Three updates coming at you. For that of the story they fit better before the hogwarts winter term.
Chapter 14
"Arcturus never formally removed Andie even though her parents and mine blasted her from the family tapestries," Sirius explained once they all had been served tea. Narcissa and Andromeda exchanged pointed glances at the mention of Druella's copy of the infamous family tree.
"Which means that aside from an announcement, nothing needs to be done to reinstate her," Sirius explained to Hermione and Harry. "Druella and Cygnus never addressed Tonks at all."
Sirius paused before looking at his first cousins, "I intend to formally and magically remove Bellatrix from the family line."
Neither sister visibly reacted at the pronouncement. Draco,however, winced and shook his head as though the mere idea physically pained him while Harry and Hermione exchanged confused looks, before Hermione asked Sirius to explain what a true disownment process entailed. Sirius, however, was not the one who spoke.
"Disownment is a final resort a family has to distance itself from one of its members and their actions," Narcissa explained in a soft voice as she looked at her newly adopted niece. "Primarilydue to the onerous magical demand involved in the ritual and how valued family is in our community."
"There's a ritual for disownment?" Harry asked curiouslyglancing between the adults. "I thought it was just declaring you were disowning someone."
"You can't just say a member of the family is disowned Harry," Sirius said shaking his head over how similar his godson was to James.
"I didn't say it, I declared it," Harry answered, even as Draco stared at him in clear disbelief. Rather than allow the discussion to continue, Narcissa delicately cleared her voice and continued her explanation.
"A portion of a witch or wizard's magic is drawn from what is known as 'family magics,' which is cultivated through the generations of magical heirs and, strengthened by the traditions celebrated on occasions such as, the various solstices throughout the year and Samhain. This inherited well is, unfortunately,responsible for the belief that purebloods have stronger magical reserves."
"In order to truly disown a family member requires cutting off their connection to the family magics," Andromeda said picking up the explanation. "Sole approval of the family Patriarch is not enough. A majority of the family's adult magically mature members must be of one mind to successfully perform the ritual."
"Aside from the three of us," Sirius said looking at Harry, Hermione and Tonks, "Bellatrix and Aunt Cassiopeia are the only other members of the Black family that fits the criteria. If we were to perform the ritual, Bellatrix's magical signature would no longer include that of our family, and it would greatly impact her magical core. Now, because Bella married into the Lestrange family, and used a traditional ritual, her magic also is connected to their familial magic."
"Your mother wanted to do that to you?" Harry managed after the gravity of such a ritual settled over him. He stared at Sirius with wide eyes.
"Walburga wasn't exactly sane," Sirius answered, before nodding towards his cousin. "Druella and Cygnus were so furious over Andie's elopement they believed it to be the only solution to end their perceived shame."
"Well that's just bloody stupid," Tonks muttered as Narcissa and Andromeda responded with a lecture on the witch cursing. "How can my grandparents have preferred inbreeding to Dad?"
"No one ever claimed they were intelligent," Sirius answered, earning a bright grin from the metamorphmagus.
"Is that why Great-Grandfather Arcturus refused to perform the actual ritual?" Tonks asked her mother. "I remember going to see him with Dad. Grandmother Melania would insist on holding me while asking how much of my magic I could control. She used to give me different challenges to test my abilities."
"Arcturus was slow to act. His preferred hands-off approach unfortunately allowed You Know Who to gain a foothold in our family, but it also kept me from getting removed," Andromeda explained. "By the time Arcturus made a decision, your metamorphmagus talents manifested. Arcturus may have been a purist, but in his mind Power is Power. Melania, however, always had a soft spot for children, particularly the little ones. She thought you were simply adorable."
"I still need to know your thoughts on disowning Bellatrix,"Sirius said, pulling the two sisters' attention back to the matter at hand. Each had a look of trepidation upon their face, but it was Narcissa who spoke first.
"Do it."
"Cissa," Andromeda intervened, surprise appearing on her face. "This isn't a decision to be taken lightly."
"Mum," Draco said shocked at her pronouncement. Narcissa, however, shook her head at the two of them.
"You weren't there," Narcissa said, her voice dropping. "Bella thrived amongst the Death Eaters. She became renowned for her cruelty and ingenuity for hurting her victims. Each sliver of praise from the Dark Lord consumed her, and she kept pushing further into Dark Magic."
"The attack against the Longbottoms wasn't even the worst," Narcissa said, her voice falling to a horrified whisper. She looked at Sirius, shame coloring her face as even Andromeda looked surprised at the admission.
"Bella, towards the end of the Dark Lord's reign, began bragging about annihilating muggleborn children and their families, and targeting squibs from pure families. The woman rotting away in Azkaban is not our sister. She's been gone for a long time."
The Black family encased themselves in silence after Narcissa's explanation for supporting Sirius' decision to remove her sister. Andromeda gathered her own thoughts before speaking. "Let's not act rashly. Sirius, aside from Bella's insanity and death eater status, why are you intent on removing her?"
Despite his clear urge to retort that Bella's actions were enough to condemn her, Sirius controlled his tongue and chose his words carefully.
"Our family reputation is abysmal amongst the majority of the British Enclave. Even with the Wizengamot declaring me innocent, there remains significant doubt regarding our intentions to move away from dark magic. I will not align us with Dumbledore and follow him blindly, not after what he did to Harry, James and Lily.
"Publicly removing Bella would be a significant step, and would cement an alliance with Augusta Longbottom, particularly after her reaction over Dumbledore's treatment of Harry. Not to mention, Hermione's the family's heir apparent."
Andromeda and Narcissa looked at Sirius alarmed at his last point.
"No one in their right mind would release Bellatrix or the Lestranges," Andromeda said before her eyes lit up. "You're afraid she'll break out like you did?"
"I doubt she'd succeed in the same manner that I did," Sirius answered. "That's not to say it's impossible for someone to break her out from the outside. All it takes is one opportunity. One careless or immoral guard to let her loose. Merlin, it's common knowledge that we didn't get every marked death eater."
"It wouldn't just be Hermione she'd be after," Narcissa said looking at Andromeda. "Certainly, she'll be furious over Sirius adopting a muggleborn, but she'll try to go after Nymphadora too."
"Tonks," Nymphadora corrected as her cousins stared at her, and Sirius tried to bury a smirk over the reflexive manner with which the Hufflepuff spoke.
"If Bella remains a full member of the family, any crime she commits against one of the girls would be considered House Business," Narcissa said.
"Removing her would ensure we could prosecute her in such an event in front of the Wizengamot," Sirius added. "Although it will also remove what little defense she may have against the Dementors guarding Azkaban."
"Andie," Narcissa said looking at her older sister, a pleading look in her eye. "Sirius is right. We cannot risk the girls, and I don't have to imagine her reaction of learning I didn't agree with her precious Lord."
"I know," Andromeda said, after Narcissa's eyes flickered to Draco. "I just wish there was another solution."
"Wait…" Hermione interrupted. "I appreciate the concern you've all expressed for my safety, but did this woman actually receive a fair trial? Are we certain this isn't just another case like Sirius'? Everyone believed him to be a devout death eater, but he isn't."
"Sweetheart, she was caught red-handed in the Longbottom home," Sirius explained, looking at her with compassion. "Nor was she ever shy about her allegiances. Documented dark mark and everything. Trust me when I say Bella is the real deal."
"We're in agreement then?" Narcissa and Andromeda nodded.
"What does this ritual entail?" Tonks interrupted. "Do you have to go to Azkaban and perform it with her in the room?"
"No, thank Merlin," Sirius swore, a hard glint appearing in his eyes. "You'll find that our family's obsession with its heirs is not only entirely creepy, but does come in handy upon occasion. Narcissa, I presume you've kept Draco up to date regarding Black Family Traditions?"
The haughty look Narcissa gave him was answer enough.
"Andie?"
"Unfortunately, she's forced me through most etiquette lessons," Tonks muttered petulantly as Harry and Hermione snickered.
"Don't get too jovial," Andromeda said clearly bemused at the two Gryffindor students. "As scions of your houses, you've much catching up to do."
"You're right," Sirius said sighing and running a hand over his face. "I keep forgetting how much there is to do. Narcissa, if you and Andie could coordinate getting Tonks and these two up to speed Last thing we need is someone trapping one of them in a potential betrothal."
"You promised!" Hermione hissed at him, before Sirius waved her off.
"I agreed not to set one up for you without your input and agreement," Sirius said. "However, I don't fancy explaining to your father that a wizard tricked you into a betrothal because you accepted jewelry without understanding what it meant.Although knowing you, it'll be first editions of some godforsaken book. Did I tell you he threatened to remove my teeth without any medication if it were to occur?"
Everyone save for Hermione promptly grimaced.
"You would go find the only muggle who sounds like a Black," Draco muttered. "Only one of them would develop such a creative and horrific punishment, much less threaten it."
"One of us," Sirius corrected Draco, before glancing towards his godson. "Merlin, I'm more concerned about a witch tricking Harry, and honestly would prefer to just avoid all potential duels regardless of which one gets trapped."
Draco snickered at Harry's sudden stricken face.
"Careful Draco," Narcissa said studying her son and then looking at Sirius. "We could always resurrect the tradition Walburga and Orion created. It would prevent such tomfoolery as unwanted betrothals."
"What tradition?" Hermione asked at the same time Draco bellowed, "Absolutely not!"
"If it keeps me out of falling for some obscure cultural practice, why not consider it?" Hermione asked glaring at Draco, completely missing the looks of amusement between Sirius, Andromeda, and Narcissa.
"Because they were first cousins!" Draco snarked back. "My mum is literally suggesting we enter a betrothal! Together."
None of them were prepared for Tonks to interrupt, "Technically you could marry Harry Draco. He's your cousin too. Remember his grandmother was Dorea Black?"
The Malfoy scion suddenly paled considerably, and muttered an apology to Hermione, who was now grinning even as Harry rapidly put space between the two wizards. Sirius recognizing when not to push his godson further intervened.
"Setting all betrothals aside, Druella managed to rigorously teach pureblood customs to you and Narcissa. Aunt Druella's obsession with those social rules even out ranked Walburga."
"What about the ritual?" Tonks asked impatiently, clearly not fond of the idea of etiquette lessons. "Exactly what does that entail?"
"All we need is a vial of Bellatrix's blood," Narcissa answered."As well as the three of us to be of one mind during the ritual, which means we all have to be committed to removing her."
"So, a trip to Azkaban is required," Harry concludeddespondently. "Sirius doesn't have to go, back does he?"
"No. Thankfully, no one must make that trip," Sirius answered, unable to keep from shuddering at the very idea. "The Blacks keep a vial of every member born into the family for this exact purpose, as well as a variety of other rituals I'd prefer not to get into right now. They're kept in our Gringotts vault."
"That's gross," Hermione said, wrinkling her nose.
"That's the Blacks for you," Draco answered shrugging. "They're known for being extreme."
"Are we allowed to witness the ritual?" Hermione asked turning towards Sirius. "From what Neville's said about his grandmother, she's quite severe. You may need to let her witness a ritual if you want her to ally with you."
"It wouldn't be exactly within normal traditions to allow an outsider to view such a ritual," Narcissa said, clearly weighing the benefits of such an exception. "Hermione isn't wrong, however, in her suggestion. It would erase any doubt Augusta may have without needing a test of Bella's magical signature after the rituals completion."
"Would allowing Neville to join as well help him with closure?" Harry asked his godfather. "I mean, if you're going to go through with removing her, we should try to make amends as much as possible, right?"
"It might best if Andromeda reaches out to the family," Narcissa suggested. "Merlin knows Augusta will reject any correspondence from me at this point, and I don't know how agreeable she'll be to you Sirius."
"I can certainly arrange an owl," Andie agreed.