According to the multiple universe theory, Iliana Black does not exist in most, if not all other universes. She usually dismisses the idea, believing impracticality has no place in the daily life of a future Head of the House of Black. Especially the Lady who is to lead all the Blacks who are sworn to her.
But today… She saw him. And oh, but she wanted to cry when she realized he didn't know who she was. Shaking her head, the first year slunk off to find her cousins, surprised to discover that Daniella had also discovered Her Heart's Mate. Sylvia was sulking with a brightly smiling Aaliyah, who is seated beside a dark-haired, olive skinned boy who claims his father cast the Heart's Mate spell upon him.
Aaliyah's smile droops, upon hearing her cousins' tales of woe, but Blaise- scion of the House of Zabini- squeezes her hand and murmurs a gentle admonition that her cousins would prefer to see her smile. Daniella, Sylvia and Iliana nod furiously, glad that Blaise already cares so much about their cousin.
TESSELLATUS
In another compartment, four boys with a picnic basket are catching up like the pals they've been since they were toddlers, or, in Ron's case, tiny children on toy broomsticks. Neville, despite being a tad rougher around the edges- having rough housed with the lads from the village on the Isle of Skye- is still a well-mannered young man. However, not even Harry can compete with the aristocratic, gallant air that is the young gent, Draco Malfoy. Here, of course, he is simply 'Tatsu', teased and teasing in return.
Harry, as the only son of an original Marauder, has suggested before that they style themselves the 'neo-Marauders', pranking for the good, rather than a laugh. Draco, Neville and Ron had hopped on that bandwagon immediately. And today, they are discussing who to prank. They barely have time to hide the Marauders' Map when the door is flung open by a bushy haired girl with buck teeth. An irritated Draco and displeased Harry don their best Black frowns. Ron stares wide eyed, unable to speak, while Neville shakes his head. Before anyone else can speak, Ron clears his throat and snarls
"Can't you knock? Out. Now!" The girl hurries away with an alarmed look on her face. Not much later, Lia flounces in, harrumphing when they tell her about the bushy-haired girl. Ali, who introduces Blaise, and Silver and Danu are equally horrified at the lack of manners. Lia presses her lips together before asking Ron tersely
"Is she-?" He gives a controlled nod before gratefully entering a game of chess with Ali, whose new Sodalis watches with interest.
Harry shares a look with his unoccupied cousins, all agreeing that this girl needs a pranking and talking to from one of the young ladies before they can allow Ron to apologize.
At the Sorting, Lia and Ali, as the two who will be Sorted first, put their heads together before Lia clears her throat, the small sound enough to have every Black at attention. Even those outside the House listen when the black-haired girl raises her arms, gold-flecked grey eyes shining before she made her pronouncement
"As Heir to our shared liegelord, Sirius Black, it is my duty, and privilege, to remind you that it is not our Hogwarts House that make us Blacks. Be you Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, you are still expected to work hard, be loyal to those to whom you've sworn your allegiance, find an elegant solution to your problem, to face your fears with all your clanmates at your back, and always, always, learn all you can." Lia was surprised when her second, Aaliyah, prompted their clanmates
"Three cheers for Lady Iliana!" And then they did, Harry shouting his 'Huzzahs' with a smile on his face. Draco, being the proper little gentleman he'd been raised to be, came forward to bow to Iliana and offered
"Lady Iliana, as a son of the first ally House of the House of Black, may I have the honour of escorting you?" Tilting her head with all the regality a ten year old could manage, Lia took his arm, giggling when Blaise offered his arm silently to Ali. Harry trotted to the front of the formation as Ron and Neville offered their arms to Danu and Silver. Beaming with pride, Harry marched in the Herald's position, his cousins escorted behind him in order of inheritance.
McGonagall fought not to raise a brow, especially when she called for 'Black, Aaliyah', the girl's entourage cheering when she was Sorted into Ravenclaw. 'Black, Iliana' went to Gryffindor, the bushy-haired girl who orated on the ceiling as they walked in proved to be 'Granger, Hermione' who was also Sorted into Gryffindor. "Longbottom, Neville' was Sorted into Gryffindor, which was greeted with cheers from his Black cousins on all sides. 'Malfoy, Draco' was quickly Sorted into Slytherin, 'Potter, Daniella' into Hufflepuff, 'Potter, Harry' into Gryffindor, 'Potter, Sylvia' into Ravenclaw, where she was greeted by her cousin Ali, 'Weasley, Ronald' was Sorted into Gryffindor, and was quite pleased when even Draco gave the traditional 'Huzzah!' at his Sorting. Aaliyah wolf whistled when Blaise was Sorted into Slytherin, grinning when Draco waved him over to his part of the table.
Although the Blacks were too busy to notice it, Severus Snape was chewing on something. Once they had filed past him, they had all nodded to him, nods of sincere respect. He wasn't sure why, though they all, he admitted, resembled their parents.
At the Gryffindor table, Percy (who had mellowed since Lucius' lecture of butt sticks) was fielding questions from Granger even as he tried to convince her to relax. He was relieved when Iliana butted in
"Sobrinus Percival, as the eldest of our contingent-" Harry, Ron, the twins, and Percy himself shot her horrified looks, cringing when she asked
"Do you wish to lead the delegation?" Percy shook his head and said briskly
"I know you'll put it to a vote, Gratiam Tui, but you'll find that we all prefer you to be out leader." Lia argued
"I don't even have a Sodalis, Sobrinus." Percy shook his head stuck his fingers in his mouth, whistling loudly and shrilly for the others. From Slytherin, Draco grabbed Blaise's arm, leading him to Percy, Daniella darting away from a conversation with a few of her year mates, while Aaliyah and Sylvia floated over, on light feet.
Percy turned in his seat to demand of those standing there
"All those in favour of Iliana Black's leadership, say aye!" With a resounding chorus ringing in her ears, Lia sighed and made her own demand
"Harry, as our best up-and-coming duellist, you and your seconds will lead us in times of emergency." Harry nodded respectfully, replying
"Ron and Draco will be best as strategists, and Neville's always been a good listener, he'll find the holes." Extending hands, the cousins shook on it, though everyone except Lia saw Harry's smirk.
Percy chuckled under his breath, nodding to himself as he realized Harry intended to lead the Strike teams when they were needed, as his father did, considering it was Kirana, not Sirius, whose decisions guided them in peacetime. Not that the dratted witch wanted anyone to know she was so intelligent her husband ruled in name only.
Unlike Alice, Kirana Black was a traditionalist to her core.
Considering his options, Percy realized he was probably a prime candidate for the Diplomatic squad, due to his age. Restraining a growl of annoyance, he decided he would train for the Strike team. Maybe he wouldn't be on it at Hogwarts, but the Black Strike Team Security Force were among the best the Wizarding world had to offer. It was also how they made a good deal of the fortune that allowed them to send all the clans' children to school and pay for exorbitant dowries and bride prices. A few years service, Percy was sure, would be an excellent way to pay back the gold he was costing Sirius and Regulus, and had cost Arcturus.
Like Percy, the twins wanted to be on the Strike team, and to develop products that could not only be used for pranking, but to assure the safety of the operatives.
The only active, full time operative that they were aware of was Aquila Abbott. Unlike James, Sirius, Regulus, Lucius and Arthur, who all helped the private security agency in some way- Arthur had retained his job at the ministry on Sirius' request- Aquila ran missions. The Lords all assisted, be it with Rune wards, extraction, mission planning and transactions, but Aquila was the one portkeying all over the globe, doing what needed to be done.
There were other operatives- several Squibs ran the round-the-clock missions desk- but Aquila was the most senior, and his retirement would be well earned.
Sirius had talked about recruiting burned out Aurors, and many of the family had agreed it would be a good thing, to help them, but plans had stalled when Aquila acquired a client who demanded absolute secrecy.
Meantime, the young scions of the House were certain that they were going to decide their careers based on the squads Iliana assigned them to while at Hogwarts. Harry wanted to take over leadership of the Strike agency, which meant leading as many missions at Hogwarts as possible. Draco was better suited as a politician, despite being only ten, and was sure to be the spokesman of the House. Ron was likely to be tapped as a strategist, if his chess prowess was any hint. The twins would likely be encouraged in their ambition of opening a joke shop, so long as they continued inventing products that had any chance of use in the field.
Charlie and Bill had both had apprenticeships bought and paid for with the expectation that they would consult. Neville had already declared that he was following in his fathers' footsteps as the family Herbologist. Iliana, despite being the child of two highly proficient duellists, was unlikely to be allowed near dangerous missions, as she had already won her entire generations' loyalty to her leadership, at least of the family. Aaliyah had been interested in potions since she was a toddler, and hoped to be a Potions Mistress. Both Sylvia and Daniella had inherited their mothers' gentle nature, the will to nurture and the strength to discipline, and had been predicted as being the family Healers, or at least Medi-witches.
It was looking to be a fine crop of talented Blacks this generation, and they were fired up to prove themselves.
Gratiam tui-your grace
