Author's Notes (7/17/13):

Work is still progressing on this fic. I started off this chapter one way then decided that once I added the additional scene to Chapter Six I should start from where I left off…so back to the Blacks!

o0OoO0o

Orion sipped his snifter of brandy and waved off his wife as she went around with cucumber sandwiches. Honestly! Such an ordeal it was to get the Ministry to back off…he was expecting guests at any minute now and it had taken nearly an hour for the façade to repair itself. As it was the attic was a disaster but the rest of the manor seemed structurally sound and showed no indication of the explosive burst of magic that tossed them all out on their collective asses. He was tempted to blame his new family member but in truth they all knew the fault lay with the girls. Attempting an arcane power-boosting ritual tied to virginal blood was rather par for the course for his family but the repercussions were not…

It was a simple matter to evoke the old gods and let virginal blood fuel a growth in the developing magic core but what his pea-brained, blunt, myopic nieces failed to realize were the broader ramifications of their 'ritual'. Narcy was a virgin, as he had known, but he hadn't realized that none of the three had ever experienced true sexual intercourse! Bella and Dromeda had breached their maidenheads only through their strenuous exercising and as such were still cherry enough to bleed when rutting with Harry. The magic of the ritual – especially the moon variant they used – grew exponentially with the power of the blood and experience. Add three times virginal blood mixed together by Harry's wand and you had increased power…in triplicate. It was a wonder the three hadn't brought the whole house down floor by floor with their fucking.

Luckily the Aurors tasked to investigate the magic surge were friends of Cygnus – an Amelia Bones, sister of Edgar Bones of the House of Bones, and Barty Crouch Jr. – so the incident was swept away and power dampeners dispensed from the Ministry's storehouses. Bella and Dromeda were wearing simple silver bands around their wrists while Narcy had a more elaborate pair of earrings; as for Harry, the boy wore a simple gold band around his right thumb. In all their generations of performing virginal blood rituals Orion had never heard of the ritual affecting both male and female participants…perhaps it was due to his status as Black of Black? He'd never had to deflower any of his relatives so he couldn't attest to the effects.

Now the entire family sat in the parlor waiting for their guests to arrive. Druella and 'Burga were sneaking glances at their newest relation as the boy held court in the alcove beside the fireplace. Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa had all taken seats around him and – if the glares they were shooting their mother and aunt were any indication – claimed their stake. Cygnus was already tipsy with fire whiskey and his Caribbean cigars, slurping at his glass and pawing two sandwiches from Walburga's tray. Kreacher and Crytur were already finished with the minor redressing of the upstairs and hard at work in the kitchen. Once their guests arrived they would sit for a spell while the first course was finished then move to the dining room. Unfortunately their chandelier shattered the table from the explosion but fortunately house elf magic succeeded where wizard magic failed and the table was glossy and pristine for this farce.

The Malfoys, Notts, Zabinis, Lestranges, and Greengrasses – what in Morgana's hairy cunt had he been thinking? Why not just drench a bed in vipers and lie naked on it? He was inviting serpents into his home but at least with the boy's information he knew where the blade was hidden. Lucius Malfoy, Theodore Nott, and the Lestrange twins were the danger because of their foolish belief in the edicts of a half-blood pretender to Slytherin's name.

Tomorrow they would go to Gringotts to finalize the lineage of Black and test young Harry for his Slytherin Lordship. It was all well and good to 'say' you were the heir of Slytherin and even if it were true that was in the future…who knew what magic would decide in the here-and-now with Riddle fully human (albeit missing portions of soul).

But today he had to deal with Tyberius and Lucius, Theodore times 2, Adrian and Hallafaiyr, Adalfieri and Zaira with Mary Davis, and the Lestrange brothers. Thankfully he didn't have to deal with Galp Lestrange – with the boys in their twenties the aged codger kept to himself. Two jumped-up little turds pretending to be mature – they were diseased and dangerous. At least the girls would remove themselves to the upstairs parlor while he suffered the company of cutthroats and purse-snatchers. He glanced at Cygnus and the fatter brother diverted his eyes to Harry's corner.

Orion had hoped that Harry would sit with them during the Heads' discussions but perhaps Cygnus was correct – Harry's powers lay more in his ability to manipulate the next generation. No doubt the Greengrass girl would be interested in the new powerful Lordling and pass on her information to her father – who would then inform Josiah Davis. He fully expected that the Zabini girl would ignore his new house guest.

The coals in the fireplace began rattling.

"It looks like our guests are arriving, come stand behind me, Harry, girls…I don't want you to be immediately visible." Walburga set down her tray at his words (allowing Kreacher to refill the platter in the meantime) and straightened her clothes. Orion took her arm and with a wave moved the furniture from the center of the room.

"No worries, Ori, he can stand behind me," Cygnus waddled over and took Druella's arm, "just so long as he doesn't mind a bit of wind!" The fat man winked conspiratorially at the time-displaced wizard before schooling his features.

They made for a united front of solemn faces. It was probably for the best that Sirius was spending the holidays at Potter Manor since his behavior would have in no way fit the presentation Orion wished.

Unsurprisingly, Tyberius Malfoy and son were the first to appear. The rest of the families followed after them – no doubt the elder Malfoy had commanded the 'lesser' families to meet at his manor so they could floo together. They were all of them upstarts compared to the House of Black. Of the Ancient and Most Noble Houses, Black was only equaled by the Potters and even then simply because the consolidation of House Peverell into the Potter Line allowed them to trace the lineage back to Godric Gryffindor. The House of Black traced its history back to the age of Merlin and Morgana and claimed the lineage of Mordred and Salazar Slytherin.

What could the Malfoys claim? Their lineage was thirty generations old and the result of French pirates who defected to the Crown - worthless! But they did have wealth…

"Well met, Orion, and greetings on this happy Christmas Day. A pleasure to spend such a lovely day with such…dear…friends." Tyberius sounded even more nasally than Lucius, if that were possible, and sketched a bow before the assembled Blacks. Lucius followed suit as did the rest of the group before Orion ushered them into the sitting room. Soon, glasses of alcohol and butterbeer were passed about and Harry was able to observe their guests.

Tyberius Malfoy was a very tall severe looking man with short-cropped black hair and absolutely massive hands. His dark little eyes, peeking out from under a pacific shelf of wrinkled brow glinted like phosphorescent anemones at the blackest depths of the ocean. Dressed in slithering greens with red trim he looked like nothing more than a python slit down the middle with a knife and left to bleed out upright on a hook. Of course, Harry's opinion was heavily biased against the House of Malfoy due in part to the future machinations of Tyberius' son and grandson.

Speaking of good old Lucius, the younger Malfoy looked almost exactly as he did in Harry's original time minus the crow's feet and frown lines. Looking like he'd just stepped in dragon dung, the Malfoy heir glanced about the room until his eyes fell on Narcissa sitting primly by the window. At Harry's suggestion her originally luxurious long blonde hair was trimmed close to her shoulder and pinned in a braided bun close to her head. Combined with her bangs it gave a 'boyish' impression while still retaining her feminine features. Harry snorted, all the better to get Lucius going…

Bellatrix was fending off the pestering Lestrange brothers in the far corner by the bookshelves looking ready to tear off her dampener and atomize the pair for even believing themselves worthy of speaking to her. Andromeda was cloistered with Zaira Zabini and the Greengrass girl with the Davis daughter quietly sipping her tea at the far end of the settee. That simply wouldn't do, Harry thought, and made a beeline for the displaced girl. He could feel the collective eyes of the room as he passed through the center.

"Good afternoon, miss, I couldn't help noticing you from across the room." He sat down in the chair beside her and reached for an unclaimed cup of tea from the table. "Are you feeling quite comfortable?"

The girl's eyes buzzed about the room. There was no escape from the social interaction…

"My name is Mary Margaret of the House of Davis," she quickly blurted out before setting her shaky saucer on the table, "I have not visited the House of Black before, you see."

"Well, Mary Margaret, my name is Harry and I'll let you in on a secret," he drew near her ear so his breath could tickle her neck, "this is my first visit to the House of Black as well."

Over in the corner Bellatrix's nails tore through the fabric on the armrests of her chair. How dare that flirt! His ass belonged to her! A glance at her father precipitated a silent shake of his head. Damn…there was nothing she could do trapped in the corner with the odious Lestrange brothers. Since her romp last night/this morning her mind seemed clearer, her vision sharper, and unfortunately she smelled the seminal fluid leaking all over Rodolphus' underclothes in such close proximity to her 'beauty'. She felt nothing but loathing for the two and idly tried to remember why jerking them both off last month had seemed a good idea…imperious? No…neither of them were powerful enough for that. A potion? A hex? Both were good options considering the pair's vindictive cowardly personalities – what was worse than dosing someone while their back was turned? Urgh…the memory of their watery semen in her mouth brought involuntary clenching in her stomach.

Peggy Davis blushed at the forwardness of her conversation partner before demurely brushing Hallafaiyr's leg. The fair-skinned girl turned to her younger friend and immediately locked on Harry.

"Hallafaiyr of the House of Greengrass but you may call me Hally." She stretched out a milky white arm to the boy who kissed the back of her hand with a smirk. "Where have you been hiding this man, Andy?"

"My name is Harry, Miss Greengrass, and you mustn't blame Andromeda – we've only met recently."

"Yes, Hally, Peggy, this is Harold. He's from a branch family from Brussels and he's going to be staying with us for a little while." Andy shot a glance to Cissy as Lucius turned away from the youngest Black sister – seemingly curious about their conversation; trust a boy to ruin all their carefully constructed plans…

"Just 'Harold'? From what House do you hail, Harold? Are you a half-blood? A pureblood?" The Malfoy heir stepped into their little semicircle, sneering down his nose at Harry, and purposefully spoke loudly enough to draw the party's attention. "I shudder to imagine how the European branch families of our inestimable guests view blood purity."

Tyberius looked ready to murder his son but didn't stop the fop from continuing his little display.

"No more or less than what 'Pureblood'," Harry stretched the word into a condescending mockery, "families get up to on this side of the pond I imagine. My family name was 'Vermeulen' until the unfortunate death of my family in an attack by dark wizards. Lord Black has offered to sponsor me back into the main Black line. I am a Pureblood."

"A Pureblood from 'The Continent'? Surely you jest?" Lucius flipped his luxurious blonde hair over his shoulder. "So you wish to claim a place among the Blacks?"

"Why don't you try picking on someone your own size, Lucy? Like Cissy there…fourteen year old girls should be more your level!" Bellatrix glared at the Malfoy heir from her corner but made no move to confront – Orion and Cygnus were watching the entire exchange

Ignoring Bella's comment, Lucius continued. "If you wish to become a member of proper British Pureblood society than you need look no further than the people in this room, young Harold, we are the very pinnacle of British wizards! And you wish to claim a place among our ranks? I warn you that you cannot be…'sponsored'…into our little society – you must prove your worth to our cause and beliefs."

Harry grinned at the overblown upstart and gestured to Narcissa, "I don't believe I need your 'permission' to join the ranks of British Wizarding society, heir Malfoy. Lord Black has already arranged a marriage between myself and one of his lovely young nieces. Like young Narcissa here…I would like to get to know these girls before I jump into a marriage – I'm sure you understand."

"You? And Narcissa?" Lucius ground each word from between clenched teeth. "You would dare to presume to take that which is rightfully mine?"

"I don't see how she could be yours, heir Malfoy, considering Lord Black personally offered her hand. I would presume that Lord Black is knowledgeable in any arrangements made concerning members of his own family."

"She and I are fated to be together, you foreign little upstart! Something I doubt you understand." Engulfing himself in the tirade, Lucius didn't hear Narcissa vehemently begin decrying his statement, nor did he see his father share an apologetic look with Orion. "I will not have some natty no-name from Belgium take my bride! I challenge you, Harold, for the hand of fair Narcissa!"

The silence that followed that pronouncement was so profound that Cygnus determined to hold in his gas until someone else broke the moment. Unsurprisingly it was Cissy.

"Lucius are you even listening to me? I don't want to marry you – I will not be marrying you! I don't understand why you can't get that through your head that my uncle has turned you down more than four times now and-"

"Worry not, my dear…after I teach this uncouth barbarian how we court in Britain we shall sit down with Lord Black and discuss the betrothal contract!" He was already too far gone down the hole of his own ego. "I think a show of power against this little boy should be the final judgment!"

"Are you even listening to me, Lucius!? I don't want to marry you! My uncle will never approve!"

"Hush, darling, and watch as I humiliate this stranger."

Bellatrix rolled her eyes at the younger Malfoy's nonsense and waved her hand. Everyone suddenly found their chairs and loungers pushed against the walls. Orion grinned as another wave of his eldest niece's hand transformed the plush Oriental rug into a raised dueling platform running the length of the sitting room. Despite these quick and abrupt changes, not to mention Bella's new power levels, Lucius preened and smirked down his nose at Harry.

Harry slammed a foot down on the platform to test the transfiguration. Bella did good work. Arcturus Black's wand materialized in his hand and the entire world seemed to contract until nothing but Lucius Malfoy's pompous face existed. Oh, he was all too eager to wipe the floor with the preening fop…just can't kill him. Humiliation is was, then, and in front of everyone. Not the way he wanted to demonstrate his power but he supposed one made a splash in the Pureblood community or one went home.

Lucius' dragon heartstring and willow wand sprang into his hand.

"Before we begin, heir of Malfoy, shall we entreat Lord Black to confirm the stakes?" Harry gestured to Orion with his left hand.

Orion touched Tyberius' arm and set down his glass of fire whiskey. Cygnus, Druella, and Walburga watched as he produced a watch from his waistcoat.

"This is a duel of honor between Harold Black and Lucius Malfoy. I believe it best if the combatants were allowed to suggest their own stakes." Beside Orion, Tyberius nodded but otherwise remained silent. Harry couldn't tell whether he was angry at Lucius for starting this or happy that his son was going to be beaten. The man's face was impenetrable.

"When I humiliate this fool I will take Narcissa as my bride," the blond loudly proclaimed, "and this upstart will be thrown into the street like the trash he is!"

For a Slytherin, Lucius Malfoy was denser than a white dwarf. While he wasn't as bad as Draco, there were no signs of the cool and relatively calculating manipulator Lucius became in the future – instead there was a sucking black hole of stupidity and general laziness combined with vindictive petty anger. A volatile combination under the best of circumstances but in the pressure-cooker of Pureblood relations he was just making an ass of himself. Tyberius should have put a stop to his childish tantrum before he'd proclaimed a feud but the Malfoy Patriarch was staunch in his silence. What was his game…?

"I think that a proper apology to Miss Black for his claims of ownership, a proper apology to myself for the egregious slurs upon my family and parentage, and perhaps a sum of 200 galleons?" No one rejected Harry's proposal so the crowd passed quickly into the next room lest their duel affect the environment. Orion and Tyberius stood on either side of the doorway and cast a protective spell on the walls, floor, and ceiling.

"No surrender. No lethal spells. No time limit. Victory by knock-out only," Tyberius finally intoned once the preparations were complete. His hard eyes took in the makeshift arena, the improvised dueling platform, and the smug expression on his son's face.

"You may begin…"