Severus sat in the room he had been given to brew potions in. He was brewing a complicated fourth year potion. He heard a knock at the door. There were only two people who knew where this room was, let alone that he was there.
"Come in!" he called out. It was going to be either Arcturus or Slughorn.
Sure enough, it was Arcturus who walked in. He watched Severus brew for a few minutes before saying, "I still think you should join us on Saturday mornings," he stated.
"But like I told Sirius, I'm not a Black, I'm a Snape," Severus argued.
"Severus, you are my daughter's ward. You are a Black, perhaps not in name, but you are a member of the family nonetheless," Arcturus explained. "We would love to have you join us on Saturday mornings. Sometimes we talk, and sometimes we play games. I even joined Sirius, Regulus, Narcissa, and Andromeda in a few rounds of Uno this morning." Severus gasped.
"You played Uno?" he asked, looking up from his potion. "But, that's a Muggle game! I didn't think a pure-blood family would ever play a Muggle game!"
"Do you remember what Sirius and Lucretia told you about our family?" Arcturus asked.
"What? That the Blacks are about pure of magic, not pure of blood?" Severus asked.
"Exactly," Arcturus confirmed. "Therefore, we don't just play Wizarding games. We play Muggle games as well. I would like you to come join us next weekend. I think you'd have fun. You can even bring a Muggle game you might know about, and we can play it."
Severus looked thoughtful. "But will everyone want me?" he asked.
"I assure you, we all want you to join us," Arcturus assured him. "Saturday mornings are meant for family time, and that includes you. Will you come join us next Saturday?"
Severus sighed. "Alright, but if it goes badly, then I'm not going again," he said. He then sighed. "Sorry, Arcturus. I didn't mean to sound so rude."
"That's alright, Severus. I know you're not used to the Black values, but we value spending time with family, so I promise you, you'll have fun," Arcturus said, smiling at Severus.
"Alright, I'll be there," Severus decided.
"Good," Arcturus said. "Sirius will show you where to go. I shall see you next Saturday, and remember, bring a game for us to play."
"Alright," Severus agreed.
"Enjoy your brewing," Arcturus said before leaving the room.
Sirius and Arcturus met Cassiopeia at the gates of Hogwarts. "Good morning," Cassiopeia greeted them. "We will be taking a portkey to Marius' home."
"Where exactly does he live?" Arcturus asked curiously.
Cassiopeia smirked. "Italy," she announced. As expected, Arcturus and Sirius looked surprised. "He wanted to be far away from the Blacks," she explained.
"Understood," Arcturus said. "Take us to him." Cassiopeia nodded, and held out the portkey, which was a blank piece of Muggle paper.
The three Blacks landed near a house with a beautiful garden. It looked as though some of the plants were magical. Sirius wanted to ask about it, but Cassiopeia was already leading them to the door. She knocked on the door and waited.
The door opened to reveal a woman with a big smile on her face. "Oh, Cassiopeia! It is so good to see you!"
"Hello, Ilaria," Cassiopeia greeted her. "Is Marius home?"
"Yes, and who do you have with you?" Ilaria asked, looking at Sirius and Arcturus.
"This is Lord Arcturus Black along with his grandson Heir Sirius Black," Cassiopeia introduced them. Ilaria looked shocked before nodding.
"Very well, come in," she said, moving aside to let them through. "I'll go get Marius." Cassiopeia led Sirius and Arcturus to the kitchen, where they sat, waiting for Marius and Ilaria.
A few minutes later, Ilaria came back with Marius. Marius glared at Arcturus. "Lord Black, I do not know why you are here, but I have clearly stayed out of your family for years, so I do not know why you suddenly want to see me." He then looked at Sirius and his eyes softened. "Heir Black, it is a pleasure to meet you."
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well," Sirius replied.
Arcturus cleared his throat. "Marius, the Black family has turned away from the Black values in recent years, and I am trying to right the wrongs. It was wrong for the family to disown you, and I assure you, I do not like the way you were treated just because you are a Squib. Family is more important than if someone has magical abilities or not. I am here to correct what the family has done, if you would like."
Marius snorted. "No one's going to want me back in the family," he stated.
"You'd be surprised," Arcturus responded. "I know for a fact that Sirius, Cassiopeia, my other grandson Regulus, my daughter Lucretia, and of course, my wife Melania, would all welcome you back into the family."
"And Narcissa and Andromeda," Sirius jumped in. "And Severus."
"There are some people we will have to introduce you to, Marius, but if you choose to come back into the family, we will make sure you meet those you may not know," Arcturus continued.
Marius looked at Ilaria briefly before saying, "Lord Black, while I am grateful for your offer, I want to point out that Ilaria is also a Squib. Are you sure you want to welcome two Squibs into the family?"
"Of course," Arcturus replied. "Blood status and magical abilities make no difference to me. Family comes first."
"We have two children," Ilaria spoke up. "Capella just turned eleven two days ago, and we haven't decided which school we'd send her to, because she has magic. Lyanna is nine. She also has magic."
Sirius grinned. "Capella could start at Hogwarts next year!" he exclaimed. "And Lyanna would join us in a couple of years!"
"Is Hogwarts really as good as people say it is?" Marius asked. "I am not very familiar with it, of course, but I heard from some people that Hogwarts went downhill when Albus Dumbledore took over the school. I want our children to go somewhere they will actually learn everything they can."
"Albus Dumbledore is no longer the headmaster," Arcturus informed him. "But you are correct that the school was lacking in many areas when Dumbledore was headmaster. He had gotten rid of many classes, one that I am hoping will become a class again soon. Magical Law was a class taught at Hogwarts until 1962."
"Wait, ANOTHER new class?" Sirius asked. "There's already Magical Studies, then of course, Muggle Studies mandatory for people who are raised magical. Let's not forget Latin, which will be starting next year."
Ilaria smiled brightly. "Oh, those sound like great classes!" she exclaimed. "So, who IS the headmaster now?"
"Grandfather's been Headmaster since the end of September," Sirius stated with a grin. Marius and Ilaria looked at Arcturus.
"Yes, I've been Headmaster for about seven months now," Arcturus confirmed.
Marius smiled for the first time that day. "That's wonderful!" he exclaimed. "So, if I come back into the Black family, will you make sure Capella and Lyanna get into Hogwarts, Capella this upcoming year and Lyanna two years from now?"
"I will let Deputy Headmistress McGonagall know to add your children to the list," Arcturus told him.
Marius nodded. "Then I'll come back to the Blacks," he declared. Arcturus smiled.
"Then get your children in here, and we will make the four of you a part of the House of Black," Arcturus said. Ilaria left the room to go get Capella and Lyanna.
"How will we explain this to them?" Sirius asked curiously. "It's not exactly easy to explain to people who don't grow up in the kind of family we do, right?"
"They are very intelligent for their age," Marius explained. "They pick things up very quickly. And you don't have to try explaining things in simpler terms. They both read the entire dictionary a couple of years ago, and ever since then, they've been speaking like adults."
Arcturus chuckled. "That's good to know," he commented.
At that moment, Ilaria came back into the room with two girls. One was tall for her age, and the other was shorter than someone would expect.
"Hello," the tall one said. "My name is Capella. It is a pleasure to meet you both, Lord Black and Heir Black." Sirius widened his eyes. Marius had not been joking when he said they talked like adults.
"Hello, my name is Lyanna," the shorter girl greeted their guests. "It is also a pleasure to meet you, Lord Black and Heir Black."
Sirius exchanged an astonished look with his grandfather. They have both not expected them to greet them so formally.
"Hello Capella and Lyanna," Arcturus said to them. "Has your mother explained to you what we're doing here?"
"Yes, Sir," Capella spoke for both of them. "She told us that you are going to let us into the House of Black, and that I'll be going to Hogwarts in September, and Lyanna will be going in two years."
"Correct," Arcturus confirmed. "I will first be bringing your father into the House of Black, then your mother, then the two of you. Does that sound alright to you?"
"Yes, Sir," both girls said in unison.
The process was very simple. He started with Marius. "I, Arcturus Black III, Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, call upon the Black name in welcoming Marius Black into the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. Toujours pur!" With a flick of his wand, a light surrounded Marius, so bright, that Sirius had to close his eyes. "Congratulations, Marius, you are officially a member of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black."
Marius smiled. "Thank you, Lord Black."
"Call me Arcturus," Arcturus corrected him.
"Oh, thank you, Arcturus," Marius said with a smile.
Next was Ilaria. She soon joined Marius as a member of the House of Black. Finally, it was time for the two children to be welcomed into the family. Cassiopeia gave the nervous girls a reassuring smile as they stood in front of Arcturus. Within moments, the two children were officially welcomed into the family.
"What does Toujours Pur mean?" Lyanna asked.
"Good question," Arcturus answered. "It means always pure. Many mistake it as meaning pure of blood, but that's not what it means, at least, not in our family. I will be more than happy to teach you two the values of the Black family, if you wish."
"Yes, please!" Capella exclaimed. Lyanna nodded along.
"What should we call you?" Lyanna asked nervously.
Arcturus chuckled. "Since I am related to so many people, most people call me Grandfather."
"Alright, how big is the family?" Capella asked. "When you say you're related to a lot of people, I think maybe twenty?"
Sirius laughed. "You should see the family tree," he told them. "It's HUGE!"
"Can we see it?" Lyanna asked excitedly. Sirius and Arcturus assumed these girls would be in Ravenclaw with how much they liked learning new things.
"I'll tell you what," Arcturus said. "I'll come back over soon, and I'll give you all the information on the Black family, including the family tree, though, I will warn you, it is quite big, as Sirius said. For now, Sirius and I must be getting back to Hogwarts. Capella, expect a letter from Hogwarts in the next few days."
"Alright, Grandfather," Capella replied. "I'll be looking for it."
"Hold on," Sirius cut in. "Uncle Marius, Aunt Ilaria, do you have a garden out there? What's in it?"
"Oh, yes! There are many magical and non-magical plants in the garden," Ilaria explained cheerfully. "Marius loves to do things with plants."
"Ah, so you like Herbology?" Arcturus asked Marius.
"Yes, and I can even brew a few potions," Marius explained, much to Sirius' shock. "I may not have enough magic to do things like Charms and Transfiguration, but I can do things like brew potions."
"Oh, Severus would LOVE that!" Sirius exclaimed. Everyone laughed.
"Then next time you come, bring Severus with you, and I'll show you both the garden and the potions I can brew," Marius suggested.
"Alright," Sirius agreed readily. Finally, Sirius, Arcturus, and Cassiopeia left, happy with the day's outcome.