Three updates coming at you. For that of the story they fit better before the hogwarts winter term.
Chapter 13
"Why did you accept this invitation?" Draco asked unable to keep the question to himself, while he and Narcissa waited in the foyer for Sirius Black to appear.
The Malfoy heir had dutifully escorted his mother to the newly established Black residence in Kensington for a formal meeting with the new family patriarch. The townhome was a far cry from the infamous residence Walburga kept at Grimmauld Place. Sirius had reopened a lesser known property owned by the family, which remained in far better condition than his childhood home. Narcissa completely approved of Sirius' decision to seal the decrepit 12 Grimmauld Place.
Smiling indulgently at her son, Narcissa answered, "A Black does not refuse a summons from the family patriarch."
"We're Malfoys," Draco protested instinctually, not expecting his mother to let out a light peal of laughter over his response.
"Spoken as your father's son," Narcissa said looking at Draco with a hint of bemusement. "No. Marriage does not mean a Black witch ceases her familial obligations. The Most Ancient and Noble House of Black has never released an heir to another house, not even through a marriage rite. Nor do I foresee Sirius amending that particular tradition in the near future. He's just as possessive as the rest of us."
"How does that even work?" Draco asked.
"The magics of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black remain binding far after death, and ensnare any child produced regardless of status," Narcissa answered before shrewdly eyeing her only child. "Which reminds me, that clause will be in any marriage contract your sign."
"I still do not understand," Draco said, ignoring the reference to a betrothal and returning to his original question. "Surely—"
"Draco," His mother interrupted, "The weight of a fallen house is a heavy knowledge I hope you never possess. Recent generations of our family chose shortsightedness and greed over honoring the family magics, while swearing they were doing just that through their heinous actions. We paid for it with our blood. I would much rather watch the line flourish with Sirius at the helm than see it dead and buried."
"Even at the expense of family traditions and obligations?"
Narcissa sighed as Draco's stubborn streak reared to the surface. Her child was often far too like his father for her taste. Lucius, just as Draco, throughout his childhood desperately sought after his father Abraxas' approval even to the detriment of himself. It was this desperation which allowed Lucius to be prodded into the service of the Dark Lord, a school chum of Abraxas'.
"Not all traditions are worth keeping," Narcissa answered, keeping her voice soft to force Draco to pay attention, her face carefully concealing her true emotions.
"My parents repeatedly chose their traditions over their own children. Ultimately, they disowned your aunt for falling in love with a muggleborn, allowed the other to marry a sadist, and put all their hopes in my marriage to fix their perceived shame."
"All throughout my childhood, the importance of family repeatedly was brought up. Nothing was more prioritized, yet look at your grandparents' choice to disown your aunt for her marriage. How could they reconcile their decision when family was supposedly their highest value?"
Draco remained silent as he watched his mother, who finally huffed in clear frustration, and emotion he'd rarely seen her display.
"Your great-aunt used to cut off the heads of her house elves and display them on the mantel as was a tradition from her side of the family," Narcissa deadpanned.
Draco grimaced at the image, "That's vulgar."
"An apt description of Aunt Walburga."
"Why would anyone find that fashionable?" Draco asked, clearly unable to shake the image from his mind.
"Because Aunt Walburga believed it was an important Black family tradition," Narcissa answered, driving home her point. "Draco, you have been gifted two beautiful family legacies that have been scarred in recent generations. What are our family mottos?"
"Always Pure' and 'Purity Will Always Conquer," Draco answered, as though it proved his mother wrong.
"Your grandparents and theirs chose to believe those mottos only had meaning due to bloodline. You will one day lead the Malfoy family. I suggest you discover alternate meanings of both mottos before then."
"Well said Cousin," Sirius said entering the townhouse foyer to greet the Malfoys. "Draco, do you really want one of your heirs to tattoo your family motto on their arse just to piss you off?"
Draco's eyes widened at the idea of such vulgarity, even as his own mother grinned.
"You really did that?" Harry asked, a grimace of his own etched upon his face as he escorted Hermione into the foyer behind his godfather.
"I'm disappointed you have to even ask that question," Sirius answered, smirking at Harry.
"Aunt Walburga was furious when several family scions reported it to their families after seeing a particular Marauder prank," Narcissa answered, confirming Sirius' claim. "Never have I seen Professor McGonagall so appalled and furious than that moment."
"I couldn't sit for a week after that stinging hex she hit me within the arse," Sirius mused before clapping his hands. "Right then, Narcissa, I'm delighted to formally present my daughter Hermione Black—"
"Granger," Hermione interjected as Sirius ignored her.
"Along with my god-son Harry Potter," Sirius finished. "As you can see, she's inherited the family stubbornness and vengeful streak."
"Excellent," Narcissa said smiling at her adopted niece. "Black witches are incredibly renowned for their ability to protect those they love. I have no doubt you'll fulfill this aspect of your legacy if the stories I've heard are true. Patriarch, this is my heir Draco Black."
"I thought his last name was Malfoy," Harry said to Sirius.
"Not during formal family gatherings," Sirius answeredgrinning. "Blacks are a possessive lot, and no one is considered good enough to claim a Black heir, which now that I have two children, I'm inclined to agree with that one family tradition."
The Receiving Floo, located in the foyer they occupied, flared to life with vibrant green fire, releasing a young witch with bright pink hair as she tripped over her own feet. Less than a moment later, a regal looking woman with dark wavy hair stepped out, and waved her wand over the prone witch with a sigh. The soot vanished from both newcomers as the younger witch popped to her feet.
"Wotcher Uncle Sirius!" The witch said, as her mother cleared her voice. Resignedly the pink haired girl corrected herself, "I mean hello Patriarch."
Sirius openly grinned as Narcissa stared at the older witch, "It's fine Nymphadora."
"Tonks," the girl corrected before she looked over Harry, Hermione and Draco. "You must be the cousins."
"I see you were wrong about her growing into her name Andie," Sirius said as his cousin sniffed in disdain. "I presume Ted continued to encourage it."
"You know he did," Andromeda answered, rolling her eyes,before turning to her sister. Narcissa and Andromeda stared at each other while Sirius and the children looked on over the sudden tension in the room.
"I see you managed to breed with that male veela of yours. Pity. I had fifty quid on you divorcing him," Andromeda said in a voice dripping with derision. Draco's eyes narrowed at the slight, fully expecting his mother to eviscerate the woman.
"Not all of us were failures at contraceptive charms, and actually possess a marital contract," Narcissa answered, her voice honeyed beyond reason. Of the onlookers, only Sirius appeared amused by the exchange until the two witches broke into laughter and hugged each other.
"What's going on mum?" Nymphadora asked first, her gaze narrowed suspiciously towards the Malfoys.
"Self-Preservation," Andromeda and Narcissa answered, each grinning conspiratorially at one another.
"Andromeda practically raised me," Narcissa explained, before sighing dramatically. "Druella Black was not a nurturing mother. She performed her duty of producing three daughters, failing at providing a son, and then handed us all off to nanny elves. It was Andie who looked after Bella and me. After Andie was removed from the family tapestry, we relied on coded communications from our childhood."
"Onlookers would only see derision," Hermione realized, her eyes growing wide as she stared at the two witches. Draco stared at his mother as though he'd never seen her in his life. "That's utterly brilliant."
"Andie, this is my son Draco," Narcissa proudly introduced. "Draco this is your godmother and her daughter Nymphadora, unfortunately circumstances what they were formal introductions were postponed until today."
"Tonks, Aunt Cissa," the pink haired witch corrected as Draco silently mouthed the word godmother.
"Not for formal introductions young lady," Narcissa primly corrected before focusing on Sirius. "Is Aunt Cassiopeia joining this afternoon?"
"No," Sirius answered, with a shake of his head. "Aunt Cassie informed me that I was, of course, free to act in whatever manner I believed best and receive her blessing. However, in exchange for her allegiance I was obligated to continually refuse all marriage contracts, mind my own business regarding her chastity or rather lack thereof, allow her to continue with her experiments in potions and magic, as well as guarantee her own residence without supervision."
"The real question is," Andromeda began before Narcissa took over.
"What did she threaten if you refused?"
"She told me about the skin filleting curse she invented while I was incarcerated," Sirius answered before smirking. "Then Aunt Cassie informed me she'd make Hermione the first BlackMatriarch by testing the spell on me should I not agree to her terms.
Harry, Hermione, Draco and Tonks were open mouth gaping at the answer.
"Needless to say, Aunt Cassie hasn't changed a bit. Now, let's adjourn to the parlour so we can discuss the direction of the family's future in detail. I believe Do