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CHAPTER THREE: IDENTITY

Andromeda burst into the drawing with every bit of drama all Blacks ought to have. "Aunt Cassiopeia, where's Harry?" she demanded.

"Arcturus is teaching him etiquette and politics and Merlin knows what else. Poor dear is only seven..."

"Draco was six when I started with him," Lucius pointed out. "James was seven when his father started teaching him. It's a perfectly normal age, Cassiopeia."

"You'll have to tell him to cut his lesson short," Andromeda told the upset looking Cassiopeia. "He needs healing."

"Again?" Cassiopeia asked curiously. "What happened?"

"Lucius, you stay here and explain." She turned to her aunt. "This information will never leave this house. Understood?"

Cassiopeia nodded, looking a bit offended at being ordered by her disowned niece.

"Where is Arcturus?" Andromeda demanded.

"Alphard's study."

Andromeda rushed to the third floor and knocked on Uncle Alphard's door. "Enter," Arcturus's voice sounded.

He was looking at Harry, who was absorbed in writing something with his quill. Andromeda rapped gently on the desk. Harry started. Andromeda smiled warmly.

"Harry, I need you to come with me for a few moments. Your Uncle Lucius and I found a little spell on you earlier. I have to remove it now."

Harry glanced at Arcturus for permission. The older man sighed and glared at Andromeda. "Be quick about it," he said grouchily. "He has to know these things before the rest come for the dinner party. He's not going to make a fool of himself in front of Walburga, Druella and Lucretia."

Andromeda rolled her eyes. "Walburga's more of a child than he and Draco are. Every dinner party," she said. "Every dinner party she waits with her wand in hand to disown someone and blast them off that bloody tree. I am sick of her!"

Arcturus shrugged. "I'm sure the feelings are mutual. Go on, Harry, go with your Aunt Andy."

Harry obediently stood up. Arcturus cleared his throat slightly, reminding Harry to keep his back straight and his head up. "I want him back as soon as possible, Andromeda. Is the curse potentially dangerous?"

"It would be, for the caster, had he been alive today," Andromeda said angrily. "Come, Harry!"

She forced herself to calm down and left in a very dignified manner with Harry at her side. "What do you think of Arcturus, Harry?"

The young boy shrugged slightly. "He's really kind to me, ma'am."

Andromeda frowned when Harry wouldn't look at her when he spoke. She knelt down in front of him and gently raised his head with her hand. "Look at me," she said lightly.

"Sorry," Harry said instantly.

Andromeda was becoming very frustrated. Harry had none of Lily, Sirius or even James in him. What had the Muggles done? Still, she forced herself to smile and gently led him to Regulus's room. She sat on the bed and motioned for him to sit next to her. Harry did so wordlessly.

"Harry, did Arcturus tell you about Sirius Black III?"

Harry's face scrunched up in concentration. "He said he was the only Black to be in a house other than Slytherin, that he knew my parents –,"

Andromeda gently stroked his hair and explained a very watered-down and appropriate for children version of Remus's story. By the end of it, Harry was frowning deeply.

"So my dad... isn't James?"

Andromeda sighed softly. "No," she said gently, "but you don't know how much they all loved you, Harry. You were your Uncle James's pride and joy, Harry..."

Harry looked down. "Oh... Will my dad ever come back? Lord Black said he was in prison for something he didn't do. He said he and Mr Moody were looking for the real criminal."

Andromeda paled slightly. "I know it's hard, Harry, but if you want to talk about your father, you will do so only to me and your Uncle Ignatius. We don't often mention him in this house."

Harry nodded, staring intently at her.

"Now," she said delicately, "lie down. I'm going to remove the spell. I have to warn you that when I'm done, you may feel a bit strange. For example, some of your memories may come back to you, you might act differently and you'll most definitely look differently."

Harry took a deep breath and lay on the bed. Andromeda began waving her wand over him, chanting something Harry didn't understand. A couple of minutes later, she put her wand down and helped him sit up. He groaned and his hand flew to his aching head.

Andromeda gently pried it away and helped him drink a pain potion. Harry slumped against her. "I don't feel well," he said in a slurred voice.

Andromeda comforted him. "What do you feel?" she asked softly. "Can you tell me?"

"Too many thoughts," Harry slurred. "Faces, names..."

Andromeda held him until he had calmed down. Slowly, she spun him around and fed him another potion. He had already changed a little; his hair was a bit longer, darker and tamer, his face was more angular and his nose was thinner and longer.

Harry winced slightly as more memories came to him and the fake ones left him. He blinked once. Twice. "Aunt Andy..."

Andromeda smiled slightly at the news that Harry no longer used formal titles. It hadn't gone unnoticed by her that Lucius would press him to call her that.

"There's this woman in my memories... She looks a lot like you. My mum called her Bella. I think Cassiopeia mentioned her once. Who..."

Andromeda started. "She's my sister, Harry. But like Sirius, we do not talk much about her."

"Oh." Harry realised that there was something very wrong with this family. As if they had a deep, dark secret they were trying to hide, to erase from their history. "Why do you do this?" he asked, surprising himself. "You're hiding something, all of you, from yourselves even. It's like something really bad happened and you're trying to erase it, but you're the only people who are willing to forget."

Andromeda looked ready to hit him. Harry backed away slightly, but he didn't apologise. He couldn't bring himself to. He had to; why couldn't he?!

Andromeda watched as the effects took place. It wouldn't do either of them good if she exploded in anger. She took a deep breath and pretended she was talking to a seven-year-old Sirius who just didn't know how to keep his mouth shut.

"You are by no means allowed to ask the rest of them such questions," she said sternly, "but I once wondered as well, and I was disowned and ostracised. We are not a good people, Harry. Let me tell you the truth about this family: we care about blood more than we do about love. Every generation, at least one Black is disowned for loving rather than lusting, for being brave rather than ambitious, for being compassionate rather than heartless."

Harry blinked, looking confused. "But you're good. And Lord Black and Cassiopeia and Lord Malfoy..."

Andromeda sighed softly. What had she got herself into? He was so young; she couldn't tell him. "I'll tell you when you're older," she said. "Now, if you're feeling well enough, I have to take you back to Arcturus."

Harry smiled. Lord Black was very interesting. Aunt Andy led Harry to the study where Lord Black taught him magical theory and family ties.

Arcturus, despite his general dislike for everybody that wasn't Sirius, Bellatrix, Alphard or Ignatius, had to admit that the boy was perceptive for his age. Some training with Moody and Harry could be turned into a real wizard. He finished the lesson with the tale of the Three Brothers.

"So the Deathly Hallows," Harry said, "do they really exist?"

Arcturus wanted to tell the boy no. He wanted to say they were just a children's story. But insteamd he said, "I think they do."

"And who has them?"

Arcturus raised an eyebrow. "Are you daft, boy? Use the information I told you."

"Antioch's line became known as –," Harry traced the lines on the family tree. He looked up incredulously. "The Blacks? You're related to Antioch the Wandmaker?"

"We are, yes. The Elder Wand is our legal heirloom. However... Well, we don't have it anymore. It belongs to the man who killed my father, Sirius II."

Harry nodded slightly. "Cadmus was... the ancestor of... Marvolo Gaunt. But you said the Gaunt line died!"

Arcturus winced. "There is one man left... Lord Voldemort, son of Merope Gaunt and Tom Riddle Sr."

"And Ignotus's line became... the Potters?"

"Precisely," Arcturus said. "So if one day, our family defeats Lord Voldemort, we will be the owners of the Deathly Hallows. Alphard is the current Lord Potter since you are too young to hold the title. I am Lord Black. If Voldemort is conquered, one of us will become Lord or Lady Gaunt by conquest."

Harry stared at Lord Black in awe.

"But that's that for the Hallows, Harry. Put them out of your mind for now."

Harry nodded numbly, not quite listening to his great-grandfather. "Alright..."

"Now, go practise what I showed you. You can use my grandson Regulus's telescope tonight. Pollux can teach you how to use it."

Harry thanked him and excused himself. He was just descending the stairs when he bumped into someone. He apologised and took a few steps back to give the person space.

Lord Black's sixth rule: If you don't know them, you don't touch them.

It was a girl who looked a little over thirteen years old. She was slim and had neon pink hair and Muggle clothing. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Haven't seen you around. Are you one of Alphard's bas – illegitimate sons? He has three, I think."

Harry glared at her. "My father is Sirius Black."

The girl blinked. "Sirius doesn't have a son. He doesn't even have a wife. What's your name?"

"Harry. Yours?"

"I'm Dora Tonks," the girl said, "Andromeda's daughter."

Harry made a sound of understanding. "Nice to meet you," he said, their earlier misunderstanding forgotten.

Dora stared at him. "You still haven't told me –,"

"Dora!" Andromeda's sharp voice sounded through the corridor. "Leave the boy alone."

"But mum, he says he's Sirius's son. Sirius doesn't have a son!"

Andromeda sighed softly. "Come, Nymphadora. I have something to tell you. Harry, go find Alastor. He should be on the ground floor."

Harry gladly left the strange girl with Aunt Andy and went in search of the impressive, intimidating old man who had rescued him.