CHAPTER 4: GODSON AND NEPHEW

…

"She's got the measure of Crouch better than you have, Ron. If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals."

-Sirius Black

…

Albus Dumbledore considered himself to be a rather good judge of character. Having known former students who were now grown adults since they were eleven certainly assisted in that. He knew some of the Order's other members would be surprised that he would trust these new people—indeed, this entire new family—so quickly and implicitly. But Albus had known Regulus Black as a child; he had witnessed in him both the good and the bad, though, he was sure, never the full extent of both sides. He had also watched Lenna grow, and knew her to be an intelligent and kind woman; strong, good-natured, very moral. He had not witnessed her and Regulus' romance, but knew the power of secret and forbidden love. The fact that Regulus had married and had a family with her in secret attested to the strength as well as the stubbornness of that love. Lenna was not the type of woman to be happy about being with a Death Eater. And surely they both had known the dangers of that life.

He had also seen Rigel grow these past four years, though without any idea of his heritage. The boy was clever, though not arrogant—a wonderful thing in a person—and possessed an indefatigable energy that was endearing and at times infectious. He had the mark of being well-loved in his openness and readiness to care about others. There was no doubt in Albus Dumbledore's mind that the both of them, mother and son, were good people, and that their inclusion in the Order would not be any more of a liability than any other member's inclusion.

Luggage in tow, Rigel and his mother watched in surprise as Dumbledore showed them the entrance to headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.

"There are a few things you should know," he told them as they watched Number Twelve materialize, pushing the handsome Muggle homes on either side of it to the right and left. "Firstly, Rigel, this house is the old house of you grandparents on your father's side, Orion and Walburga Black. Your father and his brother Sirius grew up here."

Rigel's eyes had, if possible, gotten even bigger.

"Sirius, as their oldest living descendent, is the owner of the house, and has offered it for use as headquarters. It has not been used in a very long time, however, so making it hospitable to live in has been somewhat of a challenge. There is plenty of space in it, however." They walked up the steps. "Secondly, you should know that Arthur Weasley was attacked in the Ministry at the beginning of the holiday and is making a full recovery in St. Mungo's currently.

"Thirdly, and this is a tad delicate; Harry Potter is Sirius' godson, and Harry has a special father-son bond with him. A bond he dearly values. Now that Sirius will learn he has a blood nephew, Harry may feel encroached upon. It's perfectly natural considering Sirius is the only parent figure he has, and I would ask you, Rigel, to remember that you have a mother and an uncle and aunts, and to be respectful that Harry may not be inclined to share his only parent."

Rigel was nodding. "I understand, Professor."

Dumbledore nodded graciously and opened the front door and led the two inside. They stared around at the rather dark and dank entryway. The Christmas decorations flung about did little to hide the dereliction.

"You right, it does need work," commented Lenna with a bit of distaste.

Dumbledore nodded. "Also, do be quiet in this front entryway." His voice dropped further. "That curtain-covered portrait over there is a very ill-tempered portrait of Walburga. She'll start screaming at you if you get too loud. Ah, here comes Molly."

A plump, red-headed woman was making her way toward the three of them, waving her hand for them to come further in the house.

"I got your Patronus," she whispered, directing her words at Dumbledore. "The kids are upstairs." She looked at Lenna and Rigel and seemed to size them up for a moment. "You can leave your trunks and things just there," she said, "and bring them up in a bit. Albus can't stay long so you should come in and have introductions."

They followed the woman, Dumbledore bringing up the rear of the party. She led them into a dining room of sorts where a number of people were sitting at the table or in chairs nearby, chatting.

"Here they are," Molly said loudly as they walked in. Everyone looked up in curiosity. They hadn't been told much detail about the new members. Or perhaps member—the boy didn't look of age.

Rigel looked around for his uncle but didn't see a face he recognized—expect perhaps vaguely from The Daily Prophet.

"Where's Sirius? Upstairs?" Dumbledore asked. Molly nodded.

"Moping again."

"Well." He gestured to Lenna and Rigel who were standing a tad nervously in front of them all. "These two are new to our number. You might recognize Rigel from Hogwarts; he's in Ginny's year. Lenna Albeney is our old and loyal informer at the Prophet. And here comes the kicker: technically their real names are Mrs. Lenna Black and Rigel Regulus Black."

There was a shocked silence. Remus Lupin was the first to speak. Though he looked much older, Lenna recognized his wolfish face and tattered robes. "Regulus Black?" he repeated. "You married Sirius' younger brother? And this is his son?" His eyes took in Rigel, comparing him to the figure of his father he had known years ago in school. He did see a resemblance.

"Yes," Lenna replied. "We married in secret. Regulus was murdered at the end of that year, before he knew I was pregnant with his son."

The tragedy of that made everyone quiet for a moment.

Tonks spoke up, smiling a little in welcome. "Welcome to the family, then." She stood to shake both of their hands. Rigel grinned at her bright pink hair. "I'm Tonks. Your third cousin…I think. Your dad's cousin's daughter."

"Which cousin?" inquired Rigel. He'd memorized his family tree years ago. "Bellatrix, Narcissa, or Andromeda?"

"Andromeda, of course. The only halfway decent one of the three. She married a Muggle, my Dad, Ted Tonks."

Rigel nodded. Lenna was busy shaking other hands and receiving thank-yous from members who had been helped by her coded Prophet information.

"Someone should get Sirius," said Remus.

"Get me why?" came a voice, and a man appeared in the doorframe. His clothes hung off his tall, thin body, and tattoos showed on some parts of his exposed skin. His eyes still looked a tad sunken from the years in jail, but his clothes and hair were clean, and his expression not bad-natured. He was looking at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I made a rather remarkable discovery, today, Sirius," he began pleasantly, "when I went to the home of Lenna Albeney to put in place some extra protections for her and her family. Together she and I agreed it was time for her son to meet his uncle."

Sirius did not look like he understood. In fact, he looked a bit bored. His eyes found Lenna, he grimaced in recognition, and then his gray eyes flickered to her son.

He then reached out to grip the doorframe so hard his bony knuckles turned white.

"How…?"

Lenna was impatient. She didn't like all the tenseness. "Regulus and I dated in school. Even after he became a Death Eater we remained together. We married, and I had a son with him before he died. His name is Rigel. He's your nephew."

"Hello," Rigel greeted, a tad lamely. He felt awkward under Sirius' piecing, disbelieving stare.

"When I came to see you in Azkaban was just a few months after he was born," Lenna added.

Sirius slowly moved his gaze to her. "You didn't tell me. He didn't tell me."

"Reg didn't tell anyone to keep us safe. I didn't tell you because you might or might not have just had the Potters murdered."

Sirius twitched. He was staring at Rigel again.

"Do I look like my Dad, Sirius?" he asked. He sounded so charming, the atmosphere lighted. "Mum says I do, but—"

"You have no idea. No idea. Come here." They walked toward each other and Sirius took up his nephew's face in his paw-like hands, turning it this way and that. He suddenly made an odd huffing sound, exhaling, and he gathered Rigel to him, pulling him against his chest. His eyes were emotional, but not teary.

Rigel beamed, his head on his uncle's chest. "I'm glad to finally meet you."

"Me too, kid," Sirius managed. He held onto the boy as if he was not going to let him go. Lenna left them alone, turning to meet and greet the other members. Albus lingered, talking business with some people.

Feet could be heard tramping down the staircase.

"Well, I should be on my way, Remus," Professor Dumbledore said rather quickly. "I shall stop to visit Arthur when I leave, Molly."

"Thank you, Albus."

"Thank you, Professor," Rigel piped up. "For everything."

Dumbledore nodded, smiling, and then left the kitchen. Within a moment, a herd of kids came into the kitchen. Harry watched the Headmaster go, looking as if he wanted to stop him, but the new people in the room claimed more importance at the moment. Sirius and Rigel were sitting together at a table and when Harry came up to Sirius, his godfather stood and shrugged an arm around him.

"Harry," he said, bursting with the news. "You remember me telling you about my younger brother Regulus?"

Harry needed no more clues. The eyes in the boy's face were exact copies of his godfather's. He resembled Regulus, Sirius' brother, like a photograph taken from far away.

"He's his son."

Watching from behind him, his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger's eyebrows were raised in surprise.

"Yes. No one knew about him until today. Dumbledore discovered them. And his mum's the woman who's been working for the Order through the Prophet for years. They're part of the Order now."

"I've seen you at school, but we've never actually met," Rigel said humbly, standing up. He stuck out a hand. "I'm Rigel. Ravenclaw. Fourth year. It's really, really great to meet you." Admiration showed in his face. It softened Harry somewhat.

"Hello, Rigel," he replied, shaking the boy's hand.

"Mum's just told us, Rigel," Ginny said, coming up to them both and grinning. "Welcome to the Order." They smiled at each other, knowing each other from the classes they had together.

"Thanks, Ginny. I've been wanting to join for years. This year worse than any because of the ministry—and Umbridge! Merlin, I've been having to practice Defense on my own time, it's such bollocks…"

"Rigel, you should join the D.A.!"

"The what?"

"Miss Lenna!"

Everyone turned in surprise. Kreacher had snuck into the room and had spotted Lenna. Most in the room had never heard his voice sound like that before: it was colored with shock and affection.

"Hello, Kreacher," she replied softly.

The house elf scrambled to her and began embracing her lower legs, his usually-hideous features transformed by tenderness.

"Kreacher has not seen Miss Lenna, not for these fifteen years, Kreacher is glad to see her again, Kreacher is wondering if Miss Lenna is well, is Miss Lenna well?"

"Very well, Kreacher, thank you," she replied again, softly. She had bent to put a hand on his back and she patted him there gently. "How are you?"

"Kreacher is missing his true masters and mistresses," he croaked miserably. "Kreacher is having to serve muck and bloodtraitors and mistress's bad, bad son. Kreacher would much rather be Miss Lenna's, yes please, Kreacher should like to serve Miss Lenna instead."

"This is Kreacher, Mum?" Rigel asked, coming up to them. He knew everything his mother knew about his father's death, including the elf's involvement.

Kreacher stared at him. His little chest heaved. He looked as if he were having a heart attack. Lenna was a bit frightened for his health. He wasn't exactly young.

"Miss Lenna," he managed to croak. His eyes were swimming with emotion.

"I know, Kreacher."

"Miss Lenna."

"I know."

"Kreacher didn't know… Master Regulus' son…"

Kreacher had begun to kiss Rigel's shoes and he looked a tad disgruntled. "Er, Kreacher, you don't have to do that."

"He's the Black family elf," Sirius stated, assuming Rigel wouldn't know, and looking at Kreacher with undisguised dislike.

"Kreacher has a better master now, oh yes. Kreacher will serve young Master Black—"

"You still serve me whether you like it or not, you little imp," Sirius growled back. "Stop slobbering on my nephew's shoes."

Kreacher drew himself up to his fullest height, glaring at Sirius. His wrinkly cheeks were pink.

"Shall we, er, all sit down and have some of Molly's tea?" Tonks interjected. The room cleared rather quickly as Order members went into the drawing room. Harry, Ron and Hermione remained with Sirius, Lenna, Rigel and Kreacher.

"Leave the room, Kreacher," Sirius ordered coldly. This was obviously the very last thing Kreacher wanted to do in that moment and he gave Sirius a look of loathing.

"Sirius, can't he stay if he's quiet?" Lenna asked gently. "Regulus meant a lot to him and now he's just finding out he had a son. Couldn't he—"

Sirius shook his head. "Sorry, I don't want him around. He just—makes me angry."

Obeying orders as he had to, Kreacher skulked out of the dining room but stood in the doorframe watching—just out of the "room". Scowling, Sirius led them into the drawing room away from him.