AN Well I guess this will prove that this story isn't abandoned!
Chapter 3. Birthday with the Family Part 1.
Harry grinned as he read Draco's letter for the third time that night.
Dear Harry,
My dad said that your birthday was on the 31st, and he agreed that you could spend it here at Malfoy Manor. The Quill that came with this letter is a portkey. It will activate at ten o'clock the morning of your birthday.
Draco
Harry had been very excited all day in anticipation.
'Calm down!' Salazar hissed.
'I'm sorry Salazar, but we are going to visit Draco today!'
'Yessss, yesss, yesss a visit to the rabbitssss' home.' Salazar replied as he slithered up Harry's arm and positioned himself around his shoulder and down his right arm.
Harry sprinted down the stairs as fast as he could, Salazar hissing his annoyance along the way.
"What are you so excited about?" Tonks asked as he ran downstairs on his birthday.
Harry showed her the Quill and grinned at his friends puzzled expression.
"It's a Quill, Harry." Tonks said flatly.
"It's something called a Portkey. Draco said it would activate at ten o'clock today and take me to Malfoy Manor to celebrate my birthday." Harry said unable to hide how excited he was.
"It's your birthday today! Why didn't you say something earlier this week? Or when we got back from Diagon Alley?" Tonks demanded.
Seeing that his friend was actually somewhat upset Harry grimaced. "I'm sorry Tonks, I-I just…I just never had anyone care if it was my birthday before." Harry replied sheepishly.
Tonks immediately softened and her eyes began to fill with unshed tears. "I'm so-so sorry Harry. I-I didn't mean to yell or anything. I guess I was just upset that I didn't get you a present. I wonder how Mr. Malfoy figured out it was your birthday though?"
"I dunno. I guess we can ask him when we go there." Harry said.
"We?" Tonks asked hesitantly.
"Well yea, I'm not going without you Tonks." Harry replied offhandedly.
Tonks jumped out of her chair and pulled Harry into a very fierce embrace. Harry was not suspecting anything like that and he lost his balance. The two children fell backwards and landed with a hard 'thump' on their backs.
"Ouch. Sorry Harry." Tonks said now very embarrassed.
"Why did you do that?" Harry asked as he rubbed the back of his now bruised head.
"Um…well. I-I wasn't ever invited to a birthday party before. I mean mum has thrown me birthday parties in the past, and some of her work friends dropped by to say hello and stuff, but I've never really been invited to a friend's party before." Tonks said with a tear falling down her face.
Harry scooted up next to her and pulled her into a hug. "Well it looks like it's a day of first for both of us, huh?"
"But…I…I don't have a present. I-I should have a present for you!" Tonks said as she began to cry.
Harry let Tonks cry into his shirt for a little before breaking the hug apart. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked at his friends teary eyes. "Tonks, you are my friend. I've never gotten anything for my birthday before. For the first time though, I'm actually happy it's my birthday, and that I've got such a good friend."
Tonks whipped her eyes on a handkerchief and just smiled back at him. "Thanks Harry."
'Massster that object hasss magic building inssside it.' Salazar hissed from his arm.
"Tonks what time is it!" Harry screamed.
"OH IT'S ONLY A MIMUTE TILL TEN!" Tonks said quickly as she pulled him back up towards the table and grabbed the quill using her free hand.
Not a second later the portkey activated and Harry and Tonks found themselves being pulled behind their naval through space. A moment later they crashed on a wood floor.
"Ugh. Did you catch the number of that bus?" Harry asked shaking his head.
"HARRY!" Draco called excitedly from across the room.
Harry and Tonks both turned to see a grinning Draco Malfoy striding towards him.
"Tonks you came too awesome!" Draco said now very excited.
"Good to see you again Draco." Harry said extending his hand for a handshake momentarily forgetting that Salazar was wrapped around that arm.
Draco shook Harry's hand enthusiastically, but then jumped when he saw the black and green asp curled along Harry's arm.
'Rabbit.' Salazar hissed menacingly.
'Salazar be nice.' Harry reproached.
"Salazar says hello Draco." Harry said with a grin.
"Er did he really?" Draco asked hesitantly.
"Well no he just said "rabbit," but I'm sure he meant nice to see you again." Harry said with a grin as he and Tonks laughed at the look of indignation on Draco's face.
"You'd better tell that snake to watch its self." Draco said in a mock-threat.
"Ha. I think Salazar can handle himself Draco." Tonks said with a grin as the Snake rose it's torso up and locked eyes with Draco, who blanched.
"If you are through terrifying my son Salazar, I'd like to welcome you to Malfoy Manor." Lucius said from the doorway.
"Hello Mr. Malfoy." Harry said with a grin.
"Please Harry call me Lucius in private." Lucius replied.
"Very well Lucius, I brought Tonks with me. I hope that wasn't a problem." Harry said shortly.
"Not at all Harry, the more the merrier. It's good to see you again Tonks." Lucius replied.
"You too Mr. Malfoy." Tonks replied with a smile clearly glad that she was welcome.
"Come now you three. My wife has been ordering the house elfs around all day to make sure you have a good birthday, Harry. You'd think that it was Draco's birthday with the effort she was putting into this little endeavor." Lucius said with a grin.
Harry smiled and blushed at Lucius' comment. "Really sir, Mrs. Malfoy doesn't have to do all that."
"Nonsense Harry. Draco was so excited when I told him about your upcoming birthday. I think Narcissia has taken it as a challenge to throw you the best party she could think of." Lucius replied with a grin.
"By the way sir, how did you find out it was my birthday today?" Harry asked.
"Oh well I'm rather close to Minister Fudge and he let me have a little peek in your file to find out when your birthday happened to be." Lucius replied with a grin.
"Ah well that explains it." Harry said.
The four of them walked for a while before Tonks came to an abrupt stop. Harry stopped walking as well and Lucius and Draco noticing they were suddenly alone turned to see where the two of them were.
Harry found Tonks staring out the window in complete shock. Harry followed her view and gasped. Before him was the largest front yard he had ever seen. There had to be at least five hundred yards of fountains and greenery till you got to the gate of the manor. Harry completely stunned just like Tonks.
"Enjoying the view?" Draco said with a grin.
Tonks and Harry snapped out of their gaze and just shook their heads. "It's really impressive." Tonks said with awe.
"Yes, Draco's Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather Andrew Malfoy commissioned the gardens and this house. It's been in the family for almost five hundred years now." Lucius said with a grin.
"Wow. That's impressive." Harry said.
'I would like to hunt the ground master, may I go?' Salazar asked curiously.
"Salazar would like to know if he could go hunt the grounds?" Harry asked.
"But of course, tell him that there is a nasty pack of wild field mice disrupting the western hedges. If he could take care of them, it would save Trixie a lot of time." Lucius replied.
'Salazar you have his permission. He also says that there is a pack of field mice in the western hedges. Happy hunting my friend.' Harry hissed.
Salazar bowed to Harry and then turned and bowed his thanks to Lucius before slithering off down the hallway.
"An interesting familiar you have Harry." Lucius remarked with a grin.
"I would have to agree. The lil' bugger scared mum nearly to death when she first saw him." Tonks said with a smirk.
The walk to the drawing room wasn't much further and as soon as Harry stepped through the door he was in shock. Floating magically in the center of the room were Silver and Green letters that read, "Happy Birthday Harry." A silver and green snake seemed to slither around the words.
"This…this is incredible." Harry stammered.
"Well I should hope so Dobby, Trixie, and Emily spent all day preparing it." A female voice said from the side.
Harry turned and saw a very aristocratic looking woman with platinum blond hair much like Draco's.
"Mrs. Malfoy I presume?" Harry asked tentatively.
"It's Narcissia, Harry." Nacrissia replied kindly.
"Well Narcissia, I don't know what to say. This is amazing I can't believe you did this for me." Harry replied.
"Well you are most certainly welcome, Harry. Now please everyone sit down." Narcissia said as she motioned towards a green leather couch.
Harry's eyes momentarily grew wide when some food magically appeared on the table in front of them.
"So Harry, Draco tells me you are looking to be placed in Slytherin?" Narcissia asked.
"Yes ma'am." Harry replied.
"You are aware that most of the wizarding world expects you to be the perfect Gryffindor right?" Narcissia asked with a grin.
Harry and Tonks couldn't help but to laugh out loud causing Mrs. Malfoy to look on curiously.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but Harry would never be a Gryffindor. I mean sure he's got the courage thing, but the day a parseltouge goes into Gryffindor is the day I leave Hogwarts." Tonks replied with a grin.
"P-p-parseltouge!" Narcissia stuttered in shock. Noticing that she was the only one surprised by this revelation she turned to Lucius. "You knew this!" She said darkly.
"That I did Narcissia. Draco informed me when we were in Diagon Alley. Harry has an amazing Egyptian Wizarding Asp. I wouldn't be surprised if it managed to evolve into an Occamy under Harry's care." Lucius said with a grin.
"Excuse me? What do you mean evolve into an Occamy?" Harry asked.
"Oh well. It's well known that Occamies are just regular magical snakes who manage to eat a magical owl." Lucius replied with a grin. "I do believe a fully venomous Egyptian Wizards Asp would have no problem taking down even the strongest Eagle owl. On that note, Draco make sure that Salazar and Omar never meet." Lucius said with a grin.
"Omar?" Harry asked.
"That's the family's eagle owl." Draco said. "And don't worry father I'll make sure they never meet."
"Oh I don't know Salazar is a little sneaky devil." Harry replied with a grin.
"Enough of this. How about we get to your present?" Draco said with a big grin.
"You didn't have to get me anything, Mr. Malfoy, your hospitality was enough." Harry said quickly.
"Nonsense Harry," Mr. Malfoy said waving him off, "we got you two presents. One is a practical one from Narcissia and myself. The other one is something Draco and I believe you will enjoy very much." Lucius replied with a grin as he took out two small boxes and placed then on the table.
"Engorgio!" Lucius said pointing his wand at the boxes.
Harry's eyes rose to the ceiling as the two boxes expanded in size. Harry reached for the much small of the boxes. Harry nervously unwrapped the package and found it to be a book. The 100 Ancient Families of Europe by Orian M.Black.
"I think you will find that book very useful, Harry. It has an entire chapter on each family. The Potter line is one of the oldest wizarding familes. I believe that you should get a chance to know your heritage." Narcissia said smiling.
"Wow. Thank you!" Harry said as he excitedly flipped to the chapter on the Potters. Harry's eyes bulgded when he landed on the chapter. Underneath a golden griffin with a sword in its mouth was the name Potter. Harry quickly skimmed the text. He found out that his family was one of the few families that intermarried with Godric Gryffindor and since the Gryffindors had a link to Merlin the Potters did as well.
"I'm related to Merlin!" Harry said in shock.
"No way let me see that!" Tonks screamed.
Harry handed her the text and she gasped as she saw the connection between Ambrosia and Gryffindor and then from Gryffindor to Potter.
"Yes Harry your family is very old indeed. The Malfoy's are actually equally as old we are related to Morgan La Fay." Lucius said proudly.
"Wow. Hey Tonks do you think that your family would be in this book?" Harry asked curiously.
"Ugh…I doubt it." Tonks said sheepishly.
"Why you never know." Harry said not noticing her friend's discomfort.
Obviously Draco didn't pick up her discomfort either and asked, "Tonks what's your surname?"
"Oh, so I guess Tonks' aren't that old of a family then. I'm sorry Tonks." Harry replied sheepishly.
"Wait just a moment! Your surname is Tonks?" Narcissia asked.
"Yes. I hate my first name so I go by my surname." Tonks replied sheepishly.
"Nymphadora." Narcissia said quietly, but loud enough for everyone including Tonks to hear her.
"How do you know my name." Tonks asked curiously.
"Are you Andi's daughter?" Narcissia asked now on the edge of her seat.
"Andi?" Tonks asked.
"Andromeda are you Andromeda's daughter?" Narcissia asked now with persistence.
Tonks and Harry noticed Lucius and Draco looking at her now with a great deal of interest.
"Yes, she's my mum." Tonks said now a little nervous.
Tonks and Harry watched as the three Malfoys' mouths opened like a fish.
Noticing no one was going to explain anything Harry asked, "Um how do you know Mrs. Tonks, Narcissia?"
This seemed to snap everyone out of their shock. "Oh dear didn't your mother ever tell you about me?" Narcissia asked a little hesitantly.
When Tonks shook her head in the negative, Narcissia let out a hiss of annoyance.
"Dear I'm your mother's sister, your aunt." Narcissia said bluntly.
"WHAT!" Tonks yelled in shock.
"It's true. I can't believe she never told you about me." Narcissia said now clearly annoyed.
"I have an aunt." Tonks said in disbelief.
"And a cousin." Harry said pointing to Draco who looked equally as stunned.
"And a cousin." Tonks replied in shock.
"Wait so your real name is Nymphadora?" Draco said with a bit of a grin.
Tonks growled at Draco, "Watch it Draco, we maybe cousins, but that won't stop me from hexing you for calling me that."
That seemed to break the ice and everyone began to laugh.
"Wait so you and my mum were sisters? Why didn't she ever tell me about you?" Tonks asked.
"Well actually your mother and I were triplets. Your mother was the middle child and I was the youngest." Narcissia said before she could stop herself.
"Wait so I have another aunt or an uncle! Who? Why don't I know any of this?" Tonks asked quickly.
Narcissia shot a worried look to Lucius who simply shrugged and urged her to continue.
"Your other aunt is Bellatrix Lestrange" Narcissa said.
Tonks gasped at the news. "Bellatrix Lestrange is my aunt." Tonks said her face now white as a sheet.
"Yes." Narcissia replied.
"Oh Merlin no wonder mum never mentioned her." Tonks said quickly.
"Whose Bellatrix Lestrange?" Harry asked.
"She was one of You-Know-Who's most loyal followers. After you managed to defeat him, she drove the Longbottom's into insanity believing that he was really alive! She's been in Azkaban for the last 10 years!" Tonks said quickly.
"Oh." Harry said unsure of what say to this.
"Oh! Harry I'm related to a murder. No I'm related to a psychopath!" Tonks screamed.
"Tonks calm down." Harry said.
"WAIT JUST ONE SECOND! DOES THAT MEAN MY MOTHER WAS A BLACK!" Tonks screamed.
Narcissia nodded her head. "We were the Black Triplets."
"Oh Merlin! I'm related to most infamous dark magic family ever! Mum always told me metamorphmagus' ran in her family, but she never told me what that family was!" Tonks screamed.
"You're a metamorphmagus?" Narcissia asked quickly.
"Yea." Tonks said absentmindedly.
"Me too." Narcissia said as she turned her platinum blond hair neon blue.
Tonks' shock about being a Black disappeared briefly and she copied Narcissia's hair color. Not to be outdone, Harry changed his own hair to match theirs causing Narcissa to gasp in shock.
"Harry you're a metamorphmagus as well!" Narcissia screamed.
"Yep." Harry said proudly.
"But…Potter's have never been Metamorphmaguses." Narcissia stuttered.
"Well I guess I'm the first." Harry replied.
"That's not possible! Metamorphmagus is a genetically transferred ability you don't just become the first to be it!" Narcissia screamed.
"Maybe it was from my mum then." Harry said casually.
"I ALWAYS KNEW IT! I ALWAYS SUSPECTED! LUCIUS DIDN'T I TELL YOU! I TOLD YOU LILY EVANS COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MUGGLEBORN!" Narcissia screamed.
"Dear calm down you don't know that." Lucius said calmly.
"Lucius he's a metamorphmagus. The Potters have never had that ability only the Blacks, Bones, and Delacroix have ever had that talent! Lily must have been adopted or maybe come from a squib line! We must contact Gringotts and perform a blood purity test on Harry!" Narcissia screamed.
"Um excuse me? What are you talking about?" Harry asked.
"Oh I'm sorry dear. Your mother was an incredibly talented witch. I never believed her to be muggleborn she had too much innate talent. She was my charms tutor. I was a seventh year and she was a fifth and she was tutoring me, ha. I always new that she couldn't have been muggleborn this proves it!" Narcissia said triumphantly.
"Narcissia this really doesn't prove anything. Besides Lily was a charms protégé everyone knew that." Lucius said in an attempt at pacifying his wife.
"Lucius what are the odds that something as rare as a protégé occurs in muggleborns?" Narcissia said sharply.
"Dear we've been over this it's almost nonexistent." Lucius replied.
"Exactly Lily had to have some old magical blood in her! That and Harry's ability as a Metamorphmagus proves it! Lily Potter one way or another came from a pure blood line!" Narcissia screamed.
"Father it would also explain Harry's parseltounge!" Draco said excitedly.
Lucius looked pensive, but finally relented, "Fine we'll take Harry for a blood purity and family talent test before you three get on the express. That will settle this once and for all."
"Family talent test? Purity Test?" Harry asked curiously.
"Oh sorry Harry. Those are spells that Goblins can do for a rather large fee. It will reveal if you have any inert talents like Empathy or Animagus skill. Normally someone will go at age sixteen when their magic is more refined, but the family talent test is normally free with the blood purity test, which costs significantly more. Normally the blood purity test is used to confirm inheritance and lordship acceptances." Lucius said.
"Wow." Harry said.
"Um Mrs. Malfoy?" Tonks asked.
"Please call me aunt Narcissia, Nymphadora." Narcissia said kindly.
"Um ok. Aunt Narcissia, why didn't my mom ever tell me about you? I mean I understand why she would never bring up Bellatrix, but why not you?" Tonks asked weakly.
Narcissia signed heavily. "Nymphadora, your mother was a…a…well I guess the word rebel works."
"Rebel! My mum?" Tonks asked in shock.
Narcissia laughed slightly at Tonks gaping mouth. "Oh yes, she had a strong rebellious streak. She was very close to our cousin Sirius who was the first Gryffindor the Black family ever had. Well your mother had a marriage contract to the second male child of the Lestrange's, but young Rabastian had been caught in service to the Dark lord and sent to Azkaban. The contract was suspended indefinitely."
"What no one in the family knew was that Andi was seeing your father. A one Ted Tonks behind everyone's back. When Rabastian went to jail, our mother began putting out offers for another marriage contract for Andi. Within a few weeks, she had received several positive owls from a lot of powerful pureblood families."
"Apparently Andi found one of the letters and freaked out. I think she thought that with Rabastian behind bars and the contract void that she was free. It was no secret that she didn't exactly follow the Black family's ideas on being a proper witch. Your mother decided I guess that she'd had enough though. She fled the house, and before we realized it was married. Mother was furious. Bellatrix I believe was all set to go and kill your father for defiling the Black name."
"What happened to my father?" Tonks asked quietly. "Mum only told me that the dark lord killed him."
"Merlin child your mother has kept a lot from you. Well let me first tell you that your father wasn't the brightest of men. Brave yes, but smart absolutely not. He was from a muggle family and had no clue about wizarding customs and traditions. He was in the Leaky Cauldron one day apparently and was speaking with a business colleague about the resent attacks on muggle born and half bloods by the dark lord. He called the dark lord a coward who struck during the night as well as a pathetic excuse of a wizard." Narcissia said.
"HE WHAT! DID HE HAVE A DEATH WISH!" Tonks screamed.
"I don't know dear, but there was a reporter sitting next to their table and she wrote down every last bit of the conversation. It appeared on the front page of the prophet the next day with the headline, "Diagon Alley Shop Owner Calls Out Dark Lord." Needless to say the dark lord took offense. I mean how could he not." Narcissia said simply.
Tonks was just shaking her head in disbelief. "What happened?"
"The dark lord showed up the next morning in his shop and called out your father for an honor duel. Your father being a muggle born had no clue what that really was. Your father agreed to a public duel in the center of diagon alley, but when the dark lord turned his back to walk out the store your father tried to curse him. It turned out to be the last thing he ever did." Narcissia said shaking her head in irritation.
"Why?" Tonks asked again hesitantly.
"This my dear is why we are against Muggle borns learning magic. They just don't understand our customs and traditions. By accepting the dark lords honor duel, your father entered a magically binding contract. When he tried to curse the dark lord's back, he violated that contract and magic itself killed your father for his own stupidity." Narcissia said.
Everyone was silent as Tonks let a few tears roll down her face. Harry was about to pull her into a hug when Tonks got really angry, jumped up, and started to scream.
"YOU MEAN TO TELL ME! THAT MY FATHER," Harry noticed her spit the word father, "WAS STUPID ENOUGH TO INSULT A DARK LORD. THEN ON TOP OF THAT VIOLATE A MAGICALLY BINDING CONTRACT!" Tonks screamed.
The three Malfoy's were taken aback for a moment before Lucius spoke up. "I'm sorry dear, but it's true. I was in the alley that day. I saw it all happen. That's why Narcissia knows so much."
Harry looked on as Tonks began to wail uncontrollably. "I…I…Mum always told me he died bravely…fighting…the…Dark Lord." Tonks said through her tears.
Harry quickly pulled her into a hug. "Sssh Nym it's alright. Really it is."
"Harry, my father was a coward." Tonks balled.
"He didn't understand magic Nym. He was muggle born he was ignorant. He never should have been allowed at Hogwarts in the first place." Harry said softly.
"Do you really believe that?" Tonks sniffed.
"I do Nym. I don't like Muggles my relatives," Harry spat the word, "have shown me exactly what they think of magic."
"I…I guess your right." Tonks said dejectedly. "I always thought that people like my dad deserved to learn magic, but they clearly never understood. Look at me though I'm ruining your birthday with my blubbering."
"Tonks you're more important to me then my birthday you know that." Harry said in her ear so the Malfoy's couldn't hear.
"R-really?" Tonks whispered.
"Tonks you were my first ever friend I ever had of course you are." Harry whispered back.
"Well as your friend I'm telling you to open your other present!" Tonks said her grin returning although Harry could see it was a little forced.
Harry smiled back at her. "Only if you help me open it." Harry said with a grin.
Tonks smiled back and said, "Only if you insist!"
The two kids quickly tore into the large package. When all the paper was gone, Tonks gasped. "Harry it's a Nimbus 2000 racing broom!"
"Mr. Malfoy! Er-Lucius I can't accept this it's too much!" Harry said quickly trying to push the broom away.
"No Harry we insist. Draco will need someone to fly with after all he got a Nimbus 2000 for his birthday earlier this summer." Lucius said with a grin.
"Yea Harry come on let's go out back to the pitch!" Draco said with a smile.
"Er well I've never been on a broom before." Harry said still in shock.
"Me either." Tonks said absentmindedly.
"Well then, Narcissia and I will just have to grab some of our old brooms and give you two a flying tutorial now wont we dear?" Lucius said.
"Oh, indeed we'll be able to see what position best suits you two. Lucius was a star beater for Slytherin and I was a great keeper for the Slytherin as well. Tonks your mother was a chaser for Ravenclaw back in the day and Harry your father was a seeker for Gryffindor if memory serves." Narcissia said with a grin.
"Ok. Let's go!" Harry said jumping up excitedly pulling Tonks up with him.
A/N2 Well there it is I finally updated! I'm sorry for such a long time between updates, but what can I say Rise of Darkness, Vampire's Kiss, and now Corruption of the Soul take precedent. I'm sorry if you like this story more then the other three, but I'm doing my best. I was going to at first combine the next chapter and this one to make one big birthday chapter, but I decided to post what I had right now.
Also, Corruption of the Soul will be updated this Friday at 8pm EST! If you haven't started to read it, I would highly recommend it as I believe it could become my best story.
Finally REVIEW PEOPLE!
