Meet the family!
As ever I don't own Harry Potter and I write for fun
Chapter 2:
Plans had to be made, that much was obvious. Plans that would involve the reunion of the scattered fragments of the members of House Black, the rejuvenation of their house deserved all their attention.
And so the owls went out, to Phineas and to Marius, no doubt the later would be rather shocked to receive one but someone aware of the muggle world was necessary now.
House Black needed a new start and it would be afforded them by Harry Potter. He would be raised the pureblood heir he was. Not with the values of the last three generations but with the original values and lessons that taught of magic as the judge, not family.
Sitting in his villa on Crete, Phineas Black wrote. He had spent the last six decades as the equivalent of an Unspeakable for the Grecian Magical government. It had been rewarding but his last project had taken almost twenty years and involved a huge amount of people across the world.
Phineas almost snorted, he wondered what the reaction of his family would be if they saw him studying the magical cores of squibs and what in Britain were termed 'Muggleborns'. In most other countries they were normally called 'First Generations' whilst Muggles were called 'Mundanes'. Not that his family really existed any more, the only family members he had ever really liked were Dorea, Alphard and Sirius, two now dead, the other imprisoned. Best not to dwell on these matters too much, after all he would tickle the dragon that was his family if this research ever got released. No doubt in Britain they would try to explain the evidence away as the delusions of a Muggle-lover.
Phineas was almost glad to be startled from his musings by an owl which flew into the window and landed on a rather precarious pile of books. Reaching to relieve the owl of burden, Phineas noted that it did not leave but waited for a reply. Turning over the envelope, Phineas almost dropped it like it might curse him, although that may actually happen, the Black's were notorious for a reason. Throwing every analysis spell he knew, learned through necessity, and deeming it safe, the man opened the envelope and pulled out the parchment.
Chateau Noir
Chambéry
Cousin Phineas,
I am sure that receiving this missive will have surprised you, after all as far as I know no member of the family other than Dorea, Alphard and Sirius have made contact with you since you left the family.
I am unaware whether or not you are aware but unlike Marius and other members of the family, you were never fully disinherited from the family although you were blasted from the family tree. I believe it may have been that Arcturus just forgot as you left on your own volition, rather than being forced from the family.
Aware as I am of your position in the Greek government I understand that this may be a difficult request but I must ask that you come to a meeting of the family next Tuesday at eleven o'clock. Too long has our family languished in disgrace and mismanagement and I now seek a way to help the family and the British government. I am sure you are aware that the Dark Lord known as Voldermort is believed to be dead, however I do not believe that to be true and I therefore beseech you to come so that we may discuss the matter. For when he returns, and he will, we will once more be asked to make the decision of where to stand and I have pertinent information that suggests that I should trust the self-styled leader of the light the same as I would trust Voldermort.
Yours sincerely with the blessing of Mother Magic,
Cassiopeia Black,
How did one even begin to dissect that, let along reply? Phineas was well aware, as were most of the family Black, of Cassiopeia's 'Black Book' which could cause a World War, although she herself would prefer to sit back and get rich on the back of the information she earned through a series of spy networks that spanned Europe. He could ignore the letter but there was always the risk that Cassiopeia would seek him out himself, he would rather she never enter the country, let along his villa grounds. Phineas was also well aware that she was correct, whilst the war had not really left Britain, if Voldermort were to return then he would set his sights on Europe as a show of power after the insult of being subdued by a toddler.
No, better he go and see Cassiopeia and learn what she believed would see the redemption of his House. And it was actually his House too, the fact that he had not been disowned surprised him, whilst he had been in Greece he had always used the Greek for Black, Mávros, as his surname for fear of reprisals from his family.
Sighing and wondering what had happened for him to earn contact from his family, Phineas wrote a short missive to his cousin and sent it off with the owl. Watching it as it flew away, Phineas was almost tempted to summon it back, burn the letter and move to Paraguay, he was sure it was lovely at the time of year.
Snickering slightly, Phineas decided to take his research with him to show his family, it would make for some… interesting dinner conversation.
Sitting in his offices in Middle Temple, London, Marius Black was one of the most well respected Barristers for financial disputes, if there was one thing that his early upbringing had allowed for was an understanding of the importance of finance and law. Marius had discovered his status as a Squib when his Hogwarts letter didn't arrive and in many respects he was almost glad. Unlike many Squibs from traditional pureblood families, Marius was not abandoned in the Muggle world, a distant cousin who was a Squib too took him in. Attending Eton and then Cambridge to study law, Marius had made his career in London. Meeting his wife, Tamara when he was in his fifties he promptly married her and whilst they never had any children, Tamara was well aware of her husband's status and reason for apparent lack of family.
Marius was quite certain that if he had been involved in the magical world he would have suffered and probably left at some point, sick of the conflict. If one was aware of the magical world it was quite easy to tell its status, even from Muggle newspapers, the fact that three years ago random murders and wanton destruction stopped suggest that the dark had once more been suppressed.
Hearing a tapping, Marius looked over the window, his mouth open as he beheld an owl sitting on his window ledge holding a letter. He had had no contact from the magical world since he was eighteen when his sister once wrote. Slowly opening the window, Marius watched as the owl flew in and sat on his desk, hooting impatiently.
Retrieving the letter, Marius sat down and drew a breath in before slicing the envelope open. The parchment of the letter inside felt so familiar and he almost smiled at the memory, for all the magical world was behind there was something so stylish to using parchments rather than those godawful computers which he hated so much.
Chateau Noir
Chambéry
Hello Brother,
If memory serves it has almost been sixty years since we last conversed and I find myself in need of your assistance. I am sure that you are not abreast with the happenings of the magical world, so a synopsis appears in order so you understand of what I write.
You left seventy years ago, in the following years Arcturus started to make decisions that have greatly affected us all. Dorea married Charlus Potter and had one son, James, Orion married Walburga and had two sons, Sirius and Regulus. Our esteemed Paterfamelias further funded and supported many bills that sought the power of the Dark to grow. At the same time Voldermort used this conflict to reaffirm his status, gaining a reputation quickly as Heir of Slytherin, although it is unknown the validity of this claim.
With the support of many of the darker pureblood families a Dark Lord gained power called Voldermort. His impact was huge, so many families are gone, utterly gone, their names and magics forgotten. Dumbledore gained more power as the leader of the resistance, although it was guerrilla warfare at best. Then for some reason, the Lord Potter went into hiding with his wife and new born son, no-one quite knows why as he was an active Auror then suddenly vanished. Anyway, Voldermort attacked their house in Godric's Hollow that was under the Fidealis Charm, killed James and Lily Potter before turning his wand on their son. For some reason, I suspect a mixture of Old Magics and Familial Magics, Harry Potter survived the Killing Curse and is hailed as the defeater of Voldermort and the Boy-Who-Lived.
I find myself rambling now about things that are better explained face to face as I fear there are problems and events too numerous to mention.
Brother, there are so few of our family left I need help and our name is thought of as darker than a Dementor's cloak, Sirius, Orion's eldest son was imprisoned in Azkaban WITHOUT TRIAL for betraying the Potters and killing thirteen Muggles. Harry is Dorea's grandson and has the potential to be the Paterfamilias of our family if only we had some assistance. Fundamentally, I need your help with the legal matters, I know that you cannot speak in our courts of law but I need your help with getting Sirius a trial. He is no longer a viable candidate as Heir, between Walburga and Arcturus they disowned him completely so long as another Heir was available. The only other Heir is the Scion of Malfoy and I would rather see the House end than him as Paterfamilias. Harry Potter as a descendant of House Black and Sirius' bonded godson has a greater claim.
I understand that you may wish to refuse but I entreat you to visit me at the Chateau next Tuesday at eleven o'clock. If you agree I shall send a house-elf to bring you and your wife here. Please send a reply back via the owl who delivered this letter.
Yours sincerely,
Cassiopeia Black
A stream of swear words fell from his lips as he reread the letter. Getting involved with the magical world would be difficult, it would attract unnecessary attention but at the same time, he would give a huge amount just to see the places he had loved once more. To stroll through Diagon Alley to Gringots, Honeydukes or Florean's Ice Cream Shop. His childhood had been filled with broomsticks, wands and potions, or extraordinary creatures that were incomparable in the mundane world. Anyone would miss it, not the prejudice, but the excitement of the place. Although it may all have changed now that must be said, and from his sister's letter war had shaken their society for almost a decade.
Phoning his wife, Marius explained the letter and his worries. Sitting back in his chair with his hands steepled in front of him, he thought before picking up his fountain pen and writing a letter confirming his arrival via if a house elf was sent for the following Tuesday.
Back in France, Cassiopeia would have whooped if it would not have been in bad taste. They were coming. Her plans had moved a step forward. Calling her house elf to her, Cassiopeia organised for rooms to be prepared before she returned to the sanctuary of her study to try to analyse who could be 'persuaded' help her towards her aims.
The next chapter should be up shortly, yayyy for family reunions!