Chapter 4: A Black Reunion

Evil.

That's how Sirius would describe Bellatrix Lestrange, though Harry had something of a different picture in his mind. He had learnt of the now dark witch from her enthusiastically signed footnotes on many of the books in the Black Library. Often leaving a funny remark, or a sarcastic one, Harry had often found that he enjoyed her drawls more than the contents in the book. Perhaps as a result of this odd kinship, Harry was slightly disappointed when Sirius had told him that she was one of the dark lord's most faithful followers, even acting as his Hand on many occasions.

Walburga mentioned that it was likely Bellatrix's marriage that had led her down the path of madness, but Harry disagreed, he had noticed that her notes would become more and more unhinged as he delved into some of the more 'darker' books in the Black Library. He had a feeling that there was more to Bellatrix than either Sirius or Walburga were privy to.

Still, despite his somewhat optimistic perspective of Bellatrix's character, he couldn't help but feel a sliver of fear cascade down his spine as he stood in front of her. Who wouldn't be afraid? Especially when the subject in question had been rumoured to have a body count in the hundreds.

Bellatrix spoke in a soft yet harsh voice, "You can see through my transfiguration?" Looking down at the young lookalike by her side to confirm her suspicion. She leant down and murmured something to her, Harry watched the young girl nod and give him a scathing look as she disappeared deeper into the shop. "I don't know whether to be impressed or disappointed."

"That was transfiguration?" He questioned scrunching his face in confusion, "Maybe you should stick to Polyjuice like everyone else if that's the extent of your ability."

Harry had thought that would get the woman to move on, but instead of getting angry, Bellatrix simply laughed. "You are a brave one, aren't you?" Her wand whipped out with such speed that it appeared as a blur to him, "I could make you disappear right now and none would be the wiser." A bloody red light luminesced from her wand as she sneered at him.

A feral grin appeared on his lips, a bone-chilling cold began to settle around them as he took out his wand, "You'll find that I'm quite hard to kill," Harry said with faux confidence. Confronted and successfully trapped between the many rows of books in the shop, he knew that she had the measure of the situation correct. Bellatrix was more than capable of beating him without any effort at all, he was slow as a result of his illness and the majority of his magic was useless in a fight against someone who had decades more experience than he did. He just hoped that Sirius and the others would notice his absence.

Bellatrix's arms fell by her side as she stared at the wand in his hand, "You're a Black?" She asked in surprise.

There it is, he thought. She had unknowingly given him an out.

Harry nodded slowly. "Uncle Sirius likes to talk about you a lot," He said without much enthusiasm.

"Is that so." She stared deep into his eyes, and Harry felt a harsh mental probe trying to tease its way into his mind.

"Tsk Tsk," He mimed, "You have to try a lot harder than that if you want to enter my mind." Harry had spent a long time building up his mental abilities, though the progress was slow and would only accelerate as he fully matured and stop growing. Regardless, Bellatrix's Legillimency was sloppy compared to Dumbledore's, it was not surgical nor inconspicuous but was instead meant to induce as much pain into whomever she wished.

Bellatrix stumbled, pain and suffering slowly etched their way into her mind as Harry's emerald eyes continued to bore into her own. A small wave of her wand and Harry was hit in the chest by a Confundus charm.

Harry shook his head as he quickly dispelled the feeling of disorientation and dizziness. He glared at her raising his wand and twirling it for effect, "Flippendo." An invisible jet of magic ripped through the air; Bellatrix casually slapped the spell back towards him with double the speed and strength.

Harry stabbed his wand into the air, drawing a huge circle around him as he shouted, "Impetus Reverto."A green almost gelatinous shield appeared in front of him and the spell slammed into it with immense force. The shield stretched from the impact to the point where he thought that it would breakthrough, but it acted like a rubber band instead, snapping back into place and throwing the knockback jinx harmlessly into a row of books.

Bellatrix smiled, not in her typical deranged fashion but instead one that seemed almost genuine. "You must have truly made an impression on her if she was willing to teach you her speciality, "She said ruefully, "Our dear Aunt wasn't much a duellist, but she had a talent for warding and enchantments."

"You speak as if you aren't the reason that she's dead."

"I may be the monster you think I am, "She decreed with an oddly soft tone, "But I would never fall so low as to kill a member of my family—Even my foolish cousin who seems to enjoy meddling in affairs he ought not to."

Harry let out a derisive snort though he forced down the desire to do a surface scan of her mind to confirm whether she was being honest. "What do you want from me?" He asked.

Bellatrix looked at him with an amused expression and Harry had a sinking feeling that Bellatrix knew something about him that no one else did. "Do you know what the burning of blood with magic smells like?" Harry raised an eyebrow at the odd question as he shook his head. "It has a very distinctive metallic smell, like iron but not quite. I've grown quite accustomed to it during the years."

"I'm sure you have."

Bellatrix ignored the slight. "Perhaps then you would like to explain how a child no older than eleven is already using blood magic."

Harry feigned ignorance, "Blood Magic?"

"Do you think me a fool, boy?" Bellatrix snarled, "You reek of it. I am surprised no one has picked up on it."

Like Dumbledore, Bellatrix could feel something dark around Harry. It drew her in from the moment she lay her eyes on him, comforting as it was, she remained slightly wary of the boy.

She had seen such magic before, parasitic in nature, he reminded her of those cursed with Obscurus. But instead of being out of control and cold, this boy's magic was the opposite, serene and warm.

This boy was a walking paradox.

"What does it matter to you?" He asked.

Bellatrix smirked. "Blood Magic is illegal, and whilst they wouldn't send you to Azkaban as a child. I assure you that the alternative is not much better."

Harry laughed, his voice high and mocking as he stared at the woman for a moment. "You can't be serious. A death eater wants to lecture me about illegal magic." He made a counting motion with his fingers, "I don't think I have enough fingers to count the number of times you've broken the law."

"My, my, you really are sheltered, aren't you?" She said. A sinister smile appeared on her lips. "The Ravencroft Institute has housed children that were a danger to society for the last two hundred years, the ministry claims it to be a correctional facility but we both know that this is a lie."

Harry assumed that it was likely related to the statue of secrecy or children that had been inflicted with curses but having read a little bit about Azkaban, Harry shuddered just thinking about what they did to children there.

Bellatrix pointed her wand at him, and Harry felt a cold pulling sensation wash over him. It felt good, Harry thought. As if he had been, "Purified." Harry voiced out.

She regarded him with calculating eyes for a moment before her apprehension mellowed and morphed into something unrecognizable. "Who are y—" Her words were caught in her throat as she heard movement behind her.

"Confractio." Andromeda's steely voice spoke from behind her and a jet of silvery-blue light illuminated the rows of books; Bellatrix whirled around in shock barely able to conjure a shield in hope that it would protect her against the spell.

Except it did not.

Harry watched in fascination as the curse slammed into her wand arm and burst it open, her bones snapped, muscles ruptured, and blood spilt from her limp arm. Her wand dropped into the ground and Bellatrix let out a pained howl. "I–I thought you took the Healer's oath." She murmured, "How can you hurt me?"

"The Ministry thought it would be prudent to change the vows after what you're master pulled." Andromeda corrected, "In spite of your acquittal, dear sister. You are still a Death Eater."

"You've changed." Bellatrix said, "I never would have taken you for a hypocrite."

Green danced from Andromeda's wand and Harry could feel the waves of murderous intent spreading from her, far more malicious than anything that he had felt from Bellatrix. "Do you have any idea what your war cost me?"

Bellatrix chose to remain silent, a wise choice considering that Andromeda was likely an insult away from firing whatever spell that was hanging from her wand.

A sudden pop echoed around them.

Sirius appeared in front of him, wand drawn and at the ready for even the slightest bit of movement from Bellatrix. It signified just how powerful she was if they weren't even willing to fight her without the usage of surprise tactics.

"Bellatrix." Sirius's voice dripped with hatred and anger, "If I find that you've harmed a single piece of hair on him, merlin help me, you will wish that they placed you in Azkaban."

"You need not fret, Sirius. I was simply having a chat with him." Bellatrix replied, "He is family, after all." Sirius gave Andromeda an inconspicuous glance that Bellatrix caught with ease, they both weren't as subtle as they believed themselves to be.

"So, if he's not either of yours," Her nose crinkled at the only logical assumption, "Don't tell me that hermit finally decided to crawl out of his potions long enough to have a child."

"Who, Uncle Alphard?" Sirius had to bite down a chuckle as he pointed towards Harry, "He doesn't look anything like him or a Black in general."

Bellatrix stared at Harry for a while, noting his circular glasses and his piercing green eyes. Belatedly, she realised why he had been so familiar to her before. "James Potter." She scowled, her voice rising with fury, "You dare give him one of our most prized possessions." Her wand sped into her good hand faster than either Andromeda or Sirius could summon it. "I'll kill you." She bared her teeth angrily.

"Not here, you won't." Andromeda's words were final. Green erupted from her wand, and Bellatrix's form blackened as she did something that Harry had thought was impossible. She flew towards the exit like smoke in the air before Harry's attention was drawn towards the incoming jet of green. He could feel it, it felt like death corporeal form.

He could not let that hit anyone or else they would be dead.

He stared at the bookshelves around him and pulled them down, a rain of books curbed the green light from ever reaching them. Sirius shouted, "What was that Andromeda, I thought we were above using such methods."

Andromeda's visage never changed. You think she would have granted you such a courtesy, Sirius."

"I understand how you are feeling but it is over," Sirius murmured.

"So long as they remain free, the war will never be over." Andromeda growled, "And for as long as I live, I will never forgive them."

There was a loud wail outside the building, and Harry could immediately feel powerful magic run through the entire shop. Sirius and Andromeda lowered the wands, raising their hands as a dozen or so Aurors surrounded the shop.

"Why am I not surprised?" A gruff voice spoke from behind the row of bookshelves, "Always causing trouble wherever you go, Black." Mad-Eye Moody walked towards them, his ever-present grimace seemingly deepened as his fake eyes spun around in a frenzied fashion. "Lestrange was here."

Sirius nodded. "She was interested in Harry. Though I have no idea what she was doing here in the first place."

Moody gave Harry a small look before grunting, "Likely one of many looking for the boy's brother, It was smart of you to split them up—If she was smart she won't come here again." Harry wanted to say that Bellatrix hadn't really attacked him or even tried to influence him in any way, but he decided against it.

"Alert the shop owner that the issue has been resolved." Moody growled out, "Best finish your shopping here quickly, I won't be able to hold the Prophet out for long." Sirius nodded, he and Harry worked quickly together to recover the books that he had lost during the brief scuffle.

A burning note floated in front of him, Harry picked up, unfurled it and smiled at the contents. Whoever said Bellatrix was selfish.

Avoiding the press was pretty easy with the assistance of someone as paranoid as Mad-Eye. Harry found that the Auror had cast several privacy charms on the building that would alert him of all movement that occurred inside and ensure no one could spy on them. He wouldn't be surprised if Moody had somehow jinxed or swore the shop owner to secrecy after he and Andromeda left. Sirius decided it would be better to inform his parents about what had happened.

As the day wore on, the alley was filled to the brim with people and it became quite clear that it was rather troublesome to traverse. Andromeda had dragged him off to Madam Malkin, which to his surprise she knew quite well, and the old tailor took him to one side and outfitted him personally ahead of a long line of annoyed parents and overly excited children.

Harry looked at his shopping list whilst eating his lunch, "Sirius is letting me keep his old trunk so I guess all we have left is to get myself a pet."

"We can head over to the Owl Emporium if you want an owl, otherwise there's a magical creature shop if you're interested something else," Andromeda said. "Normally first years are only allowed cats, owls or toads but you'll find that Hogwarts won't enforce that policy so long as your pet isn't dangerous towards other students."

That obviously ruled out several animals that Harry had been considering as pets, but he wasn't particularly disappointed in the development as a pet was the least of his worries. Still, he was pretty excited to see what the shop had in stock.

He finished his ice cream, and they made their way to the Magical Menagerie, a small shop that like many of the stores in the Alley was filled past capacity. Harry crinkled his nose at the horrid smell, it was as if someone had placed an entire zoo, shrunk it down and stuffed it into one room. Rows of cages lined the walls till they were no longer visible, and Harry could barely see the shopkeeper through the maze of special containers. He looked in at slight wonder at the glass containers, each of which housed a miniaturised habitat fit for the animal that it housed.

Andromeda whispered, "Take a look around, though be sure not to touch anything." Her gaze fleeted over towards the reptile rack, "Some creatures are seemingly harmless but are in reality deadly."

Harry looked towards the avian area, he wanted something independent but still served an important function that he couldn't otherwise fulfil himself and birds filled that category. He noted that the shop had a few owls, not surprising considering that anyone who wanted them would be better of going to Eeylops Owl Emporium.

Harry walked past the rowdy birds, hastily avoiding some of the more mutant looking variants in fear that they would start spitting acid or fire at him. Eagles, Hawks and even the odd peacock, Harry found that the shop had any common bird that he had read about. And whilst like all children he wanted a legendary creature by his side like Dumbledore's Pheonix or a Thunderbird, he found himself coming to a stop in front of a Raven.

"I like you." Harry muttered, "You're quiet, unlike the others." The Raven's beaks gently pressed against the cage and he noticed the slight differences in its appearance. For one it had only one eye, though it seemed weary there was an intelligence and wisdom that attracted him to the raven.

Andromeda grimaced at his choice. "Are you sure? She is a tad bit on the wrong side of her lifespan."

"I'm sure." Harry said softly, "She and I have a common understanding—Don't we Nyx." He slid his fingers through the cage and the bird slowly nuzzled its head against his cupped palm. He pressed his wand against the cage, "Aberto." He murmured and the door opened allowing the Raven to fly onto his shoulder.

"Someone finally chose the damn bird." A squeaky voice spoke from behind them, the shopkeeper gave him a look of approval. "Been one year since I brought her from the Bialowieza Forest,most believe that she's disabled or not as appealing as some of my other birds, but Ravens are intelligent creatures and this one alarmingly so."

Harry shrugged. "How much for her?"

"Three galleons." The young shopkeeper said after some deliberation, "She is quite old and I'd rather not keep her here anymore." Harry paid her and brought a few additional addons that the zoologist recommended such as a tag on the Raven's leg that would allow him to track it anywhere in the world.

Nyx cawed as they left the shop, Harry grinned back at her, "Ah go on then—Meet us St Mungo's." The bird gave him a gentle nod before she flew into the air with a speed and spryness that should not have been possible for one her age.

The rest of the month had been spent preparing for Hogwarts, Jaime spent long hours with their father practising his quidditch despite Lily's obvious disapproval. His brother was intent on joining the Quidditch team in his first year, a tall task considering that the last time that happened was a century ago. Whilst Harry had spent long hours in the Black Library, after his encounter with Bellatrix, Sirius and Lily had taken to teaching him quite extensively about their speciality, Charms or in Sirius's case curses.

It seemed that irrespective of their beliefs, all the Black Family possessed a great talent for the Dark Arts. Even Sirius who was reluctant about their usage knew a fair share of the spells housed in the library. But it was the Blu'dakorr that Harry had once more returned to, he noted that the book was semi-transient or at least charmed so that owner would only be able to access the parts that it thought the reader was ready for regardless of how much blood was sacrificed to it.

Harry had yet to master the Sorbere spell, siphoning magic using his blood was hard enough to do to begin with but he was limited in practice. Most animals lacked magic, and he refused to do it on an innocent person or even ghosts in fear that he would replicate the events with Celeste. The witch had been fading from his mind, and in due time he was able to shut her out completely but he could still feel splinters of herself imbued in his mind and soul. He dreamt of adventures that he never had, intuitively understood and spoke French, he was disappointed however that he was unable to learn any spells from her. Besides the occasional account on Blood Magic, the majority of what he had read from the book was on the mind and the soul, in particular, his predecessors were obsessed with the Astral Sea or Plane. He had been able to access it unconsciously or entirely by accident for a brief moment, but he possessed neither the concentration nor the power to stay there. The mind of a young boy was a fickle thing, after all.

A month quickly flew by and before he knew it, it was September the First. In typical Potter fashion, they arrived at the station with a few minutes to spare. Lily shouted, "Harry—We are not going to Thule, hurry up or you're going to miss the train."

Harry nodded, dragging his eyes away from the decorative platform that he saw several couple enter. "I told you we were going to be late." He muttered to his mother, "Besides, why can't we just apparate to Hogwarts."

"Do you know how to apparate?" Lily asked with a mirthful tone and Harry shook his head. "The fastest solution isn't always the best one. The wards placed around Hogwarts are there to protect students from the threats that dwell outside its walls."

Harry pushed his trunk with his mind as he walked casually through the barrier between platforms nine and ten revealing a large outdoor platform. He looked at the ancient scarlet steam train, it looked completely archaic to the ones on the muggle platform. The words Hogwarts Express branded in gold at the front and sides of the train.

Jaime nudged him, "Want to help me with my trunk."

Harry simply raised his hand and both of their trunks were raised from the carts and moved in front of them. "Still haven't learnt the levitation charm yet?" Harry asked.

Jaime blushed in slight embarrassment. "Dad only taught me transfiguration. You know I struggle with charms."

"You don't pay attention to Mum's lessons or anyone's lessons for that matter." Harry muttered, "Try not to embarrass yourself when we get to Hogwarts."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jaime replied angrily. "Not all of us spend every waking moment in the Library or trying to uncover some sort of magical mystery."

"Enough." James said with a stern voice, "You are brothers, not rivals, act like it. I want you both to depend on each other, there will be a lot of eyes on the both of you."

"But what if we're not in the same house." Harry protested, giving his brother an annoyed look.

"I'm sure you'll find a way." Lily ruffled his hair much to his chagrin, "The houses share no animosity towards each other."

James sneered, "Except Slytherin. It's probably best you both avoid them and their head of house as best as you can." Harry knew very well the hatred that his father and Sirius had for Severus Snape; he had never seen the man despite his close correspondence with Lily about Potions. It would probably be best to wait and see the man before echoing his father's hatred like Jaime did.

"Go on, now. I'm sure you both want to get settled in before all the compartments are filled." Lily told them. The two brothers climbed on board the Hogwarts Express as it whistled its last call.

"We'll see you at Christmas."

"And don't forget to write, or I'll send a Howler your way." Harry chuckled at his mother's insistence and reluctance.

"Thank Merlin. I thought the train would leave before they let us go." Jaime said as he caught sight of a familiar redhead entering a compartment. "I'm going to go sit with Ron—You can come if you want."

"I think I'll find an empty one and get some rest," Harry replied softly. He took out his wand and tapped the top of Jaime's trunk. "Try that." Jaime nodded and grasped his trunk surprised by how light it was.

"What did you do?"

Harry deadpanned, "I made it lighter."

"Arse." Jaime punched Harry lightly on the arm as they both laughed, "See you there."

"Yeah," Harry muttered with a smile. Nyx flew from his shoulder, and he watched her come to a stop in front of one of the compartments near the back of the train. Harry made his way through the corridor, squeezing past the hordes of students who were rushing to find their friends or to lay their claim to an empty carriage.

Bone tired and annoyed with the sheer cacophony outside, Harry flicked his wrist and locked the door before charming the windows to darken with a tinting spell that he had learnt from Sirius. He sighed comfortably as he heard the train's start to move and he drifted asleep.

Click

Bleary eyes opened as the door slid open and an unwelcome figure walked into his compartment.

A/N:

And done. FFN has been acting weird for me lately and I was locked out of my account on multiple occasions during the week, so I apologize for the delay.

This chapter proved to be a little shorter than what I would've liked, but that can't be helped at the moment. Not much to say up here this time around, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and do leave a review if you're in the mood.

R&R

Till next time.