"This just won't do!" Harry folded his arms, frowning. His hair, normally in braids, had come loose and was waving in a magical breeze.
"Uncle Vernon had a funeral, and he was a complete pig!" He yelled. "Sorry, Dud," he said in a quieter voice.
"It's all right," Dudley said. Harry nodded.
"Totsi was our friend. He lived his whole life here, like family. I don't care about bloody tradition. It's plain wrong."
Silverware on the table clinked. All the old aunties stared at him.
"All right," said Lord Arcturus. "You can speak with the Head Elf. We will let her decide. Mixy, would you meet Harry and I in my study?"
Soon Harry and Uncle Arcturus were in the study with a tiny, bent over house elf. "Please sit down, Mixy. I want to talk about Totsi."
"Yes, Young Lord Altair Harry Black."
Harry grinned at the name. "I want to have a funeral for him, but everyone tells me they don't do funerals for house elves. I want to say goodbye to him. He was nice to me. I know there is graveyard near the village. My uncle Vernon had a funeral, and he was an awful person. I think a great person like Totsi should have a funeral and a headstone."
"House elves have not had funerals. But they have nice dinner and speak rememberies of the elf."
Harry nodded. "That is nice. Could you do that and also come to a funeral. It wouldn't take very long. We could all put a flower on the grave and say a few kind words."
The old elf patted his hand. "You is a good boy with a kind heart. It will be as Young Lord Altair Harry Black says."
"What if we did it tomorrow? At ten or so in the morning? If you don't want to come, Uncle Arcturus, then Dudley and I and Milly will be there."
"I will be there, Harry," Uncle Arcturus said. "Would you like me to say a few words?"
Harry nodded.
"Very well. Mixy, have a gravesite made in the village graveyard. Make sure there are cut flowers, enough for all the house elves and family to have one. And make it ...pretty. Harry would like that. We will have tea in the ballroom after. Make sure to have the house elves favorite treats."
Back at the dining table Lord Black announced. "The funeral for Totsi will be tomorrow at ten. The children who live here will be allowed to miss school for the morning through lunch. We will have a special meal in the formal dining hall. From now on we will treat the passing of our beloved house elves with dignity and bury them in the Black graveyard,"
The funeral was short but lovely. As participants laid down their flowers they said a kind word or a memory. Petunia noticed that a few of the eldest Aunties mentioned Totsi kept them company late at night when they couldn't sleep. Back at the reception she quietly spoke to Mixi about assigning the elderly house elves as night companions for the old women, since not all of them had a personal elf. "I would feel better if the elderly ladies had company when they can't sleep."
Mixi smiled. "I has many old elves who can make a cup of tea and a plate of biscuits but can't to all the laundries and cleanings. They could spend nights watching over the Ladies Black."
The Board of Govenors made Minerva the Headmistress, since Dumbledore had obviously become insane and would never come back to the school, even if he was found. She was too busy to take a deep breath for a while.
Horace Slughorn agreed to return to Hogwarts to teach potions. "But I want an assistant for the younger years one through three, a substantial raise, and quarters with my own reception room. Also, I want to hire a few good sixth years to help me grade."
Minerva agreed to it all and hired an old student, Gloria Wentwhistle to be his assistant. Mrs. Wentwhistle was a widow with two children in Hufflepuff and a Newt in Potions.
She hired an earnest young muggleborn, David Baker, to teach History of Magic. The Board was shocked, but could not fault his grades. He also had a degree in History from a muggle university. He also was the new Gryffindor Head of House.
Elora Crouch was hired to teach Wizarding Traditions to children not raised in a wizarding family. Brent Bird, a half-blood raised by a muggle mother, was hired to teach Muggle Studies, which he completely revamped. Aurora Sinistra was assigned as Head of Slytherin House. Minerva, a ward expert from Gringotts, and Aurora spent a weekend adding wards that would flag aggressive attitudes and actions. Several house elves were assigned to oversee the common rooms and dorms without being seen.
"Bullying and worse have happened in Slytherin House in recent years." Professor Sinistra told the assembled students in their first meeting. "That stops now. Please note that several older students did not return to Hogwarts. Two are in Azkaban. Another group of students refused to come to Hogwarts due to Slytherin House being the traditional House of their families. Think about that. Slytheran families sending their children to other schools, for safety. Slytherin is not synonymous with thug! This House will not stoop to that level.
"This will NOT be a house of criminals or Death Eaters in training. If that is your life's goal, please drop out and get a job in Knockturn Alley, or homeschool. This is not the place for you.
"We have new wards, and new eyes, ever present. Young women, in fact, any student in Slytherin House, if someone disrespects you, frightens you, threatens you, call for 'Sanctuary'. Sinastra smiled. "We have made arrangements…"
Several older boys shivered.
"There certainly are smaller classes than I remember," Horace said at tea the first weekend.
"All the children of Family Black are going to school at Black Towers," Pomona said.
"Harry Potter, err, Altair Black, the Heir, refused to attend Hogwarts because he feared for the safety of his bonded, Milly Bulstrode," Flitwick said. "All my part goblin nieces and nephews are going to school there now."
"I've heard about Lord Black's rise from his deathbed," Horace said.
"Quite a feat of magic. He's getting remarried at Christmas. To Harry Potter's Aunt Petunia, Lily Evan's sister," Flitwick said.
"A muggle?" Horace's eyes were huge.
"Actually, no. She had a binding on her magic due to a childhood illness. It was removed. Her son also had a binding and is magical, also."
"The wedding is on Boxing Day. All Hogwarts staff are invited. There will be a ball," Minerva said. "I'll stick the invitation on the bulletin board. Donations to St Mungos in lieu of a gift."
"I am included in this invitation?"
"Yes, Mrs. Wentwhistle, Mr Bird and Miss Crouch, too," Minerva said.
"Well, I definitely need new robes. I have nothing for something so grand!" Horace put his cup down and bustled away.
"Ladies, I didn't want to say anything with him present, but you know Narcissa Malfoy— Narcissa Black, now? She sent scads of holiday robes for us to try on. She often required a dozen for every holiday season, made by the finest magical designers. Worn once. Her personal dress elf will come fit us. How about a week from Saturday?"
"How will they possibly fit me?" Pomona asked. "I'm not even close to Narcissa's size."
Minerva raised an eyebrow. "Magic, Pomona. Give it a whirl."
Lady Narcissa Black was elected to the Hogwart's Board. She and Augusta received some criticism since their wards were not attending Hogwarts. "Family business has nothing to do with any of you!" Narcissa declared. "I will not have you dictating the rearing of my own children. I do not dictate the running of your families."
August raised her chin. "As you all know, my grandson experienced great trauma in infancy. I have not and will never go into details, but Neville requires some special care and I do not believe he would thrive at Hogwarts. My decisons concerning Neville have nothing to do with you. And Altair Black has a great deal of family magic to learn from Lord Black. His position demands special consideration."
"Well, shall we proceed?" Lady Hopkirk, the chairwoman said. "I have the official death notice for Albus Dumbledore. Cause of death, Unknown Curse. The murder was considered an act of insanity. His body was never recovered, the authorities believe he wandered into Muggle London, died there, and was buried in one of their pauper's graves. His will is to be read on Thursday next week."
"Next. We have received a generous donation of one hundred Clean Sweep Brooms from the Friends of Hogwarts Quidditch Foundation. Please sign this card of thanks before you leave."
"We received a request about Muggle's Studies taking a day trip to London as a field trip. The children will require Muggle clothing."
Narcissa's hand shot up.
"Lady Black?"
"I can assist with this. I have house elves skilled in magical dressmaking. Also, Petunia Dursley, the future Lady Black, would be available to oversee the clothing, to make sure each child has appropriate garb. The clothing will only last twenty-four hours before it reverts, but there is no need for parents to purchase a muggle wardrobe."
The meeting came to a successful close sometime later. Narcissa portkeyed home and was blasted with wave of nausea that had her vomiting on the foyer floor.
"Missy Narcissy is seeing the healer right now!" Kibby snapped her fingers, and they appeared in front of Andromeda.
"I think a pregnancy test might be in order," Narcissa said, swallowing hard.
"Narcissa! Aren't you on the potion?"
"Um, no. Lucius potioned me, you know, and I was giving my body a rest. And I, um, forgot to do the charm," she counted. "Four times."
The test declared her pregnant. "Now I will do the uterine charm to see how far along you are," Andromeda said.
"Wait. Kibby!"
Kibby popped into the room. "Kibby, please go get Gore. Tell him...it's important."
Gore soon showed up with Kibby, looking panicked.
"I'm fine. I'm pregnant. We weren't very careful recently. Andi is doing a utero revealio spell. I thought you might want to be here."
"Uh…"
Andi tisked and waved her wand. Above Narcissa's belly a shadow uterus formed, with two small blue lights. "Twins. Male. Identical. Four weeks."
"Oh my." Narcissa groaned. Then she grinned. "I do love twins."
"If you get married today, you'll be able to fake it. They'll be small anyway, being twins."
"Get married today!" Gore and Narcissa cried, in unison.
"Gretna Green. Over the crystal anvil, just like Ted and I did."
"I'll throw up," Narcissa moaned. "I don't want to throw up at my wedding."
"Well, you should have thought of that beforehand, Missy Narcissy," Andromeda said in a snotty big sister voice. "Drink this. I'll carry more in my bag. Now go get dressed in something pretty while I get Ted to be the other witness."
"But-but Gore hasn't even asked me!"
Andromeda narrowed her eyes at Gore, "He will." She popped away.
"Um, Narcissa will you marry me?"
"Yes."
"You know Andi looks just like Bellatrix LeStrange when she's angry?"
"Yes."
"All right. I'll wear my dark green robes. Kippy?"
Kippy popped in.
"Please take Narcissa to her room and help her get dressed in something nice."
"He's wearing dark green," Narcissa said as they popped away.
The next morning at breakfast, Narcissa stood and tapped on her crystal juice glass with a spoon. "An announcement. Yesterday afternoon, Gore Shardfist-Black and I said our marriage vows over the crystal anvil in Gretna Green. Please wish us happy."
Stunned congratulations came across the breakfast table. Narcissa remained standing. "Also, Gore and I are expecting twin baby boys. Identical. They may come a tiny bit early. Since they are twins." Narcissa sat down and sipped her tea.
Arcturus nearly fell off his chair, laughing.
Petunia went through today's RSVP list for the wedding. Something this huge required several hours per day of work. Arcturus was reading a newspaper from Bulgaria in her sitting room. Cami was riding a rocking unicorn in her toy corner.
"All the Hogwart's professors will be coming. Some have dates. Professor Flitwick is coming with Rosmerta Renville. Where have I heard that name before?"
"She runs the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. We have eaten there."
"Ahh. Pretty woman with an amazing figure and long golden blond curls?"
He nodded.
"Good for Flitwick."
"Well, he was a dueling champion."
"Severus Snape no longer works at Hogwarts? It says the Potion's Master Horace Slughorn."
"That's right. Snape, it seemed, was coerced first by Voldemort and then by Dumbledore. Once he was free of them he took off for parts unknown."
"Well, I was never fond of him, but he was a friend of Lily's. I'm glad he is free of both those awful men."
A few days later she performed the same task while Arcturus helped Cami stuff her toys into train cars for a ride. The engine was built for a toddler to sit on, so she was soon traveling around the room.
"Oh, the Lovegoods are bringing his cousin, Argent Lovegood, from Czechoslovakia, and his date, Henrietta Lund. I think she's the dollmaker!"
"I believe you are right. I will get a charm for you, for German language."
"Lovely."
