"Are you sure you want to do this Sir?" A sneering voice asked in mere whisper not believing what he had just heard from the mouth of his mentor.
"Yes, she will need their influence." Albus answered placing a small bowl of water near Fawkes before returning to his seat.
"You trust his daughter to live with their family and not become another typical member of the house of Black?"
"Yes I do. She is different than the rest of her family, she has spent ten years away from the influence of them, she is old enough to form her own opinion on certain matters, and I trust she will follow in Emily's footsteps." Albus said calmly but underneath that there was a hard steal that said very clearly that this conversation was over.
Severus stared at the professor for a long moment before standing and saying, "Let us hope you are right."
Severus left the headmasters office before he could hear Albus say in a soft whisper, "Yes, let us hope."
That very same night Severus was sitting at an obviously expensive dinner table set with silver dinner plate, forks, spoons, knives, and goblets; all of them engraved with the Malfoy family crest. As usual Lucius was at the head of the table with Narcissa to his left, and Draco across of her. Small talk filled the huge dining room, until Narcissa gave Severus the opening he needed.
"So tell us Severus, how are preparations for the new school year going, Draco is most excited for the upcoming year he woke the entire house yelling when he received his letter."
"Mother!" Draco whined shooting an embarrassed look towards his god father, "I did not!"
"Oh hush Draco; I am sure you are not the only child who did the same." Narcissa said smiling gently towards her only child.
"Speaking of other children, is this not the year that Harry Potter is expected to rejoin the wizarding world?" Lucius asked before drinking from his goblet. Lucius was one of the many who believed that the Potter boy could only survive the Dark Lords attack if he himself was a more powerful dark wizard. Severus knew the truth, but he never felt inclined to share his knowledge on the matter. Not when the truth hurt too much to think about.
"Yes it is, but it seems his letters have been going unanswered." Severus responded uninterested, he personally would prefer if that boy never stepped foot in Hogwarts. No doubt he would be just like his father. With both he and the Black spawn together Hogwarts would not survive the next seven years.
"Hmmm." Lucius looked uncaring but Severus knew he was hoping to get more information out of him. And he would just not the kind he was wishing for.
"Dumbledore is thinking about sending Hagrid directly to him to deliver his letter." Severus said knowing full well how they would respond.
"Why would he send such a creature to the boy? Why not McGonagall, or you Severus?" Narcissa asked confounded.
"McGonagall has too many Muggle borns to see to this year, and I have too many things to do in preparing for the upcoming year." Severus answered her leaving unsaid that he would never go to the boy even if Albus had asked.
"The why does he not go himself?" And there was the question he needed.
"He is busy seeing to the Black child."
Lucius looked at him narrowed eyed in shock while Narcissa gasp covering her mouth with both hands her eyes wide and misty, Draco just looked on confused.
"What Black child? I thought Mother was the last Black?" Draco asked with confusion.
"Draco go to your room." Lucius commanded her voice firm never looking away from Severus.
"Bu-"
"Now Draco!" Draco frowned angrily but did as he was told stomping away the entire way. "Severus, are you speaking of Sirius Black's daughter?"
"What other Black had a child who is both an heir to their name and in Draco's year?" Severus asked with a raised eyebrow. Surly they knew who he was speaking of.
"But… But I heard she had died that night on Halloween." Narcissa said softly her voice muffled from her hands.
"No, she disappeared, but a body was never found. Dumbledore saw her name on the roster for the new first year; he went to see her personally to determine it wasn't a mistake. Apparently she has been living for the past ten years in a muggle orphanage."
"A muggle orphanage?" Lucius and Narcissa said together, one in outrage the other in disbelief.
"Yes, Dumbledore is currently trying to find a family to take her in for the holydays while she attends school."
"Why haven't I been told about this? I am her aunt she should be with her family." Narcissa said sounding cross her blue eyes narrowed in anger.
"Love?" Lucius asked hesitatingly. With great difficulty Severus held in a snort. Of course Lucius wouldn't want the hassle the girl would bring, but he would do what his wife wanted in the end. Despite what other believed Lucius loved his wife very dearly, he just didn't show it in the way other could understand.
"You are not her only aunt, Narcissa." Severus responded calmly watching as understanding came over her.
"Dumbledore wants Andromeda to take her in." She said more then asked.
"Yes, she was part of the Order at one time, and she has a daughter who has just graduated from Hogwarts. He believes the girl would feel more comfortable there than anywhere else. He is meeting with her and her husband tomorrow to discuss it. "
"Well… we will make sure to be there." Narcissa said closing the subject and glaring at Lucius when he made to comment.
Severus hid his smile by drinking from his wine. His job was done.
"Headmaster are you sure this child is Aurora?" Andromeda asked holding on tightly to Ted's hand.
"There is no doubt in my mind… she has her father's eyes." Albus said while unsticking two lemon drops.
"How could the girl go unnoticed in the muggle world for so long? Remus searched for her for years, he never believed Sirius could have killed his own daughter." Ted said utterly confused, he had met the girl once not long after she was born so he knew that her magic was strong, surly the Ministry would have noticed her magic signature at some point.
"Why isn't Remus here? He is her god father shouldn't he be the one taking her in?" Andromeda asked looking around the Headmasters office as if the werewolf would suddenly appear.
"While I would prefer for Remus to take Aurora, you know it would never be allowed, if she stays with you then he would be able to visit her and be a part of her life without the Ministry interfering," Albus answered Andromeda first before turning towards Ted, "I do not know why Aurora has been hidden for so long, I have many theories but I expect they may be wrong." Both Andromeda and Ted snorted at this. As if Albus Dumbledore's theories have ever been wrong.
Before another word could be said the office door burst open and in walked Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy.
"Narcissa?" Andromeda questioned standing to face her baby sister. "What are you doing here?"
"I am here on the matter concerning our niece, Aurora Marlene Black." Narcissa answered head high and without looking her sister in the eye.
"I believe you will find all the papers are in order Dumbledore." Lucius said stiffly not even acknowledging the other two people in the room. He walked towards the desk and placed a small stack of parchment with the Ministry seal on them right in front of him. Albus sighed tiredly but he read the official papers that would seal the fate of Aurora Black with deceived calmness.
"What are those papers for?" Ted asked with forced calm standing beside his upset wife. Neither Narcissa nor Lucius answered the man; they simply stood stiffly in the office their expressions guarded.
"These papers are a Ministry approved notice of the placement of one Aurora Marlene Black in the care of her aunt and uncle Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy, until the time she gains adult hood or becomes head of the Black and or the Mckinnon House and all that comes with it." Albus answered his voice grave. Ted and Andromeda looked shocked, they may have been apprehensive about taking in Sirius heir, but they didn't want her under the Malfoy's influence, she was sure to become another typical Pure-blood then for certain.
"Why are you doing this Narcissa?" Andromeda asked quietly trying to look her sister in the eye. Narcissa glanced at her sister for the first time since entering the office her eyes steal before turning back towards Dumbledore saying,
"I expect we will have her soon."
"I will bring her to your home tomorrow afternoon," Albus replied handing back the official notice.
"Albus!" Andromeda exclaimed in surprise. "You not really going to let her live with them are you?"
"There is nothing I can do about this Andromeda; it is out of my hands." Albus said solemnly.
"Well then we will be taking our leave, we have much to prepare for." Lucius said before heading out of the office with his wife in tow, a smug smirk on his face.
Ted scoffed seeing the smirk as he placed his hands on his wife's shoulders trying to relax her. If that man really wanted Aurora in his house he would eat his hat. Ted may not think highly of Sirius Black, but he knew against all his faults he had loved his little girl and wouldn't want her to live with that family. Traitors' murder Black may be but Black deserved to know about his daughter, so did Remus for that matter. It would seem he would be sending two letters, one to Azkaban and one to a werewolf, when he left the Headmasters office. Ted made a mental note to make ask Albus every year for a report on the girl so he could send it to the two men who cared most for the girl.
After Andromeda and Ted left his office Albus let out a deep and tired sigh.
"Is this the right thing to do?" The portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black asked his voice indifferent.
"Aurora will do better with a family who wants her in their house willingly, then in a house that simply took her in because I asked them to. Narcissa will care for the girl; teach her about her linage and how to behave in a Pure-blood society. Hopefully Aurora will learn what she needs to survive as an heir to three fortunes without being too influenced by their bigotry towards muggle borns."
"There is no 'hopefully' about it, if she is anything like her father she most definitely will." Phineas snorted, he will have to keep an eye out on girl when she comes to Hogwarts if anything to get rid of the boredom that had set in over the years.
It would most certainly be an interesting year.
No Aurora in this chapter but it is needed, she will be in the next one. Thoughts and opinions welcome. And thanks to everyone who reviewed!