Fleamont whipped sweat from his brow, potion fumes in clouds of grey and green spiraled in the air. Fleamont meticulously stirred the brew with a ladle, counting the number seven stirs clockwise and three stirs counter clockwise. Adding a dash of Doxy eggs turned the potion a vibrant purple color. Fleamont flicked his finger and the roaring flame dimmed and then stopped. With another wave of his hand, a shield charm was placed on the cauldron to prevent any outside particles from infecting the brew and a cooling charm was placed to lower the temperature and prepare it for being bottled and later consumed.
Thirty six hours, that is how long it took Fleamont the potions genius to finish his task. With a sigh of relief, Monty cleaned the golden ladle and exited the potions laboratory.
—--
Arcturus Black sat in the formal dining room, platters of food laid on the table next to glasses of expensive wine. Charlus, Drea, Fleamont and Euphemia also sat at the long and black table. Once the platters of food were consumed and dessert was served by the Potter house elves, Fleamont began his speech.
"Thank you for joining us this evening, Lord Black."
"Charlus and Dorea were very persuasive," Lord Black spoke in a cold tone, his face a mask of indifference.
Dorea's lip twitched to form a slight smirk and her stunning grey eyes shone in mischief.
"I presume you haven't told Mia?" Charlus asked, his eyes glancing between Monty and his wife Euphemia.
Mia narrowed her eyes at her husband in suspicion, taking a sip from her wine before placing the glass gracefully back on the table and clearing her throat, "Told me what, Monty?"
Fleamont's golden brown eyes turned to Charlus to glare in warning before turning back to his wife's with a falsely reassuring smile on his lips, "Have you seen the tapestry, my love?"
Euphemia raised an eyebrow at her husband before her eyes narrowed further, "I don't make a habit of examining it like you do."
Fleamont sighed and rubbed his temples, his headaches were becoming an hourly burden.
"James has a son."
Arcturus's careful mask of indifference slipped momentarily and his eyes widened in shock before he quickly put his mask back on.
Euphemia smiled dangerously, causing Charlus and Dorea to exchange knowing smirks.
Oh, this was going to be bad.
"And why am I just now hearing about this? Where is James?" Euphemia asked in a sickly sweet voice.
Fleamont closed his eyes and took a deep breath before speaking, "I wanted to tell you once the rest of the family was gathered and Jamie is still at Hogwarts."
"Of course," Euphemia said, her voice turning up an octave in anger, "And how long have you known?"
Charlus chuckled, causing Euphemia to turn her blue eyes onto him, "Did you know about this?"
Charlus placed his hands in front of him in a surrendering motion, "Now Mia, you know how I despise getting involved in matters that don't pertain to me."
Dorea rolled her eyes and Arcturus eyed his friend in suspicion.
"It does pertain to you," Fleamont snapped.
"But surely not more than it pertains to your wife," Dorea offered, causing Fleamont to frown, feeling betrayed by his brother and sister in law.
Euphemia grabbed her wine glass, taking another sip as Fleamont spoke further.
"I've known for two weeks-"
The glass shattered in Euphemia's grip.
"Oh no, here she goes." Charlus said, chuckling as he dodged broken glass pieces flying in the air.
Fleamont eyed his wife nervously, "Mia, calm down-"
"Fleamont Henry Potter, if you don't start explaining yourself RIGHT NOW THEN YOU CAN JOIN JAMES AT HOGWARTS DUNGEONS!" Euphemia roared, slamming her the palms of her hands on the table, causing Fleamont to jump slightly in both fright and at the boom of her voice.
"James has a son-"
"So we've gathered," Arcturus drawled, amusement playing in his eyes.
"Let me finish," Fleamont snapped, glaring at his family members.
"As I was saying, James has a son. A sixteen year old son."
"That's not possible…" Euphemia whispered, shock overwhelming her anger.
Arcturus raised an eyebrow, his mask slowly slipping.
"It unfortunately is possible. His name is Harry Potter and he and another boy, Draco Malfoy accidentally time-traveled through the vanishing cabinet and landed themselves in Hogwarts."
"The vanishing cabinet? What is that old fool doing keeping a device such as that in Hogwarts?" Arcturus asked, his voice dripping in rage.
"I cannot answer that, all I know is that he did and those two idiot boys landed themselves here. They cannot go back to their timeline because it has been erased now,"
Euphemia's eyes widened and her lips parted in an "O'
"I have been making a potion that would alter Harry and the Malfoy boy's ancestry via blood to show different parents for the next five years."
"Why not blood adoption?" Arcturus inquired.
"My point exactly," Charlus commented.
Fleamont glared at his brother before speaking, "James is rather protective of the boy. He was refusing to let us claim Harry as his cousin so I figured something temporary would be more appropriate-"
"Cousin?" Euphemia replied, her eyes narrowing once more.
"Yes dear, cousin. Dorea and Charlus are going to move to the Potter manor and they are going to be his parents. They won't have any real responsibility over the boy but we will need need to keep them close to maintain appearances-"
"This was not discussed!" Charlus roared, anger flaring.
"So you wish to live with the boy in your cottage?!" Fleamont countered, silencing Charlus.
Dorea reached out a pale hand and placed it on Charlus's tan and scarred one, "It sounds like it is for the best, darling."
"We have plenty of room." Euphemia confirmed.
"Thank you. The next matter is the Malfoy boy-"
Charlus stood up abruptly from his seat, his magic crackling dangerously, "I told you that it was final." He spoke in a dangerous calm voice.
"SIT DOWN!" Fleamont roared, his own magic leaking out of his body. Everyone in the room exchanged glances of alarm, it was rare to see Monty lose his temper.
Charlus remained standing defiantly but didn't speak another word.
"His mother is Narcissa Black,"
Arcturus's mask fully slipped this time, his eyes narrowing.
"Obviously, I am not asking you or Dorea to do the same as you are for Harry," Fleamont spat, glaring at his little brother. "But I am asking Dorea and Arcturus to figure out a solution for the boy! His family is working in close proximity with this so-called new Dark Lord and he does not wish to be a part of it."
"Then we will help him," Dorea said.
"You can't be serious-" Charlus began.
"Control yourself, Charl." Arcturus drawled, turning his eyes back to Fleamont.
"Is Cissy involved with this Dark Lord as well?" Dorea asked.
"I did not ask." Fleamont sighed.
"Marcus Black would be an option, are there any Malfoy squibs?" Dorea inquired.
Charlus sat back down in his chair reluctantly. The silence stretched on as everyone was thinking.
"Issa Malfoy?" Euphemia offered.
Dorea's lips were pressed in a thin line before she let out a sigh and spoke, "That could work."
"Issa Malfoy and Marcus Black were both squibs of their families and cast out, conveniently they are also both dead so nobody should be asking questions. Being the son of two squibs is a great shame on the family so it wouldn't be unusual that the boy hasn't made an appearance until now," Arcturus confirmed before continuing, "I will help with his ancestry change but make no mistake, the boy will not be living with me. I do not care that he has a fraction of Black blood, it has been dirtied by the Malfoy name and I will not lower myself to care for such a person," he growled out.
Dorea rolled her eyes. "Of course not brother, he will have to stay at the Potter manor as well."
"Absolutely not!" Fleamont roared, his magic leaking out further.
"We are in agreement, brother." Charlus said, his temper rising.
"Neither of you have room to speak," Mia spat, glaring at the two men.
"You already house my grandson, surely you can adopt another Black? At least this time he isn't my heir," Arcturus spat.
Euphemia's lips pressed in a thin line, mimicking McGonagall whenever she was discipling particular disobedient children.
"It is solved then," Dore exclaimed cheerfully.
Charlus and Fleamont shared glances with each other, feeling despair overwhelm them. Neither wanted anything to do with the Malfoy family but Arcturus being the Slytherin he was, forced their hand.
"I will need blood from Marcus and Issa to complete the potion," Fleamont announced once his magic was reined in.
"That's inconvenient," Eupemia said.
"That won't be an issue. When do you need it?" Arcturus asked cryptically.
Charlus roared in laughter and Fleamont smirked.
Euphemia and Dorea exchanged glances, neither wanting to know how or why Arcturus had blood on hand for both of those squibs but both witches did not dare to ask. Ignorance is bliss.
"Tomorrow would be ideal. I will take both boys to Gringotts and have the Goblins assist with the tests. Dorea and Charlus will need to be in attendance, Arcturus is option of course,"
"Oh I wouldn't miss it," Arcturus sneered.
—--
"What the fuck-" Harry began.
Padfoot barked happily, licking Harry's eyeball.
"Padfoot, you're torturing the kid," James said, standing over Harry with a smile on his lips.
Harry shoved the dog off his lap, causing him to tumble to the floor and transform back to his human body.
Remus smirked and James roared with laughter.
"That was not nice, little Potter." Sirius whined.
"You licked my bloody eyeball! What were you doing in my bed?" Harry demanded.
"Waking you up, obviously." James cheered.
Remus rubbed a hand down his face in exasperation, "I told him not to,"
Harry rolled his eyes, snatching his glasses off his table and stuffing them on his face, the figures in the room slowly coming into focus. Harry stretched his limbs and let out a yawn, smirking at the face of betrayal that Siruis was wearing.
"Sorry, Padfoot," Harry replied cheekily. '
"You little brat!" Sirius yelled, transforming back into a dog and tackling Harry to the floor, knocking down Draco's curtains with them.
Malfoy sat up from his head, glaring menacingly at the boys.
"Some of us are trying to sleep," he sneered.
"You're awake now," Harry replied, shoving off Sirius before he licked another eyeball.
"What's with the dog?" Malfoy asked in confusion.
"Emotional support?" James offered.
Sirius barked in agreement.
Remus rolled his eyes.
Harry looked up at the blonde- wait… formally blonde. The pink? Why was his hair pink? Harry bit his cheek to hide his laughter, James was smirking with his arms crossed.
Malfoy looked between Harry and James, "What?" He spat.
"N-nothing," Harry replied, unable to contain his laughter as he fell back onto the floor and started dying of amusement.
Malfoy blinked slowly at the boy, "Why is your hair blue?"
"WHAT?!" Harry yelled, grabbing a lock of his hair bringing it in front of his eyes.
Sirius barked again causing James to roar with laughter once more, grabbing Harry's bed for support.
"I am a smurf," Harry cried.
Remus chuckled in amusement.
"I don't know what that means but you certainly look stupid," Draco drawled.
"Not as stupid as your pink hair," Harry spat.
Draco narrowed his eyes, conjuring a mirror with his wand before looking at his reflection.
Neon, bloody pink.
"I hate Gryffindors," Draco growled.
James, Remus and Padfoot exchanged knowing glances. Peter squeaked from the corner of the room. The four boys slowly started stepping towards the door.
"I'm going to destroy you!" Harry yelled, jumping to his feet and racing towards the Marauders.
James, Remus, Padfoot and Peter turned on their heels and went racing out the door. Padfoot transformed back into a human once he reached the stairs and the Marauders went racing out the common room, dodging confused classmates as Harry's pink hair raced after them.
"Pink? I am bloody pink!" Draco cried.