The Future of House Black

By: Ryu Katanna

Beta:

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Twenty-Four

"I welcome you to Cabin Black, Lady Potter. My name is Hardwin Potter-Black. You may call me Hardwin." Hardwin introduced himself with a steady voice after changing to more formal robes and fixing his hair before stepping into his office to see Draco had remained in the room; his attention focused on the unfamiliar woman who stood near the fire fidgeting with her hands.

Lady Leanne Potter gasped as her electric blue eyes widened when her gaze settled upon him. She appeared to be in her middle to late twenties though he knew she was older seeing as, according to his heritage test, her oldest son was only four years younger than both Draco and himself. Such was a benefit of being born with magic in their blood; their aging was much slower than muggles after reaching their majority at seventeen. Her long strawberry blonde hair was pulled back into a french braid that reached her lower back with a few tendrils falling out to frame delicate features. A small smile turned the corners of her mouth upwards as she looked him over even as Hardwin's posture stiffened and any emotion was pulled behind a blank mask before he had entered the room.

"You look well. Thank Merlin for that. Henry has been worried about you for a long time. Please, call me Leanne." Leanne sighed with relief and a hand pressed over her heart as tears misted in her eyes that had yet to look away from him.

Hardwin paused in shock that he refused to let show while Draco's shoulders stiffened at her words as he watched his cousin. Lord Potter had been worried? Hardwin had to suppress the feelings that statement caused before he snapped at her. It was hard for him to believe. Almost impossible.

If he had been so worried for Hardwin then why had he never been there while he had lived through hell? The man had failed in his responsibilities as his Lord of House when it came to him as far as Hardwin was concerned. His great-grandfather Arcturus had been unable to do anything due to his agreement with Hardwin's parents. Lord Potter, however, wouldn't have had the same restraints placed on him by Lily and James if the worse were to happen. The entire situation only made him all the more determined to do the best he could as the Lord of House Black.

"Pardon?" Hardwin raged internally with incredulity over what she'd just said even as he tried to keep those emotions from his expression as he tried to gather himself at how she had just dumped those statements on him.

"I'm sorry. I can't tell you much of anything other than how worried Henry has been for you. He has been trying to contact you for years, but the owls have always returned with the letters unopened. We didn't know who your guardians were to attempt to write to them directly. It should be my husband who is here right now to tell you everything. He wanted to be here." Leanne assured as she stepped forward; looking like she wanted to reach out to him to assure herself that he was real.

"Why don't we sit down? This is a conversation better had over tea. Or perhaps coffee, if you would prefer?" Draco asked as he interjected upon seeing how close Hardwin was to lashing out at the woman.

He knew his cousin's tells well after years of an antagonistic relationship while they were in school and their more recent times spent in each other's company. This was not the time for Hardwin to vent any anger he felt toward the Potters, and Draco knew he was close. Hardwin may have gotten better about it but he was still a hot-head under the veneer of decorum the family had been drilling into him. Hardwin was trying but hadn't grown up with the lessons and instruction on decorum and deportment that Draco, Marcus, and other purebloods in Britain had. Lessons that had been drilled into them from the time they could walk and talk. Hardwin was receiving those lessons now, but it would take time to adjust his behavior and habits rather than just reacting.

His cousin was under a lot of pressure without the lessons most purebloods learned early to help him cope though their family were doing their best to assist him with the skills he would need to navigate his responsibilities. Hardwin had been pushing himself to learn quickly and to train himself out of poor habits. It was one of the reasons Draco pestered him about taking breaks. If he continued to press on in the manner he had been then it was only a matter of time before the pressure would become too much. Hardwin would snap, and that wasn't something he needed. Not now. He had all of the responsibilities of the Black Lordship weighing on him as the only male who could continue the line and restore it in the eyes of the wizarding public.

The House of Black's reputation had already taken so much damage over the last several decades. Draco knew that Hardwin was determined to revive and restore his House, but to do that in upper society he would need to be strong, learn fast, and build a positive reputation among the other old families. All it would take is one public display of that temper to ruin everything Hardwin was working towards. The Black name had been tarred with a dark reputation for the madness that ran in the bloodline. If Hardwin snapped in an emotional display then he would be further marked by that reputation even when he wasn't insane as Bellatrix had been.

Public opinion could work for or against him thanks to Hardwin's actions during the war, but the previous perception of the Blacks could and would pull him down if he wasn't mindful. Draco, himself, was in much the same situation. The Malfoy name had taken a lot of damage as well, and it would fall to Draco and one day his heir, to repair it after the actions of his father and grandfather. The only reason Draco had the chance to do so after being marked during the war was because of Hardwin.

If Hardwin had not spoken up for Draco and Narcissa at their trials then things would be a lot worse for House Malfoy. Hardwin could have chosen to remain silent on the things they had done to help him, but he hadn't, and for that, Draco would always be grateful. It was why he would do what he could now to support his cousin. Even if all he could do right now was to nag Hardwin to take some time for himself or to help him retain his composure when he needed to.

"Oh. A coffee, please, and thank you." Leanne replied as she was distracted by the young blond who had introduced himself as Heir Draco Malfoy, a cousin of Hardwin's from the Black side of his family when he had admitted her through the floo.

"Portia. Some coffee for Lady Potter and tea for Hardwin and myself." Draco called to the elf and spoke gently though not thanking her as Hardwin would have done.

He was still getting used to the changes in how he was expected to treat house-elves after his mother had started to make changes within their home. He could see his mother's point when she spoke of the loyalty Hardwin's treatment of house elves had inspired in the little creatures and how that loyalty had made a difference during the war. It was still sometimes odd to see them dressed well with the Malfoy family crest, but he was adjusting the more he saw how Hardwin treated both the Black and Malfoy elves when either of them visited each other's homes. It had taken longer for his father to fall in line, but Narcissa's brow-beating of her husband had been effective. His father still had his moments but had always bent to his wife's will for the most part.

"Right away, Master Draco." Portia replied with a short nod as she popped away with her orders.

Draco motioned toward the two chairs in front of the fireplace with his wand and moved them closer to the desk. He invited Leanne to be seated in one while he took the other and Hardwin moved around his desk to seat himself in his chair. Hardwin shuffled the paperwork around for a moment to make room just as the serving tray appeared on the desk between them. He laid the files into a drawer as he took the opportunity to calm down.

This meeting was not something he should go into feeling emotional. Sure, he was frustrated and angry with Lord Potter for his failure as his Lord of House, but there was nothing to be done about it now. Taking his feelings out on Lady Potter would do nothing to get the information he wanted. It would only serve to alienate that side of his bloodline when he didn't yet know if any 'familial relationship' with them could be salvaged. Hardwin had been slowly putting together the pieces of the steps his parents had made for his protection both before and after he was born, but he knew that Lord Potter should have more answers.

"I must admit myself at a loss. You said that Lord Potter has been worried and that he wanted to be here today? That he's tried contacting me before?" Hardwin asked feeling a bit confused and conflicted about why it was Lady Potter seated before him now and not Lord Potter if that was the case.

"Yes. He has been worried for you for a long time. He's tried writing to you all these years, but all of his letters have come back unopened. Henry suspected a mail ward had been placed on you under your assumed name, but he didn't dare try addressing any letters to you under your true name. Your parents had warned him of the danger you could be placed in if anyone knew you were set to inherit the title from such an old bloodline. He's also been trying for years to get an international portkey to the United Kingdom to go look for you, but his application has been denied every time. Henry even tried entering the country the no-mag way several years ago, but he was denied that way as well." She explained and Hardwin almost gaped as he tried to comprehend what she was telling him.

"Did they ever give a reason for why he was refused access to our country?" Draco asked as he thought about what could have caused a Lord of an Ancient House to be unable to obtain travel permissions to his own country.

"Not at all. We have tried inquiring but have been turned away no matter who makes the inquiry. We even tried for me to get a portkey into Britain after Henry and I married so that I could look for you in his place, but I was denied as well. It's been troubling. Henry was raised here in America by a distant relative on his mother's side since he was young, but he's always retained his British citizenship. He's been managing the estate as best as he's been able with the help of Gringotts, but there's only so much he's been able to do when most of the Potter assets and properties are established in the United Kingdom." Leanne explained with a troubled knit to her brow and Hardwin shot Draco a look at the mention of Gringotts.

"I would like to apologize on his behalf for not coming personally today. You see, Henry is Potion's Master. He was experimenting with a new potion when he received your first letter. He was thrilled when he told us about it over dinner." She murmured and it was then that Hardwin noticed the shadows under her eyes.

Her make-up was flawless, but the skin was slightly darker under her eyes. The expression in them was tired, and he could tell that she must have been worrying about something for a while now. Hardwin's mind shifted to what she had just told them about his cousin experimenting with a potion.

"The reply didn't come through Gringotts as would have been expected... Your owl arrived days after the suggested meeting date in the letter and it is currently recuperating in my aviary under the care of one of my elves. Did Lord Potter not send it himself?" Hardwin asked, still unable to believe that a man who carried the responsibilities of a Lord of House would have made such an error.

Not unless he was completely inept or purposefully trying to test his patience.

"No, I'm afraid the late delivery is my fault. Henry placed the letter in the basket for outgoing letters before returning to his brewing. Something went wrong, and he was badly injured in the resulting explosion. He has been in St. Augustine's since that day in a healing coma though he's expected to wake sometime this week." Her voice was heavy as she spoke and Hardwin let out a harsh breath as his irritation over the matter with the owl and late response fled from him.

That certainly explained a few things. If Lord Potter had been incapacitated then Lady Potter would have been left to deal with House matters in his absence. From the look of things, she likely didn't know that the letter should have been sent through the care of Gringotts. He couldn't fault her for the mistake as she had probably been stressed enough.

It had been a few weeks and Lord Potter was still in a healing coma. That spoke a great deal as to how badly he must have been injured. Magic was capable of great things, but it had limitations as well.

"I received your letter stating that you were in the country just this morning. You had written that you wouldn't be able to stay for long, and I was worried that you would have left before he woke. I didn't want you to feel that we were purposely ignoring you or playing some game so I came as soon as I was able." Leanne explained softly, and Hardwin settled a bit more as he started to understand what had happened and how it pieced together with the other information he had been discovering over the last few months.

"I see. Thank you for the explanation I hope he makes a swift recovery." Hardwin said as he handed her the coffee from the tray before taking his tea; thinking about everything he had been told.

The anger he had felt toward the Potter Lord started to cool after learning of how they had been unable to even enter the country. Hardwin doubted Leanne was lying about what she had told him. A lie would be too easy to disprove once he looked into the matter. He was unsure of how but didn't doubt that he knew who was responsible. Hardwin wouldn't have been in the perfect condition to be molded and used in the war if he'd had family who cared for him.

"Thank you. I know that you must have come because you have questions for him. I don't know everything as Henry and I met after you were born, but I will answer what I can." Leanne offered, relaxing when she noticed how the young man's face had softened from how rigidly he had held himself since entering the room.

"You have already answered a few of them with your explanation. I can't say I know how the Lord and Lady of an Ancient House were denied passage into the United Kingdom, but I do have an idea of the reason why. I will need to look into it to find out how he did it." Hardwin muttered as he glanced toward Draco; the blonde's scowl growing darker as he came to the same conclusion he had.

"He? You mean to say that someone was purposefully interfering?" Leanne's brows drew together at the insinuation.

Hardwin looked at Draco who looked back at him before raising a brow. He knew that the decision was being left to him on how much to tell her. This was Hardwin's business, but it was also a family matter that involved the Potters. If he confided this to Lady Potter now then he would be acknowledging the Potters as family just as he had when he had told the Malfoys. There was also the fact that he would need their cooperation.

His mind went to the file that he had asked Andromeda to prepare before he left. Hardwin had been unsure of how his meeting with Lord Potter would go, but he had been prepared to tell him what he would need to know if the man hadn't been purposefully neglecting his responsibility toward Hardwin as a scion of House Potter. While it was Lady Potter in front of him, she had told him enough to know that it didn't appear to have been willful negligence. There had been more going on that they hadn't known about, and they had been unable to do anything. They had tried, and that was enough for Hardwin.

"You should also include Marcus, Hardwin. As your intended, he has a right to know as it will involve him as well. In that same vein, it may be best to have House Flint informed. Things will be made public with the plans you have, and it would be better that they are not blindsided by the information. My parents have told Lord and Lady Flint some of it, but they have likely also started putting the pieces together themselves after seeing your medical report during the marriage negotiations." Draco said as he set down his teacup when Hardwin started reaching for a drawer in his desk.

Hardwin froze for a moment as he looked up at his cousin before slowly nodding. Draco was right. He and Marcus would be married soon enough, and there was no way to back out of it now that the contract had been signed by all parties with the blood quills. The agreement between the Houses of Black and Flint was already binding. This was a matter that would involve Marcus as well since they would be bonded, and Hardwin knew he would need to trust his intended. They had agreed to try for a real relationship and not just a marriage of convenience.

"Draco is right. There is much that you and your husband will need to know. Unfortunately, I am unable to remain in the States for long, and so we may be gone by the time he recovers. I would like to inform you of my suspicions, but I believe it may be best to wait. My intended and his family will also need to be informed so it may be best to gather everyone in one meeting." Hardwin asked and received a slow nod from Leanne.

"I understand. Waiting would be best. I know Henry would rather hear it for himself than have me try to explain to him after the fact." Leanne replied, her back straightening as she heard the serious undercurrent to his tone, and knew that what they learned at the proposed meeting wouldn't be good news.

"Thank you for understanding. I would like to speak more with you and your husband when he is available. In the meanwhile, I will look into the matter of why you have been denied passage into Britain and see if I can do anything to correct it."

123

Hardwin stared down at the ripples as he lightly swayed his legs back and forth through the hot water from where he sat on the flagstones that surrounded the magically created 'hot tub' behind the cabin; his trousers pulled up to the knee so they wouldn't get wet. It was growing later in the evening, but Hardwin couldn't bring himself to mind the passing of time as he lost himself to his thoughts. The last few months had been hectic as he tried to learn the truth about himself. The questions about his past had lingered in the back of his mind since the day he had discovered his life until that visit to Gringotts had been almost completely made up of lies. He now knew the answers to many of the questions he'd had, and now he needed to wait to speak with the one who held the answers that he was still missing.

"Are you alright?" The question startled him, and Hardwin jumped, almost falling into the hot water until two strong arms wrapped around his waist, pulling him against a broad chest and saving him from falling from his perch.

"Marcus... Thank you." Hardwin mumbled as he leaned back against his intended once he was sure he was no longer at risk of falling in.

He was starting to grow accustomed to Marcus's touch. Whereas before he would jump or shift uncomfortably at the closeness, Hardwin was now starting to adjust to it. He could feel the possessiveness from his intended every time he wrapped his arm around him and pulled him close to his side but found he didn't mind it so much. Rather, he found it a bit comforting to feel like he was wanted. The Marcus he remembered from school had an abrasive personality, but that wasn't the man he had been getting to know out of the public eye.

"I'm just thinking." Hardwin answered a bit belatedly as he let the warmth from Marcus soothe him in the cool night air.

"You've been staring at the water for the last hour. Marcel told me to leave you be, but I couldn't take it anymore. Are you still thinking about the meeting with Lady Potter earlier? Or did the Minister say something when you flooed him?" Marcus asked as he shifted to sit next to Hardwin on the stone while keeping the younger man in his arms.

"A little of both, I guess. Kingsley is looking into Lady Potter's claims. I will need to contact him when we return to Britain. Mostly, I'm just trying to put the pieces together. There is still so much I don't know about my own past that it bothers me. I also didn't know how resentful I felt over Lord Potter's absence from my life until Lady Potter started speaking when she was here. It took me by surprise, honestly." Hardwin admitted as Marcus's fingers brushed his side soothingly.

"I can't say that I know how you must feel. I only know how I would feel based on what I know of the situation." Marcus told him as Hardwin was pressed further into his intended; the words almost a whisper in his ear.

"I'm just feeling unsettled. I have spent these last few months picking up the pieces of my life, but I feel like I can't continue moving forward until I know the truth. I'm just unsure if the answers will make a difference. I mean, Dumbledore is dead. Nothing I do now will change the past and Dumbledore can't be punished for what he's done. I'm unsure of many of the friendships I built because of the situation with people I had thought I could trust." Hardwin sighed before Marcus hummed.

"Maybe not, but I can understand why you would want answers. Nothing we do can change what happened in the past. Even a time-turner does not have the power to take us back that far, but everything we do now will define the future. A future we will share. You will have me as your ally, no matter what you find. I can't promise we will always agree, but I will never betray you as they have." The words were murmured into Hardwin's ear, causing a fluttering feeling in his stomach.

Hardwin looked up into Marcus's dark eyes and couldn't suppress the small smile that curved the corners of his mouth. It had been a long afternoon by the time Leanne Potter had left with promises to contact him through Gringotts when her husband woke, and Hardwin had finished his floo call with Kingsley to look into the problem keeping them out of Britain. Leanne had thanked him for having the owl, named Archie, tended to. She had asked that he be sent to the Pottery; House Potter's ancestral estate in the small village of Stinchcombe. The cabin had been quiet after she left as they gave him some time to process what he'd been told before Hardwin had returned to his office to floo call both Kingsley and Andromeda.

"I know you must have questions about what is going on. I can't promise to answer everything, but you can ask. If I can't tell you then I'll say so." Hardwin said softly as he didn't know how to respond to Marcus's pronouncement of their future.

Hardwin's future had always been in question and he was still adjusting to not having a constant threat to his life following him like a shadow. As much as he wanted to look forward to the future they could build together, he didn't know how. Hardwin was busy dealing with the past and present right now. The concept of a future, one with Marcus, was there but wasn't what he was focused on.

"Lord and Lady Malfoy have informed my parents about a few things, but I can wait until Lord Potter recovers when you've said you want to tell us. There is a lot we have to learn about each other, but I'm not in a rush. We have the rest of our lives. We can take our time. I think we've already addressed the most important thing when it comes to us. The relationship we would like to have in our marriage. We can learn more about each other as we go. I can wait for the details during the meeting you're planning between our Houses. I do not want to cause you pain by prying into your past." Marcus's words were quiet for as deep as his voice was.

The breath of the words caressed Hardwin's ear before the man moved to brush his lips in a comforting kiss to his temple before he pulled away. The air between them was comfortably quiet for several moments as the two of them watched the warm water lap around Hardwin's legs while they thought. Finally, Hardwin was the first to move as he tilted his chin up to look at Marcus.

"Thank you... For being understanding. The only ones who know are my cousins and Lord Malfoy, and even then I needed an oath of secrecy before they could know everything. I couldn't tell them and I resorted to just showing them the memories. It's hard for me to talk about, and you would need to take the same oath as there is information that can never become public, but I promise I will tell you everything one day." Hardwin promised and Marcus chuckled before tilting his head in a small nod.

"When you're ready." He agreed before leaning down and sealing the promise with a kiss on Hardwin's lips.

Hardwin took in a sharp breath at the warmth of Marcus's lips on his. It had been unexpected, but he gradually started to relax when the man didn't pull away. No, Hardwin felt the arms around him pull him closer as he leaned further into the kiss to return it. The kiss was gentle, but he could feel that Marcus was holding back. Hardwin's hand raised to caress Marcus's jaw as he shifted to deepen the kiss before pulling away quickly with a gasp of shock as they were both soaked in icy cold water.

"What the hell?" Hardwin mumbled as he felt Marcus's chest rumble with a growl of irritation, and he followed the direction of those dark eyes toward the cabin door to find Marcellus standing in the open doorway with his wand in hand and a raised brow.

"Thought you two could do with some cooling off. Why don't you both come inside? It's a bit too chilly to be out here in wet clothes like that." Marcellus said and Hardwin's eyes narrowed as Marcus let go of him to sneer at his brother.

"Whose fault it that, Marcel?" Marcus's voice made Hardwin shiver at the dark undertone as much as the cool night air and cold water soaking his clothes did.

Emerald eyes trailed down to the warm water around his legs before lighting with mischief. He didn't want his intended to fight with his brother. Marcellus and Draco were there as their chaperones so that they could keep them from any act of impropriety that would shame their Houses before their marriage. Sure, it was old-fashioned, but that was the wizarding world for you.

Marcus went to step closer to his brother to give him a tongue-lashing before pausing to look back at his intended as Hardwin grasped his hand with both of his. It was then that he felt a tug as Hadrian braced his feet against the stone. He threw himself into the warm water as he pulled Marcus backward into the water with him. Hadrian surfaced laughing as Marcus came up beside him almost spluttering.

At least, he was laughing until those dark eyes narrowed on him.

"Marcus, it was a joke! Ahh!" Hardwin squeaked as he was grabbed around the waist while trying to back away.

Marcus said nothing in reply as Hardwin wiggled to escape his intended's grip as large hands lifted him up and out of the water. Hardwin looked down to see a toothy grin on Marcus's face as he held him up easily. He took a split second to enjoy the feeling his intended's strength elicited before he was tossed back into the water. He surfaced to a pleasant sound that made his insides quiver in pleasure even as he spluttered and coughed out the water that had flooded his mouth and nose when he went under.

Marcus was laughing.

Hardwin huffed even as he smiled and moved to the edge of the pool. A chuckle drew his attention back toward the door to see it was Marcellus who was chuckling as he shook his head at their antics. Draco was just behind him now, one blonde brow raised as he looked at the two of them in disbelief. Harwin jumped as he felt the hands return to his waist before he was lifted again.

"Marcus! No! I'm sorry, okay! Not again!" He shouted as he was tossed back in once more and came up coughing only to feel those hands grasp his waist again.

"It seems my intended has a mischievous side to him. Hmm... What am I to do?" Marcus drawled into his ear as he pulled him up from the water to press Hardin's back to his chest.

"I come by it honestly. Both my dad and my father were pranksters. You should just learn to enjoy it." Hardwin laughed as he grasped Marcus's arm with one hand and playfully splashed water over his shoulder into his face with the other.

"He's right. Mother did say cousin Sirius loved his pranks. Luckily, I don't believe Hardwin is as bad as what she told me his parents did during their Hogwarts years." Draco chimed in as he shook his head and huffed.

"I see. I suppose I should be more careful from now on." Marcus said as he moved them both over to the edge of the water before lifting Hardwin up to set him gently on the stone ledge.

"I couldn't resist. I saw an opportunity, and we were already wet. At least we're warmer now." Hardwin chuckled as he shifted to pull his legs out and turned to get down from the ledge before turning to see Marcus lift himself out and over the ledge to stand beside him.

"Not for long if we keep standing here like this." Marcus replied as he pulled out his wand and moved to cast a drying charm on Hardwin who quickly stopped him with a hand over his.

"Please don't! Drying charms do not agree with me. I won't be able to tame my hair for days if you use one on me." Hardwin grumbled as he fingered the wet locks and tried to shift them into some sort of order.

"He does have some Potter in him." Draco reminded the brothers; Marcellus shook his head when Marcus raised a brow at the statement.

"A characteristic the House Potter was known for was that their hair was untameable. I had thought Hardwin had escaped that particular curse on the line. His hair has been well groomed every time I have seen him." Marcellus told Marcus as his brother cast a drying charm on himself.

"No, I remember how messy his hair was during Hogwarts. I simply thought he didn't care for his appearance." Marcus said before calling Portia for a towel that he draped over Hardwin's shoulders when she returned with it.

"Draco and Narcissa's influence." Hardwin explained simply as he accepted the towel and used it to pat his hair dry from the excess water.

"There's nothing to be done for it when it's short, and without products. He's learned well enough now to know what works. Hardwin didn't even own a comb when I started with him." Draco grumbled and Hardwin just chuckled as he smiled at the blonde.

"My hair was the least of my problems until now, Draco. According to Grandfather Arcturus, it's not even in its natural state at the moment. Though he said the shifting wasn't as strong as it is with Teddy." Hardwin said as he moved on from drying his hair to try getting some of the water out of his clothes so he wouldn't be trailing water across the floors on the way to his room.

"Wait. Natural state? Shifting? What does that mean, and who is Teddy?" Marcus asked as Hardwin finished drying himself as best he could before moving to follow Draco and Marcellus who had turned to lead them back into the cabin.

"Teddy is my godson, and also the grandson of my cousin Andromeda. They both live with me in the manor now after Mrs. Weasley started harassing them when I stopped any contact with them. Teddy and his mother both inherited the metamorphmagi ability that was thought dormant for a long time. According to my great-grandfather, I also displayed an aptitude for it when I was born. Apparently, the color and texture of my hair shifted though it wasn't as strong as e've been seeing Teddy doing. He thinks Lord Potter did something to help my parents hide it." Hardwin explained as he picked up his shoes and socks which were still dry as he'd taken them off before sitting down earlier.

"I see. I didn't know you had a godson. Who were his parents?"Marcus asked as they entered the cabin, reaching out to grasp Hardwin's hand upon seeing the flash of grief on his face.

"Do you remember Professor Lupin?" Hardwin asked after he ducked into the downstairs bathroom to strip out of his wet clothes before using a drying charm on them, redressing, and stepping back out in now dry clothes.

"He was the one who was suspected of being a werewolf, wasn't he?" Marcus asked as he thought back to that year.

"His name was Remus, and he was both a werewolf as well as one of my parent's best friends. He is Teddy's father. He married Nymphadora Tonks during the war." Hardwin said as the two of them moved to the sofa room within sight of Draco and Marcellus who were playing at the billiard table.

"Nymphadora Tonks... I remember her. Clumsy Hufflepuff. Graduated the year before you came to Hogwarts." Marcus said thoughtfully, and Hardwin chuffed a laugh.

"Yeah. She was Andromeda's daughter. She hated her first name and would get mad at anyone who called her by it. Andromeda never let that stop her though. Tonks and Remus named me godfather to Teddy when he was born... They both died in the Battle of Hogwarts. Teddy was only a month old." Hardwin told him as they sat down before turning to call for Portia.

"Portia. Some tea to help warm us up, please. Thank you." He spoke softly to the elf before turning his attention back to Marcus as he spoke.

"So his grandmother has custody of him while you help out?" He asked and Hardwin shook his head as the tea appeared on the table.

"Andromeda and I have shared custody, but she's the primary caregiver. Andromeda is a daughter of House Black who married a muggleborn and left the family, but grandfather Arcturus never disowned her. As she was widowed during the war, and her late husband had no family to care for her as would be the case if she had married into another House, the responsibility for her wellbeing and safety falls to me as Lord to House Black. I asked her to move into the manor as I didn't want either one of them at risk during the current situation with the Weasleys and Granger. The wards at Black Manor are much stronger than her home." He explained because Marcus needed to understand that his godson came as part of the package since Hardwin would be helping Andromeda raise him.

"Understandable. Well then you'll need to tell me about him. He will be a part of our lives, after all." Marcus knew that had been the right thing to say as Hardwin's eyes softened and he relaxed easily into his side as he started telling him all about his godson whom he obviously adored.

123456

Ugh. This took me so long to get down. I must have re-wrote this chapter at least six times, and I'm still not feeling completely satisfied with it. I've had a block with my Harry Potter fics while new plot bunnies are gnawing at my brain. The problem is I can't make any of them work, but they won't go away either. My random starts and plots not yet worked on files keep on growing. I may need to just get them all down and then post them somewhere for adoption.

Anyway, still no Lord Potter, but the potion accident certainly explains some of the mix-up with the owl. I have had the situation with Henry Potter worked out since the beginning chapters. His wife... not so much. Leanne was rather annoying for me to write in all honesty. I focused so much on Lord Potter's character that I blindsided myself by not filling out the information in my notes for his wife or three children.

I hope this chapter provided a few answers, in any case. Hardwin has slowly started to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Sooner or later he should have enough to be satisfied in order to do what needs to be done to move on with his life. At the same time, he's getting more comfortable in his role as Lord Black and with Marcus as they get to know each other. The kiss between the two kind of snuck up on me, but at the same time, not completely unexpected.

I mean, their attraction toward each other has already been established. It's not exactly a typical arranged marriage the way Draco and Astoria's. Still, this unexpected trip to the United States has been good for something. Hardwin got a bit of a break and the two are growing closer. Only a bit more of their time in the US to go before they'll be returning to Britain.

~Ryu