the_debt_of_time

"Of course, Dorea, if it's not too much trouble."
"Sirius is no trouble to us," Dorea insisted, and Charlus chuckled softly. "Well, he's
nothing but trouble, but he's been our trouble since he was a young boy." After a moment
she added, "You're certain Walburga and Orion won't come for him?"
Alphard sighed. "Absolutely. When I got to Grimmauld Place to find out what
happened, he'd already been blasted off the tapestry. Walburga has lost her mind. Here's
Sirius's wand. I found it on the floor next to a rug that was... I feel that if I took him in,
it would only cause more problems. Cygnus, Orion, and Walburga have been fighting with
me since father put me in charge. Merlin knows why the man did it."
"He's a smart man," Dorea insisted.
Alphard gave a sad laugh that carried weight and burden despite his youthful age.
"Sirius will be safe with you when he's not at Hogwarts."
"Be realistic, Alphard," Dorea responded irritably. "Death Eaters tried to mark a
sixteen-year-old boy against his will tonight. In his own home, at the behest of his own
parents. No one is safe. We're officially at war."
"That may be true. Forgive me, Dorea, it has been a long night for all of us. I will
set the guardianship papers in order tonight and send them to the Ministry immediately
Monday morning. I still think it would be safer were you to officially adopt him, but you're
right; he is still the heir to our House, despite the fact that I've already received several
urgent owls from Walburga insisting that I give Regulus the title."
Mia could only imagine the dark look on Dorea's face that would have been
interpreted as a threat if he was stupid enough to go against her.
"Tell Sirius I will be in touch. Please, thank your children for taking good care of
him. Your daughter seems to be especially protective."
"Maybe she'll become a Healer," Dorea said. "Mia, dear? Would you be a love and
get your mother a cup of tea?"
Sighing irritably at being caught eavesdropping, Mia nodded, knowing her mother
was just tricking her into leaving the room. If I get her tea, she'll figure I'll get some for myself.
Well, she decided despite her dislike of being manipulated, I could use some tea.
As she moved through an open corridor on her way to fetch the drinks, Mia caught
a familiar smell and turned toward the direction of the scent. Suspicious, she moved
forward and growled when she caught sight of Lucius Malfoy stepping out of a room, his