A.N: This small offering is unfortunately the result of our muse not cooperating. I wanted to put out 2 chapterlettes in one, but my health and maniaclot's increased stress at work only produced this meager 8200 word thingy in many months. We'll try to start on the next full-length offering (the usual 15k+) this week. Also, a recent (as in this very day) reviewer brought to my attention how little the story advances. Thank you for the feedback kind reader. We will stop dragging our feet. The story arc was going to end in 1-2 chapters anyway. The next arc will start with a 2-3 (in-story) years time-skip. As always, all reviews are appreciated, and we only own our computers and the software on said devices.

Chapterlette: Shenanigans in the House of Black

Arcturus Black

The sun was waning and the lights were just turning on in the distant hamlet of Thywyllaf when Andromeda and Ted Tonks pulled on the side of the road.

"Where exactly are we again?" asked Ted. "Feels like we've been driving for hours."

"It only feels like it the first time," replied Andromeda. "My family loves privacy in the most extreme of ways as you will find out."

"Are you sure this is the place?" The poor man was baffled. "All I can see are bushes and trees. There's not even a dirt path to follow." Andromeda walked past the first couple of trees, seemingly searching for something very specific.

"We just need to find… Ah, here it is." She smiled. In front of them stood a pair of small, spiny, heavily branched broad-leafed trees, no taller than the ones next to them, but not as dissimilar as to stand out to the untrained eye.

"Here is what? I don't see anything special," Ted complained.

"Of course you don't. That is what my Grandfather intended. What you see here is Dalbergia Melanoxylon," Andromeda said fondly, "more commonly known as the African Blackwood. Our House's ancestors used it to build the Black Manor."

"A whole lot of good that does us. I don't see anything that would point us in the correct direction."

"Hush, now, darling. It will make sense soon enough."

Andromeda crumpled a small piece of paper into her hand and tapped it with her wand, turning it into a scorched cocoon. A small ash-and-black butterfly, intricately ornate, soon emerged. She blew gently, sending the delicate insect flying towards the building. It vanished into thin air, slipping through the folds of an unseen veil. Moments later, the imposing visage of the Head of House Black stepped through the space between the two Blackwood trees.

"Good evening," Arcturus said in his usual deep voice. He was wearing what could easily be called an old fashioned, but nonetheless stylish, dark sharkskin robe. "Andromeda," he bowed his head in acknowledgement and gave the faintest of smiles.

"Good evening, Grandfather," she replied, returning the smile.

"And you must be… Ted, was it?" the Black patriarch asked. The man nodded and, with a bow, shook Lord Black's hand.

"A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, sir," Ted Tonks said, with no short measure of nervousness in his voice.

"Finally… That is the keyword, here." Arcturus's voice, albeit gruff, was soothing and warm enough to abate his guest's state of mind. "Regardless," he continued, as he turned and, with a fluid motion, pulled the fabric of reality that span the distance of the two Blackwood trees apart, "I hereby welcome you to the Ci Du Maenor, my home."

Lord Black stepped through and beaconed them to follow him. Ted shot his wife a look of bewilderment and amusement. Andromeda only shook her head, as to ask him to humour his her grandfather.

"Ci Du Maenor? Who still talks like that nowadays?" Ted was perplexed.

"I did say it will make sense shortly," his wife said in a hushed voice.

Everything about the Black Family Manor building was imposing. The perspective from the front of this residence belied its actual size. About three centuries ago, one of the forefathers of the House of Black commissioned goblins to conceive an 8,000-square-foot house in the spirit of the great Draco Chrysopelea, the mythical architect of the Hidden Halls of Salazar Slytherin. The rune-adorned exterior was wrought of obsidian with large iron-clad windows. Sunlight was not of importance, it seemed. Once inside, the vast scale of the home was evident, with groin vaulted ceilings, arched halls and blackwood timber framing accentuating the imposing nature of the design. The effect was, clearly, meant to be at once grandiose, yet simple and practical.

"I am not sure how much my granddaughter has told you of the history of The House of Black," spoke Arcturus, seemingly oblivious to his grandson-in-law's utter bewilderment. "We are a very old House, with a proud Welsh heritage."

"Remember the rules you, yourself, have set, Grandfather?" Andromeda cut him off. "I couldn't tell him more than my name and the fact that I am a part of an Ancient House, no more, even if I wanted to. Not without your permission or outside the grounds of the Manor, which I couldn't have him visit without you inviting us in." She pouted, in a childish manner.

"Now you are here, what stops you?" Arcturus's smile never left his face. "Keep it short, we have more serious things to discuss."

"Ted, remember the name of the hamlet just outside the forest?"

"Thy… Thywyllaf, I believe."

"Where on the British Isles do you believe we are? After all, I did Apparate you here."

"The name sounds Welsh, so I would say somewhere in Wales."

"Correct," said Lord Black.

"The Blackwood trees we went through are the only physical entry point tied to the Manor. Consider it a gate of sorts. My Grandfather's Grandfather had set up a Fidelius Charm, so powerful, he literally moved the Manor outside what one would consider the physical plane, cutting it completely off from the most common wizarding travel methods."

"A space outside space… I knew your family was Ancient," Ted said, as he looked at the grim portraits on the wall, "but that is on a whole other level."

"You will learn more about our family history in due course," interjected Arcturus. "Let's just say you would not have been able to accompany Andromeda through the Blackwood gate unless I, as the Head of the House and Secret Keeper, opened it for you. Rest assured," he continued, when he noticed the uncomfortable look on Ted's face, "you will be keyed into the wards, so Apparition will be accessible to you. You are capable to Apparate, am I correct?"

"Yes, sir," Ted replied.

"Then, let's get down to business," said Arcturus, as he led them into his personal study. The Head of House Black sat down behind the desk and picked up a sheaf of papers from a concealed drawer. "Please, sit." Ted and Andromeda sat across from their host. "Do you know the reason I have invited you here?" he asked.

"I have my suspicions, sir."

"I presume Andromeda told you that she is to take over from me in January." Ted nodded. "However, she most likely could not disclose some of the conditions she would have to fulfil in order for that to happen." The man shook his head.

"I suspect her keeping my last name is not possible."

"Partially true. In a nutshell, she has to revert to using her old family name… moreover, she needs to have kept it, even when having married outside the family." The pair looked puzzled. "Let me explain. By marrying you, she took your last name - Tonks. That name change has been noted both in the Muggle world, as well as in the Ministry's ledgers. Which, in terms of assuming the leadership of a Noble and Most Ancient House, would make it nigh impossible."

"Impossible?" asked Ted.

"Why do I sense there is a 'but' in there somewhere?" Andromeda chimed in.

"A House such as ours wouldn't have survived, let alone thrived, for such a long time without having certain… dubious connections. I could talk with some friends in the lowest of places to have her name changed retroactively."

Their puzzled look turned into one of bewilderment.

"Excuse me?!" Ted was outraged.

"Should have figured there was a catch to this," said Andromeda with a sigh.

"What I mean is," Arcturus began to appease her, "I will have someone who owes me a favour or three alter your name in the Ministry's papers to show she had not renounced her name. To be specific, she would be known Andromeda Black-Tonks since the moment you two were wed."

"Last I checked," Andromeda interrupted him, "the Ancient Houses have a whole set of rules, pomp and ceremony, for the Heiress-apparent marrying and the such. I married Ted without your blessing and I am pretty sure the other houses would raise objections to the break from tradition."

"Consider my blessing granted retroactively. As for the other Houses, lay your worries to rest, I still hold some sway with them. That should be more than enough. If not," Lord Black continued, twirling his wand and sending multi-coloured sparks in the air, "there is always the odd memory charm. All I have to do is add one word and let their memories fill themselves in."

Ted felt a shiver go down his spine.

"Rest assured, that will not come to pass," continued Arcturus, with an innocent smile on his face. "A small donation towards their Gringott's vaults would have just the same effect, without risking a prolonged stay in the Janus Thickey Ward at St Mungo's."

The man in front of him remained a mystery to him, Ted felt. What else was he capable of to achieve the results he wished for? He couldn't quite figure it out.

"It will be your job," Lord Black's voice echoed through his head, snapping him back to reality, "to submit the paperwork with the Muggle authorities to affect the same change. Any questions? No? Very well. On to the second issue."

Andromeda looked on calmly, but Ted seemed to be fidgeting in his seat. Lord Black continued, unperturbed, picking up one of the sheets of paper next to him and sliding it to his grandson-in-law. "That, my young man, is a legal form for you to change your name."

"Excuse me, what?!" Ted did not expect this turn of events.

"You will also take up the name of Black."

"Will I be giving up the Tonks name?"

"No, no. You will be Edward Black-Tonks."

"My name is not Edward, sir. It's Ted."

"My apologies, I thought Ted was short for Edward or Theodore."

"No harm done," the young man said, his worries alleviated. "So, I'll be Ted Black-Tonks. I see no issue with that. What about our daughter?"

"I heard from Sirius she is displaying signs of being Metamorphmagus. Most intriguing to see the family magic so strong in one of mixed…"

"Our daughter," Ted spoke through gritted teeth, "is not to be referred to like that."

"I was about to say heritage, not blood. Although, your ire towards the perceived slight speaks volumes about the type of man you are." Arcturus smiled a warm smile, a temporary crack in the stoic demeanour he had put on so far.

"I am sorry, sir," said an abashed Ted in a hushed voice.

"Don't be. If anything, I like your attitude. If not for your father-in-law's actions in regards to your marriage to Andromeda, you would have been welcomed into the family long ago." Andromeda cleared her throat.

"If you two dear gentlemen are done bonding, maybe you could answer me this. What about Nymphadora?"

"Rest assured that I, for one, want her well protected," said Arcturus, as he slid a sheet of paper towards his granddaughter. "Here is what I had in mind. We'll submit a fake name change for her."

"Is it really necessary?"

"Yes, it is."

"Exactly what for?"

"Call me old fashioned, but I'd rather make sure no one can trick her into a marriage contract."

"Trick her into a marriage contract? How exactly would that work?" Ted inquired, looking perplexed.

"One merely has to send her, by-owl, a bound-by-blood contract, with an envelope charmed to cut her when she touches it, thus making it binding. If the contract contains your daughter's correct name, it will be ironclad. Cancelling it would be a rather large pain in the rear end, as it will be considered implied consent."

"And, should the name be wrong?"

"If the name is wrong, the sender will face the full… let's call it displeasure of either myself or your cousin, Sirius. And, considering the recent events, he can be quite vicious."

"That he can," Andromeda said with a shiver running down her spine. "What of the real records?"

"The real records will, of course, be concealed by my contact, though they will still be in the Hall of Records."

"I believe we both agree we need to do our best to keep our daughter safe from such practices. And what would her name be then?"

"Dora Black-Tonks," Arcturus said. "I'd recommend you get her used to it and tell her of the ruse only when she is of age."

"And the real name?" the Tonks parents said in unison.

"I could say there is strength in the old magic of a parent naming a child, but, in truth, I wouldn't dare mess with your choice of name- and Nymphadora Black-Tonks is a strong, fine choice." Both of them smiled. "Though, I still recommend you call her Dora. Do you really want her to end up resenting her own name by the time she is all grown up?"

"She does pout already when I call her by her full name," said Andromeda. Arcturus hid a chuckle in an obvious fake bout of coughing, before recomposing himself.

"One last thing. Your position as the Head of House Black carries with it an unspoken… burden, if you could call it that."

"Why did I know you would spring this on us?" groaned Andromeda. "OK, cough it up, what is it?"

"The family can be lead by a female, true, but only once every four generations. The next Head of House needs to be male."

"That might be impossible, Sir," Ted chimed in. "We can't have another child. Even having our daughter put a great strain on my wife's health. We were told another pregnancy would be catastrophic for either the babe or the mother. I am not comfortable risking her life just to provide the family with an heir."

"That… is quite disconcerting. Was this diagnosis provided by a Muggle healer?"

"Yes…" the woman replied, defeatedly.

"Did you talk to any other Healer? In London or any other magical enclave?"

"We had second and third opinions from both doctors in the Muggle world, as well as magical Healers." Andromeda's mood grew darker as she spoke. "One of them from St Mungo's did tell us about a certain fortifying potion. Yet, it is extremely difficult to make and the ingredients are rare and, therefore, expensive."

"Money is no issue if that is what you're implying," spoke Arcturus, a glimmer of hope in the back of his voice. "Get me the prescription and I'll single-handedly track down every ingredient if I have to."

"Do you care about an heir so much," countered Ted, "you are willing to risk your own granddaughter's life? I will not stand for this…" The candles flickered ominously and his wand started sparking, even though it was not in his hands.

"You are willing to put my granddaughter first before the interests of the House?" Arcturus and Andromeda shared a meaningful look. "You married a good man, my dear," the old man smiled. "You misunderstand, Ted. I have no interest in forcing either of you to produce a male heir. I have that already taken care of. There is definitely no need to risk Andromeda's health for it. My offer to assist with acquiring the ingredients for the potion is so you would be able to try having another child without the fear of losing your wife. What would Dora's life be like without siblings to share the joys and hardships with?"

"That is… actually quite thoughtful. I am sorry about my outburst, Sir… It will not happen again."

"Nonsense, you love my granddaughter just as much as me. Not having you react like that would have been highly suspicious and I would have been forced to find unworthy of her."

"That is all so touching," interrupted Andromeda, "however, Grandfather, you said another heir? A male heir? Sirius has no children, and, if I remember correctly, you said you are expelling Cissi and Bella from the line of inheritance?"

"About that…," replied Arcturus, "As it is a very sensitive subject, I will need your vow to never speak of this to anyone I have not disclosed the secret already."

Ted and Andromeda looked at the current Head of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, then at each other before taking their wands out.

-section break-

Arcturus walked up to the door of Number 12 Grimmauld Place and reached for the doorknob, only to find it uncomfortably hot to the touch.

'Still relying on childish tricks, are you?' he thought to himself. He pulled his hand back and took out his wand. A silent spell later and the door creaked open. A small, spindly creature, no taller than two feet tall, clad in a dirty, ragged pillowcase, popped in the dark entrance hall before Arcturus could set foot inside.

"Elf," he said in his stern, deep voice, "tell your Mistress I want her in the library. Immediately." The elf did not move. "Have I stuttered, creature?" he growled, sending shivers down the elf's spine. "You have received an order from the Lord of the House of Black. Will you comply or should I summon my dogs? They haven't been fed an elf in quite a while, I am sure they would enjoy the treat, boney and sinewy as you are." Whatever blood was left in the elf's face drained in an instant. "Have I made myself clear? Good. Give my orders to your Mistress! and I will make sure you are fed extra." The elf ran away frightened. "Damned elf, not knowing his place."

If Arcturus didn't know for sure his daughter-in-law was not at home, he could have said the place was deserted. A thick coat of dust covered most of the furniture, the once lush plants were now withered. Yet, as of late, she rarely, if ever, left the house. Not since she lost Orion and Regulus. With most of the Death Eaters on the run, captured or killed, she was a recluse.

An inhuman, piercing shriek shot from the master bedroom.

"You useless sack of skin!" shouted Walburga, "I thought I told you no visitors…"

"But, Mistress," replied the elf in a gravelly voice, "Lord Arcturus demanded your presence."

"Why didn't you say so?" her tone, while softened slightly, could still be heard in the hallway. The momentary quiet that followed was broken by another short shriek. "Next time, lead with that, Kreacher… What are you standing there for? Tell the loon to wait for me in the study."

Arcturus half ignored the soft pop that announced the elf's apparition.

"Mistress Walburga comes down soon," it said, its head bowed down. "Lord Black follow Kreacher." Limping away, the elf led him to a dimly lit room, with book-lined shelves that span from wall to wall. "You wait here," it said and popped away to tend to his visibly bruised leg.

'So uncivilised,' Arcturus thought to himself. With a flick of the wand, he lit the fireplace, vanished the dust off of one of the armchairs and conjured up a glass of Firewhiskey, before sitting down.

"It has been far too long. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Father-in-law?" asked Walburga. She looked dishevelled, her face gaunt, her dress wrinkled.

"Your house is a mess, you know that, right?"

"That damned elf has been slacking. Since Regulus… left," Walburga winced as she uttered the words, "Kreacher has been nothing but a nuisance. An eye-sore, an…"

"Abused House Elf, I hope you were going to say," Arcturus interrupted her. "I know our family does not shy away from the Unforgivable Curses, but only on those that actually deserve them." He kept his tone voice flat and ice-cold. "Really, have you fallen so low to use the Cruciatus on one as insignificant and lowly as that elf?"

"I would never…"

"No need to lie, I have seen Kreacher's posture and demeanour. He reeks of the Cruciatus Curse and its many after-effects. Perhaps he would be able to fulfil his duties if you gave him a chance to recover." Walburga was enraged."

"He is my servant," she snapped, "bound to my house, I will treat him how I please. Just as you have taught your own son and me."

"There are many ways to treat unruly help," Arcturus interrupted her, with a raised hand. "Not UNFORGIVABLE CURSES, for Merlin's sake."

"Why do I feel my House Elf's well-being is not the real reason for your visit? What do you want, Arcturus?" That was the mistake he was waiting for. He rose from the armchair.

"Know your place, woman!" While his tone of voice didn't change, Walburga found herself unable to utter a single word before the imposing man. "I am the Lord of this house and you shall address me by my title. You shall speak only when spoken to and you will answer every question I ask. Please, keep your answers as truthful as your knowledge allows them to be. I will know in an instant if you stray from my instructions," he said, tapping his pointer and middle fingers on his temples. "Understood?"

Compelled by the binding effects of the old House of Black magic, Walburga knew that it would have been pointless to do otherwise. After all, the man in front of her had disabled the protective charms she had placed on the house. She nodded.

"Good. You may speak."

"Thank you, Lord Black." She coughed. "Please do tell me what you would like to know."

"What do you know of Regulus's death?"

"I know as much as you do, my Lord. Only that he had faded from the Family tree," she said as she pointed to the large tapestry on the other side of the room. "They couldn't even find a body for us to properly bury, but the Ministry is certain he is dead. And that tapestry has not lied yet. See," Walburga pointed to the embroidered portrait of her deceased husband, "Orion as well has been bled of all colour."

"Are you telling me you do not know how your son, a prodigy ended up dying under unknown circumstances? Fine…" Arcturus sighed. "Next question. Why did Bellatrix kill her parents?"

"What makes you think I would know the motivations of that zealot?"

"What did I warn you, Walburga?" he asked. "Lie to me and I will be able to tell. You know far more than you let on and I will get to that information by any means necessary. Legilimens!"

The spell hit her before she could raise up any barriers, and whatever protections she had in place were shattered on the spot. Walburga Black felt the pressure in her skull increase to the point of splitting her head wide open.

"I'll talk…" she managed to say in between Arcturus's onslaughts. "I'll tell you everything." He released the pressure to allow her to catch her breath.

"You seem fond of this tapestry. Of your family. It would be a damn shame if you should find yourself kicked out." Arcturus was delighted with the shock imprinted on his daughter-in-law's face. "Answer my questions, Walburga, or so help me, I will put you under Cadair Idris with the rest of the traitors. Talk or be removed."

Walburga blinked and rubbed her eyes. Dark as it normally was, the light of the fireplace made the room too bright for her throbbing headache.

"If you want to know what really happened to Regulus," she started, "you need to ask that useless elf. He was with my son when he disappeared."

"I thought I told you not to lie to me," Arcturus warned her, as he rose his wand slowly. "How on earth would the House Elf know more than the Aurors and the Unspeakables of the Ministry, more than any of my less than savoury underworld contacts, hell, more than you?"

"You think I haven't tried, Arcturus? Since the moment Kreacher came back alone, I have been trying to wrench the truth from him by any means necessary, but he acts oblivious to all my pleas."

"Think again about what you just said." The woman seemed lost in thought. "Walburga! What exactly was your speciality, again? Besides the Black family spells."

"Huh?! Oh, I was… I mean, I am still quite proficient with charms… why do you ask?"

"Charms, indeed, especially those related to the contents of the mind and memory, to be specific. Occlumency, Legilimency, as well as memory altering charms." She nodded. "What do you think Regulus learned from you? Regardless of you teaching him or not, he was a prodigy. He saw you use them enough to pick up the basics. Which he eventually honed to perfection, if what I have sensed on Kreacher is accurate." The woman blinked in confusion. "The poor elf's memory has more holes than swiss cheese… And your… prodding, for lack of a better term," said Arcturus, as he refilled his glass and sat back down in the armchair, "didn't do him any favours."

"What exactly are you saying, Arcturus?"

"Need me to spell it out for you? The elf had been Obliviated and more than once in a very short amount of time. And he had not been allowed to recover enough to resume what would constitute a normal life for a House Elf."

"And I couldn't tell… to think, I have been outshone by my own son," Walburga smiled bitterly.

"If only slightly, I'd call it redemption if you can tell me what had happened the days before Regulus departed with Kreacher. What could cause my grandson to disappear with a House Elf in tow?"

"The Dark Lord came to take him…"

"To take Regulus?"

"No, he didn't need Regulus, he needed Kreacher."

"Do you know what for?"

"Not in the least, but Regulus was furious at the state the elf returned in. He cared for Kreacher until he was better, then they left. Where I don't know." Walburga stopped.

"What happened then?" Arcturus asked.

"Weeks had passed without any sign from Regulus. I couldn't track him in any way, let alone scry for him. Then, one night, Kreacher Apparated in the house, looking even worse than how the Dark Lord has left him in. The rest you know."

For the first time that night, Arcturus's brow furrowed in earnest.

"Why do I have the feeling that you are not telling me everything? Not by your own choice, of course," he added when he noticed Walburga bracing for another intrusion in her mind. "Tell me, did Kreacher return with anything at all? Did he give you anything from Regulus?"

"Come to think of it, yes. An ornate golden locket. Kreacher said Regulus asked him to keep it safe. I couldn't even open it to see if my son left any message for me."

"You touched it?" The woman nodded. "Of course you did. And, if I am not mistaken, you haven't checked it for any subtle magics." Her eyes widened in horror, as realisation set in. Arcturus fell silent. "Mind getting it for me?" he asked after a moment's thought. "This time, don't touch it, please. I wouldn't want that shred of sanity to wane off before you finish answering my questions."

"I will need to get it… from my room," Walburga said, backing up towards the door, trying to make her way out of there.

"Colloportus." Arcturus sighed the spell, blocking her way, stopping her in her tracks. "Are you a witch or not? I am not letting you out of my sight. Just summon the damn thing."

"It will not come, try as I might. It is warded against summoning. Let me go retrieve it."

"You must forgive me, but I have little faith in your intentions. Humour me and try." Walburga raised her wand and did as she was commanded.

"Accio Locket!" Nothing happened. She tried again and again but to no avail. "It never comes when summoned, it is warded against many of the spells. I tried to read its history, scry its locations, all of it to find out what had happened to my son."

'It can't be…' thought Arcturus. 'Could it?'

"Lord Black?" she interrupted his train of thought.

"You would not leave it lying about anywhere, so there is no point in having the elf bring it," he said in a hushed voice. "It is too important, the last thing you have of your son. No, you would put it in a box you alone would be able to access. So summon that."

Walburga glared and flashed a manic smile. Wordlessly, she floated a rune-encrusted box through the chimney above the fireplace.

'Could he feel there's something amiss with the contents?' she asked herself as she noticed Arcturus ensnared at the sight. It was all she could have asked for. Quicker than a blink of an eye, she turned her wand from the box towards her father-in-law. But, before she could even think of uttering a spell, crimson bands shot from the floor and wrapped around her so tightly, she could feel her bones creaking under the pressure.

"You damn foolish woman…" Arcturus sighed. "You'd think you would remember what would happen if a member of the family would decide to attack the Head of the House of Black. The utmost treason, my forefathers would call it and probably the only time they would see fit to resort to a demonic pact," he explained.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" cried out Walburga, not even able to writhe in pain.

"Pipe down, woman," he said.

With a wave of his arm, the bands released their grip, but only slightly, just enough to stop her screams. He opened the box and saw that the contents were what he had suspected. The golden locket bore an ornate, serpentine S, inlaid with glittering, green stones. It was easy to visualise it as a minuscule snake. It whispered to him secrets he thought buried ages ago, promising him enough power to fix all the mistakes he had made. Before it could ensnare him, he threw the lid shut.

"Of course he did…" Arcturus muttered to himself. "That son of yours was one brave fool." Walburga could barely speak due to the pain. "I will be taking this," he said pointing at the box, "as well as Kreacher. I feel that he holds the key to Regulus's disappearance. Now, if you promise you will behave, I will release the binds."

"P-please, my Lord…"

"Do you promise?"

"I promise!"

"There is no trespassing, without punishment. For the thought crime of striking down the Head of House, you shall lose your wand hand." Walburga's eyes shot wide as the bands released her body, but squeezed tighter and tighter as they ripped the hand she had her wand in free from the rest of her arm. Funnily enough, there was no blood flowing from the stump. "Be grateful I don't ask for more."

"T-thank y-you, Lord Black, for your m-mercy and generosity."

The woman in front of him was a wreck. Keeping her in this state would be detrimental to the information he still needed to acquire.

"Now, before we continue, let me patch you up." Wordlessly, he eased the pain that had spread through her bones like wildfire. "There, this should do for now, until you get to a Healer." The woman nodded. "I know you rarely entertain guests lately, but I do have a couple more questions before I call it a night."

"What would you like to know?" she asked, her tone far more compliant than before.

"Praytell, do you know the reason behind Bellatrix killing her parents?"

"I am sorry, my Lord, I… do not know…" Walburga winced.

"You're closer to Bella than she was with anyone, including her own mother. I refuse to believe she never told you of her intentions."

"If only I had a chance to read her when we last met, I could have told you for certain. Yet, she grew more skilled in Occlumency since marrying Rodolphus Lestrange."

"But you must have your own suspicions of the reason behind this."

"I would believe the reason is Narcissa." Arcturus frowned, but Walburga continued. "Their mother made Narcissa starve herself for years by always calling her fat. It broke the poor girl and I suspect her sister couldn't take it any longer."

"It is true Cissi hasn't been taking care of her self" he replied, "and that worries me greatly. I would have thought her marriage might have given her some reprieve, but not even that seems to have helped her."

"She might be forced to, now that she has had a son. Draco will need her healthy if he should be the next male heir of the House of Black."

"Herein lies the problem. I, or rather my successor, couldn't name him Heir of House Black if his father does the same and names him the future Head of House Malfoy. Hell… even the son of James Potter would have a higher claim to the title."

"You'd let those blood traitors run the affairs of House?"

"Unlike you, I choose to not break any ties with those with whom I disagree," Arcturus said, pointing at the scorched tapestry depicting the Black family tree. "Yes, I did ask all members of the extended family to remain neutral in this Wizarding War that Voldemort has waged…"

"Don't!… say that name in my house," interrupted Walburga.

"But," he continued unfazed by her pleas, "the only ones I actually have an issue with are those who have killed and tortured, not in order to save lives, but only to further their own twisted agendas. It is not an issue with the usage of Unforgivable Curses, I will let the Ministry handle that for all sides involved, it is more of an issue with the fact that, should it have continued as it did, it would have been a stain on our family history."

"We have always been practitioners of the Dark Arts. We have always been a family that prides itself in the purity of their blood. You'd have us all deny this now?"

"You forget, my dear, the world keeps changing. Muggles have made progress in a lot of fields, one of their preferred ones being war. No matter how strong we are or how pure our blood is, make no mistake, we will fall unless we learn to coexist with them. And the first step is actually living alongside Muggle-borns. Both sides need to be accepting of one another. Regardless…" Arcturus continued. "It matters little to nought. My heir has already been chosen - it will be Andromeda." Walburga visibly cringed but did not protest, not that she would have had any strength left to do so. "She does have a baby girl, true, but as the Laws of Succession of the House of Black demand the heir after her to be a male and her health issues prevent her from bearing another child, I have decided it would be someone from your line."

"Who?" the woman asked. "Sirius has little interest in anything other than his own pleasure and Regulus has already passed away. I have no other sons and I don't see Sirius being a father anytime soon." Arcturus smiled bitterly.

"You can thank Regulus for taking care of that issue as well."

"How? He couldn't have fathered a son, not without me knowing," said Walburga, frantically investigating the tapestry. "I would have seen a new branch on the tree…"

"You forget, this right here is a copy. I have severed its connection with the master tree, which resides in the main halls of Ci Du Maenor."

"Why would you do that?" she asked, tears welling up in her eyes, upon noticing Regulus's portrait still depicting him as alive.

"It was at your son's request. Regulus wanted his child to be kept out of view."

"Is it a boy? Of course, he is, you wouldn't have mentioned naming him heir if he wasn't. What is his name? How old is he? "

"Your grandson's name is Perseus. A good, strong name. Regulus chose it before the child was even born, little over 6 months ago."

"Just before he died…"

"Before you ask, he did get to hold his son. He wished he would get to see him grow, but he brought Perseus to me, I think just before he left with Kreacher."

"Can we be sure it is Regulus's child?" Walburga was still trying to process all of the information she had just received.

"I have verified the child's heritage and, yes, Regulus is his father. The master family tree tapestry in my manor does show the paternal blood relation as well."

"Do you know who is the mother? What happened to her? Why isn't Perseus with her?"

"His mother's name was Stella. She died in childbirth. And that is the extent of what Regulus told me about her." The clock struck midnight. "It is time I take my leave."

Arcturus Black rose from his armchair and turned towards the door.

"Lord Black, are you going to leave me like this?" Walburga's face was livid, but she did her best to keep her calm. "You took my hand, you will be taking my servant… How am I to survive?"

"Ah, I did promise you some reprieve…" Arcturus sighed. With a quick swish of his wand, he sent her into a bewitched sleep. "I am sorry it had to come to this," he said as he set her down in the same armchair he sat seconds ago. "You are too valuable to dispose of, but you know too much and you could unravel everything I have been working towards."

He conjured several small rune-encrusted crystal phials. With a fine motion, he pulled several translucent silvery strands from the temples and filled each of the phials, taking great care not to disturb the strands.

"This," he continued, speaking as if she was still awake, "alongside whatever Kreacher remembers, will help explain what had happened to Regulus and to you, for that matter, before you touched that accursed thing."

He conjured a quill and parchment and wrote a quick letter.

"Kreacher!" The elf almost fell on his wobbly knees when he apparated, but regained his footing quickly. He bowed his head awaiting further orders. "Pack your mistress's clothes."

"Where to take them?" the elf asked,

"Nowhere, leave them packed up. When you are done, your servitude with her ends." Kreacher nodded, still fearful in his presence. "I want you to take this letter to Sirius Black and await further orders there. He will tell you what you need to do further." The elf bowed so deeply, his nose touched the hardwood floor. "Before you go," Arcturus stopped him, "one last thing." One flick of the wand later, the elf's rags turned into a pleated black handkerchief, with the coat of arms of the House of Black. "Go." The elf smiled and disapparated.

With the elf on his way to a safer life, Arcturus turned his attention to his host once again.

"Walburga, I have every right to end your life, or worse, your sanity. I decided to do none. You will forget all of this madness and remember only the good parts of your life. It is not much, but it is better than the fate my forefathers had in mind for your actions. Goodbye, Walburga. Obliviate…"

For the first time tonight, Walburga smiled a pleasant smile, as though she dreamt a pleasant dream. Arcturus took a moment, finished the Firewhiskey and banished the glass.

"Hobbie!" A young-looking elf apparated in and bowed curtly.

"Master?"

"Wait for Kreacher to finish packing. Once he leaves, take the luggage and your new mistress to the chateau in the Alps. She lost her memories and needs time to heal. Call a Healer for her arm, but leave the rest to me."

"Yes, Master Arcturus," Hobbie replied, bowed and went upstairs. Moments later, she apparated beside Walburga, grabbed her hand and disapparated in a hushed pop.

Arcturus collected his daughter-in-law's wand and left 12 Grimmauld Place, without a word.

-section break-

Sirius Black

As he waited for his appointment with the Black Family's jeweller and gem appraiser at Gringotts, Sirius looked at the pieces of transfigured crystal in the velvet box. A trophy, one claimed from the Marauder who betrayed his brothers, now one he planned to have mounted in silver and gold.

So far adrift in his own thoughts, he missed the first time he was summoned.

"Mr Black," a young goblin said, tugging at his pant leg. "Mr Black, Master Grimlock is waiting for you."

"Ah, thank you."

The room he'd been led to was nothing short of spartan. A desk, two chairs and a jeweller's station, as well as several simple-looking wooden cabinets, took up more than two-thirds of the room. The goblin he was to meet had his nose buried into a ledger. Noticing his appointment had arrived, he sent the ledger into one of the cabinets.

"Master Grimlock, thank you for taking the time to assist me with my request," said Sirius.

"Your letter said you are here for an appraisal. Show me the gems, we can get to business faster." The goblin extended his hand.

"You see… they are not exactly jewels. They are more akin to crystals." With the goblin's hand still extended, Sirius sheepishly handed over the velvet box.

"Most curious, Mr Black," the goblin replied as he noticed the three red shards. He grabbed a set of magnifying glasses. He inspected them as thoroughly as he could, before gently putting the largest of the crystals back in its box. "These crystals are like nothing I have ever seen before, they almost feel alive." Sirius gulped.

"My late brother, may his soul rest in peace, gave me a small transfigured statue for my birthday. A small living crystal horse."

"Yes, I see these pieces do fit together. Why have you not repaired it?"

"I…" Sirius continued, "these three pieces were the only ones I managed to salvage. The rest were far too small to gather up. I was thinking I would have these cut and mounted in silver or gold. If you would, I'd like a pendant fit for a lady and a set of cufflinks and tie pins perfect for gentlemen. If there is enough material to go for all three, of course."

"Crystals of such beauty and intensity interest me. Would you be able to procure more of it? I am certain we can work out something very lucrative for both you and Gringotts."

"To be brutally honest, Master Grimlock, this type of crystal is made through a highly guarded Transfiguration spell. Call it a Black Family secret, if you would."

"Am I to surmise this is Dark magic?"

"We would rather call our particular brand Black magic," Sirius quipped with a smile. "Sounds far less threatening, don't you think?"

"Quite," the goblin replied, unperturbed.

"T only have these three pieces. But, if you would like, I can inquire with the Head of House Black to see if he will allow me to part with some of the other broken statues we have on some of our properties. I make no promises though."

"That would be for the best. As for these pieces, I would suggest silver for the pendant. For the cufflinks and tie pins, I recommend Damascus Steel, alongside diamond-like crystals."

"Silver I can reclaim from broken jewellery, as I have quite a lot of those. But how much does the Damascus cost me?"

"20 Galleons at most. Damascus steel, the new formulation is quite cheap. Gringotts can buy it from a Muggle smith. We can even pick the pattern. Would you like a particular one?"

"No."

"Then our meeting is concluded. I will notify you when I have adequate Damascus samples. You can bring reclaimed silver at that time. Good day, Mister Black."

A.N: strange ending, I know. On the other hand, I wanted to tie up one thread, the succession of The House of Black, and get rid of Walburga Black (who it appears has died in cannon some time before 1991). Arcturus will be phased out soon enough. And Dumbledore's machnations will be stopped for some years. Until next time, please remember to look for the hidden Easter eggs. One in the last full length chapter was obvious as heck after all :3