Blackthorn Hall was a beautiful stone mansion; regal and elegant, yet unlike Malfoy Manor it remained unpretentious. It had 12 floors and over 300 bedrooms, but now most of them were closed off and only really the bottom three floors were used, even when they held their traditional Yule ball as there were no longer enough pureblood guests to fill the mansion like their had been 100 years ago. Siriah had never really liked Black Manor, but then she supposed that it was because they only ever went there to visit her Grandmother, and she was certainly a monster, but to her surprise when she appeared there with her husband that Saturday morning she felt a surge of pride that her family owned and maintained such a beautiful building.

Siriah, still holding Harry's hand, walked up to the black iron gates embossed with the family crest and touched it with his ring. The gates swung open and they saw the manor for the first time, magnificent and proud, sitting in 200 acres of land, 50 acres of which were landscaped gardens and the lake; the rest was covered with a stunning forest. Squeezing Harry's hand for reassurance Siriah led him towards an open carriage being pulled by two Pegasi, which, as soon as they had gotten in, moved off up the sweeping drive towards the manor.

All too soon for Siriah' liking they had arrived. She paused at the front door for moment, should she knock or just walk in? As she deliberated she noticed that Harry was watching in amusement. She glowered at him before sighing and pushing open the door. They walked together across the marble floor, their footsteps ringing out, Siriah leading the way by memory to the main parlour. They walked in comfortable silence down several corridors until they reached an oak door which Siriah pushed open and together they entered a large room with oak panelling and dark green carpets and furniture.

"Siriah, Harrison, you are right on time" greeted Orion Black from his seat at the head of the large oak table in the centre of the room.

With a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach Siriah strode towards her father and pulled her into a hug. She really had missed this, and she'd be damned if proper pureblood behaviour made her give it up again.

Harry watched in amusement as Orion's face froze in a look of horror before relaxing and hugging his child son back. Harry supposed that Orion would just have to adjust to hugs, one of the draw backs, or benefits depending on how you looked at it, of having a Gryffindor daughter.

When Siriah finally pulled back Harry watched Orion shift uncomfortably in his chair, clearly flustered, before beginning again. "Right. Well, good morning. Siriah come and sit on my right and help yourself to coffee; Harrison on my left."

Both of them sat in their allotted seats, but not before Siriah cast one last look of longing at Harry and was rewarded with a gentle kiss. "Dad, doesn't Uncle Cygnus usually sit on your left?"

Orion cast Sirius a swift look before replying, "Indeed, however things have changed Siriah, as you well know. Harrison is the most important person at the meeting, not to mention his...unusual...insights. On that not the next meeting of the full Wizengamot is the first Monday in the New Year. I shall announce that your Duchess have been filled and that I am your proxy then. I assume that you want your name withheld?" He received two nods. "Harrison I shall not mention your...most illustrious title, I imaige Charlus shall leave that for when you come of age. I expect that if I were to announce it now it would cause more harm than good, as that title cannot be announced without a name."

"When is the rest of the family arriving?" asked Siriah, she needed to know how much longer she had before she was thrown into the snake's pit.

"In about two minutes" came the cool and collected reply.

Siriah whimpered.

Exactly two minutes later the doors to the study opened and the Black family plus Rudolphus Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy entered. Cygnus Black began to stride towards his usual seat only to freeze upon realising that it was occupied. Other than the Hogwarts students who had expected to see Siriah Black already present the rest of the family froze.

"Please sit down. We shall start in a moment we are simply waiting for our last two members."

"Orion..." began Cygnus and Walburga in unison.

"I said sit down." This time Orion's tone of voice was less inviting and more threatening.

By the time the family had settled, with much moaning and complaining on some parts the last member of the group had been noticed.

"Peters?" asked a startled and confused Bellatrix. "What is he doing here?"

Orion fixed her with a looks, "we shall wait for the last two members of our...family...to arrive."

The Black family sat there in silence, sitting absolutely still as befitted proper purebloods and about three minutes later the door to the study opened again. The silence was maintained for a moment before the uproar began.

"Andy?"

"Dromeda"

"You traitorous bitch! Betrayer of your family line! I disowned you; get out!"

Androemda Tonks however sniffed in distain before entering the room fully and taking one of the remaining seats, and it was only then that the Black family noticed who was accompanying her.

Cygnus looked as though he was about to have a seizure. Lucius, Bellatrix, Rudolphus, Cassiopeia, Narcissa and Druella turned their noses up and bestowed upon Ted Tonks looks of loathing and distain. Melania fainted. Pollux and Irma looked as though they didn't quite believe what they were seeing. Walburga, predictable had begun to screech.

"Mudblood! Shame of society! Filthy..."

"Enough!" roared Orion before the situation could degenerate any further. When silence was eventually restored and his mother revived he continued, "you are all here to be informed of some changes in the Black family. First off, as I am sure you have noticed, a Black family member now has access to our family magic."

A resentful silence met these words. It was abundantly clear that the older members of the Black family were not pleased with this.

"Secondly" continued Orion, "the betrothal contracts between the Noble and Ancient house of Black and the Noble house of Lestrange and the Noble house of Malfoy have been rejected, so Lucius and Rololphus the both of you may leave. They looked irate at this and storm out of the manor.

A low murmuring broke out among those seated at the table.

Orion raised an eyebrow,. Walburga looked appalled by this change, not that he was surprised.

"It is beneath the dignity of members of the House of Black or those who wish to associate closely with us to participate in thuggish clubs such as the Death Eaters and to swear allegiance to a pretender to a title to which he has no claim especially since he broke one of our oldest laws."

There was silence again until Bellatrix snarled "how dare you spread lies about the Dark Lord!"

Orion stared her down. It was already there, plain as day, the fanaticism which would destroy not only her but his legacy. "You will be silent Bellatrix. You will not join the Death Eaters or you will be in violation of your head of house and lose your magic. That is all."

Again murmurs of descent could be heard particularly from Walburga's immediate family. He idly wondered if insanity was an inherited trait.

"Moving on, I have also rejected the petition for the disownment of Andromeda Tonks nee Black. She and her husband are to be welcomed into our family ranks."

After this statement he received a number of incredulous looks. It was clear that they could not fathom the reasons for this move. However two pairs of eyes in particular caught his attention, Andromeda's shining with gratitude and Ted Tonk's shining with respect. This clearly meant a great deal to the couple. As he stared at them Andromeda casually put her hand on her stomach. He smiled slowly, his reasoning should be clear to everyone in about 9 months time.

Unfortunately however Walburga was not about to let this go, "Have you gone senile Orion? How dare you bring shame upon this family by allowing such filth entry!" she shrieked. Several heads nodded their agreement.

Orion took a deep breath, "may I remind you Walburga that you are already under house arrest? You are only here out of courtesy and as such it would do if you could show some intelligence and hold your tongue!"

This was clearly news to the majority of the room. It didn't surprise Orion that Walburga hadn't told anyone of her punishment, not that she'd really had the opportunity. Now It has been discovered that young Tonks here is lord Tonks and the Earl of Lakeshire. Everybody settled down at that.

"Are there any issues that wish to be brought up before this meeting is concluded?"

"Yes. Why is Harrison Peters here father?" asked Regulus speaking for the first time since he'd entered the room.

Orion gave his youngest and only son a piercing look, but he detected nothing malicious behind the question. "Harrison Peters is here because he is soul bonded and as such legally married to Siriah."

There reaction to that piece of news was entirely too amusing thought Sirius as he watched his grandmother faint for the second time. Decorum had clearly been abandoned in favour of gawping with their jaws on the table. "Then who is he?" This surprisingly intelligent question came from his uncle Alphard, "a soul bond means old magic, and we all know that old magic only affects purebloods. Peters is not a pureblood's name. So I ask again, who is he?"

Siriah watched Bellatrix, Narcissa and Regulus stare at Peters in shock.

"But he said he was a half-blood!" burst out Narcissa before blushing red at her undignified behaviour.

Orion looked questioningly at Harrison who nodded.

"Not that I feel that it is particularly any of your business" he drawled in his smooth sensual voice, "but I am officially the heir to the Grand Duke Pottermore." he announced calmly while studying his finger nails as though he had announced nothing more important than what he was having for dinner that evening. Harry should have been a prankster though Siriah amusedly, because she had just had the pleasure of seeing all of his oh so calm and cool family completely shocked and stunned for the second time in ten minutes. Pollux in particular seemed shocked by the news, "but what about Fleamont and James, I'am son the son of Richard who was older than Fleamont says Harry.

Orion took control again, "this has all been verified by Gringotts. I don't think that I need to remind you all that you cannot repeat anything heard here to an outsider without losing your magic."

He glanced once around at the shocked faces staring back at him.

"Good. Then this meeting is concluded. Lunch will be served in the dining room until then you are free to explore. You may all go except for Regulus. I would like a word."

With that the room was slowly emptied until it was just the four of them sitting there. Regulus gulped and tried not to look nervous. He couldn't help but wander his father wanted.