Warning: This is a dialogue heavy chapter and it is full of female characters of the House of Black. More than one reviewer has asked for some sort of guide to help them figure out who is who so, I am including a guide of the ladies in this chapter.

Hesper Black nee Gamp: Widow of Sirius Black II. Mother of Arcturus Black III the Lord Black, Lycoris Black (deceased), and Regulus Black I (deceased). Grandmother of Lucretia Prewett nee Black and Orion Black (deceased). Great-Grandmother of Sirius Black III and Regulus Black II (deceased). Great-Great Grandmother of Leonis Black and Orion Black II.

Violetta Black nee Bulstrode: Widow of Cygnus Black II. Mother of Pollux Black, Cassiopeia Black, Marius Black, and Dorea Potter nee Black. Grandmother of Walburga Black (deceased), Alphard Black (deceased), Cygnus Black III, Antares Dudley Black, and James Potter (deceased). Great-Grandmother of Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black, Andromeda Tonks nee Black, Narcissa Malfoy nee Black, and Harry Potter. Great-Great Grandmother of Nymphadora Tonks and Draco Malfoy.

Lysandra Black nee Yaxley: Widow of Arcturus Black II. Mother of Callidora Longbottom nee Black, Cedrella Weasley nee Black, and Charis Crouch nee Black (deceased). Grandmother of Albert Longbottom (deceased), Enid Corner nee Longbottom, Arthur Weasley, Bilius Weasley (deceased), Garrett Weasley, Bartemius Crouch Sr., Celeste Smith nee Crouch, and Anthea Fawley nee Crouch. Great-Grandmother of Frank Longbottom, Alexander Corner, Katheryn Cornfoot nee Corner, William Weasley, Charles Weasley, Percy Weasley, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Ronald Weasley, Ginevra Weasley, Brastias Weasley, Caerdin Weasley, Caradoc Weasley, Lancelot Weasley, Ryons Weasley, Tantris Weasley, Avaon Weasley, Valens Weasley, Elyzabel Weasley, Bartemius Crouch Jr., Nathanial Smith, and Corinna Yaxley nee Fawley. Great-Great Grandmother of Neville Longbottom, Michael Corner, Stephen Cornfoot, Zacharias Smith, and Cordelia Yaxley.

Melania Black nee Macmillan: Wife of Arcturus Black III the Lord Black. Mother of Orion Black I (deceased) and Lucretia Prewett nee Black. Daughter-in-Law of Hesper Black nee Gamp.

Lucretia Prewett nee Black: Wife of Ignatius Prewett the Lord Prewett. She is the daughter of Arcturus Black III and Melania Black nee Macmillan. She is an aunt of Molly Weasley nee Prewett.

Cassiopeia Black: Daughter of Cygnus Black II and Violetta Black nee Bulstrode. She is the Guardian of Leonis Black the Heir Black.

Narcissa Malfoy nee Black: Wife of Lucius Malfoy the Heir Malfoy. Mother of Draco Malfoy. Guardian of Theodore Nott the Lord Nott, Blaise Zabini the Heir Rosier, and Dane Spungen of House Malfoy. Daughter of Cygnus Black III and Druella Black nee Rosier. Great-Granddaughter of Violetta Black nee Bulstrode.

Andromeda Tonks nee Black: Wife of Ted Tonks. Mother of Nymphadora Tonks. Daughter of Cygnus Black III and Druella Black nee Rosier. Great-Granddaughter of Violetta Black nee Bulstrode.

Callidora Longbottom nee Black: Widow of Harfang Longbottom (deceased, former Lord Longbottom). Grandmother of Frank Longbottom. Great-Grandmother of Neville Longbottom. Regent of House Longbottom. Daughter of Arcturus Black II and Lysandra Black nee Yaxley.

Cedrella Weasley nee Black: Wife of Septimus Weasley Lord Weasley. Mother of Arthur Weasley, Bilius Weasley, and Garrett Weasley. Grandmother of William Weasley, Charles Weasley, Percy Weasley, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Ronald Weasley, Ginevra Weasley, Brastias Weasley, Caerdin Weasley, Caradoc Weasley, Lancelot Weasley, Ryons Weasley, Tantris Weasley, Avaon Weasley, Valens Weasley, Elyzabel Weasley.

Meliora Burke nee Loveday: Widow of Pederan Burke. Mother of Pencast Burke the Heir Burke. Grandmother of Estelle Burke. She is the Mistress of Pollux Black and has been for over twenty years.


Chapter 43: Matchmakers

Blackmoor, Essex, England

February 1, 1987

"How could Arcturus have been so careless as to have agreed to such a thing?" the caustic voice of her great-grandmother, Violetta Black nee Bulstrode, caused Narcissa to wince slightly. A swift glance at her older sister, Andromeda, who was seated directly beside her told her that she was not alone in her reaction to their great-grandmother's loss of self-control. Still, if the woman was to lose her temper, then it really was better for her to do it now in this environment.

Narcissa was just one of many ladies born of the House of Black or married into the House of Black that were in attendance for this meeting. They had chosen Blackmoor because it had more than enough space to accommodate the lot of them and plenty of space to separate them; if forced separation became necessary. With Violetta's reaction, Narcissa began to fear that separation might just be forced before the afternoon was over.

"Violetta, are you suggesting that there was anything wrong with what my son decided?" Hesper Black nee Gamp, the mother of Arcturus Black III the Lord Black, asked of her sister-in-law. Hesper was the widow of the late Sirius Black II, the Lord Black, while Violetta was the widow of Cygnus Black II and the mother of Pollux Black, Cassiopeia Black, Marius Black, and Dorea Potter nee Black.

"You know there is," Violetta said with a sniff of disdain. "Honestly, Hesper, we retired ourselves to living in our Villa at Krk and then everything fell apart within the family. First Orion was murdered and then Regulus died, then James was murdered, then little Harry was placed with a filthy little Muggle, then Sirius was wrongfully imprisoned," she was interrupted then by Lysandra Black nee Yaxley, much to Narcissa's relief.

"Don't speak so about Sirius being wrongfully imprisoned; not when you used to needle Hesper about her Great-Grandson being a convict," Lysandra chided her, and then a smirk curved her lips. "Besides, I think Hesper owes you a bit of payback. After all, isn't it your Great-Granddaughter that is sitting in Azkaban for her own crimes? Or will you try to claim that Bellatrix is innocent?"

Narcissa felt Andromeda grip her hand at that moment and she nodded slightly to show her older sister that she would keep silent, for the moment. However, much she didn't like Grandma Violetta's words, she also didn't like Lysandra bringing up Bellatrix. It hurt to think of her oldest sister; of what she once was and what she had become. Sometimes she wished that Bellatrix's sentence could be commuted from prison to life in a facility that specialized with patients with problems of the mind. Then perhaps mind-healers could help her sister or at the least study her and discover what went wrong with Bellatrix so that it might be caught by others and perhaps prevented in them.

"Bellatrix didn't get a proper trial," Violetta defended. "You read the papers the same as I did Lysandra. You know perfectly well that her trial was just the Ministry pounding their chests and showing that they were punishing Death Eaters. Bellatrix didn't get a proper defense; she was nonsensical during her trial, muttering about her child."

Lysandra's eyes softened slightly at that. "I do agree that Bellatrix's trial was a mockery," she admitted. "However, you know that Bellatrix deserves her sentence."

Violetta glared at her sister-in-law, and Narcissa was just wondering if her Great-grandmother was about to hex her Great-Great Aunt Lysandra when Lady Black chided them.

"Enough of this, we are not here to discuss Bellatrix," Melania Black chided. "We are here to discuss the current arrangements for Eleanor, Hermione, and Orion, and to discuss potential brides for Sirius."

Narcissa felt Andromeda's relief when the older women seemed to settle themselves. How Hesper, Violetta, and Lysandra managed to live together was a mystery to her. She was sure that the women must argue like this every day. Perhaps they enjoyed it? Narcissa thought it would be exhausting to live every day arguing with one's housemates.

The Great Three; as Hesper, Violetta, and Lysandra were called within the family, had chosen to live in a Villa together on the island of Krk. The island was in the Adriatic Sea and a bridge connected the island to the city of Rijeka on the mainland. Apparently the three sisters-in-law enjoyed living away from Britain and the women enjoyed traveling.

"How could you have even suggested that a," Violetta paused, disgust clearly written over her face, "a Werewolf would be good enough to raise little Orion?"

Lysandra too, looked disgusted by the thought of a Werewolf raising a child of their house. "It is a troubling idea," she agreed with Violetta.

Melania glared at them. "I was thinking that Mr. Lupin, despite his affliction, has raised Orion for six years without harming him. Orion is happy, healthy, and has been thriving in Mr. Lupin's care," she said pointedly. "I also note that removing Orion from Mr. Lupin would likely only bring his hatred and resentment."

"He's a child, he would get over it," Violetta said brusquely.

"Yes mother, just as Marius got over your disownment of him," Cassiopeia Black drawled as she glared at her mother. Narcissa didn't bother to fight the urge to smile. She was terribly fond of her Great-Aunt Cassiopeia and she agreed with the woman.

Violetta flinched as the barb struck home. "He was a Squib," she said in defense.

"He was your son," Cassiopeia argued. "Thank Morgana for Pollux! He had assigned a House-elf to watch over Marius just in case you and father did reject him when he turned eleven. Marius would have ended up dead in a ditch or worse if it had not been for Pollux being so willing to take care of him and beg Lord Black for mercy."

"We are not here for this," Violetta pointed out, refusing to speak any more about the child that she had given up for dead the moment she had learned he was a Squib.

Cassiopeia looked angry but didn't refute her mother's claim. She was correct. They were not there to speak about the wrongs that had been done to Marius. Narcissa didn't believe that Violetta would ever think that she had really done anything wrong.

"While I believe that Melania meant well for Orion, there are a few points that are troubling about Mr. Lupin raising Orion," Narcissa expressed carefully. When she saw that she had the attention of all the ladies present she continued. "The first is that he is a Werewolf, but as I understand it he has taken all precautions in the past to ensure that Orion was safe. Now that Sirius and Lord Black have settled things with Mr. Lupin, young Orion shall be staying with Sirius or with Lord Black during Mr. Lupin's full moon days," she then looked to Melania. "Is this not correct?"

Melania smiled slightly relieved that Narcissa had chosen to lend her voice to these matters. "You are correctly informed Narcissa," she assured Pollux's youngest Granddaughter.

Narcissa smiled at Melania and then continued, "Perhaps some are more upset about Mr. Lupin being a Werewolf, but I confess that I am little interested in his affliction; so long as Orion is kept safe from Mr. Lupin during those days when his affliction overrules his good sense," she held up her hand as Violetta and Lysandra looked like they would protest. "Mr. Lupin is raising Orion in France and the social climate there favors people like Mr. Lupin. Veela's, Werewolves, and anyone with a creature inheritance or affliction is treated well; they have rights there that they do not in Britain," she reminded the ladies.

With a grumble Violetta subsided. Lysandra nodded her agreement with Narcissa's point. A glanced toward the other women told her that they were listening and withholding their judgement for the moment.

"As I said, I am not the least concerned that he is a Werewolf. However, I am very concerned that he is not a Black, nor is he married to a Black," she declared.

There were several murmurs of agreement to this. Clearly Mr. Remus Lupin's lack of ties to their family was what had been on the mind of several of the lady's present.

"He swore the vow of Vassalage to Sirius," Melania told them, but her voice sounded weak as though she knew even as she spoke that the women would not be the least bit reassured by this.

"Yes, to Sirius, and we still do not trust Sirius to do right by the children," Cassiopeia declared. Callidora Longbottom nodded in agreement with that as did Cedrella Weasley.

Narcissa thought their judgement of Sirius to be more than a little bit unfair. It was just like parents and grandparents to judge children for the follies of their youth. Oh, she didn't deny that Sirius had been a haughty and brash child but then they all had been haughty and at times brash as children. Sirius just took it to an artform and had such unfortunate luck. Narcissa suspected that the fates loved Sirius; why else would they play with his life so? Some fools believed that if one was loved by the fates then the so loved would have a happy life but Narcissa knew better. Having the eye of the fates upon you did not give you their favors, instead it meant that they wished to play with and test you, repeatedly. So, Sirius was beloved by them, she was sure of it.

"You judge him too harshly," Andromeda spoke up from beside her. "You think that he should just come out of Azkaban and immediately be able to act the proper parent who never makes mistakes? No parent can honestly claim to have never made mistakes, but few have repented for mistakes the way that Sirius has done. He wants to be a good father and he was robbed of years with Leonis and Orion while he was in Azkaban. Although, even if he had not been sent to Azkaban, you would have robbed him of time with Leonis and do not bother to deny it," Andromeda glared at Cassiopeia.

"I don't intend to deny it," Cassiopeia declared. "I do not trust Sirius to do right by Leonis. He certainly didn't by Regulus."

Narcissa felt her breath catch for a moment as she briefly thought of young Regulus, lost to them forever. She pushed thoughts of Regulus aside. Now was not the time. "Sirius was a child Auntie Cassie," she reminded the woman in a calm and even voice that belied her roiling emotions. "It does not excuse his actions toward Regulus, but it sure doesn't give you the right to use those actions as your basis for how he will treat Leonis. He loves the boy," she reminded the ladies in the room. "If he didn't, he would not have obeyed the edicts of Lord Black regarding his healing, regarding visitation with the children, regarding everything."

"You've become his grand defender?" Cassiopeia asked of her.

"Someone has to, and you are wrong about this and I think you know it," Narcissa said evenly. Cassiopeia didn't concede defeat but she didn't argue anymore either. Narcissa knew that this meant that Cassiopeia would consider what Narcissa had said about Sirius. It was a small victory of sorts.

"Vassalage is not enough," Hesper said softly, returning the ladies to the problem of Remus Lupin raising Orion. "I understand why Arcturus agreed. Partly it was because of what Melania had reasoned and the other part is that through the laws of Wizarding France, Mr. Lupin did have rights to the child as his primary guardian for five years of the child's life. He was there when the child was born and the mother of the child had legally placed the boy in his care. Oh, we can fight it of course, but it will take at least a year if not more to get it sorted out. By then, Orion will have had enough time to grow embittered toward all of us for removing him from Mr. Lupin."

"Then why not simply kill Mr. Lupin?" Violetta asked. "Kill him and then we are the only family left for Orion."

Narcissa glared at her Great-Grandmother and she gripped the hand of her sister Andromeda to keep her from drawing her wand on the woman. Narcissa was suddenly reminded that this was the woman whom had arranged the marriage of her grandpapa Pollux to Irma Crabbe. It was a truly unhappy union. For one uncharitable moment, she wondered if her Great-Grandfather Cygnus Black II had died so young just to escape Violetta. Then she remembered the stories about how deeply in love the two had been and she was grateful that she had not spoken such an uncharitable thought aloud.

"Because dearest Violetta," Lucretia Prewett nee Black declared. "We of the House of Black do not kill those who have not harmed us. Mr. Lupin, whether you like him or not, has done a very great deed for our family. He raised Orion and kept him safe, even from the beast he becomes once a month. He deserves rewards from us not attempted murder."

"Well spoken," Melania agreed with her daughter. "Put thoughts of murder from your mind Violetta, it will not happen. He is a Vassal of our house and as such we are honor bound to protect him, not harm him."

"Clever that," Violetta admitted begrudgingly. "It stays our hands quite nicely."

Narcissa rather thought that was what Sirius had intended. Her cousin could be quite cunning when he wished to be. He had always proven so as a youth with his pranks and then as an Auror with his successes in combat against mostly superior odds. He had survived Azkaban and was healing. He would exceed the expectations of these women, she did not doubt it. Sirius would never reign over the House of Black as its Lord, but Narcissa was not a fool. She could see what Lord Black was doing even if the others could not. Life with Lucius and Abraxas had taught her what to look for and she had seen it. Lord Black was slowly and subtly grooming Sirius to become the Regent for House Black should the worst happen and he not live to see Leonis reach his majority. Narcissa could not find a single flaw with Lord Black's choice. The House of Black needed a new direction. That had become clear years ago. Sirius as Regent would ensure such a thing. Perhaps that was why Sirius had been sorted into Gryffindor House. It had always bothered her that her rather intelligent and even sly cousin could have become a Gryffindor. The only thing she could think was that the Sorting Hat had decided that Sirius was brash and brave and therefore sorted him there. She wouldn't be surprised if the hat had considered Slytherin before deciding Gryffindor.

"How would we be able to satisfy ourselves that Orion will truly be cared for with Mr. Lupin?" Melania asked of the lady's present. "Aside from the obvious that he already is quite healthy and happy?"

Silence reigned for several moments with each woman mulling over the question. Narcissa drank from her warm raspberry tea as she thought over the problem. Vassalage was not enough. Mr. Lupin was still considered an outsider, even with his sworn vow. Oh, but then part of the problem was that the vow had been sworn to Sirius and for half of the family Sirius was straddling the fence of being one of them and being lost to them. Grudges really were tedious. She had expected that the ladies of the house would hold their grudges against Sirius, but she had hoped that they would let them go. It would be so much more practical if they let them go. These grudges could get in the way of progress and peace in the family.

"Marriage," Lysandra said. "Sirius has already bound Mr. Lupin close to the family with his vow to be Sirius's Vassal. It stays our hands against him because he would now fall under our protection until such a time as he does something to harm Sirius or Orion. The tie is strong but it is not enough. We need to make him a member of House Black. To do this, he must marry a woman of our house."

Violetta scowled at that. "To think that it has come to this," she said with disgust dripping in her tone. "That we are now willing to marry one of our girls off to a monster."

"If you have another idea Violetta dear, then I would very much like to hear it," Hesper growled back.

Narcissa watched her Great-Grandmother subside then. The woman grumbled about killing Remus Lupin but the rest of them refused to pay her any mind. Instead each of them mulled over the idea of Remus Lupin marrying a woman of the House of Black.

"There are not many of marrying age that we could choose from," Lucretia pointed out.

"No, but there are three," Callidora replied pensively. "Acamar's daughters; Soleil, Polaris, and Ascella. I do believe that Soleil is a Professor at Beauxbaton's.

Lysandra scowled at the mention of the three girls. "They shouldn't be considered family," she said in an angry tone of voice. They are the granddaughters of that seductress Elzire Cazalet. She was not faithful to her husband, Oberon Black."

Narcissa frowned at that. She had heard this accusation before when she was a young girl. Lysandra had a deep loathing for Oberon Black's widow and her son. She had idly wondered why but had put it out of her mind for years. Now she found her curiosity revived.

"This again," Violetta groaned. "Lysandra darling, just because Elzire attempted to seduce your husband, doesn't mean that her child and children are not of the House of Black."

"Father was a very handsome man," Cedrella said. "I am sure that Elzire was not the only woman to ever attempt to seduce him."

"Of course not, but she's different. Elzire was family through her marriage to Oberon," Lysandra argued.

Though slightly amused by Lysandra's distress, she could also appreciate the woman's distaste for a woman who would attempt to seduce her husband. Narcissa's own husband was incredibly handsome. She knew all too well that there were women out there who wished very much to take her place in Lucius's bed. "So we should consider Soleil, Polaris, or Ascella for potential brides for Mr. Lupin?" she asked the other ladies.

"It could not hurt to send a carefully worded missive to Melusine," Hesper said naming the mother of the three women in question. "She could tell us if her daughters are being courted and if not then perhaps we can open a dialogue with her to ascertain if she would welcome the idea of one of them marrying Mr. Lupin."

The other ladies nodded their agreement. "In the meantime we should remove Orion from Mr. Lupin's care," Violetta said.

"Ladies, I think that it is time to accept the facts. Whether you like it or not, Remus Lupin has been given the honor of raising Orion Black," Melania pushed. "Orion does not have God-parents and this is where we might show some influence. We need to pick a proper God-mother for him and two God-fathers. Considering how distressed all of you have been about Orion living with Mr. Lupin, I imagine that Lord Black and that Sirius would be willing to accommodate you if you could come up with some worthwhile candidates for God-parents."

"At least with proper God-parents, the child would have some protection from the beast," Violetta sniffed.

Lysandra nodded her agreement. "I recommend Cygnus be one of the God-father's," she stated.

Narcissa shook her head in the negative, "Absolutely not!" she exclaimed.

"Out of the question," Andromeda seconded her.

Lysandra scowled at them, "Why ever not?" she asked. "I would think you would be thrilled that I mentioned your father as a potential choice."

Andromeda shook her head while Narcissa chose to give a verbal response, "My father has already made it quite plain that he despises the new additions to the family. Naming him as a God-Parent for Orion, Eleanor, or Hermione would be unacceptable."

"He was a terrible God-Father to Regulus!" Cassiopeia sniffed. "He kept ignoring the boy in favor of trying to goad, prod, and push at Sirius instead. He would make a horrible God-Parent to any child."

Violetta scowled at her daughter. "You don't hold much loyalty for your nephew," she stated.

"I am not blinded by familial devotion," Cassiopeia shot back. "I know what Cygnus is, and a good man he is not."

Violetta glanced toward Narcissa and Andromeda as though expecting them to defend their father. She looked astounded when neither chose to speak in his defense. Narcissa almost laughed at Violetta's expression of surprised disdain. She knew what her father was. He was not a good man. Had her father been a kinder man, then Bellatrix would have been allowed to marry her soulmate. Instead, she had been forced by their father to marry Rodolphus Lestrange. Narcissa shuddered to think on what her eldest sister's life had been like. Parted from her soulmate, forced to marry a man she didn't love, then because that new husband was incapable of reproduction Bellatrix had been forced to accept his brother as a lover. Then Bellatrix had been introduced to the Dark Lord and at the insistence of their father and her husband she had been branded as one of his followers. Bella had gone on to do terrible things, but they were things she might never have done if their father had been a better man. The "what ifs" would choke her if she let them.

"I recommend Marius as a God-Parent for Orion," Cassiopeia suggest.

"Your brother is a Squib!" Violetta shrieked in outrage.

"Yes, and Orion's mother was a Muggle," Cassiopeia reminded her mother.

Narcissa nodded along seeing where Cassiopeia was coming from. "Marius is distinguished in the Muggle World and the Wizarding World," she said. "He would know how to help Orion navigate in both worlds. He is also likely to not come across as some sort of blood supremacist, which will appease Sirius and Mr. Lupin. Furthermore, Marius is raising Harry Potter and Mr. Lupin was a friend to James and Lily Potter. The idea of naming him God-father to Orion so that he might get to see Harry will intrigue him enough to agree."

Cassiopeia gave her a small smile, pride in her eyes. "Precisely dear," she said.

Melania waved her wand and parchment, a quill, and an ink well floated toward her. "Very well," she said picking up the quill and dipping it into the ink. "Marius seems an inspired choice," she said as she wrote his name down under a category that simply said Orion.

"His next God-parent needs to be a Wizard then," Lucretia pointed out.

"I agree," Callidora responded. "Marius would only be able to help Orion so far in the Wizarding World. He would need help from a Wizard."

"It needs to someone that both Sirius and Mr. Lupin will not consider a potential threat," Andromeda pointed out to them.

Narcissa nodded. "Sirius does not trust most of the House of Black," she sighed and held up her hand begging for silence when Hesper, Violetta, Lysandra, and Lucretia bristled at that. "I won't argue this. It is simply a fact. He does not trust most us, and so we must be careful in our selections."

Cassiopeia nodded her agreement as did Meliora Burke and Cedrella Weasley. "I think," began Cedrella. "that Lucretia's Ignatius should be considered as a potential God-Parent."

"My husband?" Lucretia asked in surprise.

Cedrella smiled. "Yes, I do believe that it would appease Sirius and Mr. Lupin. The Lord Prewett is known to be a kind and generous man. He has a fine reputation. House Prewett is a family with no associations with Dark Wizards and Dark Lords. Two sons of that house died as heroes in the last war fighting against Death Eaters."

"Yes, Fabian and Gideon," Narcissa mentioned. "I believe that Sirius and Mr. Lupin may have known them since the Prewett twins were in Gryffindor House. Though I do think that they graduated before Sirius began Hogwarts," she said remembering the handsome red-headed twins from her own school days. She remembered Bellatrix being tutored by Fabian when Bellatrix and Fabian were seventh year students. She remembered the way that Bellatrix used to look at Fabian when she thought no one was looking.

"Ignatius, it is then," Melania said and swiftly wrote his name beneath that of Marius. "Now what about a God-mother?"

Narcissa watched as the ladies began to argue over who might be a good candidate. When Olivia Macmillan was offered up as a possibility, Narcissa voiced her objection. "Olivia is my dear friend and she would make a fine God-mother, but I think that her past relationship with Sirius should be considered here."

Andromeda voiced her own agreement. "It would not be in good taste to have his former lover as God-mother to his child by another woman."

The others swiftly agreed and soon after the bickering started up again with more names being thrown about. Narcissa glanced at Andromeda and they shared a commiserating look before Narcissa threw in a candidate of her own, "What about Selene Lovegood?"

"Your sister-in-law?" Lucretia asked.

"Yes," Narcissa replied.

"Why isn't she married to that idiot who writes that magazine about imaginary animals?" Lysandra asked.

"The Quibble," Violetta supplied.

"The Quibbler," Narcissa corrected with a slight wince. "And yes, she is married to Xenophilius Lovegood, but I am not proposing Xenophilius be God-Parent. I am proposing that Selene be God-mother. She is intelligent," she pointedly ignored Violetta's mutterings that she couldn't be that intelligent to have married a twit like Xeno Lovegood. "she is poised, and she is a proud woman of House Malfoy."

This last caused the ladies to pause and think for a few moments. It was Andromeda that drove the idea home in all their minds. "Because Selene is married to Xenophilius Lovegood, Sirius would never consider her nefarious."

"Selene, it is," Melania said after sharing a look with each woman in the room. She wrote her name down beneath the Orion category. She then raised her head and looked each lady in the eye before continuing. "Now what about Eleanor and Hermione?"

At this Andromeda spoke up, "I have been named as a God-mother as well as Magical Guardian of both girls."

"You?" Violetta asked and it was clear that she did not approve.

"Lord Black thought it best," Andromeda said gently, and only her grip upon Narcissa's hand belied her ire with their great-grandmother.

Narcissa nodded her agreement. "A practical choice. You are the mother of a very talented daughter," she praised her sister. "Also, your marriage to a Muggleborn has put you in a great position to be able to understand Eleanor and Hermione, who both come from the Muggle World."

"Talented daughter?" Violetta asked.

"Nymphadora is a Metamorphmagus," Narcissa was delighted to inform Violetta. She loved her little niece and enjoyed being able to brag about her.

Violetta looked surprised and delighted at the prospect. Narcissa wondered if that would be enough to make Violetta to get over years of ingrained prejudice. Nymphadora was a Half-blood and Violetta had been born of House Bulstrode. The Bulstrode's looked down on anyone that was not a Pureblood.

"That is decided then," Melania said bringing them back on track. "What of the other arrangements?"

"Pollux Black has been named Godfather to Eleanor along with Septima Vector for her God-mother," Andromeda stated and watched as the other ladies nodded approval and the names were written down beneath Andromeda's.

"Vector?" Hesper murmured. "I recognize the name. There is a Vector who teaches at Hogwarts now. Arithmancy, yes?"

"Yes, that would be Septima. She was born Septima Pucey. She married Dardanos Vector after graduating from Hogwarts. He was killed some months after the wedding," Andromeda explained.

"What of the other girl?" Meliora asked. "Pollux has not told me who were named God-Parents for the other child," she admitted.

"I have been named God-mother for Hermione," Narcissa informed them. Her gray gaze dared the other ladies to speak a word against her being Hermione's second God-mother. Fortunately for them the other ladies didn't voice the slightest disapproval.

"And who is Hermione's God-father?" Meliora asked.

Narcissa watched her sister curiously as Andromeda looked to Melania and the two women seemed to hold a private silent conversation. At last it was Andromeda who chose to answer. "Sirius Black."

Narcissa couldn't help the giggle that escaped her lips as the other ladies began talking. Meliora, Lucretia, Cedrella, and Callidora seemed to approve of the idea while Hesper, Violetta, Lysandra, and Cassiopeia disapproved.

"I think it's perfect," Narcissa said and the other ladies stopped their arguing. "Sirius knows more about Muggles than most of us do and Pollux is a quintessential Pureblood Wizard. Hermione will get a more well-rounded view of the world with Andromeda, Sirius, and I as her God-Parents. And we should not forget that Andromeda is her Magical Guardian," she reminded them. The reminder that Sirius was not going to be the magical guardian of either of the two young heiresses seemed to appease the other ladies.

"Very well, and now for our last order of concern," Melania said and she winced. "Prospective brides for Sirius Black," she declared to the surprise of the other ladies.

"A bride for Siri?" Lucretia asked.

"Yes," Melania said. "His health is almost recovered and it is the desire of Lord Black that Sirius have the right sort of wife. Twice now, Sirius has managed to have children out of wed-lock. Both sons have been legitimized, but we don't want any other chances of illegitimate children."

Hesper sighed. "While we are at Blackmoor, we should examine the family tapestry to see if there any other children of House Black that we do not know about."

There were a few snickers and nods of agreement at that. The family tapestry that was displayed at Blackmoor was made of ancient magic that was very much like the magic used for their portraits today. The tree was self-updating and one could not use magic on it to hide anything from view. Narcissa was grateful for that last fact, since there had been some in the family who had accused her mother Druella of having had an affair to produce Narcissa. However, the tree at Blackmoor proved that Narcissa was the product of Cygnus Black III and Druella Black.

"Lord Black feels that marriage will help to settle Sirius," Melania went on to express.

Lucretia laughed at that. Narcissa didn't blame her. It was hard to imagine Sirius handling an arranged marriage well. Oh, she could imagine him happily married and being a devoted husband and father. Despite these two instances of Sirius having children out of wed-lock she knew that Sirius was not a cad. It was true he rarely lacked in female attention, but this was due more to his striking good looks and natural charm. Women came running to him, he rarely had to work for a woman's attention. She remembered when it used to bother him the great attention that girls gave him. She could easily imagine that it sometimes still bothered him. Sirius wanted love and happiness, he always had. All those girls flocking to him gave others the wrong impression of him. It made people believe he was some sort of womanizer. He wasn't. Sirius had been tragically in love with Leonis's mother. She wondered if perhaps he still was in love with Olivia. It was one reason why she rejected the idea of her friend as Orion's God-mother. Orion's mother had been a one night affair when Sirius had been worn down and in need of comfort and even then, it had been Orion's mother, a woman named Sylvia, who had initiated their night of lovemaking.

"I believe that Sirius would be a devoted husband, to the right woman," Narcissa defended her cousin. "Let us do our best to find him the right woman then."

This sparked intense debate with the ladies naming and then ruling out some of the ladies. "No, she's just barely out of Hogwarts," Andromeda argued about one choice.

"She's a great beauty," Hesper argued.

"Yes, but she's also a child in comparison to Sirius," Andromeda pointed out.

"She's not that many years younger than he is. He's only 28," Hesper insisted.

"Yes, but he's also spent six years in Azkaban," Narcissa snapped. "Despite how Andromeda and I begged for a trial for him, he spent years there," she scowled at the plate of biscuits as though it had personally insulted her beloved Lucius. "He needs a woman who can help shoulder that burden. Who can help him carry that weight."

Andromeda agreed. "Most of you have not tried to know who he is now. You keep judging him by the fifteen-year-old boy he once was. Most of you have not even seen him since he turned sixteen and went to live with the Potter's," she reminded them. "He's not that fifteen-year-old boy."

"Then who would you suggest for a bride for him?" Hesper demanded of them.

Andromeda seemed to flounder for a response then. Narcissa did not blame her. It was hard to think of a woman of appropriate age and strength of character who could be a good helpmate to Sirius.

He needed more than that though, Narcissa realized. What her cousin needed was a pretty woman who was a damsel-in-distress. Such a damsel would appeal to Sirius's heroic tendencies. She also had to have a strong character to be able to be a proper partner for him. She had to have a personality that was engaging or Sirius would grow bored of her and come to resent being married to her. He would already not be thrilled with the idea of an arranged marriage as it was. Perhaps if it could be spun in such a way that despite the arrangement she was his choice. That could work. Still such a lady was hard to come by.

She frowned in thought for several moments as the other ladies talked about their own ideas. Her Great-Grandmother wanted him to marry Hyacinth Bulstrode and Andromeda was arguing against it because he was already related to the Bulstrode's through Violetta. It was as she idly listened to her Great-grandmother and Andromeda arguing, with a few side comments thrown in by the other ladies, that she seized upon the perfect candidate. "Alicia Abbott," she said.

"Hmm?" Callidora and Cedrella responded

"What?" Melania asked.

"Who?" demanded Hesper, Violetta, and Lysandra.

"Alicia Abbott?" Andromeda asked of her.

Narcissa smiled. "Alicia Abbot was born into the House of Vaisey. She was sorted into Slytherin House. She was a classmate of Sirius's, though I doubt he noticed her. He rarely looked at Slytherin's back then," she explained.

"I seem to recall a bit of the Abbott family scandal involving their treatment of her and her child," Cassiopeia said. "She married Johnathon Abbott and had a child with him, but Johnathon died before the birth of the child and while she was a fresh widow and pregnant with a child of House Abbott, they tossed her out."

"They tossed her out?" Lucretia asked in a horrified tone of voice.

"Oh yes," Meliora said picking up the tale. "The Head of House Abbott had approved the match on paper, but apparently, he had never liked the fact that Johnathon had wanted to marry her. I have heard it said that Lord Abbott hated her because she was a Slytherin, while other rumors have said that he disliked her due to some slight he once suffered from House Vaisey. It is no secret that the current Lord Abbott often accused House Vaisey of being Death Eaters in hiding during the war."

"But to toss her out while she was pregnant with a child of House Abbott?" Lucretia asked still clearly horrified.

Cassiopeia nodded her agreement. "Yes, it is terrible," she said. "Alaric Vaisey, Alicia's brother, stepped in immediately and gave her a home for herself and her child, but Lord Abbott has proclaimed far and wide that he will not recognize Alicia's child as being a member of his House. He insists that the little girl is not Johnathon's."

There were gasps at that bit of news. "Is there any truth to his claim?" Hesper asked.

"None," Cassiopeia assured. "I have seen little Hannah and she resembles both her mother and Johnathon Abbott."

"There are potions that could have made the child resemble Johnathon, it does not make Lord Abbott's assertion a lie," Hesper argued.

"Then perhaps we should rule her out?" Cedrella asked.

"No," Narcissa insisted. "I think this scandal is actually the sort of thing that would draw Sirius to her. It's a mystery of sorts."

"And she's a damsel in distress. Either she's guilty of taking a lover and the child is not Johnathon Abbott's or it is and Lord Abbott has been unscrupulous toward her,' Andromeda stated.

"He was unscrupulous regardless since she's been denied her stipend and everything that was settled upon her by Johnathon in his Last Will and Testament," Cassiopeia pointed out.

"But if she's truly a scarlet woman," Hesper protested.

Melania cut her off then, "Mother," she said addressing her mother-in-law, "I believe that we can approach Alicia Abbott about this and if she is interested in clearing her name and that of her child then she will cooperate with us."

Hesper seemed appeased by this. "Very well, but if the child proves to be other than an Abbott then we must forget this woman as a prospect for our Sirius."

"Agreed," Melania said and Narcissa likewise voiced her consent.

"Narcissa, since you have championed this woman's cause, you should be the one to approach her," Callidora suggested.

Narcissa gave her consent and then the ladies slowly diverged into other topics of interest within the family. It was agreed upon that they should check the family tapestry that hung in Blackmoor because it could not be tampered with to hide anything from them. If there were any more children of the House of Black that they did not know about then they would be revealed by the tapestry. Narcissa hoped that there were no more horrible surprises awaiting them as she followed Cassiopeia from the lounge to check the tapestry.


Next Chapter: The Ladies of House Black examine the family Tapestry at Blackmoor.