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ily。
'Were … were your parents Death Eaters as well？'
'No； no； but believe me； they thought Voldemort had the right idea； they were all for the purification of the wizarding race； getting rid of Muggle…borns and having pure…bloods in charge。 They weren't alone； either； there were quite a few people； before Voldemort showed his true colours； who thought he had the right idea about things： they got cold feet when they saw what he was prepared to do to get power； though。 But I bet my parents thought Regulus was a right little hero for joining up at first。'
'Was he killed by an Auror？' Harry asked tentatively。
'Oh； no；' said Sirius。 'No； he was murdered by Voldemort。 Or on Voldemort's orders； more likely； I doubt Regulus was ever important enough to be killed by Voldemort in person。 From what I found out after he died； he got in so far； then panicked about what he was being asked to do and tried to back out。 Well； you don't just hand in your resignation to Voldemort。 It's a lifetime of service or death。'
'Lunch；' said Mrs Weasley's voice。
She was holding her wand high in front of her； balancing a huge tray loaded with sandwiches and cake on its tip。 She was very red in the face and still looked angry。 The others moved over to her； eager for some food； but Harry remained with Sirius； who had bent closer to the tapestry。
'I haven't looked at this for years。 There's Phineas Nigellus： my great…great…grandfather； see？： least popular Headmaster Hogwarts ever had： and Araminta Mehflua： cousin of my mothers： tried to force through a Ministry Bill to make Muggle…hunting legal： and dear Aunt Elladora： she started the family tradition of beheading house…elves when they got too old to carry tea trays： of course； any time the family produced someone halfway decent they were disowned。 I see Tonks isn't on here。 Maybe that's why Kreacher won't take orders from her … he's supposed to do whatever anyone in the family asks him …'
'You and Tonks are related？' Harry asked； surprised。
'Oh； yeah； her mother Andromeda was my favourite cousin；' said Sirius； examining the tapestry closely。 'No； Andromeda's not on here either； look …'
He pointed to another small round burn mark between two names； Bellatrix and Narcissa。
'Andromeda's sisters are still here because they made lovely； respectable pure…blood marriages； but Andromeda married a Muggle…born； Ted Tonks； so …'
Sirius mimed blasting the tapestry with a wand and laughed sourly。 Harry； however； did not laugh； he was too busy staring at the names to the right of Andromeda's burn mark。 A double line of gold embroidery linked Narcissa Black with Lucius Malfoy and a single vertical gold line from their names led to the name Draco。
'You're related to the Malfoys！'
The pure…blood families are all interrelated；' said Sirius。 Tf you're only going to let your sons and daughters marry pure…bloods your choice is very limited； there are hardly any of us left。 Molly and I are cousins by marriage and Arthur's something like my second cousin once removed。 But there's no point looking for them on here … if ever a family was a bunch of blood traitors it's the Weasleys。'
But Harry was now looking at the name to the left of Andromeda's burn： Bellatrix Black； which was connected by a double line to Rodolphus Lestrange。
'Lestrange：' Harry said aloud。 The name had stirred something in his memory； he knew it from somewhere； but for a moment he couldn't think where； though it gave him an odd； creeping sensation in the pit of his stomach。
They're in Azkaban；' said Sirius shortly。
Harry looked at him curiously。
'Bellatrix and her husband Rodolphus came in with Barty Crouch junior；' said Sirius； in the same brusque voice。 'Rodolphuss brother Rabastan was with them； too。'
Then Harry remembered。 He had seen Bellatrix Lestrange inside Dumbledore's Pensieve； the strange device in which thoughts and memories could be stored： a tall dark woman with heavy…lidded eyes； who had stood at her trial and proclaimed her continuing allegiance to Lord Voldemort； her pride that she had tried to find him after his downfall and her conviction that she would one day be rewarded for her loyalty。
'You never said she was your …'
'Does it matter if she's my cousin？' snapped Sirius。 'As far as I'm concerned； they're not my family。 She's certainly not my family。 I haven't seen her since I was your age； unless you count a glimpse of her ing into Azkaban。 D'you think I'm proud of having a relative like her？'
'Sorry；' said Harry quickly； 'I didn't mean … I was just surprised； that's all …'
'It doesn't matter； don't apologise；' Sirius mumbled。 He turned away from the tapestry； his hands deep in his pockets。 'I don't like being back here；' he said； staring across the drawing room。 'I never thought I'd be stuck in this house again。'
Harry understood pletely。 He knew how he would feel； when he was grown up and thought he was free of the place for ever； to return and live at number four； Privet Drive。
'It's ideal for Headquarters； of course；' Sirius said。 'My father put every security measure known to wizardkind on it when he lived here。 It's unplottable； so Muggles could never e and call … as if they'd ever have wanted to … and now Dumbledore's added his protection； you'd be hard put to find a safer house anywhere。 Dumbledore is Secret Keeper for the Order； you know … nobody can find Headquarters unless he tells them personally where it is … that note Moody showed you last night； that was from Dumbledore：' Sirius gave a short； bark…like laugh。 'If my parents could see the use their house was being put to now： well； my mothers portrait should give you some idea
He scowled for a moment； then sighed。
'I wouldn't mind if I could just get out occasionally and do something useful。 I've asked Dumbledore whether I can escort you to your hearing … as Snuffles； obviously … so I can give you a bit of moral support； what d'you think？'
Harry felt as though his stomach had sunk through the dusty carpet。 He had not thought about the hearing once since dinner the previous evening； in the excitement of being back with the people he liked best； and hearing everything that was going on； it had pletely flown his mind。 At Sirius's words； however； the crushing sense of dread returned to him。 He stared at Hermione and the Weasleys； all tucking into their sandwiches； and thought how he would feel if they went back to Hogwarts without him。
'Don't worry；' Sirius said。 Harry looked up and realised that Sirius had been watching him。 'I'm sure they'll clear you； there's definitely something in the International Statute of Secrecy about being allowed to use magic to save your own life。'
'But if they do expel me；' said Harry quietly； 'can I e back here and live with you？'
Sirius smiled sadly。
'We'll see。'
'I'd feel a lot better about the hearing if I knew I didn't have to go back to the Dursleys'；' Harry pressed him。
'They must be bad if you prefer this place；' said Sirius gloomily。
'Hurry up； you two； or there won't be any food left；' Mrs Weasley called。
Sirius heaved another great sigh； cast a dark look at the tapestry； then he and Harry went to join the others。
Harry tried his best not to think about the hearing while they emptied the glass…fronted cabinets that afternoon。 Fortunately for him； it was a job that required a lot of concentration； as many of the objects in there seemed very reluctant to leave their dusty shelves。 Sirius sustained a bad bite from a silver snuffbox； within seconds his bitten hand had developed an unpleasant crusty covering like a tough brown glove。
'Its OK；' he said； examining the hand with interest before tapping it lightly with his wand and restoring its skin to normal； 'must be Wartcap powder in there。'
He threw the box aside into the sack where they were depositing the debris from the cabinets； Harry saw George wrap his own hand carefully in a cloth moments later and sneak the box into his already Doxy…filled pocket。
They found an unpleasant…looking silver instrument； something like a many…legged pair of tweezers； which scuttled up Harry's arm like a spider when he picked it up； and attempted to puncture his skin。 Sirius seized it and smashed it with a heavy book entitled Nature's Nobility： A Wizarding Genealogy。 There was a musical box that emitted a faintly sinister； tinkling tune when wound； and they all found themselves being curiously weak and sleepy； until Ginny had the sense to slam the lid shut； a heavy locket that none of them could open； a number of ancient seals； and； in a dusty box； an Order of Merlin； First Class； that had been awarded to Sirius's grandfather for 'services to the Ministry'。
'It means he gave them a load of gold；' said Sirius contemptuously； throwing the medal into the rubbish sack。
Several times Kreacher sidled into the room and attempted to smuggle things away under his loincloth； muttering horrible curses every time they caught him at it。 When Sirius wrested a large golden ring bearing the Black crest from his grip； Kreacher actually burst into furious tears and left the room