Chapter 63: Reception (Cassiopeia's Darlings)

Blackmoor, Essex, England

August 1, 1987

Cassiopeia Black smirked as she watched her protégé's at work. Her little darlings were spread out among the various guests gathering information.

Her two great-nieces Andromeda Tonks and Narcissa Malfoy were the greatest of her six protégés. Mrs. Andromeda Tonks had a great strength of character. It was almost impossible to make Andromeda do anything that she found morally repugnant. She had a strong moral compass that Cassiopeia found impressive considering the influences of her childhood. Cygnus Black III was not a good man and he was not a good influence on his children. Druella Black nee Rosier was a trollop who had flaunted her affairs before her daughters. Perhaps it was being exposed for so long to such morally bankrupt parents had given Andromeda that strong moral compass. Cygnus and Druella had certainly proven themselves to be a fine example of what not to become, what behavior to never emulate. Andromeda had refused to marry a man she didn't love and when her parents applied the pressure, she had eloped with the man she loved. Then she had run straight to Lord Arcturus Black III and had pled her case. Cassiopeia had been very proud of Andromeda for that. It had taken a spine of steel to stand before Lord Black and admit to having eloped and to then beg that he accept her choice of spouse. Now Andromeda was the mother figure of the three Black Heiresses. The oldest, Nymphadora, was her child born of her body. The girl was fourteen and a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her younger charges were Hermione Granger of House Black and Eleanor Branstone of House Black. The younger Black Heiresses were seven years old.

Andromeda stood with Lady Isaura Selwyn nee Malfoy. Cassiopeia didn't have to be part of the conversation to know that they were talking about Lord Selwyn's desire for reform in their government when it came to the protection and care of their children. It was a cause that Lady Isaura Selwyn was likewise passionate about. Cassiopeia knew that Andromeda was also passionate about the protection of magical children and their education.

Her eyes roamed until she found her second and favorite protégé. She finally caught sight of Narcissa as she moved between guests, laughing lightly at some quip from Lord Tiberius Pucey even as she moved toward where her husband stood with Lord Severus Prince.

Lady Narcissa Malfoy might resemble the Rosier side of her family, but at her core, she was a Black. Narcissa was what she would have wanted her own child to be if she had ever deigned to have any. She was beautiful, proud, and hard as a diamond. There was little that Narcissa wouldn't do for her loved ones, especially her children. Narcissa had one son born of her body, but she also had three charges who depended on her care. She was, in spirit, a mother of four. That was certainly how Narcissa saw it and it was how Cassiopeia had come to see it as well. Cassiopeia found it endlessly amusing that people thought of Narcissa as a delicate flower. They feared Lucius and Abraxas Malfoy, rightly so, and discarded Narcissa as beautiful but not a danger. Her Narcissa was currently the most dangerous person to bear the name Malfoy, and society did not realize it. It gave Cassiopeia endless amounts of amusement to watch people underestimate 'Cissa. She preferred Narcissa to her older sister, Andromeda, because Narcissa was more ruthless when crossed. Andromeda's moral code kept her from being truly ruthless.

Cassiopeia happily sipped at her champagne as she let her eyes roam again, looking for her third protégé. She found the Lady Sabrina Brown nee Parkinson, her Goddaughter, standing with Lady Clarisse Shafiq. It was easy to guess what Sabrina was conversing with the woman about. There was little doubt that it was about the attire of the many wedding guests. Lady Shafiq was a fashion consultant who often gave her thoughts to magazines such as Witch Weekly about the best and worst dressed in society.

Lady Sabrina Brown nee Parkinson was the third of her protégé's. Sabrina was the third of four children born to the late Lord Florent Parkinson and the late Lady Demeter Parkinson nee Carrow. Cassiopeia had the proud distinction of being Sabrina's Godmother. Sabrina was married to Lord Basil Brown and she was the mother of his two children, Lavender and Sorrel Brown. Sabrina was less altruistic than Cassiopeia's other little darlings. Though Sabrina did give to charity and she did give her time and voice to some causes, she was not as involved as Andromeda, Narcissa, Laurel, Olivia, and Evelyn. Sabrina was best known in the public mind for her fashion sense. Sabrina was always seen out in public in trendsetting fashions. The Parkinson family was renowned for their love of big shiny jewels and Sabrina was no exception to this. She often wore large pendants, large jeweled bracelets, and large rings. There were some in society who thought that Sabrina was all beauty and little substance. They thoroughly underestimated her dear Goddaughter. Sabrina could be every bit as ruthless as her dear 'Cissa.

Cassiopeia again allowed her eyes roam until they landed on her fourth protégé, the Lady Laurel Dunbar nee Brown. Laurel was standing with Mrs. Selene Lovegood nee Malfoy and with Lady Syndra Spungen nee Malfoy. Cassiopeia admitted to some surprise to see the Lady Syndra at Sirius's wedding. The Lady Syndra was in mourning for her late husband and tradition usually stipulated that Syndra would remain sequestered with family to see her for six months. However, there was some scandal in which the late Lord Spungen had cheated on his wife with Druella's niece Claire Zabini nee Rosier. Perhaps that explained Lady Syndra's shorter mourning period. The woman was dressed in elegant lavender robes, the color proclaiming that she was in half-mourning. Attending weddings and funerals was permitted to any woman who was in half-mourning.

Lady Laurel Dunbar nee Brown was the youngest child of the late Lord Sorrel Brown and the Dowager Lady Andrea Brown nee Pucey. She and Sabrina were sisters-by-law because of Sabrina's marriage to Laurel's oldest sibling, Basil Brown Lord Brown. Laurel married Aldrick Dunbar the new Lord Dunbar. Her husband had become Lord of House Dunbar just a few months prior when the former Lord, Osric Dunbar had passed away. Due to his passing, Laurel had stayed mostly sequestered, but today she had attended the wedding in lovely lavender robes. She was the mother of a single child, Fay Dunbar the Heir Dunbar and little Fay stood not far from her side conversing with Luna Lovegood. Fay was likewise dressed in the lavender robes of half-mourning. Cassiopeia had known Laurel's mother for many years. Andrea had been a childhood friend of Cassiopeia's youngest sibling, Dorea. Her sister had been so proud to be named as Laurel's Godmother. Cassiopeia had taken over the role of Godmother to Laurel when Dorea died in 1977. Laurel was a kind and conscientious young woman. She was probably the kindest-hearted of Cassiopeia's protégés.

"Checking on your little darlings?" the teasing voice of her cousin, Callidora Longbottom nee Black reached her ears. She slowly pulled her gaze away from Laurel and focused upon Callidora.

"Yes," she said with a rueful grin. "I imagine this is what being a parent must feel like. You are attuned to your children and their whereabouts and at random moments for seemingly no reason your eyes flit around looking for them."

Callidora laughed at that even as she raised her own champagne glass in a silent toast to her. "Yes, that is exactly what it is like," she said. "Cedrella has told me she has an almost otherworldly sense when it comes to her children and her many grandchildren."

"Cedrella is a blessed woman to have so many grandchildren," she proclaimed.

"House Weasley is blessed," Callidora agreed with a fond smile.

"So how many did you locate?" Callidora asked of her when she noticed that Cassiopeia had yet again begun to search the crowd.

"Four," she said easily enough. "Andromeda, Narcissa, Sabrina, and Laurel," Cassiopeia admitted.

Callidora was silent a moment, her own blue eyes scanning the crowd. "Ah, there is your Olivia," she said and motioned toward a group of witches standing near Dianthus flowers that were planted centuries ago by Lady Magenta Black nee Tripe.

The Lady Olivia Macmillan nee Greengrass was the fifth of her protégé's. Olivia had been born of the Greengrass family, the second child of the late Lord Demetrius Greengrass and the late Lady Regina Greengrass nee Vaisey. She was the second child of three. Cassiopeia had liked Olivia's mother. Regina had been a kind-hearted witch who devoted herself to charities when she was not busy with her children. The woman had died due to some wasting illness. Cassiopeia had often wondered if Regina had been cursed. She had left behind a grieving husband, two daughters, and a son. Olivia was the middle child and she had been the child damned by her father to remain with him to take care of him as he allowed himself to wallow in his grief over his deceased love. Cassiopeia did not understand the specifics of Olivia's love affair with her great-nephew, Sirius, and she didn't care to. It didn't matter. She had been Sirius's most recent known paramour and she was of a good family. It had been enough to make her Leonis's mother. It had been vital to Regulus's protection that the world believes that he had been born the son of Sirius Black III and Olivia Greengrass. Cassiopeia had wanted to keep the woman close, so she could ensure Leonis's well-being. Regulus had never had a good parent. Walburga had been a nasty piece of work and Orion had been of a softer disposition and just as abused by his wretched wife. Cassiopeia had decided early on that if Olivia was going to be Leonis's mother, then she would take the woman under her wing and mold her into the right sort of woman to be his mother. So far, Olivia had not disappointed her. The woman was very loving to the Black Heir. She didn't doubt that Olivia would do whatever she must to protect her two sons, both the Heir Black and the Heir Macmillan.

Olivia's attention seemed briefly diverted from her conversation with Lady Isobel Pucey and Cassiopeia quickly followed her gaze to see Olivia's youngest son, Ernest Macmillan, talking with Narcissa's Ward, Theodore Nott. It took a moment for Cassiopeia to remember that Theodore was Ernest's maternal cousin, the only son of the late Helena Nott nee Greengrass. Olivia's smile was tender as she looked over the young Lord Nott, no doubt comparing him with her beloved dead older sibling.

Sentimentality. It ruled them all.

No matter how much Cassiopeia hated it!

"And Evelyn?" she asked Callidora's help in tracking her sixth and final protégé.

Callidora smirked. "She's there, standing with Mrs. Miranda Vane, Mrs. Eleanor Davis, and Lady Felicity Boot."

Evelyn was the fourth born child of the late Lord Edward Turpin and the Dowager Lady Honoria Turpin nee Dunbar. Cassiopeia had chosen to cultivate Evelyn because she was the mother of Leonis's cousins, Daphne and Astoria Greengrass. She had known that she would need to form a supportive peer group around Leonis. She had to give him what he had not had the first time around. Since Daphne and Astoria were his first cousins through his mother's blood, it made sense to cultivate happy relations with Lady Evelyn so that the children could have play dates. Evelyn seemed to project a calm gentility. She was the damsel that Knights of Old swore themselves to great quests to rescue. She seemed delicate and unable to fend for herself, a precious rose that needed protecting. Men always forgot that roses had thorns. Evelyn possessed a sharp wit and a clever mind that amused Cassiopeia. Most of society tended to underestimate Evelyn in the same way they underestimated her dear Sabrina.

Cassiopeia smiled as she watched Evelyn conversing with the other women. She was completely at ease standing with Vane, Davis, and Boot. Each of the ladies looked like they were enjoying their conversation and Cassiopeia didn't doubt that Evelyn would be seen out and about with Mrs. Vane and Lady Boot more often. Mrs. Davis was Evelyn's younger sister and the two ladies were often seen in fashionable society together.

Mrs. Vane might well be worth cultivating. She was as loyal as a Hufflepuff, as was evidenced by all the years that she had proudly stood by the side of Alicia Abbott nee Vaisey and declared her innocent of the charges laid against her by Lord Abbott. It had damaged Mrs. Vane's reputation, but she had not abandoned her friend and cousin. That sort of loyalty was rare to be seen these days and very admirable. It reminded her of Arcturus and Pollux. Cousins who loved each other as dearly as if they were siblings. It reminded her of James Potter and Sirius Black, though she wished she could rid her mind of the comparison. Yet Miranda Vane was a Slytherin and she had often shown great wit and a playful cynicism while dealing with other society ladies and lords alike. She would make another great protégé if Cassiopeia could manage to cultivate her.

Lady Felicity Boot was a woman that she approved of her darlings befriending. She was the wife of Lord Matthew Boot. Matthew was a cousin of Evelyn's, which explained why Evelyn seemed to know the woman so well. Felicity was the mother of a single child, Terrence Boot the Heir Boot. The boy was around Leonis's age.

"What are you thinking?" Callidora asked her, voice sounding amused.

"I was thinking that Mrs. Vane and Lady Boot have children who are around Leonis's age. Perhaps I should arrange a few playdates for him or ask Evelyn to have Leonis over and arrange to host the Boot Heir and little Miss Vane as well," she admitted without an ounce of shame.

"Your Evelyn might just enjoy that," Callidora said with a laugh. "Come, let us stroll," she teased. "If we stay stationary any longer it will make the others nervous. They'll believe we are plotting world dominion."

Cassiopeia sniffed at that. "That would be terribly dull. Dominating the whole world. Terribly boring."

Her cousin laughed. "Agreed. I cannot think of a single reason why I would want to be saddled with such a responsibility. Is it not enough that I am trying to raise three boys to become proud and productive members of society? Surely that is enough on my part to secure the future. I don't care about the future of the world. I care about the future of my boys," she said decisively.

"How are your boys?" Cassiopeia asked with a curious tone of voice.

"Neville is flourishing," she said with great pride. He was the only one of her three great-grandsons who lived with her, so his progress was a great source of pride to her. "Michael visits more regularly now. I fought with Enid for a week about it before she gave in to my wishes. It was close though. I thought I would have to make it a true demand. I think I may have to make it a demand of Katheryn just, so I can see Stephen more often," the last she said with some frustration.

Cassiopeia frowned in confusion at that. Stephen's parents were Andrew Cornfoot and Katheryn Cornfoot nee Corner. Katheryn was Callidora's granddaughter through her daughter Enid Corner nee Longbottom. Andrew and Katheryn owned and ran the tourist line TerrorTours. She knew that both Andrew and Katheryn were often busy in their shop in Diagon Alley or guiding tours. Where was Stephen while these things were happening?

"They don't take him with them when they are playing Tour Guide do they?" she asked with a horrified whisper. Those tours were dangerous. Everyone who went on such a tour had to sign a waiver saying that the Cornfoot's were not responsible for any loss of limb or life.

"I hope not," Callidora said with a tone that was slightly angry. "I know that when they are in the shop he sits in a back room with books to read. He rarely interacts with other children and when he does it is usually only Michael. While it is good that they have a good rapport, it isn't good for Stephen to be so co-dependent upon Michael. He doesn't speak much with other children, even when he is surrounded by them," she said despairingly.

"Perhaps you should look deeper into his family situation. Gain Enid's help. You know she loves Katheryn, but that doesn't mean she'll tolerate her grandson being in an emotionally debilitating situation," Cassiopeia said decisively.

"You are right, and I do have plans to speak with Enid about the situation," Callidora assured her. "I intend to do it a few days from now once we have all calmed down from this wedding."

Cassiopeia's lips curled into a smirk as she let herself take in the sight of Sirius Black leading his bride out onto the dance floor. It had been a fun trick of magic to create a ballroom floor outdoors for the guests to dance upon. Cassiopeia had enjoyed the challenge of creating it to Melania's specifications. She let satisfaction fill her as she watched her least liked nephew twirl around the floor with Alicia Black in his arms.

"It is satisfying to see Sirius so well settled," Callidora said after they watched him dance for a few moments.

"Yes," Cassiopeia agreed.

She took a moment to truly look at Sirius. She took in the smile that curved his lips, the way that his blue eyes sparkled with happiness as he looked upon Alicia. She took in Alicia then and the way she smiled back, her brown eyes alight with happiness. Two broken people with missing pieces. Perhaps they would fuse together and make a great pair? Narcissa certainly believed they would.

She had never really understood Narcissa's inability to cut Sirius out of her heart. For years she had thought that this inability was the greatest flaw of her most beloved protégé. Now as she watched Sirius dance with Alicia, she wondered if she had been too harsh in her assessment? Perhaps Narcissa had been right to keep Sirius close to her heart.

A swift glance toward the two most influential males of the House Black, Lord Black, and her brother Pollux, told her that the two were congratulating each other on how well they had done in integrating Sirius back into the family. She fought the urge to laugh at that.

Foolish males!

Neither understood that it was first the children, first Leonis and Harry that gave Sirius the desire to rejoin his family. Then it was Narcissa's kindness, love, and gentle guidance. Sirius had chosen to follow the new path laid out for him by Arcturus and Pollux because it was a path that Sirius would need to walk so he could protect Harry and Leonis. There was nothing that Sirius Black wouldn't do for his children. Narcissa had seen that, cultivated it, and guided Sirius to expand upon that, to include her boys, and to include all other children of Black blood.

Sirius Black was a weapon for the House of Black. He would protect the children of their house with his dying breath. He was like one of the first of their line, those born in the ancient days when children were treasures of their family and must be protected and taught to survive. Those ancient males of House Black were fierce warriors and protectors. They would never have sold away their children for favors. They would never have allowed their children to become slaves to a Dark Lord with pretensions of greatness.

This man had forged himself into one of those ancient warriors alive in the modern day. Cassiopeia admired him now and was wary of him. Could Sirius be controlled? Arcturus thought so, but Cassiopeia knew better. No one would hold Sirius's leash unless he allowed them. Powerful males that could not be controlled were always dangerous to Cassiopeia's mind and Sirius had proven himself unpredictable in his youth. He would be again when it suited him.

Cassiopeia clapped politely along with the other guests as they watched the bride and groom dance. "He has come a long way from the arrogant brat who was so willing to turn his back on his blood," she conceded.


There shall be a bit of a time skip in my next chapter. It is finally time to get the kids ready to attend Hogwarts in the next few chapters. It felt fitting that this part end with us following Cassiopeia's pov because it was Cassie who went to save Regulus and it is she that has been raising Leonis and is protective of him, even from his own father. I want to thank everyone who has stuck with this story so far. I know it has been a long journey and that some have found it frustrating because they really wanted to see more of Leonis and the kids. As soon as we deal with the time skip, I promise you'll see the kids as the main characters more often than not.