1604
It was September 1st, and the facts could no longer be ignored. In the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, children usually started showing signs of accidental magic from infancy. They also received their letters on time. However, for Claudius Aries Black, (choice of first name was given to his mother Claudia in her marriage contract)the heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, no such letter came, and no matter what his parents did he had never performed an act of accidental magic.
Claudius knew what it meant to not receive a letter from Hogwarts, and he knew by the look of utter disgust and hate on his father Aries' face, that he had finally given up hope on a late acceptance letter.
"A squid, a goddamn squid! My son and heir a damn squid!"
"Father I-"
"You will not call me that! From this day forth you are no longer my son, no longer a member of The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black!"
Aries Black was a perfect pureblood. He came from a powerful family, and his pedigree was immaculate. Therefore, this blight on his family could only be the fault of one person.
"Woman this is your fault! My mother told me I was a fool for marrying you. I should have married Carina not you, a filthy Potter. At least I have my spare, a Black through and through. Now make sure that boy is out of my house before I return from my session with the minister."
Claudia Black nee Potter was a beautiful and ambitious woman who was sorted into Slytherin where she would meet her husband Aries Black. It didn't matter to Claudia that Aries was engaged, and it only took her three years to get Aries to call off his engagement with his second cousin Carina Black.
The happiest day of Claudia's life was her wedding day, in which she became the wife of the richest wizard in England, and perhaps the world. However, the second best day of her life was the day she gave birth to her son Claudius Aries Black.
The worst day of her life was when her husband came home, and told her she wouldn't be allowed to leave the house for the next eight months unless under glamour because he had gotten Carina pregnant and he was keeping the child. And no son of Aries Black would be a bastard.
That had been her worst day until today.
"He will be gone before you return husband."
"Good."
After her husband had left the house Claudia noticed her son was no longer in the room and checked with the house elf to make sure her son didn't leave.
Several plans were running through Claudia's mind while walking to Claudius' room. She could take as much money as she and her son could carry, and run away together..but then there was little Aries. She hated her husband for conceiving him, but she had been his mother since the day she ripped him from Carina's arms, and she loved him. She also loved her status…but her son, she couldn't just kick him out with nothing, and her brother was still upset about her marrying a Black to help.
*knock Knock*
"You don't have to knock, this isn't my room anymore moth- Lady Black."
Claudia's heart was breaking, but she wouldn't let emotions cloud her mind now that she had little time to make sure her son would have the means to take care of himself.
"I am your mother, and will always be your mother. Now pack what you want quickly. We are headed to Gringotts to make a little withdrawal."
"Thank you mother."
So, with a pouch spelled with expansion and feather light charms, and filled with galleons an eleven year old boy wandered England aimlessly for two years.
It was on one of his trips to the ports that Claudius was stopped by a sailor.
"Young lad I can see that look in your eyes. You are longing for adventure, perhaps a new start. You should join my crew, we are headed off on an expedition to settle new lands and help the crown, and we need young men like you. You'll make your fortune, and have your pick of the land for settling. What do you say?"
"A place to start over…sign me up."
