I realized as I'm writing chapter 12 that I misremembered how the Black family tree works. Some of y'all might've caught it as well, despite the kind reviews I've received thus far not mentioning it, so I'm just going to roll with it. For the purpose of this story, the relevant Black family tree will go like this so I don't have to rewrite. Arcturus Black married 'Melania Macmillan', someone who won't be relevant in this story. He had two sons, Orion and Cygnus Black. In that same generation was Walburga Black, and Dorea Black. Dorea married Charlus Potter, James Potter's father Fleamont's brother. Walburga married Orion. I don't at the moment have plans for other family members, so really the big retcon is just Orion and Cygnus being brothers despite the fact that Cygnus isn't actually Arcturus's son. I blame Delenda Est, one of my favorite Fanfictions of all time, for putting those two so close together and thus confusing me. Yes, its all that fic's fault, not mine at all.

I planned on waiting to post this chapter till Tuesday, maybe do a Tuesday/Thursday schedule, but legit the embarrassment from fucking up the family tree had me concerned and I'm posting this more so I can get the acknowledging note out of the way as soon as possible than out of any sort of rhythm. Still not sure how often I should post chapters since I haven't fully written this story out yet, as I said I'm only only chapter 12 and only 4.7k words into it at that. I want to post chapters at a desirable frequency without running out, so I might stick to that Tuesday/Thursday schedule, maybe dropping down to just one or the other once I close in on the point I'm currently at without a backlog, but who knows.

Hydrus stepped out of the floo and into a mansion he thought he would never see standing again. A second passed before Bellatrix stepped out beside him, dressed in a black gown made of silk and just enough sheer lace to keep the eyes lingering. Her hair was done up in a complicated style Hydrus couldn't hope to name, with just a few strands hanging loose to frame her face. A necklace made of silver and shaped into intricate vines with flower-shaped diamonds hung around her neck, an heirloom that had apparently been in the family centuries.

They were in the Malfoy family's parlour and it was just as garish and ancient-feeling as he remembered. Bellatrix had told him beforehand to expect 'a pomped up home that would've cost half as much if that fool Lucius wouldn't have been offended at owning a house that cost less than others', and he found the description was just as accurate in this timeline as his own. Narcissa and Draco stepped into the room, and Hydrus tried not to smirk at the stiff, clearly uncomfortable posture of his younger rival.

"Bella!" Narcissa's voice called, sounding far happier and healthier than the last time Hydrus had seen her. "It's so good to see you again." The two women hugged and traded kisses on cheeks. "You look fantastic."

"I couldn't possibly do less if I was going to be on the arm of our newest, most handsome family member." She gently placed a hand on Hydrus's back and guided him forward. "Hydrus, this is my younger sister, Narcissa Malfoy. Cissy, this is Sirius's son, Hydrus Black."

Hydrus took the proffered right hand and, given that it didn't have a ring, placed a chaste kiss on its back. "It's a pleasure and an honour to meet you, Lady Malfoy."

"Please, dear, just call me Aunt Narcissa." She waved her hand and Draco stepped forward. "This is my son, Draco."

Harry held out his hand and Draco took it robotically. "Pleasure to meet you," Hydrus said. "I've heard you'll be joining me in the fourth year classes; I hope you'll take care of me."

"Of course," Draco said. "Just make sure you're sorted into Slytherin, eh?"

Bellatrix giggled. "Oh you don't need to worry about that."

Hydrus kept it from showing on his face, but he desperately hoped the insane woman remembered that he planned to keep his secondary lineage secret, at least until the ring was done being cleansed. "I shall do my best."

"Come along," Bellatrix said. "I'll introduce you to Lucius so that Cissy and Draco can finish greeting their guests."

"It shouldn't take long," Narcissa said. "Any who show up much later than this can't possibly expect us to just be waiting for them."

It was a teasing quip about their own near-late arrival, subtle as was proper, and he internally sighed as he prepared himself for the 'pure blood speak' he'd have to deal with for the rest of the night.

Hydrus bowed goodbye to Narcissa as Bellatrix took him by his good arm and led them into the main hall for the party. There were dozens of guests milling about, as well as a decent amount of wait staff carrying trays. Harry made a subtle wave of his hand and two full wine glasses floated towards them. His 'date' took hers then gave him a kiss on the top of his head; his own glass floated beside him since she had his arm in a vice grip, and it served as an only-slightly-less-than ostentatious display of his skill as they stepped up to Lucius Malfoy who had been conversing with a man Hydrus could only assume was Blaise Zabini's father.

"Lucius," Bellatrix interrupted. "How good it is to see you."

The man turned to face them properly. "Bellatrix, and this must be young Hydrus."

She released his arm only long enough for him to take Lucius's hand and give it a firm shake. "It's an honour to meet you, Lord Malfoy."

The older wizard spared a glance at the glass floating beside Hydrus and nodded with approval. "It certainly seems you won't be behind in your classes."

"I believe Bellatrix would sooner imprison me than allow me to go to Hogwarts as an embarrassment," Hydrus said, a slight teasing lilt to his voice. "She might still, in fact."

Said woman tutted at him. "If you keep it up I will."

Zabini laughed. "It's always good to see a new face here, have you settled in?"

"I have, Lord Zabini." Hydrus nodded at him, finally greeting him after the appropriately timed delay given his own familial status. "I believe I'll be sharing my year with your son as well?"

"Indeed, Blaise couldn't make it tonight, but I hope the two of you will get along."

Hydrus floated his glass over and took a sip of it, just as smooth as if he'd lifted it by hand. "I'm sure we will, if not because of natural chemistry, then because I'm not about to lose a potential source of confectionaries for sating Bellatrix's sweet tooth."

Bellatrix and Zabini both smiled, the latter no doubt pleased that Hydrus knew of one of his businesses. "It seems you've been well educated. I'll have to make sure not to disappoint come Yule time."

"Aunt Bella." Hydrus spared a glance to the side and saw Draco had joined them. "Mother was hoping you could join her in conversing with Lady Greengrass as well as Madams Carrow and Smith."

"Oh I'm sure she was." Bellatrix sighed. "I might honestly poison that toad Smith if she mentions that cup of hers again."

"Just make sure it can't be traced back to us," Hydrus said humourlessly.

Bellatrix giggled. "Obviously."

With another sigh and a kiss to his cheek she departed, leaving Hydrus alone with the three pure blood snobs. He took another sip of his wine in preparation.

"She certainly seems to care a great deal for you," Lucius drawled. "Here I thought Narcissa was too doting."

The words seemed to embarrass Draco more than him, so Hydrus decided to take no offence to them. "You should have seen her when we first met. She thought I was some charlatan who'd managed to fool Lord Arcturus."

"How is the ancient lord?" Zabini asked, using the respectful title for one who'd ruled over a house for so long. "It's been some time since we were graced with his presence."

"Better than before, if Bellatrix is to be believed," Hydrus replied. "She claims he's happy to have a new, powerful scion of the house. I believe, and feel free to call me a sentimental type, that any man, no matter how full of piss and vinegar he may be, is simply pleased to have a grandson who'll listen to him rant about the war and does what he's told."

Lucius let out a sound that was far too dignified and pretentious to have been a snort. "I've been on the receiving end of those stories myself, back when I was courting Narcissa. If you've managed to stay awake through them all, I'm sure you could paint a map of Toulouse with the detail he goes into."

"Could mould it out of clay," Hydrus confirmed. "Perhaps I'll do just that, or at least have Kreacher do it for me, as a Yule gift for him." He turned and bowed his head at the men who'd just stepped up towards them. "Lord Nott, Lord Greengrass."

"Greetings, Scion Black," Nott said. It had been proper for Hydrus, as a member of the most powerful family, to greet them first. Just as it was proper for them to acknowledge it before greeting the host. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Lucius, your home is as lovely as ever, and the wine is even better than last year."

"I agree," Greengrass added. "Something new, or was it just finally time to open?"

Lucius smirked. "Both. I had tried this vinyard's ten-year, and had been dying to try its fifty, which only just came out last month." He turned to Hydrus. "What do you think, Hydrus?"

"It's wonderful," Hydrus said. "I find with anything above a thirty-year, it's all too common that they've picked up a vinegar taste. I'm surprised to hear they've only just opened their fifties, a sign of fine skill despite their neophytism."

He quickly stole a glance at Draco then looked away. The others would take it as a sign that he'd gone to seek the Malfoy heir's own opinion, but held off after seeing he wasn't partaking. An 'unintended' sign of his being above the other boy. If any of them decided that he'd done it on purpose, it'd only make them appraise him that much higher.

"Indeed," Nott said. "I'm sure you've had quite the selection at home."

"When my only choices are whatever wine Bellatrix has chosen for the evening, or a glass of Lord Arcturus's usual 'inferno' whiskey, it's not hard to imagine that my palette has indeed become quite well versed."

Lucius nodded in agreement. "I've only had it once, when we finally came to terms on the marriage agreement, and believe me when I say I haven't missed it."

Hydrus stopped himself from rolling his eyes at the man's second reminder that he was married to a Black. Had Hepzibah Smith not been, as Bellatrix described, an old toad of a woman, she'd be the only one who could prance about as he could since she had a line as old theirs, and even then the family didn't have half the power the Blacks wielded. Three of the men before him, despite being fellow members of the Sacred Twenty-Eight families, would have to someday bow and kiss his ring when he claimed his position as lord of the family.

"Speaking of marriage agreements," Greengrass started. "Have you given any more thought towards your son and my youngest, Lucius?"

Hydrus decided to have some mercy on his young 'cousin', and turned to Draco. "Shall we try and find a quiet place to sit? There's only so much about Hogwarts that your Aunt Bella can tell me, I'd hear it from a closer source."

"Go on, Draco," Lucius said before the boy could answer for himself. "Give him a tour, I'm sure Hydrus would love to see the art gallery."

Hydrus would not, in fact, love that; but he allowed the man to have his moment to reassert 'dominance' over the younger wizards in order to have a quick escape. The pair stopped only for a moment so that Harry could snag another, empty glass for Draco along with a bottle that he allowed to float behind them after using it to refill his own glass.

"Start by giving me enough information to pass a quiz if your father sees fit to give me one about your manor," Hydrus said. "After that, let's stick with the original plan and just find a place to relax. Perhaps we can even pull that rod out from between your shoulder blades."

The wink he gave helped diminish some of the angry blush that had come to Draco's face, not that he would relent on his teasing. Not only would it be a betrayal of all their years hating each other, but there was nothing that could keep the boy in line like unquestionable superiority and authority.

"Just tell him you liked the Philantiego pieces," Draco said. "If my mother's around, mention you'd like a walk around the gardens some time. She's responsible for managing it."

Hydrus nodded along. "Hopefully he won't press too much for anything. If he does I'll just tell him I forced you to cut it short."

"Right." Draco seemed relieved at that and came to a stop. "Here, there's an alcove overlooking the garden. We can stay there for now."

Hydrus stepped out and enjoyed the breeze for a moment. There was only so much that cooling charms could do on a mansion this large during the tail end of summer, and the night air was a relief. With a wave of his hand he conjured up a pair of chairs and took his seat with a pleased sigh.

"Wow." The boy looked suitably awed as he took his own chair and allowed Hydrus to fill his glass at last. "How much wandless magic can you do?"

"Wandless and nonverbal spells, even when combined, really aren't all that tricky." Hydrus topped off his own glass after having drained it a second time and sipped it. He allowed the bottle to finally settle onto the ground between them and took his glass in hand. "Wands and verbalizations are just crutches for spellcasting. If you grow up without them, it's a relatively smooth transition from 'accidental magic' to simply allowing your magic to do what you want."

That was a simplification and a half, but even if Malfoy didn't accept it at face value, he'd at least be forced to accept that Hydrus believed it was true. There were much worse impressions he could give off than 'unrelatable prodigy'.

"I… I see." Draco swallowed another sip. "It's still hard to imagine."

"I suppose it would be." A thought occurred to him. "What's your house elf's name?"

"Dobby."

"Dobby," Hydrus called. He was pleased when the elf appeared immediately. "Hello there."

"Hellos young master Black." The elf was staring at him, eyes wide and unabashed curiosity pouring out of them. "What's is you needing?"

"Could you fetch me a stick about the size of a wand?" Hydrus asked. "From an inert wood."

"Of course, sirs." The house elf bobbed its head up and down. "Dobby will do it right away!"

With that it popped away. Hydrus watched his old friend go with a bemused smile. Draco was waiting patiently to see whatever this was all about, and Hydrus was glad he was too unaware to question the obedience that his house elf showed Hydrus. A few more seconds passed before Dobby reappeared.

"Here's you is." Hydrus took the stick, a bit of oak that started nearly the width of his thumb before tapering off to the width of his pinky, and nodded at the elf. "Is there anything else Dobby can do for you?"

"Not yet," he replied. "But wait a moment so you can dispose of this."

Once more the elf's ears went flopping about as it nodded. Hydrus performed the classic swish and flick motion required for the spell before saying "Wingardium leviosa."

The bottle of wine he'd been gesturing at flung itself into the air but quickly came crashing back down, and it was only due to what little quidditch training he had left in him that it didn't smash against the floor. He gently set it back down.

"As you can see, trying to manipulate magic with an incapable tool is pointless." He handed the 'wand' back to Dobby who took it with almost reverence. "Wingardium leviosa." This time he swung his finger around in the same pattern, and once more the wine bottle nearly met his end. "And similarly, trying to cast magic the way we would with a wand without one is pointless."

This time he simply flicked his hand up in a 'come here' motion, and the bottle gently floated up into the air. He manoeuvred his hand around and with a few motions uncorked the bottle and refilled his glass.

"When it comes to 'natural' magic, you should do what feels natural, allow magic to guide you as much as you guide it." He took a sip of his wine. "I'm sure it takes some practice, but I'm also sure you could figure it out in time."

"Right." Draco looked stunned, but didn't allow that to stop him from pushing forward. "So, you wanted to hear about Hogwarts?"

"Not really." Hydrus laughed. "I just figured you'd appreciate getting away from having to hear your father and his friends talk about who to marry you off to." He paused and faced Dobby. "We won't need you any further, Dobby. You may rest until called for."

"D-Dobby is unworthy of such kindness." The house elf bowed so many times and so quickly Hydrus couldn't keep track. "You is truly a wonderful wizard, young master Black."

"Go on," Draco snapped. "Get."

Dobby disappeared with a crack, and Hydrus tried not to let his annoyance show. "You should be kinder to your elf. They are incredibly powerful creatures who can perform feats that no wizard is capable of."

"It's just a house elf," Draco said with a scoff. "What's it going to do, shine my shoes the wrong direction?"

"I once knew of a house elf who passed along all of its master's actions to another member of the family, thus leading to the 'true' master being killed," Hydrus said with enough emotion to fill a thimble. "You should be more wary as the future master of your house."

"Right, right," Draco grumbled. "Honestly, I don't get what the big deal is."

"Pray that you never do." Hydrus sipped his wine and tried to come up with a good excuse for his passion. "Too many purebloods buy into the notion that magical creatures are beneath us. They can be, but far too often they posses magics that just as easily make them into a threat. We maintain the order we do so as to ensure our own safety, but don't let that fool you into thinking you can walk into a centaur herd's glade without so much as a howdy-do." He decided to stop there and try and get things back on track. "Do you have any preferences as to who you'll be married to?"

Draco sighed. "It's not like it would matter if I did. It's more or less down to the younger Greengrass, Pansy Parkinson, and the elder Greengrass as a far distant third possibility."

"Why so distant?" Hydrus asked, genuinely curious. "Isn't she in the same year as us?"

"He's only got the two daughters," Draco said. "He wants to try and wait and see if Daphne'll catch any eyes when she's a bit older, see if he can get someone to marry her and take her name instead. If not he'll be stuck letting his nephew inherit." The boy made a face as he sipped his wine, though he did a half-admirable job of hiding it. "What about you?"

"Oh I'm sure Bellatrix is on the hunt as we speak." Hydrus finished off his own glass which seemed to force Draco to take another sip of his. "If she has her way, I'll have a whole harem that I'm expected to breed the next generations of Blacks from."

"Old school, eh?" Draco smirked, a rosy tint already growing on his cheeks from the wine. "Doesn't sound so bad."

Hydrus spared a bemused smile. "I don't think you realise exactly how 'old school' she might go."

His eyes widened. "Seriously? But she's like… Twice your age!"

"I don't think she cares. Besides." Hydrus refilled Draco's glass. "I'm sure she's sick of old men trying to wed and bed her. Taking me as an excuse to make sure the household remains in a 'proper Black woman's hands', whilst getting the suitors off her own back, is exactly the sort of win-win a woman like her would go for."

Draco's nose scrunched up a touch, but he decided to take another sip of wine instead of disagreeing. It seemed the drink was growing on him. "I suppose she is rather pretty."

"Oh?" Harry started. "Does Draco have a crush on his favourite Aunty Bella?"

"No!" The boy practically shouted, but any further discourse was drowned out by Hydrus's laughter.

"Relax, Malfoy, I'm only teasing." Hydrus stood and leaned forward against the balcony, taking in the view of the garden down below. Trees were spread about in perfect distances between one another, with seemingly natural 'rows' of flowers spread between them. "We're too young to take things so seriously."

"Exactly correct."

Hydrus jumped, nearly spilling his wine at the sound of Bellatrix's voice. He turned to find her standing in the doorway, smiling warmly at him. "Merlin's beard, Bella, I'm going to put a bell around your neck."

She cocked an eyebrow at him. "Just Bella now, is it?" She stepped up beside him and took his glass for herself and swallowed the rest. "Perhaps I should have you drink more with our dinners, you seem to become much friendlier."

"Just so long as it isn't from Lord Arcturus's bottle," he shot back. "It'd be rather embarrassing for Kreacher to have to carry me to bed."

"Oh don't worry about that, I'd carry you myself."

Hydrus could practically feel Draco's eyes shooting back and forth between him and Bellatrix. "How'd you know where we were? We were supposed to be on a tour."

She giggled. "I made sure we'd never lose you again. I can find you no matter where you are."

"Alright, first you have all my measurements for Madam Malkin's, now this?" Hydrus probably should've saved this for after they were away from Draco, but he couldn't stop himself. "When the hell did you do it?"

Another giggle. "Oh sweety, now you know better than to just drink whatever strange witches give you."

"Is there anything else I should know?" he asked wearily. "I don't have your name tattooed on my arse, do I?"

"Not my name, and not your 'arse', no." He blinked owlishly at her which elicited a full on laugh from her. "I'm only teasing dear. Well, about the tattoo. We really do need to work on your ability to detect poisons."

Draco cleared his throat. "Are you enjoying the party, Aunt Bella?"

Hydrus supposed they were even now, at least on the account of him getting the boy away from his wedding talks.

"Depends on if Smith is any better at her toxicology than Hydrus is."

"Bella!"

"Oh, you're so fun to tease." Bellatrix leaned over and gave Hydrus a kiss on the cheek. "I'd never be so obvious. I certainly wouldn't just go on about it here on this open balcony where everyone could hear."

'Ah,' he thought. 'That's what's got her in a mood.'

"Was I being a bit too loud with sharing our potential plans for matrimony?" he asked. "My apologies, but I'm surprised that displeases you."

"What displeases me is those facetious reasons you tried assigning to me," she said, and Hydrus swallowed in sync with Draco at her tone. "I don't need some contract to keep those old fools away." Luckily for one of the two boys, her entire attention was now focused solely on Hydrus, and she grabbed him by the collar as she spoke. "I want you for the power you have, the power that surpasses all others." She released him and straightened out his robes. "Make sure you remember that. And sadly, no, you shouldn't be quite so open about my affection, it'll complicate certain matters."

"What matters?"

"That's for me to know, and for you to find out when I allow it." Hydrus sighed and returned to his seat to fill up his glass, only for Bella to settle herself into his lap. "Now, Draco dear, tell me about all the pretty girls at school."

Hydrus stood beside Lucius as Narcissa fussed over their 'precious, darling' Draco, and he tried his best not to break the stoic look of patience he was maintaining. Narcissa was pulling her son's hair back and forth, attempting to decide which made him look best, while the boy's cheeks were flushed and his eyes made to look anywhere but at Hydrus.

Lucius turned to him. "I presume your things are in your trunk?"

"Yes." Hydrus patted his pocket where the shrunken box was. "My owl is already on her way to Hogwarts. I'll make sure Draco is aware that he can borrow her for sending letters home."

To Hydrus's surprise, the blonde man actually laughed at that. "I'm sure Narcissa would appreciate that."

Was Lucius just more comfortable expressing emotions after having gotten to know him? Was he putting on a show since they were in public? Had the party been a damper on his mood? It was strange to hear the narcissistic monster who'd killed more muggles than half the other Death Eaters combined sharing such a kind sound, and Hydrus decided he didn't much care for it.

"What will I appreciate?" the woman herself asked, finally rejoining them. "Have you got your trunk, Hydrus?"

"Yes," he said. "And I was just telling Lucius that Draco would be more than welcome to borrow my owl, Hedwig, whenever he wished to write home. If you're anything like Bellatrix, I'm sure you appreciate them."

A strange smile worked itself onto her face. "Oh I'm sure she will love it if you write her letters." Great, now Hydrus was confused by both of the blondes. "And that's very sweet, dear, I'll look forward to them, Draco."

"Yes, of course." It seemed her work had gone to waste as the boy pushed his hair back the way he liked it. "Shall we, Hydrus?"

"Of course," He turned back to the elder Malfoys and bowed. "Thank you again for accompanying me to the station, I hope you both get home safe and sound."

"We'll look forward to seeing you over Yule break," Lucius said. "Be sure to reach out to Severus if you need anything at all; he may only be a half-blood, but he's always been good to us."

"I shall."

After shaking Lucius's hand and kissing Narcissa's, Hydrus led Draco onto the train and quickly found an empty compartment. He settled in and waved for Draco to take the seat across from him.

"We should go see where my friends are," the boy said. "Make sure you meet the right sort of people first."

Hydrus shrugged. "Suit yourself, but I'll be here." He stretched his legs out onto the spot across from him. "Bring them around if you'd like."

"Right."

Draco was clearly put out but didn't say anything else as he left. Hydrus had to be careful not to allow him to think that they were equals. If he believed he could walk over him like he did everyone else there would be no end to it, and if Bellatrix were to get so much as a whiff of it, it could be dangerous for both of their healths.

The train still hadn't begun to move by the time Draco returned, Crabbe and Goyle in tow. "It seems the rest haven't arrived yet, but this is Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. You two, this is my cousin, Hydrus Black."

Both boys grunted and nodded at him, and Hydrus returned the latter gesture. "Charmed."

He lifted his legs off the opposite cushion so that Draco could sit and before too long they departed. Hydrus waited for a few more minutes to pass before he drew a knife from his pocket and began to carve up the carriage wall. "Crabbe, Goyle, take turns keeping an eye out for any prefects." He didn't bother to look up from his rune work. "You're up first, Goyle."

It was almost a pleasant surprise when the boy got up to do it without question. Perhaps Draco had spoken to them beforehand regarding his status. The blonde boy observed Hydrus's work but didn't comment, either not wanting to distract him or unsure of what he was doing in the first place. It took nearly ten minutes to sync the charm runes up with the train's original magic network, but Hydrus was fairly certain he wasn't about to blow them all to bits by the time he'd finished.

"Right then." He placed his hand on the array but turned towards the door before calling out, "Goyle, anyone around?"

"Nope," came the dull response.

Hoping the boy's definition of 'around' was similar to his own, Hydrus began to pump his magic in. He heard all three of the other boy's gasp as it washed over them. If he were in his original body they wouldn't have felt it at all, but in this underdeveloped one it was all he could do to not explode when he unleashed enough magic to properly fuel a rune array, even one of just this size. After a few seconds he was able to stop, and nodded to himself when nothing blew up.

"What is that?" Draco asked, nervous. "Is it a ward?"

"No, just a bit of charm work." Hydrus pressed his hand against it again. "Watch this."

A much smaller amount of magic was all that was required to activate it. Suddenly the compartment expanded to nearly three times its original size in every direction. Hydrus waved his hand a few times to conjure up a table, a new bench to fill the window's side of the wall, and pillows that were haphazardly tossed about the seats. He took one for himself and finally stretched out properly.

"Goyle and Crabbe will need to keep an eye out to make sure we're not caught by the prefects, but so long as we don't put too many more people in here than there should be, it shouldn't be a problem even if I need to deactivate the runes."

"This is brilliant," Draco said with Crabbe nodding along dumbly, both staring at all the new found space. "I can't believe you were able to make this happen with just a few scratches on the wall."

"Runes are an important tool in our society," Hydrus said simply as he closed his eyes. "A good runesmith is worth their weight in gold. A good one you can trust? Twice that and then some."

Hydrus's knowledge on runes was hyper focused on defensive wards and a few 'homemaking' charms like the one he'd used on the compartment. They'd been vital in building small pockets of resistance against the dark lord's forces; being able to turn a simple, abandoned outhouse into a four-bedroom apartment was the difference between a life like his own and one where people could actually raise a family. They weren't always foolproof, people like Ollivander or the Delacours were proof of that, but it was better than nothing. At least, that's what he'd always told himself.

And if now they were useful for being able to relax and impress teenagers, so be it.

Goyle popped his head in and was momentarily stunned by the new room, until Hydrus cleared his throat. "Oh, uh, the girls are coming."

"Daphne, Hellena and Tamina?" Draco asked.

"Uh…" Goyle peered out. "And Pansy."

"Wait till they see this," Draco said with a smirk. "Daphne's the eldest Greengrass daughter we talked about. Pansy Parkinson is… Well, she's a bit much, but she grows on you."

'Oh I know exactly how much she'll 'grow on you', Draco.'

"Hellena Tankle is a fine enough girl, if a bit daft for my liking. Tamina Dour has got a temper, but you're probably rich enough for her to not say anything."

Hydrus had no idea who the latter two were, but could assume they were either outside of his year, or their families had fallen in the original war against Voldemort. He didn't have to wait long to confirm he'd never seen them. Daphne and Pansy were exactly as he remembered while Hellena was a tall, wispy thing that looked like she might be keeled over by a breeze, and Tamina was nearly her opposite, short but with curves that stretched the hems of her robes. He waved at them all as Draco made the introductions.

"I'd get up and do the usual hand-kissing and bowing," he said when his 'friend' was finished. "But I'm a bit tired after what I did to this place."

"No worries at all," Daphne said with an airy laugh. "I don't suppose you mind if we join you lot?"

"I don't know…" Hydrus said with an exaggerated sigh. "We're kinda tight on space."

The quip earned him far more giggles than it deserved as the girls took their places along the window, with Pansy sitting tight beside Draco in the corner opposite his own. They all seemed fine to leave him to his relaxation and merely chatted with each other and Draco.

From what he could tell, Daphne was the 'leader' of the girls, and drove most of the conversation despite Pansy seeming to try and undermine her frequently, perhaps in defence against her potential rival for the Malfoy heir's hand. Tamina seemed to have a sharp tongue, but mostly kept it in check unless someone made a backhanded comment towards Hellena that flew over the flighty girl's head. Hellena herself seemed sweet, but Draco had been seriously underselling it by calling her a 'bit' daft.

"Hydrus," Draco said. "What electives did you say you'd be taking?"

"Runes, Arithmancy, and Creatures," he replied lazily. "I'll be a touch behind in the first two, but I'm a fine hand with beasts."

Draco scoffed. "If you can do what you did to the compartment, I don't think you'll be 'behind' at all in Runes."

Hydrus shook his head. "All I did was memorise the design and slap it on the wall. If you asked me how it actually works I'd have to come up with a clever lie."

"How humble," Daphne said. "I hope you're not trying to be sorted away from us."

"Believe me, I'm anything but humble." Hydrus smirked up at the ceiling, still not looking at any of them. "Humility is for those with nothing to be proud of, fools, and those so far above their peers that trying to show off their works would be like explaining the inner workings of a snitch to an infant." He finally turned to face the Greengrass girl and gave her a wink. "You all found this far too impressive for it to possibly be the latter."

The others laughed while Daphne herself merely smiled and raised an eyebrow. Before she could respond, Goyle popped his head in once more. "Zabini and Shnopps are coming."

This time Draco held his tongue, no doubt because they had company, instead of giving Hydrus a brief run down of who they were. They were just as impressed as the girls had been when they entered, and quickly took their seats between Crabbe and Malfoy after introductions. Michael Shnopps was another new face, pale and blonde, he looked like he might've had close familial ties to Hellena.

The conversation picked up now, though Hydrus mostly kept to his half-napping and only chimed in when someone asked him something. Twenty minutes or so passed before Goyle interrupted again.

"Prefect's coming," he said. "Gryffindor."

"Get in here, sit across from Crabbe." Hydrus stood and waved for the girls to stand up as well. He sat all of them but Pansy down where he'd been laying then vanished away the extra bench, pillows, and table. He pressed his hand against his runes and the cabin began to shrink, soon they were squeezed together and he gestured for Pansy to take a seat in Malfoy's lap, to her delight. He turned to Tamina. "Keep your arm propped up to hide my work, if you please. Everyone, leave the talking to me."

Finally he leaned against the window just in time for the knock on the carriage door.

"Come in," he said with an annoyed tone. "I swear if its… Oh, hello."

It was Katie Bell, a prefect badge gleaming on his former chaser's chest. "Just doing the rounds," she said, eyes scanning over the tightly packed Slytherins. "I don't believe I should have to tell you this, but some of you will need to find another compartment, it's not safe like this."

Hydrus scoffed and glared at her. "We'd love to, call off your dogs and we just might."

"Excuse me?"

"Excuse me," he mocked back at her with a sneer. "Those morons in your house have us stuck in here with one of their pranks, or at least the threat of one."

"Who?" she asked, suddenly on the back foot.

"You know who," Hydrus snapped. "We aren't leaving till they undo it."

"I," Katie sighed. "I'm sorry, I'll go talk to them." The door hadn't even finished shutting before she shouted "Fred! George!"

Just a few seconds passed before they all began to laugh. Hydrus stood them all back up, reactivated the charm, and soon they returned to their places. This time he left out the table, no one seemed to be using it anyways, and had Crabbe stand watch instead so Goyle could relax.

"That really is impressive," Blaise said. "Reminds me of how tents work."

Hydrus nodded. "Functionally its the same, though only at the most base levels. Tents have about ten times as many runes, depending on their size, for the same purpose, not to mention dozens more for things like making sure the furnishings don't get destroyed when they're folded up. Put a floo in there and you'll have a hundred more on top of that."

"Maybe I should've taken Runes then," the boy said dryly. "I've seen how much those things cost."

"I was just telling Draco earlier about how valuable runesmiths are. Now, tell me about 'Fred' and 'George' so that I know what to expect."

That seemed to enthuse everyone. They all jumped in to complain about the various 'jokes' the twins had pulled on their house, all while failing to mention any possible reason they were targeted in the first place, of course, and swearing up and down that the two would pay someday. Hydrus doubted any of them had any actual plans to achieve that, both out of indolence and fear of the twins' potential reaction to the escalation.

Crabbe popped his head in. "Prefects coming back."

Hydrus sighed and everyone scrambled back into their places as he vanished away the extra furnishings. Once more he resumed his annoyed, contemptuous expression as Katie opened the door.

"They said they don't know what you're talking about…" She looked like she didn't believe it but continued. "Perhaps if you showed me-"

"Don't tell me you actually believed them," Hydrus snapped at her. "They made it clear that if we leave this compartment that we'd be, and I quote, 'picking pixie parts from our teeth for a week'. I swear, as soon as we get to Hogwarts I'm going to file a complaint."

Katie winced. "Pixies? Where the bloody hell would they have gotten pixies?"

He levelled her with a stare that left her frozen. "I don't know. I don't care. Deal with them."

"Right, sorry again." Katie groaned and left.

Once more they rearranged themselves into more comfortable seating and Draco asked, "I can't believe she still hasn't figured it out."

Hydrus shrugged. "When you allow someone to think they came up with an answer on their own, they're far more likely to stand fast behind it."

They all laughed at that, but it was cut short as the door slammed open. Hydrus had sat up, his wand drawn and a curse on his lips in less than a second, but let out a groan and slumped back onto his pillow when he saw who it was.

"Aunty Bella," he said, unable to keep the bemusement from his tone. "I thought you didn't get the post?"

"That's Professor Black to you, young man," she said as she stepped into the compartment and made her way towards him. "Sit up."

He did so without thinking and snorted as she took the spot of his pillow and patted her lap for him to lay back down. Not wanting to cause a fuss in front of so many people, he settled in without a complaint. "Crabbe, you might as well come back in now."

The boy did so with enough grace to look embarrassed at having failed to warn them she was coming, even if Hydrus couldn't actually blame him.

"What if that prefect comes back?" Draco asked.

"We'll just say Professor Black did it." Hydrus shifted his head a bit, partly to get more comfortable and partly to rub the annoyance into Bellatrix. "What's Bell going to do, scold a teacher?"

"Oh right, I should probably punish you for this." The woman tapped a finger against her chin. "Obviously you'll be going to Slytherin, but I can't take away points yet… Oh I know! Detentions! For the entire year. With me."

He nearly rose to the bait and scoffed at the notion, but quickly decided that would be a poor idea. Instead he chose to just butter the woman up and hope she wouldn't actually make him spend all his free time with her. "I thought you wanted to punish me?"

"Good boy, good answer," she crooned to Hydrus's bemusement. "Now, aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?"

He rattled off each of their names, except Draco whom he stared at for a moment before calling 'some guy', and said, "... this is Bellatrix Black, our newest professor. Professor Bellatrix Black, these are the closest friends I have here at Hogwarts. Except that blonde boy. Obviously."

Draco rolled his eyes at the joke. "It's good to see you again, Aunt Bella. Please tell me you're taking over the Defense position?"

"As a matter of fact I am," she said haughtily. "Seems your old one's health began to fail him."

"Oh I see," Hydrus said. "He can call you 'Aunt Bella' but it has to be full, legal name from me."

He tried to sit up but Bellatrix's fingers dug deep into his shoulder to pull him back down. "Oh no you don't." Hydrus laughed and allowed her to keep him pinned as she began to play with his hair. "As I was saying, technically it's a temporary position since the man decided to drop out at the very last minute, but when I do my job well, and so long as none of you children annoy me too much, it'll become a full-time one."

"Fantastic," Draco said, legitimate excitement on his face. "Honestly, Quirrell was about as useful as a squib when it came to teaching. We'll finally be able to learn something."

"Just don't expect any favouritism," their newest teacher said as she continued to gently massage their newest classmate's scalp. "I have to be as prim and proper a teacher as possible for at least this first year. Dumbledore was none too happy with having his right to select teachers himself overruled."

"What will we be working on this year?" Daphne asked. "I've heard from my mother that you're a renowned duelist."

"I am," Bellatrix said. "And in theory, it'll be the lesson plans from Quirrell I'll be going off of. I intend to just go off the headers though, and teach the material as I see fit."

"Brilliant," Daphne said with a warm smile. "I'll be looking forward to it."

Their conversation was interrupted yet again by Fred and George bursting into the compartment, then nearly getting bowled over by Katie Bell as they stopped right in her way to stare at what had been done to the train. All three suddenly straightened up when they noticed Bellatrix.

"Hello," Katie started. "I'm sorry, but who are you?"

"Katie Bell," Hydrus said. "This is the esteemed Professor Bellatrix Black, our new Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor. Esteemed and Wonderful Professor Bellatrix Black, this is Katie Bell along with Fred and George Weasley. They were, the latter two that is, tormenting us before your timely arrival."

"Oh were we now?" one twin said.

"News to us," the other said.

Hydrus scoffed. "Are you saying you've committed so many wrongs that you've lost track of them all?" He looked up at Bellatrix, still using her lap for a pillow. "Poor Prefect Bell there had to run back and forth because those two refuse to admit to what they did."

She hummed. "I'll take it from here, Miss Bell. You may leave."

"Oh." The girl's eyes darted around the expanded compartment once more, especially lingering on Fred and George, before she nodded. "Alright then."

Once the door was shut behind her, Harry sat up, gestured to the space across from him, and the nearest Slytherins scooted away. "My apologies for getting you two caught up in all of this. In my defence, Bell was the one to blame you two without even confirming. Just relax for a while so no one gets suspicious, and again, my apologies."

Fred and George both eyed him suspiciously, but did take the seats they were offered. "So what'd you accuse us of anyways?" one asked.

"Nothing." Hydrus laughed. "Just said 'someone, or someones' gave us a pixie related threat."

"We don't do anything with those."

"Does give me an idea though."

"Oh?"

"I'll tell you later."

Hydrus tried not to bask too much in the warmth of seeing both twins alive and bantering again. George had been the first to die, in a raid that also killed Percy and Arthur, and left Fred and half the other Weasleys injured in one way or another. Fred died less than a year later in a suicidal attack on Castle LeStrange. It took nearly two years for Harry to perform a proper siege of his own, and at last bury the men whose magically preserved bodies had been hung up along the castle walls for all to see.

Hydrus shook his head to clear his thoughts and get back into being his new self.

"Anyways, I hope there's no hard feelings," he said. "My no-doubt future housemates have made it very clear that you two aren't ones to be trifled with."

He could practically feel the seething looks from his fellow Slytherins, but he didn't care. Hydrus knew better than anyone here just how much potential the two brothers had, and even if house relations had to be crossed, he wasn't about to be enemies with them.

"Somehow I get the feeling they didn't exactly phrase it that way," one said.

The other nodded. "Probably told you a whole load of gryphon dung."

"I doubt it," Hydrus said smoothly. "After all, the two of you were the first ones Bell suspected, and even if they didn't phrase it that way, the stories they've told are certainly as impressive as they would be amusing had my friends not been on the receiving end."

"They're Slytherins."

"We're Gryffindors."

"Just the way it is."

"Always has been."

"Always will be."

Hydrus scoffed. "Come now, no need to be pessimistic. Let me ask you this, how much would it cost to get the two of you to, say, leave me alone? Leave them alone? Or at least, buy some sort of…" He glanced over at Bellatrix. "Forgive my language, but, 'Don't fuck with them, and they won't fuck with you', agreement?"

Both twins were staring at him with suspicion painted across their faces. "Unfortunately, that's not for sale. It would be bad for business."

"Business?"

One of them nodded. "That's right. You and yours make the perfect examples of what our products can do."

"How else are our beloved customers to know that the trick wands we sell really will turn into a slice of rope or a slide whistle until one of yours fails their charms exam because of it."

Hydrus stared at them with a half smile. "All this would mean is that you'd make less money whilst waiting for one of mine to step out of line, at which point they'd become free game. I'm not asking for permanent immunity, just a clean slate." He leaned forward. "How many galleons do you think you'll be losing out on because of these delays? How much do you currently average when new products debut on the market with an example?"

"Oh."

"Um."

"Er…"

"That is to say…"

Hydrus cocked an eye at the suddenly tongue-tied boys. "You did say this was a business, did you not?"

"It's a new business," Fred, Hydrus thought, said whilst pushing out his chest. "Just starting it this year."

'S'right," George agreed, nodding. "We're starting with a mail order list, and once we've made enough we'll set up a proper store front."

"How much?" Hydrus said. "If the two of you are half the menace I've decided you are, I'm sure you're going to do well. Let me invest."

"What?" they asked in sync.

"How much of an investment do you need?" Hydrus asked. "Not just for the shop itself, but for anything else you might need. Supplies, packaging, research materials. How much does this 'business' of yours need?"

"Well..."

"That is to say..."

"We just-"

"You know-"

"Tell you what," Hydrus cut in. "Let's do this. Leave us alone, at least the Slytherins in their fourth year like me, for the time being. Bring me a proper funding request. Doesn't have to be anything formal, just a list of expenditures you believe you'll be facing and how many shares of your company I can purchase. You may assume full rights for first-offer buy back, meaning if I ever plan to sell them, you have the right to purchase them first.

"You'll get the money you need to really get your business up and running. I'll get the peace of mind knowing that my business partners would never mess with their own investor's Charms exams." He gave them a smile he hoped mimicked the one Sirius used to reassure him in the past. "Nothing brings people together like shared blood and making money, but I'm afraid neither one of you is my type, so we'll have to settle for just the latter."

The two boys were stunned at him stomping over them in the conversation, but he hoped the allure of him funding their dream would entice them.

"Let me ask you this first," George said.

"Who are you?" Fred finished.

Hydrus laughed. "Hydrus Black." He gestured to Bellatrix. "And this is my father's cousin, and your new Defence instructor, Bellatrix Black."

Fred's eyes widened. "So you are Sirius's son."

"Thought you looked just like him," George said.

"I am indeed." Hydrus switched to a more neutral expression, hoping to keep from offending anyone around him. "If you're familiar with him, then I hope it's with enough fondness to not dismiss my idea out of hand just for the company I keep. And even if not, my family name alone should tell you just how valuable my financial backing can be."

The twins shared a glance with one another, just for the briefest of seconds, and Hydrus wondered if perhaps they were performing some sort of mutual legilimency to supplement the supposed 'twin telepathy' they claimed to have.

"We'll consider it."

"Discuss it with one another, as well as other potential investors."

"There's a lot of people interested in such a business, you know."

"Too true, too true. We'll see what we can work out though."

Hydrus nodded along, doubting anyone besides their friend Lee Jordan and maybe some of their quidditch teammates would have any interest in 'investing', but allowing them to play their game. "Of course, completely understandable. You'll obviously know where to find me, but if you would prefer, I won't take offence to receiving an owl instead of an in-person meeting." He turned to Bellatrix. "You think we're good to let them out now, Esteemed and Wonderful Professor Bellatrix Cassiope-"

She wrapped a hand around his mouth to cut off his increasingly long name for her. "The two of you may leave. If anyone asks, I gave you a scolding and nothing else since the school year technically hasn't started yet. Do keep in mind, however, that I'm well aware of your reputations, and no amount of anti-favoritism rhetoric from the school will save you two from my wrath if you cause me any issues, are we clear?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Crystal clear."

The twins stood and gave excessively long and comedically low bows to her before leaving. Hydrus was shoved back down into Bellatrix's lap by the woman. Draco returned to where he'd been sitting across from them and glared at Hydrus.

"What was that about?"

Hydrus shrugged. "You lot kept complaining about them and swearing you'd eventually do something about it, well, I actually did it. So long as you keep your noses clean, they'll leave you alone."

"They're Gryffindors!"

"If they accept my offer, they'll be my Gryffindors." Hydrus stared the boy down until he winced and looked away. "I don't care about this silly house system of yours aside from ensuring that I'm in whichever one will provide me the most opportunity for success. Anything beyond that is childish. Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw. No matter what house someone is in, if they're useful to me, I shall have them."

He squirmed around for a moment to get comfortable once more. Bellatrix hummed in pleasure at him.

"How much longer do we have to go?" he asked.

"Four or five hours," Draco answered. "We're probably just hitting halfway to Scotland now."

"Wake me when we get there then, or at least once the trolley lady comes."