Later that night, Cortney was standing in Dumbledore's office with the Weasley's and Hermione. McGonagall was in her nightdress, and Harry was there also. He was sweating and looking scared. Harry told them about his dream, everyone looked grief-stricken, mainly the Weasleys.

" In the dream were you standing next to the victim or looking down at the scene? " Dumbledore asked, not even looking at Harry.

" Neither. It was like was-Professor will you please tell me what's happening? " Harry begged.

" Eveart," Dumbledore began talking to a portrait.

" Sir," Harry began.

" Go to your portrait at Grimmald Place. Tell that Arthur Weasley has been severely injured and his children will be there shortly by Portkey," Dumbledore said to the painting.

" LOOK AT ME! " Harry shouted. Everyone went silent and looked at him, including Dumbledore. " What's happening to me? "

" You wish to see me, Headmaster? " Snape asked from behind them.

" Oh yes. Severus, I'm afraid we can't wait. Not even till morning," Dumbledore said. " Otherwise we will be vulnerable". Everyone in the room was looking at them. Snape grabbed Harry and dragged him out.

**************

Cortney was to be spending Christmas at Sirius's place. With the Weasley's, Hermione, and HArry. Mr. Weasley was found, he was alright, he had a broken arm and a head wound. They were sitting at the kitchen table. Mrs. Weasley just helped Mr. Weasley sit down at the head of the table. Cortney received a pair of green gloves from Mrs. Weasley that she made.

" Ooh! Harry! " Mrs. Weasley said handing him a gift. " Merry Christmas dear". She said hugging him tightly.

" Merry Christmas Mrs. Weasley," Harry said. She went back over to her husband. Sirius stood in the doorway and cleared his throat.

" A Christmas toast! To Mr. Harry Potter, without which I wouldn't be here," Mr. Weasley raised his glass. " Harry".

" Harry," everyone repeated raising their glass. Mrs. Weasley had them all sit down and enjoy the Christmas dinner. After dinner, everyone went in separate directions. Fred was teasing Ron about a multi-color sweater he got from his mum. Saying it made him look like a clown.

" I don't understand why you won't wear it," Hermione said.

" Because it makes me look like a bloody idiot that's why," Ron informed her. Hermione rolled her eyes. Cortney and Harry stopped. when they passed a room. The two of them slowly entered it and observed how it was decorated. There was a massive family tree on the wall, the room had a weird feeling to it.

" Harry Potter. Friends of Mudbloods and Blood traitors, and traitors of the wizarding world," a house-elf sneered.

" Kreature! That's enough of your vile! Away with your vile! " Sirius shouted, standing at the edge of the staircase.

" Of course Master. Kreature lives to serve the noble house of Black," Kreature said bowing his head before walking out. 

" Sorry about that. He was never very pleasant, even when I was a boy. Not to me, anyway," Sirius said.

" You grew up here? " Harry asked.

" This is my parent's house. I offered it to Dumbledore as Headquarters for the Order. About the only useful thing I've been able to do," Sirius said. The two gave him a look. " This is the Black Family Tree" He gestured to the family tree on the wall. Cortney immediately found herself on it, above her picture and name. Was her dad's name, above that were her mum's picture and name. Cortney touched the picture of her mom. " My deranged cousin," he pointed to Bellatrix. " And your mother Cortney". The other two noticed Cortney touching Bellatrix's picture. " I hated the lot of them. My parents with their ' Pureblood' Mania. He walked over to one of the burned pictures with his name kind of there. " My mother did that after I ran away. Charming woman. I was sixteen".

" Where did you go? " Harry asked. 

" Your dads. I was always welcomed at the Potters. I see him so much in you Harry," Sirius answered. Harry smiled.

" I'm not so sure," Harry began dropping the smile. " Sirius, when I-when I saw Mr. Weasley attacked. I wasn't just watching I was the snake. And afterward, in Dumbledore's office, there was a moment when I-i wanted to. This connection between Voldemort and I, what if the reason for it is I'm becoming more like him? I just feel so angry all the time, lash out at people who are my friends. What if after everything I've been through, something has gone wrong with me. What if I'm becoming bad? "

" I want you to listen to me carefully. You're not a bad person. You are a very good person who had things happen to you understand? " Sirius said. He nodded. " Besides the world isn't split up between good and bad. We've all got light and dark inside of us. What matters most is the power we choose to act on. That's how we really are". There was a knock.

" Cortney, Harry, time to go," Hermione said. The two nodded and Harry left.

" When all this is over we'll be a proper family, you'll see," Sirius said. Cortney however continued to look at her mother's picture. " Alright there ?" Cortney looked at him.

" Oh..um..yeah...I just... I don't really see many pictures of her," Cortney said.

" You look a lot like her," Sirius said. " Want to play really quick before you leave? " The two looked at each other and smiled. Then they transformed into their Animagus form. The two played like cousins and then transformed back. They hugged each other and then Cortney joined everyone else and left. On the train back, Cortney sat in a compartment with Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Harry was telling them all about his lessons with Snape.

" He told me, that he already taught a student this year," Harry said.

" Well yeah, I know it," Cortney said.

" What? " Ron asked.

" Don't tell anyone," Cortney said. " Anyways, Harry he's right, it's going to take a lot of work to master. It took me quite a while". He groaned.

" Did he just teach you Occulmency? " Hermione asked. 

" And Legilimency," Cortney added. " I'm still shaky on both. But he said I'm can do it on my own now".

" Harry, if she can do it, so can you," Hermione said. Harry nodded. The topics kept changing throughout the whole train ride.