In advance, I do apologize for grammar, those who received a degree in English will probably want to tear me apart for misuse of commas. I will try my best to use all the proper spots but no promises.

November 6th, 1981

The old house creaked as the pounding of the rain could be heard echoing throughout the kitchen. The small home that she had called home for her, her husband, and their 5-year-old daughter had another visitor in the guest of the only child of her favorite cousin. Alphard Black had turned three a few months back and now had asked for the past three days about his godbrother Harry. How do you explain to a 3-year-old that his godbrother had gone missing from their world, his father now was in prison for killing his godmother and his Uncle James, and to top it off her very own sister had tortured his godfather Frank Longbottom into insanity?

The door creaked open and she turned around excited trying to not disturb the 3-year-old almost asleep in her arms, rather than the mother of the child there was her husband holding his briefcase in his hands. It took a drying spell, but he was now dry enough to proceed into the house and placed the briefcase on the table. The junior solicitor had not looked much better than Andi as he took out a magically signed document.

"It is official love, Angela named you new godmother and me new godfather should anything happen to her. I had my boss look at the document and he said not even Lord Arcturus could change the ruling. But where in the blazes is she?" He now asked taking off his coat and placing it on the coat hanger. Glancing into the living room Dora had already fallen asleep listening to her favorite radio program and a slight snore emitted from her nose.

"All she told me was someone she knew was in danger just outside London. I convinced her to call the Aurors or even the hit wizards but with what Sirius did and being the younger sister of those Death Eaters, they just insulted her and left the house. Bastards." She now spat still hearing the mocking in her ears.

"Have you tried Amy? She has been on a warpath since the death of her husband and in-laws. The poor woman now has to raise Susan by herself." Ted said shaking his head and now flicking his wand to prepare dinner. The ingredients for the soup started to float into the pot and the chicken was being prepared by a separate spell.

"Amy promised to look into it tomorrow, I told her yesterday, but she pushed me off also. Gods damn it, who is at the door?" She now yelled accidentally waking up Alphard who had turned very quiet since the last time he saw his godbrothers, Neville and Harry. She had tried to organize a playdate with Neville at least but Augusta simply sent her a message saying "Fuck off and I never want to hear from another Black as long as I should live."

Ted putting his dinner aside walked to the front door and opened and was surprised to see Narcissa with tears streaming down her eyes and Lucretia by her side. Draco held on tightly cold from the rain. Lucretia seeing her cousin Dora ran over and woke up the girl. Ted quickly let her in and casted a drying spell on the three of them.

"Oh, Cissy I forgot to floo you when I found out about Lucius. Please do not cry, it will be alright." Andi said rising from the chair and laying Alphard on the chair. The daughter of Bellatrix who much to the surprise of Andi was left to her being named godmother came down the stairs and now gasped seeing Lucretia and ran over to her as she started bugging Dora. The three girls tried to get Alphard involved tickling his feet like he use to laugh at, now though something seemed to snap in the young child and he seemed more distant.

"Dora, you are the oldest here, you are to watch your cousins while we talk in the kitchen alright?" Narcissa said wiping tears away from her eyes and Dora looked up surprised but shrugged.

"Otay Auntie Cissy." She said in an upbeat tone now and started to show the children her new nose shifting powers.

They walked into the kitchen and Narcissa placed a silencing spell around them and the radio in the small kitchen. The couple was confused when she turned the radio on.

.is dead. That is right, you have heard it here first. The woman who tried to break away from her Death Eater siblings in the Carrows and then tricked liked all of us by her Death Eater husband Sirius Black is dead with 9 others. The bodies were discovered at a small village and so dismembered that none could be identified, the only proof they located was Angela Black's wand and her favorite scarf.

The Potters dead and the savior missing, Longbottoms tortured, Bones' dead, half of the Blacks convicted killers, Malfoy found with Nott and Goyle hiding from the Aurors with the Dark Mark, what will be our healing.

Andi now horrified fell into her chair and seeing a glass threw against the wall damning the hit wizards, the Aurors, Amy Bones, her own family, that was until she saw the small form of Alphard who snuck into the room and heard the report.

"Mama is dead like Aunt Lily and Uncle James?" He now asked still unsure what that meant. She nodded and picked him up and held him close. She looked out into the living and saw the three girls laughing and having fun, even Draco was laughing like a mad fool seeing the changes in hair color of Dora. Taking a look at the child in her arms there was no more happiness it seems to the child, only heartbreak.

Ted poured the three of them some fire whiskey. There was another knock on the front door and Dora opened the door this time. In walked Amy and the hit wizard who mocked Angela as she begged for help. This lit a fire under Andi and she stormed into the living room after putting down Alphard and picked up the nearest vase and threw it at them. The vase shattered on the hit wizard and she started to throw every piece of china at the three new guests. Amy nor the two hit wizards never stopped her, simply put their shield up allowing her anger to calm.

"I told you bastards she was in danger but now I must raise Alphard along with Vega. She begged you for help, yet you mocked her you bastard." She now swore at the head of the hit wizards.

"Andi, please can we explain…" Amy tried but another broken teacup gave her an answer.

"Explain to Alphard why his mother won't be coming home." Andi started but calmed… slightly feeling the hand of her husband on her back. The children had moved aside unsure of what had angered Andi so. Surely Lucretia figured Aunt Angela the kind woman who taught her how to fly a broom would be coming back.

"I will speak with you Amy but I swear this Richard Alconte if I ever see you again I will turn to Lord Arcturus and ruin your miserable existence. I may have been cast off the wall but I hold a son of Black so he will listen to me. Now leave." She yelled, looking towards Amy she nodded and he left with his second in command.

She hesitantly put down her shield and started to approach when no bone china was launched her way.

"Dora take the children to your room and show them your record player." Andi ordered.

"But mama what happened to Auntie Angela?"

"I said to your room, I will talk with you children later." She now said glaring and Dora who finally took the hint. She grabbed Alphard's hand and walked with him to the room as Lucretia grabbed the other. Amy felt the guilt of a thousand broken hearts seeing the look of nothing in the child's eyes.

They waited till the children had left to speak.

"What the hell happened to our world Andi? I had a happy marriage and we were trying for a child, the Potters were the adorable "it" couple along with the Longbottoms, we had five more old families that are now extinct and more nearing extinction. Do you mind if I?" Amy said pointing to the fire whiskey and Ted conjuring up a glass poured her a tall drink.

"Will Alphard ever forgive me for damning his mother to such a cruel death? I feel as guilty as the Death Eaters who killed her." Amy said taking out a wand and the scarf. "Give this to Alphard when he is ready for it."

Andi now looking at the scarf had to laugh remembering how Angela would always try to convince her to get one saying she would look stunning in it.

"Black women hold grudges but Black men can be volatile, you know this Andi. That is why they say there are so few Black men, they have all killed each other. I will make sure he is not a monster of old."

The four chatted and Amy apologized for a hundredth time and Andi realizing she had just buried her husband and the parents of Susan so she yet again accepted it. The next two days they had received a flood of sympathy cards from complete strangers and very few from their own blood. The only one had come in person from Callidora Longbottom nee' Black and her grandson Bart.

The adults watched on with humor watching the interactions between the three girls along with Bart and how they almost protected the young Alphard. At the playground an older kid attempted to bully Alphard but Vega was by him right away to protect him.

That night as the Tonks along with Vega and Alphard ate dinner the front door opened up and Andi was on high alert pushing the kids below the table and check the room with wand drawn. She was most confused seeing Lord Arcturus Black II standing there with his First Heir Cygnus Black. Standing next to the 7-year-old was his elderly mother Cassiopeia Black.

"Do put away that wand Andromeda, it would not be wise to blast the man offering an in on the family again." He now said and Tonks came in with his wand at his side.

"I do believe Aunt Walburga…." Andi started off and Arcturus now grew angry.

"That old hag does not run this house, I do. She can take you off a silly tapestry, I am the one that takes you off the history of House Black. Now, will you listen?" He asked, she growled annoyed but waved him to the couch. Sitting he spotted the last photo of young Alphard and his mother just before she left.

"Such a tragedy, very much a squib in regard to magic but from all accounts a wonderful mother."

"What is it you want? We were just having dinner."

He smirked seeing that Black fire come out in her and even Ted had impressed him by sitting professional and even dressing in a very fine suit.

"Well, I know you have the guardianship of both Vega and Alphard and I want to welcome them properly into the family, along with you and your family."

Andi who had been expecting many things, this was not one of them.

"Also Cygnus here is my first heir but as you know I need to name and train a second heir as well." He now looked into the eyes of the 3-year-old walking into the living room. Cygnus lived with the emotions he thought on his sleeve, looking into the eyes he could not help smiling seeing a cold demeanor in the future for young Alphard. "I seek to make Alphard my second. For this your husband will be offered a spot on our legal team, you will become a member on the board of Blacks, and Vega and Dora will be treated and respected as daughters of Black. Most of all I can assure you this house if you call it that will be condemned for all I care and you will be given a manor on the lake in our family lands."

Ted who had only heard insults from the family now looked dumbfounded while Aunt Cassie looked ready to scream but held it in. Cygnus looked towards his younger cousin with an arrogant smirk on his face unimpressed by his "competition" for the title of Lord Black.

"As long as you promise my husband will be safe, I will just assume stay here in London should he be put in harm's way."

Arcturus now clapped his hands seeing the deal done and knelt before Alphard seeing greatness in the boy.

"Come young Alphard, to the Black lands we go." Lord Arcturus now said and then escorted the residents to the fireplace and into a large sitting area. Alphard now walked around the room with the ancient decor and up at the fireplace. There was a large portrait of his great-grandfather now looking over them.

"You must never let them forget who they serve young Alphard." The lord now said, Vega now looked around and was not impressed. It had been a long time ago but Lestrange manor was still in her memory, there was at least modern furniture and trimmings along the wall there. Here even the portraits had ancient frames around them.

"How do you like it? As my second I will be relying on you quite a bit cousin, can I count on you?" Cygnus said with an arrogant walk to him. Getting no response from the 3-year-old Cygnus just accepted a correct answer and went to find his broom to show Vega.

Andromeda now tuned out the conversation between her husband and Arcturus about his responsibilities and now looked at her two charges now being surrounded by many of the Blacks who had been at the manor this day.

Her father Cygnus and mother Druella now welcomed Vega, in fact, everyone now circled around her niece and Dora. They seemed to regard Alphard as no more than a plague on the house, his life would not get any easier.

(8 years later, 1989)

The 11-year-old having finished the book on Julius Caesar just put down the book when the laughter of two children now entered the room. The lovely, tall and exquisite Alicia Nott now held onto the arm of her recently announced betrothed, Cygnus Black. Lord Arcturus had made it a point of announcing it before the whole of the family and now Notts seemed to crawl all over their manor while his cousins still were held captive at Nott manor.

"Ah poor baby is just sad that one day you will be Lord Black and him and his muggle loving aunt will be casted from the family once again. How long will they last in the family once you are named lord dear?" Alicia now looked towards Cygnus who seemed to ponder for a second and laugh.

"I would give them the courtesy of 10 minutes Alicia. Although maybe I would have him killed so he cannot challenge me." Cygnus said and both Vega and Dora now reading their own Hogwarts materials now walked up and stood fiercely over his shoulder.

"Cousin, do you know what happens when a pawn reaches the other side of the board?" Alphard asked in a low quiet voice that seemed echo the room. While Cygnus had been to busy trying to think about the fun he would have as lord Alphard at every meeting studied the movements of their lord, from his steps, voice patterns, even how he made those under him feel empowered, yet below him.j

"Why the hell do I care? You speak of a simple game, I speak as your future lord. If you are to live, that includes your cousins Hestia and Flora than you better be ready to serve me or else I will crush you." Cygnus now said and approached him and Vega stood in his way.

"You treat a pawn that is of pure blood as if it is superior to that of new blood cousin. Tell me, where is the honor in being branded like cattle? If the Dark Lord returns will you get on all fours and moo for him as he brands you?"

He was now in a rage and tried to push past Vega but Cygnus was sent to the ground holding his nose. Arcturus now stood on the balcony overlooking the sitting room eyeing his second heir with great interest. While the first heir was volatile and arrogant his second had a temper as well but hid it from those watching. The old man also noticed how Alphard took notes during the meetings while Cygnus simplified doodled.

Back on the floor Alicia now dragged her betrothed towards her and nursed Cygnus. Alphard only showed the emotion of a slight movement in his upper lip for humor.

"The day I become lord you had better watch every step you take cousin!" The man now swore and stumbled out of the sitting room. Alphard gently grabbed the hand of Vega that punched Cygnus and placed a simple yet powerful kiss on it. The old lord now looked at the eyes of the 14-year-old Vega and saw the look of love, devotion, most importantly submission towards the child.

The old lord later found his second in the library looking up the spells he would be learning in only a couple months. Lucretia who had visited now stood up quickly and so did Vega upon him entering. Alphard though did not even stir, now this should have angered the old man but this action was out of a sense of superiority rather than arrogance. If Dumbledore, the Minister of Magic, or even the Dark Lord himself walked in here they would all receive a similar greeting.

"Ah girls, Dora I am sure would love help with her studies."

Lucretia now stood up and was ready to leave right away but Vega stood up and now stared at Alphard for a response. He looked up from the charms book and nodded. She now strode out of the room with her cousin leaving the lord and his second alone.

"Dedication to someone so soundly is a very valuable gift grandson, do not waste it." The old man advised and found a seat at the other end of the table. "I would warn you against waiting for opportunities to fall into your lap. One day I will be gone, and Cygnus might be a lord."

Alphard seemed to catch on right away and stood up grabbing a book from the shelf.

"Shakespeare said grandfather, "He thinks too much; such men are dangerous." I assure you grandfather on the memory of my mother I am a very dangerous man." The 11-year-old told the near 90-year-old and handed him a book. Looking down it was Julius Caesar by Shakespeare.

"Beware the ides of March grandfather." The elderly man who had noticed his own mind starting to slip just smiled looking at his grandson walk away and spoke one last time.

"Yond Cassius has a lean, hungry look to him."

Alphard just looked behind and truly smile for the first time living in the manor, then strode out to begin his plot.

A/N:

This is just a little introduction to the character of Alphard and how childhood tragedies can affect the youth. I did not mention anything about Harry because… well if you need to know what happened to Harry maybe you should be off Fanfic and instead reading the novels, his childhood is very much like that of the books. The only difference will be that his aunt is a more sympathetic character who is a victim of Vernon just like Dudley and Harry.

The three godbrothers in the title are Neville, Harry, and Alphard. Harry's godparents are Sirius and Alice, Neville's is James and Angela, and Alphard's godparents are Frank and Lily. Unfortunately, Alphard is part of the family that brought tragedy to both the other two.

This also shows the brutal nature of living in House Black; old man Arcturus is now encouraging Alphard to reach out and take what he wants. Those Shakespeare quotes were all from Julius Caesar, found no more fitting a play to quote from in this chapter. Also, just to warn you I am not necessarily trying to make Alphard likable, simply an effective leader for Black.

Please message me and tell me if you like my new OC character, like my direction with Andi as a fierce protector of her two new wards, Lord Arcturus who just wants to see his family survive and so on. I always enjoy reading reader comments and if they are saying how something is bad please do not flame or it will be ignored, we are all civilized here so tell me in a civilized manner.

Proper chapter 1 will be posted next week on Tuesday but after that it will be every two weeks on Tuesday morning or Monday night.

Well, I am glad you are joining me on this journey and hope you enjoy.

Ric

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

Abraham Lincoln