"Uncle Sev'us!" a childish voice shouted as he stepped out of the floo.
"Miss Aquila. Are you behaving?"
"Yes!" she shouted, nodding her head vigorously, her curls flying in all directions making Draco laugh.
"Keels! My face!" Draco laughed.
"Sorry." she mumbled, tightening her arms around his neck for a hug.
His face softened immediately as he hugged her back. "It's fine."
"Who's that?"
"Ah remember we said Uncle Severus was bringing people to breakfast?"
"Uhuh," she whispered, peering at them shyly.
"Well, this is who he's bringing, will we say hello?" She immediately hid her face in his neck. "Hey, Princess Aquilla defeated a dragon yesterday! Don't tell me she's shy now?"
She giggled slightly, "Uncle Bast was just pretending."
"I know." he agreed, "But did you know that the lady in the green dress can turn into an actual cat? And the man next to her with the long hair? He's our cousin, and he transforms into a dog."
"A real one?" she gasped.
"A real one." Draco agreed, "Will we say hello now?"
"Will he turn into a puppy now, Draco?" she asked earnestly. Unable to help himself, he bopped her on the nose, grinning when she scrunched it. "Maybe if you ask nicely, Princess."
"We keep him?"
"Ah. Probably not. I dont think Auntie Cissa wants a dog."
She sighed heavily. "Fine."
Hiding his grin in her curls he approached cautiously. "Mother, Aunt Bella and the rest are in the dining room." he informed them. "They thought it'd be less confrontational that way."
"Very well Mr Malfoy," Minerva agreed.
"Princess, can you say hello to Professor McGongagall?" Draco coaxed.
"Hi," Aquila whispered. "You turn into a cat now? Please?"
Minerva laughed softly, wanting to cry for the girl the toddler had been. "Oh lass. Maybe later but I'm sure your cousin Sirius will turn into a dog. He likes any excuse."
Aquila's wide pleading eyes met Sirius' and he folded immediately, shifting into Padfoot so quickly she let out a shout of surprise before demanding Draco put her down. She ran to him immediately, hugging him so tightly around the neck that his eyes bulged.
"Princess, let Cousin Sirius breathe!"
She let one arm fall before rhythmically petting his head in a way they all suspected she believed was gentle. "Merlin, she's going to give him concussion." Remus snorted.
Andromeda laughed before she knelt down next to her. "Like this." She took Aquila's hand, skimming it over Sirius's head.
"Oh."
"You have to be gentle." Aquila nodded seriously, making her smile. "I'm your Auntie Andromeda."
"Like Auntie Cissa?"
"Yes. Your Mummy is my sister, and so is Auntie Cissa."
"Oh." her tiny face scrunched in confusion.
"We all have the same mummy and daddy."
Hermione's face cleared. "Oh I don't have any brothers or sisters. Daddy says I'm not allowed."
"Why's that?"
"He says it wouldn't be fair."
Draco smirked having heard this conversation already. "Why wouldn't it be fair?" Andromeda checked curiously.
"Because I'm perfect." she declared with the surety of a child who believed it. "And they wouldn't get lucky twice."
"Ah." Andromeda laughed looking slightly shocked,
"Auntie An..An…"
"Andy is fine."
"Auntie Andy, why wouldn't they get lucky twice?"
Andromeda floundered slightly, Draco coming to her rescue, "Because there's no one else like you Princess."
She nodded seriously, "Who're they?"
"Well," Minerva smiled down at her, "This is Kingsley Shacklebolt. He's an Auror and the man next to him is Remus Lupin. He likes books as much as you do."
"Oh." Aquila's eyes lit up. "What's your favourite?"
"I have lots of favourites," he admitted, "What's yours?"
"I have lots too," she shrugged. "Daddys reading me Wilma the witch."
"Good choice," Remus agreed seriously.
"She's a bit silly," Aquila giggled.
"Ah a little bit, but she's not as silly as Baxter, now is she?"
Aquila laughed again, her entire body almost vibrating with excitement as she realised that Remus wasn't just humouring her. "No! He's the silliest!"
"Baxter?" Kingsley ventured.
"Wilma's unfortunately accident prone cat," Remus supplied.
"Oh of course," he replied faintly.
Aquila reached out, tugging gently on Remus' sleeve. "You read to me?"
"How about I'll ask your ah…Mummy once we've had a chat?"
She pouted, but to everyone's relief nodded before reaching for him. Feeling slightly stunned, he complied, hoisting her onto his hip, wincing when she traced a gentle finger down the scars on his face, "Ouch," she mumbled, dropping a kiss onto them, with soft, singsonging, "all better."
"Course it is," he agreed, sounding suspiciously choked.
"Bella did not teach her that," Andromeda muttered.
"No," Draco agreed, "Bast on the other hand…" Trusting they would follow, knowing the wards wouldn't let them take Aquila by force, he spun on his heel to lead them into the dining room as if he hadn't just shaken their worldview all over again.
Bellatrix's eyes narrowed at the sight of the wolf holding her precious daughter, only her husband's warning glare stilled her tongue.
"Please have a seat." Narcissa offered with her society smile. Andromeda immediately arched a brow at her sister; Narcissa smiled blandly back, making her snort.
"I'm surprised you all agreed."
"We've agreed to nothing yet," Sirius countered sharply as he turned back into a human, smiling apologetically when Aquila made a small noise of disappointment.
"Maybe Uncle Bast will take you to the Menagerie, Princess," Rabastan soothed.
"Maybe Uncle Bast will not!" Bella countered.
"We just wont tell Mummy, Princess," he grinned, making her giggle.
Bellatrix growled but didn't push it, knowing from the look on her husband's face that he'd back his brother. "We are here," she voiced loudly, "to discuss terms. Draco if you could take your cousin…elsewhere."
"Oh but Mr ah…" she looked beseechingly up at Remus.
"Lupin," he supplied.
"He said he'd ask if we could read."
"But not until I'd had a chat with your mummy," he reminded her, wanting to take it back when she visibly deflated.
"If you ask nicely Draco will take you out on the Abraxans, Princess," Lucuis wheedled. "You could ask the elves if you can take a picnic breakfast with you."
Aquillas eyes zeroed immediately onto her cousin who sighed dramatically despite his twitching lips, "You are going to be so spoiled. Come on, little witchling. We'll see if the elves have apples for the abraxans to put in with our picnic."
She scrambled off Remus' lap immediately running to take Draco's hand with a careless, "Bye!" over her shoulder.
"Well, while it's reassuring to know she is not being mistreated, I admit I have reservations." Minerva admitted.
"We imagine you do," Rodolphus allowed, helping himself to the food that appeared on the table. "What exactly did Severus tell you?"
He hummed when she had finished, nodding at the plates, "You can presumably see we have not poisoned the food. Help yourself." Slowly, they all began putting food on their plates, watching as their hosts ate before taking a bite themselves. Bella rolled her eyes scoffing a quiet, "Ridiculous idiots," under her breath.
Rodolphuis shot her a quelling glare, turning back to Minerva, "That is indeed the crux of it. Alongside that we will not deny you access to Aquila as long as certain conditions are adhered to."
"Such as?"
"Discussing her old life. I imagine it would be confusing. To our knowledge she has no memory of it, of course if that changes we can discuss it further. Whatever you think of us, I will not tolerate you discussing it with my daughter. We have made large, abhorrent mistakes. She will be told some of it as she grows, when we decide."
"She will?" Sirius asked incredulously.
"If she retains even a fraction of Hermione Granger she will look," he countered. "Therefore she will hear it from us, not the Daily Prophet or her peers."
"How do you plan to accomplish this?" Kingsley interjected.
"Tom made horcruxes." Bella replied bluntly. "We have dealt with all bar two. Your headmaster is aware of both, one we can deal with as soon as Tom returns."
"Horcruxes?" Minerva frowned as the rest of them paled.
"Soul anchors," Andromeda supplied softly, "The worst magic imaginable. It is barbaric. No wonder he is not sane."
"Quite." Bella clipped. "Along those lines we have begun to work on severing the Mark's connection to him. We believe it can be used to boost his power."
"How close are you?"
"Not close enough," Narcissa admitted.
"You said all bar two?"
"Yes." Lucius agreed, "You wont like this. However I will say it again, your headmaster is aware."
"Spit it out then."
"His snake Nangini is one," Severus supplied, seeing the vein throbbing in Lucius' temple at Sirius' rudeness. He might despise the wizard but even he wasn't stupid enough to believe his murder would be worth Narcissa's wrath if they got blood in her breakfast. "And Dumbledore is of the belief that Potter is a living Horcurux. It explains the events at Christmas with Arthur."
"No." Sirius replied bluntly, his face completely blank.
"Unfortunately it's likely."
"No!" he repeated louder.
"If we can sever the connection to the Mark, we might be able to do the same with the Horcrux." Corban Yaxley spoke for the first time. "That's the theory anyway."
"Then we'll help." Andromeda interjected, sending a silencing charm at a raging Sirius before summoning his wand just as he'd aimed it at an antique vase.
"The more the merrier sister," Bella muttered sarcastically as Sirius rounded on Andromeda in a fury with a silent growl.
"I'm glad you think so, because if we agree you'll be seeing more of me sister ." Andromeda arched a censoring eyebrow at her cousin, radiating her disapproval. Severus immediately vowed to add that look to his armoury, even the cockiest of the little sods would wither under the force of that look. He could practise on the Weasley twins next time he saw them.
"Lucky me." Bella quipped sarcastically, breaking Andromeda's stare-off with their cousin.
"Bella," Rodolpuhs growled.
She rolled her eyes turning back to her sister, "I assume your husband will be included.
"Will that be an issue?"
Bellatrix shrugged, "I don't like him but I imagine I'll get used to it."
"How magnanimous," Andromeda drawled, "Sirius sit down!"
"TImescale?" Minerva checked, realising Andromeda had summoned Sirius and cast a sticking charm at his backside. A charm he was desperately trying to break by the looks of things.
"We don't know when he's due back, so soon." Rodophus admitted.
"Are we meant to just trust you've removed the horcruxes?" Remus asked, sending a second sticking charm at his friend. Sirius' head snapped to his with a look of clear betrayal.
"No, you can see them, what's left anyway. You can see the memories if you must."
"And the people we were promised?"
"Dolohov is in the dungeons. Greyback is easily lured. Mulciber and Umbridge are hardly a challenge We can have them all gift-wrapped in a location of your choice by morning if you so desire.'' Bella shrugged.
"Who else needs to be dealt with?" Remus sighed, looking tired.
"The carrows I imagine, Thoros. Crabbe and Goyle Snr, unfortunately potentially jr as well. A lot truly were too frightened to argue."
"And the Longbottoms?" Minerva asked.
"There's an obscure charm in our grimoires. I think it might help." Rodolphus offered.
"Can you guarantee it?"
"No. We can only try."
"How are we meant to trust you?"
"You can't," Bella replied bluntly, There are no guarantees. But whatever Aquila did, my brain no longer feels foggy."
"It seems utterly unbelievable," Minerva admitted.
"I imagine it does," Bella allowed, "And yet, here we are. Now. Thoughts?"
"Thoughts,'' Kingsley muttered, biding Sirius when he finally managed to unstick himself and went to bolt, with a sigh. "I don't know where to even begin with this insanity."
"Trust me, this isn't even close to what insanity looks like," Bella grinned.
"For the love of Merlin," Andromeda muttered.
"Too soon?"
"Bellatrix." she growled. "At least try and be serious, we are discussing ending the world as we know it. Augusta Longbottom will need assurances. Harry Potter is going to want an explanation for what happened to his best friend. So if you can at least attempt, just for a moment to be a reasonable human being for five minutes."
"Harry Potter is not getting anywhere near Aquila!" Bella exclaimed indignantly.
"Harry Potter will need to be around Aquila if Sirius is." Andromeda retorted.
Bella's eyes narrowed. "I don't like it."
"That's…unfortunate," Andromeda dismissed, "Along those lines, Dora will also need to be included."
"For salazar's sake, are we to be overrun with family and meddling gryffindor's?"
"Yes," Andromeda smiled serenely back at her. "Now let's discuss those….bargaining chips."
Narcissa rolled her eyes at her sisters, "Could we all at least pretend to be civilised?" she sighed.
Kingsley spoke over them both when they opened their mouths "We want written unbreakable promises."
"Very well," Yaxley agreed. "Let's go down the list then shall we? The snatchers have already been disbanded, we have most of them in some semblance of gainful employment."
"Most of them?" Remus checked.
"We had to…make some executive decisions for the rest." he murmured.
"They're dead I assume?" Andromeda checked bluntly.
"Yes." he agreed. "Issues?"
"None."
Yaxley hid a smirk, "Splendid. Now, your bargaining chips. Tom, Peter, the senior Mulciber, Crabbe, and Goyle, we'll monitor the jrs closely for just now, Dolohov, Greyback, Umbridge and Rita Skeeter. Did we miss anyone?"
"The senior Nott and the Carrows," Remus countered.
"Done." Yaxley agreed.
"What do you envision will be done to combat prejudice in the younger years?" Minerva checked.
"Education. We dont believe in condemning children. ALong that line, we need to discuss more inter-house unity." Lucius answered smoothly.
"Inter House unity?"
"Quite," he nodded, "The hostility between Gryffindor and Slytherin is at an all time high. We need to address it."
Minerva blinked stupidly back at him. "You wish to make relationships between Gryffindor and Slytherin more…cordial?"
"My niece was a Gryffindor, I have no idea if our influence will change that."
"It will." Bella muttered.
"She's not wrong," Minerva agreed, looking like it pained her. "Miss Granger embodied many of the traits of Slytherin House despite her sorting. I can only imagine what a pureblood upbringing will do."
Bella grinned, unnerving them all. "Good. Blacks look good in green"
Silently Sirius scoffed, throwing himself onto a seat having escaped Kingsleys binding, gesturing at his throat. With an impatient sigh, Remus cancelled the silencing charm, keeping his wand trained on him lest he attempt to run again. "Peter," he prompted with a growl.
"You can have as soon as we summon him," Rabastan offered. "Just make sure he's dealt with."
"Oh he will be," Sirius growled, turning so he met Remus' eyes. "Tomorrow. We need to arrange a room."
"Before or after breakfast?"
"Before."
"Done. Now. I imagine some of them need to be transferred to Azkaban, is there anyone you particularly want to ah…play with?"
"Aquila's already played with Greyback," Bella dismissed.
"Pardon?" Andromeda checked.
"Just testing her aim, sister."
"Sweet salazar." Andromeda muttered before she paused, "how was it?"
A sinister grin spread over Bella's face, "Exemplary," she purred.
"Good. Now. I imagine he needs to die."
"If you want the packs, yes." Remus agreed.
"Best way to do that?" Yaxley checked.
"Bella, you still have the dagger don't you?" Narcissa asked sweetly.
"Dagger?" Bella frowned before her face cleared. "Yes."
"Crushed aconite on the blade should do it."
She hummed, looking at Severus who sighed, "I'll arrange to acquire some after the meeting."
"Good. Can the rest be sent to Azkaban?"
"Umbrige can't." Sirius cut in. "That bitch has a date with the end of my wand."
"Fine," Rodolphus nodded, "Then Antonin is mine."
"Yours?" Kingsely's eyebrows shot up at his tone.
"He cursed my daughter!"
Kingsley blinked back at him slowly. "Well then… he can be yours."
"Skeeter can wait until its all over. I imagine we can have some fun with her," Bella cut in. "I rather think killing her career will be far more devastating than killing her." she paused, "At least initially."
The family resemblance was eerily obvious when Narcissa, Andromeda and Sirius mirrored her smile. Severus and Corban visibly held back shudders at the sight.
"Now, Tom." Rabastan redirected, deciding not to think too hard on that strange synchronisation of the last remaining members of the Black family. No one was ready for that.
"Yes," Minerva agreed, "What exactly is your plan?"
"I think we have to work on severing the Mark before we do anything," Yaxley replied promptly, looking at Remus, "I gather you have some experience with the Dark arts?"
"Yes. nothing like that though!"
"No, none of us have."
"I'll also help." Andy cut in, "I am still a Black." She inclined her head towards Sirius. "And so is he."
"Very well," Corban agreed. "The next thing we have to consider is where we will contain Him when He returns."
"I imagine there's suppression cuffs in the vaults," Sirius mused.
"Wouldn't they just murder him? He's a construct!"
Sirius looked at Lucius thoughtfully. "Maybe."
"Goblins." Remus blurted.
"Pardon?"
"Goblins. It might be worth asking them for help. They'll want a fee, of course, but maintaining the economy is in their interests. They might help."
"I hadn't considered them," Lucius mused.
"No. No one does."
"Very well. Let's speak to the goblins."
"Ask about Harry." Sirius instructed.
Lucius inclined his head, "Very well. I imagine it's worth asking about containing the snake while we're there."
"Fair point. Now, that seems to be enough to be getting on with." Yaxley mused, "Lucius will visit Gringotts tomorrow."
"With me," Minerva interjected.
"With Minerva," he agreed, deciding it wasn't worth arguing. "Shall we meet back here tomorrow evening? We really do need to move quickly," He waited for their agreement. "Good. Here's to a successful day tomorrow then."
They stood, Remus, looking around sheepishly.
"I promised Herm… Aquila a story."
"Nyx." Narcissa called, waiting until the elf appeared, "Fetch Miss Aquila if you please."
Seconds later, a pink-cheeked Aquila appeared with Draco, looking around questioningly.
"I promised you a story before I left."
Her eyes lit up and she let go of Draco's hand to run to him. "Now?"
"If you'd like."
With a grin she tugged him forward impatiently, heading in the direction of the library.
Draco laughed into the silence, "That little witch is going to have half our world wrapped around her finger."
"As it should be." Bella replied primly.
"She was terrifying before." Sirius muttered, despite his amused expression.
"In what way?" Rodolphus hedged.
"Did they tell you she kept Rita in a jar the summer following her fourth year?"
"No." he replied slowly.
"Oh yes. Gave her to me to look after. She didn't let her out until the end of the summer. And then she blackmailed her in order to get that article written in the Quibbler."
"Merlin's balls," he muttered.
"Punched your nephew too, third year wasn't it, Cousin?"
Draco flushed his hand moving automatically towards his nose. "She broke my nose."
"I know," Sirius grinned.
"Good girl." Bella nodded, "I have no idea how the witch wasn't biologically ours."
Rodophus let out a slight huff of laughter, "It hardly matters, she's ours now."
"I never thought I'd see anything like it," Andromeda murmured.
"And yet here we are." Rodolphus dismissed, "Apparently we were just waiting on the right witch."
"Are you the sum total of ...reasonable…?"
Bella snorted, interrupting Kingsley, "The lower orders will do as they are told. The inner circle…well. I'd say this is it."
"I agree." Severus cut in. "His inner circle included the Carrows, Mulciber, Avery, Dolohov, Nott and everyone here."
"Rowle." Rabastan interjected.
"Rowle." Severus mused. "I had discounted him."
"He's too close to Dolohov," Lucius dismayed.
"Is he? Or is he wary of the man's temper?"
There was a pause. "I don't know. He was…young the first time. Perhaps…"
"I'll sound him out," Rabastan offered, "And then bind him into an unbreakable vow if he agrees just in case."
"Well then, I think we're done. We'll reconvene tomorrow to look at the Mark." Andromeda dismissed, turning to look at her cousin, "You will behave as if you know nothing or I will obliviate you, am I clear?"
His eyes narrowed, "Harry…
"Is as safe as he can be right now. If you go in all wands blazing, we'll tip Dumbledore off and Merlin only knows what he'll do."
Sirius seemed to deflate. "I don't like it."
"No I imagine you don't but it's safest. We intend to move quickly, Merlin only knows that the dark arsehole wont be away forever and while we likely can contain him it would be a pain in the arse to have to do so for a significant period of time."
Sirius scowled but didn't contradict her. "I'll expect Remus back for lunchtime," he muttered sloping off towards the floo.