By Polaris Aries Black

The Black Secret

Chapter 10

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Harry groaned rolling over onto his side as a croaky voice slowly made its way through his sleep muddled mind. "Master Herakles be waking up. Master Black be meeting young master in the dining room."

"Five more minutes," he mumbled blearily opening one eye to peak at the elderly elf.

"Master Black be wanting Kreacher to wake Master Herakles now," Kreacher said sternly and with a snap of his fingers the curtains flew open bringing in the light of the rising sun. All Harry could think was it was too bloody early to be awake. The house elf refused to leave so it was a very tired Harry that started getting ready for the day. After taking a refreshing shower that helped wake him up, he got dressed in very expensive crimson and black robes. They had been laid out on his bed for him to wear. As he walked down the stairs to the dining room he muttered about being able to dress himself instead of having someone else do it for him.

In the room where breakfast was served was Orion, who once more sat at the head of the table going over some letters, and Walburga sitting on his right was looking over her copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry still remembered the article that had come out after Sirius' trial proclaiming his father's innocence. It mentioned how he was wrongly thrown in Azkaban for twelve years and the reparations the Ministry was giving the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black. Of course, they blamed the whole matter on Bagnold who had been minister at the time of Sirius' arrest and was now dead. Harry too had made the newspaper with his picture splashed across the front page next to the article about his father. Thankfully, the Malfoys and the Blacks had made both pieces on father and son written in a light that was favorable to them. He didn't want to imagine what would have happened had he never found out he was adopted.

Harry cleared his thoughts as he stepped over the threshold of the dining room. "Grandfather, Grandmother," he greeted bowing to Orion. He took the motioned seat and picked up his silverware to eat the porridge that appeared before him.

"Good morning Herakles," Orion returned the greeting absentmindedly as he looked over some documents that had been in one of the letters.

Walburga barely glanced at him and greeted him in a irritated tone. Harry knew not to interact with her until she had at least two cups of coffee in the morning. She was not a morning person. In fact even with two cups of coffee her mood was only marginally better. Not that he spent much time with woman because her constant nagging was annoying and so he tried to avoid spending time with her. The teen just knew they would never get along.

"Your great grandmother has sent you a letter," Orion said pushing an envelope towards him. Harry wiped his hands on the cloth napkin on his lap. The black haired teen opened it pulling out the strawberry scented parchment. His eyes scanned the letter his great grandmother Melania had sent him and he made a choking sound at the invitation to a luncheon with her, Laurel and Daphne Greengrass.

Walburga shot him a disapproving look at the undignified sound he just made. Harry did his best not to roll his eyes at her as he tried to keep in mind Calliope's pureblood training. Orion looked over at him expectantly having stopped reading and setting aside his letters.

"I'm sorry for disrupting your meal Grandmother. I was simply surprised at the letter I have received."

She frowned at him but nodded anyways. "See that you remember you are not some unseemly mudblood." Harry bit down the urge to argue with her instead he turned his attention to his grandfather.

"Grandmother Melania has invited me for a luncheon with Laurel and Daphne Greengrass." He said to Orion's unspoken question.

The older man looked on approvingly. "I am working on having Lord Greengrass on my side for the upcoming bill the Wizengamot is trying to push through so be sure to make a good impression on his daughter, Herakles."

"Of course, Grandfather." Harry said although now he felt pressure on doing his best to act like a proper pureblood heir tomorrow. It didn't help that he did not want to go and really hoped his great grandmother wasn't trying to set up his marriage to Daphne.

"Now, you and I shall be leaving after breakfast." Orion said changing the subject. "I have an appointment with Darksteel about going over some investments and business. I am taking you with me so you can start to learn how to handle the Black accounts and to see what will happen to the Potters accounts now that you are no longer a Potter."

Harry felt a little anxious about the last thing his grandfather said. He knew he wasn't a Potter anymore by blood so it made him a little nervous about what would happen to everything his adoptive family owned. Even though he knew James and Lily weren't his parents he still didn't think he wanted to part with their things. They did after all love him and sacrificed their lives for him.

He was brought out of his thoughts when Orion stood from his seat. Since he was finished eating he too got up to leave the dining room and go to the floo room so he could floo to Gringotts.

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"Greetings Master Darksteel," Grandfather said as they both took the seat they were motioned to sit at in front of the large desk. "May your gold increase as your enemies die by your hands."

"Lord Black, may your enemies be torn apart as their gold goes to you." Darksteel finished the greeting. "Now you had an appointment that you wanted to discuss somethings concerning your account, yes?"

"Correct," Orion said.

They began the discussion of the Black accounts talking about investing in certain companies both in the magical and muggle worlds. A winery in Italy was discussed and the profits the Blacks were receiving from it. While they were talking Orion had Harry writing down notes on what was being discussed. It was to help him memorize the meeting and so they could discuss what he wrote over the next lesson he had with the older wizard. Finally the conversation came to a close as they ended it with increasing their shares in the Daily Prophet.

"I would like to ask what will happen to the Potters accounts now that Herakles is no longer a blood relative to that line." Orion said bringing the conversation to the last thing they needed to discuss with Darksteel. Harry put the journal with all his notes from both this meeting and his lessons aside.

"I am now handling the frozen account since the previous manager has handed over the money and investments over to me. Like I said it is still frozen since Heir Black was a minor when he was the Potter heir and never put the ring on."

"So the money will go to him, then?"

"Yes it still all belongs to him, but he will not be able to become Lord Potter when he reaches his majority as he is not blood related to them. Essentially he has all the money, investments, and properties belonging to the Potters, but he will not be able to ever take up the Head of the family position."

"I would like to be sent the paperwork for the money the Potters have accumulated in the next few days."

"Of course Lord Black expect it by the end of the week."

"If that is all we will be taking our leave."

Darksteel nodded and after goodbyes were exchanged the wizards left the office.

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The moment he stepped gracefully out of the large marble fireplace of Malfoy Manor he took out his wand and used the spell Calliope taught him to clear the soot from his robes and straighten them at the same time. A pop was heard and he looked down to the little elf that stood in front of him. It was Mopsy and she bowed low to him.

"Mopsy be telling Master Herakles that Mistress Calliope be asking Master to join her in the informal sitting room."

"Thank you, Mopsy."

The elf squeaked in surprise still not used to being thanked for doing her job and popped away. Harry smiled before walking out of the entrance room and towards the room Mopsy had told him she was in. He wondered where Draco was since his purpose for being there was to visit him and his friends. It wasn't that he didn't want to see his grandmum because he had missed her so he was glad he could see her first.

He came upon the sitting room to see Calliope sitting on one of the black sofas. She stood at his entrance. "Harry, it is very good seeing you again. The manor hasn't been the same since your leaving." She said pulling him into a hug. "Come sit beside me."

Harry took the seat next to her. "I missed you too Grandmum." He said truly meaning it.

"How is your father doing?"

The teen began to talk excitedly about how his visit to Sirius went and how he was planning on visiting again the day after next. She was softly smiling the whole time he was talking.

"I am glad he is recovering," Calliope said when he paused. "Now the reason I called you in here for is not only because I missed you, but I wanted to discuss something with you."

"What did you need to tell me?"

"We hold a ball every summer and it is very important that you be at your best for the event. Ministry officials, Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot, and important people from all around Europe will be in attendance for it. I wanted to tell you this so that we could set up a time to go to Twilfitt and Tattings to get dress robes for you."

Harry swallowed heavily at the news. He knew he was prepared for such a formal event with all the training he had undergone over the summer, but it was still nerve wracking to have to attend a ball. There would be dancing and although he had lessons on it he still didn't think he would want to dance at a ball with all those people there. He didn't voice any of his thoughts aloud as he didn't want to disappoint his grandmum with all his worries so he put a smile on his face and nodded. "It sounds like fun."

Calliope squeezed his hand. "It truly is a marvelous event you will definitely enjoy it. Now why don't you go find Draco. His guests should be arriving any minute. I will owl you when I have the appointment for Twilfitt and Tattings."

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Harry found Draco in the entrance hall where he stood next to a simpering Pansy Parkinson. His blonde cousin looked most relieved at his entrance. The pug nosed girl took one look at him and her eyes widened comically.

"Pansy, I'd like to introduce you to my cousin Herakles Black." Draco said using his new name instead of Harry. He understood why because he had to make a good impression on his friends because most if not all were part of the Black alliance.

"Hello Miss Parkinson it is a pleasure to meet you formally," Harry greeted taking Pansy's offered hand and kissing the air above the back of it. Her eyes landed on the heir ring on his right hand and if possible her brown eyes got even larger.

"Indeed it is Heir Black, but please call me Pansy." She said batting her eyelashes at him and tossing her chestnut hair over her shoulder. Harry did his best to ignore Draco's laugh turned cough.

"Thank you and please call me Herakles," he returned. He wished that he could use his name Harry, but since they had just met and were not close friends he would have to stick with his more formal name. They were interrupted from any more conversation when the floo once more chimed as Theodore Nott stepped out of the fireplace dusting off his robes. He had golden blonde hair that curled atop his head and dark blue eyes.

The Nott heir nodded at his friends in greeting. Harry remembered from what little he observed of the Slytherins that Theo was very quiet and always had a book in hand when they were at school. Draco smoothly introduced the two to each other as he did with Pansy.

"It is nice to meet you, Heir Nott."

"You as well, Heir Black." Theodore said as he gave a firm handshake. Harry did notice the fact that the other boy did not give permission to use his first name. He assumed he would have to prove himself to the other heir.

The blonde too came from a Most Ancient and Noble House so it stood to reason that they were of almost of the same standing. Harry's paternal family was older than the Notts so he did have more clout to his name. Orion had taught him all about the other Houses on the Wizengamot and where they stood on the hierarchy. Not surprisingly the Blacks were at the top with the other four Most Ancient and Noble Families. Houses Longbottom and Bones were for the light side of the political spectrum. House Greengrass was the sole neutral family in their category, but they did sometimes lean towards dark pureblood family ideals. Blacks and Notts made up for the dark Houses. So Harry knew that he would have to prove to not just Theodore but all the other heirs that he was not just given the Black Heir title because of his birth but that he was the perfect heir for his prestigious house. Never before that moment had he felt the pressure of his place in pureblood society.

Introductions went the same with Crabbe and Goyle as they both came through the floo, but they did give permission to Harry to use their first names. Since Blaise was still in Italy visiting family and the Greengrass girls both were busy today they all left to go out to the garden where the house elves had set up their lunch at the table out in pavilion that was in the heart of the magnificent garden. The weather outside was just right to eat out there comfortably.

Once they were seated at the glass table and the first entrée was served Draco started the conversation. "Is everyone going to the Quidditch World Cup? My grandfather has gotten all of us tickets in the top box." He boasted in his usual arrogant way. Harry withheld an eye roll.

"Puh-lease like I would miss seeing all of the yummy guys in their quidditch uniforms," Pansy said in a too sweet voice. Theodore frowned at the tone most likely as irritated as Harry at the sound of her whiney voice.

"My family will be attending," The Nott heir said after wiping his mouth on the cloth napkin the house elves set out.

"Will you and your father go to the World Cup?" Pansy asked once more batting her eyelashes at Harry flirtatiously. It made him distinctly uncomfortable and wishing she would turn her attentions back onto Draco.

"It is a very good possibility, and if my father goes he will be going with my maternal family and me." Harry said putting down his silverware as the next course appeared on the table.

"I'm sure Grandfather would be most pleased to have Uncle Sirius join us." Even though Sirius and Iphigenia weren't married they were being treated as if they were since Harry was supposed to call Draco's parents Aunt and Uncle. Not that he had so far. He did his best not to have to use their names as it would be really uncomfortable to call Lucius Uncle.

"How is your father?" Pansy asked.

"He is well and recovering from his time spent in Azkaban."

"It was surprising to find out he was innocent of his crimes." Theodore stated.

Crabbe grunted in agreement, but otherwise both large boys were trying their best to eat the food laid out on the table as fast as they could. Harry was sure they could out eat Ron.

"Was that the end of year adventure you had last year?" Draco asked curiously. All eyes turned to Harry even Crabbe and Goyle. It was no secret the Black heir had 'adventures' at the end of every year. But they only had rumors to go off of since Harry never spoke of what happened.

Harry's sapphire eyes glanced at the curious faces around of him before deciding to give a little of the truth. "Yes I saved my father from having his soul sucked out by dementors. I had just found out Pettigrew was responsible for my adoptive parents' death."

"What do you mean 'saved'?" Draco asked putting his goblet down and giving the dark haired wizard his full attention.

"The only way to fend off a dementor is the patronus charm. Are you telling us that you can successfully cast it?" Nott asked disbelievingly.

"I used that exact charm to save Sirius."

Draco whistled appreciatively knowing that Harry must be pretty powerful to be able to cast it at his age.

"Did you really defeat Slytherin's monster then?" Theodore wondered.

"Yeah," Harry said forgetting to use the proper 'yes' in his embarrassment at the impressed looks he was receiving from the others.

"And Quirrell?" Draco questioned. Harry grimaced at the name, but nodded all the same. "I was so angry at the fact that the Gryffindorks won the house cup first year when it really should have gone to us." His cousin whined.

"Yes well you didn't." Harry said smiling brightly at his cousin who huffed.

The conversation moved on from there, but the Black heir couldn't help but feel like he proved himself to this group of people. He would make his family proud. It was the least he could do since they had saved him from a life of loneliness. Yes he had the Weasleys and Hermione but nothing could beat having family that was actually related to him.

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