Chapter 10: Time Moves On
Sirius was on the war path after Narcissa turned up that night. The next day he was in Gringotts with his account manager who gladly pulled the marriage contract that had been drawn up for Narcissa's and Lucius' marriage. Sirius perused the contract and grinned. His grandfather may have been ill at the time but it appeared that the former Lord of House Black was not to be trifled with.
The old man had saw to it there were numerous clauses in the contract that would allow him to not only annul the marriage, but also demand the return of the dowry House Black paid, which had been a substantial sum. He also found a clause that would strip Lucius Malfoy of all parental rights of any child born during the marriage. Sirius grinned at this and request his account manager proceed with the annulment. The process took three days to be completed, and before the new year rolled around Narcissa was once again Narcissa Black.
With Lucius' parental rights stripped away, Draco too was placed back under the Black family, his last name also being changed to Black. When Lucius received the news he was furious and stormed to Black manor to protest. Sirius met him there, not wanting the Death Eater to know where Harry or Narcissa and her son were. Lucius demand the return of his wife and child calling them his 'Property'. That had been a mistake. Lucius wasn't aware that while in the Black Manor, Sirius had complete access to the Black Family magic.
His rage was unleashed when Lucius was forcibly thrown from the foyer and out past the wards around the Manor. The man landed on his back with a thud rolling backward. Sirius stormed out of the Manor to the edge of the wards, "If you ever come back to this manor or attempt to contact Narcissa or Draco, I will consider it an act of war against my family a will issue a Blood Feud against you! And if you're under the delusion that any of our fellow pureblood houses will side with your 'Noble' house over one of the few 'Ancient and Most Noble' then you are a fool. Get out of my sight!" He barked before turning and heading back inside.
Lucius left having no choice but to follow the stipulations with the annulment. Due to one stipulation, the return of the dowry, Lucius was forced to surrender other assets as forms of payment since he didn't have the means to pay it back in full. One of the assets he chose was the house elf that assisted Narcissa in escaping Malfoy Manor, Dobby. However just as Narcissa said when the house elf arrive he was barely standing. One of his feet had been smashed, his face was swollen from an apparent beating, his hand had multiple bandages and broken fingers.
Narcissa nearly fainted when she saw the state the elf was in. She thanked him profusely for helping her escape and asked what he would like as a reward. The elf had trouble speaking but eventually told them all, he'd like to become 'The Great Harry Potter's' personal elf. Minerva consented to this and so they removed all of the current bonds the elf had attached to him and allowed him to bond with the boy. The elf was then immediately put into the care of Nora and ordered not to lift a finger until he had completely recovered.
Six years had gone by since that day. Albus Dumbledore was still at large but he was in hiding. Sirius had had a modest Manor built a few kilometers away from McGonagall manor. The new manor had been equipped with various defensive wards taken directly from the Black Family Grimoire one of which that would petrify anyone who enter the wards with the intent to harm the residence beneath it. Even Ragnok and Nagnok, The Potter and Black Family account managers, assisted in creating the wards aroung the new home; having allowed goblin wards used around the new home. The two account managers even had these wards added around McGonagall manor.
With their homes secure Minerva began her post as Headmistress of Hogwarts, implementing numerous changes in the castle. While Minerva was at Hogwarts Harry was left with Remus and Sirius who had moved into the new home. Sirius allowed Narcissa and Draco to live with them in order to ensure Lucius would not be able to get to them. Harry and Draco had become fast friends. Both boys showed an eagerness to learn, which had pleased Minerva greatly. After learning to read at three Harry would devour the books in the McGonagall Manor library reminding his guardians of Lily whenever she found a new library to explore.
Today was Harry's seventh birthday. The garden at McGonagall Manor was adorned with steamers and balloons. Harry, Neville, and Draco were running around chasing the fourteen year old Dora who was effectively baby sitting the boys while the adults were preparing for the party. Narcissa and Andromeda chuckled as they watched the boys wrestle the older girl to the ground. The children squealed when Sirius joined in picking up Dora around the waist and spinning her around. The younger children laughed when the girl was put down and she wobbled around dizzily.
Nymphadora decided to let Sirius take over and she wobbled over to her mother, "Gosh don'cha miss when they were little and couldn't terrorize us?" she said as she placed a hand on her mother's shoulder to steady herself.
"You were just as big of a handful as they are." Andromeda told her daughter.
The girl shrugged, "What can I say? I must take after my cousin." She looked back to the boys. Sirius now had Draco dangling from one arm, Harry from the other, and Neville wrapped around one of his ankles.
Narcissa smiled, glad that Draco had settled in so well. She decided to wait at least until the boy was preparing to go to Hogwarts before telling him about is father. At this moment he never really asked about his actual father. He had many excellent father figures around, Sirius, Remus, and Severus were all doing excellent jobs teaching the boy how a REAL man acts and treats women. For now things were perfect as they were. Draco was happy and content, she wanted that to last a bit longer before enlightening the boy of the horrors his father had committed.
Augusta joined the women, "You think they are rowdy now? Just wait till the Weasley's get here."
"Oh? Minerva invited them?" Andromeda asked.
"Yes." Augusta said, "With their gaggle of kids she thought it'd be great for the boys to meet some other children, but be warned they have a set of twins who, from what I understand, are more mischievous than Sirius ever was."
Narcissa gasped, "Oh merlin then I'm sure it will be an eventful party."
"Sounds like a blast." Dora said grinning.
Soon the party began and the guests arrived, Lord Castor Greengrass and his children had been invited, then there was Amelia Bones and her niece Susan, Lord and Lady Lovegood and their daughter, finally the last to arrive were the Weasleys. Harry, Neville, and Draco had been rounded up. To be introduced to the kids.
Minerva, Augusta, and Narcissa stood behind their children as did the parents of their guests. Minerva smiled to them, "Thank you all for coming I'm so glad you could make it." She tells her guests.
"Thank you for inviting us Professor McGonagall." Castor said.
"I am not on Hogwarts grounds right now Castor, Minerva will do." She tells him. The man simply smirked, "Now," she looked at the children, "As you heard my name is Minerva McGonagall, but you all can call me Miss Minnie, and this" she placed her hands on Harry's shoulders, "Is my grandson, Harry Potter."
"Hello," Harry smiled big and waved to them.
"And these are Harry's friends," Minerva gesture toward Neville and Draco.
"Neville Longbottom." The chubby boy said grinning showing his crooked teeth.
Draco gave a polite short bow before sitting up and smiling, "Draco Black." The boy said smiling warmly.
"Such a gentleman." Lady Lovegood said.
"Indeed, keep an eye on him Narcissa." Amelia said, "He'll be a heartbreaker when he's older."
Narcissa chuckled a bit, "He will be a perfect gentleman to the ladies, no son of mine will be a scoundrel." She said patting the boys shoulder.
Minerva chuckled, "So how bout introductions?" she said to her guests.
"Right then," Castor said, "I'm Castor Greengrass." He says to the children, "This is my eldest Daphne." He pats the shoulder of the blond girl beside him. She looked about the same age as Harry and his friends. "And this one, " Castor lifted the dark haired girl he was holding in his arms and set her down beside her sister, "is Astoria." The girl was about five years old, holding a stuffed bear looking nervous at the older boys.
"Hello Daphne." Harry smiled to the oldest then looked to the youngest. He knelt down, "Hi Astoria, I'm Harry." He says, "That looks like a strong bear. Is he you protector?"
"He's my knight." The little girl said.
Daphne leaned forward and whispered, "She loves fairy tales about knights and princesses." She told the boy in front of her quietly.
Harry smiled, "Well he must be a very strong knight for your daddy to let him protect you."
Castor smiled, amused at how easily Harry was pulling his shy daughter out of her shell. "He is! He's strong!" Astoria replied.
Harry stood back up, "That's good, a princess needs a strong night to protect her. Can I be your knight too?" He says and just like that the girl waddled over and grabbed onto his shirt.
Daphne gaped, "How did you do that?" she asked surprised her sister was being friendly with a stranger.
Harry shrugged, "I like to read fairy tales too." He said.
"I suppose it's our turn now." Amelia said, "Hello Harry. I'm Amelia Bones. We actually met when you were a baby." she smiled, "and this is my niece Susan."
The Ginger girl step forward, "Hello Harry...Neville...Draco."
"Its nice to meet you Susan." the three boys said in unison which got them a whistle from the red headed Weasley twins.
Harry then looked to the three blonds to the Amelia's left, The man stepped up, "Xenophilius Lovegood," he bowed, "Can I just say it is an honor to meet a surviving member of the Peverell line."
Harry tilted his head confused, "Peverell? But I'm a Potter not Peverell." He said.
The woman stepped forward pulling her husband up from his bow, "I apologize for my husband Harry he's a theorist, and it is believed the Potter family married a daughter of the Peverell line." she gave a curtsy, "Penelope Lovegood, pleasure." She says, "And this is our little Luna." She says gently pushing her daughter forward.
The girl had strange glasses on and appeared to be looking at Neville for a moment before saying, "Nargles!"
"Huh?" Neville asked.
The girl lifted her glasses showing them her face, "You're head is full of them."
"Really dear?" Mr. Lovegood reached for her glasses and slipping them on his face causing his wife to face palm herself. He looked at Neville and gasped, "My word there's so many."
"Please excuse my husband," Penelope said, "He's a bit of an eccentric and my daughter takes after him." She nudges her husband with her elbow, "Enough dear."
The man took off the glasses, "Sorry love."
Lastly Harry, Neville, and Draco looked to the gaggle of red heads. Their father stepped forward, "A pleasure to meet you Harry, my name is Arthur Weasley. My wife, Molly, and I were friends of your parents."
Harry looked to the two adult Weasleys, "A pleasure to meet you both." Harry said smiling.
"Looks just like James," Molly says smiling, "But those eyes are your mothers."
Harry smiled to her, "Thank you." He then looks to the seven children in front of them.
"Oh right." Mr. Weasley said, "Theses are our kids, from oldest to youngest we have: Bill, he's currently in his sixth year at Hogwarts. Then we have Charlie, he's in his a fourth year. Next is Percy, he'll be starting his first year this year. After that there is the twins Fred and George, good luck telling them apart." Their father jokes, "Then we have Ronald, he's the same age as you and your friends here. Finally there is our youngest Ginevra, but she just likes to be called Ginny."
Harry smiled to all of them, "Nice to meet all of you!" he said grinning, "I hope we can all be friends."
All of the children seemed to nod in agreement when Minerva noticed Ronald was giving Draco a strange look. She decided to dismiss it for now and only bring it up if a problem occurred. After the introductions the children all spilt up. The older kids grouped together while the younger ones began playing. The adults all gathered at a table and were chatting politely. Everything seemed to be going great, but unfortunately that wouldn't last long.
A/N: Hi there guys! Wow a lots happened. Minerva had the right idea to invite a bunch of kids for Harry to play with, but I think inviting the Weasley's may prove to be a mistake. Did you see how Ron was looking at Draco what's up with that man?
Up Next: Harry's party starts off as a blast., but it quickly turns sour.