The Greyback twins have great fun sending some letters

(For best results, imagine two naughty eleven year old twin werewolf children frantically consulting their late mother's stash of classical literature for how Official Letters Written By Adults are supposed to look and sound)

October 12th, 1990
From the desk in my room
Alpha House
Greyback Compound
In the woods

To Gornuk son of Nograk,

Greetings sir, it was a pleasure meeting you at the bank the other day. I am very pleased with the assistance I have received from you so far in matters relating to my house and inheritance. I am writing to ascertain whether or not the Weasleys can be restored to the Black family in the same manner in which Andromeda and her family were. I meant to do so while we were in your office with you, but there was rather a lot going on and it slipped my mind.

Additionally, I cannot help but wonder if it will cause the same degree of magical drain. As far as I understand there a great deal more of them, and I was a bit worn out afterwards with just the two family members returned to our magic. Are there any other considerations to make before I undertake this effort to restore my cousins? Do I need to be at Gringotts again to make it official? I know the other day was stressful for my dad, and I'd prefer to do this from our home if possible.

Whether I am able to restore them or not, I want the Weasley family to be able to access the trust vault that belonged to their ancestor. That's my most important priority. Can you do a balance of it for me and see if there's anything left to give them from it?

Kind regards :)
Hermione Elena Greyback

12th day of Winterfyllēdth, 1990
Office of Black Accounts
Gringotts Bank, Diagon Alley
London, England

Lady Black,

Thank you for your kind words and for reaching out to me with your questions. It was a true honor to observe you claim your seat, my lady. In response to your queries, the magical exhaustion you felt at the bank was much more likely a result of your ascent to lordship conducted previously to the reinstatement.

When an entire branch is returned to the family, such as you intend to do with your Weasley cousins, the personal magic of the head of house only directly touches the single member who is being brought back into the fold. From there the family magic is funneled through that individual and travels on its own downward through their descendants.

Your magic embraced Andromeda and pulled her back into the family, and from there the family magic reached out to her daughter on its own. The same should happen with Arthur Weasley and his children. What may cause some difficulty is the fact that his mother who was disowned from the black family is no longer with us. Reconnecting a branch through a disowned AND deceased member may prove challenging in ways I cannot estimate.

You are more than welcome to come to the bank to attempt this if you are at all concerned or uncertain. As for the act itself, the wording and ceremony should be identical. Invoke your magic and call on the Black family to bring Cedrella and her descendants back into the fold. If this does not work there are other methods that can be attempted, such as ritually adopting Arthur and his siblings into the black family, but I advise you not to attempt those on your own, my lady, powerful though you are.

The front of house staff have been made aware of the permission you have granted to allow the Weasley family access to Cedrella's trust vault. There is a sum total of roughly 30,000 galleons within it (equivalent to 150,000 pounds at the current exchange rate), as well as several heirlooms that belonged to her personally.

In your service,
Gornuk son of Nograk

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

October 13th, 1990
From the desk in my room
Alpha House
Greyback Compound
In the woods

Lord Weasley (Prewett?)

Hello sir, you don't know me but we are related. I believe we are distant cousins, but I am not certain of the exact connection as I have not seen a full copy of our family tree yet. My grandfather was Alphard Black, and through him I have claimed the lordship of our house.

I have reinstated my cousin Andromeda and her daughter Dora, and I would do the same for your branch if you wish it. As far as I understand it, there is a sizable trust vault at Gringotts for Cedrella Black that should have been inherited by you and any siblings or children you may have. I have informed Gornuk that you are to be allowed to access it whether you wish to be reinstated or not.

Family is important to me, and I understand that you have several children my own age whom I would be more than happy to consider cousins. I regret that we did not get to grow up together, but am excited to attend school with them. Please inform them that they may write to me if they wish, as I would be delighted to correspond.

Please do not be fearful of my last name. My father is a good wolf, and the rumors about him are false. He taught me to be kind and to help people who need it. The only things he has ever killed are deer and rabbits.

Kind regards,
Hermione Elena Greyback :)

13th day of Winterfyllēdd, 1990
Office of Black Accounts
Gringotts Bank, Diagon Alley
London, England

Mr Arthur Weasley,

This letter is written to inform you that you have been granted hereditary access to a Black trust vault belonging to your mother Cedrella. A new key has been forged for your use, and you may collect it at any teller stand in the bank at your convenience.

In service of the House of Black,
Gornuk son of Nograk

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

14/10/1990
From the desk of Arthur Weasley
Office of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts
Department of the Improper Use of Magic
The British Ministry of Magic
London, England

Lady Black,

I cannot thank you enough for allowing my family access to my mothers vault. Though I have worked hard in life to provide for my children, it is no uncommon knowledge in our community that we have often struggled from a lack of galleons and many hungry mouths to feed. I still have five children to put through school, and I feared the worst. Even if there is only what others may consider a pittance, it will surely help see my family through the times ahead, and I am sincerely grateful.

As to your generous offer, I am unsure if my line even can be restored, as my mother Cedrella passed away while still disowned from her family. I have heard that her removal was in word only and not deed, but I do not know how accurate that is, or if it at all changes the circumstances. I would be honored for my family to be brought into the house of Black if it is possible, and if it is not then I am still honored for my children to have such a compassionate young woman as their cousin. Once I inform them of our new circumstances I am sure they will be thrilled to write to you.

My oldest is Bill, he's 20 and a curse breaker at Gringotts. Next is Charlie, he's 18 and has just gotten a job at the dragon preserve in Romania! Percy is 14 and he's a fourth year at Hogwarts. My twins Fred and George are 12 and are second years. Ron is 10 and he'll be a first year next year. My youngest is my daughter Ginny, she's 9 and she's very sad that she has to wait two more years before starting school.

Thank you, and may magic bless you
Arthur Weasley

14/10/1990
From the desk of Arthur Weasley
Office of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts
Department of the Improper Use of Magic
The British Ministry of Magic
London, England

Andromeda,

Hello, dear cousin. I would say you won't believe the letter I've received, but as it informed me of your reinstatement to our now shared house, I'm sure it's safe to say you're probably already in the know. Do you know what on earth prompted the new head to start restoring pruned branches as her first acts as Lady? She seems like a lovely sort, but she really told me very little about herself other than that she's my children's age (which as you know could mean anywhere from nine to twenty!).

Have you met her by any chance? I wrote back to thank her, and didn't realize until I'd already sent poor old Errol off that her last name is Greyback. She can't be related to… THAT Greyback can she? Only that I've never met or heard of anyone else with the same surname other than him. She seemed very kind in her correspondence. I'm not quite sure what to think.

You've just missed this week's Sunday dinner, but you should come over for the next one this coming weekend. I'm sure Molly and the children would be thrilled to see you all. Give Ted and Dora my love.

Hope to hear from you soon,
Arthur Weasley

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dated the 15th of October, 1990
From the desk of Healer Tonks
Spell Damage floor
St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries
London, England

Arthur,

I can't believe she's really done it. I felt your magic rejoin with ours the instant it happened, congratulations! I should have written you sooner, she said she was going to reinstate your family next but it completely slipped my mind. Dora doesn't have to go through auror training, I can afford to put her through a healer's mastery now. I'm getting emotional all over again just thinking about it. Is this how you felt when Bill was accepted at Gringotts?

Now I don't mean to frighten you, but she is very much related to THAT Greyback. She is in fact his daughter, whom he appears to dote on. I met them the day she reinstated Dora and I, and was shocked to find that they are a seemingly perfectly normal family. I think a great deal of the things we've heard about him since the war must simply have been false. In the time I spent with them that day he acted every part the typical parent of a child soon to head off to Hogwarts.

That's another thing you should know, the new Lady Black is no young woman by any means. She's an eleven year old child. It's utterly remarkable. As far as I understand it she was only there to challenge for the heir's ring and accidentally grabbed the wrong one from the box. The lord's ring shouldn't have even let her touch it, but for some reason it accepted her and now she's our head of house. Gave poor Gornuk the fright of his life, she did.

If Molly's cooking, I certainly won't miss it for the world! I'll bring the family and we'll be more than happy to help set the table. There's more to say about the situation that I need to tell you in person. Things that can't be said in a letter, you understand.

Have a nice rest of your week,
Andromeda Tonks

Dated the 15th of October, 1991
From the desk of Narcissa Malfoy
The Lady's Solar
Malfoy Manor
Wiltshire, England

My dearest Andromeda,

I cannot begin to describe the elation that overcame me when I felt your magic return to the Black Family. I earnestly and eagerly welcome you back, my beloved sister. I have missed you desperately these fifteen years. Even the innumerable joys of motherhood have barely numbed the pain, and I have felt your absence every day since like a severed limb.

I wish nothing more than to let you know that you still hold my heart, and that you never stopped. I would be delighted to see you and meet your daughter and husband if you will allow me to. Any terms or conditions you have I will obey without question, if only I could embrace you once more.

When your name returned to my tapestry I wept, and when your daughter's sweet face was revealed beneath yours I couldn't take my eyes away from the niece I should have been able to watch grow up. Nymphadora is such a lovely name, you chose well. Although there was a strange weft to the cloth of her portrait that I don't recognize, was she born under any peculiar circumstances?

I am beyond grateful to our new head of house for reinstating you, and though I would like to thank her personally I have been quite unable to reach her. I have searched quite thoroughly and have found nothing more than her name and age, which is what was revealed via my copy of our family tapestry.

I visited the ministry and they have no record of her. I sought out answers at Gringotts and the goblins would tell me nothing. I even sent a missive to the school asking simply for conformation of her enrollment in the book of names, and was informed in no uncertain terms by fussy old Professor McGonagall that student information is confidential!

I am left endlessly curious about this child. She is Hydra's daughter. I wish I had known, but when I think back to that time, when the war was at its most dangerous and chaotic height and everyone was constantly terrified, I can't blame her for hiding what joy she had from us. I can't help but wonder what happened to her, and why her child grew up motherless. To be a Black alone in the world is a terrible thing, and I feel great sympathy for the girl.

Please write back to me, my darling sister, even if only to tell me you never wish to hear from me again. I will understand, and I could never fault you for it if that is how you feel. As I stated I wish nothing more than for you to know how much I love you still, but to know that you are well and happy would lift my spirits to heights they have not known since our childhood together.

With great fondness and affection,
Your Cissa

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dated the 16th of October, 1990
From the desk of Healer Tonks
Spell Damage floor
St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries
London, England

My Dearest Narcissa,

Whatever cynicism the circles I run in now may warn me to guard myself with in my correspondence with you, I find that I cannot bring myself to. Your letter touched my heart, for surely you must know that you never stopped holding mine in your hands either. Imagine all the worry and despair you felt for me, cast out as I was, magnified in my concern for what horrific untold punishments that you might be bearing in my absence.

I thought I understood how cruel our family and our culture could be, the prejudice and bigotry I faced for daring to love a muggleborn felt astronomical. Yet my separation was a clean cut, an exile. I have come to realize that the ones who truly had to suffer the most were the ones who remained and bore the shame and scorn. I have worried more for you and your tender heart in the last fifteen years than I can comfortably say.

I cannot apologize for the love that I found, but forgive me my darling for leaving the way I did. I know you could not have reached out to me until now for fear of censure, but I could have done more to keep myself in your life. I hear that you have a son, but I know nothing of him. I should have seen my nephew grow as well, and I'll never forgive myself of depriving us that.

I have indeed met Hermione, and will gladly introduce you. She is a fascinating child, and there is much about her circumstances that cannot be safely said in a letter. I arrived at Gringotts moments after her ascension to the role of Lady Black only to discover that the entire situation was caused by her accidentally grabbing the lordship ring instead of the heir ring from the box! Can you believe such a thing could happen? One might say it's lucky the ancient stubborn thing didn't kill her, but she is very magically powerful for her age and I'm sure she was never under any real risk from it.

She reinstated me before she even met me, my dear. The Black accounts manager told me that she was appalled to hear that my daughter Dora (who is perfectly healthy and happy, she was simply born a metamorphmagus!) who was older than her had a poorer claim due to my status. She's very fair minded and wanted to do whatever she could to help us. Now that I have access to my trust vault once more I'll be able to pay for Dora to become a healer like myself!

Life among muggles is certainly different, but nothing so bad as what we were told. I know you feared for me not just because of my removal from the family, but also because of who I left with. I implore you to believe me when I say that I have never been in any danger from my husband's family or friends. You might remember Ted from Hogwarts, he was head boy with me when you were a third year. He's a good sort, and he's always made me laugh.

They do not wallow in the mud or carry parasites and diseases like Bella used to tell us. They are people, and their lack of magic has made them incredible innovators and hard workers. Imagine a society run and built by industrious Hufflepuffs! The things they have created and discovered about the world around us would stun you, and I beg you to keep an open mind and be willing to let me introduce you to their world. It is now a world I and my daughter are a part of. Their technology is as ever-evolving as it is mind-blowing.

Reading your final paragraph nearly broke my heart my darling, so I will state clearly that you may of course feel free to write me whenever you wish. There is nothing you could ever do or say that could possibly make me wish not to hear from you, so put those fears away from your mind. I do not wish to overwhelm you, so I shall leave off here, and we shall converse more at a later date.

(And yes you WILL be meeting my husband and daughter, as I will be meeting your son and your… Lucius. I will attempt to arrange a meeting for you with Hermione but be warned her father is…protective. And surly)

With all my love,
Your Andy

Dated the 16th of October, 1990
From the desk of Healer Tonks
Spell Damage floor
St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries
London, England

Dear Mr Greyback,

I must thank your daughter again for her generous gift of reinstatement into our family, and impress upon you what a tremendous thing it is that she has done. To my knowledge no other noble British house has brought back a disowned branch in over a century. I eagerly anticipate the waves I'm sure young Lady Black is sure to continue to make.

I could intuit that the business at Gringotts was overwhelming for you, and the changes that come with your child's Ladyship will be significant. If you have any need of advice or a shoulder to lean on, please reach out to me and I will gladly make myself available. As the eldest child of my branch, I was educated in house management. I was once raised expecting to take on a set of responsibilities similar to what she now faces.

Additionally should you ever need legal services you should contact a Mr Asmund Rowle, he is the current solicitor for the Black Family. You may or may not find yourself contacted by him proactively, in introduction as it were. If you ignore all other correspondence she receives, do not ignore his as they could very well be of a highly important nature. He's a good sort, and continued to take care of my legal matters even after I was disowned.

Finally I must beg your consideration in arranging a meeting between your daughter and my sister Narcissa. She wishes to thank Hermione personally for what she has done for us. I know you have done much to keep your children out of the limelight, and I swear I have made no mention of your son whatsoever. If this is acceptable to you sir I am more than willing to host or chaperone said meeting.

Fond regards,
Andromeda Tonks

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

17/10/90
Written at the kitchen table
Greyback Compound
Fuck off I'm not telling you where I live

Madam Tonks,

I will pass your thanks on to Hermione, she adored the day we spent with you and your daughter. If Dora wished to visit sometime, I'm sure that would delight my little wolf to no end.

It gives me no pleasure to go around disappointing ladies of high society, but under absolutely no circumstances do I plan on allowing my daughter within a hundred meters of a Malfoy, no matter the location, escorted or not. Don't think I'm not familiar with exactly whom your sister is married to. It isn't personal, you seem lovely and I'm sure she is as well, I just don't trust death eaters. I don't know how the rumors started that I was one, or that I kill and eat people, which is absurd, but it's safe to assume that nearly everything you've ever heard about me is false (Other than the fact that I am a werewolf, that is true).

I have no idea what the death eaters think about the rumors that I was one of them but I'm sure they're not best pleased about it. I have already had to give my kids the uncomfortable talk that the children of death eaters may target them, and I don't want to confuse them more or needlessly complicate things. I'm already worried about their safety, and am only sending them to that school because they would never forgive me if I kept them away from it.

I appreciate your offer of advice, and will keep an eye out for anything from Mr Rowle. Please apologize to your sister for me. I'm sure she means well, but I'm not comfortable allowing her to meet with or learn more about my daughter. She may send a letter if she wishes, but I will thoroughly review it before it reaches Hermione's hands, and I cannot promise that it will be replied to.

Fenrir Greyback

October 17th, 1990
From the desk in my room
Alpha House
Greyback Compound
In the woods

Lady Malfoy,

Hello and well met. You don't know me but my name is Hermione Greyback. My dad will be unhappy with me for writing you, but I saw the letter from Aunt Andy and she said you wanted to meet me. I didn't want your feelings to be hurt, but I'm quite certain he doesn't want us to meet.

You should know it's because he's very scared of my brother and I being attacked by death eaters. It's really quite confusing, there's all these rumors that he served the Dark Lord and hurt a bunch of people, but he didn't! He would never have. He's a good dad and a good wolf. He thinks the people who were death eaters are going to want to punish him for either not actually serving the Dark Lord or for believing that he must have defected because of the rumors.

I don't fully understand it to be honest, but either way he won't let us meet because he thinks your husband wants to kill us. I think you probably don't, because I felt your magic and it was friendly like your sister's, but adult stuff is more complicated than I realized.

As to your thanks that Aunt Andy sent, I appreciate it but you don't owe me a thing. I brought her back into the family because it was the right thing to do and I know in my heart it's what my mum would have wanted. I don't remember her and it hurts dad to talk about her so I don't know much, but I've heard that she was kind and she loved her family. I hope you get to make up with each other, I know she missed you a lot.

Dad said that we'll get to have cousin Dora over to visit sometime, so maybe if I'm really good I can get him to let your son visit too! Nothing is more important than family, I'll work on bringing him round. (We can still exchange letters even if he doesn't change his mind!)

Kind regards,
Hermione Elena Greyback :)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dated the 18th of October, 1990
From the desk of Narcissa Malfoy
The Lady's Solar
Malfoy Manor
Wiltshire, England

Andy,

We need to meet without delay, I have enormous news

Narcissa

Dated the 18th of October, 1990
From the desk of Healer Tonks
Spell Damage floor
St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries
London, England

Cissa,

Agreed, I have major news as well. I suspect it is of a very similar nature. I can be at the 3Bs in two hours, meet me there.

Andromeda

Dated the 18th of October, 1990
From the desk of Healer Tonks
Spell Damage floor
St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries
London, England

Arthur,

Sorry for bothering you in the middle of a workday, I wouldn't have if it weren't important. I know there is no love lost between your family and the Malfoys. That being said, our house has critical information to discuss that, as I alluded to in my last letter, cannot be entrusted to the written word.

I will be meeting with my sister Narcissa at the three broomsticks in two hours. Join us once I've had a quarter of an hour to reunite with her privately. I trust you to keep this business private, but you may bring either your wife or eldest son if you feel uncomfortable meeting with us by yourself.

Hope to see you soon,
Andromeda

Narcissa Malfoy waited anxiously in a back corner booth at the Three Broomsticks. She was a unique and thrilling mix of excited and terrified. Her sister would arrive any moment, and though she had said everything she needed to in her letter earlier in the week, she had still spent most of the night before going over what she would say when she saw her again.

The front door of the tavern slammed open with a burst of frigid highland air, and the bell chimed wildly. A flurry of red and brown leaves were carried in on the breeze and quickly banished away by one of the servers. A much beloved figure darkened the doorway, and though she had planned to stay seated and remain casual she shot to her feet in breathless anticipation. Those curls, those eyes - her sister!

She came around to stand in front of the table, and brushed down her skirts and cloak of nonexistent dust. Her fingers itched to reach out and grasp, but she forced herself to stay still as her sister approached her. Her eyes took in every detail and read the story they wrote. While she wasn't dressed in the fine silks and velvets they had grown up wearing, her clothes were still well made and clean. She looked like she was warm. She wasn't overly thin or hungry looking, she hadn't starved. There wasn't even the faintest shimmer of a glamour charm.

When they were no more than a foot apart, she let herself finally finally reach out her hands. Palms up, trembling, she waited with hope in her heart for her sister to reach back to her while her eyes drank in the changes that fifteen years had wrought upon her favorite face. And she did reach back. Their fingers met and squeezed, and then tangled together, and then she was pulled in for the tightest and most satisfying hug she'd had in years.

The love of her husband and child were a blessing. The friends she had cultivated through her school years were a comfort. Even the acquaintances and enemies she'd made as a society wife were at the very least entertaining. Her sister was a balm on her very soul and magic, and a reminder of the implicit safety of home and the soft warmth of childhood.

Her sister's touch carried with it the scent memory of the smell of a baby and the nursery they had lived in together as very young girls. She was certain she could get drunk on it if she let herself, it was so heady. Her hands traveled, up her sisters arms and over her shoulders, reaching up to cup her face on either side. They stared into each others identical grey eyes for long moments and said nothing at all, only smiled and cried.

Dragging her sister to sit across from her at the table, Narcissa signaled to madam Rosmerta for a round of butterbeers. The barkeeper nodded and started pouring from the taps of the massive keg. Frightened to wake up and find out it had all been a beautiful dream, she couldn't bring herself to let go of her sister's hand. She kept it gripped tightly in her left, and with her right she reached into the pocket of her cloak and drew out the letter.

"The new Lady Black sent this to me, read it and tell me what you think Andy" Narcissa said, and her sister's eyes widened comically "Hang on, Hermione wrote to you? Greyback wrote to me saying he wouldn't let her meet you" Andromeda replied as she pulled out her own letter, and they exchanged them and read silently. Both of their brows shot up and they made disbelieving eye contact over the tops of their parchments.

Her sister looked back down at the letter in front of her "I suppose it's safe to say that this significantly changes things, wouldn't you agree, Cissa?" Andromeda asked hesitantly. Narcissa let out a startled laugh "I'd say so indeed, Andy. He's afraid of us. I'd never in my life have believed this letter for a second if it hadn't been you who put it on the table in front of me. Earlier just this week Lucius gave Draco the talk about being careful of the girl because we aren't sure where her father's loyalties truly lay after the war. Now we have reason to believe, with word from his own mouth and the mouth of his daughter, that he was never a death eater to begin with and resents being called a killer. It simply doesn't add up, and it begs much further discussion. Which he is apparently extremely resistant to. I have no idea what to make of it" she resisted the urge to run her hands through her hair and twirl the ends of it like she used to as a child. It had always calmed her and helped her focus, but she had appearances to keep. There could always be eyes anywhere.

"It almost makes me want to consult Lucius and Severus on the matter, but can they be trusted with the information? It's going to come out eventually, but are we not required by the family magic to keep safe our head of house's secrets until she reveals them herself? Her father has said in his letter he wants nothing to do with any Malfoy, but I have to imagine it's because he thinks Lucius was a true believer, and nothing could be further than the truth!" she exclaimed, sincerely put out and shaking her head with indecision.

"Really?" Her sister asked her hesitantly "I had always hoped as much, but I can't tell you how relieved I am to hear it you say it. I remembered him as being vain and a bit of a dandy, and perhaps darker than I'd have chosen for you, but not cruel or gods forbid murderous. Part of me thought I must be a fool for trying to think the best of a death eater" she shrugged quite sadly. Narcissa paled, and her face fell.

"I am so sorry for ever giving you reason to doubt me. I knew it was wrong when you were disowned, and I never planned on letting you leave without knowing how much I loved you. I swear I wasn't going to turn my back on you, but Bella became crueler and madder than either of us could have ever imagined, and she threatened horrible things if I ever even tried to contact you. I feared for your life, and I let that fear rule me. Can you ever forgive me?" She pleaded beseechingly, as tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

Across the table, her big sister huffed very toughly, trying to hide her own wet eyes, and reached out and tugged on one of her lovely bouncy curls "Of course I do you silly little twit, though I don't think there's anything to forgive. Surely you know there's nothing you could do that would ever make me love you any less" her eyes darted to the door where a familiar redhead had just ambled in, and she winced.

"I hope you reciprocate that sentiment though, dearest. You see, I've invited our cousin to join us. You had to have felt the magic shift again a few days ago, he deserves to hear this. It involves him and his children as well" she muttered sheepishly, blowing a strand of her own dark hair off of her forehead "Though in my defense he was supposed to give us a bit longer before he arrived. Politely punctual ponce"

Narcissa narrowed her eyes and furrowed her elegant brows archly "You didn't! Andromeda, he and my husband are on opposite sides of a generational blood feud. And don't tell me he's brought one of his endless supply of children" she hissed between her teeth as the man and another tall young redhead that had to be one of his eldest made their way over to their table slowly, saying hello to nearly everyone they ran into along the way, as guileless and unsubtle as a careening bludger.

Her sister rolled her eyes at her exasperatedly "Yes and it's frankly an idiotic one. And if your husband is really as toothless as you claim, then he'll get over it once he realizes we're all a big happy family, won't he?" She snarked back a bit more sharply than she must have meant to, because she softened it with another press of her fingertips to Narcissa's own.

Arthur Weasley and his son reached their table and the man cleared his throat a bit awkwardly, but smiled with an earnestness Narcissa's Slytherin nature bucked against wholeheartedly "Hello Andromeda, Lady Malfoy. What surprising times we live in that things as these can happen so out of the blue! May we…" and he gestured at the empty chair. Her sister nodded immediately, and then nudged Narcissa with her foot, prompting her to nod begrudgingly as well "Of course Arthur, please do sit and introduce us. I'm so glad you've come!" Andy said pleasantly, the wretched cow.

He placed a hand on the young man's shoulder, who looked to be in his very early twenties "This is my eldest son William" he prompted "Please call me Bill" his son added on softly, inclining his head at both of them respectfully. They sat and she tensed when the young man took out his wand, but all he used it for was to quickly beef up their privacy charm before putting it back away. He had the decency to blush "Pardon me, it's just that dad said we'd be discussing sensitive matters" he said reassuringly. Narcissa was impressed despite herself, he at least had good manners despite practically dressing in rags. She didn't think she'd ever even seen trousers made of a material like that before. It was a lumpy blue weave that looked quite rough spun, and just the thought of a textile such as that against her skin made her nauseous. She swallowed a bit thickly, feeling rather lightheaded.

Andromeda generously ignored her internal crisis and nodded seriously "You're correct, Bill. Things are happening in the house of Black that are soon going to start causing some pretty big waves in Wizarding society. A well-meaning mutual acquaintance has rather thrown our three families together, not knowing or understanding the disagreements and differences we've shared over the years, and we're simply going to have to work together to overcome them" she said firmly, but not unkindly. The two sisters in perfect unison passed Arthur and his son the letters they had received. Arthur perked up excitedly "Oh my, well you see I've received one as well!" He said as he patted his own pockets before pulling out the letter he'd been sent and handing it to them to take turns reading.

Andromeda hummed as she read "This girl really is the quintessential Slytherin. She's exceptionally bright and clearly making a concerted effort to control the narrative surrounding her father's reputation" and her sister's eyes lit up as she considered this "Ah but is she truly scheming, or is this merely a burgeoning Gryffindor sense of pride making itself known - demanding that others accept her version of history? Lions do tend to roar loudest, my dear" Narcissa quibbled.

Bill snorted rather crassly at that "You snakes could send my head spinning with all the guessing and second guessing about people's motivations! Doesn't it tire you out?" He said mildly with a shake of his head, to which Narcissa couldn't help but sniff with disdain "Social graces are simply another layer of the English language that we are taught as children to observe and make inferences from" she said, well aware and uncaring that she sounded a bit snotty. He wisely backpedaled "I suppose that's a fair way of seeing it madam, speech and body language and so on. It doesn't pay to be oblivious after all" and she nodded sharply in approval.

As they finished reading, the younger man leaned back in his seat and rubbed at the peach fuzz on his cheeks "This definitely explains some of the weirder things I've overheard at the bank this last week" Looking up at the confusion on the sisters faces he smirked rather charmingly "I'm a curse breaker trainee. Needless to say, there's been a huge scandal that the higher ups are desperately trying to keep hush hush, and every goblin you ask from here to Egypt has a different version of the story. All I could have told you before reading this was that it involved a noble British house and something wonky that happened with their line of succession" he eyed them mischievously "I'm guessing the two of you have a better idea of what really happened?"

"That is a clever one you have there, Arthur" her sister said mildly to the man, who puffed up with pride. She turned back to Bill "To answer your question, young man, yes. You could say I heard what happened from the hippogriff's mouth itself" she chuckled, and Narcissa couldn't help but roll her eyes and gesture her to get on with it. Andromeda quickly filled them in on what she knew and what she'd seen. That the ring and the lordship were claimed accidentally, that a child was their new head of house, that said child was the daughter of a known war criminal, and that they ought to perhaps keep an open mind on that last point. Father and son were appropriately stunned. Narcissa reread both letters again as her sister caught the Weasleys up.

"The letter mentions a brother her same age - are they twins?" She asked mildly "she must be the older one to have been made Lady" she thought out loud, only to see her sister shake her head emphatically. Andromeda surreptitiously glanced around them, double checking that the privacy charms were still in place, and leaned in close "No Cissa, that's the part that I couldn't say in writing. I don't know how or why their circumstances came to be as such, but her brother is none other than Harry Potter" she said in a hushed voice, to the shock of everyone at the table.

Arthur and his son both reeled back in surprise "Surely you can't mean to say-… the Boy-Who-Lived? Goodness! But her letter says that her father isn't-… she says here quite clearly that he isn't the monster he's known as. How on earth did they even find him?" The man babbled helplessly, getting himself quite worked up.

"I haven't the foggiest!" Andromeda responded "I told you that I showed up at the bank with my daughter when I felt the family magic embrace me, and they were there meeting with Gornuk. They let us join them for the rest of their shopping in the alley, and rarely have I seen a family more affectionate and in synch with each other. If they took a show on the road with your Fred and George I wager they'd make an absolute racket. I'll eat my hat if those children haven't been raised together for at least half their childhood years. They were well behaved and friendly, and they got along with my Dora like a house on fire. Extremely tight-lipped with the personal details though, I'm certain I didn't learn a single thing about them that they weren't entirely comfortable with me knowing. They very pointedly made no mention of the matter of his fame, didn't even acknowledge it. They were heavily glamoured in Diagon Alley to hide their identities, he said it was to protect the children. He was almost militant about their safety" she reported.

She wracked her brain for anything else of importance, and sat straight up with a gasp "At one point it was mentioned that the Potter boy had been adopted, but nothing more about how such a thing came to be. But the boy corrected my daughter when she referred to him as Harry Potter - he said very clearly that his name was Harry Potter Greyback! I have no idea what the ramifications of that will be, but I can't imagine anyone will be particularly happy about it on either side of the aisle" she said a bit pessimistically, to which her sister frowned thoughtfully.

The Weasleys at their table were absolutely stunned by that, and Arthur looked particularly gutted "If he's claimed another surname it was a blood adoption for sure" he said closing his eyes briefly and sounding devastated "Can he even still continue the Potter line if he's been ritually adopted into another family? Is this the final collapse of yet another of our Light aligned great houses?" he asked miserably. Bill placed a hand on his shoulder "Come on now dad, we've got to hold out hope. Let's not make assumptions until we know the whole story" he urged his father plaintively.

"The boy might be just as interesting as the girl" Narcissa mused aloud meanwhile "You say he didn't outright reject the Potter name, but he did insist on the addition of the Greyback name... I can scarcely hazard a guess as to what it might mean for him socially. You don't think he's made them little werewolves like himself, do you? I'll admit it was my first fear upon seeing her name. He was rumored to have gone after children specifically, but in the letter she wrote me she calls her father a good wolf. How did they behave in relation to him, Andy?" She asked seriously, and to her surprise her sister hesitated.

"When I first arrived Greyback was shouting at Gornuk about security, and the girl calmed him immediately just by telling him he was scaring me. Now that I reflect on it, I'm not sure if she's particularly empathic, deeply intuitive, or if she could just literally hear my heartbeat. That seems to be one of the more reliable facts I've learned about werewolves over the years of healing them after the full moon - just how scary good their hearing is" Andromeda told them.

"One of the rumors going around-" Bill started haltingly, looking at his father who nodded in encouragement "Well… one of them was that there was a wolf animagus who transformed at the bank. That they used their own fangs or claws to cut themselves for the lineage parchments they needed to complete their inheritance. It's one of the weirder ones that nearly everyone who's heard has dismissed as totally false, but the goblins who told that version were very insistent about that detail, that they refused the ritual athame the account manager offered… maybe she is a werewolf? Can werewolves even control their transformation to that degree?" He asked quietly.

His father hemmed and hawed for a moment "I just don't know, Bill. What I do know is that… and please do keep this between us, ladies" he said with a great deal of trepidation before continuing. "When I worked with-" he gulped audibly "with Dumbledore's resistance group during the war, I met a young man who happened to be a werewolf. He was often sent on dangerous field missions trying to find Greyback and either spy on him or convince him not to join You-Know-Who. There was a great deal of fear that if he could seduce the werewolves to fight for him then he would also add entire legions of other dark creatures to his side of the war. Vampires, dementors, giants, gods know what else all fighting alongside the death eaters. It would have made our island a living hell if he'd succeeded" he shuddered, lost for a moment in a memory of much darker times.

"Our spy could never find hide nor hair of Greyback though, not for all the many years of the war. It always seemed odd for how rumors at the time seemed to imply he was going on killing sprees every which where all over the countryside. It plain didn't make any sense back then… But if what Greyback says is true, that he'd been in seclusion for years before the fighting ever even started, I suppose certain things start to add up. Their senses are enhanced, if he'd truly been out and about committing murders left and right, he should have left a fairly easily traceable trail for our spy to find him" he reasoned soundly.

Andromeda nodded in agreement "It's not common knowledge outside of the hospital, but documented attacks only barely increased even at the very height of the war. Everyone was terrified of the full moons and werewolf attacks, but we only ever saw a few more here and there than on average. Certainly not enough to quantify an uncontrolled spree of attacks. Granted all attacks are preventable, but if the carnage and bloodshed people were talking about ever actually happened it didn't happen at St Mungo's" she said firmly. She looked back at Arthur "What ever happened to the man you knew, did he survive the war?"

"Yes, I believe he did. Or at least I hope so anyways. I haven't heard from him in quite a while, but I can try and get in contact with him and see if he has any information that could help us. The poor lad always lived a bit on the ragged edge. It was quite a shock to realize how poorly he and others like him are forced to live because of our collective fears" he said wistfully, a sad somber quality entering his voice. The sisters locked eyes, neither quite knowing how to respond to that.

"That… would be a great deal of help Arthur, if nothing else than to give an idea of how to best approach Greyback. If the situation were different I'd prefer to just go directly to the girl and avoid him entirely, but we're obviously going to have to go through him and his overprotective paternal instincts if we want any sort of access to his daughter whatsoever" Andromeda said "As a parent I hate even thinking about trying to subvert a father's rights. It unsettles me greatly to even consider. We have to do this properly, we need to try and win him over"

Bill tilted his head and furrowed his brow "Maybe we're overcomplicating this a bit, Mrs Tonks. This kid is the new Lady Black, and it's weird and we want answers, but we have confirmation she's going to Hogwarts next year, right?" He asked Andromeda pointedly, who nodded hesitantly, unsure of where he was going with that train of thought.

He raised his shoulders in a rather rakish shrug "Do we really have to do anything ourselves right now then? I don't think there's any real need to rush. Lady Malfoy you have a son headed to school as a firstie next year. We have a boy headed to school who'll also be a firstie next year. What we should be doing as soon as possible is introducing your boy and ours and getting them on the same page while they're still at home. Give them each a firm talk about forming an alliance and working together to make friends with their new cousin and find out whatever they can about her while they're doing it. Get it through their little skulls that they're on the same team now. If they have a little mission to work on together maybe they could even end up friends and we'll end the blood feud. We can make moves in the background slowly over the rest of the year and let the kids be the ones to reach out to her. She liked Dora, and Dora's good mates with Charlie. Maybe have her reach out first and get them all corresponding, and they'll be our in for introducing the boys once they're ready"

His father was speechless, but Narcissa was beaming "That is positively conniving, young William. If I didn't know any better I'd have thought a plan like that came from the very depths of the dungeons! I had my doubts, but you may well be a Black after all" she said with an absolutely vicious grin. Arthur looked a bit horrified, and she happily ignored him.

The flames in the hearth at the Burrow flared green, and Arthur stumbled in through the floo followed closely after by his eldest. Like it was charmed to do in most magical homes, the soot fell neatly off their clothes as they stepped through the hearth and into the house proper. The house was warm and the delicious aroma of a rich meaty gravy wafted tantalizingly throughout the ground floor. He headed into the kitchen and out of the corner of his eye saw his eldest start to trot up the stairs.

Molly was making cottage pie, and Arthur stood leaned against the countertop watching her bustle about for a few precious moments before she noticed him there. His eyes greedily took in his domestic goddess, it was like a dance the way she cooked and there would never be a day of his natural life that he grew tired of seeing her work. Charms animated the cookware around her, carrots chopped themselves and the beef stirred itself on the stovetop. The pot of potatoes she was mashing by hand, but a tidy line of spice jars levitated next to her and she plucked them from the air as she used them.

She had been the very first person he'd shared the news with when he'd received the letters from the bank and from Miss Greyback. She'd fainted straight away when she saw the bank balance he'd had Bill request of the new vault, and they were still trying to decide if they wanted to have a discussion with the children or just gradually loosen the purse strings without overtly saying anything about their new circumstances. Though they'd had good reason to until now, they'd raised their little brood to be humble - and he didn't want to see them suddenly strutting around like Malfoys. Drat, he supposed he really should refrain from such language going forward now that they were rubbing shoulders. Wouldn't that have given his mum a laugh - Malfoys and Blacks voluntarily making friendly with the likes of them!

His Mollywobbles adored children, and had been absolutely tickled by the polite formality of the girl's letter. She had been curious to know more about her and excited for the kids to meet their cousin. What a story he had to tell her now! He came up and took her in his arms, pressing his face into her lovely red curls and breathing her in "You simply would not believe the afternoon I've had, my love. I attended a clandestine meeting with the Andy and her sister Narcissa to discuss this family business! It was all very cloak and dagger" he said over her shoulder "Silencing charms in public and everything" he purred in her ear, and she laughed at him.

"It's even more complicated than we realized, my darling. I'm going to have to have a conversation with the children after all" he sighed wearily, hating to spoil the mood, and she made a despondent noise and leaned back into his chest. "It's not trouble is it, Arty?" She asked with a bit of a wild look in her big lovely eyes as she looked over her shoulder at him, starting to shake like a leaf in his arms.

He hummed to comfort her "Surprisingly enough, my gut is telling me no. Nothing is life or death, her father is just so overprotective that we might have to wait for the children meet her at school until we can actually get any answers. I'll need to tell the boys the situation once they're home for the holidays, get them up to speed. It'll be like a little project for them, find their cousin and make friends, maybe write her some letters next summer to get a head start"

She blew out a breath she'd been anxiously holding "Alright, well that's not so bad then. We might have to give Ronnie and Percy some pointers, but the twins have always been good at making friends" she said with good cheer, and he was glad to see it hadn't wrecked her good humor. She'd taken all of this in stride so far, and he was immeasurably proud of her strength of spirit. Losing so much of her family in the war had nearly destroyed her, and since then she'd held on so tight to what she had left. She often watched the Weasley clock like it was one of their own flesh and blood. He knew she was prematurely anxious about their youngest boy leaving the nest, but she'd put on a brave face and hidden it well so far.

He helped her assemble their dinner, and as they waited for it to finish baking in the oven he filled her in on everything he'd learned that afternoon. She was as gobsmacked as he'd been to discover that the Boy-Who-Lived was involved somehow, and desperately curious to know what the connection had been. How had they found him, and if was able to be found why was he not protected as he should've been. She'd had words to say about Dumbledore having assured them all after the war that the child was safely and soundly hidden, and he couldn't help but agree with her.

They agreed that they'd talk to the children when they were all back home together for the winter holiday break in a few months.

-TWO MONTHS LATER-
(it's a different shepherd's pie)

The older ones had gone straight up to their rooms to unpack as soon as they'd gotten home from the train station, and the little ones had eagerly followed them up in the hopes of hearing stories not fit for parental ears. He and Molly had spent the last few days decorating the house and there were garlands of silver and golden tinsel threaded into greenery on every wall. A lovely tree stood proudly in the living room next to the hearth, which crackled merrily as it ate away at a pile of logs.

When their dinner was ready he called the children down and began to set the table. A stampede of little feet tramped loudly down the stairs like a herd of elephants, and he had to practically jump out of the way to avoid being barreled over by one of the twins. He shook his head and rolled his eyes "Let's bring the energy down a bit, eh my boys?" He suggested, to which a chorus of laughter greeted him.

As everyone took their places around the table, and plates and cups were filled, he was pleased to see his eldest tumble in through the floo, as they hadn't been expecting him to come home for a few more days. As Molly came in from the kitchen she shrieked with joy at seeing him, rushing over and pressing kisses all over his exasperated face. He laughed as the lad groaned "Oh mum, really! It's not like I'm living overseas, you just saw me the other day" Bill said, ducking his head away once he thought she'd gotten enough direct hits on him.

She shook her head "A mother never stops missing her little birdies that have flown the nest. You could live right next door and I'd still greet you as if you've been gone for years every time I saw you" she said to his great distress and the other children's delight. Fred and George were guffawing "Don't be that way silly Billy-" one of them intoned rather obnoxiously "Mummy wuvs you so!" The other finished.

To their great surprise their mother merely grinned at them "It's twue! I simpwy wuv evewy one of you!" His darling wife replied cheekily, tapping the nose of the nearest child, and the twins fell off their chairs in their laughter. It was a lovely mood for dinner, and he couldn't help but feel fulfilled and satisfied at the life and the family he and Molly had built together.

Reaching over to take her hand, he cleared his throat "I'd like to talk to you all about something a bit serious" he began, and as several little faces paled he rushed to smooth their worry "No one's in trouble and nothing bad has happened!" He exclaimed, and everyone calmed. Percy shushed the twins who had started throwing out wild guesses about what the news might be, and he sent his middle child a grateful look.

"Now then! As you all know, over the years we've often had more mouths to feed than galleons to rub together. Your mother and I have worked hard to provide for you all. Though we've never starved, it's been closer than we've been comfortable with at times. We've had to keep the purse strings tighter than we'd like, and we've budgeted like goblins down to the very last sickle and knut to stay afloat. I'm happy to report to you all that in these last few months our circumstances have changed somewhat. Things are going to get a little easier from here on out, and we're going to be able to loosen those purse strings some" he stopped as the children started cheering and chanting, and the twins pretended to cry and hug each other. He knew he had to put a stop to that as quick as possible so they didn't get the wrong idea.

He held out his hands and spoke firmly "To be clear - we are not rich now! We're not going to be showing off and living like kings. We will keep our home here in the Burrow and most things will stay the same" he felt awful at the way all their little faces fell. "Some things definitely will change for the better, though. It's safe to say it's going to be a very good Christmas for all of us this year. Ron, before this we were going to have to send you to school with Charlie's old wand. Now we can afford to get you your own brand new one from Ollivander. A wand that chooses you almost always performs better than one that's been inherited" the boy jumped up from his seat, fists pumping in the air "Yes! Thank Merlin" he exclaimed with relief.

Percy pushed his glasses up his nose and stared at him thoughtfully "How exactly did this windfall come to us, dad? Is it something you won like a raffle or earned like a work bonus?" He asked astutely. Arthur looked at his middle child with a smile "Good question, Perce. If I'm being perfectly honest it's not anything any of us did. I'll tell you all, but the answer is a little complicated and I still don't have all the details yet" he said apprehensively, and saw the boy frown in contemplation.

"You all remember grandma Weasley, my mother Cedrella. What you may not have known about her is that she was born into the house of Black. She lived a very posh upper crust life before she married my dad Septimus, your grandad Weasley. You see, her parents didn't like him and didn't want her to marry him. When she decided to marry him anyways despite their disapproval, they disowned her from their family. She was cut off completely from the Black family magic and fortune. And as we all know you can survive without much money, but nothing feels better and more welcoming than the embrace of your family magic. She was very sad, but she made a new life with my dad and learned to live differently than she had before"

Percy was polishing his glasses, and placed them back on the bridge of his nose "Did we inherit something from her now that she's passed? That's it, isn't it dad?" He asked, confident and sure of himself. He nodded and smiled proudly at his bright son.

"Right on the money, Perce. In fact it's something we should have gotten a long time ago, or rather she should have. You see, there's a new head of the Black family and the very first thing she did upon claiming the seat was to start reinstating disowned branches of the family - our cousin Andromeda and her daughter Nymphadora were also restored. The new head wrote to inform me that since being brought into the family we now have access to my mother's old trust vault, which hasn't been touched since before she was disowned. To answer your question, that's where our money is coming from. There was a good deal of it to begin with, and it collected a lifetime of interest. Those Blacks really are rich as Croesus"

"That's incredible, what's she like?" Asked his youngest little treasure, with stars in her eyes at the thought of a kind stranger out there doing good deeds and acting like a fairy godmother. He almost hadn't the heart to continue, but they had decided to be honest with the children, and Molly placed her hand on his arm supportively. "Well that's the thing my little Ginny-bean… Your mother and I haven't actually had a chance to meet her yet. The only contact I've had with her so far has been through her letter of introduction. All we really know is this; she has done a very kind thing for us, she lives a secluded life away from society, family is important to her, and she is roughly eleven years old" he said smartly, or at least he thought so.

He looked over at his youngest boy, whose mouth was agape like a fish. All of his children were struck momentarily speechless, a rare and uncommon feat "In fact Ron," he went on "she'll be starting school with you next year. All of you should write her letters introducing yourselves. And those of you who will be at Hogwarts with her - Percy, Fred, George, and Ron - your job is to be friendly, to help her however she needs, and to find out what you can about her circumstances. Do you understand?"

Percy's frown deepened "What aren't you telling us dad? Why can't we just go meet her?" The boy asked, and he dithered a bit as he tried to find the right words. He puffed his cheeks and blew out heavily "What you have to understand is that she seems like a very nice girl. Andromeda met her and told me as much. But her father is someone we thought was a death eater during the war, and now we aren't sure if he really was or not. She insisted in her letter that he wasn't, so we aren't quite sure what to believe. He's apparently very protective of her and doesn't want to let her leave his sight until she goes off to school" he admitted uncomfortably, avoiding saying the name as long as he could.

His children exchanged nervous wide-eyed glances and started talking over each other "A death eater dad, really?" And "Which one? Some were a lot worse than others" rang out loudest. His littlest, his precious girl, came over and stood next to him "Daddy I thought you said you can never trust a death eater" and the fear on her face was enough to nearly bowl him over. He drew her onto his lap and stroked his fingers though her long tangly red hair.

"Oh my darling Ginny-bean, don't be afraid my dear. At the end of the day no matter who her father is or isn't, she's just a little girl like you. It wouldn't matter if he wasn't our new head of house's father, we could just ignore him and not have to worry about it. But because we have to get to know her, we have to also get to know him. And I'd rather know the truth for certain than just believe rumors, would you my dearest?" She nodded and he pressed a kiss onto the top of her head.

He looked up at the rest of his children, and sighed "Her name is Hermione Elena… Greyback"

Expectedly, it was the twins that exploded into noise first, taking over each other's sentences in the way they sometimes did to make fun of people. They were clearly doing it now as a coping mechanism.

"Sorry, excuse me, hang on-"
"Do you mean her father is Fenrir Greyback-"
"The insane bloodthirsty werewolf-"
"Who spent the entire war killing and eating people-"
"On You-Know-Who's direct orders?"
"THAT Greyback?"

They finished in unison, in a disbelieving huff. He winced, flinching under their scrutiny "Yes, that Greyback" he replied lamely.

The dinner table was in an uproar, and he raised both hands to try and soothe his family "Now listen up, Weasleys! Listen up! I will admit I didn't know what to think when I saw her name on the letter. The rumors surrounding Greyback are terrible, and part of me was afraid to even open it. But I've heard directly from our cousin Andromeda's mouth that she met them and they seemed like a perfectly normal family! We're all a bit confused here, things aren't quite what we expected. But she's just a child, one who's done a very generous thing for us, and part of me wants to find out more before we make any decisions. She insisted to me in her letter that all the rumors are false, and so I want to give her the benefit of the doubt. Can everyone live with that?" He asked his family plaintively, and looked around at each of their faces.

He was incredibly grateful when his wonderful wife finally spoke up "While she is not our direct head of house, she is the head of a magical house that we now find ourselves a part of. She has already made our lives easier without even knowing us, simply because we are family. I know you children think I sometimes have old fashioned ideas and opinions, but I was born into a family that was quite similar to the Blacks. The Prewetts were old money, formal, well-respected in society. You all know how uptight auntie Muriel can be, before the war there were a good deal more relatives just like that on my side of the family" she chuckled at her children's looks of horror.

"Oh yes, nearly every stuffy old pureblood family had a minimum of three or four intolerable aunties, and we were certainly one of them. In fact, my uncle Ignatius was married to a woman from the Black family, my aunt Lucretia. What a snobby pair they made! It was always like they were competing to see who could hold their noses higher in the air" she said with a grin and their children laughed in shocked delight. His wife almost never talked about her family, and it was a delight to hear her reminisce.

"What I'm trying to say," she continued on "is that in these types of very formal wealthy families, a truly warm and kind hearted person is rare to come across. You must treasure them when you find them. Maybe it's just that she's like you lot, and simply wasn't raised that way. For whatever reason, we've seemed to stumble upon a situation where it looks like one of the good ones is behind the reigns, and I think we ought to hitch our wagon to her while we can" she said shrewdly.

His son Ron asked what he thought was probably the best question of the night "Can we see the letter she wrote you dad?" And he patted his pockets down to find it "Yes of course! Good instinct, my boy. Your mother and I have already gone over it but why don't you read it aloud for everyone else to hear?" And he handed it over and Ron did so.

His son snorted "She tried so hard to be so adult and formal, but then look - she sort of ruined it at the end by drawing a little smiley face next to her name where she signed it" he said with a grin, passing it around for his siblings to see "I guess she really is a kid just like us" he said easily. "Should we all write separately, or share a big letter?" He asked Molly, who beamed at him with pride "Oh what a nice idea, Ronnie! I'll get a parchment and some quills and you can all take turns writing a note for her. Such a sweet boy" she said, bustling past him and ruffling his hair as she did. The tips of his ears were pink but there was a huge smile on his face.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

19/10/1990
The kitchen table
The Burrow
Ottery St. Catchpole
Devon, England

Dear Hermione,
We hope this finds you well. Thank you again for your kind and generous actions in reinstating us to the Black family. Our children have decided to take you up on your offer to write you, and they hope to hear back soon. They are delighted to get to know a new family member. If there's anything we can do for you or anything you need from us, please don't hesitate to let us know. Our second eldest Charlie would write but he's away in Romania apprenticing at the dragon reserve, if you can believe it. Hopefully we'll see him for Christmas at least.
Arthur and Molly

Miss Greyback,
I'm a bit older than the rest of my siblings, but I'm visiting home today and they insisted I needed to write to you with them. I work at Gringotts, and I was there the day you claimed your seat. All the goblins in the bank felt your magic, it was incredible. They haven't stopped talking about it since. I hope you have a nice Christmas, and a wonderful new year.
Bill (William) Weasley

Dear Lady Black,
Thank you for thinking of us, and for your generosity in allowing us access to our grandmother's trust vault. It has already changed our lives for the better. Your letter to our father was very well done, I'm sure you'll do fine at school with writing skills like that. I look forward to meeting you. I will be a 5th year at Hogwarts next year, and if you ever find yourself lost or in need of assistance, please look for me at school.
Sincerely, Percy Weasley

Little Miss Hermione,
That was quite the prank you pulled getting everyone worked up like that! We thought it was great fun. You've got our whole family buzzing with curiosity about you, we say keep it up! Nothing's grander than a good mystery (But please keep the two of us in the loop, we're very good secret keepers). Are you a werewolf like your dad? Ow! Okay sorry we weren't supposed to ask that, you don't have to answer (but please do sate our curiosity). What's your favorite joke? We'll save a seat on the train for you next year with all the other cool third years.
The Twintastic Trickster Twuo, Gred and Forge

Hermione,
We're going to be first years together, do you have any idea what house you'll be in? Weasleys have always been in Gryffindor. I heard Harry Potter is coming to school with us this year too, so we'll have to keep an eye out for him. Do you like wizard chess? My grandad taught us all, and I'm the best at it out of my whole family. Thanks for what you did, by the way. Now I don't have to use my brother's old wand, I'm gonna get my own! It's cool that you're our cousin, and we all want to meet you but dad said we might not be able to until we start school together next year. I don't really know what else to talk to girls about, sorry.
From Ron

Dear Hermione,
I'm so jealous all my brothers get to go to school with you next year and I don't. I can't wait to meet you and be friends, I'm so sick of being around boys all the time. Thankfully it'll just be me and mummy by ourselves at home all next year, but still I hate being left out. Do you like to fly? They never let me play with them so I sneak out at night sometimes and steal my brothers broom from the shed and practice, and I've gotten really good! I could fly circles around them if only they'd let me!
Love, Your cousin Ginny :)

From all of us,
The Weasley Family

December 20th, 1990
From the desk in my room
Alpha House
Greyback Compound
In the woods

Dear Arthur and Molly,
No thanks is needed! I only did what I felt was right. I'm glad they've decided to do so, please encourage them to continue our correspondence if it's not too much trouble. They seem lovely, and I would enjoy getting to know them. I loved reading the notes they sent on your family letter. It made me really happy! Mrs Weasley maybe if you write to my dad he'll let Ron and Ginny and I have a play date. He trusts mums.

Dear Bill,
I didn't know there were humans who worked at the bank! You are human right, and not an adopted goblin? What do you do there if I may ask? If you are human, do you know why the goblins have to sit in chairs that are too tall for them without access to stairs or ladders? Does Wizarding Britain fall under the muggle disability accommodations legislation? If so the bank needs to provide reasonable accommodations to its workers! I read about it this week at the library, it's very interesting. Happy Christmas to you as well.

Dear Percy,
Please, we're family, you don't have to call me that. It's so embarrassing! Thank you for your kind offer. I will make sure to look for you if I ever need help, but I'm not exactly the type to get turned around easily, if you know what I mean. I'm not sure yet what house I'll end up in, but Ron said all of you are in Gryffindor. What if we're in rival houses? Would you still help me even if I were a Slytherin?

Dear Fred and George,
I honestly didn't mean to trick anyone at all - it was a complete accident! If anything I feel like my account manager Gornuk tricked ME - he said to take the ring but there were two of them in the box, so I just grabbed the one closest to me. My brother called me an idiot for not asking which was which! To your question - of course I'm a werewolf, what else would I be? And there's no reason not to ask, it's perfectly normal. In fact, I've already met professor McGonagall and talked to her about it, and she says my brother and I can just come home for the full moon every month and it'll all be fine. Dad was happy to hear that! Are you all humans, then? I've only ever met a few and you fascinate me. Is it true that you're all very fragile and heal slowly? Nana Miriam says I have to watch my strength when we play, and that you can't hear as well as I do. That must be weird! I don't know that I've ever thought of what joke might be my favorite, but Matty told me a very funny one once about two rabbits, only I don't think it would make sense if you're not a werewolf. Am I even allowed to sit with third years on the train? That's a long time to be thinking about where to sit. Miriam has told me about riding it when she was our age but she didn't really describe what it's like. I'm very excited for that part of the whole thing to be honest. You two write a very entertaining letter, I hope to hear back from you soon!

Dear Ron,
I don't know what house I'll be in, but when I met her aunt Andy called me a sneaky little snake (she meant it in a nice way I think) so maybe Slytherin? I hope we're not in rival houses though, I'm excited for us to be friends! It's funny that you mentioned Harry, I'm not really supposed to talk about it but let's just say you're in for a fun surprise. I've played muggle chess, is it very different? I wanted to like it but I got bored the times I've played. I was so disappointed because I read a book about chess strategy and it was so interesting! I'm gonna work on my dad and I hope that he'll let us visit, but letters are fine until school if he won't budge. I don't think girls and boys are that different, just talk to us like you'd talk to your brothers and it should be alright.

Dear Ginny,
I'm jealous that you get to spend all year by yourself with your mum. Mine died when I was a baby and I don't even remember her. For my whole life it's just been me and my dad and the rest of the pack of course, and then my brother joined us. I've never flown before so I have no idea, but I've never exactly liked heights which seems like a bad sign. I like to keep my feet on the ground, ideally all four of them. I can do a forward flip while I'm running, though. I don't know if it looks as impressive as it feels, but if it does it's gotta be pretty cool. I like that you didn't let them leave you out! Don't tell anyone but I sort of haven't told my dad about a bunch of the letters I've sent recently and I'm probably gonna get in trouble if he finds out. He likes us to keep things really secret and hidden, but we're gonna leave eventually to go to school and everyone's gonna find out then anyways so what's the point, right?

With much love to all of you, Happy Christmas
Hermione (Nene) Greyback

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

23/10/1990
The kitchen table
The Burrow
Ottery St. Catchpole
Devon, England

Hello Mr Greyback,

As you may know, upon becoming head of the house of Black your daughter began reinstating disowned branches to the family. We are very grateful to be one of them. In corresponding with Hermione, we have come to appreciate how kind and friendly she is. Our youngest children Ginny and Ronald would love to meet her and have a play date with their cousin if at all possible, and if you could discretely pass on to me her measurements I might even be able to make a Weasley sweater for her in time for Christmas. They're a bit of a tradition in our house, you see.

We understand that you may be concerned about certain social elements, but we Weasleys have always resided firmly in the light. Your daughter has assured us that the rumors about your reputation are not true, and after having heard from Andromeda we are inclined to believe her. There is nothing and no one in our home that would threaten her safety. That being said, if you would like to accompany her here to keep an eye on her yourself you are more than welcome.

We hope to hear back from you soon, Happy Christmas!
Molly Weasley (née Prewett)