Friday, August 2nd, 1986

Tonks Residence – Wiltshire

The Daily Prophet repeated what the Evening Prophet wrote about Harry last night. Worst is that there was no statement from the Ministry about their miscarriage of justice. Maybe Barty Crouch Sr. was trying to hush things up. When Sirius read it, he couldn't but become murderous. He took a two-faced mirror his grandfather gave him and called "Narcissa Malfoy".

"Sirius? How are you doing?"

"I am getting better Cissy, but I want to murder Rita Skeeter."

"What has she done now?"

"She's slandering you, Cissa. She's calling you a cold witch who only cares about herself, her husband, and her son, she is that you would sell the whole wizarding world for them even if it means Voldemort takes over, that you were happy when Voldemort was there, and that you want to sacrifice Harry to him or turn him into another Dark Lord."

Sirius' cousin was really angry to hear that.

"We should make her pay, Cissy. I know you can be cold and that you did many stuff I don't approve of, but you're not a monster."

"But I am cold, Sirius. I usually don't bother showing people any kindness and you know how cruel I can be. I have no qualms about using some Dark spells to protect my family."

"But you are not evil, Cissa. I know it's what your parents wanted you to be, but are you really like that? I know you're haughty and usually cold, but do you really like to hurt people?"

Narcissa wanted to say yes, but she know she would be lying. She may not be a kind woman in general, but she didn't like seeing people being hurt. After all, behind this mask of coldness lies a human heart.

"No. It's one of the reasons I never liked the Dark Lord. I used to cringe every time Bella would boast about torturing and murdering people. My parents taught me torturing and killing Muggles and Muggle-borns is fun, but from what Bella used to say, it was horrifying."

Exactly Cissa. You even saved me from Azkaban when no one else did. I know I never told the human guards I was never given a trial, but I doubt they would have believed me given my last name. At first, I thought someone in the Order would come to save me, surely they would know I couldn't have been the traitor, but no one came. So I was utterly shocked when my saviour was none other the wife of a Death Eater and someone whom I thought hated me and would have no qualms about selling me to Voldemort. But I should t have been, you're my cousin after all."

"Thanks for your kind words. So, what do you suggest we do?"

"We blackmail her. Why are you looking at me like that?"

"And you used to say you're not a Black."

"Well, I was wrong, Cissa. I was really an idiot back in 1976. I don't regret running away, but I was wrong in lumping the whole family together. I disowned all of you including my little brother."

"I remember telling you that you shouldn't forget about Reggie. Yes, he was a Slytherin and a pureblood supremacist, but he's still your younger brother."

"I know, I was blind. It took a while to start talking to Andy."

"Why so?"

"Because back in 1976, Andy was still very prejudiced against Muggles. She used to even see them as filtgy."

"The war really messed us up, Sirius. I admit that I too was gullible, being complacent in what my husband and his father were doing and thinking that it would protect my narrower family while the House of Black was being torn apart. It really pained me when I learned you and your brother were fighting on opposite sides of the war. I should have realized sooner that no one is safe with the Dark Lord."

"And never in my wildest dreams have I ever imagined that our family will not only be brought back together, but by my dead little brother. This shows how broken our family is when you need a dead man to bring it back together."

"We should be grateful for him. Without him and your grandfather, I don't think my views would have ever changed, even after a second war. Back to Skeeter, I have the perfect idea for her."

"What is it?"

"We need someone to invite her for tea but put Veritaserum in it. We can use it to learn about stuff she doesn't want people to know and threaten to expose her if she doesn't retract her article and publish an apology."

"I like your scheming, Cissy. Remind me to never get on your bad side."

''Well, I am a Black and a Slytherin," said the blonde witch with a chuckle. "But Andy can get scarier when angry. Plus, don't forget about your own temper, Sirius."

"You are right. I would do anything to protect Harry."

"I am worried about your godson. The Dark Lord will surely come after him. What kind of monster goes after a one-year old baby?"

"Someone who believes too much in prophecies."

"I remember Lucius mentioning something about that. Don't worry, Lucius had nothing to do with the murder of the Potters. I forbade him from assisting in the murder of an infant. Had I known who the Dark Lord was after, I might have alerted you."

"Really? But you never cared about the Potters."

"But I do care about you."

"Thanks!"

Narcissa invited Tonks to play with her son and her godson. Harry wondered what the creature next to her was.

"Wotcher Harry and Draco!" said the Hufflepuff.

"Hi Nymphadora!" exclaimed the two boys.

"Don't call me that. I prefer that you call me Dora."

"So, Dora. What's that creature near you? Is it a Pokémon?" asked Harry.

"I hate how your relatives didn't teach you anything. Mum has been going on nonstop about "stupid Muggles" since yesterday and swearing to Salazar Slytherin that they deserve to get murdered in their sleep. The Dursleys are really bringing back some of her old prejudices."

"Who's Salazar Slytherin?"

"I will explain to you after explaining Ditto to you. The creature next to me is a Pokémon called Ditto. They can morph into anything but it must be in front of them."

"Cool! Can I have a Ditto?" asked Harry.

"Ditto only comes to a Metamorphmagus."

"You are a Metamorphmagus, cousin?" asked Draco.

"Yes. Didn't your mother tell you?"

"She did but I forgot. Mother is worried you think she doesn't like you."

"Why would I think Aunt Cissy doesn't like me?"

"Because, before yesterday, the last time she saw you was 10 years ago. And also because you're a half-blood."

"What's a half-blood?" asked Harry, confused.

"I will explain it later, Harry," started the witch, before turning to the blond boy. "I know Aunt Cissy loves me but wasn't able to see me when your grandfather is alive."

"Mother never liked grandfather. She says he thinks the Dark Lord is God.'

"My mum too told me about him. Aunt Cissy used to be afraid of him. By the way, where's Aunt Cissy?"

"Mother is preparing food."

"I know I saw her yesterday but I really missed her. She's my only sane aunt."

"Yes. Aunt Bella is really insane. How's Hogwarts with you?"

"I like it very much and I also like the pranks. When I was one, your mother gave me a house-elf for my birthday to watch over me. My mum didn't want it but Aunt Cissy was very adamant about it. I have always been a hellion," said the witch with a chuckle.

"So, what's a half-blood, Dora?" asked the Muggle-raised wizard.

"In the wizarding world, if all your grandparents are wizards and none is a Muggle-born, you're considered a pureblood. If you have one grandparent who's a Muggle, you're considered a half-blood. You Harry are considered a half-blood because your maternal grandparents are Muggles."

"Muggle means someone without magic, right? I remember my neighbour telling me about these stuff. She's a Squib."

"Yes. Muggles don't have magic and can't use it."

"Does it matter if I am a half-blood?"

"Mother and Father used to always tell me being a pureblood is better, but Mother now says she isn't sure."

"It doesn't matter. I am a half-blood yet I have a rare ability."

"Have you ever morphed into a teacher or Dumbledore?" asked Draco.

"Once, I morphed into Professor Sprout in Herbology class when she was away and told everyone we can have a party. The month of detention was totally worth it. Another time, I morphed into Dumbledore at the Great Hall and he said: "ah, looks like there's an imposter among us"," said the Hufflepuff while laughing.

"Dinner's ready, children," called Narcissa.

The three children arrived to the kitchen and started eating.

"So, Dora. I heard you pulled pranks at the Dursleys without getting noticed."

"Yes, Aunt Cissy. My mother told me to make them pay and I did that. I infested their house with bedbugs and left many Dungbombs at their house."

"Cool!" exclaimed both Harry and Draco.

"These fi…Muggles should be happy we didn't hex them into oblivion," said the blonde witch.

"Mum thinks the same. She was never too fond of Muggles."

"Me and your mother think it's best to focus on other wizards and not care much about Muggles. Fighting our own kin about them is silly," said Narcissa.

"So, what exactly is a Pokémon?" asked Harry.

"Pokémon are a type of magical creatures that you can put in something called a Poké Ball. Muggles don't know about them," said the blonde witch.

"So the Meowstic and the Xatu my neighbour have are Pokémon?" I think she told me but I don't remember."

"Yes. Meowstic and Xatu are very useful for Squibs."

"And who's Salazar Slytherin?"

"Do you know about Hogwarts, dear?"

"My neighbour mentioned it, but she went to Beauxbatons."

"Well, Hogwarts has four Houses. They are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. The Houses are named after the four Founders. I was in Slytherin," added the blonde witch.

"Hufflepuff is the best house," said Tonks.

"No, Slytherin is," said Draco.

"I agree with my son and so does your mother," said Narcissa with a smile.

"What about my parents?" asked Harry.

"I remember Sirius telling me they were in Gryffindor."

"I hope you will be in Hufflepuff, Harry," said Tonks.

"No. Slytherin is better," said Draco.

"But all Potters were in Gryffindor."

"And all Blacks were in Slytherin yet my cousin Sirius got sorted into Gryffindor."

"Are Uncle Lucius and Professor Snape too Slytherins?" asked the black-haired wizard.

"Yes," replied his godmother.

"So if the four people who rescued me from my aunt and uncle all Slytherins, then maybe I should be in Slytherin."

"If you get Sorted into Slytherin, dear, then maybe people will stop saying our House is evil," said Narcissa.

"And what do you want to do after graduating from Hogwarts, Dora?" asked Draco.

"I want to be an Auror."

"Why?"

"To catch criminals who are like my evil aunt."

"While I find being an Auror is not a bad thing, my dear niece, I think you should be careful. Not everyone who claims to fight evil is a good person. When Barty Crouch Sr. was DMLE Head, he let his Aurors get away with plenty of illegal stuff."

"You mean the bastard…sorry Aunt Cissy…the guy who threw Sirius in jail without a trial? Mum wishes she could murder him in his sleep."

"I hope he soon gets what he deserves."

The Evening Prophet reported that the trials of the Aurors who transported Sirius Black will start on Monday the 4th. They all face a life sentence in Azkaban for using the Cruciatus Curse on a human. The trial of Cygnus Black will happen the next day.