Chapter 9 - The Lady
July 1st, 1992 - Meissa's 12th birthday (Wednesday)
Location: Nigri Sanctuarium
Meissa stares at the raven in shock, blinking in disbelief. "Uh…" she glances at her godparents, a part of her wondering about why they're not reacting to this.
"Do not bother," the raven tilts its head at her, "Only you can see me." The Guardian's eyes stared deep into her as the magic around her seems to grow heavier. "As the Heiress and the one seeking to claim the title, only you may see and hear me. Of course, they won't hear you either."
"So, this conversation - for all intent and purpose - is private."
"That is correct."
"That's… good to know." She's not entirely sure about that. She's actually unsure of what is supposed to happen now. Normally, she thinks, the Family magic either accepts or rejects the Heir. She doesn't recall anything about the manifestation of the Family Magic talking to the Heir. "I… I'm not sure what should happen now."
The Guardian made a loud grating noise that shakes her to her core. It takes her a second to realize that the raven is laughing. "I apologize," the raven says, stretching their wings briefly. "It is rare I encounter a female who has yet to receive their Birthright."
"My Birthright?"
The raven cocks its head to the side, studying her for a moment longer. "I had noticed that the Family has fallen… into disrepair." She nods her head slightly in agreement. "The current holder of the Gift, it is their responsibility to teach unto you your Birthright."
"Who is the current… holder?" She's curious about what, exactly, is the Gift.
"Bellatrix Enyo Black."
She grimaces at this revelation. "My mother." That would make learning anything rather impossible for the unforeseeable future.
"Indeed." The raven does a hopping motion before jumping up to glide around Meissa once. "Tell me, as Lady of the Family, what do you swear?"
Meissa shivers as the voice, rough and guttural, echoes in her mind. The words summoning up something within her. "I… I swear - upon my honor, life, and magic - to rebuild the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. To change the image of the House and bring honor back to the name."
"How do you intend to do such a thing."
"I intend to change the family's alignment and stance on many policies."
The raven made a rough grating noise that she can only reason to be laughter. "You intend to change decades of thinking?" She nods hesitantly, shaken to her core but refusing to allow it to show on her face. She has had months to think this over and she's not about to allow the Guardian of the Family to lead her astray. "You, a mere witch, to undo the work of many." More laughter follows before the raven hovers in front of her, black wings beating a slow beat. "This… I admit, I would like to see."
She looks at the raven, arching an eyebrow at the manifestation of the family's magic. She couldn't quite make sense of what the Guardian was talking about. The Guardian ignored her questioning look, moving to settle over the basin.
"You tell me you intend to rebuild the House, to change the alignments, what else do you intend?"
Meissa clears her throat as she gathers her thoughts. Just barely able to prevent her fingers from twisting in and among themselves. She takes a second to steady herself before she begins to explain some of her plans to the attentive raven. There's a slight issue, she realizes, about talking to magic. It makes it rather hard to garner an understanding of what the raven thinks of her plans. To help her in this moment, all she has is the passion for her House. The sense of responsibility she feels she owes to the family.
The raven listened raptly to her plan before nodding once she finished. "You have quite the plan, young one. I am interested in what you do in the upcoming years," the Guardian states before jumping up from the basin. "I deem you worthy of the title. It is time for you to give your oath."
The oath.
This one she knows well due to her preparations.
"I, Meissa Jean Black, - claim by blood, by law, by magic - the House of Black. I swear to lead with honor and fairness. To protect and shelter those who belong or are allies to the House of Black by blood, by law, by magic, by oath. To deliver justice on those who break oath and trust with the House of Black. So have I sworn; so mote it be."
The raven lets out a deafening noise as the magic surges out of the basin and surrounds her. The liquid silver wrapping around her as the magic blanketed her core and tested her worthiness. She can scarcely breathe under the weight of the magic but refuses to buckle under the weight of centuries of traditions. Magic steeped in blood and rituals, magic done in in all alignments. The magic kept building and building until it threatens to suffocate her but still, she refused to drown.
Just as sudden as the magic has surrounded her, it's gone. The greyness of the world vanishing along with it. The Guardian gone along with the magic of the ritual. As she blinks from the sudden shift, she notices something as her aunt and godfather look at her.
On her right forefinger rest the House ring. The symbol of her newfound status as the Head of the House of Black.
"Lady Meissa Black," Narcissa acknowledges, brushing off her robes as she rises to her full height.
Severus stays silent as he studies his goddaughter, taking in the sights. He has known for months of her intentions but he can see that her magic has settled around her. He's not sure why or what has changed but he's hopeful that it won't have a negative impact on her.
~MJB~
Draco was waiting just outside the doors to the study room, driving himself nuts trying to figure out what's happening inside. He's tempted to use a spell but he doesn't know any will allow him to eavesdrop on the conversation. He's also unsure if he wants to risk the wards of the house coming down on him for using magic. With a sigh he crosses his arms as he continues to walk back and forth before the door.
It's times like these he sincerely wishes he was as studious as his cousin. Perhaps then he would be familiar with spells, enough to know which to use in this situation. He's sure that Meissa would know what spell to use in this incident. She seems to know too many spells - it's a wonder they haven't had to take her to a Healer for magical exhaustion.
Draco wonders if she's really that magically strong or if she just pushes herself to the upper limits of her magical core. They're only twelve years old but sometimes he feels that she acts she's older than her age. There are times when he feels that she doesn't know or have limits for herself.
When he lets himself think about it he feels that maybe it's better that he's nothing like Meissa.
As he feels himself go round and round in his thoughts he hears the click of the lock turning. Relieved to find a distraction to his thoughts about Meissa's tendencies he turns to the door. When the door swings open he sees his cousin first. The instant he sees her he's struck with a single thought.
Her magic, which has always felt chaotic and unrestrained, feels as if it has finally settled itself around her. He senses that her magic has found a purpose, settling around her shoulders like a cloak. As he observes this he can see the serenity in her expression and the determination.
"What did I miss?" Draco demands, trying to figure out the reason for why she feels and looks different.
It's not the hair. Half is still bound back in a braid while the rest fell around her shoulders in its usual curly mess. She's not wearing her earrings so her hair is brown with its usual red tint. It makes her seem less intimidating.
The clothes are the same. Black trousers and a long-sleeved charcoal grey button up shirt with silver buttons. Rather simple and he has no doubt that Meissa's clothes are not made of the best material possible for someone of her status.
"Draco," he hears his mother's voice reprimand him before he sees her behind his cousin. "That's no way to speak to the new Lady Black," she continues.
"LADY BLACK?!" he shouts before his eyes immediately sought out his cousin's hands. He instantly spots the House ring and knew several things at once.
One: it'd explain why her magic has settled itself around her instead of being chaotic as usual.
Two: Meissa has been accepted by the Black magic as the latest Lady of the House.
Three: Meissa is emancipated. She has to be or else she won't be recognized in Wizengamot and the voting right of the Black seat would remain with the current proxy.
All of this occurred to him in seconds of him seeing the signet ring on his cousin's finger.
This changes so many things and he cannot begin to understand the far reaching implications.
"Drake," Meissa sighs at her cousin as he stared at her as if she has grown another head. "This doesn't change anything between us."
"It changes everything," Draco counters. There's so many protocols dictating interactions with the Head of a Family - he feels conflicted cause he's related but he's also the heir apparent of the Malfoy family.
Meissa rolls her eyes at her cousin's antics. "Honestly," she shakes her head at him before glancing at her aunt and godfather. She's not entirely sure how to proceed. She hadn't actually considered things changing like her Draco's antics is suggesting.
"Draco's… reaction could have been better," Narcissa remarks, a fine eyebrow arched at her son, "but it is a good indication of what to expect once you resume schooling."
Meissa scowls as she crosses her arms. She's already well known in the school for her temper and outbursts. Now she'll have to deal with the various people gauging her, her politics, and gods know what else. This is something she hasn't considered when she requested the paperwork.
"Draco, if you don't treat me like you normally do," Meissa starts in a mild threatening tone.
The blonde made no attempt to argue this, knowing full well what that tone meant. "So, what's your first business of the day?" he asks, trying to switch attention from Meissa's newfound status.
"She currently has a present to open," Narcissa intercedes before Meissa could say anything. The brunette looks at her, arching an eyebrow in question before getting directed to look at her godfather.
Confused - she actually forgotten that she hadn't retrieved anything from her godfather - she looks to find that he has a wrapped package held out to her. It's wrapped in a simple patterned wrapping paper with dragons flying about. Curious she quickly undid the wrapping, opening the box to find several smaller boxes hidden within. With a frown she takes the box over to a table and went about opening the smaller boxes.
One turns out to be a set of earrings. Weirdly enough though, the earrings do not match. One of the earring seems to combine two styles she has seen before. A hoop earring that looks like it will barely wrap around her earlobe with an actual feather - it looks like a raven feather - attached to the hoop. The other earring is a stud earring with a diamond stone set in a shape of a five points star.
She can sense several layers of magic around the earrings, just like the ones currently sitting in her jewelry box. "What are these for?" she asks softly, looking at her godfather.
"They have the same enchantments as the previous ones," Snape explains. He doesn't say anything more since Draco is still doesn't know the full detail of what happened. But it's enough for Meissa to know what he means. She can imagine that the glamours have been separated into the two earrings. She'll have to figure out which one later on.
She set aside the box and selects another to open, finding a ring nestled within. It's small and made of a thin wire twisted into a pattern she vaguely recognizes as Celt in nature. She doesn't know the meaning of the knot but she can hazard a guess that it will offer her some form of protection. Extracting it from the box she finds that it'd only fit on her thumb so she decides to place it on her left thumb.
There's a part of her that's relieved there's no rush of magic or the sensation of a spell settling onto her. She has so many items on her that has magic worked into them. It's actually remarkable that the magic hasn't clashed in some way.
The remaining two boxes contains, she finds, a sketchpad with a set of tools and a detailed book about runes from the various cultures - both modern and ancient. Meissa looks up to her godfather and without saying a word she wraps her arms around him in thanks.