AN: I hope you all are enjoying this so far. I am still looking for a Beta reader if anyone is interested.
Lupin chuckles. "You're worried she'll inherit the Black Family madness?"
"It's like seeing Bella… before Rodolphus got his claws into her and made her more unhinged."
"We can only wait and see." Lupin says as he leans down and drops a soft kiss to Sirius' lips.
Chapter 4: The Black Legacy - Fugue in G Minor, Op. 16
River's POV
While Sirius and Kreacher clearly had no love between the two, Sirius had trusted the creature to get me settled without feeling the need to check on me, which provided me a much needed respite from the minds and questions of everyone else. Sleep, that little death, doesn't come for me tonight, so I let myself curl into the pillows on the large bed and begin reading one of the books on magic that Kreacher brought me. It reminds me of staying up late reading as a child… about children who went through a wardrobe and ended up in a land with talking lions and witches. I almost feel like one of them.
I enjoy the solace of the room and the hours I spend reading. A History of Magic, The Dark Forces, Magical Theory, a Rune Dictionary… I devour them like a person who had been starving and then someone presented them with a feast. Each page I turned, each chapter finished… I could feel it, my magic, humming in my body, just under the surface. It feels like the first rays of sunshine hitting the winter snow to thaw.
Reading about Legilimency, I now better comprehend and understand the voices and music I hear. My magic, my gift. I feel relief, knowing I am not crazy, that it had been everyone else. That I was different, yes, but only because they were all, "muggle," as History of Magic explained. I heard Fugue in G Minor, for once the sound of my own music being allowed to escape from the darkest recesses of my mind. And each time I call for Kreacher, he brings me as many more books as I request from the Black Family library, along with a few he thought I should read.
As the fire wanes in the fireplace, night gives way to dawn through the window in the room, and the first sounds of the approaching morning begin to buzz. I sit on the large bed surrounded by a castle of books I had finished reading through the night. Each turret makes up a different subject… each wall has a new branch of magic to explore. I finally feel my mind begin to relax in this new world. This strange, beautiful, new world to explore.
"River, are you up?" Harry calls from behind the door as he knocks softly. "Breakfast is ready downstairs."
"Coming." I call as I move off the bed, still thoroughly engrossed in reading Shadows and Spirits.
I make my way out of the room, down the hallway, and halfway down the stairs before my Fugue gives way to the competing music of the others in the kitchen. Harry, Hermione, and Lupin are all seated around the smaller breakfast nook table eating and conversing about plans for the rest of the day as it is now summer break.
"Good morning," Lupin says from my left.
I don't look up as I want to finish this page before losing my spot. "Morning."
"Oh, I've seen Shadows and Spirits in the Restricted Section at Hogwarts and always wanted to read it," Hermione says excitedly as she takes in the front of the book I close and sit down after finishing the page. "Where did you find it?"
I reach for a slice of toast from the plate on the table while gently nibbling on it. "Kreacher brought it to me."
"Kreacher?" Lupin says shocked.
"Did he call you a filthy muggle or blood traitor?" Harry laughs.
This confuses me. "No… why would he?"
Hermione looks aghast, "Aren't you a…" but is interrupted with a pop of apparition.
"Mistress Black is no such thing!" Kreacher says as he bangs a hand on the table causing everyone to jump around the table. "Mistress Black is worthy of any book she wishes to read from the Black Library."
Their shock and confusion waves off the three others at the table. It's as if the string of a violin has snapped mid concerto.
"It's alright Kreacher. They are just surprised." I say without paying them any mind.
"River… it's just not like him to be so…." Lupin tries to explain. "He's normally…"
"A git, nothing less than a pain in our asses, a…"
Lupin rolls his eyes. "I was going to say not as civil, Harry, but I think you covered it. It's just unexpected."
I arch an eyebrow at Lupin and stifle a giggle. "More unexpected than someone coming through the Veil?"
Lupin smirks and stifles his own chuckle. "Point taken."
We return to eating our breakfast as the others discuss visiting something called the Burrow. I suspect it isn't the home to a large Mustelidae family, but I also didn't think magic was possible until sixteen hours ago, so maybe I will be proven wrong. I don't pay as much attention to what they are saying, instead enjoying the Fugue in my brain.
"Morning you lot." Sirius says blearily, as he clearly is not a morning person.
A chorus of mornings and musing ring out as he pours himself a cup of coffee from the French press on the counter.
I return to reading Shadows and Spirits after finishing my tea, still only half listening to the others around me. It isn't until the tap tap tap on glass that I look up. I watch as Sirius opens the kitchen window, where a large brown barn owl hands him… the post? I know I had read about it in a History of Magic, how birds, owls in particular, were used to deliver the post, but seeing it is still new.
As Sirius unfolds the paper the owl had delivered, his face goes grim, and his mind begins blaring trumpets. "Shit." He says aloud.
"What is it?" Lupin asks with caution.
Sirius' eyes look up from the paper to meet mine. "You made the front page."
First in Recorded History, Someone Emerges from the Veil in the Department of Mysteries!
Potter and Black Linked to Shocking Incident – What is the Ministry Hiding?
In an unprecedented and chilling development, sources within the Ministry of Magic have confirmed that a person, a young girl, has emerged from the infamous Veil housed within the Department of Mysteries. This enigmatic figure appeared in what is supposed to be a secure, highly confidential section of the Ministry monitored by the Unspeakables.
Witnesses state that Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, and his godfather, Sirius Black, were involved in the incident that led to her sudden appearance. The incident took place the same night that the Dark Mark appeared above the Ministry of Magic, leaving many to wonder what transpired in those secretive halls.
Alleged sightings of Death Eaters at the scene have raised serious questions. Why were these dark forces interested in the Department of Mysteries? And most disturbingly, what connection does this mysterious girl have to the Veil, a gateway thought to be connected to the beyond?
Officials within the Ministry have yet to make an official statement, but whispers of a cover-up are growing louder. Is the Ministry withholding vital information about the true nature of the Veil? What else could they be concealing from the wizarding public? Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, has refused to comment directly on the incident, further fueling speculation about what exactly took place.
With the incident still under investigation and the Ministry in turmoil, this startling development raises more questions than it answers. Who is this girl, and why has she returned through the Veil after what many believed to be centuries of mystery and silence?
The Daily Prophet will continue to investigate and uncover the truth about what really happened in the heart of the Ministry last night.
More on page 3:
Exclusive details from Ministry insiders.
The history of the Veil and its dark secrets.
Sightings of Death Eaters in London—coincidence or conspiracy?
Hermione had grabbed the paper when Sirius threw it on the table for them to all see. By the time she finished reading the article out loud, his magic was palpable in the air and ricocheting like electrical zaps. "Bloody ministry… useless fucking wankers…" Sirius mutters as he stalks out of the room to make a Floo call.
"Is he always so…" River asks as she gestures with her hands trying to capture the sparks that had jumped around.
Lupin chuckles. "You get used to it."
Something smashing and Sirius yelling can be heard from the other room where Sirius had stalked off to.
"I'll just go and make sure he doesn't smash all the family china." Lupin says as he hurriedly gets up from the table.
"Don't worry, you get used to the Prophet too." Hermione says as she continues to thumb through the paper.
"We can't wait to show you the Burrow." Harry says. "Our best mate is Ron, and the Weasley's are like our second family."
River tilts her head, as if trying to remember something specific. "Mrs. and Mr. Weasley seemed…nice, when I met them last night."
"Molly is great, she's likely knitting you a sweater as we speak. She makes them for us all."
"Just don't take anything from the twins, Fred and George," Hermione says without looking up from the paper. "They're always inventing new pranks and jokes, you never know what you are going to get with them."
"One time, they gave Ron some new chewing gum that made bubbles come out of his ears for hours."
Hermione chuckles, "That one was quite funny."
As they fall into an easy silence, Hermione and River read while Harry continues to eat. The yelling from the next room begins to subside. Lupin and Sirius appear a moment later.
"The bookworms are multiplying Moony." Sirius jokes to Lupin as they walk in and see the trio at the table.
"With the way you treat books you'll destroy them all before they have the chance to read them." Lupin pulls Sirius in for a quick kiss to his cheek and then sits down to resume eating his breakfast.
"Right, you lot are off the Burrow today, yeah? I need to..." Sirius starts to say as he puts a hand on River's shoulder to draw her out of her reading.
"I know. We're going for a ride." River says without looking up.
Sirius looks bewildered for a moment before his lips turn into a grin. "Yes, we're off to see a man about a wand, along with a few other things"
River's POV
Sirius had called for Kreacher, screeching at him to find some clothes for me to wear to Diagon Alley. The house elf had grumbled about Sirius under his breath but was more than happy to dote on me as "his mistress." I return back upstairs to my room to wait for Kreacher to bring me the clothes. Although given the state of the Grimmauld I am not sure what he would find that wouldn't look more appropriate in Victorian England rather than 1996. A pop of Kreacher's apparition draws me from my reading.
"Kreacher is here, Mistress Black. These clothes will be befitting your station." He says as he snaps his fingers and a rack of clothing appears.
I'm gobsmacked at how many clothes materialize in front of me. "These were all in Grimmauld?" I question him as I walk over to them and see they look brand new.
The elf seems affronted at my question. "Certainly not, Kreacher would not dress Mistress Black in anything less than new. Are they not to your liking?"
My hand touches the delicate fabrics. "No, no, they are lovely, I am just surprised."
"A friend selected them for Mistress Black."
"A friend?"
"Yes, Mistress Black, a trusted friend of Kreacher. They also sent along this letter for Mistress Black." He says as he proffers a thick envelope with an elegant script on the front.
I take the letter, the feel of heavy paper between my fingers feels luxurious. I slowly break the wax seal on the other side and open it.
XXX
My Dear Miss Black,
I hope that the selected wardrobe will be to your liking, if anything is not, please let Kreacher know and we will supplement it with additional items.
I have also sent along several items which I believe will prove valuable to you. Among them are a few select volumes of rare texts, which I trust will broaden your understanding of both our world and the legacy you inherit. The necklace from the Black Family is a symbol of your esteemed lineage.
I must ask that you keep these gifts in strictest confidence, as others may be quick to mischaracterize or comprehend the significance of such an offering. Should you wish to correspond, Kreacher has been instructed to deliver your letters with the utmost discretion.
With sincere regards,
A Friend
XXX
I tip the envelope and let the necklace inside slide out onto my hand. It is then that I see a delicate silver chain attached to a small pendant, no larger than a pence coin. I stare at the pendant closely, and see a shield with a stylized, intertwined serpent and star motif. I turn it over and the back has the words "Toujours Pur" with a tiny inlaid onyx stone.
I run my fingers over the dusty, intricate designs of the silver pendant, feeling a strange pulse beneath my fingertips. "Kreacher, who is this friend?" I question the house elf.
In the short time I have been here, Kreacher has yet to not jump to fulfill one of my requests, but I see him hesitate with my question. "Kreacher cannot say."
"Why?"
"Kreacher made a vow. Kreacher must not reveal A Friend, A Friend will reveal themselves in due time."
Kreacher's mind is suspiciously blank. Come to think of it, I haven't heard any thoughts or music from him at all since I have been here, unlike the others, who were at first very loud and then a murmur after whatever Dumbledore cast on me yesterday. But maybe it is different with house elves? I am not sure how Legilimency works entirely.
I still don't know what to make of this mysterious gift, but I do need to get ready, and can't wear what I wore here out lest I stick out more. "Kreacher, can you bring me an advanced book on Legilimency." I ask as I take a black silk dress from the rack, along with a gray cashmere sweater.
"Kreacher will bring all the books for Mistress Black." He says before a final pop of apparition and I am left to dress.
As I shuck off my clothes that now feel like an offensive item, I pull the dress on over my body and marvel at the softness. The gray cashmere sweater it's like a warm embrace. I also secure the necklace around my neck and tuck it inside the sweater, where the pulse I found early seems to merge with my own heartbeat. I pair the outfit with black ballet flats. A warm memory springs into my mind and I allow it to guide my feet en pointe. My Fugue fills my ears and I let it carry me away on a river of music to go downstairs.
After a short chat with Lupin, Harry, and Hermione about meeting at the Burrow later, Sirius guides me to the fireplace and picks up some powder from above the mantle. "Floo powder." He explains and crowding in next to me he calls for the "Leaky Cauldron." With a rush of bright green flames I feel my body pulled through the floo up and out of Grimmauld and into what feels like the ripple of space. A minute later we are in another fireplace, exiting in what looks like a pub.
We don't stay long enough for me to look around, as Sirius very quickly grabs my hand and drags me out into the street. His pace is quick enough to keep my attention focused on him, but not quick enough to alert anyone we are in a hurry. It's mesmerizing and dizzying, taking in what I can of the street, the people, the music of their minds… but by the time Sirius pulls me into our intended destination, an Ollivander's Wand Shop, est. 382 B.C., my head is spinning and I am thankful for the quiet the shop brings.
There is not one at the front of the store when we enter. "OLLI!" Sirius yells. "You here?"
"Be with you in a minute." A voice calls from the back.
"You go ahead and start to have a look around." Sirius tells me.
I start to peruse the stacked shelves closest to where we entered, but keep close to Sirius. I hear the sounds of a soft tempo get stronger from the back.
"Sirius Black…" the short graying man who walks with a slight limp says as he comes around a shelf. "How can I help you today?"
"Hello Ollivander, need to get this one a wand." Sirius says as he motions to me.
Bit old to need a first wand. I hear his mind start to question why I would need a wand when I clearly look older than eleven.
"We'd appreciate a bit of discretion." Sirius jumps in, clearly taking a few gold coins from his pocket and placing them on the counter in front of Ollivander.
Curious…Ollivander thinks as he pockets the coins with a raise of his eyebrow, but does not say anything else. "Why don't we start with this." He says as he pulls a box off the shelf next to him, takes out a long slender wand, and hands it to me.
The wand hums in my hand before turning red hot. The shock of that happening causes me to drop it onto the counter.
"Not that one then." He says as he places it back on the box and onto the shelf again.
"Let's try…." He turns to another shelf and pulls a different colored box, "this." He opens the box and hands it to me.
Like the last one the wand hums before a cloud of black smoke begins to seep out of the tip. All three of us start to cough before Ollivander snatches the wand out of my hand.
"Why don't you…" Sirius interjects. "Let your mind wander."
Ollivander looks aghast at what Sirius suggests."Really, Sirius, as if I don't know…"
"She's a special case, Olli, and I did pay for discretion."
Ollivander's clearly perturbed. His mind mutters about heathen purebloods telling him they know better, but waves his hand dismissively.
I turn away from them, and focus on the quiet of the shop, letting my feet glissade delicately over the wooden floor without a clear destination. I extend into a gentle port de bras, my fingertips brushing over the boxes… I close my eyes. When I do… I hear something… a quiet hum, notes on a piano calling out to me… as if my Fugue is hidden somewhere in this shop.
Like at Grimmauld, I let myself go to the music, my weight shifts effortlessly and fluidly in a subtle échappé, and I ascend the stairs to my left. As I move further, the Fugue grows louder. I dance down an aisle with a pas de bourrée, gliding forward with a chassé as though the air around me guides my path. My eyes only open when I feel my arms rise into a third position, one hand hovering delicately near my heart, as a singular box calls to me. There on the shelf is a black velvet box that reads: Ebony, 12 inches, Phoenix Core. My fingertips reach out and gently caress the box, my mind hisses a silent yesss. I pluck the box from its shelf and return downstairs.
As I present the box to the two waiting at the counter, Ollivander's face grows grim. With shaky hands he reaches out to remove the lid. I hover my hand over the wand and it floats up to my grasp in a fluid motion that feels like magic… my magic.
"Curiouser and curiouser." I say to no one as I twirl the wand with my wrist.
"Olli is that…" Sirius says as I feel him watch me closely. Ebony… like Reggie.
"You are quite right, Sirius, but I am afraid it is more than that."
"What do you mean?" I say as I look up at the man who now looks ashen.
"That particular wand core was given by the mate of another Phoenix… a very notable Phoenix, and was the only tail feather it ever gave."
…Fuck… Sirius' face says what his mind screams at me. "Again, for your discretion." He says as he pulls another stack of gold coins from his pocket to quickly pay for the wand and the wandmaker's silence. Sirius grabs my hand, his mind and music chaotic as we turn to leave the shop.
"The wand chooses the witch, Sirius." Ollivander call's out behind us. "Don't let the past cloud your judgment."
Sirius doesn't reply as the bell above the door chimes signaling our departure. Back on the street, I slip my wand into my pocket, but don't let my fingers release it as Sirius pulls me along with him. Before, the street had felt overwhelming and chaotic, but now, as my fingers trace the faint carvings along Ebony wood, I feel… settled, grounded… like the wand channels the music and noise in a way that I hadn't been able to before.
"Who's Reggie?" I ask as I watch people begin to turn and stare at us the further we move along the street.
Sirius's music cracks and misses a note. Whomever Reggie is, it will be a sore subject. "My… brother." He says quickly. "He's dead."
"I'm sorry." I say without truly meaning it. How could I? I didn't know him. "Is that whose room I am in?"
Damn bloody elf. "I'll talk to Kreacher about moving you."
"Why? I like it."
Sirius turns and looks at me like I have grown another head. Like it? That git and his friends were bloody twisted. "There's no telling what he has lying around in there."
I shrug my shoulders. "He's not here anymore. Kreacher wouldn't let anything hurt me."
"Phffft. That menace is likely to murder us in our sleep if something in the house doesn't do it for him."
I roll my eyes. "It likes me."
"Kreacher doesn't like anything." Sirius notices more people begin to stare at us and pulls me along again.
"No, I mean the house."
"The house?" Sirius asks in confusion.
"It doesn't like when you talk poorly about it."
Fucking house has more reasons to kill us now, bloody brilliant. Sirius doesn't think anything more about Kreacher or Grimmauld as he pulls me into a stately building, the words "Ministry of Magic" etched into the marble edifice where we enter.
When we enter the atrium of the Ministry, we are greeted with hushed whispers and more stares. While outside I may have been able to keep the thoughts and music at bay, here are the whispers scream at me.
Is that her?… She looks different than I imagined… Did she really come through the Veil?
I close my eyes and pinch my wand between my fingers, letting the groves of the carving bite into my thumb so that I feel every ridge indent into the pads of my fingertips.
Sirius pulls us to a counter quickly. "We need to speak to someone in the The Wizarding Records and Archives Division." He explains to the secretary.
The dour woman gives Sirius a once over before her eyes settle onto me. "You will have to see the Heritage Office first, Black, if it's for that one."
I practically hear Sirius grit his teeth to remain civil. "Fine.. which lift?"
"Third on the right," she says before returning to the parchment in front of her.
"Does no one use a computer?" I ask Sirius confused as I have yet to see any technology.
"A what?"
"A computer. Much more convenient than a quill and parchment."
Sirius moves us in front of the correct lift and barks out a laugh. "Wizards hardly do anything that is convenient."
The lift arrives and he ushers me inside as the gates close. With a swoosh to the left I feel us yanked left, right, up, and down, clearly magical lifts have a mind of their own and don't just go up or down. After a minute or two, the lift announces we have arrived at the Heritage Office with a ding. The lift gates open and we step into a small waiting room area. Books, parchments, scrolls, and family tapestries seem to hang all strides to the desk and hits the bell to announce we are here. A small man with spectacles comes scurrying to the front and climbs a short step stool to reach the counter.
"How can I help you today, don't get many visitors here." He says as he cleans his spectacles.
"I need to file a claim of acknowledgement." Sirius says calmly.
"You will need to fill these out." The man says as he produces a stack of parchment with a flick of his wand. As Sirius takes a proffered quill, I start to look around the small waiting area. The names and houses of every magical person in the United Kingdom seem to adorn these walls in some shape or fashion.
"You'll need to magically fill out this portion and sign them as well, Miss." The man calls to me.
I turn and look at Sirius or the man to explain to me what I need to do. "Just a tap with your wand Miss." The man instructs.
I take out my wand and tap each area he indicates and glows. It's intriguing, feeling the magic and the wand respond to my command. It makes me feel a thrum of electricity in my body.
Name: River Marie
Date of Birth: December 22nd…I do some quick mental math and come to 1978.
Once we are done with the paperwork, the man flicks his wand and calls out "Geminio." The parchments magically multiply into three identical packets.
"File these with the Records and Archives Division." He says before hopping off the step ladder and walking back behind the stacks.
Sirius and I move over to the lift and begin a similar process in the Records and Archives Division, which is within the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. We walk to the instructed area, and again I feel eyes settling on us as we walk through the department. I also spy the one-eyed Auror in one of the areas we pass. As he sees us, he begins to head in our direction.
"You could have warned me you were bringing her in." Mad-Eye comments as he falls into step with Sirius and I follow behind them.
"Albus thought it best to get the paperwork filled quickly… and as quietly as possible." Sirius says under his breath.
Mad-Eye nods curtly. "It won't be long till the vultures get here."
"Who?" I ask as I continue to grip my wand to ground myself and try not to look at all the faces staring at us.
"No one you need to know." Mad-Eye says quickly. They aren't to be trusted or let loose. Should have locked the lot of them up the first time.
Before I can ask anymore questions, we arrive at the next counter and Sirius presents the paperwork to file. He's informed that the official recognition will happen once all the paperwork is filed, and should take an hour or so. Sirius thanks the man and we quickly turn to leave.
"I'll walk you out." Mad-Eye says as he follows us into the lift.
I wait until the lift gates close to ask the question burning on the tip of my tongue. "What was the paperwork for? I mean, I know it was to recognize me as a Black, but why is that important?"
"In the Wizarding World, a wizard or a witch doesn't come of age until eighteen. Legally claiming you as a Black allows me to be your magical guardian. It recognizes that you are under my protection and provides me with the authority to make decisions over your education and well being."
"So I am your ward till my eighteenth birthday in December?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes."
I tilt my head to the side, trying to listen to Sirius or Mad-Eye. Both are eerily silent. "What aren't you telling me?"
The both cast quizzical glances towards me, before looking at each other, weighing how much they should say.
"Had he not claimed you… other's could have."
"If they were also descendants of the Black line?"
"Yes." Sirius states calmly, but I see his hands tighten into a fist.
Curious, I continue to probe. "How many other Black's are alive?"
"By marriage, too many to count."
"And by birth?"
"Three." Grits out through clenched teeth.
Neither one of the men says anything else as the lift announces our arrival back in the atrium of the Ministry, but an ominous cloud hangs over both of them. A haze has settled, and the Gnossiennes No. 1 creeps into my mind like a yellow fog that rubs against window panes. We make it halfway through the atrium as the tension of Sirius and Mad-Eye snaps and their hands move to their wands. I look to see what has them on edge, as three men enter the atrium from the Floo.
The trio moved with a cold, effortless elegance, their long, dark robes billowing slightly as they walked across the marble floor, the polished surface reflecting their shadows like silent sentinels. The first, a heavy set figure with a menacing visage. His eyes flickered toward Mad-Eye, as though amused by the encounter, but his fingers twitched near his wand, betraying the casual arrogance in his step. The second with gaunt, sharp figures, catching sight of Sirius and his mouth curling with an air of disgust. The last, the tallest of the trio, with following white hair, his eyes, icy and calculating, immediately locked onto us.
Sirius, tense but defiant, stood tall and moved in front of me. His jaw clenched, but his dark eyes burned with barely suppressed rage as he stared back at the men, refusing to be the first to break the silent standoff. The hand holding his wand twitched at his side, ready for any provocation.
"Ahh, it seems there hasn't been a mistake gentleman, we do indeed have a new member of the Black Family." The blonde says with cold indifference. Lucius Malfoy, head of the Malfoy family, I pick up on the trail of thoughts around the room watching our interaction unfold.
"Careful Lucy, you and your friends are in public." Sirius growls. 'Wouldn't want anyone catching a glimpse of what's marking all your arms."
Lucius sneers at Sirius. "You seem to forget not that long ago you were a wanted man, Sirius."
Sirius chuckles to appear unaffected. "Itching to find out what my old accommodations were like?"
"Merely wishing to settle a familial dispute. I take it you have already filed the paperwork to acknowledge Ms. Black as heir to the Black line." It isn't a question.
"You and your lot can go slither back to your master now. We know how you snakes are." Mad-Eye says with venom in his voice.
"Well...now that we have seen Ms. Black, we may as well introduce ourselves. She is after all connected to all of our houses." Theodorus Nott Senior, says with a sly grin.
Both Mad-Eye and Sirius move to block me from their view, and hand holding me back behind them.
"Ahh…another time, perhaps." Lucius states calmly.
"Maybe when the Black dog is back on his leash." Corban Yaxley chuckles darkly.
Again, no one says anything as the tension kicks up higher. The yellow fog now licking along window panes and scratching to be let in.
"Come gentlemen, we do have business to attend to." Lucius dismisses and moves to continue walking to the lifts we had just come from. Nott Senior and Yaxley move to follow them, with parting snickers and glares at us before continuing on their way.
"Let's get out of here, we'll go to Gringotts another day." Sirius muttered, voice tight, as he quickly pushes me towards the exit. Mad-Eye whispers he will inform the others, and Sirius gives him a quick nod of acknowledgment.
I am not sure I understand everything that just happened, but the weight of what had just passed settles on Sirius and follows us out into the afternoon light.
The Daily Prophet - Special Afternoon Edition Secret Heir to the Black Line Revealed as Mysterious Girl from The Veil!
Malfoy, Nott, and Yaxley Families Confirm the Sudden Appearance of the Black Heir on Family Tapestries
In a stunning twist to the already baffling events at the Ministry of Magic, the mysterious girl who emerged from the Veil four days ago in the Department of Mysteries has been identified as none other than River Marie Black, a secret heir to the Black family. Representatives from the Malfoy, Nott, and Yaxley families have confirmed her identity, citing her sudden appearance on their ancient family tapestries.
Sources close to the Malfoy family, who possess one of the most extensive genealogical records of pure-blood wizarding families, report that Ms. Black's name materialized on the Malfoy family tapestry four days ago, the same time as reports of the fiasco at the Department of Mysteries, sending shockwaves through the inner circles of Britain's most prominent pure-blood families.
Lucius Malfoy, acting as a representative for his wife, Narcissa Malfoy, née Black, released a brief statement:
"It is with great surprise that we have confirmed the appearance of River Marie Black on the family tapestry. Her connection to the Black line is irrefutable. The legacy of the Black family runs deep, and this development raises many questions about the true history of our most noble house."
Lord Nott and Corban Yaxley have similarly confirmed sightings of River Marie Black's name woven into their own family tapestries, both families being distantly connected to the Black lineage. According to these sources, the magical appearance of her name occurred almost simultaneously across the tapestries.
The revelation of a secret Black heir has sent ripples across the wizarding world, particularly given the Black family's storied and sometimes controversial history. Until now, Sirius Black had been thought to be the last surviving member of the Black family, with his brother Regulus having perished during the first Wizarding War.
Who is River Marie Black?
Very little is known about this newly revealed Black heir. What connection does she have to the dark forces at play in the Department of Mysteries?
The Black family has long been associated with power, secrecy, and its turbulent relationships with both the Ministry and the Dark Arts. With the appearance of River Marie Black, many are questioning what this means for the future of the Black family's legacy.
The implications of this development are vast—does she possess the same ancient, powerful magic the Black family has been known for? Or will she be cursed with the madness that has plagued previous generations of Black family members? And what role might she play in the current wizarding world, especially with ties to families such as the Malfoys, Notts, and Yaxleys?
The Ministry of Magic has remained tight-lipped about the incident, and Minister Fudge has refused to comment on whether this revelation was known to key figures within the Ministry. However, rumors are swirling that certain officials have known of the existence of this heir for some time and have been working to suppress it.
As the wizarding world reels from this shocking revelation, we at The Daily Prophet will continue to dig deeper into the origins of River Marie Black, the truth behind her reappearance, and what it might mean for the future of wizarding Britain.
More on page 4:
What does this mean for the Black family fortune? Legal experts weigh in.
The Veil's mysterious history and its significance.
AN: So we are getting to meet some of the major players in this fic. Any guesses who this friend could be? Let me know in the comments (I won't confirm if they are right or wrong though).