Narcissa woke with a clap of thunder and stretched like a cat in her silk sheets. The rainy dawn did not dampen her mood. A few hours in Gore's small apartment above the stables, passionate, exhilarating hours made all the difference. This was the happiest she had been since Draco's birth, and even that had clouds a far off, knowing the type of man Lucius was. Now, Draco was happy, sleeping over with the other little boys. He had already lost the tense look between his eyes, and the shadows under them. Her son was going to have a proper childhood and grow up to be a Black, while she would enjoy her years as a widow.
"Kibby," she called for one of the nanny elves.
"Yes, Missy Cissy?"
"How are the babies this morning?"
Kibby grinned. "They is the mostest beautiful babies! Today we have them dressed in mint green."
Narcissa grinned, too. Kibby had quite the eye for baby clothes. "Could you bring me a cup of coffee? After I dress I will come up to see them a little earlier than usual. I am meeting Andi in the potion's lab before breakfast. I will be busy until one in the afternoon."
The elf popped away and when Narcissa came out of the bath to dress there was a steaming cup of coffee in a pale blue mug and a cookie on a small plate. Narcissa smirked. The cookie was a restorative, given to new mother's for extra energy. She probably would need the energy, after her late night. There was little privacy with house elves. She wondered if Gore had the same cookie show up in his apartment.
Antares and Adhara — often called Tare and Addy — were as adorable as could be, in matching sailor suits (though Adhada's had a short skirt) with pastel stars embroidered on the collars. Narcissa had time to take a picture with them, Antares kicking and grinning the entire time, while Addi snuggled and sucked her fist. "Come Sunday this will all be over and I will be able to really enjoy time with you two." She gave them both big kisses before she left for the potion's lab.
"Busy day," Andi said, pulling small potion holder boxes from a cupboard. "All the Weasleys, the Burke cousins."
Narcissa looked at their list. She pulled out a pink crystal vial. "Mimosa's blood adoption of the little girls."
Andi smiled, lighting up her whole face. "Ted and I are adopting the thirteen-year-old, Audri, and the six-year-old boy Tarien. But not until Sunday, when everything calms down."
"Oh, congratulations! Blood adoption?"
"Oh, yes. Arcturus insists. We are giving them star middle names, but not changing their first names. Ted and Dora are both so excited! They are decorating bedrooms for them and spending money like you wouldn't believe!"
Minerva received word from the Board of Governors that Albus was in St Mungos and there was an emergency meeting that afternoon.
She flooed immediately to the hospital but was not allowed to see Albus. "He is in isolation in the Spell Damage Ward. He is in stasis, so he wouldn't know you visited, anyway," the mediwitch explained.
What could have happened to him? An attack? Death eaters? "Do you know what happened to him?"
The mediwitch shook her head. "His brother has visited, aurors have been in, and even some Unspeakables, trying to figure out the curse." She patted Minerva's arm. "I'm sure they will figure something out. It is just going to take time."
Her vacation at her ancestral home was cut short. She would need to takeover for Dumbledore for the foreseeable future. Aurora Sinastra would perform as deputy head mistress.
She wondered if this was something to do with Harry Potter coming to Hogwarts. A plot, that needed Dumbledore out of the way?
Luna's hair was brushed and two tiny braids were pulled back from her face, tied with shiny pink and blue ribbons. She wore a pale blue frilly dress and a fluffy pink sweater. The morning was chilly, with a hard rain, so all the younger children were in the ballroom.
Dudley frowned as he watched her eat a raspberry tart. "You look different. Like a fairy princess."
Luna gave a big smile and grabbed another tart. This one she dunked into a cup of milky tea. "The Lovegoods do have Fae ancestry. So does Neville's family, and the Greengrasses. The Blacks, too. Old wizarding families sometimes have other sentient races' blood. Daddy says the term creature blood is disrespectful."
Draco came in with Sylvester, who jumped and slobbered over each child he met.
"No, Sylvester," Luna said gently holding up one palm. "I must stay clean for Cousin Mimosa's adoption ceremony." Sylvester sat immediately, wagging his tail.
"Good dog," Luna said, patting his head.
"How does she do that?" Draco muttered.
"I'd say, magic," Dudley said. Draco rolled his eyes. A house elf brought him eggs, bacon and toast.
"So, no horseback riding today," Harry said. "Or swimming, unless it quits raining."
"There will be games here in the ballroom," Milly said. "And painting."
"I want to paint," said Astoria, "and they are pulling out trunks of old clothes, so we can play dress up."
"How about Exploding Snap," Harry said.
The group of children played games for the next couple hours. Harry, Milly, Dudley, Draco and Neville went to a table with snacks after a house elfs came for Ron and Ginny. Astoria, Daphne and Pansy were in a drawing room, dressing up.
"You know what? I'd really like to see those prisoners in the dungeons," Dudley said. "I'll bet we could sneak down there for few minutes."
"We'd get into so much trouble!" Neville gasped. "And they could be dangerous."
"They won't be dangerous," Draco said, dunking his biscuit. "No wands. And the prison cells have wards."
"Everyone is busy, even the house elves," Dudley said. "I think we could sneak down the servant's stairs. Don't you want to see the dungeons, Harry?"
Harry ate an entire raspberry tart in one bite. "Yeah, I would. I wonder if they hate me or were just doing a job? I think it would be all right. Uncle Arcturus said it would be safe to keep them down there."
"The Black dungeons are known for being strong," Milly said. "We could pretend to go to dress-ups and go down the servants' stairs."
The small group went to the drawing room for a few minutes. Harry found a cool green cavalier hat with a feather, Dudley found a blue bowler hat. Not to be outdone, Draco found a Knight's helmet and Neville found a circlet of shiny gold. Milly found a bonnet with tiny butterflies. They laughed and admired the girls in silk and satin, then quietly slipped down the hall to the servant's narrow stairs.
"I expected house elves to be guarding the doors," Harry said as they stood in front of large iron and brass doors.
"You're the heir, Harry. You can probably open them," Draco said. Neville and Milly agreed.
Harry tried the handle. "Ugh. Why is it always blood." But the door swung open. The cells on the first level were empty, but they went down another set of stairs, and still another.
Torches lit this floor. Each cell held a bed, covered in thick blankets, a chair and table, and a small alcove for a private bathroom. There were chains on the wall, but none of the sleeping prisoners were chained. Thick iron bars only a couple inches apart kept them separated.
"James?" said a sleepy voice. "No, you can't be. Are you...Harry?"
Harry whirled around to see a broad shouldered man with sandy blond hair and scars sitting up in bed.
"I'm Altair Harrison James Potter-Black."
"Black?"
"I'm Uncle Arcturus heir."
"Oh, Sirius...died?"
"No. Uncle Arcturus did Black Family Magic for Justice and Sirius and Bellatrix were turned into babies. To heal up from Azkaban and stuff. So I'm the heir."
"My mom is adopting them, but we changed their names to Antares and Adhara. They are super cute," Draco piped up.
The man stared at Draco with a frown. "And you are?"
"Draco Malfoy-Black. I'm still the Malfoy heir but Mother says we are now Blacks more than Malfoys." He grinned. "Fine with me. Uncle Arcturus is the best!"
"I see. So Harry, you live here?"
"I just moved here. With Dudley and my Aunt Petunia."
"P-Petunia? You weren't supposed to go to her!" The scarred man looked astonished.
"I know. Dumbledore sealed the will and dumped me off on her. But it's all okay now. The Black Family Magic helped her, too."
"Yeah," Dudley said. "My dad was giving her bad potions. He died the same night as Draco's dad. So now we live here. I love Black Towers. I can get a puppy when there is a new litter."
"Who are you and why did you try to kidnap me?" Harry frowned and whipped off his fancy hat.
"I-I am Remus Lupin. Your dad and mom were good friends of mine in school. Dumbledore said you had been kidnapped and were in danger."
Harry snorted and put his hat back on. "Dumbledore is the one who had my mean uncle feed Aunt Petunia those bad potions. Every month he fed them to her. Petunia still cries about it."
"Yeah," said Dudley, looking sad, with his silly bowler hat still on his head. "My dad was not a nice man."
"Mine, neither," said Draco, with a grimace. "You know, Dudley, we have a lot in common."
"Yeah," Dudley still looked sad.
"It's not all bad, Dud," Harry said. "Draco can teach you all about puppies."
Both boys grinned.
"What is going to happen to us?" Remus asked. "We've been here for several days."
"Uncle Arcturus is busy with the Black Family Meetings," Harry replied. "After they are done he'll talk to all of you."
"I see. Well, I'm happy to see you are all right. Relieved," Remus said.
"Let's go see if it quit raining," Draco said.
"We should go, Harry," Milly said.
Harry nodded. "Bye," he said.
A scream tore through the dungeon, so loud the stones seemed to vibrate. Remus had to cover his ears, and all the prisoners jumped up out of bed. Sylvester howled.
"That has to be a Prewitt," an old man said. "Banshee blood."
"Molly Weasley," Remus muttered.
"Yikes," Harry said. "They were having their meeting this morning. Come on guys. Let's go see if everyone is all right!"
Arcturus yelled, "Expelliarmus!"
Molly's wand flew through the air and she screamed Petunia dived for the floor. This is some type of magic scream, she thought over her pounding heart.
The sound ended abrupt with a thud. Molly was now unconscious on the floor. Arcturus helped her up and put an arm around her shoulder, "It's all right, Pet. Why don't you sit down."
Narcissa put away her wand. "Really, Arthur. Your wife attacking the Head of House Black? Even you can see that is a very bad idea. And Dumbledore can't help you now."
Arthur just stood there, in shock. Arcturus called for the children. "You will need to decide, Arthur. I can't allow her around my family, especially my heir."
Arthur nodded.
"Take her home. I'll make a port key. Your children can stay here for the day, play with their friends, while you and your adult sons discuss the way forward. Report back to me by floo after four. You may have to excerpt your family magic, Arthur. I know you have a Black Marriage Contract."
Arthur nodded again.
Andi handed him some potions. "Calming draught. Dreamless sleep. It wouldn't hurt you to take a swallow of the draught, It is a three dose bottle. Use two on Molly if you need to." She handed him a silver dosing spoon.
"Do what is best for your family, Arthur." Arcturus handed him a quill port key.