Arcturus' Study

Arthur Weasley and his family flooed to the Burrow, with an unconscious Molly.

Arcturus called the house elves. "Please check all our guests. There may be a few who were knocked out by the banshee scream. Luckily, I believe almost all will be in the Towers due to the rain. Bring any that were knocked out or otherwise harmed to the fourth floor infirmary.

Petunia heard the scream and left her small sitting room for the ballroom, where the children were playing. She didn't see Dudley, Harry, or any of their closest friends. Maybe Daphne and Pansy know where they are.

A house elf popped in. "All yous children all right? Anyone put to sleep by the banshee scream? We is here to help!"

One little girl had been knocked out.

Petunia rushed out of the ballroom, fearing the worse. She burst into the reception room with the dress up clothes and found Harry and Dudley, Draco and Neville, pretend sword fighting with clothes hangers.

"Hi Mom," Dudley said. "Did you hear that scream?"

"I did. I came to see what happened. Are you all right?"

A house elf popped in. "We is here to help in case anyone was hurt by the banshee scream."

"We're all fine," Daphne said.

"Good," said the elf. "Lunch will be served in the ballroom soon." It popped away.

"Well, why don't you children get washed up for lunch. I'll join you in the ballroom." Aunt Petunia said.

Arcturus came into the ballroom as the children sat down with sandwiches, salad and small meat pies. "Everyone fine here?" He asked, giving Petunia a look and a special smile.

Am I fourteen again? A tingle seemed to run through her at Arcturus' smile. But she smiled back. "Everything seems fine here. I guess one small girl was taken to the infirmary."

He nodded. "Glad to see everyone is fine. No one was expecting a banshee shriek this morning!"

"I hope everything is all right," Petunia said.

"I'm sure it will be fine. Shock, you know. And the woman is not at all laid back, if you know what I mean."

The children ignored the adults and were planning their afternoon, since the rain had stopped.

"Perhaps I will see you tonight. Our regular time? I made a special balcony. I think you'll like it."

Petunia felt her face turn pink. "Oh, when did you find time to do that?"

He grinned. "I got up early and did it before breakfast. Always was a lark."

The Burrow

"I thought we were Purebloods," said Percy, looking not at all happy.

"Well, we are," Arthur explained. "Many old families have...other blood. Generations back. The Lovegoods have Fae blood, for instance. As do the Blacks."

"So we have banshee and Fae blood?" Percy stared at his father.

"Yes, but only females carry any banshee powers. The Prewitts have Irish connections."

He'd put Molly to bed. She was completely irrational.

"So I can scream and make people drop?" Ginny asked.

"When you are older, dear. It doesn't start until adolescence. It will drop people who are not as magically strong as you. All the Weasleys are strong, but it is a formidable tool against many others. Black and his family, plus all of us, are stronger than many, magically speaking. That is how Bill and Charlie got their apprenticeships. Your mother was determined to have a girl, in part to have the family magic manifest."

"So, if we do this vow, we would be Weasley-Blacks?" Percy asked.

"I think I would choose Black-Weasley," Arthur said. "But your mother is against it. She believes the Blacks are all dark." He paused. "Dumbledore would be against it."

"Harry really likes Lord Black. He calls him Uncle Arcturus," Ron said.

"He is really mad Dumbledore tried to take him away from Black Towers," Ginny said. " Really, really mad. His family lives there now. With his Aunt Petunia and Dudley. Where would Dumbledore have taken him?"

"I don't know, honey. Dumbledore is still unconscious," Arthur said. "Listen, Lord Black did suggest something that makes good sense. He suggested we go to Gringotts and have an inheritance test. It could be you inherited something through the Prewitts or other relatives. We could do that, then go eat a late lunch at the Leaky Cauldron."

"What about Mom?" Ginny asked.

"She will sleep until morning. Lord Black wants an answer later this afternoon. He has other families to work with, you know. You two older boys are adults, and can make your own choice in this. But as the Head of the Family, I will have to decide for the rest of us." He shrugged.

"Dumbledore...I know he is the leader of the light and all that, but Howarts...It is full of bullies. Why don't Dumbledore and the teachers stop it? I heard Beauxbaton isn't like that," Bill said. "And now this."

"Sometimes it is like we are still fighting the war inside the school," Charlie added. "That isn't right."

"The curriculum has been lightened over the years. Did you know that in the thirties you could take classes in Alchemy and Enchanting?" Percy said.

"History of Magic is a great naptime," said Fred. George nodded. "Not to mention Snape."

Arthur nodded, looking thoughtful. "Indeed, Snape." Little Ron had confidence problems his older sons did not have. Also, he was barely competent in his school work, and Molly let him slide. Ginny was way ahead of Ron, even though she was a year younger. Snape would be a very bad influence on little Ronny. That was a point to the Black team.

"Your mother will have to acquiesce in this case, if I choose to join with Lord Black. We signed a Black Marriage Contract that gives me primacy. I don't want to make her unhappy, but I also don't think Dumbledore has the right idea."

"I'll say. If he takes Harry away, Harry might stick him with his knife again," Ron said fervently. Then he raised his eyebrows. "Hey, if we become Blacks, can I learn how to throw knives with Harry?"

The twins waggled their eyebrows and looked at Arthur.

Arthur smiled slightly. Ah, boys. "We'll see."

Since Molly was still asleep, Arthur took a sample of her blood in a tiny vial to Gringotts.

"I will have to read the marriage contract," the goblin performing the inheritance test said. "To make sure you have the right."

Arthur leaned back in his chair and waited, positive his Black Marriage Contract would see this task done without Molly being present.

A young goblin came into the private room and handed the goblin Gnawfist a scroll, which he read.

"Everything is in order, the contract gives you primacy, Mr Weasley."

Molly's test was done first.

"What a surprise," said Gnawfist. "Molly Prewitt Weasley is the rightful Countess O'Gara, an Irish title. The line nearly died out, and none with a rightful claim came forward. She has lands in Ireland, a manor house and an ancient Keep. No house elves, but she could afford to buy a few. We could arrange that, for a fee, of course. Both a village and a few farmsteads pay tax to her account since they lease her land."

"Wow!" Ron buzzed with excitement. "An ancient Keep!"

They found that Bill would inherit the O'Gara title, but Arthur had inherited two minor vaults, which he would split with the other boys. "For schooling and apprenticeships, if you want," he said. "And a nice home when you marry."

Percy's eyes looked like they could not open any farther. "You mean, I could pursue an apprenticeship?" Being the third son, there was no money for such a thing.

"You can now," Arthur smiled.

Ginny inherited a townhouse and a nice sum from the last Weasley woman born in the family, some two hundred years ago. "A house in London!"

"It will need updated, but your brother William has the skills to take the house out of stasis. Similar to war wards," the goblin said.

It was a pleased group that ordered a late lunch in a private room at the Leaky Cauldron.

"I will need your thoughts, children. I need to floo Lord Black soon with my decision," Arthur said before tackling his fish fry up.

Bill looked at his siblings. "I want to go with Black. Frankly, it gives me many more options for jobs if I ever decide to leave Gringotts. I could even open my own business."

"I'm with Bill, even though it makes no difference on the dragon reservation. But Snape. To me, that is a huge 't Dumbledore be a bigger influence on the students than angry ex-Death Eater? Why do Slytherins act like they won the war?"

Percy nodded. "Snape. I know kids that would like to be a healer or Auror but will never pass potions. He is a terrible teacher. I only do well because Mom tutors me during the summer."

All the older boys nodded.

"I like Harry," Ron said and shoved a bite of Shepard's Pie in his mouth.

"I think it is mean to try to take Harry away from his family. And away from Milly." Ginny forked some fried potatoes. "I always thought I would marry Harry but I know he will marry Milly. She is really nice to me, so I don't mind. Luna's in the Black family. It would be way more fun to be in the Black family. So many cousins!"

Arthur looked at his children and smiled. "Well, them. I will floo Lord Black. We will be in the Black Family."

The Hog's Head Inn

Aberforth got out of bed feeling more spry than he had in twenty years. His mirror told him why. He looked like he was in his forties again, with strawberry blond hair and beard, a bit of silver on his temples. His shoulders were straight and broad, no stoop at all.

Now to explain this to Imogene and Daedalus.

The bar was not yet open for business, just guests were in the dining room, eating breakfast. He found Daedalus in the kitchen, eating with Imogene and Stormy.

Daedalus' jaw dropped. "Are you wearing a glamour? And why?"

"No, not a glamour. It is real. I had a momentous day, you see."

"What in Merlin's name did you do to turn back the clock?"

Aberforth frowned a bit. "Well, you might say I sold my soul. But not to a Dark Lord. I, um, joined a new family. Nothing bad." He looked thoughtful. "Well, my brother Albus will think it's bad, but that is half the reason I did it."

Daedalus and Imogene just stared at him. Imogene got up, fixed him a plate of food and poured him a cup of strong tea. "Tell us everything."

So he told them. Daedalus sat, blinking as though he was damaged. Imogene looked thoughtful. "Well, I do think avoiding a blood feud was wise."

"There's more," Aberforth said. "According to Arcturus I need an heir. I can't have children of my own. War curse. But I would like to blood-adopt you, Imogene. You would be my daughter, and Stormy would be my granddaughter, also by blood-adoption. Nothing in the Dumbledore family says the line has to pass to a male. You would be able to take the Black strengthening potion, like I took. Or the Black Primogenitor potion, if you want. Truly, it might make Stormy's life easier. We can talk to Gore Shardfist-Black about that. He was born half-goblin, half-house elf, and he took the Primogenitor potion."

"I've met Gore Shardfist. Scary guy, came up to my shoulder, but still scary. Met him at the bookstore in Knockturn Alley," Daedalus said.

"He's taller than you, now."

Daedalus shuddered.

"Do you think you could decide today, Imogene? I could help cook up a couple vats of stew while you made enough Shepard's Pies to last for a few days. The kitchen would have a limited menu, but we could put sale prices on the food. We can get sweet rolls and scones for breakfast. Daedalus, can you remain here to work for a few days? I'd pay you seven galleons a day because you would have to serve food and clean the dishes."

Daedalus grinned. "Well, that would help me out greatly on financing a new project! So nice. I hate waiting until the quarter pay day."

Imogene rose from the table and held her hand out to Stormlight. "Come daughter. We have things to discuss."

"Oh, also," Aberforth said as they walked toward their room, "The Blacks will be having a school at the Towers. They don't want Harry and his cousin around Albus. Stormy could go, also."

"Merlin's mangy beard, what is happening to the wizarding world!" Daedalus said. "Blacks not attending Hogwarts!" He poured himself and Abe a mug of the strongest ale.

Arcturus' Study

Wispi popped in as Arcurtus was having a reviving cup of tea late in the afternoon. His headache from the banshee screech had finally gone away. "Arthur Weasley to see you, Arcturus."

Arthur came in and smiled. "The Weasleys will join House Black."

"And Molly?"

" Still asleep. Bill and Charlie are here also, to make the oaths."

Arcturus nodded. "Send the children back through when we're done, and they can spend the night here in your rooms. That will give you more time to speak with Molly."

"I'll do that. I know they were having fun with the other children."

As Arthur and his sons left a half hour later they met Aberforth Dumbledore, well-dressed for a change, with a brown-haired woman in her twenties, and a little girl who looked like she had goblin blood.

"Arthur," Aberforth nodded.

"Looks like we may be relatives soon?"

"Ah, yes. Imogene here, and her daughter Stormlight will be my daughter and granddaughter. Cousins of yours, now."

"Congratulations," Arthur said.