Sirius Black

Four days later and I still have occasional spasms. Morgana, this not being able to be Padfoot is almost as bad as when Bella cursed me and I had to stay Padfoot.

Mostly it's just being stuck in this house all the time, with that wretched elf.

I've been thinking about what we can do to prevent him betraying us if something should happen to me. Obviously, the orders I've issued him never to contact anyone who hasn't been told the secret of the Fidelius is perfectly effective while I'm alive. The question is what he'll do once I'm no longer his master. Will he accept the will as it's written, will he decide that Bella or Narcissa are his new mistresses, will he defer to Draco or Hydra or will he go and hang himself with my father's bootlaces?

It's complicated, because my mother's will actually left the property to Narcissa but my father's magical protections meant she couldn't take possession of the house. I wrote a will as soon as we were able to open it up, of course. But will Kreacher honour it if I'm not in the picture?

I think there are a few possible solutions but none of them are guaranteed. Since I can't do much else with this ankle still healing, and with my tremors I better not handle sensitive potions measurement, we may as well discuss the options.

Well, Alice, we were right that the parents would relent as soon as he manifested his magic.

As I said, we've been checking in on them every few weeks, using the same polyjuice disguises so they'll recognise us, since we decided not to Obliviate them again. The moment Dora and I walked into the shop, Mrs Kamathali's hands flew up and she treated us like her best customers in the world. 'Oh, you must come in; I have your table ready for you, Mr and Mrs White,' she said and kept up a steady stream of chatter all the way to the back of the restaurant.

'You must take him with you,' she said in a hushed voice as soon as she seated us. 'Three days ago, he began to show signs you told us to look for. We have been taking turns watching him to make sure he shows nothing in front of anyone. I have been terrified someone will see and report us.'

Dora asked if her husband agreed. Mrs Kamathali nodded but at that moment one of the couples at another table demanded their check, so she left us and we quickly looked over the menu.

By the time she came back to us, we knew what we wanted and we had a plan to get him out of the shop. Dora gave her our order and then said under her breath, 'When do you close? We'll come back then and collect him. There are things you and Mr Kamathali will need to know.'

Mrs K was willing to do whatever it took. She tried to insist on giving us our suppers at no charge but we put the lid on that cauldron.

So, after Ellie went to bed, Dora and I popped back round the shop. Mr K let us in, we gave them the rings and exchanged photographs and explained the rest. And now I'm staying overnight in Grimmauld because, it seems, Kreacher refuses to do so much as make up Bea's extra cot for the little sprog.

Besides which, explaining an extra baby to Ellie might be a little awkward come the morning.

How soon can someone come and get him?

Occurs to me, Dora, there weren't any books in that mess we found last night.

Nor the letter opener.