the walls, bouncing off mirrors and sending the inhabitants of portraits scurrying out of the way. The bright green of the Floo being activated, the alarm when someone stepped into the room, even their names being yelled over the crash and sizzle of a fight all went unnoticed.
“You cheating bastard.” Rhiannon's yell was punctuated by a bright yellow hex that turned a lamp next to Sirius' hiding place into a rubber duck.
“Lying harlot.” Sirius growled back hitting a vase with a lurid red hex that made the flowers sizzle.
Rhiannon gasped in anger, flinging her hand over the couch at the same time as Sirius flicked his wand.
“MERLIN'S TWISTED BOXERS!!” Remus yelled, he had been trying to gain the pair's attention when the two hexes collided precariously close to a certain limb he'd rather not lose.
“Remus?” Rhiannon stood first, horror flashing on her face when she saw the scorch marks across the front of Remus's trousers.
“Mooney?” Sirius shoved his wand into his pocket.
“WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE GODS AND GODDESSES DO YOU TWO THINK YOU ARE DOING?!!” Remus bellowed, covering his scorched trousers and glaring at his friends. “You almost hexed my bits.”
“Sorry 'bout that mate. We were fighting about the books.” Sirius shrugged looking sorry.
Rhiannon took up the explanation, “After a while I think we were just working off some frustrations and boredom, because we started accusing each other of wanting to cheat.” she realized quickly how stupid that sounded when neither of them had been out of the other's company for more than five minutes.
Remus shook his head, moving carefully around the debris that had fallen on the floor and settling on the only clear space on the sofa. He glanced around the room and started to understand just how crazy his two best friends could be. There was no doubt in his mind that they hadn't really been trying to injure each other, but neither of them had thought about accidents or anger getting the best of them.
“You two could have killed each other because you were bored, I think Albus was right.” He debated trying to repair his trousers while still wearing them but thought better of it, best not to tempt the fates in that area too much.
“What was the old man right about?” Sirius asked, flicking his wand to clean up his side of the room, Rhiannon had already done her side.
“He said you two were due for some time out. You know, a little fresh air and all. He sent me to tell you to go check on Harry.” His grumble was enough to tell them that he was annoyed at them.
Sirius' eyes had lit up at the mention of Harry, as had Rhiannon's. Remus rolled his eyes as he dug in his pocket, “Here Albus sent this. Said it would be safer than apparaiting, there wouldn't be a magic trail for anyone to follow.” He handed Sirius the object.
Sirius looked down, he held a small motorcycle. “How are all three of us going to fit on this?”
“Three of us? No I refuse to ride that thing with you.” Remus conjured a pot of tea as Rhiannon sat a plate of leftovers from dinner that she'd accioed from the cooler in front of him . “I get to take a much needed break. Damn wolf band, running all over Scotland for no reason.” He toed off his shoes ignoring the couple grinning at him. He continued grumbling as he pulled out a book and flicked his wand at the record player filling the library with music.
“Come on Sirius, before Albus changes his mind.” Rhiannon grabbed his hand tugging him through the house to the back garden, their previous fight forgotten in the excitement of getting out and visiting Harry. “What did Remus give you?”
Sirius grinned at her then flicked his wand at the motorcycle he'd set in the grass. “My bike. I gave it to Hagrid the night James and Lily died so that he could take Harry to safety. After I got out of Azkaban it seemed a bit impractical for hiding out.”
Rhiannon looked at the motorcycle, her eyes sparkling. “Would it be rude of me to say I only want you for your bike?” She reached out, running her hand over the seat, caressing the leather much as she would her husbands chest. She ran her fingers over the chrome of the handlebars sighing in bliss.
“Hey, I'm starting to get jealous.” Sirius growled, he'd seen the same look of ecstasy in his wife's eyes just before they'd christened the kitchen table yesterday.
“Oh I would be very jealous. I didn't know you actually had a bike, I wouldn't have fought marrying you as much if I had known.” She flashed an evil grin.
“You little tart.” Sirius swung one leg over the bike, straddling the seat. Rhiannon stepped back, wanting to burn the image into her memory. Sirius's dark hair was tied back with a black ribbon, strands coming loose to fall around his shadowed face. He hadn't shaved this morning, knowing she liked the feel of his stubble when he nuzzled her neck. He was dressed in a white t-shirt and a black dragon hide vest, over a pair of tattered jeans and beat up boots. She had to look away to keep from drooling all over him, or knocking him over and taking him on the cool grass.
“Are you going to get on or am I going without you?” He tugged her closer to him wishing she could have gotten on first. That image would have been a fantasy come true. His gorgeous wife, her honeyed hair loose around her shoulders, astride his bike. She wore a pair of black leather pants and a black tank top, leaving a great deal of creamy skin for him to look at.
“Oh no, I'm going.” She got on the bike behind Sirius, wrapping her arms tight around his waist.
The machine roared to life under them, sounding like an overly excited jungle cat. “How are we going to get out of the back yard?” She yelled.
“That is the beauty of this bike.” Sirius revved the engine before they started rolling, the wall marking the edge of the property getting closer. Rhiannon squeezed her eyes shut, convinced they were going to be spattered all over the stones.
“You can open your eyes love.” Sirius called over the noise. It had been too long since he'd ridden last.
He found he had missed the freedom of roaring over clouds, seeing the patchwork of suburban London below him. Flying on Buckbeak didn't come any where near as freeing as riding his old motorcycle, not with the constant need to make sure the animal didn't decide that some creature would make a tasty treat and nose dive for the ground.
“It's beautiful up here.” Rhiannon called, struggling to be heard over the wind.
“I always felt the most at peace when riding.” He admitted, enjoying the warmth of the evening sun as it dipped low over the London skyline.
The ride went far to fast for either of them as they sat down in a small alley just outside of Little Whinging. The ride to Privet Drive was completed in horrified silence as the pair passed what seemed like the same house over and over. Rhiannon thought back to the neighborhood she'd lived in in the States, there had been a constant thrum of activity. Children playing in the streets, women putting clothes out on lines to dry while men worked on cars or mowed lawns. The neighborhood had flowed seamlessly into small shops and restaurants so foot traffic was a constant. There was always something going on. But here the only person they'd seen outside was an elderly woman not far from the Dursley's house that was surrounded by cats. They both nodded a greeting to Ms. Figg.
“Promise me that we will never live in a place like this.” Rhiannon demanded as they paused at a cross roads
“Not a chance.” Sirius answered, “Where are all the children?”
They slowed to a stop outside the Dursleys' house, it was just the same as all the others with the exception of the invisible pulse of magic that surrounded it. The street was eerily quiet when Sirius killed the engine. There was a short walk between the driveway and the door lined with small flowers and a small placard that read Dursley next to the mail slot. The sound of Sirius knocking seemed to echo in the silence.
“HARRY, GET THE DOOR!” The man's angry voice boomed even through the thick wood of the door, making them start a second before it swung open reveling the teen.
“Sirius! Rhiannon!” Harry flung himself at them, wrapping both in a fierce bear hug.
After a moment Rhiannon struggled out of his grasp wanting to get a closer look at him.
Harry looked thinner, after only a month he seemed to have lost a lot of weight, his glasses were held together with tape and the ghost of a bruise under his eye could still be seen. He was holding his right arm close to his chest in an unconscious effort to protect it.
She was about to ask what happened when Vernon Dursley all but rolled into the hallway.
“Who you talkin' to for so long Boy?”
Rhiannon's first impression was of a walrus choking on a beach ball. The man had no neck, his large head rounding neatly into equally round shoulders and a large stomach that threatened to burst out of the crisp white dress shirt. She felt a burst of pity for the tiny row of buttons straining to hold the material together.
“Who are you? We aren't buying anything, we already have a church and we don't help those who can't help themselves. So just be on your way.”
Sirius studied the man, his hand itched to pull his wand but he held himself in check, it wouldn't do to get sent back to Azkaban for hexing a muggle. This was the man that had treated Harry with such cruelty from the day he had arrived on their doorstep. He felt a twin rush of hatred from his wife, it washed over him and he was suddenly happy she was on their side of this war. He was hard pressed not to hex the man just to make Rhiannon happy, pleasing his wife could be a good reason to go back to Azkaban.
“We are not selling anything Dursley,” Rhiannon snapped as she stepped into the house, gone was the softer woman that had cried in the kitchen when thinking of her family injured, here was the woman that stared down Lucius and laughed at Bellatrix and Voldemort “we are here to see Harry.”
Vernon Dursley's eyes widened, flicking back and forth between the pair. There was something familiar about the man, something about the cold half smile that tugged at his lips and the crystalline gray of his eyes, he just couldn't place it at the moment. Although the man was intimidating, the woman made him shiver. She still wore her sunglasses, though the sun was almost down now and the entry way was shadowed. Vernon didn't like being unable to see her eyes, although he had the feeling they would be just as cold as the man's and wasn't truly sure he wanted to see them. With a foolish burst of courage he snapped at Harry, he was the reason they had these weirdos in and out of the house so much lately.
“We don't want your kind here, boy. I thought we made it clear when those friends of yours left.”
“And just how did you make that clear?” Rhiannon stepped forward, advancing on the fat man.
“That is none of your business, the boy is worthless. Just like his parents, I wouldn't waste my time on him if I were you.” Vernon shuffled back quickly as Sirius pressed his wand under the many rolls that served as his chin.
“Repeat what you just said, I don't think I heard you right.” Sirius snarled. “Because I know you did not just call my godson worthless.”
Vernon's eyes bulged comically as recognition dawned, “You're the murderer they've been looking for.”
“That I am. Now you are going to answer my wife before I add one more murder to the long list they have attributed to me.”
“Wife?! You people will marry anything.” Vernon eyed Rhiannon again, even with Sirius's wand pressed against his throat she was still the scarier of the two. She was looking around the hall at the many pictures of Dudley, a sneer of disgust marring her features.
Harry stood to the side, holding his arm and staring at Sirius, not saying anything, but when Rhiannon was brought up he shifted putting himself between her and his uncle, the roll of guard firmly etched into his mind.
“You will not insult my wife.” Sirius pressed his wand a bit deeper, “Now tell us how you made it clear to my Godson that his family is not welcome here.”
Before Vernon could answer a shuffle of feet from the hallway made Sirius shift to put his back to a wall.
“Vernie dear, dinner is ready.” Petunia Dursley was a skinny as her husband was fat, her neck was long enough for two, giving Rhiannon the amusing thought that she had somehow stolen her husbands neck.
“Oh you didn't tell me we had company.” She harped, seemingly oblivious to her husbands red face and worried expression.
Rhiannon smirked, letting herself slide into the other woman's mind. Mundane activities filled Petunia's day, nauseatingly normal things except for one memory. She pushed at the worry she found and was rewarded with a memory of Dudley with a needle. Pulling back Rhiannon smirked. “Ask us to stay for dinner” she whispered into Petunia's mind.
“Would you care for some dinner?” Petunia's eyebrows furrowed as she spoke, confused as to where the offer came from.
“NO!” Vernon snapped as Rhiannon accepted.
“That would be lovely.” She put a reassuring hand on Harry's shoulder, and moved around the boy to follow Petunia through the house. Curiosity got the better of her, she wanted to see how Harry was treated when no one was around.
“Um, Vernon didn't say who you two are.” Petunia moved to set two more places at the table.
“Oh Vernie, did you FORGET US?” She asked, slipping into his mind. Tell her we are colleagues or I will personally see to it that everyone knows about Dudley's drug habit.” It paid being able to wander around people's minds.
“They are my colleagues dear, don't you remember me telling you they were coming to dinner tonight?” Vernon rushed looking more than a bit sick.
Petunia merely grinned, not wanting to give anyone a reason to gossip about her family or say they were inhospitable hosts. “Oh yes dear, it must have slipped my mind.”
Sirius wanted to laugh, he had to ask Rhiannon what she had said to Vernon to get him to agree to this.
The fat man looked positively ill at the idea of sharing his meal with them. As if she had heard him Rhiannon turned to face him, “Seems Dudley has a drug problem. Nothing like a threat to get someone to go agree with you.”
Sirius chuckled then, he couldn't help it, his wife could be down right mean if she wanted.
“Um Ms... I'm sorry I can't seem to remember your name.” Petunia fluttered about the room, adjusting the silverware and napkins.
“Black. Rhiannon Black and this is my husband Sirius.” She held out her hand to the woman, who paused at the names but merely shrugged when she couldn't immediately place it.
“Mrs. Dursley, it's a...pleasure, I'm sure.” Sirius took her hand, and bowed easily over it
“Vernon tells us you have two sons.” Sirius smirked wondering how Petunia would answer, he could get into this game quiet easily. Push the Dursleys, see when they break.
“You must be thinking of someone else. We just have out dear little Dudley. He should be home in a few moments.” Her eyes shifted with her lie, “He's in a club at school.”
“Oh, who was that charming young man that answered the door?” Rhiannon asked innocently, flicking her hand imperceptibly at Vernon and casting a silencio charm to keep him from supplying an answer.
“He's just a boy we hire to help around the house.” Petunia sneered then leaned in conspiratorially to whisper, “Not right in the head you know, we let him help out to keep him out of trouble. Parents died when he was quite young left him destitute.”
Sirius almost hexed the bitch then and there but Rhiannon twitched, telling him without words to wait.
“Poor dear. I would love to speak with him... will he be joining us?” She asked innocently.
“Um... of course.” Petunia looked as if she was going to be sick.
Sirius smirked, and wondered where this was going to go.