Really hope you enjoy this new chapter - it is seriously long!
Chapter 39:
Family Ties and Family Trees
James, Sirius and Lily sat in the back of a ministry car. Mr Potter was sat up front with the driver leaving the teenagers to their own devices. Sirius was staring out the window, thinking about his brother whilst James and Lily slept peacefully next to him. The Potters lived in the Forest of Dean near the muggle town of Cinderford. Sirius sighed as the trees cleared to reveal a beautiful, old manor house. There was ivy climbing up the red bricks. Sirius was glad to be home.
The car slowed to a stop in front of the large front door and the teenagers got out of the car. Lily looked up at the big house and smiled, it really was beautiful. James stretched, putting his arm around Lily's shoulder, "it's good to be home." The front door opened and Milly, the house elf greeted them. James grinned, "alright Milly? How are Missy and Mippy?"
"They are very good Master James," Milly bowed, "you will see them in a moment sir, they are on their way up from the kitchen."
"Oh great," James smiled excitedly, "I imagine Mippy has grown somewhat since I last saw her."
"Indeed Master James," Milly smiled, "you won't believe how much. I will make sure your trunks are sent to your rooms."
"Thank you Milly," Sirius grinned.
"My please Master Black," Milly nodded.
Lily was surprised that the house elf had treated Black like he was a member of the Potter family. She asked James about it in a hushed voice. James smirked at her, "he's family, Lils."
"But doesn't it have to be legally binding for your house elves to…"
"Technically, we're related so it's not that complicated."
"Huh?"
"My mum is Sirius' great aunt," James explained, "based on that alone they will acknowledge him with more respect than other guests but because he's not related to us through the Potter line they don't have to call him master, they do that because they want to."
"So it's not a result of your parents adopting Sirius or anything?"
"No – they started calling him master long before he became part of the family."
"So your parents have adopted him then?"
James chuckled, "you're full of questions today, aren't you love?" He took a moment to glance at her before explaining, "when his parents threw him out my parents accepted him into their home, no questions asked, they gave him his own vault at Gringotts so that he wouldn't have to rely solely on his family. In many ways he has been adopted by my family… but not legally."
"You're family are really kind, aren't they?"
James laughed, "No more than yours I'm sure. Come on let me show you to your room."
James led Lily up the stairs. Lily looked confused when James led her down a different corridor to the one she had once stayed in. "James, why are…"
"We thought you'd be more comfortable in the family wing. The guests wing will be completely empty and I was thinking…" James blushed.
Lily noticed that the door to her left had Sirius' name on it, "thanks James." They walked down the corridor a bit further until they reached two doors that stood opposite each other. The first was clearly James' door and the other had her name written on it, "You're just across the hall from me…"
James nodded, "I wanted you close."
Lily smiled. "Touch the handle," James suggested, "let's see what the house thinks you want."
Lily felt sparks of magic in her fingertips as she opened the door. Her eyes widened in excitement. It was beautiful; perfect in fact. Lily smiled as she took in the beautiful white walls and flowing mint green curtains. There was a large bed in the middle of the large room. The room was much bigger than the room she had had in the guest wing of the manor. "Isn't it a bit grand?"
"Grand?" James laughed, "nothing could be too grand for you love."
Lily raised an eyebrow at the boy in front of her, "right."
"Come on love," James offered her his hand, "do you want a tour?"
Regulus walked into number 12 Grimmauld Place to find his parents in the drawing room. "Ah Regulus!" Orion gruffed when his son entered.
"Father," Regulus nodded his head in his father's direction before leaning down to kiss his mother on the cheek.
"How was school?" Walburga Black asked her son.
"Very good mother," Regulus told her.
"Have you been keeping up with your school work?" Orion asked.
"Yes sir," Regulus nodded.
"We have guests for dinner tonight," Walburga informed her son.
"Anyone in particular?" Regulus asked, pretending to be interested.
"My brother Cygnus and his wife Druella, their daughters Bellatrix and Narcissa and their husbands Rodolphus and Lucius. Walburga stopped to think, "my aunt Cassiopeia…"
"Your grandparents of course," Orion told him.
"Grandfather Pollux and Grandmother Irma?" Regulus asked, remembering how they had always bought him the best gifts.
"And your grandfather Arcturus and grandmother Melania," Orion continued.
Regulus nodded glumly, conversation would be truly dull.
On the very first day of the holiday, they celebrated James' birthday. They ate cake and James opened presents. The first thing he did was apparate into Lily's bedroom first thing in the morning, "Evans! Evans!"
"What is it Potter?" Lily grumbled, still half asleep.
"It's my birthday!" James jumped onto the bed next to her.
Lily tried to push her head under her pillow. She groaned when James pulled the pillow away from her, "come on Lils, I want to open presents…" he whined like a little child.
Lily sighed, "come on then…"
Regulus sat in the dining room surrounded by his family. They were discussing the war. It wasn't a pleasant conversation. He was sat between his aunt Druella and his cousin Bellatrix. His aunt had asked him about his schooling before turning to Melania Black and engaging her in a conversation about the latest muggle attacks. Bellatrix engaged Regulus in a conversation about his most recent mission. "The girl you were using… I hope you've ended it."
Regulus frowned as he felt Lucius Malfoy's eyes on him, "of course," he lied.
Lucius didn't look convinced. Narcissa frowned in confusion, "I don't understand; isn't she a pureblood?"
Lucius tutted, "yes love but she comes from a family of blood traitors."
Regulus felt himself getting angry but tried not to show it. "Oh I see," Narcissa glanced at him and sighed, "what a shame; I heard she was pretty."
Bellatrix laughed, "like it matters, she's a Gryffindor!"
Cassiopeia laughed, "it's not like we haven't had our fair share of Gryffindors in the Black family."
"Most of which have been removed from the family tree," Walburga replied bitterly.
"Walburga," Orion frowned from his place at the head of the table.
"They haven't all," Cassiopeia replied, "I for one… and don't forget Dorea… and Lucretia."
"They are still our enemies in this war," Bellatrix retorted coldly.
Cassiopeia laughed once more, "Regulus, I say if you like this girl then who cares about Hogwarts houses and wars… Do you like her, Reggy?"
Regulus glanced between Lucius and Rodolphus before replying, "no aunt, I was merely using her to achieve the Dark Lord's aims."
Cassiopeia frowned at that, "such a shame…"
Regulus' grandmother Melania spoke out, "Regulus, do you plan on joining the Dark Lord, when you leave school?" she showed no emotions. Regulus thought her face strangely resembled stone.
Regulus went to speak when his cousin Bellatrix cut across him, "I think Regulus will be joining us much sooner than that, aunt."
"And why do you think that?" Orion suddenly asked.
"Sir the Dark Lord is eager to extend a great honour to Regulus," Rodolphus began.
"What sort of honour?" Walburga asked eagerly.
"He hopes that Regulus will recruit Hogwarts students for him," Lucius explained, "he will hold the same position that both myself and Rodolphus held in our final year."
Bellatrix got excited at this, "the great honour is that the Dark Lord wishes to accept little Reggy into the fold a year earlier than any death eater. He will offer him the mark before this holiday is over."
There were gasps around the table; some of excitement, some of fear, some of surprise. No one spoke for several moments as no one knew quite what to say. Cassiopeia caught Regulus' eye, "what do you say Reggy? Will you join him?"
Regulus looked confused, "you do not refuse the Dark Lord, Aunt Cassi."
"I suppose not," Cassiopeia frowned. "I do not know what I think of this war business. Blood supremacy I can handle, but I don't particularly see the need to eradicate them all. They might be vermin – I wouldn't like to say – but why dirty our hands?"
Rodolphus frowned, "one day marm, I plan to have children," he took Bellatrix's hand, "and when I do I want them to live in a world where they don't have to be surrounded by filth."
"Here! Here!" Lucius cheered.
"Hmm," Cassiopeia frowned, "I'm not sure that that will ever happen, young man."
Arcturus Black grinned, "I must say I agree Cassiopeia. No matter what happens in this war it is impossible to exterminate them completely. I suppose I don't see much point either. Surely the best thing to do is to just maintain our family trees – work hard to keep them pure?"
"Yes," Melania agreed with her husband, "get yourself a nice pureblood girlfriend and settle down. Our Lucretia's daughter Alice is currently dating Frank Longbottom – they are a nice family. We will smile upon that union."
"So long as you don't marry a Weasley," Walburga laughed humourlessly. "I'd have to disinherit you."
Pollux Black smiled, "I must say war does lead to the gloomiest of conversations…" The table erupted with forced laughter, "how about a toast?" He stood to his feet, "To blood purity and our family trees, to the Dark Lord and his war – may it all not be in vain."
"To the Dark Lord," Lucius responded as he raised his glass. Rodolphus replied in the same way as did many others. Cassiopeia was one of the few to respond differently, "to our family trees."
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