Lily nodded in agreement. "If the Death Eaters get their hands on the Dursleys, it could spell trouble for us."
"Yes, this is troubling news," Dumbledore agreed. "We also have troubling news here."
James flicked his eyes to the couch where Walburga's corpse was. "Not a simple suicide then?"
"I have no doubt that it is a legitimate suicide," Dumbledore said, "but there are other factors that we've discovered-specifically, an intruder that broke into the home and had a confrontation with Sirius's mother. I'm hoping that you can invoke some of your personal authority as deputy head auror and assume control of the investigation."
"Sirius is an auror, too," James said, rolling his eyes.
"Conflict of interest," Sirius told James magnanimously. "The Ministry doesn't like it when people investigate crimes against their loved ones. They get too emotionally involved and do things that they later regret. I have no choice but to recuse myself from this situation."
The oldest Potter daughter, Sidra, snorted from where she had taken a seat next to a window. "In your case, you'd congratulate the blighter and send him on his way."
"That's right, Sid," Sirius grinned, trying to make eye contact with his goddaughter.
Sid ignored Sirius and cracked open a copy of Witch's Weekly. The smile fell from Sirius's face and he glanced at James and Lily who merely shrugged at him.
"We need to discuss the situation here," Dumbledore said. "It would best be done privately. Other members of the Order are on their way. Sirius, do you know if there is a good room in this house where we can all sit down?"
"Perhaps the kitchen," Sirius suggested. "It's been a while since I stepped foot in here, so I can't be sure about anything."
"The kitchen will suffice, I think," Dumbledore said.
.....
"Why is Sid in such a bad mood?" Leo asked Rose as they hiked up the stairs so that Leo could show Rose the burned tapestry.
"She's still angry about the Chamber of Secrets," Rose replied. "We really did kind of humiliate her and her posse."
"It's been over two weeks," Leo said, "and they were asking for it, and we didn't even mean to embarrass them anyway. If they'd listened to us, maybe it would have been different."
"She's getting better at staying angrier longer," Rose declared. "The Weasley kid is really good at keeping her riled up." She glanced behind them to make sure neither Sid nor John was around. "Is the… you know… safe?"
"Yeah," Leo whispered.
They reached the appropriate landing and were soon standing in the room where the tapestry had once hung. Ash covered the floor, and the scent of smoke was strong. "Professor Dumbledore and the house elf say that someone broke into the house and lit the tapestry on fire," Leo explained. "They think that the person is now Kreacher's master."
"Really?" Rose said happily. "Why, that means that someone that isn't you or Sirius must be Lord Black!"
"We already knew that," Leo scoffed.
"Only sort of," Rose said.
"Whatever. We should find out who really is Lord Black. Is there any chance that you might have some… ah… insight?"
Rose sighed and looked into Leo's eyes. Determining that he really was desperate to know, she lightly took his hand and closed her eyes. Taking deep, calming breaths, she tried to imagine the burning of the tapestry. She imagined the smell of the smoke as it would have wafted through the room.
It was dark, and a shadowed figure moved through the room toward the tapestry. The figure raised one of its hands and stroked the tapestry. The figure stepped back and was suddenly wielding a wand. A fireball coalesced at the tip of the wand and was hurled toward the tapestry. The tapestry exploded in flame. And then, it was over.
Rose gasped and opened her eyes.
"Did you see something?" Leo asked excitedly.
Rose sighed. "Just the person setting the tapestry on fire."
"You couldn't see who it was?"
Rose shook her head, exhaustion evident in her eyes. "It's never that easy, Leo," she said softly.
"Let's find you somewhere to rest," Leo said tenderly, taking her by the arm.
....
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