Chapter 12:
Hampshire Manor was preparing for Christmas Eve, it was going to be a Black family reunion, everyone was coming, no exceptions. Sirius' grandmother Melania was still alive, she was very healthy too, as well as his great-aunt Cassiopeia. The Tonks and the Malfoys were also coming.
Orion, Draco and Hermione were in Orion's suite. Orion and Draco were playing a game of wizard-chess and Hermione had her head buried in a History book she found in the Black Library. After a while, the trio was laying on the carpet and Hermione asked: "Orion, I don't think It's a good idea for me to stay here this evening, I mean it's a family reunion, I don't want to intrude…" Orion raised his eyebrows at her and said: "You're staying here Hermione, you're my best friend, you're always welcome here." Draco then smiled at Hermione and added: "You're a sister to us Hermione, of course you'll spend Christmas with us !" Orion then asked his cousin: "Draco, what do you reckon Great-Grandmamma and Auntie Cassiopeia got us this year?" and they started guessing what gifts they were going to receive this year.
It was 8 o'clock already and everyone was seated in the living room, the family has just arrived. Melania gave both Orion and Draco a bone-crushing hug and showered them with kisses, she really spoiled them rotten. "Aww I've missed you two soooo muchhhh !" Orion pleaded between breaths: "Grandmamma please let go!" "So sorry dear" she said as she let them go. Cassiopeia was a stern woman and just gave them a small kiss and sat down next to Melania.
Melania: "Oh Sirius, your son keeps resembling you more each time I see him, he's a little replica of you!"
Sirius: "So I've heard Grandmamma."
Cassiopeia: "So, you haven't introduced us to the boys' friend."
Hestia: "Oh! This is Hermione Granger, the boys' friend from Hogwarts."
Melania: "That's Splendid! In which house are you dear?"
Hermione: "I'm a Gryffindor, but the Hat also wanted to place me in Ravenclaw, but turns out Gryffindor was more suitable."
Melania shifted uncomfortably in her seat while Cassiopeia snorted and then replied as her nose wrinkled in disgust: "Gryffindor! Why did they ever have to be in Gryffindor! Orion and Draco are respectful purebloods! This is outrageous!"
"Now now Cassiopeia! Let's not jump to conclusions, I'm sure there's a perfect explanation to why my wonderful great-grandchildren have not been sorted into Slytherin…" Melania tried to calm her down.
"Well, the boys have proved great bravery, and besides It's not the house that decides a person's status in the wizard society, and Draco and Orion are the heirs to the most powerful families in Britain! Not to mention the most prestigious royal family that came to be which is the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black!" Walburga explained
"Yes…but…Gryffindor? Really?" Cassiopeia said as she threw her hands in the air.
"Well anything is fine with me as long as their grades are always as great as they are! "Melania assured them while patting Draco and Orion on their backs as they snuggled next to their great-grandmother.
"I'm sure they will be, and I'm positive they will always be well disciplined and polite!" Hestia replied with a big smile on her face.
"These two, polite? Yeah Right! They're as calm and disciplined as a hippogriff!"said Nymphadora Tonks as her lips twisted into a smirk and her parents trailing behind her but went unnoticed as Orion and Draco ran and hugged their cousin like there's not tomorrow.
"Tonks! We missed you so much!" Orion said to his cousin as she gave him a pat on the back and handed him a gift.
"She spent nearly two hours in Diagon Alley to find you two the perfect gift boys." Said Andromeda who was still holding her husband's hand.
"Ted! It's been a while!" Sirius said as he shook Ted Tonks' hand who smiled and nodded at him.
"Hey I'm not a chair you know!" intervened while chuckling at her cousin's reaction who raised an eyebrow at her and then gave her a kiss on the cheek.
The Malfoys arrived after half an hour, Lucius kept glaring daggers at Sirius and Ted Tonks the whole time even through dinner. Remus and the Longbottoms also arrived shortly after the Malfoys.
After the gift opening, Orion, Draco, Neville and Hermione went to Orion's room to play a game of exploding snap. Halfway through the game, Draco left the room and went to the kitchen to have a glass of water. As he poured himself a glass he heared a male voice say to him: "So, I see you're happy staying with filth!" Draco turned around and saw his so-called father smirking evilly at him.
"Uncle Sirius and his family are NOT filth! In fact you are!" Draco cried at his Lucius whose face suddenly became red with anger.
"HOW DARE YOU! YOU BLOOD-TRAITOR! I SHALL DEAL WITH YOU THIS INSTANCE!" Lucius roared and dragged Draco to the garden and threw him on the grass. He then pointed his wand at him and hissed evilly "Crucio!" Draco winced and cried in pain as the curse hit him, he had never felt so much agony! Lucius laughed at his son's pain, he really admired the scene of torture that was taking place before his eyes, until a spell hit him and his wand came flying to his opponent's arm, Sirius' arm.
"You filthy son of a bitch!" shouted Sirius but before he could cast another spell Lucius apparated.
"Coward!" Sirius roared then ran to his nephew who was still trembling and shaking on the ground. Everyone else also surrounded them and Narcissa kneeled beside her cousin and held her son tight, tears running down her cheeks.