Chapter 12 The Conversation

August 1, 1991 New Salem

The entire household, excluding a very put out Agent Mumford, was sitting eating a breakfast of fruit, eggs, cheese and grits, made especially for Gary. They were waiting on the two godfathers to come. They were all sitting merrily eating the breakfast, while Kippy was cleaning the kitchen, well, except the dishes Gilly would do those later, it was her turn.

"So, what do we think of these guys?" the youngest Owens woman questioned, between bites of her grapefruit. She was dressed in her normal jeans and half-top and as always no footwear.

"Well, from what little my dad's journal said, they were pranksters, but very smart. Especially Remus, he is something of a bookworm, but they were all really clever. They got in to all kinds of trouble, more than me, Neville and Jordan put together," Harry said, pushing his grits away and grabbing an apple. He was dressed in his normal wear of shorts and t-shirt, san hat, matching Neville; who was enjoying his grits with gusto. "It really didn't go into depth, just touched on things something would remind him of a time they did such and such."

"Yous is not liking Kippy's cooking?" the affronted house elf looked at him and asked, readjusting the strap to her dress on her narrow shoulders. Harry had never pushed away his food before; she also shot a look at Gilly, who wouldn't even touch the grits. She didn't have time to make anything else if she wanted to do some gathering in the garden before she had to work.

"Aunt Kippy, you know better than that. It's just these grits are just that —gritty. It's like eating sand with flavor or something," Harry explained, smiling at his littlest adopted aunt. Gilly nodded her head in agreement.

"It's an acquired taste," said Gary with a smirk, and taking a relishing bite of his own grits, doctored with eggs and cheese. He looked at the three who declined the hot cereal and said, "Ya'll don't know what yer missing," he stated and continued to appreciate his breakfast. Kippy had made them taste better than he ever could and he was going to enjoy every minute of it. He wore his usual flannel over-shirt on top of a grey t-shirt and jeans. His wife was wearing a simple white, mid-calf, sleeveless summer dress.

"Yeah," agreed Kylie, who quite liked the grits. She'd never had them until they moved back to Gary's hometown of Tucson, Arizona. She was in blue shorts and a sea-green tank top that showed off her forming curves. Her sister was wearing a flowing white skirt, with matching mid-sleeved top; she looked like a grown forest fairy.

Tonia didn't like grits and was eating chocolate covered toast, much to her mother's displeasure, but since she had fruit before, Sally let it go. She had been fighting that losing battle for years, Tonia loved her chocolate; she got it from the aunts the few years they had lived here, after Michael had died.

The older aunts were wearing light long-sleeved dresses, Frances in dove grey with ruffles, and Jet in muted black. For all they were flamboyant, the color of their clothes didn't give them away as much as the old-fashioned cut, the floppy hats and the ever present parasols. They were disinclined to wear more modern clothes, they were comfortable in what they wore; the rest of the world be damned.

There was a knock on the door and Kippy went to get it. "There is being naughty dogs at the door," they heard her yell, "Dos yous be wanting me to lets them in?" she asked playfully, making the two men in front of her gasp at the tone of the house elf.

"Kippy, dear heart, let the boys in so they can enjoy your marvelous breakfast," Frances yelled back. She liked the grits too, so did Jet it seemed.

"Okays, Missy Witchy Frances, and then Kippy is going to being doing some gathering and then I is going to work," Kippy said and after she pointed the way to the two men. She had already eaten, because as much as the boys called her Aunt, she was still a house elf and they don't eat with family, free or not. There were just some borders she would not cross.

"Did I hear breakfast?" Sirius asked as he came into the dining room, still shaking his head at the weird house elf's behavior. They had kept their elves on, to keep up Grimmauld Place, but left them in England. When they got their flat they would call them over to help with the housework. He shook his head from his thoughts, as he sat in the chair he was pointed to. It was next to Gilly, much to his delight. He gave her a coy look and a wink and was ecstatic when it was return. "Good Morning, everyone, we were too nervous to eat. Mind if we join you?" he asked and waited for Moony to sit at the other chair next to Sally. The two men looked at the, what to them was, very light breakfast.

"Mornin', try the grits with eggs and cheese," Gary suggested, pointing to the large bowl of hot breakfast cereal in the middle of the table. He was wondering how the two Brits would like them.

After greetings were exchanged by everyone else, both men tentatively filled their bowls as recommended and took a bite. They both got satisfied grins and dug right in; it was a lot like Polenta, which was served at Hogwarts. The conversation after that stayed on the neutral side, until Agent Mumford arrived.

She conjured a chair for her to sit at the overcrowded table, sat down and then took note of the two new comers. The wards hadn't flared, so she knew they weren't hostile. "You two," Claire spat in greeting. "Do you know how much paperwork you caused for me, showing up like you did? Especially, when I wasn't here? Are you even in this country legally? Do I have to run you in?" she asked quite angrily, leaning forward on the table hands pressed white in front of her, her aura around those hands, flashed with flame.

Everyone put their spoon or fruit down ready to protect the two children and the non-magical at the table, if she got too mad. Gary had got up and moved the minute he saw the first spark, these witchy folks were strange in his mind, though he did love his witch.

"Whoa, pretty lady, I have the papers in my pocket. If you promise not to throw fireballs at me, I'll get them," Sirius said with very little signs of self-preservation, making his friend bang his head on the table, almost causing his bowl to overturn.

They knew what they were facing and were really not scared. Yeah, an angry Veela was frightening looking, but they were actually easy to calm, if you get them before they shift to avian form. Besides, they rarely really hurt people. Property damage, yeah, people, no.

"We didn't mean to cause you any trouble. To tell the truth, we don't even know who you are," the dark-haired man continued as he pulled the papers from his coat pocket.

"I am, Agent Claire T. Mumford with the Special Division of the Magical Law Agency, assigned to protect the boys. I would have been here yesterday, but they promised not to step outside the wards. That doesn't stop me from having to do a ton of paperwork, because you two don't have the common curtesy to wait and go through proper channels," she explained, but in a much calmer manner. She leaned back away from the table and folded her arms across her chest, still slightly glaring at Sirius, who just returned it with a saucy one of his own. Remus, she knew from what she had read, wouldn't be any trouble unless provoked, which was why she was focusing all her ire on the dog.

Sirius handed her the paperwork for them to be in the country, it did say they could stay until the end of 1994, which was when everyone knew the boys would be heading to Merrie Ole England. If they wanted to come again, they would have to apply the same way. Thanks to the goblins, they had left under the radar, so to speak. Well, they had to pay quite a fee, but the goblins were still bending over backwards to please Sirius. They had talked to the Agency and made sure that Dumbledore would never even know they applied to come here. Since the boys were under government protection, it was granted, well that and a few well applied 'gifts'. They had not been warned, however, about the half-Veela that was protecting the boys. They had caught glimpses of her around the Owens family, but never made the connection.

Claire took the papers and read them, folded them back up and handed them back. "Sorry for ruining your breakfast, please continue. I'm done now… all calm," she said with a sheepish grin on her face, smiling apologetically to the Owens family and the Hallets. Everyone resumed eating, after copious warming spells on the grits and eggs.

After breakfast, they all went outside to relax in the beautiful sunny day. A light breeze was felt and helped along by Jet, not too much, just enough to keep everyone cool. They sat at the tables that were still pushed together from last night, so everyone could see one another.

"Ummm okay, where to start? Well, as you know I'm Sirius Black, and this bloke right here is Remus Lupin," Sirius said nervously. It was one thing to write the boys, another to actually sit and talk seriously, no pun intended. "As you know I was shoved into prison for a little while, while I was there I got to talk to an interesting… man, named Jim," he stated and looked at the women to see if they recognized the name. They did but, he still didn't know if they knew the named Jim was Death. For all he knew the deity could have disguised himself. "He gave me a mission that I've completed, mostly. He told me, this mission would help Harry when he had to face You-Know-Who…" he trailed off at their blank faces. "What? Don't you know who You-Know-Who is? Didn't he tell you?" he asked in complete shock, it was important news that they needed for when they go back.

"No, I don't know who. I mean, I know who is on first, but not you-know-who. Is he important?" Harry asked in confusion, which caused laughter to the Americans and more confusion to the Brits. You could tell there were no capitals in the name, because to Harry anyone who can't use their name wasn't worthy of proper titles.

"What is so bloody funny? This is no laughing matter," Sirius all but yelled, as he stood and leaned over the table, trying to show just how serious this was. His face was masked in horror that they were never told. Remus was trying to get his friend to sit back down and stay calm, to no avail. "Harry has to face You-Know-Who when he gets back to England, how is he supposed to train for that if you don't even know who it is?" the dark-haired man ranted.

"Ohhh, you mean Voldemort, or Tom. Well, why didn't you just say so?" Neville asked, finally catching on.

That caused Sirius to sit back down as the two Marauders looked at the sun-bleached blond child completely gobsmacked.

"You said his name," Remus said, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Who is Tom?" Sirius asked at the same time, his face in a mix of shock and confusion.

Harry looked at the two older men as if they had lost their minds. "What do you mean, who is Tom? Tom is Voldemort." The two Brits flinched again. "You mean to tell me that two grown-ass men are afraid to say a name. Really? A name? Like, a name can't hurt you, can it?" he asked, still looking at them like they were stupid. His opinion of the two men dropped.

"Sweetie, there might just be a reason for that, don't judge," Jet said soothingly as she reached over and patted his hand, hoping to calm him.

"Yes, honey, calm down and let them explain," Frances said, sending her nephew with a comforting smile. "This is magic we are talking about, and just about anything goes with the bad guys. Or sometimes even the good guys, as well you know," she added, looking at Gilly and Sally, who stared at her open-mouthed that she would bring that up in front of company.

The two visitors looked at the women then at Gary, who just shook his head and shrugged his shoulder. Sally never told him the whole story, and he as a law officer, didn't want to know.

Harry, knowing what his aunt was talking about, just settled back waiting for an explanation, waving his hand impatiently at the two men to get on with it.

It was Remus, ever the educator, who answered, "Yes, well, there was a taboo on his name during the war. If you said the name, then his Death Eaters would find you, and kill or torture you. Or worse take you to You-Know-Who, whose magic was very strong, none survived his games." He did a full body shiver at the remembrance of the few stories he had heard about those that faced… Tom. That name would be useful if the war ever broke out again. "Because of that, and from what Jim told Sirius, we do not say the name," he added, with one last shoulder quake.

"That's fu… messed up," said Harry, looking at his two teen cousins to make sure they didn't almost catch his slip, but judging from the giggling they had. He wasn't supposed to cuss in front of ladies, and they were the closest and most likely to hear, going by the looks on all the Owens women's faces they had all heard. So he sheepishly looked sideways at his Aunt Sally and gave a small apologetic smile. She waved him off with a mock finger waggle.

"Yeah, it was a very bad and dark war," Sirius answered, shuddering just at the memory of the few times he saw Voldemort fight, twice against the Potters. Harry's parent held their own until help came to drive that monster off, but it took all three of them to do that. There was one time he wasn't there to help and James had been cursed really badly, they almost lost him. That madman was evil and powerful and very cruel when he wanted to be. The godfather had no idea how little Harry was supposed to 'vanquish' him. Oh, yeah, he knew the prophecy; James had told him the day they went into hiding. He knew Dumbledore knew. He even asked the man about it, but was brushed off.

"Yes, it was, and people all over Europe still fear his name today," Remus said sternly. "Didn't they teach you this in History?" he asked as he wondered if the boy would be up to the fight if he knew little about his opponent. It was imperative to know who you were facing in a fight.

"We haven't got to Europe yet. We're on the Asian countries right now. What? You didn't think you were the only country with a Dark Lord or Lady did you?" Neville asked with a bewildered look on his face. He really hated to think they thought that. Were all Magical Brits this stuck on themselves? He thought.

"No, of course not, but we are not taught about Dark Lords or Ladies at Hogwarts. All Binns teaches abut are the goblin wars." That caused the non-Brits to look at them in shock, which cause the two men to blush in shame at their lack of schooling, though they would do their best to make a better impression, later. "We have to learn them all on our own. I just thought, you being who you are, they would have taught you about him," Remus said, getting control over himself. You could still see the worry and confusion in his amber eyes.

"Well, only the principal at our school knows who I am. We did do some self-study on Tom, but mostly just to find out who he was, and who might be working with him. Agent Mumford," Harry said, pointing at the quiet Agent, who was standing away from the group leaning against a tree, "wrote up a complete history. It never mentioned the stupid name or the taboo, so it must be something you Brits are keeping to yourselves." He quirked an eyebrow at them in inquiry.

"Knowing our government, that's quite possible," Sirius agreed and then he took a deep breath and tried to get back on track. "Okay, back on track now, my mission, well, I found most the things I needed to destroy in Europe. There was one that was completely out of my reach, so I decided to come here to you, Harry. I'm hoping that when we go back I can get it. The man I talked about earlier didn't tell me if there were more, but I got all, but one, of mine." He sat up proud of his accomplishment, and then got a sheepish look. "I talked to Augusta before I left and she gave me a letter for Neville, with pictures and a gift. I kinda…," he looked at Neville with puppy dog eyes, who was starting to glare at him,"… ummm, well, I left if at the motel. I'll bring it later, okay? I'm sorry. I was just so excited that I forgot," he stated, making a placating gesture with his hands.

"Well, as long as it isn't destroyed or something, I'll let you off. But, bring it as soon as you can," the bleached out, sandy-haired boy gave him a break. He could understand why the man was excited. He would be too if it were his gran.

"What I want to know," Gary butted in, "is what is ya'll's government doing to prepare for when this so called Dark Lord returns?" Everyone's head turned to Sirius or Remus for the answer. No one wanted the kids to go in blind, or without government support. It would make it much more difficult if they didn't have the Ministries backing. Claire knew that they were working on getting a group of MIA and FBI agents together to go to England if necessary, but they were really hoping that the Ministry would get its head out of its ass and help.

Both men looked at each other, looked at the expectant faces and then blushed again and cast their eyes to the table. Sirius and Remus were deeply ashamed about what they were going to tell them next. They hadn't expecting that in the least. This conversation was not making Magical Britain look good.

The rest of the people gathered looked at each other, and you could see they were starting to get angry or upset as their personality dictates. Mostly angry though.

"What?" snapped Gilly, almost shouting that one word.

"They… they are not really doing anything," Remus mumbled, still looking at the table, not wanting to see the scorn on the nice people's faces.

"Why?" Sally asked her voice calmer, but still as firm as her sister's. She reached over and laid a hand on Gilly's arm and shook her head, it wasn't these men's fault that the Magical British were so stupid.

"Well, the Ministry doesn't believe Dumbledore that he is coming back," Sirius said, looking up at women. "They're idiots, they think as long as they deny it, it won't happen. And if he does return, then it's the Boy-Who-Lived's job to protect them. That's what they tell the public anyway. The public really believes that hype in those books." He shrugged with a disgruntled look on his face, showing he didn't agree. "I tried to get said idiots to see reason, but not even money can buy that," he said, wanting to show that he did everything he could to make it easier on Harry when he returned.

"You mean to tell me. That when Tom does come back, they're going to put all their hopes on a fourteen year old boy? Who doesn't even live in their country? One they have no clue is even still alive? Or knows anything about them?" Claire asked, standing up from her casual position and moving towards the table. She was going to have to report this. She only guessed that Harry would be fourteen when Voldemort came back, because that's when the teen was returning to England, according to the aunts.

"Yup, that about sums it up," Sirius said with another shrug.

"Those fuckers!" Harry shouted, exploding from his chair and knocking it over in the process. His anger could be seen all around him, like a cloud of magic was surrounding him and protecting him from harm. The gentle breeze turned colder and wild as it blew things around the yard. The many cats yowled and headed for cover. He was very, very put out that these assholes would do that to him.

The two English men waited for someone to correct his language. When no one did, Remus opened his mouth to, but quickly shut it at the scathing looks he got from all four aunts.

"I have half a mind to let those assholes die in their holes they'll crawl into. If I didn't know it was that bitch Fate's doing, I would say screw them all and just let them suffer," Harry ranted, pacing back and forth behind his seated his aunts, until Gilly grabbed him and sat him on her lap. "It's those goddamn books, I want them off the shelves as soon as possible." He stomped back and forth, throwing his arms in the air and yelling his anger to the wind, which was still making a mess of the yard.

"Shhh, sweetie, shhh, calm down now, or your magic is going to hurt someone," she said, her long red-blonde hair whipping in the wind storm that surrounded the poor child.

The rest of the family, sans Gary, got up and did their best to bring down the angry preteen. Gary because he couldn't protect himself decided to talk to the men. "I kin see from the looks on yer faces, ya'll don't agree. That and Sirius said that he tried to make them see reason, and that makes me think better of ya," he said in his soft Arizona drawl, holding out his hand to shake theirs.

"Thanks for that at least," said Remus with a small smile as he shook the man's hand. Sirius did the same. The werewolf looked at Harry and saw the wind dying down and knew the magic was dissipating.

About five minutes later everyone was back in their chairs, except Harry, who was still on his favorite aunt's lap, with his head leaning on her shoulder, tears of anger drying on his face, which had taken on a determined look. He was thinking he was going to have to prepare his principal for this turn of events. She was going to have to be much more selective on the team she sent with him.

It had been decided that Harry and Neville would not return alone. They were going to make up a team of his peers and adults, and send them with them, after letting them know who Harry was and what he might be facing. They were hoping that with other students and teachers that the boys wouldn't fall behind in their studies. That and it would show that his school and the country he was raised in were behind him.

Principal Williams was not impressed with the Headmaster of Hogwarts, since he continued to ask if she had a student named Harry Potter. She would send letters back telling him that that was private information and he would do well to quit asking, and she asked all other Heads of Schools that she knew to do the same. They said they would, which was a relief, since she didn't want to be singled out with her evasive reply. That didn't stop the man; he sent letters to all the schools in every country, yearly.

The group they were going to form was going to be those at the top of the classes. And if it did come to battle, only the best were going to be there. The younger students were going to go as moral support, but they were going to try and get a few apprentices to be there for the fight. Every person going had to take a vow not to tell who Harry was, until it became public.

All the parents would be told was that it as an exchange program to England for a year. Well, right up until a week before it was time to leave, then they would have the option of letting their children go or not. The school would do their best to protect anyone who joined on this endeavor. There were going to be protections on whatever was chosen for them to live while they were there, and all students under age were restricted to the housing, if a fight broke out. Agent Mumford was a given, and she would call backup if needed.

Harry broke out of his thoughts and took deep breaths and made his magic focus inward. Sighs were heard all around the circle of family. Soon everyone was calm and collected. The dark-haired preteen returned to his chair and scrubbed his face. "Sorry, guys, I didn't mean to lose it like that," he said to his godfather and Remus.

"It's okay Harry. I'm just surprised the Aurors didn't show after that bit of magic. What if the Muggles," he noticed the scrunched noses at the words, but continued, "had noticed that? If that had happened in England the Accidental Magic Squad would have been here in a minute." He snapped his fingers to show how quick they would have come. "They take the Secrecy very seriously."

"Oh, well, they don't come here anymore," Harry rubbed the back of his head, and glanced at the two Brits, "because everyone in this town knows weird stuff happens in this house. The people here even used to pay the aunts for spells and stuff," he said with a shrug.

"Don't use the word Muggle here in America," Neville informed them seriously, taking some of the pressure off his brother. "It's like calling a foreigner one of the many derogatory names they use. We have enough issues with racism, call them non-magical. Don't say squib or Muggle-born either, we call them Returners and Returnees, since all Returnees are simply descended from a long line of Returners, hence the names."

"I can do that. Sorry, Gary, didn't mean to insult," Sirius said to the only non-magical in the family. He turned back to Neville, "But, Neville, everyone knows that, umm, Returners have no magic. It's why they are sent to the Mu… non-magical world." He was confused, everyone knew that.

"Do you doubt the research done by the United States Magical Intelligence Agency?" Claire asked with the raise of one of her eyebrow. She wasn't sure if Britain had an MIA, for all she knew they could care less about magic, and where it came from. They were only concerned on who had it and who didn't. From what she knew they treated Returners like garbage, casting them aside as soon as they didn't show any magic. Though she had to concede that until about fifteen years ago America did the same. It was only the report from the MIA that changed the congresses mind. It took years to get the public to conform, and as always, there were still some that were just as bigoted as the British, but they were a minority, since most of the magicals in the US were from Returners.

"No, of course not, we are just confused, is all," Remus said delicately, holding up his hands in a calming manner. She nodded her head and leaned back against the tree.

"But, what does he mean they all know? What about the Statute of Secrecy?" Sirius questioned Claire, not wanting his godson to get in trouble. Putting the subject of squibs away for now, they'd have to look at this research.

It will blow the British Government's collectively small mind. Many laws would have to be overturned and families would have to keep the… Returners. There might even be provisions that needed to be set up. It would change the whole of Magical Britain, if it weren't swept under the rug, so to speak. That could happen if Lucius decided that that was the kind of information that never needed to see the light of day. Sirius grimaced, though he had the funds to compete, he really didn't want to go broke trying to alter the government's way of thinking.

"The Owens family never took the oath, and now they have an arrangement with us so they don't have to," she alluded, her tone suggesting no more questions be asked on that matter.

The two men again shared a confused look, but backed away from the subject. Deciding to change topics Remus asked, "So, tell us how you are doing all this wandless magic," he said in a questioning tone, hoping to get everyone happy again.

The witches shared a smile and nodded, now was the time to educate.

Everyone started talking at once, the boys eager to share with their godfathers. Sally wanted to discuss potions, the rest of the Owens witches, including the Hallet girls, wanted to share what they liked best.

A loud piercing whistle filled the air, everyone looked at Jet. "This is all fine and good, but we will never get anything done. How about we let the darling children go first, then they can either go and play or stay and discuss with the rest of us?" she suggested as she settled back in her chair to make sure she was in the shade of the tree and out of the sun, parasol notwithstanding.

"That's a marvelous idea, Jet dear. Harry, why don't you go first? Then Neville and if the girls want to add anything they can go next," Frances said, straightening her large floppy sun hat.

There were murmurs of agreement, with a few complaints from Tonia, and they all settled back in their chairs.

"Okay, what would you like to know first?" Harry asked, sending a look to his godfather. His expression eager, and he was almost bouncing out of his chair. His green eyes sparkled with excitement at the thought of showing off to someone new, well to the two men. Now that their magic was spreading across the country, he never got to show off. Not that he was a braggart, but he was proud of his and his aunts' accomplishments.

"Well, I noticed you have electric lights in the house, can you explain how you get your magic to work and still have electricity?" Sirius asked. It had been baffling him since last night, when he noticed the outdoor lights by the back door. Not to mention the strings of party lights that could still be seen around the yard. The cats came out of hiding and were batting the fairy lights around, or chasing butterflies.

"I think that is better left to Aunt Frances, she is the one who studied it. I mean, I can tell you, but I can't go as into depth with it as she can. Ask something else," Harry explained with a proud look at his aunt.

It was one of the things she worked with the government on. They were trying to find a magic-null spell for the trip to England, so the students would have their computers in the magical enriched atmosphere of Hogwarts, which was where they assumed they would be going when they returned. Everything in that country seemed to be centered on the old school.

"Okay, well, ummm, well what can you do, that you think I can't?" the Animagus asked, racking his brain for something to bring up. He, however, just realized that the people in this house didn't use magic for everything. He didn't notice the breeze increase from Jet; he just thought it was nature cooling them off.

"Before you get started, I'm going to get tea, so please excuse me," Sally said, getting up from the table. It was going to be a long talk they would need something to cool to drink. "Harry, show him the ball trick while I'm getting drinks. I already know that one, so I won't miss anything." And with that suggestion she went to get some of Kippy's delightful tea.

"Okay, pup, show me this ball thing," Sirius said, thinking these kids had nothing on him, a Hogwarts graduate, but playing along all the same. It was his godson after all, though the way this morning had gone so far, he was a tad bit leery.

"Okay, can you conjure a ball for me right on the table? Make it small and white, nothing fancy," the dark-haired preteen asked, pointing to the spot on the table he wanted the ball.

"Sure," Sirius replied and did as asked with a wand, but without incantation, hoping to impress the lad. The ball appeared and it was just what Harry asked for, about the size of a tennis ball, smooth surfaced and completely white.

"Okay, great, thanks," Harry said, happy to get what he wanted, not that he couldn't have done it himself, but he didn't want to be accused of hoodwinking them. "How about we take turns guys?" he asked, looking around the table at his brother and cousins.

Neville and the two teen girls nodded, ready to play along. They all knew what to do.

Harry went first and turned the ball blue with a tap of his finger. Neville went next and turned it green with a blink of his eyes. The two British men were silent with shock and watching avidly. Kaylie was next and she lifted her finger, pointed it at the ball from across the table, turned her hand over, crooked her finger in a come here motion and the ball flew to her hand. She handed the ball to her sister, with a smirk. Tonia took the ball and without any motion or words, the ball drifted back to the spot it started at.

"H… ho… how did you do that?" Remus stuttered out. He could do everything they did; it was all simply spells, stuff you learn in first year. But, never had he seen four children all under the age of seventeen, if he could guess correctly, do wandless and wordless magic. That wasn't taught until sixth year, so only the girls should have been able to do it, and not without a great deal of strain. This demonstration was smooth, as if it was a game they'd all played for years. Which of course it was, but he didn't know that.

"Me and Neville have been doing that since we were babies. The aunts taught the girls when they were six and five. So we've been doing it, like, forever," Harry answered with a shrug. This was baby stuff to him, sure they taught it in the schools now, but it was too easy for him and Neville.

"But… but… you are all underage, how do you possible get away with this?" the werewolf said, ever the law abider, well mostly. They had broken quite a few rules in school when they were student and a few laws when they were finding the horcruxes, like breaking and entering.

"I will have you know, sir, that I will be eighteen next year, and I will be graduating from Tuscan Magical School of Magic with a Masters in Charms," Kaylie said in her most snotty voice, nose in the air and carrying a mock look of dignity. All the Owens family and Hallets laughed. "Besides, wandless magic or our magic isn't on the radar." She shrugged her shoulders as if it were no big deal, which it wasn't.

"W… Wh… What? A Masters at eighteen? What kind of schools do they have here?" the further shocked man asked. Sirius was still examining the ball, trying to see if he had accidently charmed it when he conjured it.

"I'll get you the brochures, but let's get back to the differences in our magics," Jet suggested, floating the ball out of Sirius' hands with a look and turning it into the plain white ball it started out as. Frances looked at the ball and it disappeared.

"Oh, Merlin, we're going to look right stupid around you lot," the dark-haired man groaned, banging his head on the table. He had thought he was well educated, but the only man in all of Europe that could pull what these kids and women just did, was Dumbledore. Sirius was now starting to wonder if all countries not part of the ICW were just as educated as this group.

"Yeah, it's actually thanks to the aunts we're so good. They taught us well," Harry said with vast amounts of pride in his voice. "We taught the kids in school, who taught their parents, and so on. The aunts teach the government, who will hopefully spread it to other countries," he finished off with a shrug. They seemed to be doing that a lot during this talk. However this was all old news to them, so it was not as important as it seemed to be to the Brits.

"Oh, you darling little boy, Aunt Frances loves you so much," said aunt said, getting up and going to Harry. Then proceeded to hug him and then kiss his cheeks to death, well that's how the embarrassed boy felt it was like anyway.

"Get off, Aunt Frances, I'm too big for this," he struggled to get away from his playful aunt, who was having none of it. The poor boy had already looked like a baby with his temper tantrum earlier; he didn't need his aunt making him look more like one.

"Frances dear, leave him be. I think he might just have a heart attack, and at such a young age too," Jet said with a tutting noise, a smile playing at her lips. She so loved her family it was hardly ever depressing around here.

The lively aunt stood, took up her parasol from where she had placed it and walked back to her seat as if she hadn't just embarrassed her nephew.

Sally returned with the large glasses of Kippy's iced tea, she looked at the red Harry and the smirking aunts. She gave a shake of her head and placed the tray in the middle of the table. "So what did I miss?" she asked, grabbing a glass of tea and watching those at the table did the same.

Sirius and Remus took a glass each, looked at them and then took a cautious sip. They gasped at how good it tasted, not used to sweet, herbal, iced tea. It would never replace good ole British tea, but it was quite refreshing on this warm day.

"Well," Gary drawled, "I think, the youngens just gave those two heart attacks and yer Aunt Frances gave Harry an aneurism, via hugs," he explained with a smirk to the youngest boy. He didn't grab a glass like everyone else. He preferred black tea over that grass the women drank. His wife gave him a wink and with a wiggle of her finger, there was true-blue sweet tea in front of him. He kissed her on the lips and said, "Thanks, Darlin'."

The two dogmen, shook their heads, this woman just did house elf magic. That was unheard of.

Sally kissed him back and then turned to give a mock glare at her fun loving aunt, "Aunt France, be nice."

"My darling girl, I am always nice," the seemingly affronted aunt said, nose in the air, in much the imitation of her young niece.

Everyone laughed, except the two Brits, who were still in a great deal of shock over what the kids did and what Sally just pulled off.

"Damn, if you guys act like this from a kid's game, I'm not sure we should show you anything else today," Harry said, getting frustrated at his godfather and friend.

"Wha… oh yeah, ummm, give me a minute, okay, pup? It's rather shocking for us. Maybe you're right though, maybe we should stick to theory for now," Sirius said, shaking his head to clear it. He was thinking that maybe even theory might be too much to handle. And from the dazed look on his friend's face he was probably thinking the same thing.

There were groans, sighs and giggles heard around the table. The two boys groaned, because they had wanted to show off more. The two teens giggled at the weak look on the men's faces. The rest of the family was either thoughtfully silent or sighed; because they knew the boys would be disappointed.

"Well, if we aren't going to be showing off our magic, then I'll let the aunts, Kaylie and Tonia talk about the theory. I'm going to go ride my new bike, coming Neville?" Harry asked and he turned to his brother with a questioning look.

"Yeah," the slightly disappointed boy said, but then he brightened at the prospect of riding his new bike. "Let's leave the grown-ups to talk and go riding."

The two boys got up from the table and ran to get their bikes. Agent Mumford called to them to wait for her to get her jogging clothes on, so she could accompany them. Twin groans were heard, but the two boys slowed down.

"Don't forget you hats, you guys" Gilly called to their retreating backs, and got two thumbs up for her effort. While Neville didn't require a hat, it was a sunny day and she wanted to make sure he didn't burn his nose again.

"Let's take a break from magic for a minute, I have a question for you boys," Jet said taking on a serious look. "Where are you two staying? And do you have enough money to live off of while you are here? We can get you jobs if you need them." They could work in the store with Evie, or there were a few people that still owed them favors around town.

This finally causes Sirius to snap out of his shock and laugh. "Oh, yeah I have plenty of money. I wouldn't know how to work in a Mu… ummm, non-magical world anyway," he replied, shooting a sheepish look around the table and getting approving smiles in return. "Remus here might want a job though. He doesn't like me spending money on him," he said, earning a glare from his friend.

"So where are you staying," Gilly asked again, hoping it was close for the boys' sake, and well seeing Sirius everyday wouldn't hurt.

"We're staying at the motel for the moment, but we've got a line on a flat near here. We're going to try and rent it for the next three years. I've enough money to pay in advance for that. We should be signing the lease tomorrow. Our house elves should be joining us after that. Don't worry I have a lot of money to pay them." He waved off their concern, not knowing how spoiled he was coming across as, having been raised with only pure-bloods and they all acted like this. Prankster though he was, he was raised an aristocrat.

He had no idea why he was paying house elves, something that he never would have dreamed of as a child, but Remus had been insistent that they remain free. From the way this morning's talks had gone, it was a good thing.

"Yes, well, that's simply marvelous," Frances said with a forced cheerful smile, not quite sure how to take the stuck-up attitude, since she and her family were very down-to-earth. "We were going to invite you to stay here, after Sally and her charming family leaves. But, since you have it all figured out we'll just need to go over schedules. And it is good to hear that your elves are free." A real beaming smile came to her face, mischief played in her eyes. "Let's get back to theory then. We'll start simple and educate you two over the next few years, shall we?"

There was an odd combination of eagerness, happiness and fear in the eyes of the two men. More eager on Remus' part and happier for Sirius, but fear of being shown up again lingered in both faces.

"Sounds like a plan," Sirius agreed with a nod.

"Okay, first of all, do you know how your wand works?" Jet started in lecture mode.

"Well, when you point, make the proper motion and incant with the wand in hand, the magic is pulled from your core, through your body, down your arm and out the wand," Remus answered cautiously, that was first year theory. But, he was leery that she was going to tell him he was wrong.

"Correct," the surprising answer came. "Now, do you know how wandless magic works?"

"Same theory just with more force, because there is no focus," the werewolf answered again.

"Almost." Remus groaned at Jet's answer. "Wandless magic is forced that way with wand users, because that is the way you've trained it. We've never used a wand, none of us, except the girls here," she pointed at Kaylie and Tonia, who pulled out their wands, "but they started without them when they were just babies. None of the Owens women have used them. However, our magic needs a focus to do big things. Like rituals and crystals and the occasional animal sacrifice."

That got the men's attention as they sat up straight ready to argue. That was illegal in Britain, it was considered Dark Magic.

"We don't do that anymore," Gilly said as she waved away their horrified looks, which caused the Brits to relax. It was one of the stipulations of working with the government, that and they never liked it anyway, they simply didn't know any other way.

"Now," Jet continued, "let's say I want to do a warding spell. I would require a ritual to focus and a crystal to hold the spell. Big rituals also send out strong waves of magic, which is why they are done outdoors or by candlelight, especially now that we don't use animals. We don't channel magic we send it out in waves to where we want it to go," she lectured and the two men followed along.

Gary got bored and went to the house, to see if there were any more grits. He loved his wife, but magic was just too weird for him to sit and listen to. The girls also left to play on the computer, since they weren't going to show off. They already knew this theory, they learned it in school.

Remus looking like he wanted to take notes, so Sally conjured him a paper and pencil with a wave of her hand. He nodded his thanks with a slightly awed look. He took up the pencil and poised to take notes, he nodded for the women to continue.

"What we learned when Death brought the boys to us," the reddish-blondes took up the lecture, "is that some magic requires a great deal of faith, and until you have that faith you need to use a focus and words."

And though he had had an inkling that that was what happened, Sirius didn't know that Death had introduced himself to the witches. "I don't understand," the dogman said, shaking his head. "Isn't all magic the same?" he asked, going over theory in his head.

"Not quite," Frances said kindly and she waved Gilly on to continue.

"The magic we do is sent out in waves, like Aunt Jet said. An example is the mild increase in wind you felt earlier. That was Aunt Jet; she simply sent a wave out with her thoughts and asked the wind to increase slightly around this area. It did. That is what we call passive magic," Gilly stated, sitting up straighter so that she would be taken seriously. "Now she asked nicely and the particles in the air stirred softly to the gentle wave she sent out. When Harry lost his temper, he didn't ask, he didn't even demand. What you felt was magic being sent out in mass waves and the particles in the air reacted. That is also considered passive magic, because it has no focus," she stated.

The two Brits nodded their heads, and Remus continued to take notes. The aunts looked fondly at them. Gilly shared a glance with her Aunt Jet to carry on.

"The conjuring you did is an example of focused magic. It took more out of you because you forced magic into a straight line and demanded it," Jet concluded and took a sip of her wonderful tea. "This is also one of the reasons electricity works in the house, gentle waves don't affect it. Now if Harry had had his fit in the house the fuse box would have blown." They knew that from experience, they'd had to pay the local electrician to help them learn to replace it themselves, so he didn't have to keep coming out.

The group settled down for a long discussion on the differences between the two magic's. It would take more than one afternoon to get everything they knew across to the two new members of their family. But they had three years to do it.