AN: Upcoming genetic issues in this chapter. There are many reasons why I decided to add this to the plotline. Some will become more apparent as the story progresses, but it does not change the essence of who this character is. It will be the same character but with more or less a medical disorder that causes them angst as well as other issues. Inspiration for this story actually came when I was watching a documentary about the Hapsburg bloodlines and thought about the wizarding world and pureblood families. Fun fact, there's an entire channel on a certain site where you can watch family trees of royals and what not be untangled. It's highly addicting if your interested in European history. I made Bella and Sirius's relationship more removed from cannon so the likelihood of maladies would be less to Harry than it would be in cannon—though he still has the Black blood issue and may or may not be affected by other issues later on. The twins Bella's currently carrying wouldn't be affected near as much since the relation is now even less since she is essentially a Malfoy (there were many reasons I decided to do a blood adoption route with her and that was one of them) However, there are other factors in this character's case that caused this issue to rear it's ugly head.

Chapter 53: First Day Jitters

"Very distinguished." Bella told him as he turned to glare at her.

He was wearing robes fit for his role of the head of the house of Black. For the duke of Grimmauld. They may have been a little too much for a mere Transfiguration professor, but he wanted to make an impression. Rather than going with flashier velvets and furs like some of the richer purebloods like Lucius wore, he generally stuck with expensive silks. The black robes were cut expertly to show off his tall frame. The house of Black's crest showed just who he was.

"You're having fun with this, aren't you? Just sitting there clad in my quidditch jersey while I'm in this straight jacket."

"Me having fun. You're going to be leaving your pregnant wife home for most the day starting today. That's not going to be fun. How will I get my foot massages and tea. Who will play with my aching boobs?"

"I've instructed the house elves how to make your tea and you'll get your foot and boob massages at night and early in the morning." He rolled his eyes looking at her. "Andi will also be checking in on you at lunch."

"I'm not a child."

"And yet someone has to make sure you actually eat something."

Bella rolled her eyes, but she knew he had a point. Her appetite had not been impressive as of late and as much as she'd like to deny it her belly was still flat.

Considering the morning sickness she had been having, her color looked decent today. Probably the best she had in a while which made him happy. Now, if only he could get her appetite built up. Most days she still only was able to only eat a little when she held anything down.

"However, will I survive with house elf tea and room service?"

"You'll survive," He said rolling his eyes. "Besides, I'm sure I'll be easily persuaded to leave my post with a simple floo call especially if it involves calming your aching breasts. I did tell Dumbledore not to expect me on campus every minute."

"And yet he still insisted on making you head of Gryffindor house."

"Because he's a sadistic fool," He said. "He has Snivellus as deputy headmaster that says everything."

He noticed her face got pale when he mentioned Snivellus, though maybe that was just his imagination.

"I really want both the boys of that school."

It still felt weird calling both of them their boys even though that was what they were. She had signed the adoption papers to become Draco's legal mother after the blood adoption had been completed.

She was still surprised by the changes that had occurred with her now son. He looked so much like his mother now. Yes, there were clear signs that he was Sirius's son as well, but it was clear Cissy's genes had won the battle when it came to Draco's appearance. Though she knew her nephew was annoyed that he was now considerably less developed than before. It was very similar to how Cissy was when she was his age.

She also knew he wasn't happy that he had apparently inherited a certain Black gene, especially given the way it had changed given that Cissy and Sirius's were closely related and the potion Cissy had taken prior to Draco's conception had further altered it from it being dormant to outright mutated.

"You think he'll be okay?"

"Are you referring to Harry or Draco."

"Both, really." She said, "But I was thinking of Draco's medical issues."

Sirius sighed heavily, "As long as he takes the potion, he'll be fine for now. I'm going to talk to Andi about seeing if Nymphadora can start helping him sooner rather than later since suppression potions long term are never a good thing especially at this age. He probably had the flare up because his body is about ready to go through puberty."

"He hasn't coped with it yet." She said thinking about how the boy had broken into tears again just last night. Not that she could blame him.

"Would you cope with what he's dealing with?" He said, "You didn't see him that morning when we found out about the mutation. When he changed for the first time."

She shuddered. "I'm glad you were there for him."

"I'm his father," He said. "I'll be there for him regardless of what happens. I'll be there for both of them. You still betting on Slytherin?"

She rolled her eyes. She and Sirius were debating on her baby boy's house. She still couldn't believe that her baby was going to Hogwarts. Let alone how grow up he looked. It made her quite weepy, though she blamed that in part on pregnancy hormones.

"Why would I not bet on Slytherin?"

"He likes his books," Sirius said. "He likes learning. He can barely tolerate Draco and there's a good chance his pretty best friend might be in Ravenclaw."

"You don't really think he has a crush on Hermione at his age, do you? They're only twelve"

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "He does, though I don't think he realizes it yet. They've been writing a lot since she went back to England and Hermione will be thirteen in a week. She's certainly interested."

"They're just friends, Sirius." She said though even she knew that Hermione definitely felt something for Harry. She saw the way the girls eyes looked at Harry. She was also pretty sure her newly adopted son might've had feelings for the girl as well further complicating things though she didn't mention that to Sirius.

"So, still going with Slytherin?"

"His tenacity and determination on the dueling field reminds me of my own," she said. "So yes. Funny, you're not betting on your own house."

"I think no one wants to bet on my old house these days," Sirius said. "Ugh, I am glad we decided to bypass the train this year. It gives us more time with the boys."

"You and me both," He said, "I think it pissed Albus off though."

She rolled his eyes, "He can get over it."

"Said they were missing tradition."

"I don't remember the train ever being that exciting." She said.

"I met James, Remus, and Peter while riding it."

"Exactly."

"James and Remus were worthwhile."

"But Peter was not."

Where were they?

She thought they'd be on the train, but she hadn't seen the familiar dark and blonde head anywhere. Not that they'd sit together.

She fidgeted as she sat in the empty compartment brushing a stray strand of her honey colored hair away from her.

She still wasn't used to how perfect it looked or this body for that matter. She knew she wasn't the only one. She saw how awkward her mother and Remus both looked at her since she had left the spa.

Especially Remus. He hadn't been there during many of the treatments, so she was sure her as Jane Lupin had been quite jarring for him since Jane didn't really resemble either Emma Pettigrew or Remus Lupin except that she was tall and now shapely like her mother.

"Are you new?"

She turned to see a familiar face.

Susan Bones.

She remembered the first year or should she now second year Hufflepuff. She remembered a lot of the girls at least in Gryffindor had hated her because she had developed early. Like Hermione, Susan had a September birthday and was almost a year older than most of the other girls.

Susan, unlike Hermione, hadn't been teased relentlessly though. Probably because her aunt was Amelia Bones and unlike Hermione she didn't seem to have as awkward of a time with puberty.

"Jane Lupin," she said holding out her hand. Her hand that she barely recognized with its perfect manicure.

She even sounded different. Another service paid for her makeover. Gone, was the bit of a country accent that she had that tended to get squeaky whenever she was nervous. Now she sounded like a posh Londoner.

Susan took it before she said in a low voice, "I know, it's you, Granger. Auntie told me to keep an eye out for you."

Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"I won't tell anyone, not that they'll believe me." She said as she sat down next to Hermione.

"I imagine not," She said noticing that she was taller than Susan now and possibly even more endowed. It wouldn't surprise her. After leaving the spa she had to buy new clothes and even got bras. Real ones not just training bras. She was a B cup now. She blushed thinking of the lacy thing underneath her uniform that she had been so embarrassed to buy. She still wasn't used to it, not that anyone could see it.

Susan smirked. "Auntie wanted to make sure you had someone you could at least talk to. I'm sorry about what happened last year."

Hermione shuddered. "I…I don't want to be here."

"I imagine not," She said. "I heard you are getting resorted."

"Jane has never been to Hogwarts," Hermione pointed out. "So, she'll be sorted."

"You sound like a house elf," Susan said with a smirk but added. "I know what you mean though. I'm guessing you will not be wearing red and gold again?"

"Merlin, I hope not." Hermione frowned. "Probably the worst decision of my life."

Susan laughed. "Well, I've been happy in Hufflepuff if you think you want to join us. We don't attack our own and we even have all the cute boys."

Oddly, Hufflepuff didn't sound awful. Or at least not as awful as Gryffindor and Slytherin.

There were a lot of things that Draco Black was upset about lately, but he was not upset about skipping the train to say the least.

He frowned as he looked at himself in the mirror still not used to his new reflection or the fact that he had discovered something unnerving about himself after the adoption had been complete.

He sighed still remembering that morning waking up like that…

He still remembered the rather awkward conversation he had with Sirius about it before being examined and finding out that the adoption had more side effects than either of them had anticipated.

Sirius had called for Aunt Andi when he saw him. He knew his father suspected something, but he wanted Andi's thoughts on the matter as well.

"Draco?" She asked looking at his father alarmed.

He knew he looked different, but he didn't think he looked that different. At least with his clothes on. Of course that what he had told himself to reassure himself. He hadn't even recognized himself in the mirror this morning, he thought he was looking at Mother. Or how Mother would've looked when she was about eight.

He nodded. He didn't want to speak. It true his voice wasn't that different when he was like this since it hadn't dropped, but it was still different.

She looked at Sirius, "He's the spitting image of Cissy now."

Sirius nodded before he said, " I know. The diagnosis tests came back normal. By all accounts he's healthy. Save for well…the obvious. I have my suspicions but I want you to run your own tests first."

Save for he wasn't a he. At least then.

His aunt sighed, "I think I have the same suspicion, but we have to run some more tests to be sure. She was on a repression potion before conception, wasn't she?"

Sirius nodded.

He later found out once Aunt Andi had confirmed what Sirius thought that the potions his mother had taken to force her to conceive a boy had had an ill intended effect on him with the blood adoption. It was theorized that without them, he would've been born female or he had a twin briefly that he had absorbed because of them. However, since the potions were tied to the Malfoy blood, the blood adoption had altered the effects a bit with the Black recessive metamorph gene that he had inherited from both Mother and Sirius. Somehow it had mutated and he was more or less now a type of metamorph that could change genders…though right now he was having difficulty with even doing that.

He remembered having a panic attack that day until he finally managed to change himself back right. He didn't know how he had done it. Maybe it was all the calming droughts they had given him. He hadn't stopped shaking since waking up and finding himself in his female form. He had no control of the ability and despite being told how unique his ability was, he wasn't terribly impressed.

As far he knew, his ability wasn't like Cousin Nympahdora's metamorph skills where she could alter her appearance at will. The only thing he could alter was his gender and so far he more or less sucked at it.

At least he could take potions that suppressed it for now. Though they did other things too like kept him from growing. So, it was at best a short-term solution unless he wanted to be stuck looking like he was eight all his life. He was apparently going to get lessons on controlling his powers. It was something he wasn't looking forward to.

Only his father, Claire, and Aunt Andi knew about his issue. It was just too embarrassing. He was relieved to hear that he would not be staying on campus during the school year. The last thing he needed was his issue being found out in the communal showers.

Medical issues aside, he found himself liking his new father more and more during all of this. He was different than Lucius especially when it came to how he ran his head of house, but his sense of humor oddly reminded him of his own. And he was more approachable than Lucius ever was. He could only imagine Lucius's reaction to his problem as it was, Sirius acted like it was not that huge of deal and told him if he wanted he could go around being a girl all the time if he wanted.

"I'm a guy," He remembered telling Sirius despite the fact at the moment anatomically he was not and he didn't even sound like a guy or look like one.

"I'm just saying I don't care what you identify as, Draco." Sirius said. "I could care less about this little talent of yours. You just need to learn to control it."

"It's not a talent, it's a curse." He said still not getting over the fact he had woke up in a girl's body that morning.

Sirius shrugged. "You might feel differently in a few years."

He doubted that. He was pretty sure he identified as male, even if admittedly he knew his female form was a part of him. He knew people would view him as a freak if they knew.

He wondered if this was how Mother had felt when she had changed into a veela. Did she feel like her body was betraying her? Was that why she was so different? Would he be like mother and eventually succumb to fate?

He still hadn't answered Lucius's last letter and probably never would. He didn't know what to say, especially since he had more or less denounced him by allowing himself to be blood adopted by Sirius. He just kept thinking of Mother. He had finally had enough courage to ask Sirius about what happened a few nights before the blood adoption.

"Can you tell me what happened to her?" He asked.

His cousin sighed. "Your father wasn't happy about the babies because it caused her to change…"

Draco frowned. He wasn't happy about the changes either. In the last few months Mother had become a different person he felt. But he knew how much she wanted his sisters. He had wanted them too. It seemed hard to believe that Father would react the way he did.

"So, he hit her?" He asked.

Cousin Sirius sighed. "Yes, he reacted poorly when he found out about the pregnancy. She had been keeping it from him."

Draco grimaced but he wasn't surprised. Now that he thought back about it he was pretty she had known at Easter. And she hadn't said anything about it. Lord knows, he was pretty sure she was using glamor charms too with how big she was.

"Lucius doesn't like secrets."

"No," Sirius said. "But he had no excuse for what he did and what he tried to do to her."

He gave him a look.

"I think you deserve to know the truth," His cousin said. "Although, the truth is a very painful thing. Your father tried to hit your mother with a termination spell the night she had me annul the marriage."

"I…"

"It happened." Sirius said. "I wouldn't lie to you about that. Like I said, I think you deserve to know the truth. You saw the pictures. You saw how your mother was acting. You can make up your own mind with the information, Draco."

He nodded his head.

He still didn't know what he thought about all of it. He still couldn't believe Father had tried to kill his sisters because they were veela of all things.

Had mother not taken those potions and had he been born as a girl would the same thing had happened to him?

"Already dressed in your uniform, I see." Sirius came in the room looking very much the role of the head of the house of Black, a.k.a. the duke of Grimmauld. Weird how it was easy to forget he was an actual duke.

The robes he wore were classically cut and expensive. Usually, Sirius wore casual if expensive muggle clothes at the lodge, but then he remembered Sirius was going back into society to teach them Transfiguration.

Draco frowned. "You said we were flooing straight there and that we weren't taking our stuff with us."

"So, I did." He said, "Are you okay with not staying in the dorms?"

"Seriously, after what happened last week, I think it would be for the best. Can you imagine what would happen if I had an episode in the dorms?"

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Like I told you last week there's no need to be ashamed with what you are."

Draco gave him a dubious look.

"Your aunt talked to Nymphadora last night. She'll be giving you lessons so hopefully you'll be able to control your abilities . If that's what you want."

"Of course it's what I want," He barked. The last thing he wanted was to be a girl.

"As I told you before," Sirius said. "There's no shame in embracing your other half and using your powers. It's a part of you. And to control them you'll have to use your abilities."

"I...isn't there another way?"

"You can ask Nymphadora, but probably not." Sirius said before adding, "I'm sorry. I know how dysphoric the whole thing makes you."

"Why couldn't I be an actual metamorph?"

"You are a metamorph," Sirius said. "Your talents just exhibit a bit differently than the typical metamorph. Who knows in time you might be able to change your entire appearance. It just manifested this way because of the preconception potions your mother took altered the gene a bit."

By making me a freak, he thought.

"I guess I should be glad they can't tease me for being a bastard anymore."

"I doubt they'll tease you because your short, Draco." Sirius said referring to his stunted height. He was even smaller in his alternative form which was another reason he hated it. Though now he was secretly glad puberty hadn't started for him yet, at least it meant he could take the suppression potion.

"You know it's just not that," he said.

He didn't have to explain. Sirius knew what he meant.

"I could see about a resorting if you think that would help."

He doubted that being any other house would make his new state tolerable.

Draco laughed, "I'm Slytherin ride or die, Sirius. Surely, you realize that by now."

He raised an eyebrow and said, "Are you sure?"

He nodded at least that was one part of himself that he was sure about.

"Well, look at you my baby is all grown up." Bellatrix said to her son getting a little teary eye. She blamed her hormones for that. That and she didn't want Harry to go even though he'd be back here after classes.

Harry grimaced looking a bit awkward in his Hogwarts uniform. He was definitely one of the taller boys his age, she thought. He towered over Draco now, though to be fair most of his class probably towered over Draco. "I really don't want to go back there. I've already taken the calming draught like Gunther suggested and I still threw up this morning."

Bella frowned. "I know, baby. And I'm sorry you have to go, but it's only a temporary thing. We'll get you out of there as soon as we can, I promise."

They had already been successful in securing another tutor. Andi had a mastery in Potions so that was easy enough. She wondered if her niece who would be teaching Draco how to control his abilities had a Defense mastery. Andi had mentioned she had been in the auror academy at one point though had dropped out recently. If that was the case that could take care of finding another professor.

The tea had helped the morning sickness a lot, but she still got fatigued so easily. Luckily, she had been able to tell her son a lot of her exhaustion was due to losing Cissy. She knew she was on borrowed time.

"I don't think I'll be in Gryffindor again. I hardly feel brave."

She laughed, "Maybe Slytherin?"

"Don't get your hopes up, Mum. I don't know if I could be in a house full of Dracos."

"He's not really that bad." She said.

"No," He said. "Not lately. I just…"

"I was in a house full of Dracos." She said though she knew what he meant.

He rolled his eyes. "Yes, but there was no actual Draco there then was there?"

She laughed. "There was your aunt. She was a bit like Draco back then."

Harry frowned, "I wish she was here."

"I know, baby…." She said, "I miss her too."

"Draco and I are ready," Sirius said coming in the room rolling his eyes as he spotted Harry. "You look about as happy as I am, Harry."

"Isn't it supposed to be Henry?"

"Only formally." Bella said. "If you want though you can just go by it at the school if it would make you feel better."

"I just worry…"

"They won't know," Sirius said. "You don't even look the same."

He didn't. She had seen the pictures of how her baby looked as Harry Potter and it broke her heart. He had been even smaller than Draco was now even when he was in his other form which said something. She was glad she had killed Petunia Dursley that night and had half a mind to go back to Azkaban just to destroy the other monsters who had done that to her child.

"Don't look Dumbledore or Snivellus in the eyes though." His father said. "I know we protected that little secret much like your mom's, but both of them know how to use legilemency and may realize something is off."

"They're not suppose to use legilemency," His mother snapped. "If they do let either your father or I know immediately."

"I need to practice occlumency more."

"Your shields are fine, baby. Though we'll work on them tonight." Bella said. They were great in fact for a twelve year old, but for someone like Dumbledore or Snape they would be simple enough to break.

She shuddered at the fact that her child would be near that man at that school. In a way she felt more eerie about him than Dumbledore who she didn't like either. But at least he hadn't raped her while she was suffering the effects of the Cruciatus curse.

Maybe she should give him the Lucius treatment one of these days.

Sirius looked at her, "I'll make sure both the boys make it in one piece tonight."

"I'll hold you to that," she said.

They landed in what he assumed was the headmaster's office since that was where his dad said they would be going.

The room was huge. He noticed there were a few people waiting for him. The older man with the beard was clearly the headmaster based on the lurid robes alone and there was a dour looking man dressed in black that was glaring at his father almost immediately as he entered in the room. That had to be Snape.

He had a brief flashback of the man staring at him in the past and remembered that feeling…had he tried to read his mind? It was something he wanted to discuss with his parents, but for now he turned to look at the other occupants in the room. One was a man who was almost as short as a goblin—the Charms professor and Mum's former dueling instructor Flitwick. He was the head of Ravenclaw house if he remembered correctly. And he guessed the other professor was the Herbology professor who was in charge of Hufflepuff.

"It's nice for you to finally join us, Black." The man said glaring at his Father. "We almost thought you were going to miss the sorting."

Dad rolled his eyes, "Good to see you haven't changed, Snivellus."

The man glared at him. "I am your…"

"Boys," Professor Dumbledore said.

Sirius rolled his eyes, "Didn't we have a conversation about how I am a duke in my thirties the other day."

"It's nice to see you, Sirius." He said then looking at Harry and Draco he said. "And I see you bought your boys with you."

"Draco is still Lucius's son." Snape snapped before his eyes widened on Draco. "What on…"

"Draco is a full member of the house of Black," Sirius snapped. "I blood adopted him."

Snape looked like he swallowed a lemon. "Lucius will…"

"Lucius has no rights to me," Draco of all people said. "I was declared a bastard. My father was kind enough to allow me to be brought back into polite society by adopting me."

"That was very nice of you, Sirius." Dumbledore said looking at Draco. "Though unnecessary. I'm sure Lucius would've acknowledged you, my boy…and your peers wouldn't look at your illegitimacy as your fault."

"Don't talk about personal matters with either of my sons," Sirius said giving Dumbledore a hard look. "That counts for you too, Snivellus."

"Henry, isn't it?" Dumbledore said turning his attentions towards Harry. "You are the spitting image of your father, my boy."
He looked at his father.

"You are a stranger to Henry, professor. I don't think he likes the familiarity."

"Nonsense," Dumbledore said.

"He's actually right, sir." Harry said. He wanted to go home already being here was way too much he looked at the floo longingly as his father squeezed his hand.

"Well, then I'm sorry, Mr."

"Lord Polaris.," Sirius stated. "He's the son to a duke of Grimmauld. The duke's son is technically the earl Polaris."

"Oh, you're not going to let him get by with this nonsense are you?"

"Severus…" Dumbledore warned. "Sirius is indeed the duke of Grimmauld. Though it might be confusing for your students to address you as your grace, Sirius."

"Professor Black for them is fine," Dad said with an eyeroll.

This was the first that Harry heard about his father being a duke. But he wasn't exactly surprise given what he knew about his family. He was just surprised that his father was mentioning it and that he wanted the headmaster to address Harry of all people as an earl.

"Now, if the welcoming committee is done. I do believe we have the sorting to attend to."

"Actually," Dumbledore said. "The head of houses were going to have a brief meeting but the boys can go and get settled if they wish. Draco, I'm sure you can show your cousin around."

Chapter 54 Preview: It's sorting time.