Chapter One- Introduction & Birthday Wishes

Regulus Black stood in front of the doors to Black Manor, staring up at the imposing structure for a moment as he recalled the last time he'd been here. It had been at the ceremony where Sirius had taken control of the Black family estate. Regulus had felt very proud of his older brother that day, Sirius looked every part the regal heir and new Lord Black.

Now he was here to see his brother again and meet his son. It had been more than a slight shock when he'd received a letter from Sirius that had casually mentioned the fact that he had a biological son and heir. The entire situation was surreal, his brother had said, and would be best explained in person. The boy was turning 17 today and so he'd taken the day off from his work to come and meet his nephew.

Regulus looked near the same as his older brother, just a little shorter and thinner, with eyes that had a slight tint of blue to their gray depths. He was wearing casual black slacks and a dark blue shirt, feeling slightly out of place without his work robes. The Unspeakables wore black robes with a dark red trim. Aurors wore black trimmed in silver or gold depending on rank.

Finally he stepped through the doors, letting them swing shut gently behind him. There was a sharp pop and Kreacher appeared, bowing low. "Master Regulus, so good to see you. Follow Kreacher, I will lead you to Master Sirius."

The house elf was apparently on formal duty today, titles included. Regulus followed Kreacher to what had been his father's study. When he stepped inside the first thing he did was look around. It didn't appear that anything had changed much from Orion's days behind the mahogany desk. The black cabinet Regulus had never liked had been removed and the silver carpet had a gold pattern on it now, hinting at Sirius' difference from his family.

"Regulus!" he turned toward the voice just in time to be hugged breathless by his older brother.

"It's good to see you, Sirius," he replied, hugging him back. He'd always been close to Sirius, even when their mother Walburga tried to disown him after he'd been Sorted into Gryffindor. In one of the rare times in their marriage Orion had stopped his wife from doing what she wanted.

"You know, for working in the same building I don't see you very much," Sirius commented. "I suppose the rise of the Dark Lord has been keeping you busy."

"We were busy before," Regulus sighed. "I wish I could tell you some of the things I've seen but we're all under a Vow of Silence."

"You told me about that," Sirius smiled, "just after you were placed into the program. I'm glad you did it Regulus, it's something you wanted for once."

"So," Regulus began, sitting down near the open bay window, "that's one interesting letter you sent me. I hope you're not going to make me beg, it sounds like an intriguing story."

"It is," Sirius sighed, taking a seat as well. "Tell me, brother, did you ever meet James Potter's sons?"

"Once. Zachary seemed like a bit of a brat, to tell you the truth. The other one, Harry, was extremely quiet. Full of curiosity though, every time I looked at him he was looking around the Auror Department."

"The younger one is my son," Sirius smiled grimly. "His name is Rial now."

Regulus froze. His older brother began to tell him the tale of the last year and he was left gaping at him when he finished. Good Merlin, what had James Potter become over the last 17 years? When he considered the situation in the Ministry his blood felt chilled. James held considerable influence with the Wizengamot and the Minister, not to mention a good third at least of the Auror Department.

"Sirius, be careful," Regulus whispered to his brother, aware that he sounded like he was pleading. "James Potter has the Minister's ear and pocket, if you annoy him he could get you thrown off the Auror Department. Caution Rial as well, he's probably already started spreading his opinion of the boy through the Ministry."

"It's all right, brother," Sirius replied softly, placing a hand over his. "I'm not the reckless idiot I was as a child. I'm being perfectly careful and cautious. We have our own counters to James' lies as well. Rial is a Slytherin to the core, he's not about to endanger himself physically or politically until he knows what the result will be."

"What about me, Father?"

Regulus turned his head and gazed quietly at the teen standing in front of him. Rial was about 5' 6", slender and amazingly delicate in appearance. Jet black hair fell straight and soft to his earlobes, warm emerald eyes sparkled with intelligence and magical power. The snake carving his brother had mentioned didn't detract from the sharp features. He was wearing cream colored pants and a silver and blue sleeveless silk shirt. Coiled around his left bicep was a dark green snake that was his familiar, according to Sirius.

"Good morning, Rial," Sirius said softly. "We were just discussing matters at the Ministry."

Rial tilted his head sideways and said, "You mean the fact that James Potter just about runs the Ministry from Fudge's pocket, correct?"

Regulus blinked. That was a very astute observation on Rial's part, he could tell by his brother's face that Sirius hadn't been expecting that answer either.

"Yes. Nothing gets by you much, does it?" Sirius smiled.

"Of course not," Rial answered pertly. "I'm a Slytherin; observation is one of our skills."

Regulus laughed. When green eyes turned to him he said, "You certainly sound like one of us. I'm glad to meet you Rial. My name is Regulus, I'm your uncle."

"You were the Slytherin Seeker, weren't you? I saw your picture in the Trophy Room."

"Yes. I played for three years. Exhausting, but fun. Especially when we won."

"Shall we go down to breakfast?" Sirius suggested. "Regulus, I hope you didn't eat much at home. Kreacher cooks enough for six whenever you come over."

"If there's blueberry pancakes I think I might have room," Regulus replied, winking at Rial. The teen laughed softly and said, "Plenty. And don't forget, Dad, you invited Professor Snape over for breakfast as well," Rial's eyes sparkled brightly in private amusement.

When Rial left the room Sirius said, "Whoops. I had forgotten that I'd invited Severus. Oh well, the more the merrier. There's going to be a good sized group of us here soon enough."

Regulus couldn't resist teasing his brother. "Since when are you on speaking, let alone first name basis with Severus Snape? Last I knew you called him 'Snivellus' or the 'Greasy Git'."

Sirius flushed just slightly and grumbled, "Oh, shut up Reggie. We've been on slightly better terms since I apologized for the whole Shrieking Shack incident and he happens to be Rial's Head of House and favorite Professor. I don't want to antagonize either one of them."

Rial was waiting for them at the base of the stairs. "Kreacher said Severus is here. I had him show him to the private dining room, though he probably knows the way since he was here for dinner last night."

"That's probably perfect, Rial," Sirius replied.

Regulus grinned at his brother and said too low for Rial to hear, "He was here last night as well? Why don't you just invite him to stay with you if he's here all the time?"

"Regulus," Sirius growled warningly.

Severus sat in the same chair as the previous night, tapping his fingers idly on the table. Looking around the casual dining room he had to admit, Lucius was correct. Though Black Manor was no longer the most recognized of magical English manors, it was still a thing of wealth, opulence and pureblood majesty. To his eyes the only ones that surpassed it were his father's residence on the south coast and the Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire.

As he reflected on the conversation the previous evening and remembered Rial's reaction to Zachary Potter's new honor he shivered. The black-haired youth had a frightening temper. No doubt he was going to do his best to make Zachary's Prefect years miserable. Severus found himself looking forward to more of Rial's entertaining pranks. James Potter still hadn't forgiven the boy for turning Zachary into a girl for an entire week with the Femmelia Potion.

To his surprise the first person to sail through the doors was Rial, dressed with casual elegance, Cyphre curled around his arm. To have a natural-born Parseltongue in his house was a great honor; most believed that Salazar Slytherin's bloodline gift had died out. There was a knowing smile curling Rial's lips, one that made him nervous. There was no way Rial knew the other reason he was here, right?

The next person to walk through made him smile. "Hello Regulus. It's been a while."

Regulus chuckled. "A while indeed, Severus. My brother tells me you've been here off and on all summer. Is that correct?"

Severus arched an eyebrow and said, "What, are you accusing your brother of exaggerating the truth? I have in fact been here a great deal this summer. For one, I highly mistrust leaving Rial's potions to someone who considers the exact process of Potions a hobby. For another, I have run into someone who has a very natural talent for Occlumency and Legilimency. Rial just requires a little bit more practice on the precision of his usage."

Rial beamed under the praise before starting in on a very large breakfast spread. Severus did the same, only with a little more grace. He was sitting across from Regulus, which was a bit unnerving. Every time he looked his fellow former Slytherin in the eyes he could swear Regulus was looking at him with an amused, teasing expression.

Regulus' blue-gray eyes flicked to the right and unconsciously Severus looked in that direction. Sirius was sitting and eating with quiet efficiency, dressed casually for once in black pants and a plain white shirt with the sleeves folded back to his elbows, revealing slender, strong forearms. Severus flushed and looked back to Regulus, who grinned, looking extremely smug.

All Severus could think of was falling back on his trademark glare.

So he did.

Rial walked next to his father after breakfast, feeling comfortably full. Breakfast had been entertaining; it seemed that Regulus had noticed his head of Houses' preoccupation with his father as well. The idea of his father being with Severus was positively delightful, he felt very comfortable with the snarky Potions Master.

When they walked into the private living room Rial stopped without warning, startling Regulus, who'd been walking behind him. He gaped at the object in front of him, thinking this can't possibly be what I think it is… He stepped forward, noticing his father's chuckle without response. Reaching forward he touched a slender polished handle.

"It's not going to vanish on you, Rial!" Sirius teased. Rial stared wonderingly at the Firebolt in front of him, resisting the tears forming in his eyes.

In the previous 16 years he'd never received a birthday or Christmas present. The gifts he'd received from his friends this last Christmas had been the first. He'd never in his life been given something this expensive or wonderful. His father was standing just behind him and he spun around, wrapping him in a fierce, tight hug.

"Thank you!" he finally whispered.

Sirius hugged him back just as firmly. "You're very welcome. You deserve it, Rial."

Rial suddenly wondered if his father knew of his aspirations to join the Slytherin team this year. He hadn't said anything about it; he'd been still debating it himself. Now he had an international-class racing broom. Wonderingly he ran his fingers along the sleek handle; thinking of how many times he'd wistfully watched Zachary zipping around on his, which he'd received as a birthday present from James and Lily before his 3rd year.

Severus' gift was an advanced Potions textbook with a complete listing of various ingredients and their capacities. He had also given Rial a quill with a nub that was spelled to stay sharp. "You go through quills as quickly as I do, I figured this would be a practical gift."

"I'll probably put it to good use with your essays, sir!" Rial shot back with a grin.

Regulus and Sirius laughed softly as Severus growled, "Cheeky brat! You're picking up too many of Draco's bad habits!"

"I don't have any bad habits!"

Rial spun around and saw Draco standing in the living room doorway, glaring at his godfather indignantly. Simple black slacks and a dark red silk shirt emphasized white-blonde hair and eyes that seemed to have taken on more of his father's silver over the summer.

Severus rolled his eyes toward the ceiling and muttered, "Says the boy who can't stop eavesdropping."

Rial burst into giggles at Draco's entirely fake indignation. Amused silver eyes locked on his as Lucius Malfoy said quietly, "Happy Birthday, Rial. We would have been here earlier but it took some time to persuade Draco to get ready."

Unable to resist the temptation Rial grinned back at the pureblood Lord and said, "That's all right, sir. I know from experience how long it can take Draco to deem himself 'ready' to go anywhere. We were nearly late to class a couple times because of him."

"Brat!" Draco yelped, playfully trying to smack him in the back of the head. Rial easily ducked and said, "Sorry Drake, but he gave me the perfect opening."

Draco suddenly saw the broom. He did a good impression of a fish before he said; "Now you have to try out for the team this year! You're lighter than air so you'd probably break records on that broom."

"What's this?" Sirius asked, raising an eyebrow.

Rial started to reply, but Draco cut him off. "I'm switching to a Chaser position this year," he explained, "and I was telling Rial last year that he should try out for the Seeker position. His reflexes are ridiculously high."

Lucius cleared his throat and said, "Our gift is a little bit more practical."

Something moved from the pureblood's shoulder. Rial raised his right arm instinctively and gaped at the beautiful bird that landed there. Intelligent gold eyes linked on his and the falcon clicked it's beak.

"Owls are good for delivering messages, but they're at risk from predatory birds. He's a gyrfalcon and is very well trained."

"He's beautiful," Rial whispered. "Thank you."

Draco smiled and said, "What are you going to call him?"

"Alden," Rial said after a moment.

The beautiful falcon nipped lightly at his fingers and took off in a flutter of wings. As Rial watched him depart Lucius said, "We took the liberty of having Kreacher take his perch to your rooms."

"It should be nice for you to have a bird along with your familiar, Rial," he turned toward his uncle Regulus and noted that Remus Lupin had snuck in unnoticed. He smiled and said, "Happy Birthday, Rial."

"Thank you, Remus." The werewolf handed him a package, he was surprised by how heavy it was. He unwrapped it and stared at the revealed book.

It was huge, that was the first thing he noticed. Well over 1000 pages. The next thing was the title, Advanced Defense and Practical Charms: Their History and Various Uses. He opened the cover and scanned the contents, amazed. "Thank you! This looks wonderful. I've always wondered about some of these Charms."

"You should be able to put it to use this year. From what I've heard they're putting a Ministry lackey in as DADA teacher this year, who knows what trouble they might cause."

Regulus hit himself in the forehead with his hand and said, "I almost forgot! Good Merlin I'm getting forgetful with all our fun at the Ministry. This is for you, Rial."

He handed Rial a small box. He opened it and nearly gasped. It was a medallion on a platinum chain. The medallion had the Black family crest and on the back was a serpent and rose entwined. When he touched the medallion it near crackled with magical residue.

"The medallion has protection charms, wards and various anti-hexing spells on it. It can't be taken off other than by yourself. I messed around with the spell used for Sneakoscopes, so the medallion will warm up against your skin if someone is being false or is a threat to you. The charms were all placed on it by various other Unspeakables and Aurors at the Ministry. It didn't get anywhere near James Potter."

Rial took the medallion out of the box and placed it around his neck. It settled gently against his collarbone and the cool metal warmed as it came in contact with his skin. "Thank you very much."

"You're welcome," he replied.

Rial then walked out of the living room with his family and friends and proceeded to have the best birthday ever in 17 years. As he was laughing with the people around him he looked around and smiled. I have the best life ever.