Chapter 35: Heritage Tests
Diagon Alley, Wixen London, England
December 1, 1986
He had put it off for as long as he could, that said it was only for a few days. He could put it off no longer. Petunia had reminded him, yet again, of his promises to Corinne Branstone and to Helena Granger to take their daughters to Gringott's Bank so that a Heritage test could be performed on each of the little girls to determine if they had a Wizarding Heritage.
It had started at the beginning of the month with his boys, Dudley and Harry, sitting him down and explaining how they had subtly steered their best friend Hermione Granger in the right direction of learning that she was a Witch. Hermione now knew what she was. Petunia had admitted that Hermione had shown a moment of accidental magic that had embarrassed Helena because Petunia had been witness to it. Petunia had then confessed what she knew of the Wixen World to Helena. Since Petunia had seemed to have everything so well in hand, Marius had happily stayed out of it. He wasn't needed to explain to Helena and Robert Granger that their child was a Witch. Petunia had covered everything. So how he let Petunia talk him into taking Hermione to Gringott's, he didn't know.
He glanced at the two girls walking with him toward the location of the Leaky Cauldron and smirked. Alright, he knew how Petunia had managed to persuade him. She had pretended to be jealous of the attention and care that he had given to his former lover, Corinne Branstone.
Corinne was a former lover, and a good friend. Marius had introduced Corinne to her husband. She had witnessed some of his employees performing magic and had allowed him to brush it off without explanation. That had endeared her as a friend to Marius many years ago. She had been a guest at his wedding to Petunia and had given them an expensive gift. He was sure that if Petunia took the time to get to know Corinne, the two women would really like each other. He was not sure if his sanity could handle that strain though.
Corinne had come to his home a few weeks after Petunia had informed him about the Granger's new knowledge of their little girl's status as a Witch. Corinne had her granddaughter, Eleanor Branstone, with her and she had the girl show him a trick the girl liked to play to entertain her mother. The girl had used magic to lift objects and make them dance in the air. Corinne had then reminded him that she had seen some of his employees do that in the past, and she demanded to know just what her Granddaughter was. Marius had seen no point in keeping the information from her and he had revealed that Eleanor was a Witch. He had explained about the Wixen society and the Statute of Secrecy. Corinne had promised her secrecy and so had young Eleanor. The little girl admitted to be happy knowing that she was not the only one out there who could make things move with a thought and concentration.
Eventually, Corinne had pressed about how does one become a Wixen. Obviously, it had to be blood. Surely it was genetics. Marius had long believed that it was genetics. He believed that Muggleborn's were really descended from the Squibs that were cut off from their Wixen relatives and so their relations didn't realize that these Muggleborn children were from their bloodlines. She had wanted a way to test Eleanor and he had admitted that Gringott's could test her. She then arranged for Marius to take Eleanor to Gringott's for her to be tested. Once Petunia had learned that he had agreed to take Eleanor, she had started to manipulate him into taking Hermione as well.
He opened the door to the Leaky Cauldron for the two young girls before him and then he entered the noisy tavern. It was the brunch hour and most of the Alley's workers, who normally worked through lunch, chose to take their meals during this time.
"Come along girl's," he said as he moved through the bar toward the back door. "Stay close to me."
"Yes Sir," Eleanor said and her hand came to rest upon his long coat, clinging to the fabric. Hermione's own hand came up on the other side and likewise clung to his coat.
He led the girls easily through the bar, though he noticed that some were giving him and the girls some strange looks. He put a protective hand on each of their backs as he guided them out the back door to the alleyway behind the bar.
Hermione stared at the stone wall before them and frowned. "Mr. Black, it just looks like a dead end," she said.
Eleanor nodded her head. "It is a dead end," she agreed with Hermione. "Should we go back inside then?"
Marius smirked as he pulled a magic stone out of his pocket and then tapped each of the bricks in sequence. The wall moved away revealing Diagon Alley to the girls.
"Wow!" Eleanor exclaimed as she stared at the people moving from shop to shop. "This is," she trailed off.
"Amazing!" Hermione said from his other side.
He chuckled. "This is Diagon Alley, ladies," he said as he slowly began to lead them down the road. "This is the main Alley, but Knockturn Alley, Horizont Alley, and Carkitt Market branch off from this main Alley. Down this way is Gringott's bank. We'll go there first to perform your tests and remember, we'll be meeting with Petunia, Corinne, and Helena for lunch at Estelle's."
Hermione checked the watch on her wrist. "That is in two hours," she said. "Will that be enough time?"
Marius nodded. "Yes, the Goblin's can be very thorough but today we are testing you both and if there are inheritances to claim then we will consider what to do after we have spoken with your families."
"Goblins?" Hermione asked of him. "I have read about Goblins, aren't they frightening and well, not very nice?"
"Goblins are portrayed as truly terrible in Muggle Books," Marius said. "While I will not say that Goblins are exactly kind to Wixen, they pride themselves on doing honest business with them. However, their sense of honesty and yours might not be the same thing. One must be clever when making deals with them. They shall not harm you though. There hasn't been a Goblin uprising in hundreds of years."
"That's encouraging," Hermione said but she sounded like she found his reassurance anything but encouraging.
"Inheritances?" Eleanor asked, choosing to change the subject as they continued walking. "So, you think that perhaps someone might have left something for Hermione and I?"
He looked down at her for a moment but then looked away. "Such things have happened before, so I would not be surprised."
The little girls smiled and took in the sights around them. Eleanor loved the sight of Gringott's building, but she was a little frightened of the Goblin Warriors. "Do only honest dealings with the Goblins and you'll never have reason to fear them," Marius promised her.
He frowned when he did not see his older brother, Pollux, within the foyer. Pollux had promised to meet him so that a Wizard of House Black could act as temporary guardian over the two girls while they were being tested. Marius was all too aware of his deficiencies to keep these two little girls safe from other Wixen. Despite the lack of Pollux, he put himself and the girls in line to see Pollux's estate manager Grimbold.
"Ah, Mr. Marius Black, your brother Mr. Pollux Black has already arrived. Delgrath shall take you to him," the Goblin behind the counter told him.
"Thank you, and may your enemies flee before your might," Marius said.
The Goblin smiled, it was all pointed teeth and it had Eleanor shrinking against him, and even Hermione moved closer. "May your gold flow like a river," was the response, and then it flicked a fancy feathered quill at the Goblin that was to lead them to Pollux and Grimbold.
He watched the girls paying attention to their surroundings, looking at how the polished stone changed to harder rock as they went deeper into Gringott's. Finally they arrived at Grimbold's door and were let into the room.
"Ah, Marius, good to see you," Pollux said to him. "I had business with Grimbold so I thought I would arrive earlier than you had told me."
"Brother, thank you for meeting us here and Grimbold thank you for doing this," Marius said with a slight bow of respect to the Goblin behind the desk. "Pollux and Grimbold this is Eleanor Branstone and this is Hermione Granger."
"Miss Branstone and Miss Granger it is a pleasure," Pollux said politely. He then waved his hand toward Grimbold.
"The Heritage tests have been arranged," he said and indicated to the two sheets of paper on his desk and the two small little blades that sat carefully on each page.
Hermione stared at the page and then slowly looked up at Marius with a small frown. "What are we supposed to do?"
"You will use the knife to cause a pinprick of blood to one of your fingers or to your palm. Let three drops fall onto the paper and the paper shall do the rest," Pollux explained to the two bewildered girls.
Hermione looked dubious but Eleanor simply nodded and picked up the little blade. She stared at it for a moment and then seemed to brace herself. She sliced her pointer finger at the pad of her finger and seemed surprised when it did not hurt her.
"The blades are charmed to not hurt," Pollux said simply in explanation to Eleanor's surprise.
The girl smiled and then concentrated on letting three drops of blood drip onto the parchment. Pollux then took the girl's finger and muttered a healing charm while the blood soaked into the page. Soon a family tree began to form.
Hermione, not to be outdone by her new acquaintance, took up the knife and cut her pointer finger as well. She let three drops of blood flow onto the page and then she pulled back. Pollux took her hand gently and healed her finger as she watched the blood soak into the page. Slowly a family tree began to form starting with Hermione's name and branching back and back.
"This part takes a little while," Grimbold said then to the two fascinated girls. "Three drops will insure that the tree will go back at least six generations."
Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "So, if we had added a fourth drop, the tree might have gone back nine generations?"
Grimbold nodded his head. "Eight most likely. I have never seen the ritual done with a fourth drop of blood added and so I cannot say for sure if it would be eight or nine."
Eleanor smiled at Hermione. "Perhaps it would be trapped between eight and nine."
Hermione smiled in return. "That would be obnoxious. It would leave the tree half completed."
"It would force you to add more blood though," Eleanor insisted. Then she puzzled over that. "Is it possible to add more to the parchment once it begins to form the tree, or is it impossible now for Hermione and me to add more if we wished?"
"You cannot add more once the magic of the paper has begun to formulate the tree," Grimbold told them. "This paper is an ancient paper that was special to the druids. It helped them to keep track of the bloodlines of the greatest of their Wixen."
Marius glanced at Pollux then. "I wonder, is the magic of the paper similar to the old great tapestry at Blackmoor?"
Grimbold looked at Marius then. "So, the Black's do still have one of the ancient tapestries? I had wondered. There are so few of those types of tapestries left in our world. It is listed as one of the assets of the family that resides at Blackmoor," he admitted.
"What can you tell me about the tapestry?" he asked of Grimbold.
The Goblin smirked. "It was woven long ago with ancient magics imbedded into every single thread. It is almost sentient magic, not that dissimilar to the magical process used to place memories of a living being into portraits of them so that the portraits will talk and continue on after the living have died."
Hermione and Eleanor listened curiously. "So, there is a tapestry of your family that is like those papers?" Eleanor asked of Marius.
Pollux answered her. "Oh yes," he said. "Our family is quite important in this world and so we own several residences with tapestries of our family tree."
"The one at Blackmoor is the only one that is sentient enough to update itself. It doesn't matter if someone in your family was disowned, if they are of the Black Bloodline then they will show up on the tapestry at Blackmoor," Grimbold told them.
Marius looked to Pollux. "The one at Grimmauld Place always had to be updated by spell craft," he reminded his brother.
Pollux nodded. "Father's did as well," he said simply.
"Ah, they are both done," Grimbold proclaimed of the papers bringing their attentions back to the girl's tests.
Eleanor smiled at Hermione. "We'll look at them at the same time," she said to the bushy haired girl.
Hermione nodded at the dark-haired girl and then carefully took up her paper while Eleanor did. Hermione slowly followed her father's lineage back. She was surprised when she noticed that her Great-Grandparents were called Dagworth-Granger. Then she followed her mother's family tree and was more shocked by the name at the top of the tree. Robert Hitchens married Iola Black. She shot a glance at Marius and bit her bottom lip.
Eleanor read over her family tree starting with her father's line. She glanced at both Pollux then Marius and then back at her paper in shock at what she read. Phineus Nigellus Black II. Apparently, she was the Great-Great Granddaughter of a man named Phineus Nigellus Black II.
"Girl's, is everything alright?" Marius asked of them.
Hermione was the first to respond to him. "Mr. Black," she said softly and then handed him her paper.
Marius frowned as he looked over her family tree and when he came to the name Iola Black, his eyes widened. He glanced at Hermione and stared at her for a moment before he handed the paper to a curious looking Pollux.
"Iola Black," Pollux said just a few seconds later. "Great-Great Granddaughter of Iola Black."
"She's one of us," Marius looked at Pollux then.
"Mr. Black, my paper has a Black on it as well," Eleanor said uncertainly. "A Phineus Nigellus Black II," she told him.
Marius swiftly put his hand out in a silent demand for the paper. She obediently handed it over and stood beside Hermione as Marius perused it before handing it over to Pollux. Per Eleanor's family tree she was the Great-Great Granddaughter of Phineus Nigellus Black II, their disowned uncle.
He looked to Pollux then. "Should we contact Lord Black?"
Pollux stared for several long moments at the pages, glancing from one to the other. "Yes," he said shortly. "He'd kill us if we let this slide," he added quietly.
"I'm meeting with Petunia, Mrs. Granger, and Mrs. Branstone at Estelle's for lunch," Marius informed him.
Pollux nodded. "Wixen area?"
"Yes, due to the subject matter," Marius assured him.
"I'll contact him and see if he can meet you at Estelle's for lunch," Pollux said even as he took both papers and rolled them up together. He then slid them into an inner pocket of his robes.
"What does it mean?" Hermione asked. "The names aren't coincidence then, we are somehow related to you?"
Marius slowly sat down into a chair even as Pollux spoke swiftly with Grimbold and then excused himself in order to contact Arcturus. "They are not a coincidence. You," he paused and drew both girls closer to him. "Both of you are descendants of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black. This means that your Magical Guardianship will fall under the governance of House Black and Lord Black specifically will choose who among the House shall serve as your Magical Guardian."
"Can't it be you?" Eleanor asked of him.
He smiled sadly at the pretty girl that reminded him of Corinne. "No sweet girl," he told her gently. "I am a Squib. I cannot be the magical guardian of anyone. Even my own son, who is a Wizard, has my older brother as his Magical Guardian because I cannot perform magic."
Both girls took that in. "So, my parents cannot be my magical guardian," Hermione said with a frown.
Marius nodded. "Yes," he agreed with her assessment. "This does not necessarily mean that you'll be uprooted and moved away from them," he told both girls. "It does mean that it is likely that you and your parents will be dealing with Wixen more frequently. My cousin Arcturus is the Lord Black. He likes for the children of the House to be well protected and well educated."
Hermione perked up at the mention of education. "You mean, we could be taught things about this world and about magic?" she asked of him.
He smiled as he noticed Eleanor looked as eager as Hermione. "Yes, you would be expected to continue with your muggle school, but you would of course be tutored to be proper Heiresses of House Black."
"Being Heiresses of the House of Black is to your advantage," Grimbold added then, reminding Marius of his presence. "There are few families that can claim such an ancient ancestry as the House of Black. This gives them an advantage since they have accumulated great wealth and have not been idle over the years. They continue to work and let their wealth grow for future generations. They are involved in many spheres."
Marius nodded. "Politics, Educational Reform, Medicine, Charitable Works, we Black's generally cannot stand to sit still for too long. We need to be doing something we find worthwhile and rewarding."
"Grandma does charity work every now and then, when she is not too busy with me," Eleanor said. "Perhaps now she'll be able to do more work if I am busy with tutors."
Hermione smiled. "I would love to learn more about the world. The book Harry and Dudley gave me for my birthday was really fascinating."
"Book? There's a book about all of this?" Eleanor asked.
Hermione smiled at the other girl. "It's more of a beginner guide to understanding things," she explained. "But it is really a helpful book. I'll loan it to you."
Eleanor smiled in gratitude. "Thank you."
Marius slowly arose from his chair, readying himself to depart. "Thank you Grimbold. I am sure that Lord Black shall be contacting you soon about the girls."
"Of course, and should we hold off on contacting the Dowager Dagworth-Granger then?" Grimbold asked of Marius.
It was only then that Marius remembered that the Dowager was still alive and might want to meet with Hermione. "Put it off for now if you please, but Lord Black will make a final decision about that."
"Of course," Grimbold said and then he walked them out of his office.
Marius made sure each of the girls had the time to put their winter gloves back on and they had adjusted their scarves before they departed Gringott's. He noted both girls look longingly at the book store but he steered them away from the window display and back to the Leaky Cauldron with a firm reminder that it would be rude of them to be late because they had chosen to go shopping.
They made it out of the Leaky Cauldron back onto Charring Cross Road without incident and soon he had them walking down the road toward Estelle's. A few doors down from the restaurant, Eleanor put her hand in his. He glanced down at her and he watched her wink at Hermione. He stole a glance at Hermione and noted her smile in response to Eleanor and then his other hand was being held by his boy's friend. No, she wasn't just their friend, was she? She was family now, both girls were family. Heiresses of the House of Black. He didn't envy Pollux the task of having to swiftly explain all of this to Arcturus in time for the man to make an impromptu lunch meeting with Eleanor's Grandmother and Hermione's Mother.
105 Eaton Square, Belgravia, London, England
"This was performed correctly?" the voice of Arcturus Black III asked of his cousin Pollux Black. "You are quite certain?"
Pollux nodded curtly. "I was right there and just as surprised by the results as you are now," he replied. "However, the evidence is right before you. You could demand another Heritage Test, and it is your right as Lord Black, but it won't change the results."
Arcturus nodded his agreement with Pollux's statement. "No, but we'll arrange for it to be done yet again regardless, so that we have double the evidence for the family."
Pollux grimaced at that. "Yes, that might be for the best. I cannot imagine that Cygnus will accept this easily," he sighed then. "I never should have let Irma have so much time with the children. She taught them her ideas that Muggles were animals and that Muggleborn's were nearly as bad. I dislike how Muggleborn's come into our world and declare anything that is strange to them as barbaric or wrong. I dislike how they degrade our holidays and choose to supplant them with twisted variants of their own, but I don't view them the way Irma does."
Arcturus agreed with Pollux's views. He also disliked how the Muggleborn children came into their world and then promptly judged them based on their Muggle upbringing. He knew that they could not help it; his own upbringing colored his view of things in the Muggle World when he had first begun to deal with the Muggle Businesses that the Black family owned. He had learned about Muggles as swiftly as he could, and Marius was instrumental in all his dealings with them even now. "Reforms need to be made to the school system," he said in response. "Muggle raised children should be forced to learn Wixen customs and etiquette during their years at Hogwarts."
Pollux snorted. "It shouldn't be a class just for the Muggle raised. I have dealt with plenty of Wixen raised teenagers who could benefit from classes such as that as well."
Arcturus chuckled at that and then he glanced down once more at the two Family Trees spread out on the parchments before him and he sobered. "You know what this means, Pollux?"
"That if you are willing to recognize them then there are now two little heiresses to the family," Pollux countered playfully.
"Of course, I shall recognize them," Arcturus said firmly. "But more than that, it means that there is merit to Marius's theory that Muggleborn children are descendants of Squibs."
Pollux looked thoughtful for a moment and then slowly nodded. "Yes," he agreed at last. "This does mean that my little brother may just be on to something there. If we could find other Muggleborn children and take them to Gringott's for a Heritage Test, then it would be more helpful."
Arcturus nodded his agreement. "Unfortunately, neither of us know of any Muggleborn children other than Miss Granger and Miss Branstone," he said and then he winced. "I'll have to write to Madam Dagworth-Granger and inform her of this situation."
Pollux looked delighted then. "Better you than me," he stated. "Eugenie still has not forgiven me for that little prank that I pulled at the children's ball back in 1910."
"You were nine," Arcturus said in disbelief.
"Yes," Pollux agreed. "See what you are up against?"
Arcturus gave him a grim nod. Madam Eugenie Dagworth-Granger was not a woman that he wanted to have as an enemy. Eugenie was eleven years his senior and had been a proud member of Ravenclaw House when she had attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She was known for her great collection of rare and exotic books and ancient manuscripts. It was rumored that her primary residence was one vast library.
"She prefers her books to people," Arcturus muttered as he remembered his last conversation with Madame Eugenie. It had not been unpleasant, so long as they kept to the subject of ancient charms. Eugenie was very gifted in charms, as he recalled.
He arose from his desk and slowly rolled the two parchments together. "We should head to Estelle's, I am sure Marius is awaiting us."
"Most likely. Petunia is there along with Mrs. Corinne Branstone and Mrs. Helena Granger," Pollux informed him as he followed Arcturus from the office. The door sealed behind them and he followed his cousin to the floo where the man's House-Elf awaited them with Arcturus's winter coat.
"Thank you, Dred," Arcturus said simply as he donned the coat. "Give Melania my regrets that I will not be able to have tea with her. Tell her that I had to assist Marius with a family matter and I shall explain all to her when I see her at dinner."
"Very good Master," Dred's deep grizzled voice croaked out.
"Once you have delivered my message you will go to your bed and rest," Arcturus ordered the elderly House-Elf.
"Master has ordered Dred to rest," the House-Elf croaked. "Master is going soft."
Pollux looked taken-aback by the impudence of the House-Elf but his cousin only laughed.
"Perhaps I have merely received happy news that will benefit that House of Black and am willing to be kind," Arcturus said to Dred. "So, be a good little Elf and take advantage of it while I am still in a delighted mood."
"Dred is relieved," the House-Elf said. "I will do as Master commands."
"See that you do," Arcturus said and then he offered the floo powder to Pollux.
Pollux took it, amused by his cousin's exchange with the House-Elf. "Estelle's Greenery," he called out and then he was traveling through the floo network.
Arcturus followed him, calling out "Estelle's Greenery." He stopped in a small but prettily decorated courtyard in the very back of Estelle's Restaurant. The Burke's had cleverly set up a pretty little courtyard area in the back of their restaurant as an area that their employees could enjoy on their breaks. They had placed extremely thick and strong concealment and protection charms over the courtyard to keep those within safe from the eyes of Muggles. The outdoor fireplace was a touch of brilliance. It allowed for Wixen to floo to the restaurant but they would arrive outside so as not to disturb the Muggles who frequented the establishment.
Arcturus gave himself only a moment to admire this and then he met Pollux's gaze and nodded to the man. He allowed Pollux to pull open the door to the restaurant and then they entered. It was Edwina Burke who was playing Hostess today in the Wixen section of the building.
"Lord Black, Mr. Black, it is a pleasure to see you today," she said with a smile.
Arcturus considered her hazel eyes and took in her pretty features. While not a great beauty, Edwina was a pretty woman. Her light brown hair was done up in a stylish sort of up-do with little curls at the side of her face. It complimented her high cheekbones and it brought out the green and topaz of her eyes. He wondered, not for the first time how it was that the Borgin family had managed to produce such a pretty girl. Normally the Borgin family was notorious for the ugliness of their offspring.
"Good afternoon, Edwina," he said pleasantly to this woman, who by rights could claim his protection being as she had married his distant relative. "We are here to meet with Marius Black and his party."
She nodded. "Of course, I should have realized," she said. "Please allow me to escort you," she said and then she turned to another young woman and ordered her to take over as hostess before she led them toward the staircase that would take them to the upper levels. He was almost relieved to see that they were being taken to one of the private dining rooms. This would assist in ensuring their privacy. Also, instead of dealing with actual waiting staff, they would peruse the menu and then look down at it saying what they desired. Then when the meal was ready the House-Elves would apparate the food onto the table before them without disturbing them with their unwanted presence.
"Please do enjoy your meals Lord Black and Mr. Black," Edwina said with a smile.
"It is Pollux, Edwina," Pollux insisted as he looked at the woman.
She blushed. "I couldn't possibly call you that while I am on shift," she said in a slightly teasing tone. Then she turned away and swiftly headed back toward the staircase.
Arcturus watched Pollux with amusement. "What would Irma say?" he lightly prodded his cousin.
Pollux scowled at that. "I don't care what she would say."
"Very well, what would Pencast say?" Arcturus teased Pollux.
Pollux shot him a nasty glare. "You are putting too much into this. I was merely being kind to her. She is Pencast's wife and he is our relation. She should be treated as family."
"Says the man that will not allow his nephew to call him anything other than Mr. Black," Arcturus retorted.
"If you are referring to Irma's nephew, Victor Crabbe, I can only tell you that he is an odious little toad," Pollux insisted.
Arcturus ceased in his teasing because he had to agree with Pollux. He turned the door handle and then entered the room with Pollux at his back. "Ah, Petunia, you are looking very lovely today," he said as he entered the room. She started to rise from her chair to greet him but he motioned her to stay seated and he kissed her cheek.
"Lord Black, it is always good to see you," Petunia said as she smiled at him. Arcturus thought it funny that she could say that and mean it now. It had not always been a truthful statement. "Arcturus, please allow me to introduce you to my friends," she said and then went through the pleasantries of introducing him to Corinne Branstone and Helena Granger. Her final introduction was that of Eleanor Branstone and Hermione Granger.
It was the two girls that Arcturus took a few moments to stare at. In Eleanor, he could see some of the Black family traits. Most extraordinary was that she had the gray eyes of their family. He was sure that this pleased Pollux. In contrast, Hermione reminded him more of Eugenie in looks. Hermione had the same hair color and texture as Eugenie and the same bone structure. Though her eyes were clearly the same as her mother, Helena.
"Shall we eat first and then discuss the matter at hand?" Arcturus asked those gathered. There was universal agreement once they heard the grumbling stomachs of both young girls. Each girl blushed rather prettily from their seats beside one another. He found it a good sign that the two were seated together, already wishing to stay close to one another. He glanced at the other two women and wished that he could just obliviate them and whisk the girls away into his custody, but that wouldn't do. Helena was an actual descendant of the House of Black. He should protect her. Corinne had married a Squib of the Black lineage and so she too was family by marriage and so he should protect her.
"Yes, lunch first," Arcturus said decisively as he smiled at the two little heiresses.
Next Chapter: Arcturus has a meeting at Gringott's to set up accounts for Eleanor and Hermione, and to declare their Magical Guardian. He also checks up on the accounts of the eldest Black Heiress, Ms. Nymphadora Tonks. The chapter after the next one is all about Leonis and Sirius!
