If Rodrick was honest? He was rather glad he found out which family his mother had decided to marry into at the end of his third year. It would've been much harder to get out of the commotion it brought him had he found out earlier. Following the end of year feast, he'd left as quickly as he could.

He was currently alone in his own compartment, an irritated expression lining his face. All it had taken was a single notice-me-not charm to keep anyone else from bothering him. It was selfish sure but frankly, he had more worrying things to think about.

Particularly the fact that he was in essence related to the Weasley's.

That had been a rather hard pill to swallow. For the first 12 year's of his life, he'd wondered what his family must've been like. Considering he'd spent the past day trying to ignore them, well at least he finally had his answer.

Anger. That was all he could feel, from the moment Percy Weasley had shown up to the Slytherin table to now.

His eyes snapped to the compartment, having heard someone tapping on it, expecting one of his friends before to his surprise he found Harry Potter.

He sighed, his charm apparently didn't work on the boy-who-lived... At the very least it looked like he was alone.

"What do you want, Potter?" Rodrick asked tersely.

Harry Raised an amused eyebrow at the boy, "What's up with you?" He questioned.

Rodrick sighed at the question before leaning back in his seat, idly watching as Harry took the seat opposite him.

"Aren't your friends wondering where you are?" Rodrick questioned.

"Aren't yours?"

The two simply stared each other off before Rodrick once again sighed, feeling drained. Raising his wand, he reapplied the charm on the door. It wasn't his friends he was trying to avoid, being in a separate compartment simply helped him hide away better.

"Besides," Harry started, "You have your end of the deal to live up to," he remarked with a grin.

Rodrick furrowed his brows at the words, "Granger said yes?"

Harry's sweatdropped at the words, "Not exactly..." He remarked, earning a raised eyebrow.

"You asked her out?"

Harry nodded.

The silence slowly built up before Rodrick prompted for an actual answer.

"What did she say?"

"She was confused."

Rodrick blinked before relaxing. "That doesn't count."

"Of course it does. The deal was if I asked her out. Not if she agreed to go out with me."

Rodrick frowned for a moment as he recalled the actual wording before twitching.

"That's a technicality..."

"You are the last person that's allowed to use that as an excuse," Harry deadpanned. It was a few moments later before it occurred to him. "You haven't told you're... um..."

"Guardians?" Rodrick offered helpfully.

Harry nodded, "Or do you have to ask Mrs Weasley?" He questioned sarcastically.

"Like hell." Rodrick snapped accidentally.

Harry blinked before a mischievous smile suddenly showed up on his face, "My my, Rodrick, does that rile you up?"

"Watch it, Potter," Rodrick warned.

"So aren't you technically a Prewett?"

...

"Harry, What the hell happened?" Hermione questioned abruptly. Both Harry's glasses and nose looked... broken.

"His cousin," Harry remarked, pointing towards Ron.

"Hey!" Ron sputtered.

Hermione shook her head exasperatedly before taking out her wand.

"What did he even do? Punch you?" Hermione questioned exasperatedly.

Harry looked at his friend for a few moments before snorting, "Right, because he doesn't know how to use magic right?"

"Can we change the subject?" Ron questioned irritated.

"Harry?" Hermione decidedly ignored the question.

"He used a Reductor. I think. He didn't actually say anything."

"On your face?" Hermione questioned somewhat dumbfounded.

Harry nodded.

"Why?"

"Because he's an ass-"

"Ron, don't talk about your cousin like that," Hermione chastised.

Ron twitched, Harry snorted. "I called him a Prewett."

"What's wrong with that!?" Ron suddenly shot up, "It's not like the Greengrass's let him use their name... For good reason... He should consider himself lucky!"

Harry's eyes widened for a moment, oddly enough, it was at that point he realised, really understood why Rodrick seemed to be in such a bad mood.

"Excuse me for a second," Harry remarked as he got up.

"Where are you going now?" Hermione questioned bemused.

"I need to find Percy," Harry waved her off as he left the compartment.

Ron scrunched up his nose at the words, "I don't know why he insists on dealing with the bad parts of my family," He snorted.

Hermione turned towards Ron at the words, "Ron that's really rude."

Ron shrugged, "You know what Percy's like."

"And Rodrick?"

Ron raised an eyebrow at the words, "After the year we've had? You really don't think he's as bad, or worse for that matter? And you heard my brothers, he's basically avoiding us, obviously means he doesn't want to be related to us."

"Ron that isn't fair at all, up until recently you didn't even know he-" Hermione stopped herself short as her eyes widened slightly. "Oh..."

"What?" Ron questioned. Before he could add anything further his eyes snapped to the door as he watched both Percy and the twins walk in after Harry.

"Might as well get Ginny here as well, at least we wouldn't have to look for her later," he remarked with a huff.

"What's this about?" Percy questioned.

"Do you know where Rodrick is? We've been looking for him all over the train," George questioned.

Harry, however, took a seat beside Ron, before indicating the other three to take their own.

"Harry I don't think this is-" Hermione stated before to her annoyance Harry simply shook his head.

Harry had to hold back a smile, it really wasn't the time but he was rather glad Hermione had caught on so quickly, unlike him she hadn't actually needed to see Rodrick to figure out the problem.

"I don't think there's a better chance." He stated before turning to Percy. "How long? How long have you known you had a cousin?"

Percy flinched at the words, fully expecting the question. "I was five... I remember when he was at the house..." Before turning to the twins, "I imagine they might even remember themselves. Their memory was never one of their problems, it was their lack of discip-" He was about to finish before Harry nodded.

"If your family knew he existed then why was he in the orphanage until he came to Hogwarts?"

"Mom and dad didn't know he survived... After they found out his mother died... Well..."

"The clock," Hermione added. "The clock in your families house, didn't you have one made for him, I remember seeing your uncles name there..."

"We did but-" George answered, about to add more before looking down.

"Mom removed it... She thought it was broken, it wasn't a good reminder of what happened... We honestly had no idea!" Fred added on.

Harry stared at the three before shaking his head. "I survived Voldemort... If no one had entered the house that day and made sure... Who knows where I'd be?"

"Our parents had no place to start looking," Percy defended quickly.

"So they gave up?" Harry questioned, a dark look in his eye.

"Harry, what's gotten into you?" Ron questioned.

"I am just saying, if I suddenly found out I had family outside of the Dursleys and the only thing that kept me away from them and with the Dursleys being a lack of effort on their part... I wouldn't be happy with them. He was in an Orphanage."

The reality of the situation hit them even harder.

"He was in an orphanage waiting for a family. Considering what your family values are like... You were willing to take me in after what happened last year..." Harry stopped himself there.

"It's not like he's still there, he lives with the Greengrass's now." Ron remarked.

"Yea," Harry agreed, "And you're all okay with that arrangement? Right?"

"Yes."

"Ron!"

"No!" The twins quickly remarked.

"Percy?" Harry simply questioned.

"Our parents definitely won't be." Percy decided to say with a sigh.

"Good luck getting him away from the Greengrass family," Harry snorted.

"Probably gotten used to their lifestyle..." Ron muttered quietly.

"Were his actual family," Fred remarked apprehensively.

"I don't think he'll see it that way." Harry finished.

Fred and George shared a look at the words, "Mother won't be happy."

"And I thought the world cup was going to be the event of the summer." The second twin chorused.

...

Rodrick exited the train, a passive look in his eye. His eyes glanced at Nott and Malfoy ahead of him, they'd seen him but gave off no reaction. It was rather clear he wanted to be alone.

"Rodrick." He heard someone whisper behind him. Turning his eyes landed on both Greengrass Girls and Tracey. He gave off a nod before he started scouring the platform for his guardians. The three girls surrounding him. He idly wondered where Luna was.

"Are you okay?" He heard Astoria question.

Turning, Rodrick smiled at the girl before ruffling her hair.

"I am fine." He answered. The girl nodded though she didn't believe him for a second.

His eyes quickly found Mr and Mrs Greengrass. He had to stop himself from twitching when he found Sirius Black standing with them. Which of course meant... 'Yup there's Potter...'

Reaching the small group he raised an eyebrow at Harry, Roxanne busy hugging both her daughters.

"Yes?" Harry questioned rather amused.

"The Weasley's aren't going to show u-" He was about to question before he felt himself get pulled into a hug.

Harry was amused to see the boy look embarrassed at the interruption.

When Roxanne let go, Rodrick tilted his head to the side as he stared at the woman, there seemed to be two white chords surrounding her. When he looked back up, about to say something, Roxanne quickly shook her head, a finger over her mouth asking him to be silent.

Rodrick blinked before shrugging, 'at least she knows there's something wrong.'

"Oh yeah," Harry started, "You don't have to come live with me this year,"

Rodrick made no reaction, "Change your mind?"

Harry nodded, "Apparently I am not going there this summer, Dumbledore insisted on going there next year for some reason."

Rodrick nodded, it made sense, the dark lord was likely coming back in their fourth year, might as well get the most out of that supposed protection. He doubted the old man could convince Sirius to let Harry go to the Dursley's there yearly.

"Your welcome to stay at mine Rodrick," Sirius remarked from his side.

"Nah, if there aren't any muggles to torture it ain't fun." Rodrick waved off the thought.

"He's joking..." Daphne frowned. "I hope."

"I am starting to think Hogwarts is the problem," Cyrus turned to his wife. He sighed when he didn't get a response. She'd been acting strange for the past month or so.

...

The group of seven were on their way to Gringotts. When Cyrus and Roxanne had found out the boy had another vault they'd been surprised. When they found out it was the Lestranges? Cyrus almost couldn't hold back his laughter at the thought. Sirius had decided to join them for the journey seeing as his signature was needed as it involved his cousin. While she may have been a criminal, the Lestrange family vault was still under her name. Only the lord of either house could remove it, and it needed to be removed if Rodrick had any hope of claiming it.

"You know at the rate my financial situation is going I'll probably be richer then Malfoy by the end of my seventh year," Rodrick remarked with a snort as they entered the bank. Thankfully, there weren't any Weasleys around... Though there did seem to be a Nott or two.

Harry rolled his eyes he caught site of Theodore Nott.

"Aren't you two friends?" Harry questioned. The two of them were at the front of the group.

"I'd avoid the elder if I were you." They heard Sirius Black's voice behind them.

Rodrick turned to the man before questioning why, a silencing charm already covering them.

"He's one of the few death eaters not to get caught," Sirius answered passively.

"He bribed the minister?" Harry whispered the question to Rodrick's amusement, they were silenced.

Sirius shook his head, "He didn't even get a trial, he had a supposed alibi."

"Alibi?" Rodrick questioned with furrowed brows.

"Apparently he was overseas running some sort of business. From the moment he left Hogwarts to a few months after Voldemort's downfall."

"How do you know he wasn't?" Harry questioned.

"Your father duelled him." Sirius deadpanned.

"Then..." Harry started before Rodrick shook his head.

"No proof then?" Rodrick questioned.

Sirius nodded, "James only told me after it happened, though my word against Notts wasn't really worth much at the time all things considered."

"You must be really happy," The three heard Astoria's attempt at whispering, likely referring to the news regarding the Lestrange fortune. Meaning everyone heard the girl.

Rodrick didn't turn back, he wasn't sure he wanted to know what the girl's parents thought of the words, instead he made his way ahead, Harry following slowly behind. Sirius, on the other hand, went back to the Greengrass adults, no doubt to inform them of the same thing, if the looks on their faces where anything to go by.

As they were about to reach the front, the elder Nott came up to the group, his gaze on Rodrick. There was a certain glint in his eye.

"You must be Rodrick," Nott Snr remarked. "My son was not exaggerating your talent it seems." He added on, referring to the Transfiguration surrounding the wizard.

Rodrick narrowed his eyes slightly before quickly schooling his expression. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Nott, and yes I am Rodrick Grace."

Nott raised an amused eyebrow, "Grace? I was under the impression it was something else."

Rodrick resisted the urge to tense as he returned the mans gaze.

"And what would that be?"

Harry Potter made no reaction, he'd moved a space back, keeping both Nott's in his vision.

Before Nott could say anything else, the rest of the small group showed up.

"Nott," Sirius started, his eyes narrowing at the man. "Haven't seen you in a while, vacations over? Anything we can do for you?" He finished sarcastically.

Nott twitched slightly, "I was just greeting a friend of my sons," He started, turning his gaze down towards the student, "And I was referring to your upcoming title, Lord Lestrange." A moment passed before Nott added on, sarcastically. "You don't resemble your mother all that much,"

Rodrick's eyes lit up at the words, "You've seen my mother?" He questioned back.

Nott's eyes widened slightly. 'My my, aren't you a clever one. Grindelwald.' His son's information regarding the boy was slowly but surely been confirmed.

"I was not aware she was in Tom Riddles year." Rodrick followed on with a small smile. He knew Nott Snr was, he'd researched all of the dark lord's former classmates.

"Pictures," Nott waved off the words after a moment. "I may have been busy elsewhere, but I am still a member of the board, it's only natural I keep tabs on any Hogwarts professors."

"I'd like to see those pictures, I don't really have any of her... You understand..." Rodrick fired back.

"Of course, another day perhaps?" Nott replied curtly before turning and walking away. Theo though confused quickly followed his father, but not without any words.

"Well, later Rodrick, four eyes."

"Haven't been called that in a while," Harry muttered before turning towards Sirius.

"What the hell was that about?" He questioned bemused, his eyes staring at the retreating Notts.

"His Alibi cracked," Sirius remarked with a surprised look on his face.

"What?" Harry questioned.

"My mother joined Hogwarts after Tom Riddle left." Rodrick started, his eyes on the door to the bank before turning to Harry, "When on earth could he have seen her, enough to know I don't currently resemble her?"

Harry's eyes widened, a small grin slowly forming. "If he doesn't have any photos..."

Rodrick nodded with a smile.

"Are you going to get him arrested?" Harry asked eagerly.

Rodrick scrunched up his nose, "Yea, I am sure one of my friends would love it if I got their father imprisoned."

Harry blinked, "Then what was the point of that?"

Rodrick shrugged, "It's fun."

"I doubt it would be enough to really cause any problems," Cyrus remarked from his side, he and his wife walking up to the three, Rodrick had at least included them in the silencing charm.

"Not if the falsely imprisoned Lord Black decided to add his own two knuts," Rodrick countered amiably, as he turned towards one of the goblins.

Sirius had a thoughtful look on his face before shaking his head, "Not worth the effort, the mans been half a shadow ever since his side lost, barely showing his face in public... Best leave it at that."

"Can't blame him, must be exhausting running an imaginary business overseas," Harry said, shaking his head in false sincerity.

Rodrick stared at Harry for a few moments before allowing a small smile to grow on his face, "There's hope for you yet Potter."

"Can we hurry up? Daphne want's to see how much money she's going to get access to in 10 years." Astoria muttered, a bored look on her face.

"Tori!" Daphne turned towards her sister, eyes narrowed.

Roxanne seemed to be in her own little world, an anxious look on her face. It was all her stupid Husbands fault. Honestly.