Tania didn't want to get an owl, so she borrowed Merlin's friend Archimedes. He was quite bored, and openly concerned about the state of Lost Avalon, so he agreed to act as 'her' owl. This also meant that Merlin had an informant of his own, one that no one would suspect because Archimedes wasn't an "animagus", yet he could talk more intelligently than half her class could.
It was through him that she learned more about the issue with the heartless. It was more serious than she had initially thought, and she knew that having them around was bad.
The Darkness had steeped more than initially projected, and the pure bloods kept quiet about the 'beasts' for fear of them targeting them next. The knew of the keyblade by word of mouth, but didn't know any specifics.
However the darker families would look fondly on anyone who could use it, solely because of a rumor that the true "Heir" of Slytherin could use a key-shaped blade that was black and looked like something out of a dream.
They believed Voldemort was a potential heir because of his ability to snake speak, but he wasn't considered the head of Slytherin without that blade. The goblins were very specific about that.
There were heartless on Lost Avalon...and they were used to keep the pure bloods from talking about the truth for fear of being turned into 'one of them'.
On the plus side, Dobby had officially been transferred into the 'ownership' of Tania after she made inquiries to Narcissa about needing a 'reliable elf' since she didn't trust the ones at Hogwarts...and what a coincidence, Dobby was the only one Lucius was willing to spare for such a low price.
Needless to say he was over the moon, and he loved his new 'uniform' which was a modified version of the coat the Organization used. He still hated going through the corridor though, so Tania mostly had him helping Petunia discreetly by feeding the infants and keeping them sleeping soundly all night long...and cleaning up after the little dog Petunia adopted from the shelter.
She managed to smooth that surprise over with Vernon because it was the same breed that the Queen herself had. It was hard to argue against that kind of logic, and it kept the image that Petunia did her best to maintain.
Right now though...she had to deal with this headache.
One look at the mob in the bookstore, and she resisted Hermione's efforts to drag her in.
"Hermione, you can have your books autographed but I'm heading to the used books at the end of the alley. Something about that man seems off, and I would rather buy them cheap at the other store than pay new. Besides, I heard they got some pretty obscure ones there."
The moment Tania saw how obscure, the first thing she thought was that Merlin might want them. They were useless to her. However she did find some potion books for Shadow to play with.
"New or used these things are way too expensive. Still, I was able to find some decent books without having to brave the mob out... Oh come on!"
Seeing Lucius Malfoy about to start a fight with the Weasleys, Tania knew she had to intervene.
Setting off a loud bang with her wand, she got everyone's attention. Since it sounded almost exactly like a gunshot, most of the mundane-raised tried to duck and cover before realizing how silly they looked.
"You two should be ashamed of yourselves! Acting like bratty first years over something this silly! You're both grown men, so act like it! Especially you Mr. Malfoy. I'm sure Narcissa would be appalled if she found out her husband was about to start a brawl like a common thug in the middle of Diagon!" Tania scolded them.
Lucius, realizing she had a point, pretended like he hadn't just been told off by a twelve year old Hufflepuff.
Seeing Ron puff up because she told off Malfoy Sr., Tania was quick to burst his bubble as well.
"And you, Mr. Weasley! I know your sons are arrogant brats who misbehave in school, but you should be leading a better example! It's no wonder everyone hates it when Fred and George cause trouble and force everyone to listen to your wife's voice airing out the dirty laundry in public, or that Percy acts like a stuck-up jerk, or that Ron has absolutely no manners if this is the example you're setting for them! Grow up already!" said Tania hotly.
"Oi! People love our pranks!" said George angrily, embarrassed that Tania Potter was doing this to them.
"No, they don't. And if you have a problem with it, then you should either learn some new material that doesn't look like you're essentially bullying some poor student, or tell your mother that perhaps she should find an alternative method of punishment besides howlers. I'm sure her voice could use a rest, considering the sheer number of them that she sent last year," deadpanned Tania, looking them in the eye. And then she aimed her barbed tongue at Percy, who was also seething. "And you should know better than to harass the other students just because you have a prefect's badge. It shames you and your house the way you acted last year."
Hermione and the others hung back, shocked that Tania was taking the whole lot of them to task in such a public manner, even if they did have it coming to them.
Two days later...
After they left Diagon, it didn't take very long at all before rumors spread about what happened. Or for it to reach the infamous Molly Weasley.
The moment Tania saw the red envelope with the mail, she winced openly enough for Petunia to notice.
"What is that?" she asked suspiciously.
"This is a magical envelope. One that is restricted in purely mundane neighborhoods because it pretty much outs any witches or wizards in the area. Unfortunately they're set to go off even if you don't open them."
"And what is the purpose of these envelopes?"
"My guess? Molly Weasley heard about me tell off her family and decided I needed to be reprimanded. Her husband was about to start a brawl like a common thug with a rival family, and I stopped them before it escalated...though I did take that as a chance to publicly reprimand her sons as well, because they were horrible last year."
"How bad were they?"
"Her youngest son has zero manners, and eats like a pig who barely knows what cutlery is for. Her twin sons are pranksters, but act more like bullies and are the main source of these...howlers... that come at least once a week if not more. And the oldest currently attending the school harassed me repeatedly and abused his position as one of the students meant to maintain order when teachers aren't around. I said nothing but the truth," said Tania defensively.
"How many children does this woman have?"
"Seven. Six boys, two of which have long since graduated, and one girl which is due to start this year."
"Well she still has no right to reprimand you for speaking your mind. That sort of thing is left to the guardian of the child, and you have spoken to me previously about their behavior."
"I better deal with this before it wakes the twins. Odds are my cousin Narcissa will know the appropriate response to her breaking the law so blatantly," said Tania.
Tania went up to her room and grabbed something unusual.
It was something akin to a pair of iron tongs. Master Merlin had told her how to handle such letters after she mentioned them.
Before they went off, use something made of iron to carry it. The magic would be forced to remain dormant until the iron was removed.
"Dobby!"
"Yes, Miss Tania?" asked Dobby. He was a changed elf, and he was glad for it.
"Could you ask Narcissa if she'd be willing to meet with me? It seems Molly Weasley has sent me a howler and I would like to know the appropriate level of response to this. Especially since it was at my mundane aunt's home that she sent the letter to."
"At once, Miss Tania," said Dobby, disappearing. He returned a few moments later. "Miss Narcissa said she was free now and to bring you to her."
Tania changed into something more appropriate for a witch, and took Dobby's arm. He teleported her straight to Malfoy Manor.
"It's so nice to finally meet you properly...Tania, was it?"
"I agree, Mrs. Malfoy."
"Please, call me Aunt Narcissa dear. Now where is this howler?"
Tania held it out to Narcissa, who had already silenced the room. Upon opening, the banshee that was Molly went off with a bang, telling Tania that she should be ashamed of herself for being so disrespectful and how it was a shame her muggle relatives didn't raise her better.
Narcissa's lips curled in distaste. She didn't like Molly on a good day.
"And you got this at your muggle relatives house, correct?"
"I found it in the mail. I knew better than to open it, because it would have woken up my new twin cousins from a nap after we finally got them to sleep," said Tania. "Not to mention these things are notorious for outing witches and wizards to their mundane neighbors and forcing them to move. And since I'm not legally able to cast magic..."
"She should have raised her sons better to begin with. I'll never understand why Arthur allows her to get away with half the things she does, or why they're so poor."
Arthur was an established pure blood with a crest and a man. That meant he got regular raises at least once every other year simply because. There was no reason why the Weasleys could barely afford tuition as they would have gotten a discount for sending more than two children to Hogwarts, never mind that most of them were gone most of the year.
Molly should have gotten the hang of at least trying to save some galleons for the usual yearly expenses. Or bought the books in bulk.
Or, considering the Lockhart books were so expensive, have told her children to share them for all their classes. She really had no sense of money management. And it wasn't like they needed them outside of class. The man was a joke.
"In any case, I'll help you file an official complaint against her, since you were smart enough to catch it in time. Though I must admit, I'm pleasantly surprised that someone from your house would think to contact me first before opening it and receiving a citation."
"Sometimes the most deadly snake is the one you can't see coming," said Tania cryptically. "A Gryffindor is a good place to hide if you want to avoid being taken as 'dark', but it's too closely watched by that old cat. Hufflepuff is a better choice, because it means you can find actual loyalty, and if one is threatened then they all are."
"So the rumor I heard from Draco about a first year Hufflepuff secretly gathering an army of girls is..."
"Me."
Narcissa smirked.
"You might find it a bit easier to gather an army and make a few changes...if you're willing to put in the work."
"We're changing the music next. And what exactly would this work entail?"
"Mostly acknowledging your Black heritage, and being willing to learn some of the less...pleasant...spells."
Tania rolled her eyes.
"A spell is only as dark as it's use. A blood boiling curse can just as easily be used to heat up a cup of water to make tea, since blood is mostly made of water."
"Finally, a witch with some sense!" said Narcissa pleased.
"Has it been dealt with?" asked Petunia at supper.
"I've lodged a formal complaint against the Weasley family for almost outing me to my normal neighbors. If she tries that stunt again she'll be fined heavily, and I've arranged for extra lessons with my cousin Narcissa."
"What sort of lessons?" asked Petunia.
"Know thy enemy. The Blacks were big supporters of the man who murdered my parents, and her husband was in his inner circle. I learn how they fight, and next time they won't have it so easy if they try to start a fight. And it won't end as badly as last time, because some senile old man is a fan of redemption," said Tania darkly.
"Good. I don't want you to kill indiscriminately, but if it's people who are trying to kill you and won't miss any sleep over the act, then sometimes the permanent methods are the only way. Even if it means a hanging."
"On an unrelated note, how would you feel if I left Dobby here during the year to keep an eye on the twins and Duchess?"
"If he remains discreet, then I don't mind. It would be nice to relax for once instead of fussing about the state of the house. Besides, he's already cleaned up the worst of the mess left from the renovation," said Petunia.
Her face went impassive.
"That being said... you have a way to get around even without their knowledge, don't you?"
Tania did her best not to freeze.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play coy with me. Dobby isn't the most discreet, and he has some hero worship going on with you for removing him from a bad situation."
Tania inwardly winced, before mentally making a check never to trust a brownie with any secrets.
"Yes."
"Is it dangerous?" asked Petunia seriously.
"Not as long as I have the coat, and even then I can travel for small amounts of time before it affects me. It's how I've been doing my laundry during the school year without relying on charms."
"...You weren't actually at a friend's house during the beginning of summer, were you?"
"No. I didn't want to worry you, and I was perfectly safe. I was taking lessons from a teacher who is much better at magic than the teachers at school."
"I appreciate the concern, but next time just tell me flat out."
"It's hard to explain, and the less you know, the harder it will be for the idiots in charge if they find out. It's not a common ability. But if they decided to restart the fight that got my parents killed, it gives me a way to get you to safety away from all this and they won't be able to follow," said Tania honestly.
Petunia said nothing, but her relief was palpable.
The beginning of the year...
It was a good thing she came to the platform early, because it meant she could charm the door against the Weasleys. She'd heard from Neville that the children who were still attending Hogwarts, including Ginny, were going to be out for her blood because she openly retaliated against their mother, never mind that she had blatantly broke the law by sending one of her howlers.
If they pressed too hard, Tania wasn't afraid to collect the students in a lawsuit against Molly Weasley for an assault on their poor ears, seeing as how everyone knew that her sons had learned to tune out her howlers.
If they really pissed her off, then Tania was going to channel her Black blood and send an inquiry to the goblins directly that she was concerned about whether Arthur Weasley was fit to be the Patriarch of the family, considering his oldest son was next in line to be the family head.
Because from what she heard of Molly, it sounded like she ran roughshod over her husband, even ignoring direct orders from him. And to a society where the head of the family ruled it, that was a big no-no.
Something Molly should be more than aware of.
Narcissa had even heard rumors that Molly had gotten Arthur to marry her after she deliberately put love potions in his food to force him to notice her. Which was illegal.
"So, how was your summer Tania?" asked Susan.
"Somehow I don't think it's going to compare to what is likely to happen during our school year," said Tania cheerfully.
She officially loved having a heart, and a full range of emotions.