A/N: I'm not making money from this. This is J.K.'s world, I'm just playing in it.
Alexandra was nervous. Today, she would be meeting with the entirety of the Black family who were not Death Eaters, with the exception of Lucius Malfoy. Not to mention the fact that Draco and Harry were enemies (thank Merlin that Harry wouldn't be there), and Narcissa and Andromeda were not speaking to each other. Oh, and Ted Tonks, a muggleborn, would be sitting down with Lucius Malfoy, pureblood supremacist. Wonderful!
The previous day's meeting with Augusta had gone spectacularly well and she and Harry had set up a large whiteboard in her study in their excitement. One side they had written Potter-Black Alliance and on the other Goals. Under 'Goals' they had written objectives for that summer's training, such as cover all the third year work, improve fitness, begin Animagus training and start dueling. Other goals had included making Hogwarts safe for Harry, building alliances within Hogwarts, finding out how to kill Voldemort, taking down Dumbledore. She and Harry were eager to put their plans into action.
Neville had arrived two hours ago, and she set Harry off with some more theory work, while she walked Neville through the theory parts of first year Transfiguration and Charms. Neville was a bright lad and had picked it up much faster than Harry, so she left the two boys to go through practical work together while she was away.
Dressed in plain black robes, a white dress and black wedge heels, she headed for the apparition point she had set up in her study. With a deep breath, she spun quickly on the spot, thinking of the street that the Black house stood on. One handy thing she had discovered about the Head rings- they could direct her apparition to a family property if she hadn't been before.
She landed with a crack on the street, and made her way up to Number 12. It was not under the Fidelius and the wards were bypassed by her Head ring, so she easily opened the front door and stepped into the house. The hall was dark and dank, and quite frankly disgusting, so she hurried over to the sitting room where House Black would congregate. The goblins who had set up the wards over the house had told Kreacher, the moody house-elf, to clean the house for her, but only the sitting room was clean.
Whipping out her wand, she banished the remaining dirt from the room, and cast a few charms to freshen the air, and she sat down to wait for her new family.
After a few minutes the fireplace chimed and Andromeda walked out of the green flames, followed by her daughter, Nymphadora, and her husband Ted. Nymphadora had been in her year in Hogwarts, but a Hufflepuff, so while the two had been on pleasant terms, they had never been very close.
Alexandra rose from her seat and offered her hand to Andromeda. "It's lovely to meet you, Andromeda, and you Ted. This is your daughter, I assume?"
The tall woman grasped her hand tightly and grinned at her. "It's wonderful to see you, Alexandra- congratulations on your ascension. This is my daughter, Nymphadora Tonks."
The purple haired witch glared at her mother before turning to Alexandra. "Wotcher, Alexandra. If you don't mind, I prefer Tonks or Dora- anything but Nymphadora."
Ted rolled his eyes at his daughter, and Alexandra hid a giggle, and shook her hand. "Sure, Dora. It's nice to meet you."
She quickly greeted Ted and invited the family to sit as the Floo chimed again and Narcissa Malfoy nee Black swept into the room, with Draco and Lucius on her heels.
Alexandra straightened and offered her hand again to the proud witch. "Narcissa, Draco, Lucius. Welcome to Grimmauld Place. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."
Narcissa raised an eyebrow, but took the hand and shook it delicately. "Lady Potter-Black. Charmed." She replied coolly, and took a seat opposite her sister. Draco bowed to her, mumbled a greeting, and scurried away to sit with his mother. Lucius, on the other hand, kissed her hand and bowed slightly.
"My Lady." He murmured, and Alexandra was relieved when he went to stand behind his wife and son. There was something about Malfoy Senior (aside from his Death Eater status) that unnerved her, and she had no plans to ever find out what it was.
With all the House members seated, she blocked the Floo with a wave of her wand, and turned to face the family, who all sat looking at her expectantly.
"Thank you all for coming when I called. There'll be a few changed that I'll make to the House, and I want you all to have a part in it. Andromeda, Nymphadora, Ted, I will reinstate you all into the family so that you can become full members. If you go to Gringotts and ask for Nurlor, he will take you through the ritual.
"As I'm sure you are all aware, I am also Head of House Potter, as Harry Potter's regent and guardian. Therefore, Black and Potter are allied once again, so Draco, you will not be allowed to make rude comments towards Harry, or derogatory comments in any way, shape or form. I will know if you do and you will be punished accordingly."
At this Draco's eyes widened, and he glanced between her and his mother frantically, but remained silent. Alexandra took the opportunity to continue, turning to look at the Tonks'.
"I am in need of an Heir for the Black seat. Despite Draco's past indiscretions, I have chosen to make him my Heir. If he does not show me that he can change in two years, I will find another candidate. I would have chosen you, Dora, but I know that Auror training is time-consuming and taking up the succession would have skewered your plans for becoming an Auror."
Dora winked and grinned at her. "No problem, Alexandra. Thanks for thinking of it from my point of view."
Alexandra smiled back, and took a step forward. "In terms of finances, Nurlor, who previously managed the Potter finances, is being given a trial as head of our vaults. If he does not increase the family wealth, I will fire him."
Narcissa raised her eyebrows at this, and leant forward in her seat. "One more thing- I will be writing you all once a week: Narcissa, Draco, Andromeda and Dora. I figured Narcissa and Andromeda could pass messages through for Lucius and Ted, and honestly, it's two fewer letters to write every week. I want this family to become a closer unit- we are an old and powerful House, and the closer we are the more influence we can wield. Therefore, we will all be taking a long weekend at the Manor in late August. I think it'll be good for us." She added cheerfully.
As she looked around the room, she giggled inwardly at all the shocked expressions on the faces of her family. The Blacks had not seen this coming at all, and Alexandra relished the fact that she was somewhat unpredictable in this situation.
"A holiday? You want us all to go on holiday together?" asked Andromeda incredulously. She nodded happily.
"As I said- it'll be good for us! That's all for now- I will write you all every Friday, so expect my first letter a week from today." With a second wave of her wand, she opened up the Floo.
The Tonks' were the first to leave, Andromeda made her promise to meet for tea at some point in the week, and she invited them all for dinner in the second week of July.
Draco bade a farewell with a surprisingly optimistic grin, and told her that he was looking forward to the weekend in August. Lucius left with the bare minimum of a farewell, leaving his wife standing next to her in the sitting-room.
"Alexandra, I must ask something of you." Said the witch quietly, and Alexandra raised her eyebrows. The Narcissa who stood before her now was nothing like the cold witch who had greeted her a half hour before. The woman looked timid and uncertain, so she gestured for her to sit, and they both sat down on a couch.
"Of course, Narcissa, whatever I can do for you."
Narcissa tucked a lock of her behind her cheek, and looked at the floor. "I want a divorce from Lucius. I know he had something to do with what happened at Hogwarts this year, and I'm getting a rather unnerving feeling that the Dark Lord isn't quite dead. I want me and Draco out of whatever Lucius has gotten himself into, and you're the only one who can help me."
Alexandra was floored. Divorce was the last thing on her mind when she had agreed to help Narcissa. In all honesty, she was pleased that Narcissa was taking steps to remove herself and Draco from Lucius' grasp, and she was eager to help the older witch.
"Alright. I'll help you get a divorce, but you must take Draco to complete the Heir ritual before then. If you don't, Lucius could make him the Malfoy Heir first, and I will not be able to gain full custody. Go to Gringotts and file for divorce discreetly. If it can't be done without me, send me a message and I'll come. Don't leave the bank until it's final, okay?"
Narcissa nodded, a small tear escaping from her left eye. She turned to Alexandra with a watery grin and embraced her. "Thank you- thank you so much! I'll pack today, and go first thing tomorrow morning!"
Alexandra squeezed her shoulders and pulled back. "You and Draco could live here, if you want. But you'll have to stay with me and Harry for a few days- at least until this place is habitable. Do you think we should keep Kreacher?"
The women both stood up, and meandered over to the fireplace, which was still roaring merrily, waiting for Narcissa. "No- he is devoted to my aunt- he will not accept you as his mistress. I suggest you ask the Potter elves if they know of any others who are unemployed at the moment."
Alexandra smiled. "Thank you Narcissa. I hope all goes well with you and Draco today and tomorrow. Tell me as soon as its final- I'll have the elves prepare rooms for you two when I get home."
With a final embrace from an elated Narcissa, the older witch vanished in a roar of green flames, leaving Alexandra alone. "Kreacher!"
The old elf appeared in front of her, muttering about his old mistress. "Kreacher, the House of Black has no need for you anymore. I hereby release you of service, but you are still bound to keep all secrets of House Black and never to provide anyone with information that could lead to an attack on the House. So I say, so mote it be."
A tendril of emerald light floated from Kreacher's chest into her wand, signifying the end of a contract. The old elf fell to his knees, sobbing, but a moment later the wards threw him out and she was left alone.
The young witch turned on the spot and with a crack, the house was empty again.