A dark cloud shrouded the Black Manor, it was impossible to escape. It seeped under all the doors, and flooded the rooms. It was thick and murky, heavy and without mercy. The occupants of the great Manor could feel it everywhere. From the backyard with a small grove of different trees and a pond, to the kitchen that resided under the ground floor for the house elves. From the massive attic that was strewn with priceless artifacts and heirlooms, to the front greeting room with the floo connection and front door. It was in the last room that the Riddle and Malfoy families appear in, out of the floo. Tom Riddle appeared first with his son Hartford clutched to his side, he hadn't wanted to risk Harry disappearing again, the second his feet hit the ground he removed the glamour he had placed on while he had collected his son from Hogwarts. His wife Cassiopeia appeared next with their daughter Hermione, both women had tears rolling down their cheeks, they held each other for support. Lucius Malfoy appeared next, he was the epitome of the perfect pureblood Lord. His expression stoic and cold, much like Tom's, but their eyes gave them away. One silver and one red. But both drowning in sorrow. Lucius' wife Narcissa was the last to step through, their own son Draco glued to her side. The children had not left their parent's side since receiving the news. Narcissa and Cassiopeia looked around their old family home in shared pain.

The greeting room was empty of the family having tea and laughing about their families drama and antics. Even the portraits who hung across the wall were empty instead of talking to family members and yelling at each other. The house had a ghost like feel to it already, not that they had expected it to be any different. The great Black Manor belonged to the women's parents; Cygnus Castor Black III, and his late wife Druella Inja Rosier, but the Manor was not to be confused with Orion and Walburga's Black home Grimmauld Place. In this home Druella gave birth to his four beautiful girls; Bellatrix Deneb* in 1951, Andromeda Albireo* in 1953, Narcissa Odette*in 1955, and finally, Cassiopeia Dorothy* in 1962. Unfortunately it seemed Druella wasn't as happy as Cygnus with their four daughters, she had confessed to Cygnus that she hated them, because they were proof that she had failed as a pureblood to bring a male to the line. In 1971 everything went wrong; Bellatrix was twenty years old, apprenticing with Warding and Runes, she was married to twenty-one year old, Rodolphus Lestrange, a trainee within the Unspeakable Department. Andromeda was eighteen years old and just out of Hogwarts, considering a Healing course at St Mungo's. Narcissa was sixteen, returning to her sixth year, and had just started dating a seventh year, Lucius Malfoy. Cassiopeia was nine and still at home with her parents. Andromeda gave the news that she had been in a secret relationship with a Hufflepuff since she was fourteen, and he had proposed, and she intended to accept. Cygnus had been heartbroken that his second born had hidden something so serious from him, his wife Druella had thrown a fit saying she was meant to marry a french pureblood, something Delacour. After the fight he had with his wife over their daughter's relationship, he had gone away for a week on Wizengamot Classified work. Upon his return, his wife informed him callously that Andromeda was disowned, never to contact them again, all because her soon to be husband was a Muggleborn. Cygnus and his remaining three daughters had been devastated, but he hadn't had the courage to go against his wife. Thankfully she died in 1974, before she had been able to corrupt young Cassiopeia. After her death Cygnus made sure, his youngest never experienced what his wife had forced on his eldest three.

Now it was 1992, and an era was over. The four adults led their three children down the dark hallways of the Black Manor, heading to the West Wing. Harry, Hermione and Draco would normally be excited, it was their first time in the West Wing. But not today, today they were quiet and lost in their own thoughts, out of all the options they had thought of when Dumbledore collected them from class, this hadn't even made it onto the list. Finally they reached the room they had been looking for, the door was open as if waiting for them. The walls were white, and bare, the entire room looked like a room in St Mungo's. The bed was made perfectly despite having an occupant still in them. Two Healer's were standing around him talking softly as they worked. When he turned his head slightly he caught sight of his visitors.

"You're here." He croaked harshly with a soft smile, his face was covered in purple pustules from the Spattergroit that was slowly killing him. The features that made him handsome and sought after in his teens still lined his face, but the strong jaw, high cheekbones and sparkling grey eyes couldn't deter from how sick he looked now. His black hair only recently streaked with white, his grey eyes surrounded by dark shadows, and he had lost a lot of weight recently too, looking almost skeletal.

"We wouldn't be anywhere else Dad." Cassiopeia whispered as her and Narcissa moved forward with soft smiles.

"Where are my Grandchildren?" He asked, coughing harshly, it was getting harder and harder to speak.

"Here, Grandfather." Harry said stepping forward with Hermione and Draco.

"Oh, look at you, all grown up in your Slytherin uniform." He smirked at disgruntled expression on his Grandson's faces.

"Where are the other's?" Narcissa asked looking around, the nurses had left when they arrived to give them privacy, but she was more concern for the rest of her family.

"Bella was here earlier." he said coughing.

"She went in her new favourite disguise, to get me some of those cauldron cakes I used to love, and some butterbeer from that small cafe." He grinned.

"She took a disguised Rodolphus, Rabastan and Barty with her." Every time he spoke, the coughs got harsher and lasted for longer. He lifted himself weakly, struggling to keep his weight up with his thin and shaky arms.

"Let me help Dad." Cassi smiled, as he waved her off, her Father had always been stubborn, almost bullheaded.

"I'm fine." He started another coughing fit, this time blood came away from his handkerchief.

"Daddy" Cassi whispered, feeling like the little nine year old again, feeling lost and confused.

"I'm fine Darling." He soothed, he wanted to reach out and comfort his youngest daughter, but Spattergroit was incredibly contagious, so he was wrapped up in a magical bubble that stopped them from being able to touch skin to skin. It wasn't usually a deadly disease, but his age, coupled with the fact that his health had been declining over the years, catching illnesses easier and easier, he knew his time was short. This disease would kill him.

"We are back!" A voice sung from the doorway, the eldest daughter had returned. Bellatrix danced into the room holding a bag of what smelt like freshly baked cauldron cakes, while her husband, brother-in-law and friend entered behind her holding enough cups of warm butterbeer for everyone, plus extras.

"Are we expecting others?" Narcissa asked curiously as everyone grabbed a cup, three being left behind. There weren't many Black's left to say goodbye to the man. Both of his parents were long gone, dying when he was still young. His brother older Alphard died in 1977, at the age 45, his death remained a mystery to this day, but they suspect Dumbledore or The Order of the Phoenix. His older sister Walburga, died in 1985 aged 60, for an unknown reason, her heart just failed. His eldest nephew Sirius wanted nothing to do with the family, believing them to be as evil and twisted as Walburga had been. His youngest nephew, Regulus had been killed by The Order of the Phoenix members; Frank and Alice Longbottom, Lily Potter, and Alastor Moody. He fought so hard that it took all four of them to take him down, their magical signatures were traced all over his house. All that was left to Cygnus were his four beautiful daughters, and their children.

"Um, excuse me, Mr Black?" a voice from the door stopped Cygnus from replying to his daughter's question. They turned to the doorway where a nurse stood looking at their family sadly, but she had slight happiness shining in her eyes.

"You succeeded Miss Dolohov?" He asked hope colouring his voice. The young girl in her late twenties grinned at the man as she nodded, she had been happy to help, her Grandfather Antonovich Dolohov had been a good friend to Cygnus, and her Father Antonin a good friend to Regulus Black.

"Father?" A timid voice asked from behind the nurse. The young woman moved to the side to reveal a another woman, she was in her in mid or late thirties and had wavy light soft brown hair. She had wide and kind grey eyes, identical to her sisters. Andromeda Albireo Tonks neé Black.

"Andy!" Cassi cried out rushing to her sister's side, she hadn't seen her since she was nine but remembered her clearly. Narcissa didn't waste anytime in joining the hug, all three girls now crying, the only one who didn't join was Bellatrix who was standing in the corner with Rodolphus both still in disguise.

"I'm glad you came." Cygnus said softly from the bed, tears were leaking from his grey eyes, as he watched the reunion, unable to join in.

"Why?" Andromeda asked breaking the hug and moving to stand next her Father.

"I've always loved you Darling." He said firmly and sternly, unfortunately by raising his voice to sound sincere caused another round of harsh coughing.

"I was kicked out of this family because I married for love!" Andromeda snapped, she didn't want to argue with her Father when he had asked her to be here for his final moments, but the anger and hurt she felt all those years ago surfaced easily.

"We all married for love Andy." Narcissa whispered.

"What?" Andromeda asked confused, she knows she remembered her parents drawing up a contract for Bellatrix when she was only ten.

"Bella, Bella was the only one with a contract." Cygnus coughed.

"Rodolphus was her soulmate, I recognized the signs when they met a few months prior. The contract I drew up with his father, Reinhard, was to stop our wives from making contracts with other's. They had out clause's in case they did want to be with others."

"He was your soulmate?" Andromeda asked in shock turning to the disguised Bellatrix.

"Wha.. What?" Bellatrix stumbled out, her 'blue' eyes darting around to look at the shocked faces of the rest of their family.

"Oh please, you may be under Polyjuice or a glamour, but I grew up with you for eighteen years, you were my best friend, I know your facial expressions and habits better than anyone." Andromeda chuckled.

"I don't care what you have done. Right now, you are my sister and we are here for our Father." With an hysterical sob, Bellatrix threw herself at her younger sister and enveloped her in a tight hug. When the sisters finally separated, Andromeda turned to her Father.

"What happened all those years ago?" She asked.

"Your Mother was furious about the fact that I refused to make you enter a contract when you were clearly in love. We had a massive row, and I left for work hoping she would give in while I was gone. When I returned you had been banished and disowned WITHOUT my approval and you had vanished." he paused for a coughing fit, during which a bunch of the pustules burst on his face and hands.

"Eww!" Harry cried leaping back causing Cygnus to laugh.

"Don't worry kid, it won't reach you, the bubble is stopping that."

"Andromeda, I don't expect forgiveness, I don't deserve it. I was a coward, a terrible coward. I was terrified that she would do worse. She threatened Cassi, little Cassi." Tears rolled down his cheeks as he looked at his youngest.

"She what?!" Bellatrix and Andromeda snarled as Cygnus nodded sadly, Cassiopeia and Narcissa just sobbed as they clutched each other's hands, they had both been there at the time, and heard their Mother's evil words.

"When she died, I was relieved, I felt free. But when I finally tracked you down, you were happy. Married and raising your daughter, being a nurse at St Mungo's. I didn't have the right to walk back into your life after so long, after being such a coward. After abandoning you to believe I agreed with your Mother." Cygnus was out of breath when he was finally finished speaking, the four sisters and the three children were all in tears when he was done.

"I never stopped loving you Dad." Andromeda whispered smiling at him as she down beside him, the smile on her face and in her eyes spoke the words of forgiveness he had always wanted but never thought he deserved.

"My daughter is just outside the door, if you want to meet her?" Andromeda whispered, a grin stretched across Cygnus' face at those words as he nodded as frantically as he could without popping more pustules or causing himself more unnecessary pain.

"Dora Sweetie, you can come in." Andromeda called. Harry, Hermione and Draco all watched eagerly as a girl who had to be their elder cousin walked in. She was just out of Hogwarts, maybe eighteen or nineteen judging by her looks. But it was hard to tell, she had bright pink hair which sat around her chin, sparkly grey eyes, and a face that was almost identical to her Mother's.

"Dora, this is your Grandfather Cygnus Black. Your Aunts Narcissa, Cassiopeia and Bellatrix." she said pointing at each member with a smile.

"Then your Uncles, Lucius, Rodolphus and sorry I haven't actually heard much about your husband Cassi." Andromeda said apologetically.

"This is my husband, Dion LeClair." She introduced him, although her sister was reconnecting with them, it wasn't time to tell her who he was. She wait to see how she coped with the news of why Bellatrix attacked so viciously.

"It's nice to meet you." Tom grinned as he extended his hand.

"Pleasure is mine." Andromeda smiled.

"These must be my nephews and niece." she said smirking at the preteens.

"These are my two." Cassi grinned pointing to them.

"Hartford and Hermione."

"It's Harry." He grumbled.

"Mum and Dad do that too!" Dora whooped happily throwing her arms over his shoulders happily, as her Mother sighed in exasperation. For a few moments, they could be a family and forget the horrors that were drawing them together again.

"It is not that horrible." Andromeda groaned as if having had this argument many times.

"What did your Mother name you dear child?" Cygnus asked breathily.

"Nymphadora Swanhilde Tonks." She grumbled, acting much like her younger cousin when he was called his full name.

"You.. You named her after me?" Cygnus asked turning to his daughter, his eyes shining with tears yet again.

"Yes. You may not of stood up for me against Mother with Ted, but you showed us true love growing up, it's why I had the nerve to stand up for my love with Ted." She whispered softly, sitting on the end of her Father's bed.

"I love you Andy. Just promise me something."

"Anything Dad."

"Listen to your sisters when I am gone. Hear them out, what you have been told about the Dark is wrong. Your Mother was twisted and sick, and Albus Dumbledore is a liar, and not the man you think he is." Cygnus said coughing harder than ever.

"I promise." She whispered.

"I am just sorry I missed out on you finishing growing up, on Nymphadora growing up, and I will miss out on Hartford, Hermione and Draco's growing up." He whispered, he could feel his time growing shorter. His main nurse, Anichka Dolohov, had been in every five to ten minutes to check on his systems. He knew he was getting worse even without her saying anything, he could feel it and see it on her face. He smiled to himself, he may be in his final moments, but he could honestly say that it was the happiest he had been in many years. He had his family reunited around him. How could it not be?

"There are only a handful of days that are better than having you all here for me today." He said smiling weakly.

"The days each of you come into my life." He said looking at each of them individually.

"I still remember the days that you four girls were handed to me, so tiny and so delicate, I knew then that you would all become beautiful and powerful women. I am so glad I got to see you all now, and as the women I had hoped you would be." He broke off coughing before regaining himself.

"I am so proud of each of you." he whispered.

"My eighth birthday." Bellatrix spoke up suddenly, bringing the attention to herself, she stood at the foot of Cygnus' bed but it was clear she was talking to everyone.

"Andromeda was six and Narcissa was four. Mother was yelling at me for my accidental magic setting fire to the chair she was on. She never knew that it happened because she was using magic to punish Narcissa for something, I can't remember what now. But when you found out, you took us out for a day, just us, no Mother." She was staring wistfully out the window that overlooked the backyard and the grove of trees as she spoke.

"You took us all riding on the Granian Horses, me and Andromeda got to ride them for the first time alone. You had Narcissa on the horse with you. We got the whole day with you, riding and flying the Granian's and had a picnic down by the pond. That was one of my favourite memories of me and Dad." Rodolphus hugged her from behind whispering to ear lovingly as she cried softly.

"I remember that day. You were so happy to be able to ride by yourself." Cygnus chuckled.

"The summer between my third and fourth year, just after I turned fourteen." Andromeda started.

"Bellatrix wouldn't stop bragging that she had bet I would be a Slytherin with her, not Ravenclaw like you thought Dad. Narcissa was eleven and was ecstatic for her letter arriving any day, and little Cassiopeia was about to turn five. They both kept asking us about Hogwarts, and if it was as magical as the stories. So Bellatrix came up with the genius plan to sneak out, and take the Knight Bus to Hogsmeade so they could see the amazing castle and the small shopping district." Andromeda stopped as Bellatrix chuckled madly, nodding as the memory played in her own mind.

"I remember when we arrived Narcissa and Cassiopeia were in shock of how big the castle was, we were at the edge of Hogsmeade looking up at Hogwarts, me and Bella were too busy explaining the Castle and the wonders it holds to even notice someone creeping up behind." Andromeda shook her head with a chuckle.

"And suddenly, we hear this voice 'Just what were you thinking?' made all of us jump so high. We turned around there was Dad and Uncle Alphard, just standing there with their arms crossed. Turns out we weren't as sneaky as we thought, they had been following us since we left the front door." Everyone laughed at the sheepish look all four sisters had, even Cygnus managed a few chuckles, he winced at the pain though, thankfully Anichka made another appearance handing him another pain potion. He sighed in relief as it worked almost immediately, smiling she took his temperature and how his body was fighting before writing it down and leaving with a soft spoken 'be back soon'.

"My wedding day." Narcissa said softly, before looking at her Father fondly.

"It was right before I was supposed to walk down the aisle. I was so nervous, I didn't want to leave the dressing room, but you showed up and sat me down. You asked me what was wrong, and I asked you, am I doing the right thing?" Narcissa grabbed Lucius' hand as she spoke, she didn't want him to get the wrong idea and think that she hadn't loved him, but she had been nineteen years old and nervous.

"You told me that I was overthinking and letting the fear get to me, you said, you have been in love with Lucius since you were thirteen years old, and when he asked you out that it was one of the happiest moments of your life. You told me that not all marriages had to be your's and that you knew mine wouldn't be. You said that you would be there for me, every step down the aisle, and that you were so happy for me, because I was marrying for love. You said that you knew I would have a good life, and that was all you had ever wanted for me." Cygnus smiled at her.

"All I have ever wanted, is my daughters happy." Narcissa smiled and leant into Lucius' strong arms, trusting her husband to hold her and comfort her.

Cassiopeia stepped forward and sat on the bed beside her Father, they shared a smile as she thought back on all of her memories growing up trying to decide on her favorite.

"Samhain 1969, I was seven, and the only one not at Hogwarts. You wanted to cheer me up because I was upset over missing the Hogwarts celebration. You decided to take me into the Muggle world, and go trick or treating like they do for Halloween. All because you thought it would be a good learning experience for me. I got all dressed up as how the Muggle think Witches are. I had green skin, a large nose, moles on my cheeks, and had a old ragged broom." Everyone laughed heartedly at the description.

"I got so much candy and completely gorged myself until I was sick." Cassi laughed lightly.

"It was an amazing night, seeing Muggles having fun and dressing up, plus it was just the two of us."

"You're Mother was furious when she found out, it was one of the few times I stuck up to her and told her where to shove her wand." Cygnus chuckled.

Nymphadora looked around shyly, she was meeting most of her family now for the first time and didn't have many memories of them, but wanted to show them that she was there now.

"Right now." She said looking at her GrandFather's eyes, even now they were sparkling with happiness as he spoke to his family.

"I didn't get you while I was growing up, but right now, is the happiest memory I have of you, because I get to meet you and my Mother got to see you again. Mum has missed you, and it makes me so happy that even after everything you loved her, and wanted her here today. I will always be grateful that I got to meet you." Andromeda wrapped her arms around her daughter while tears rolled down her cheeks.

"You are a smart and brave girl, the Auror Academy is lucky to have you as a trainee." Cygnus coughed.

"Wha..?"

"I kept up with you, even I wasn't there. Hufflepuff, one of the top students in your classes. You are in your second year of the Academy, looking to graduate as one of the top students there as well. Although I don't think any Black's have a record similar to yours for detentions." Cygnus smirked as Nymphadora blushed bright red.

"Yeah, Professor Sprout said I lacked the ability to behave." She laughed.

"Much like my two then." Cassi joked as Harry and Hermione looked at her with innocent wide green eyes.

"The summer holidays before my first year at Hogwarts." Draco said from beside Harry and Hermione.

"I was all anxious about getting my letter and going away for most of the year. You sat down and told me all the wonderous stories of your time at Hogwarts. About the family you make with your dorm mates, of all the friends you made, all the enemies you fought with. About the classes and what you enjoyed the most. You actually got me to calm down and you said that I would miss my parents and get homesick, but that I just had to remember that they did this too, and would be happy to talk to me. That they will miss me just as much as I would miss them, and that it was okay to miss them, that I can write them whenever I want. It really helped and hearing your stories made me excited all over again."

"Last summer." Hermione said once Draco finished.

"Harry and Draco were playing Seeker games and Keeper vs Chaser in the backyard. I was extremely bored, so I floo-ed around to your place to see you. You took me to the Black Library, and let me into our own 'restricted section' for the first time. You sat down with me and whenever I had a question you were patient and answered them all."

"So that's where you vanished to for a week." Harry said while Hermione just smiled at him.

"You have a curious mind, you are extraordinary mind and that should be celebrated and nurtured. Never hide yourself." Cygnus whispered, his eyes were getting heavy, it was almost time.

"It was shortly after Mother and Father bought me home." Harry whispered, he had tears rolling down his cheeks as he sat as close to his Grandfather as possible.

"It was our fifth birthday, I was still terrified that everything would go wrong. That Mother and Father would realize what a freak I was and take me back, or hurt me like THEY used to." Harry spat out they like dirt, much how he felt the Dursley's and Potter's truly were.

"But then you arrived over, and instead of hiding me like I thought would happen, Mother bought me over to meet you. She introduced me as her son, and you as my Grandfather. When you held me, it was the first time that I truly believed that everything had changed for the better. You held me close and told me that you loved me. I didn't understand, how or why you love me already, but you promised me that you would never let me think otherwise. You said that you would spend the rest of your life loving me and making sure I knew my worth. You never broke your promise." Harry was sobbing by now with his parents behind him waiting for him to need them.

"Thank you, for giving me love, and for being there as I grew up. Thank you for raising my Mother to be the best Mother I could ever ask for. I will never forget you."

"I… love... you all." Cygnus coughed out before his body starting seizing, Harry, Hermione and Draco all cried out in fear as his coughing got harsher, as the pustules popped and spread in front of their eyes. It only took five minutes, but it felt like a lifetime, but finally it all stopped. Cygnus Castor Black III closed his eyes peacefully as his breathing evened out. He was gone.

"Goodbye."

I hope you enjoy this chapter, it is my longest chapter to date. I apologize for any mistakes, both of my normal editors were extremely busy and I ended up using an online writing editor for the first time. If there is anything wrong let me know please so I can fix it.

Let me know what you thought and if there is anything else you want to see in the coming chapters. Next chapter this story is finally starting, in which case there are going to be more chapters than planned for this story =)

See you all next update.

Deneb and Albireo are stars in the Constellation Cygnus.

Odette is the Swan Princess, Cygnus is the Swan Constellation.

Dorothy is a modern name of Dorea, Cygnus' favourite Aunt.

I changed Cygnus date of birth to 1931, because according to the Potter Wikia he was born in 1938 in which case he would've been 13 when Bellatrix was born.

Alphard was born 1932 because it was an approximate on Wikia so I chose a year.

Walburga born in 1925 according to Potter Wikia.