Edited-05/12/2020
Avior was a very aware baby, appearing to understand what was being said to him, at least to some degree. His mother, Melania, was overjoyed at this revelation. Both the Black and Peverell-Macmillan lines were renowned for producing prodigies, so she wasn't too surprised when Avior seemed to be one.
His behaviour garnered the attention of significant relatives at the yearly family gathering, which always happened a week before September the first. Mainly, his great grandmother, Ursula Black.
Ursula Black was a soft-looking woman with grey hair and light grey eyes, a trait most of the family shared. Her soft voice and patient attitude made her a much-loved family member among all generations. You wouldn't have suspected that she was a menace in her younger years, plagued by the infamous Black insanity. Although, that's the reason why she is such a prominent relative. She is the embodiment of what a Black should be, and as one of the oldest, she is a respected and feared woman. She may have been born into the Flint line, but her Black blood showed strong from when the two families had married before, generations ago.
Therefore, when Avior and his great grandmother first met, they should have expected it to be as dramatic as it was.
" Lucretia, dearie, won't you wear this pretty ribbon for mummy?" Melania cooed, trying to persuade her daughter to wear the overly extravagant piece.
" No mama! I want to wear a hat, not a silly ribbon. Make Orion wear it!" She batted her mother's hands away, pinning her focus on her impeccably dressed brother.
" Ew, I'm not wearing a yucky pink ribbon! I'm not a girl!" Orion growled out, trying to look as intimidating as a three-year-old possibly could.
Melania stifled an amused chuckle, enamoured by her adorable children.
" Ok my sweet, I'll go get you a hat."
" Thank you, mummy!" Lucretia gummily smiled, happy at having won.
Melania shared an exasperated grin with her husband who was currently struggling to get their youngest child dressed.
The baby was less than two months old -one month, three weeks and two days to be exact, she was counting- yet he was already showcasing a stubborn and headstrong personality. It was expected, he had Macmillan blood, after all.
She chuckled as she witnessed Avior kick her husband in the face as he tried to button up his little waistcoat. Wizarding children develop faster than muggle ones, so this sort of mobility was not unusual. Arcturus did not let his child's flailing hinder him though, bravely facing the little one's ire head-on in the quest for a perfectly dressed child. This wasn't as easy a task as he first thought it would be. He'd have preferred to dress Orion.
Once they were all finely dressed, not a flaw in sight, Lucretia's baby blue hat secured, Orion's hair smoothed down and Avior's clothes finally buttoned up, they headed downstairs to begin welcoming their soon to arrive relatives.
The first to come through the floo was Regulus Black and his five-year-old son, Turais.
Arcturus smiled welcomingly at his younger brother, happy that he could join them this year. He was not at the last family gathering, mourning his recently deceased wife instead. He was clutching his one and only child possessively close to his chest, who looked completely content with the situation but sighed at the sight of his older brother's raised eyebrow.
Regulus reluctantly set his son on the ground, nudging him toward his cousins. Turais scowled at his father, before hesitatingly approaching Melania.
" Hello, Auntie Mel." He lisped out, nodding his head respectively towards her, his eyes attaching onto Avior. A twinge of a smile could be seen on his lips before it was hidden away quickly and replaced with an air of indifference. " Congratulations on-"
"Oh, Turais, stop being so formal with us. You're my nephew, dearie. Do you want to hold Avior, my sweet?"
Turais looked down shyly, nodding his head after a few moments of contemplation. He tried to look indifferent, but Melania could easily spot the utter joy in his eyes.
" Sit down over here. Now, hold out your arms." Avior is placed into his arms and as he looks down at the tiny baby, his heart swells with adoration for his little cousin. He smiles softly at his aunt, practically oozing contentment.
The gentle atmosphere is broken when the floo flares to life again and all those present in the room turn around just in time to see the arrival of Pollux Black carrying his son, a two-year-old Alphard, followed by his wife Irma Black and their daughter, Walburga.
As soon as Lucretia sees her best friend, she tosses all pureblood expectations aside and runs toward her, nearly tackling Walburga to the floor.
" Lucretia!" Melania gasps out at how unrefined her daughter is acting. Her actions could have serious consequences if anyone tattles about her behaviour to their family patriarch, Arcturus' father, Sirius Black. Their Lord is a strong believer in the fact that little girls should be seen, not heard, that they do not have an opinion until they are married off and a Lady to another house.
" Walburga! I've missed you so so much!"
" Get off me! Stop this at once!" Walburga struggles to remove the clingy grip from around her waist, but her cousin just won't budge.
Due to the commotion, they don't notice the arrival of another figure, one who is now prowling towards the two girls.
" Lucretia." A cold voice interrupts the squeals. The air stills as a sense of dread fills the air and Lucretia feels her heart stop.
" Grandfather, I-" A hand is held up, her excuse dying on her tongue along with all the joy that filled her moments ago, replaced with anxiety.
Her grandfather passes her without any further acknowledgement, not deeming her worthy of any additional attention. She should be used to it by now, the disdain he shows only to her, but she can't help but feel rejected.
" Arcturus, Melania, I congratulate you on your new child. I hope he grows up a worthy and fine Black." He stops in front of the little group, gazing down at Avior still in Turais' arms.
" Turais, how are you today?" He smiles softly down at his oldest grandson, earning a little grin back.
" I am well, grandfather." He responds with a small tilt of his head. Sirius Black is a stickler for formality, demanding that they all use proper decorum towards him unless they are in private company. A big family gathering is not the place. While they can be slightly more relaxed than at a public ball, there are still many outsiders that attend, relatives so distant that they are barely a blip on the main families radar.
As the head of the family, he is at the top of the hierarchy, which means that they all must abide by his rules and regulations.
His grandfather nods in acknowledgement, now eyeing Avior in his arms. His arms unintentionally clutch him tighter, wary of the attention such a vulnerable being is receiving.
" Would you like to hold him, father?" Arcturus asks hesitantly, not knowing how his father would react. He wasn't the best with children, but he still tried when he was in the right mood.
Sirius hums in consideration. " Yes, I would like to." He leans down to pluck Avior out of Turais' hands, cradling him with experienced care. He studies the baby in his arms, seemingly searching for something.
Whatever he was seeking, he apparently found because he pulled back with a rare genuine smile on his face.
" He has magic, rather powerful magic if I say so myself. I hope that when he is old enough, you will allow me to train him alongside Orion."
The room seemed to lighten with the revelation, a bright smile forming on the faces of the adults and children alike. While not quite understanding yet, the children present knew that having magic was a good thing. None of then wanted to end up like their filthy squib of a relative Marius.
A few hours later, and finally, the last family member had arrived.
With the portraits of those long passed hung up on the walls in their pure golden frames, tables made of marble covered with the finest foods only the ridiculously wealthy could afford, ancient crystal chandeliers twinkling and the ballroom floor sparkling clean, the gathering was a sight to behold.
Mingling in the crowds with her baby tucked safely within her arms, Melania was searching for a specific family member she couldn't wait to see.
Ursula Black, her grandmother-in-law. One of the oldest currently living Blacks, and her absolute favourite in law. She was eagerly anticipating for her to meet Avior, Melania was sure she would love him.
Her search was interrupted by someone stepping in her way. She shifted her attention to the person, and nearly scowled when she saw who it was.
Lysandra, Uncle Arcturus' wife.
(Arcturus as in Sirius' brother, so a great Uncle to Avior)
Dressed in what could only be the most horrifyingly gaudy dress Melania has ever seen, with a smug smile on her face, she stepped closer.
" My my, Melania, it's been so long since I last saw you. The last gathering, wasn't it? A whole year has passed, and you haven't even contacted me once, I feel disheartened. You look well. And this must be your new child, hm?" She simpered in a sickly sweet voice, leaning even closer to her child.
Melania was growing uncomfortable with her presence, not content with her being so close to her newborn. Luckily, a smooth voice cut through the growing tension just as she was becoming restless.
" Melania, I give you my sincerest congratulations." Ursula butted in, paying no attention to a now red Lysandra. She was beautiful, with flowing ebony locks, only streaked with the minutest hint of grey. " I look forward to watching Avior grow, I'm sure if what my Sirus said is true, he will be a powerful wizard, one that will let us wear our family name with even more pride." Her smile was genuine, so unlike the ones most of those in attendance today.
" If you don't mind me saying, but I am sure we don't need any more reasons to wear our names with pride, we are Black's, there is no last name more accomplished and revered as ours." Lysandra smugly announced, obviously trying to please Ursula.
Ursula, however, looked even less impressed at the other woman.
" Yes, we may have an impressive lineage, but people in recent years have become less than satisfactory." She dragged her eyes along Lysandra, grimacing, before adding with a sly grin, " But I'm sure we all know who those are."
Lysandra, as oblivious as ever, smirked back. "Oh yes, that boy, Marius was it? A filthy squib! I can't believe his parents didn't chuck him out into the muggle world where he belongs! He tarnishes the family name, so he should be dealt with appropriately."
" Ah, but abandoning squibs in the muggle world isn't always the worst punishment. He now has to grow up in the presence of those who can do magic, while he sits there tormented by the fact that he can not. It was a rather ingenious suggestion by Cygnus, I wouldn't have thought of such a thing." her eyes grew soft at the mention of her youngest son.
" That does sound like a rather good plan, let him see what he is missing out on every day rather than pretending our world does not exist." Lysandra was quick to agree, not wanting to be seen contradicting one of the most prominent Black's.
Ursula hated these types of people, those who did not stand up for their views and went along with those more influential than themselves. She scoffed under her breath, before turning to who could be called her favourite granddaughter-in-law.
Melania Peverell-Macmillan as she was previously known as, one of the most desired girls of her generation. The head girl of Hogwarts in her time, impressively graduating with nearly all outstandings. She had graciously accepted a courting gift from her eldest grandson, Arcturus, one time, and the rest was history. She was one of the most worthy Black brides, unlike the witch before her now.
Lysandra Yaxley, one of the weakest and unbefitting witches of her generation. It was a sympathy marriage, only done to secure the allegiance with the Yaxley family. Arcturus (her son not grandson) did not hold any love for his wife, even less after she proved time and time again why she was ill-fitted to being a Black's wife. She was one of those unsatisfactory members of the family who had brought their reputation down, with her pompous attitude and weak, almost squib-like magic reserves. The fact that she couldn't even give her sweet Arcturus a son further lessened her worth in the eyes of the family.
Melania, however, was a valuable addition to the family. Providing not just one heir, but another that would forever connect the Black and Peverell families in name and blood. The baby in front of her now would one day grow up to be one of the most influential members of the wizarding world, the next Lord Peverell-Black. She almost cackled at the thought. Oh, how this child who was not even two months old could hold such a future.
" May I hold Avior, Melania?"
" Of course you may." The babe for the third time this night was passed into the arms of an unfamiliar person, and it seems he had finally grown annoyed with it.
His hair turned a bright silver, startling those around him with the abrupt change.
" By gods, he's a metamorphmagus!" Someone nearby gasped out, alerting even more attention into their direction. Ursula stared, dumbfounded at the sight of her youngest great-grandson, before promptly bursting into tears.
" A metamorphmagus-"
"- transfiguration at such a young age-"
"-showing the true magical prowess of the Black lineage-"
These were some of the conversations Arcturus heard as he and his father hastily walked towards the epicentre of the commotion. The crowds of family members created a path for them, allowing them to finally lay eyes on the source.
His son, his beautiful baby boy, was a metamorphmagus. If he wasn't so composed, he would have burst out into tears of pride. Metamorphmagi were one of the rarest beings in the wizarding world, highly looked upon for their abilities in transfiguration.
He steps forward even closer, attempting to approach his now silver-haired son, before being stopped by his father. He turned to glare at him, being met with a hard look.
" Watch."
Only now, without his head being filled with the desperation to reach his child, he can see it. The expression on his grandmother's face.
His grandmother was staring down at Avior with tears in her eyes, a very vulnerable expression to show in a room full of Slytherins. Yet she did not try to hide it, she kept on staring down at the child in her arms with fascination.
A sob could be heard leaving her throat before a joyful laugh followed. It filled the room, merry and carefree.
" A metamorphmagus." She whispered thickly. " A metamorphmagus! Oh, finally. Darling Avior-" Her hair turned a bright yellow, overcome with happiness. " I will teach you all I know."
The spectacle of the two metamorphmagi was a magnificent sight to see. One metamorphmagus was uncommon, but two in the same family at once, oh it was so very rare.
The whispers grew even louder, those in younger generations not knowing she was a metamorphmagus and those older praising the rarely shown ability of their matriarch.
Ursula was paying no one else any attention, too focused on her great-grandson to care. That was until Lysandra scoffed from beside them, which had her head shooting upwards in anger that someone could spoil such a precious moment. She fixed Lysandra with an unamused stare, waiting for what idiotic comment she would come up with this time.
Lysandra was glaring accusingly at Melania, an ugly scowl etched into her features. " And how long were you going to keep his ability a secret? To have kept such a revelation from the rest of us is disgusting! We should have all been notified as soon as this had come to light. What, were you planning to keep it to yourselves! How horrible." She sneered out, gaining attention from the now-silent crowd. She preened at the attention, her smirk growing nastier.
Melania flushed crimson, trying so hard not to slap the woman in front of her. Before she could respond, however, her husband cut in.
" How dare you! Accusing us of keeping something like this a secret, we would never! This is the first time he has displayed this ability, we didn't know he was a metamorphmagus."
" That is enough, Arcturus. It matters not if you knew or did not now. The fact that your son has this ability is something to celebrate!" His father cut in, face stone cold and devoid of emotion. He was annoyed. Cheers were heard around the room as the crowd dispersed, yet still kept their eyes on the pair of metamorphmagi.
The two men finally made their way up to the small group, Arcturus glaring warily at the silently fuming Lysandra.
" Lysandra, leave us please." Sirius could see his sons agitation, he was not too pleased with the woman himself.
She respectfully bowed her head, albeit reluctantly, before heading off to find her husband.
Melania let out a sigh of relief, finally out of that ghastly woman's obnoxious presence. She and Lysandra had never gotten along well, for reasons she could not understand.
She turned her attention back to her grandmother in law, smiling gently at the sight. Who would have thought that her baby was going to be a metamorphmagi? Certainly not herself.
Ursula finally uncurled herself from the baby, handing the now once again black-haired child back to his mother. She wasn't happy to part with him just yet, but she could feel him getting restless in her arms, obviously wanting to go back to a familiar hold.
Her vulnerable facade was immediately replaced by one of polite indifference, having something important to tell those around her.
" With your permission, when Avior is old enough, I would like to begin training him so that he can control his abilities. Do I have it?" She directed this at Arcturus and Melania, secretly pleading for them to say yes on the inside.
"Of course, it would be for the best for him to have someone to learn from. Please, we would be honoured for you to teach him all you know."
HEIR OF PEVERELL, A METAMORPHMAGUS!
Article written by Barnabas Cuffe
In the early hours of the morning, this honoured reporter received a letter from a very good friend of mine that wrote he had some rather exciting news for me. Imagine my surprise when he revealed to me this!
Yes, you read it correctly folks, the heir of Peverell is a rare metamorphmagus! One of Britain's most respected and revered abilities.
Avior Leonis Black, the newest son of Arcturus Black and Melania Black nee Peverell-Macmillan, last night at his family gathering, showed off the abilities of a metamorphmagus, turning his hair a spectacular silver colour when coming into contact with another metamorphmagus in the family, Ursula Black nee Flint, his great grandmother!
" It was a spectacle to behold! To see not just one metamorphmagus, but two before my very own eyes, oh it was magnificent." Hesper Black nee Gamp commented to me when questioned.
" It's a marvellous thing, to see the talent so rare pop up in our family once more. Melania and Arcturus were simply delighted when they saw it, and my mother was ecstatic with joy. She has been waiting quite the while for another metamorphmagus to show." Lord Sirius Black himself had said while looking proudly down at his dozing grandson.
Well, it seems that the youngest Black has already made himself a reputation, even while he's still a babe! Many great things can be expected from such a talented boy in the future, and I like many of you will be eager to see how he grows.
Blessed be to both the babe and his family, may their family prosper for many generations to come.
For more about The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, turn to page 2
For more about metamorphmagi, turn to page 5
For more about The Most Noble and Ancient House of Peverell, turn to page 7
The front-page article brought a lot of attention onto the Black family, due to the rarity of such an ability nowadays, and of course, they used this increased attention to their advantage.
They further brought up their reputation and power by starting to donate more, giving thousands of galleons to St Mungos and many other charities, even investing more money to the Hogwarts orphan fund.
The public opinion of them grew, their political standing soared. They became even more powerful than before, garnering attention even from foreign countries, which advanced their reach in the wizarding world.
All thanks to their little metamorphmagus.
My twist on the universe-
- I'm adding more onto the Metamorphmagus' abilities (like the limit of their abilities)
- The Macmillan line was split into two families, one becoming Peverell-Macmillan when they joined to the Peverell's centuries ago.
- The Black family are going to be a lot more involved in the wizarding world.
Thank you for reading :)
