The Path of the Grim

by Anonymous_lilpotat

Summary:

Sirius was raised a Black and he took the lessons to heart. It changes everything.

Harry Potter is born two years earlier and Sirius Black would burn hell to protect the child.

James and Lily did their best for their two children. The only problem is that Jacob Potter, their youngest, is the boy-who-lived and they need to pay more attention to him lest the press eats the family alive. Sirius Black steps up to raise his godson.

Few could predict the outcome.

Chapter 1: Sirius’ Decisions

Sirius took his first life changing decision when he was seven.

Another Sunday. Another duelling lesson. Or what he preferred to call them: weekly torture session.

The Black Family tradition to teach the children how to duel the moment they turn five, after the ritual to stabilise their cores. Torture disguised as tradition to teach the younger generations to fear the elders.

It was tolerable. Sirius learnt how to live with it and Kreacher gave him the highest quality potions (much to mother’s chagrin) so the healing took only a few days. He could have lived with it for longer if Reggie wasn’t dragged in.

He remembers the first time. Regulus screaming as uncle Cygnus used the cruciatus on him.

Sirius clearly remembers the magic exploding. His magic obeying his every whim. The elders and his parents screaming as the floor caved under their feet and debris attacked them. The ritual circle blazing, uncle Cygnus being gored by the magic Sirius ordered to protect Regulus.

The Patriarch put a stop to everything by sheer will and then nothing.

The world went black.

“The Patriarch will punish young master, yes he will,” Kreacher muttered while feeding Sirius soup when he woke up three days later. “They be saying young master is being too powerful...”

“So they will control me before I turn against them.”

Kreacher nodded. It was hard not to notice the bruises on Kreacher’s arms and impossible to miss the welts mother’s favourite whip left behind. Sirius knew his house-elf was breaking the rules by feeding him.

“How is Reggie?”

“Young master Regulus was sent to the solitary isolation room, Kreacher be taking care of young master. Young master Regulus asked me to take care of young master Sirius.”

And that explained everything. Regulus was ridiculously close to Kreacher, the only reason the house-elf would ever take care of him was if his little brother asked.

“Kreacher, can you help me get to the artefact room?”

The house-elf’s eyes widened and he shook his head vigorously, looking around as if the Patriarch or his parents would enter the room any second. No one would blame him, the artefact room was forbidden to everyone but the Patriarch and those who were worthy of the Black Family magic.

“It’s calling for me,” Sirius confessed.

Kreacher froze.

He could feel it, the magic of the house and old wards. Images of a hallway he never saw and a strange room he has never been into. A strangely clear dagger waiting for him. Sirius could almost feel the wooden handle on his palm.

Kreacher did help him, not saying a word and looking around wildly as the hallways and doors moved, guiding Sirius. As a room containing the official family tree, a real tree that had names carved in every branch, moving around as if it was alive.

Sirius knew he was being judged and he didn’t cower. He would die rather than allow Reggie to suffer. If he didn’t do something extreme, then his brother would be tortured in the name of duelling practice and he wouldn’t be able to stop it again.

This was it if he allowed the Patriarch to silence him. So Sirius took his chance.

After all, mother magic favoured children. And Black magic favoured the strong.

He was both.

A branch-like arm moved to the tree’s trunk. It took out from its core a dagger, the one Sirius was so familiar with despite seeing it for the first time.

A thin branch reached to his forehead, showing how it was used the last time.

That night, he returned to bed with a cursed dagger and a plan, along with Kreacher’s respect and a firm warning.

If he won, then the family magic would favour him above any other Black.

If he didn’t, then the wards would consume him. The next heir would be blessed with Sirius’ magic if that was the case.

Sirius made a decision.

It changed everything.

---

Orion was nervous. So much he felt like retching, but held it in because it was not the time.

The whole family was present: the Patriarch, the elders, his cousins, and the children. Everyone watching the same thing.

Right in the middle of the ritual circle was Sirius facing the Patriarch.

Orion sighed. How hard was it for the brat to keep mum for another few months?! It would have been so easy to keep Sirius’ accidental magic under control once the ritual was complete.

Five years, four months, three days. Seven years, seven months, seven days. Those were the only rules the ritual had. As long as the ages were respected then the younger generations would be kept in check while their cores were stabilised and strengthened.

Magic beyond what other so-called witchcraft could do.

And Sirius managed to disrupt it to the point the Patriarch felt the family’s magic warning:

Either make the child heel or the family will heel to the child

Everyone felt it. Everyone knew what it meant. Sirius was powerful, so much that the family magic recognised his potential.

The child was a threat that the Patriarch would contain for the sake of the family.

“I told you we should have given him a different name,” Walburga spat, as annoying as always.

Orion rolled his eyes. “Three names with powerful arithmantic resonance is the family tradition. There is not a Black who isn’t blessed by magic, we make sure of it.”

Except squibs, of course, but those were fed to the wards to ensure the Family’s survival.

And he doubted naming his first-born Aristeus Seirios Aelios Black was a bad choice. Arithmancy was never wrong and that was a perfect name for a future Patriarch. After all, Orion was also named with power in mind and he never murdered an elder with magic alone.

It was something else.

Sirius was simply born blessed by mother magic.

The combat started. Though it was not much of a combat as it was a lesson to humble down the child and chain his magic.

Orion watched dispassionately and perhaps relieved, as Sirius was thrown from one side of the room to another. Minutes went by and the Patriarch made sure to humble down the brat, who was not face down, blood pooling under his face. Arm bent at an unnatural angle.

This is what he got for going against the Patriarch.

A cruciatus. Another one. And another one.

The Patriarch approached the shivering child on the floor, then screamed and fell on a knee.

What in the world was going on?

One moment the Patriarch was standing over Sirius’ prone body, foot on the child’s chest. The next, the Patriarch was screaming.

Orion felt the bile rise as he ran towards the ritual circle. The magic was rock solid, there was no way he could get in and could only observe as Sirius took the Patriarch’s wand and started waving it around in strange motions.

“No! Stop him!” Elder Cedrella Black (she never took her husband’s last name) screamed.

Spells were thrown, the barrier didn’t budge.

His son smiled, looking at Orion in the eye.

“Crucio.”

The Patriarch convulsed and screamed. It went on until mother collapsed on the floor, down to her knees.

“Sirius! Please, stop this!”

Her pleas were ignored. Orion didn’t know how long it took but the Patriarch stopped moving.

Sirius was undeterred, as if he wasn’t even seeing them. The child cut off his palm, blood flowing into the chest of the Patriarch. Then his son leaned down and started using the dagger on the Patriarch.

Orion looked away. He couldn’t see his own child bleeding his father.

Then he felt it.

The family magic twisting in his gut, as if being violently reorganised. Orion was quite sure everyone felt the wards changing around them.

Sirius rose.

The ritual circle consumed the Patriarch’s blood.

No one dared to speak.

“Kreacher, take my brother and I to my room.”

The ritual room of the main house was out of bounds to any creature unless the Patriarch allowed them entry. The filthy slave appeared out of thin air and disappeared with Regulus first.

Sirius bowed as a musician that just gave them a great show, dagger still in hand. Then the filthy creature took him as well.

Orion rushed to his father and sighed in relief. Only unconscious, not dead.

Then he tasted bile.

BLOOD TRAITOR

Two words carved into the Patriarch’s chest.

Orion felt his stomach churning.

If the Patriarch was still alive, then why was that cursed child able to manipulate the wards?!

Three days after the incident, the Patriarch finally awoke.

“The Black Family will heel to its rightful heir.”

Those were the last words Orion heard from his father before Arcturus and Liliana Black confined themselves in a small cottage. The Patriarch still moved the family money and was still known as the head of the family. Only the Blacks knew mother magic chose another head and Arcturus was only filling in until the heir was ready to take over.

Every member of the family understood the silent warning.

Either make the child heel or the family will heel to the child.

And the Black Family will heel to its rightful heir.

---

There were few things that aroused Albus Dumbledore’s curiosity, seeing a Black being sorted into Gryffindor was most definitely one of them.

Not receiving any complaint nor demand for a resorting from his family was unexpected, perhaps even a little worrying. It was perfectly natural for him to ask the professors to keep an eye on the boy.

“- simply brilliant. That boy is going places, I tell you!” Filius was gushing over Sirius Black and Minerva was nodding profusely.

Strange indeed.

“I know every pure-blood child is expected to know his way around a wand and Black children tend to be very talented, but Sirius? Oh my, that boy turned his quill into a gorgeous snuff box because he was bored! Brilliant, let me tell you.”

“His potions are perfect!” Horace agreed wholeheartedly. “Excellent education at home, no doubt.”

Albus sighed. Since Arcturus decided to stop socialising on a whim and the rest of the family became recluses, it was hard to know what was actually going on with the Blacks’.

Considering the family’s questionable allegiances and Tom’s strange movements, suffice to say Albus was worried.

More so considering Andromeda was working in the Ministry, at a high position at that, Narcissa was courting the Malfoy heir, and Bellatrix was excelling in school. No one knew what was actually going on within the family and even Lucretia refused to say a word about it.

Everyone in the order was nervous over how the Blacks would affect the upcoming war.

And now this, an unnaturally talented child in Gryffindor who happens to be a Black. A child who was in prime position to recruit others and who was getting on awfully well with James Potter and Remus Lupin.

The only child of a rich family and a possible in with the werewolves.

Albus was rightfully wary of the boy.

It was only natural for him to keep an eye on Sirius Black and be ready to prevent any kind of damage.

Only nothing really happened.

Sirius Black was a smart child (insanely talented and the only reason he didn’t skip years was because his parents refused) but he was also a good one. He befriended everyone despite their blood status. He and his friends pranked everyone, including each other (especially each other). But that was it. Those four were more focused on books and flying than pranks.

Moreover, Sirius was well liked and respected among students and teachers alike.

It shouldn’t worry Albus. It really should not.

Andromeda married a muggleborn and the whole Black family was present at the wedding, Arcturus making his first appearance in years. Two years later Narcissa married Lucius and only her mother was present. Bellatrix was in her last year and Albus knew she was set to work with the unspeakables. And, as strange as that girl was, she seemed to be loyal to her family and the Black’s made their position clear when they didn’t banish Andromeda.

Then there was Regulus, who seemed to have an unhealthy hero worship for his older brother, but he was also a good child. The house elves sang praises about the boy.

And Sirius? He was a good child. It was undeniable.

And despite everything, Albus Dumbledore was still anxious.

---

James knew he was in deep, deep trouble.

Royally fucked, actually.

And he knew mum would murder him… Well, no, she would actually be ecstatic. And she would make sure to give the elves a good vacation while he filled in their place.

Well, it was more than doable. After all, now that he is becoming a father he should at least know how to clean his house… Once he and Lily moved, he was definitely moving to a smaller place.

But first, he would tell Padfoot.

Who was casually reading a book while wandlessly stirring his tea. What a show-off!

“Oi, Padfoot, congrats!” Sirius looked away from his book and raised an inquisitive eyebrow (handsome bastard). “You are becoming an uncle!”

Sirius frowned. “Andromeda didn’t tell me a thing and Narcissa is still not allowed to.”

James shuddered. The Black’s were so weird… Sadly, he was also a Black. Despite not being from the main line, mum made sure they still followed their traditions. Ergh.

“Not them, Lils and I.”

There it was. James felt the knot in his stomach tightening. They were only seventeen going to eighteen, how were they meant to raise a baby?!

The silence felt like a curse constricting his chest so James gathered his courage and looked up.

Sirius dropped his book and the teaspoon was still. Yup, James broke him.

“I’m going to be an uncle.”

Then he bolted and lifted James as if he was nothing but a teddy bear. Left him dizzy to go and find Lily.

That was when James knew Lily and him would somehow make it. They were not alone in this one.

And how right he was about it.

One would think Sirius was the one expecting considering the hundred maternity books he read and all the food he had available in case Lily had any cravings. Taking care of Lily 24/7, going as far as offering himself to tell James’ parents about the pregnancy because James was too much of a chicken to do it.

James remembered the day Sirius was reading to Lily’s belly after class, obviously swollen with child. The first time their baby kicked, right into Sirius' hand. Padfoot didn’t move one bit, looking like one of those Greek statues.

In his rarely expressive friend, the sheer adoration was clear as day.

That moment James knew his best friend would become the godfather because Sirius loved the baby.

And that love was proven during Hogsmeade weekend. The attack was unexpected and his fellow classmates were falling like flies while they ran away. James protected Lily while Remus and Peter protected them and Sirius stayed behind to ensure their escape.

“Protect Lily!” That was the last thing he heard from Padfoot.

Lily cried while clutching the necklace Sirius forced on them, an amulet against curses. Now with its dix cracked, magic exhausted. And perhaps those were the worst hours in James’ life. Seeing bodies carted in, no news of Sirius.

James personally looked at every face to make sure, Lily did as well, too stubborn to back down.

No Sirius.

There were whispers.

Death Eaters. People who served Lord Voldemort. Criminals that kidnapped people to torture them.

“He will be back,” Marlene comforted Lily as she sobbed, her voice broke.

Everyone knew those were empty words.

The Aurors came into the great hall. All covered in blood and grime, the healers rushed to them.

James collided with Sirius, both running to each other. Then he was pushed away and Lily immediately replaced him and refused to let go.

No one could blame her, not even him. And perhaps James would be jealous if Lily was hugging another man instead of the one that chose to confront ten murderers and give them a way out.

“Sirius Black, right?” James gaped as the living legend, Alastor Moody, appeared. “You have a place in the DMLE waiting for you son.”

Sirius didn’t let go of Lily, “thank you, sir.”

“No. Thank you. There would be a whole lot more casualties if not for you.” Auror Moody patted Padfoot’s shoulder (lucky bastard) and took a good look at Lily. “But I guess the missus won’t be happy to have the father of her child in the front line.”

Lily reacted to that. “He’s going to be the godfather and you better not if you don’t want me to worry me to death, Sirius Black! How dare you sacrifice yourself?! Do you have any idea of how worried I was?!”

James sighed, this was home.

“Thank you for bringing Sirius back, sir,” James gave the man a full bow, the one reserved for the Patriarch of the family.

The man boomed in laughter and James flinched. His nerves were so not ready.

“No formalities for me, sonny. And he is the one who brought me back. Quick with a wand and twice as lethal as my best Auror. Do try to convince the girly to allow your friend to join us.”

“Sir, she has the bollocks in the relationship.”

Auror Moody laughed, then narrowed his eyes. “You are Fleamont’s kid, innit?”

“Yes, sir.”

“So the baby is yours.” James was already used to that look, surprise turning into disapproval. “I think your child will be the most well protected baby to be born, your friend told me his only motivation to return was because he needed to make sure the baby was safe.”

James felt warmth bloom in his chest. “That is Padfoot to you, the best man you will ever meet.”

“Indeed.”

He didn’t bother to decipher the look Auror Moody gave him before extending another offer to Sirius. James knew better than anyone his child would be dearly loved.

After all, Junior only went to sleep (Lily constantly complained about the baby kicking) when Sirius read or talked to Lily’s belly.

He should have seen it coming.

James did not.

---

Lily HATED being pregnant but already loved her little bub to death. And past Lily would punch her if she heard it, but she loved Sirius as well.

In the past, he was her biggest competition in school, then he turned into the annoying best friend of the annoying bloke that kept asking her out, then the bastard became her best friend’s boyfriend.

And then he became her friend.

Sirius is the one that talked to James’ parents and did some macumba to get the school to accept them only going for classes and then back home. He was also the one who massaged her feet and back, who got her every craving, helped her with homework, and even got her an apprenticeship with a Charms master. All of that while keeping his grades.

So there was no way Lily didn't love him. But she drew a line to her love here.

“You won’t name my child Hyperio and I’m giving birth at the hospital, not a random Black property and you are most definitely being right beside me after James passes out!”

“Oi!” James complained out of habit, there was no real argument.

After all, he did pass out when Peter sliced his finger in Potions.

“Lily, please, hear me out,” Sirius asked, showing her his notes (muggle notebook, curious). “The Arithmancy is perfect. Hyperio Haerviu Corvinus is a perfect equation to encourage magic growth. Besides, ley lines are vital. The place you give birth in is important to ensure the baby’s magic is stable.”

“Sirius, sweetie, I can’t pronounce two out of three of these. And it’s me who is going to give birth, not you. My vagina, my choice.” Sirius opened his mouth and closed it with a snap, nodding. “Besides, no Black tradition dictates my son to have ridiculous names.”

“My name is Seirios, I can tell you the other two once you swear an unbreakable vow. His is Iacobus.”

The fuck?

James covered his face. “Our official names are the ones that are written on our family trees. The ones given to the school and Ministry are simplified versions.”

What in the bloody hell?!

“You only need a full name to curse a person,” Sirius explained, “have you heard of the phrase names have power? There are many reasons for that.”

Lily sighed and gave up on the point. After all, she was the one who asked Sirius to name her baby.

“I’m still giving birth in the hospital.”

Sirius nodded, already working on some equations. “You should choose the name that will be on the papers and then we swear to never speak of Corvinus' full name.”

Lily didn’t get why they were naming her baby something they couldn’t even talk about. Pure-bloods were so weird.

“It’s for safety, trust Sirius,” James asked, sitting beside her and interlacing their fingers.

“I do.”

She trusted Sirius more than she trusted herself.

Sirius proved his trustworthiness during graduation. She knew damn well there was no way she was valedictorian, Sirius was just too good. But, apparently the idiot sabotaged himself so she could have this. And it was so darn satisfying to see all the people that talked about her bleak future popping kids for James Potter stay quiet as she gave her speech.

Then the party. Lily was too pregnant to dance but she wanted to. So he made sure she could. According to James, Sirius worked in the shoes she was wearing for months. Neither her feet nor back hurt, impossible to believe a pair of shoes worked better than potions.

Then again during the wedding, having ready an extra pair of shoes (extra cushioned) and her favourite ice cream.

She was too pregnant to go on a honeymoon and, considering the war, she didn’t want to go either.

James, Remus, and Sirius, much to her chagrin, joined the Auror corps. Lily hated it. She hated even more to see Sirius breeze through training, not even a month and he became a full Auror, way too busy to read to her now that he was hunting bad guys and the other two were just as busy with training.

Marlene and Alice were her solace. Them and little Reggie. So adorable as he baked for her alongside Kreacher, Dorea and Lily cooing at the pair.

There was also this time when Bellatrix came in secret to talk about the wards with James’ parents and Lily had to swear not to reveal she ever saw Bellatrix.

War.

That is what was going on outside the walls of the Potter Manor. And the few things Lily knew about it were because she peeked at Andromeda’s paperwork.

Andromeda Tonks. Dorea’s niece and Sirius cousin was living in the manor alongside her husband and their daughter. No one was safe unless they were behind old wards. Not even pure-bloods.

Which is how Lily ended up in a surprisingly not decrepit (and quite cosy) Black property to give birth. Dorea didn’t give in when tradition, Black family one, of course, was involved.

So she gave birth on the last day of September, with Sirius acting as midwife (while reciting under his breath everything that he learnt from his books) because the one that had to come never arrived and no one else was qualified.

Lily did think, in one of her horniest moments, that James would eventually ask her to have Sirius join them for a threesome. She never once imagined he would end up seeing her naked in these circumstances. At least the water of the overly large tub was warm and the weird runes were glowing (no pain, yay for her). Missy the house-elf was feeding her crushed ice while James tried not to look as the water turned pink from the blood. To be fair, Sirius was the only one looking (and constantly touching her vagina to ensure proper dilation, how totally unsexy that sounded).

James almost fainted when Sirius suggested they shagged so her cervix relaxed further. Earned a face full of water for his efforts.

So, after rolling his eyes, Sirius went around the tub (cleansing pool, same thing) and then cut his hand, dropping blood on a rune.

James fainted.

Lily screamed as the blood was absorbed by the tub.

“This was especially designed to help the body regenerate and Black women gave birth in these for generations. It’s traditional for the father to have intercourse with the mother, semen helps the cervix relax and life fluids do power up the runes. But the two of you are whimsies so it’s my duty to step up as godfather and I swear if you make another sex joke, I’m not baking for you again Lily Evans.”

She most definitely did not pout and she didn’t want to make a sex joke about Sirius stepping up. Fucking hormones got her horny.

“Fine,” Lily drawled the last vocal for an unnecessarily long time.

And less than an hour later she gave birth with no pain whatsoever. Magic was the best!

Sirius was the first one to hold the baby as he helped little Harry to swim to the surface. The adoration in his face convinced Lily that no one would ever love Harry more than Sirius. Then she forgot about the world as she held her baby in her arms, knowing she couldn’t love anyone more than him.

The whole affair was surprisingly underwhelming. Though no one prepared her for the pain of breastfeeding, which was thankfully dulled by whatever macumba this pool was made from.

“We should wait before waking James,” Sirius sighed as he busied himself with the runes again.

This time Lily knew to look away. “Shouldn’t we cut the cord?”

“Not yet. See the rune at the bottom? The biggest one that is glowing. Once that one starts to fade I will clamp the cord and cut it. It will feed from your blood, I’ll wake up James and make him give a little as well. That way your body will be able to heal, not fully but almost completely.”

Lily sighed. “It sounds like bogus. But I know damn well giving birth hurts and what hurt the most was James holding my hand too tight before passing out… So, will you teach me about these runes?”

Sirius looked affronted by the notion. “Of course not. You would have to be the Matriarch of the Family and have a few masteries before I even allowed you close to the Family books,” Sirius sighed, finally sitting beside Lily, gently caressing Harry’s hair. “It’s dark magic, you know, anything that has to do with blood.”

“Sirius, I learned long ago that dark magic is not necessarily evil.”

Her baby started fussing. Lily panicked.

That is until Sirius took her baby, dirtying his silk dress shirt with no apparent worry. Harry immediately calmed down.

“It’s not that, it’s about control.” And it was the first time Lily saw the man hunting criminals rather than her friend. She was too afraid to ask what he was drawing with blood on her baby’s forehead. “Either you control the magic or it controls you. Dark magic is dangerous, it consumes people who can’t control it.”

Do you control it?

Lily didn’t have the guts to ask. She couldn't even ask for her baby back from his arms.

She should have.

---

Bellatrix was nine when she learnt what power looked like.

Witchcraft beyond anything she could ever imagined wrecked the ritual room and gutted father. All thanks to her baby cousin.

That night Cissy cried like the cry baby, daddy’s girl she was.

Bellatrix didn’t shed a tear, too busy reading the few books that were available in the library. A shame neither of her parents were interested in academics, too busy seeing to whom they would sell their daughters to.

“Andromeda, you can feel it, right?”

Her oldest sister only nodded.

There was no way to describe the magic vibrating in their bones, as if waiting for something. Bellatrix personally thought every Black could feel it.

It was in their shifty eyes and shaky hands during father’s funeral (no body, of course, it was consumed by the wards). It was in the hushed whispers about that child and in the Patriarch’s unnatural stiffness.

Sirius Black.

A single magic outburst caused the family magic to riot.

And Sirius proved his worth once again less than a week later. People screamed, elders tried to break the sacrificial circle, Narcissa ugly cried.

But only she was able to fully feel the magic settling, content with the sacrifice. Bellatrix was the first to know the Black’s had a new Patriarch.

Less than a month ago she would have rioted, just like the elders were planning. (Futile effort, as long as they belonged to the family the Patriarch’s word was law). But there was one thing she knew and that was magic, which was telling her to follow Sirius.

So she did.

Few days after the duel Bellatrix personally asked Sirius to stop mother from betrothing her to that ugly Lestrange bastard.

“And why should I do that?” Sirius asked, not even looking at her and searching through the library.

Bellatrix didn’t even have to think about the answer. “I was born a warrior, not an incubator.”

She had ambitions and dreams, she was born to fight and she would leave this world in battle. She wanted to see her name written in history, not be someone’s wife.

Sirius hummed. “Don’t bow to me, makes me feel old. Here.”

Bellatrix looked up and took the offered book. “Bath of the mother?”

“Close enough, Cleansing of Mother Magic. I think too many traditions were forgotten. Let’s revive them, Bella.”

She beamed, knowing she was given a chance to prove her worth. Once she did, she was asking for the honour of feeding mother to the wards herself.

And, as Bellatrix suspected, magic never led her astray.

Sirius allowed her to learn about the cleansing pools that were ignored for centuries in the old Black Manor. She was allowed to experience them first hand, runes lighting up as the water changed colours from the filth she was born with (magic residue, same thing).

Bella was allowed to be reborn and be free.

So it was only natural for her to dedicate her life to Sirius Black.

It was only natural for her to prepare the ritual room for his coming of age ceremony and line up the elders in perfect order to be consumed by the wards and strengthen Sirius magic. Even aunt Lucretia was helping (the only reason why she was not being offered).

After that day, only seven Black’s were left.

It was necessary to prune the sick branches, now the family could truly flourish.

And flourish it did. Andromeda gave birth to a healthy baby, the first metamorphmagus in thirteen generations. And aunt Dorea’s brat fathered a healthy child a year after, a powerful one, Bella felt it from the moment she met the child. And aunt Lucretia's branch was perfectly healthy, all magical and talented despite no longer carrying the surname Black.

It would be better if Narcissa, her silly sister, obeyed Sirius and courted a better man. The only reason Bella didn’t take the matters into her own hands was because Sirius told her Narcissa would be an example of disobedience.

And what a great example it was. After all, Narcissa was not allowed to carry any children without the Patriarch’s consent. Now that the Black’s had a new Patriarch, it was almost hilarious to see her sister and that unworthy man of hers begging after the third miscarriage.

Of course, there was Bellatrix herself. An unspeakable, one of the few female ones. Then she became a spy (at the Patriarch’s request) on silly Tommy.

In another lifetime, she would have perhaps admired the man’s magic power. Not in this one. Not after experiencing what real witchcraft was rather than flimsy pagan rituals.

And Bella knew she followed the right person when the Patriarch burnt what was left of the Potter manor to ashes. Fiendfyre forever erasing any hints of the ritual aunt Dorea and the Patriarch designed for little Corvan’s safety.

Everything was burnt to ashes.

The ritual of seven sevens. Enough sacrifices so not even death was able to touch the child and Tommy had little to do with the decision. At least those pesky death eaters were good for something.

When Tommy attacked the Potters (fucking Pettigrew, she knew she should have gutted him long ago) and little Harry apparated to the Black Manor. Specifically to the cleansing pools, Bella knew the family was blooming beautifully and Sirius was going to have a perfectly suited heir despite his lack of desire to father a child.

Tojours Pours

The Black family magic would always be the purest. Bellatrix would ensure it.

Notes:

Hello everyone!

I am not going with canon content here, so everything will be different. As it is fanfiction, I am changing events and ages and everything I want to fit my whimsies.
I am here to have fun!

Chapter 2: Decisions Have Consequences

Sirius was only seventeen when he became the Patriarch. The youngest one since Ciro Black the first, seven centuries ago.

It was only a few months before his eighteen birthday when he decided to join the war.

They should have known better than to try to harm Lily and, by extension, his future godson. It was only logical to attack back. No one tried to harm a Black and got away unscathed.

Dear Bella went into spy duty gleefully. She even brought a little stray that she found in one of the death eater meetings.

Bartemius Crouch Junior. Clever boy that immediately gave his loyalty to anyone who could free him from his father.

It was convenient to take the boy (he was Reggie’s age, way too young) under his wing because they had a common enemy. Crouch was the most annoying fucker in the department. Sirius would personally suspect the man serving Voldemort if he didn’t know any better.

Sirius Black was a prodigy amongst prodigies. Finished basic Auror training in a month and with flying colours at that. Auror training was nothing compared to the weekly training sessions he and his cousins had. Bella’s one true love was witchcraft, but wizardry loved her. The woman was a talented duellist and would be better than him if he didn’t have access to all the family grimoires that were exclusive to the Patriarch.

Not even six months after becoming an Auror, Sirius was offered an entry into the Hit Wizard department. The elite among the elites.

Three months later, Moody handed him the reins.

“You have a good head on your shoulders, son. Great strategist and even better leader. Everyone trusts you. Hell, even I trust your judgement more than my own!” That was what Moody told him while handing him the small insignia that handed him power in the department.

So he did. Sirius re-established the Arch of Judgement to ensure there were no spies within. Jugson and Travers were decapitated by the cloaked figure that announced all their crimes before it melded back into the Arch.

It was logical for a petty man such as Crouch to be afraid of how much power Sirius had.

A nineteen year old holding a position with just as much power as the head of the DMLE and whose family name gave him weight in the Wizengamot.

Crouch was petty enough to try to put obstacles on Sirius' path and smart enough to be as sneaky as possible. Too sad he was not powerful enough to be more than a nuisance.

And Sirius was too busy to care.

After all, raising a baby was hard work.

Corvan, his godson, was perhaps the most adorable child in this world. Adorable and fragile. If something happened to him, Sirius would lose his mind.

“The ritual of the seven sevens.” Aunt Dorea suggested, because she loved her grandson and lived through a war already.

Innocents were the first victims.

So they prepared the ritual. Bellatrix helped procure the materials while Andromeda covered the traces and uncle Fleamont offered his family home to power it. The Arithmancy and ley lines were perfect.

Seven months, seven days, and seven hours old and Harry became almost untouchable by magic. Neither Lily nor James were let into the secret. After all, they were not Blacks, they would never understand the rituals powered by sacrifices.

They were too soft, but it was alright. Sirius was more than enough to protect them. And he was not alone, Reggie, Bella, Andromeda, aunt Lucretia, and aunt Dorea were on her side. Narcissa was just there, not supportive but she would never dare to go against him.

“Should we congratulate you?” Remus asked. Sirius raised an eyebrow while he fed Corvinus some ominous veggie concoction that Missy made. “I hear rumours about the Minister running away.”

Sirius rolled his eyes. Gossip, oh so annoying and effective. “It’s not important.”

Peter dropped his glass, Sirius made sure it didn’t shatter. Glass was dangerous for babies.

“Not important?” Peter choked.

James snorted. “You are becoming acting Minister for Magic. The youngest one!”

“Only until the war is over, not a second more.”

The Minister was a coward and Andromeda got so much dirt on her that the woman chose to run away and cut her losses. It would not be as annoying if the responsibility didn’t fall into the head of the Hit Wizard division. Fucking Moody laughed his arse off.

“Si’us,” Harry demanded Sirius’ attention.

“I can’t believe his first word was your name,” Lily lamented, placing a cuppa in front of Sirius, “he refuses to say Mum or Dad.”

“Let’s hope our next one isn’t Sirius mini-me,” James opened his arms and Lily sat on his lap.

Sirius rolled his eyes… Though they were not exactly wrong.

If he didn’t know any better (and wasn’t a hundred percent sure he never bedded Lily), he would suspect Corvan was his. The traditional Black hair and cheekbones (though he suspected it was the whole face structure) and Lily’s eyes.

Corvinus was indeed a Black.

“Alright, so, Peter. Do you like babies?” James asked, putting his chin on Lily’s shoulder.

Peter rolled his eyes. “I only changed a hundred diapers and am on burping duty, what ever made you think I like it?”

“What are you knitting this time?” Remus asked.

Peter froze and then sighed. “A new blanket. Sirius got this silver alpaca wool sweater and Harry loves it.”

“And that is why you will be the godfather to our next baby!”

The room froze for a moment then it exploded in sound. Sirius rolled his eyes and erected a silent barrier because the noise was starting to bother the baby. So that is why Lily smelled different lately.

“We were not expecting this,” Lily said, “but we are happy.”

“And we want you to be the godfather, Peter. Remus, you will have the honour next.”

“But I don’t wanna help Lily give birth,” Peter whinged, “I hate blood. And Sirius was basically Lily’s personal maid, I don’t wanna. Ask Sirius.”

“Can’t, the godfather’s vow can only be made once,” Sirius absently muttered, making funny faces so Corvinus laughed.

Lily rolled her eyes. “I don’t expect you to. It was different back then. James will take time off his job to help Fleamont build the new manor… Sirius, I do expect you to help me give birth in those tubs again.”

Sirius looked at Lily, her son did have her eyes. “I can help but I can’t promise you access to the cleansing pools. The Black Family wards are whimsical and the three cleansing pools available were already used by you, Andromeda, and Narcissa. There is a three year rule so I would rather be safe than sorry.”

While it was not a lie, it was not necessarily the truth. Narcissa did give birth last year but she was not allowed to use any Black property. At least the woman was clever enough to ask him to calculate a good place to give birth and the name.

His niece was adorable enough for Sirius not to hold any of the dislike he felt for her parents.

But Sirius had a pool reserved for Corvan’s third birthday. Rituals were there for a reason and Sirius would follow the tradition.

“Well, fuck me,” Lily cussed. “Adeline gave birth three months ago and I was there. It was absolutely horrible seeing her in so much pain and now I have to go through that. Fuck. Me.”

“Lils, baby, I will gladly-”

“Finish that sentence and I will tell everyone that you fainted twice during Harry’s birth.”

Sirius carefully rocked Corvinus to sleep, knowing fully well he would never care half as much for the next child James had. Or any other child, for that matter.

At least Marlene understood him, taking the vow by her own volition so they could properly love and take care of Corvinus.

---

Albus Dumbledore gulped down a pain relieving potion in hopes his brain stopped throbbing.

The war was not going the way he expected.

Alastor refused to join the Order. Not a single Auror joined the order, not even Shacklebolt. Lily, James, and their friends left the order.

“It’s for the best,” Frank told Albus, “Sirius is making things happen. Voldemort is on the run, almost no attacks. Pure-bloods are scared. It will be over soon, professor, the Order is not needed.”

After the disappearances, people were wary. Few connected the dots and realised those who disappeared were pure bloods who had contact with Voldemort. Suspected death eaters.

And they vanished.

Then the Potter Manor burned until it was nothing but ashes. Fortunately, no one was harmed.

Then the Minister ran away and Sirius became interim Minister.

The youngest one in history.

And suddenly things were moving too fast. The members of the Wizengamot were given the choice to either go through the Arch of Judgement or leave. More than half of the members left after Bartemius Crouch went under it and all his crimes were revealed.

No one wanted to have their vault’s seized for corruption.

Then Sirius upturned the Ministry. Bellatrix Black, Tom’s right hand, was the one who culled every simpatizante with Tom’s cause. No one suspected she was a spy.

Not even him. She fooled the whole country on Sirius’ orders. Loyal indeed. Only her loyalty belonged to her family.

Albus heard from Minerva that Lily gave birth to her second child. A boy. A difficult birth he was told.

That same evening she interviewed Sybill and before he could reject her application she spoke.

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord was born

Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month died

The Dark Lord will mark him, but he will have power the Dark Lord dares not imagine

One must die at the hand of the other for the executer to be pacified

The one with the power to replace the Dark Lord was born once the seventh month died...

“-and that is why cultivating the talent to use the third eye is so important,” Sybill finished as if nothing happened.

Albus smiled, more likely grimaced. “Wonderful answer, Sybill. Come to the castle next week so we can discuss your contract.”

The one with the power to replace the Dark Lord was born when the seventh month died

Lily and James had their baby a few days ago, on the last days of July. The seventh month.

So he paid the couple a visit, the first one since their wedding. It was strange to notice they were living in the Black Manor.

A house elf opened the door, this little thing wearing an ornate lilac dress.

“Master James and Mistress Lily are waiting for Mister Dumbledore. Please, take off your shoes, the Patriarch doesn’t like shoes in the house.”

Albus was surprised at the news of Arcturus, considering the man gave no signals of life, it was surprising to know he was still alive. It was even stranger for the man to allow muggleborns and blood-traitors in the family house. That was not the man Albus knew.

Then again, Arcturus was not the kind of man that would ever allow his grandchild to marry anything other than a pure blood. Age mellowed the man.

James and Lily were on a couch, Lily looked pale and quite gaunt, James was understandably protective of her.

“It has been a while, professor,” Lily said, voice soft, “you didn’t choose a good time to give us emergency news.”

Albus grimaced, a hard birth indeed, the woman obviously needed a good rest. “I apologise, but I have some worrying news.”

“Sirius will be here soon,” James said, not looking away from his wife, “do you fancy some tea?”

Albus did his best not to grimace. Sirius always made him feel rather uncomfortable. But he knew better than to object to the young man’s presence. Lily and James loved and trusted Sirius more than they could ever trust him.

Twenty minutes or so Sirius arrived with a baby in his arms… Or was it a toddler? A baby toddler? It was embarrassing to admit he was not familiar with young children. They creep him out.

“Sorry, our evening flight took too long. It has been a while, Dumbledore.”

Sirius Black had not changed much. Broader shoulders and perhaps more confidence, maybe a few centimetres to his height. And, of course, a child clinging to him.

“Sirius.”

The man barely paid him any mind. “Lily, you should be resting.”

“I want to know what is going on.”

Sirius scowled. “Kreacher.” Whatever was said later was lost to Albus.

He sighed, he really should have gotten over his dislike of French people and learn the language.

“Does Sir want anything?” the house elf that opened the door asked, already holding a tray full of snacks and placing them in front of Sirius.

“Thank you Missy, please take him. You need a bath.” The toddler pouted, holding Sirius’ shirt tighter. “Corvan.”

“’kay,” the child pouted, receiving a head pat before the house elf took him away.

Corvan? He thought the child’s second name was James. Perhaps a nickname. Sirius was a Black after all, and all Blacks were obsessed with astrology.

“One would think you gave birth to him,” Lily grumbled.

Sirius smiled, taking a piece of cake from the tray in front of him. “Let me remind you, I was in more pain than you.”

Lily giggled, then hissed, clutching her middle.

“So what news do you have, Dumbledore?” Sirius urged him while James fussed over his wife.

Albus told them about the prophecy. Lily lost so much colour Albus considered giving her some blood replenishing potion.

James demanded answers while Sirius fed Lily a potion and then called an elf to take the unconscious woman away.

A hand on the shoulder was all that was needed for James to deflate and cling to Sirius.

“This is troubling news, but don’t worry, I will take care of everything.”

“Sirius, you are competent but not even you can prevent a prophecy.”

“I don’t need to,” Sirius said, “there is little we can do and I am pretty sure I can murder the bastard before he learns about it.”

Albus sighed, “it’s not that easy, my child.”

“It is. He went under the fidelius, I am scrying the location already.”

Scrying.

The dark arts.

“What are you doing, Sirius?”

“What no one else is willing to do. Now, if you excuse us.”

Only now did he notice James was unconscious.

And he should have done something to stop Sirius back then, but he had no confidence in being victorious if he ever confronted the man.

After all, only the Black Patriarch wore the ring Sirius was sporting on his left hand.

---

If anyone asked James what the worst day of his life was, his answer would be the 31st of October four years ago.

When Voldemort attacked the cabin where James and Lily, alongside the whole family, chose to spend a week in. It was a muggle property rented under Jacob and Elizabeth Evans. No one should have known where they were.

Peter’s disappearance was a hard hit to him, Lily only fretted because he disappeared a week before he made the godfather’s vow.

A year in and not even Sirius could find him.

Voldemort fled the country and Sirius was already in talks with the ICW to catch him. England was supposed to be safe.

So they went out on a dinner night, a date after so long, leaving the kids with their grandparents. Only to return to a wrecked building.

Sirius was there with a whole squad already working.

It was the first time James ever feared Sirius.

Dear Padfoot was not in front of him. There was the Patriarch of the Black Family barking orders and desperately looking for Harry.

James was the one who retrieved his mother’s body, right in front of a crying little Jacob. There were no signs of his other son.

Lily was a sobbing mess while holding Junior.

No signs of Harry.

Kreacher appeared and took Sirius away. James wanted to throw up. If Kreacher took Sirius away then there was either an attack on the manor or a branch of the family tree just died.

“Sirius is the best at what he does, he will find your son,” Moody promised as he awkwardly patted James’ shoulder.

Missy appeared when the healers arrived. No one wanted to apparate a bleeding baby.

“Young Master Corvan is safe. He apparated in the healing pools.”

Aside from the sharp pain in his knees, James remembers the relief the most. His son was safe and sound.

And he was not allowed to even touch his baby, who was floating on black, muddy water.

“Aunt Dorea sacrificed herself but the bastard did something that could potentially harm Corvinus if it isn’t cleansed now.”

So Lily and James took turns between the hospital and the Manor, watching over their children. Sirius didn’t move. He occasionally bled on a rune or another until the water was clear again and Harry woke up.

That night James lost his parents and got a taste of what losing his children felt like.

Four years later, James realised he also lost his best friend that night.

Ever since that night, Sirius changed. He was Padfoot only with Harry, no one else. There were moments James swore he blamed them for what happened years ago. Losing Marlene after the Longbottom attack didn’t help.

Sirius swept over the country and every single death eater was brought to court. Assets were absorbed to pay the victims and only the kiss awaited the convicted criminals. There was a lot of veritaserum and no mercy.

The ICW condemned Sirius, the people applauded him.

James was torn to see Peter receiving the kiss. His old friend turned into nothing but a husk after Sirius was done with him and, despite knowing the man betrayed him, James couldn’t hate him because Peter went through hell itself the year he was kidnapped by Voldemort.

And the second he tried to stop Sirius from torturing Peter is that he earned a week in Azkaban for obstructing justice. He almost lost his job as well. James should have known back then.

Now they were in Saint Mungus.

Waiting and hoping and crying and praying. There was nothing else to do aside from holding Lily.

Remus was there alongside Moody, not as support, but asking questions about their delay.

“Wilful Negligence of a Minor.” James recognised the report Remus was filling with their answers and had no way to negate the accusation.

And here they were.

James and Lily took Junior abroad. Their baby became a celebrity for surviving the killing curse so they travelled to Germany to close a book deal. They were supposed to arrive three days before Harry’s birthday.

There was a delay.

Next thing they know is their son flew without supervision (a little too far away from the wards), the elves unable to do anything to stop him and Sirius abroad. A single accident. A fall.

Sirius was the first one to notice thanks to the vow and he contacted his people and sent them to the manor. That is what James and Lily found.

Their home full of Aurors looking for the rogue dementor that caused the accident. (It was a miracle Harry was still alive and the mere thought was a stab to the chest).

Sirius arrived alongside Bellatrix, covered in blood and mud (and Merlin knew what else). He didn’t stop until he was right in front of James.

“If something happens to him, I will kill you.”

That was the only thing Sirius said before leaning on the wall and stay as still as a statue. An unknown woman appeared, holding Kreacher’s hand. She ran to Sirius and hugged him.

Lily and James looked at each other. Neither thought Sirius would be in another relationship after losing Marlene but, if the ring with the Black’s crest in the woman’s left hand was any hint, Sirius was pretty – well, serious, about her.

James had a thousand questions burning his tongue. Remus’ unnecessarily strong hold stopped him.

Right, at the moment neither James nor Lily were exactly persona grata.

A healer appeared. “Harry Potter.” All of them stood. The healer sighed. “I advise you to prepare for the worst. The child lost too much blood and we are trying our best but not even our best potions are working on him. Right now only magic is keeping him alive. Please, choose the order in which you will say your goodbyes.”

Lily collapsed. James would have done something if Sirius didn’t have him pinned by the throat to the wall.

“It is all your fault,” Sirius spat and his grip tightened for a few seconds.

Bellatrix held her cousin’s arm.

James was too dizzy, gulping air desperately to know what was going on. He did remember a few words though “blood of the father”. And the look Sirius was giving him was enough to know he wouldn’t live to see another day.

“Sirius, take me to my office. I can take some blood from the bank. We should have enough o negative.”

And suddenly Sirius forgot about James' existence and disappeared with the woman.

“Madam Marchbanks will be waiting to interview you tomorrow,” Remus said, face devoid of emotion.

In the gentle man’s aloofness is that James realised he lost another friend.

Sirius and the woman reappeared less than ten minutes later, carrying multiple bags of what seemed to be awfully similar to blood. Bellatrix cleared the way and warded the door. Moody joined the woman.

And James was no genius but even he knew Sirius was doing something to save Harry. So he prayed to the ancestors and begged mother magic to allow his son to survive this trial.

Less than two hours later his prayers were answered.

Harry was going to live.

“A miracle.” Healers claimed and marvelled, talking to Sirius’ woman until Bellatrix put a stop to it.

That morning Harry was transported to a muggle hospital. Sirius’ woman was a squib that worked there and she claimed it was for the best.

Lily snapped.

His wife refused and James supported that decision, nothing against muggles, but they had nothing on magic. The next thing he knew he woke up to a dark room. Alice was right next to Lily.

“You are both under Auror watch,” Alice explained, not looking away from the bedding. “I only know Sirius took Harry somewhere and we moved some strings so you stay in our home rather than jail until the hearing.”

“Hearing?” Lily whispered, voice hoarse.

Alice sighed and closed her eyes. “Wilful negligence and endangerment of a minor. Sirius is requesting full custody.”

“He can’t do that! Harry is MY baby!”

James tried to reach for his wife and only then noticed he was handcuffed to the bed.

“Lily, please, calm down. Things are already bad,” Alice raised her voice, not quite a scream but close enough. Lily was shocked into silence. “Three hit wizards not counting Bellatrix nor Moody already gave their testimonies. Harry was left home alone for two weeks with nothing but house elves. No one, not even us, knew the boy was home alone!” Alice stopped abruptly, taking a shuddering breath. “You could have left him with Andromeda or me. Even Molly.”

“We weren’t supposed to take so long,” James muttered.

But they could have asked someone to come and check in. They didn’t.

It’s just that Harry was so mature already that they didn’t think anything bad would happen.

Alice deflated. “You know Sirius’ word is almost law in the Ministry. The hearing is only a formality, I know Madam Marchbanks is already filing the paperwork. You can try and ask Dumbledore for his testimony, but I doubt it will help.”

“But Harry is our baby,” Lily muttered, her voice broke and she started sobbing.

James looked at Alice. The woman shook her head. He sighed.

“And Sirius is the godfather. He took the vow, he has more rights over Harry than we do.”

Because the vow to protect a child was perhaps the only ritual that was not outlawed. And the one that very few took. Sirius swore to do his very best to ensure Harry’s happiness and to give his life for Harry’s safety.

An oath in blood.

The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.

In the eyes of the law, Sirius was the legal guardian of Harry. James knew this from the beginning, he just never imagined his friendship with Sirius would deteriorate to what it now was.

That was his first mistake.

---

The hearing was awfully similar to that intervention Lily’s room-mates made. They simply accused her of everything wrong in the room, spending all her time with boys, and cheating to get good grades. Only this time there were facts backed by evidence.

James and Lily Potter are not involved in Harry Potter’s life.

It sounded like a lie. Only that neither she nor James knew Harry was going to a muggle school. Why would he even need to go?!

Harry Potter lives with Sirius Black and his fiance five or six days a week.

Lily didn’t even know Sirius was engaged. He was. That squib doctor was the fiance. She did know Harry had his own room in the Black manor at least.

She and James were working hard to rebuild the family. Rebuilding the manor took a fortune so they didn’t have the accessible income they once did. James was working hard in the DMLE and Lily was doing her best with her charmed objects store. Which meant they were busy all the time.

Jacob was the same age as Alice’s son and the woman retired from the Auror force because the attack on the Longbottoms left her paralysed from the waist down. Alice babysat Jacob thrice a week while Lily took him to her store the remaining three days. Sirius stepped in for Harry but not Jacob.

“One adult against two children. No thanks.”

Lily didn’t push. She never imagined it would backfire this way.

James and Lily Potter wilfully endangered Harry Potter’s life.

And she had no justification or excuse for this one. Sirius and Bellatrix were on an important Mission. Full moon was approaching so Remus was out. There was still Andromeda (whose four children were close to Harry, the twins were his age), Alice, and even Molly.

Neither of them thought about them and were now facing the consequences.

The hearing was nothing but a formality indeed. Not a single person was on their side. She did hear Dumbledore tried to dismiss the issue; he was replaced as Chief Warlock that same day.

Sirius Black became a war hero and was a well known philanthropist. Albus Dumbledore was well-respected, but not nearly as much as Sirius. With Andromeda as Minister, Bellatrix as the head of the Department of Mysteries, and Sirius still holding his place as General of the Hit Wizard department, it was no surprise Dumbledore’s influence in the Ministry was almost non-existent.

“-agree to hand in full custody of the minor to Mr Black, my client is willing to grant visitation rights to Mr and Mrs Potter,” Ted Tonks finished.

James was hunched on himself, the bags under his eyes rather prominent. She doubted she looked any better.

The hearing was bad, but almost losing Harry? That would haunt her nights for years to come.

So she took the olive branch Sirius was offering.

After this, what else could they lose?

Lily should have known better than to tempt fate.

Chapter 3: From The Eyes of a Mother

Sarah Stilma was, perhaps, the most underwhelming woman in the world.

Born to magical parents but unable to do magic herself, just another squib. Average height in her natal country but rather tall in England. Neither particularly beautiful nor smart.

Only her drive allowed her to be where she was. And, somehow, it felt all her life decisions led her to the moment that she met Them.

It was another day in the clinic when she met him. Corvan Black (or at least the file said so), the most adorable cherub with manners adults could learn from. With the toddler was Sirius Black, easily recognisable considering he appeared in all the newspapers front-pages during the war.

And Sarah knew she had to take care of them. A pure-blood in a hospital? Laughable. So she thought he came in as an Auror… Only to learn the man came for vaccines for the toddler.

“The other parents at daycare told me flu season is coming and they are getting their kids vaccines. I thought it couldn’t hurt.”

In that normal turned bizarre Tuesday evening she learned Sirius Black was just another parent. Doing a wonderful job, if she said so herself.

And Sirius took her status as a squib and experience in the muggle world as a great advantage. Sarah taught him about the muggle world, falling in love with the adorable cherub was inevitable, really. Sirius being a handsome stud was just a bonus.

So, against all odds, Sarah ended up married to Sirius Black five years after that day.

In all honesty, life was not that different aside from all the legal bull. They started living together when Corvan was five and by six, everyone at his school already knew her as his mother.

Corvan realised one of his classmates was able to see Kreacher. Sirius and her were the ones in charge to explain magic to the parents. Personally, she thought little Richard’s parents were too relieved to know their oldest wasn’t suffering from schizophrenia to care about magic.

It was adorable to see Corvan, Richard, and Lyra becoming best friends.

The latter much to her parents' chagrin. The Malfoys were proud blood-purists, but their fear of Sirius triumphed over their beliefs.

In Sarah’s humble opinion, they should adopt Corvan and Lyra already. Corvan already lived with them and Lyra spent most of her time in the manor either way. Then again, despite all his flaws, Lucius Malfoy adored his daughter, so the man would need to be three metres under before he gave up on her.

But they should totally adopt Corvan. He was their son.

Sarah sighed, taking a sip of her tea and pretending she didn’t hate being here. Right in front of them were James and Lily Potter. Since the hearing, things were cool with them, perhaps glacial would fit better.

Despite she and Sirius having custody of Corvan, he still needed to visit his parents. And she may think lowly of the pair, but Corvan, her sweet boy, still loved his family. So she willingly suffered from another tea time evening excuse to check in on her boy because she didn’t trust the Potters to take care of Corvan for the month they had him.

“If he falls from the tree I am going to scold him so bad,” Sarah grumbled, her stomach dropping with every step Corvan was taking up the tree.

Molly laughed. “Oh, you remind me of myself when Bill and Charlie were Corvan’s age. I got white hairs from stress!”

“He’s going to give me green hairs at this rate.”

“Harry is very calm though,” was Lily’s unwelcome interjection.

“No, he is rather hyperactive. Difference is he has the sense not to try to jump down two flights of stairs,” Sirius absently said, not looking away from their son.

It was great to have a husband with excellent reflexes that ensured her son didn’t break something.

“It’s not that bad, I used to be like Jacob when I was his age!”

No one missed the defensive edge in James’ voice.

“I know, you almost got aunt Dorea and uncle Fleamont arrested with how frequently you were in the hospital.”

It was a casual remark, no poison. Still, Sirius and James were no longer friends and, after the hearing, the Potters were overly defensive of their youngest.

Before anyone spoke, Sirius whipped his wand out. Sarah closed her eyes and slowly counted to five before opening them.

Corvan was being slowly floated towards them, the Weasley twins close behind.

Sirius started scolding them in French.

After three years of marriage, one would think Sarah picked up some French in her French speaking household. She did not.

“Alright, enough excitement for one evening,” Sarah declared, gently brushing away Corvan’s bangs.

The similarities between him and Sirius were uncanny. Black blood runs thick in his veins indeed.

“Are you sad about being the only one of your friends left behind for Hogwarts?” Lily asked, perhaps there was genuine curiosity and worry for the child but Sarah could have strangled her.

It was a sensitive topic for Corvan. All of his friends were leaving for Hogwarts while he stayed behind only because he was born in September. That was the exact reason she resigned from the hospital while Sirius took a year off. They would travel the world so Harry wouldn’t have the chance to miss his friends.

“Ha ha, I will still have friends!”

And perhaps her desire to smack some manners on a nine year old was unnecessary, but very much deserved. The Potters spoiled their youngest rotten.

“Come on buddy, don’t be mean to your brother.”

“Here,” Lily handed her spawn a slice of cake too big for an adult.

Sarah rolled her eyes.

The silence was awkward, she was pretty sure Molly regretted accepting the tea invite.

“We should be jealous, shouldn’t we Gred?!”

“Of course Forge! Our cousin is going to all these cool places while we go to school. Boring- ow! Mum!”

“You are going to Hogwarts and you better enjoy it!” Molly snapped, vigorously wiping one of the twins’ faces. “Oh dear, I just realised Harry won’t be with these two.”

One of the boy’s eyes widened. His brother followed. Corvan ate a mouthful of cake to hide his smile.

“Without the brains of the team we’re getting in so much trouble.”

“Better get in Lyra's good graces then because Richard is a stick in the mud.”

The adults stayed silent while the children talked amongst themselves… More like Corvan gave the twins ideas on how to get Lyra on their side and what to use to bribe Carina and Leo (Andromeda’s twins). Mastermind indeed, that boy was getting a serious talk about not encouraging the twins in public.

Jacob was busy with his cake and started to cry when he finished it. Harry gave him his slice.

“There is being two people at the door. Hogwarts professors, they be saying they need to talk about young master Harry Potter,” Winky, the Potter house-elf blabbered, pulling her ears in distress.

Poor thing. Served a family when the person who established and powered the wards was an outsider. She may serve to the Potters but she was loyal to Sirius. A little detail no Potters needed to know.

“Please bring them in, Winky.”

The house-elf disappeared.

“I wonder what that is about.” James muttered, too busy trying to control his menace.

“I bet Dumbledore is coming to give me another tutoring lesson!”

Goodness gracious, this month a year was a great reminder on why Sarah never wanted children. Corvan was simply an exception, she doubted she could raise a child to be the sweetheart her boy was. They definitely won the lottery.

“I wonder…” Molly muttered, putting down her teacup. “Something similar happened with Charlie, you see-”

“James, Lily, it has been a few weeks. Jacob, taller every time I see you,” Dumbledore (never met the man but Remus had OPINIONS about that beard) said as a greeting.

After the effusive greeting that none of the Blacks participated in (Jesus, she was too much of an introvert for that shite), Albus Dumbledore and Filius Flitwick were sitting, cups of tea in front of them.

“What brings you here, Mr Dumbledore, Professor Flitwick?” Sirius asked, none of the warmth Sarah knew on his eyes.

“Oh, you won’t believe this, Mr Black!” the little man squealed and took out a letter from Dumbledore’s pocket.

Sarah and Sirius read the back of it.

Harry Corvan Potter

Black Manor

“We would have taken it to your home but, as we know, it’s untraceable and few know where it is,” Dumbledore sighed, as if lamenting something, before dislocating his jaw to fit a whole sandwich.

“Oh, my! Just like Charlie!”

Sirius handed the letter to a curious Harry. “What is this?”

“Your Hogwarts letter, Mr Potter!” Flitwick said (screeched, same thing, the man’s voice was too damn high pitched). “It’s not common for a magic core to be mature enough before eleven for Rowena’s quill to write the student’s name, but it’s not uncommon either. Perhaps once or twice every decade. Congratulations, Mr Potter!”

“Wait! He gets to go to Hogwarts?! That is so unfair!”

Whatever else the child started saying was lost to her, she didn’t speak snotty gurgling brat. James ended up picking the boy and going inside the house.

Yup, best contraceptive ever.

A banshee screamed.

Dumbledore placed down his teacup after gulping it, looking with unwarranted longing at the sandwich tray. “I guess I will go and help James calm Jacob down. A promise to allow him to pet Fawkes should help,” he sighed deeply, shoulders dropping, “I was planning to allow my beard to grow longer than my arms, I guess next year it is.”

“Don’t worry dear, children throw tantrums all the time,” Molly consoled a bright red Lily.

“No fair!”

“Too right, Gred! Why aren’t WE allowed to throw tantrums!”

Molly silenced them with a single look.

Yup, she was never having kids.

“Corvan, do you want to go?” Sirius asked.

Corvan was reading through the letter with a frown, then put it down. “I want to, all of my friends will be going but… We had so many plans for this year. I want to visit the ruins and go backpacking and eat food with actual flavour that won’t make Kreacher pull off the few hairs he has left.”

“Oh, love,” Sarah hugged her boy and looked at Sirius. They came to a silent agreement. “We can still travel during the holidays and take our weekends for a quick floo trip. It’s not exactly what we planned, but we can adapt.”

“You still have time to decide, Corvan.”

Corvan took another look at the letter, then at the twins holding hands and looking eagerly at him, then at her, and finally back at Sirius.

“I still want to visit the Salt Flats in August.”

Sirius smiled, that mischievous, dimpled grin that still made her stomach flutter.

“Wonderful! Your parents can take you shopping or you can join the muggle-born group on the last day of July,” Flitwick clapped, looking more excited than the celebrating twins.

“We can take him shopping just fine, professor,” Lily said, a tight smile that looked a little too fake. “He will get his own vault as well, so he might just learn to manage his money.”

Sarah kept in the need to roll her eyes. Corvan had his own vault, courtesy of Sirius, since he was five. And has been managing his allowance from the day he turned nine.

“He won’t get access until the 30 of September,” Sirius corrected Lily, “besides, are you sure you can take him? We leave the first of August and will be back the day before the train departs.”

“It’s Jacob’s birthday next week,” Molly agreed.

Lily’s smile tightened. “Of course we can, we will make it a family outing.”

Over. Her. Dead. Body. THEY already had plans on what to do for school shopping. Sirius placed a hand on her knee.

“Very well, I will send you a list with everything Corvan will need.”

Professor Flitwick did an amazing job of trying to drown himself in his teacup.

“We have the list, Sirius.”

Sirius scoffed. “That works for a normal student, not a Black.”

Lily’s smile fell.

“Too true, that,” Molly agreed, too nice and cheerful to notice the tension, “my mum forced Bill and Charlie to wear family robes and take the old books. Bill only complained until he fell down his broom on the second week and didn’t break a thing.”

“Aunt Lucretia is a wise woman,” Sirius nodded, “clothing is purchased perhaps once every century. Highest quality materials, silver and gold runes sewn in. Blacks protect our young.”

“It’s a school,” Lily said in a saccharine tone.

“Remember fifth year? What about seventh year? The protective runes were worn out after that time. Huh? I guess he will need new clothes by then.”

Sarah desperately wanted to know what happened those times for Lily to turn pale (well, paler) and for Flitwick to place down the teacup and not so subtly wipe his eyes.

“I see your point,” Lily agreed, no fire in her words.

Sarah and Lily may not get along, but she was used to the woman’s fiery temper, not to this mellow thing. It was creepy.

Corvan rushed into Sirius’ side. “Can I have a sleepover?”

“May I?” she corrected automatically, scoffing when she realised Sirius and her spoke at the same time.

When did she turn into her English teacher?

“You may. It will be a good chance so we take Fred and George’s measures and send it to our seamstress. The Black Family protects their children,” Sirius said, raising a hand to silence Molly’s protest.

The woman softened.

“The Black Family protects each other.”

And wasn’t it creepy for every single black to know the family motto?

Chapter 4: Through the Eyes of a Raven

Harry was a mere toddler when he realised his parents gave Jacob twice as much attention than they gave him. At that age, he knew it had something to do with the night his grandparents passed away.

It did not hurt at all.

Perhaps it would have if he had memories of what life was before that. He remembers Sirius turning into Padfoot and speaking in a different language than everyone else. He clearly remembers the brown eyed lady that sang lullabies to him. He remembers helping grandma with her flowers and grandpa reading to him, but for the life of him he couldn’t remember his parents.

So it didn’t matter Jacob had more attention because he had Sirius’ full attention.

He remembers being young and decorating his new room with Sirius. His parents and younger brother were doing a full tour press along Europe so Harry stayed with his godfather.

Learning how to read, Sirius taking him broom riding, and uncle Reg teaching him about potions. Aunt Bella taught him how to fence and duel. Aunt Andy came with Dora (call me Nymphadora and I punch you) and the twins so the play dates were the best. When Narcissa and Lucius (no need to all them aunt and uncle) they brought Lyra and Draco over. Lyra was scary and Draco a crybaby.

And, because he was just as crazy as his ancestors, Harry ended up being close to Lyra.

Sometimes, he thought Sirius ordered Lyra’s parents to send her to muggle daycare with him rather than merely suggesting it. Either way, they became the closest amongst all cousins.

And, after the dementor attack, Harry was allowed to fully live with Sirius.

Life didn’t change much. Well, perhaps the one thing that changed was that he spent his Saturday with his parents. The full day instead of a few hours. It was weird and Jacob threw tantrums when they paid Harry too much attention.

He was born as Harry Potter but was raised as Corvinus Black.

So seeing Sirius and Sarah as his parents was natural. James and Lily were mother and father, those were their titles in Harry’s life. Sarah and Sirius were mum and dad, his parental figures.

But, despite their different parents and growing up apart, Harry did care about his brother. Jacob was annoying and bratty and snotty, but he was his younger brother and if there was something Harry learned from being raised a Black was: family takes care of each other.

At least that was the mantra he repeated himself whenever he had to visit the Potters.

“Let’s go after breakfast,” Harry suggested.

Mum sighed, looking ready to glomp him in a hug.

“Are you sure, Corvinus?”

“Of course dad, parents should take their children school shopping. It was going to be a very awkward evening with the Potters.”

“That’s my son.”

“Oi, English please?”

“After eight years of knowing each other, one would think you learnt at least a little French,” dad sighed, smiling to mum, a besotted smile reserved for her.

“If you kiss, I’m puking,” Harry warned his parents.

Ew, love. He was never getting a girlfriend.

The shopping trip was rather underwhelming.

Though they did end up meeting the muggle born group so Harry ended up as accidental guide. Not that he minded, he dared not imagine how hard was to learn about a whole new world. Crazy, really.

The trunk Harry was inheriting from father. Far better than anything the alley had to offer. Clothes were readjusted by the family tailor, so no need to visit the store.

Quills and parchment? Ha! Dad got him a nice set of fountain pens and mum took the whole family to a nice stationery store to get paper and perhaps a whole load of stationery he would never use but were too pretty not to get. The Blacks were traditionalists to the bones, not savages.

Telescope? Nope, he already had one. As every single Black in the Family, Harry was taught astronomy before he was able to read. His telescope once belonged to dad and only the lens needed to be changed.

Books? Way better to get the old ones, so many tips and information written on the margins. They still went to the book store and Harry was allowed to get whatever he wanted. He did so with glee. They left the store with a golden card that signalled him as an important client, according to the owner.

Pet? Yes please. He got a gorgeous white owl and a grumpy looking cat that reminded him of the one that stole his milk when he was young.

“Ah, he reminds me oh so much of Mr Winston,” dad sighed, crouching to touch the cat. “Lily’s childhood cat, very similar. He woke up the whole house when Harry cried and I learnt to never sleep as Padfoot. Mr Winston beat the shite out of me twice in that shape, he hated dogs.”

Mum laughed, loud and clear. “We can put some catnip on you when you are in a Padfoot mood.”

Potion ingredients? Uncle Reg already gave him a full beginners kit. Harry still considered there was enough in that chest for his whole class to use during the year but was not complaining. He did love potions and his favourite books were grandfather’s journals.

So they went to get a wand despite him already having one.

It was family tradition, after all, to choose a wand from the ones old Black generations left behind. Bone tree and snake fang, eleven inches, belonging to Alcmene Black, the Matriarch six centuries ago.

The wand shop was dusty and in dire need of a job paint and a general repair. He just knew Kreacher would faint seeing this place. Missy would set it on fire.

Dad knocked on the counter thrice. An old man with wispy white hair and googly eyes appeared. The man tilted his head before his eyes got even bigger.

“My oh my, ‘tis the time!” the old man almost sang, “Sirius Black, it has been years since the last time you came by. Getting a wand instead of strengthening my wards I guess… Too bad, the wards could use another touch up.”

Dad smiled, his business smile. “Indeed, Garrick. I want to see if one of your wands fit my son better than the ones of the family. Meet my wife, Sarah, and our son, Corvan.”

Ollivander nodded, thoughtfully. “You don’t have a magic core,” the man said while looking at mum intently. “And you indeed are a Corvan… How curious blood can be. If it wasn’t for the eyes, you would be the male version of Dorea. With wilder hair, of course.”

Okay. The man was bonkers. Nice.

“Off we go! Ambidextrous I guess?” Harry nodded, “Black through and through.”

A measuring tape started measuring his hands, fingers, nails, feet, and (for some bizarre reason) the space between his nostrils.

“Mmm. Hard one. Let’s try yew and dragon string. Ah, no yew then,” the man nodded, as if Harry touching the wand and causing the window to burst was normal. “Cedar and unicorn hair. No! Horrible for you. Definitely materials that are harder to control. Maybe ash tree?”

On they went. Harry tried so many wands, all of them with disastrous results. At least dad fixed everything. No wonder the poor old man’s shop was in this state.

More than two hours in and his wrists were already cramping.

“Tricky customer eh? I may need to give up and ask to see the wand that-” Ollivander froze on his tracks while searching for something that would fit Harry. “I wonder… Here, try this.”

The offered wand felt warm. It was a nice wand and Harry lamented the fact that it still didn’t feel right.

Ollivander was frozen.

“You are not compatible with the wood, but the core fits you like a custom ring. Phoenix feather, willingly given. The phoenix that gave that feather donated two. Only two. The one-”

“A word please, Garrick,” dad said, interrupting whatever the man was saying. “Give us a few minutes.”

They disappeared behind a door.

“That was weird. I’m so happy I went to normal, muggle school,” mum muttered.

Honestly? Harry was starting to think mum was right. Hogwarts sounded amazing, but normal high school and internet sounded just as great.

The two men returned a few minutes later. Ollivander way more twitchy than before.

“May I examine your current wand?” Harry handed the old man his wand after dad’s nod. “My goodness! An ancestor’s work, a beauty. Bone tree, willingly given, almost extinct now. Boomslang fang, most likely a dearly loved pet considering how strongly it reacts to my magic.”

The old man showed the blisters and peeling skin where the wand touched his hand. That didn’t look good.

“What about this one?” Harry asked, it may not fit but he would buy it because he liked it.

Ollivander nodded effusively. “Yes, of course. It will take a week or so for the phoenix feather to fuse, not usually compatible with each other but very compatible with you, Mr Black. Curious indeed...”

Dad deposited a pouch on the counter. “Keep the change, Garrick. One of the family elves, my brother, or Bella will come to pick it.”

“I understand.”

“Have a good day, sir.”

The man was strange, but Harry was raised to be polite no matter who.

“Okay, that was weird,” mum said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Ice cream?”

And this was his favourite place in the Alley. Fortescue. The ice cream there was life and their gelato mind blowing. Besides, Mr Fortescue was just the best and always told Harry there funny stories and anecdotes. A retired hit wizard turned anthropologist turned pastissier turned ice cream shop owner.

Mr Fortescue was almost like a grandfather. Or at least how he imagined grandpa would be like.

“I’m so sorry!”

Before Harry could jump out of surprise, there was already a shield erected around them and dad was standing in front of them.

James stopped, hands raised and palms open. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Are you alright, love?”

Harry nodded. Startled but nothing more.

“Sirius, we are alright,” mum said, gently taking dad’s hand.

After taking a deep breath, he sat back down. Angling his body so he was covering Harry.

“Look. I’m sorry. We were supposed to go to a breakfast that turned into lunch and an interview. Lily is on her way, I apparated here.”

Dad nodded and mum was tense. Harry sighed and took the responsibility to diffuse the tension.

“Don’t worry ja-” Harry cleared his throat, “father. We already got everything.”

James' uneasy smile dropped.

Two people came running. Lily and Jacob turned the same shade of bright red from the exercise… He genuinely hoped his skin didn’t do that.

“Harry, sweetie, I am so sorry honey. Time just escaped from our hands.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Harry waved the woman off, doing his best not to grimace at the unwelcome hug.

“Alright, let’s go shopping. We have so much to-”

“No need, Lily, we already got everything. Is way past beyond ten a.m.”

Uh-oh, mum was ANGRY and dad was not far behind.

“No fair! Mum, you promised I could try some wands,” Jacob whinged, Harry sighed. “Harry, show me your wand, pretty please?”

“Can’t do, it’s still in the shop. Here,” Harry handed his little brother the menu, “my treat, order anything.”

James took the seat furthest from dad. Harry sighed, reminding himself that just Black’s were punctilious with manners, it didn’t mean others didn’t have them.

“If you still haven’t gotten your wand then we can go after,” Lily offered.

It felt wrong to deny the woman, Harry still did so firmly. “We already did. It’s just that it had to be a little customised. So, how was the birthday yesterday?”

“You would know if you came,” Jacob pouted, Harry felt the need to pat his head.

After the huge temper tantrum Jacob threw when Harry was six and teaching the other kids how to fly. HUGE ONE. Neither parent could calm him and Lily started to scold Harry. Dad lost his patience and left with Harry in tow.

Years on and they never once went to another of Jacob’s parties.

“We were in Bulgaria for the game,” Harry said in what he hoped was an apologetic tone. “Talking about that, here.”

Harry took out a package from his pocket (magic was wonderful) and threw it at his brother. Only to realise it wasn’t a good idea when it hit him in the face. Jacob wasn’t born for seeker nor chaser.

James and Lily fussed over the boy, Jacob soured further. Harry sighed. He did love his brother but hell if he didn’t want to give him a good smack every now and then.

Thank Morgana Mr Fortescue reappeared, carrying enough ice cream to give a lactose intolerant nightmares. And, despite the ice cream, the whole affair was tense.

Harry talked about the game with Mr Fortescue and Jacob. The other four adults were quiet. Saying goodbye to the Potters never felt better.

---

The family trip to the Salt Flats was nothing less than majestic, in Harry’s humble opinion. And the two weeks spent at Lake Titicaca? Unreal.

The magic of the lake reminded him an awful lot of the magic in the Black Manor. Heavy, making its presence known and so warm it was impossible not to feel at home.

The trip would have been even better without the sunburns.

And not even 24 hours in England and Harry had to take the train to school… Why did he even want to go to school again?

“Corvan, here.”

Harry’s eyes snapped open as he took the parchment dad offered. “A blank parchment?”

Mum laughed, gently stroking his hair. “Told you.”

Dad rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, whatever Mrs Black. Now Corvan, I told you about the map my friends and I created when we were at school. I present to you the improved version. Toujours Pur.”

With a tap of his wand, ink bled into the parchment. “Padfoot présents La Carte Omniprésente” appeared in overly flourished cursive.

“Why are we obsessed with French?”

Dad opened his mouth and lightly shrugged. Harry smiled, for Sirius “don’t shrug, it’s unbecoming” Black to shrug. He would commit the occasion to the memory.

“I promise I won’t get in a single detention,” Harry promised.

Mum smiled, beamed really. “We don’t particularly mind the detentions, but getting caught? Now Corvan, we raised you better than that.”

Harry put on his best solemn face, “I promise I will use all of my cousins as shields.”

Dad laughed, a full-body laugh, something he only did at home. “That’s my boy. Don’t forget to get good grades and turn in all your assignments on time. You would be surprised with how much a good student can get away with.”

“With how much Corvan has read, I will be surprised if he doesn’t get in trouble out of boredom. Oh, before I forget, here. Money to get a hella lot of snacks to share in the train and here. I made some sandwiches.”

Harry’s smile stiffened. Mum was a wonderful mother and a great doctor, a good cook though? Sarah Black could poison a basilisk with her food.

“Kreacher,” dad mouthed, Harry relaxed.

He was not leaving this world in the shittiest possible way. Not today at least.

The train ride was fun. Harry was tired, but nothing loads of sugar and talking with friends couldn’t fix. Kreacher’s sandwiches were a hit and, considering the lunch box had a full selection with enough to feed a small army, Harry ended up talking with no less than a hundred people. Being a year younger than everyone else wasn’t going to be an issue.

And arriving at the school and seeing his parents sitting at the staff table while beaming at him?

Harry knew his first year of school would be as magical as the family trip.

Notes:

I will slowly ease into calling Harry Corvan. By the way, this whole story came to me when a friend was complaining about their professors always comparing them to their older sibling. Funny how inspiration works.

Chapter 5: A Crow Welcomes the Newbies

Harry took a deep breath, not allowing his smile to slip.

Only a few days more, he reminded himself, and we are back home.

The Hogwarts letters were sent to the new students in the second week of July, which meant Jacob received his. And Harry may love that snotty brat, but his patience was being tested to the limit the past week.

And now the Potters decided to meddle on the day they thought was his shopping trip. It was not, it was the day Harry and a few others volunteered to help the professors take the muggle-borns shopping. His parents and him made plans to shop for the few things he needed during their August vacations. Thailand was waiting and Harry was itching to go.

“-needs to be red, please,” Jacob drawled, almost begging.

Harry sighed when he looked at James and Lily uneasy smiles. The Potters had money. Had. The manor burning and the following rebuilding alongside having the Potter’s breadwinners pass away more than a decade ago was a hard hit for the family. The powerful wards were the only reminder of the wealth the Potters once had, the remaining Potters were comfortable enough thanks to all the books and paraphernalia that paid them to use the boy-who-lived image.

Even then, more than a hundred galleons on a trunk was most definitely not something they could afford.

“Get another one,” Harry suggested Jacob. “Real dragon hide can’t be stained so this one is an imitation and the gold paint will chip off before classes begin.” The shop owner glared at Harry, he returned the gesture with a smile. “How about waiting to see if we can find any old trunks in the deposit. Or you can wait another week for your birthday gifts.”

Jacob recoiled, “used trunk? Are you insane?”

Harry sighed. Jacob was unable to understand the value of heirlooms. Harry’s own trunk was three hundred years old and the protective runes were so powerful a pranking student was sent to Saint Mungus for a whole week after trying his luck.

“Your brother is right,” Lily supporting him, that one was new, “Jacob needs a new trunk, Harry.”

Right, Lily supporting her son made more sense.

He raised his hands in defeat. “You do you.”

James looked at him, stern. “Don’t talk back to your mother.”

Harry raised an eyebrow. There was no way James Potter was trying to teach him about respect.

In order to protect his sanity, Harry chose to ignore the family. They were at Ollivanders, dragging a flashy trunk, because Jacob wanted to get his wand ASAP.

The old man was as wispy haired and googly eyed as Harry remembered, explaining something to the girl buying her wand and her parents.

“Good evening Mr Ollivander,” Harry greeted the man. “Sir, ma’am, and the young lady, of course.”

“Ah, it’s been a while! How’s the wand going? I have so many questions to ask you, Mr Black. Do tell Sirius the wards are doing beautifully,” Ollivander crooned, excited.

“Yes sir. My wand is working wonders, no worries there. And I will be sure to update the Patriarch,” Harry told the man, then turned to the family, “Harry Potter, pleasure.”

And he hoped no one noticed his hesitance before saying the surname. He thought of himself as a Corvan Black, his friends and family knew him as such. Harry Potter. It felt wrong.

“Ah, Lord Black’s child,” the man nodded, “it’s my pleasure. Edwin Greengrass, my wife, Adele, and my oldest, Daphne.”

Harry nodded at each person. “As the Patriarch says, the age of the Lords is long gone. So, Miss Greengrass, found your wand?”

The girl blushed as she shook her head. Harry sighed, why couldn’t his own sibling be as cute as this one?

Ollivander cleared his throat. “We were on that. Now, Miss Greengrass, try this one.”

The girl bit her lip, her hand shaking and not touching the wand.

“Hey, no worries, I have a personal record here. Took two whole hours to find a decent enough wand and it had to be customised,” Harry joked with the girl, not exaggerating one bit.

“The trickiest customer I ever had,” Ollivander agreed.

Little Greengrass took a deep breath and grabbed the wand, a gentle breeze swirled around and the girl let out a soft gasp.

“Good to know my record is still unbeaten.”

Madam Greengrass laughed, it reminded him of mum. “Have you got any plans? My girl was getting worried and then you swooped right in.” Her English was thick with a French accent.

Oh, goodie, French outside the house now as well. At this rate Harry, was going to end up forgetting English altogether.

“Unfortunately,” Harry almost jumped out of his skin. Right, there were more people in the store. “We already have plans.”

And while the heart attack was unwelcome, Lily spoke the truth. “I apologise, Madam, but we do have plans.”

The woman’s eyes lightened. “Oh, my. Perfect pronunciation. Congratulations to your professor.”

Harry laughed, dad would like that. “My dad will be happy to hear people other than him appreciate him enforcing the Black traditions in the house. A pleasure Madam, Sir, Miss Greengrass.”

“Call me Daphne,” the girl said, cheeks rosy pink.

Yup, it was official, Harry wanted a little sister.

“I will be writing to your parents for that ice cream,” Madam Greengrass promised.

Mr Greengrass finished paying and patted Harry’s shoulder. “You won’t get free of my missus, see you around.”

That was nice.

“What was that?” Jacob demanded.

Harry raised an eyebrow and knew better than to answer. “Come here so Mr Ollivander can take your measures.”

It was good enough, Jacob almost ran to the counter, followed closely by Lily.

“So, you like them young?” James asked. Harry choked. “No, wait. That came out wrong. That girl was cute. You were very kind to her.”

EW!

Harry was in dire need for a cleansing ritual and perhaps a brain injury. Thanks to this moment, he doubted he would ever date a younger girl.

Traumatising.

“Ehm, I guess so? First years always get anxious when the wands don’t respond to them. I would have as well if I didn’t have an old wand already.”

James' face softened. “You remind me a lot of my father.” Perhaps there was too much eagerness in Harry’s face because James smiled. “Brilliant man, top of Ravenclaw during all his school years. Dad was also known to help around all the time. A great man.” The man sighed, it was strange to notice he was almost the same height. “You also remind me of Sirius when we met. He was reading a book and girls were taking turns to pass by his compartment. At that time I already saw you mum and was already planning our future together so seeing her joining the giggling girls annoyed me. So I went into Sirius’ compartment and asked him what his problem was-”

“And he told you he had many but none he was willing to share,” Harry finished, already knowing the story. “And then he realised it was lunch and took out the feast Kreacher made.”

James beamed, “a damned good one at that. And before I knew it, we were already best friends before the train ride was over.”

There was so much wistfulness in James’ eyes that it made Harry wonder what if. What if he didn’t go out flying that day? What if the dementor didn’t attack or his parents (when they were still that) arrived when they promised?

Would James Potter and Sirius Black still be best friends?

“Kreacher used that same technique on me,” Harry said, breaking James out of his reverie, “I genuinely think there was enough to feed half of the school.”

And that appeared to be the wrong thing to say as James’ smile dropped. “We couldn’t send you off for your first train ride…”

“Don’t worry, my par-” Harry interrupted himself. Calling his parents well, that, in front of the Potters was unnecessarily cruel. “Sarah and Sirius, they sent me off, no worries.”

He sighed. James and Lily Potter were good people and wonderful parents. They were just not HIS parents. Harry knew so and he thought the Potters felt it, it was something no one talked about.

Sometimes he wondered if the guilt would ever go away. Corvinus Black was not born to be a Potter. He didn’t quite fit in and he felt guilty about it because he could tell James and Lily tried to include him. It’s just that he didn’t fit.

Hyperio Haerviu Corvinus Black was that exactly, a Black.

And that fact was going to be a bitter pill to swallow for the Potters. They just tried so hard to protect Jacob while trying to work that Harry hated the idea to add to that burden.

“Harry, I,” James licked his lower lip, “look son, this is supposed to be a family day, we promised you. Choose where you want to go after we are done shopping.”

And this is exactly why he felt guilty. The Potters tried so hard.

“I already have plans though.” Only it never worked. “But we can have dinner outside?”

That didn’t mean Harry wanted to hurt them, so he also tried despite knowing it was futile.

James smiled, a brittle thing that barely reached his eyes. “How-”

“Dad!” Jacob whined, “it’s not working!”

The man immediately reacted and walked towards the counter. Harry waited dutifully the half an hour until ten, then signalled Mr Ollivander and touched his wristwatch. The man nodded and went back to try and soothe the distraught family.

Harry groaned as he already dreamed of his shower. Showing around fifteen children was hard. This year McGonagall and Flitwick were in charge and Harry, Richard, Gemma, and Cedric were the fools that volunteered to herd hyper kids around.

It was fun but the sun was unforgiving and he sweated like a pig in a sauna.

Definitely a nice shower and some food. A lot of food.

Harry easily vanished the cinders from the floo as he stepped into the Potter floo room. He trudged his way onto the stairs. Oh, how he missed home. At least there he could ask one of the house elves to take him to his room without feeling guilty for seeing a haggard, overworked creature.

“Where in the world were you?!”

Without thinking, Harry’s wand was already on his palm after throwing a curse.

Lily’s face was losing colour. Good thing, considering how red the woman was. James dropped his fork and Jacob squealed.

“Are you alright? I’m so sorry.”

Tiredness forgotten, Harry walked to the woman. Being almost hit with a meaner version of a bombarda that shattered the decorative table for the flower vase was not nice.

He knew. Aunt Bella taught him to react first, think later, but that only worked if you were a Black.

“Lily!” James rushed to his wife. “What was that for?!”

Harry had no desire to defend himself. “I was startled, I’m sorry. Reacted without thinking.”

Lily was regaining her colour pretty fast. “First you left us when it was supposed to be a family day and now you attack me? You are in so much trouble, young man.”

He was too tired to care. “I understand. I will go now to my room.”

“Oh no. Enough is enough. Your attitude was horrible today! You didn’t have breakfast with us and then ignored us in the alley before leaving? No Harry. We know you live with Sirius and he spoils you but WE are your parents and it’s our duty to discipline you and turn you into a decent person.”

At that Harry stopped. He could tolerate everything but hearing dad’s name be smeared.

He smiled. “Oh my, you are my parents, are you? Are you sure?” Lily gasped, taking a step back. James was too startled by Harry’s words to react. “I told you I had plans in the alley for today, you chose to join in. If you don’t like it, complain to professor McGonagall, she will be thrilled. You know what? My visit here ends tomorrow at midday. I will take the hint and take my leave. See you next year, mother, father, Jacob.”

Harry bowed with a flourish, then turned to leave. He didn’t bring anything important either way, only clothes and a few books. Nothing irreplaceable.

“Harry, wait, I-”

“By the way,” Harry added, looking over his shoulder. “I was in the alley all day, even waved at you multiple times. It was you who ignored me and left, not the other way around.”

Notes:

This story is highly whimsical. I am honestly having lots of fun while writing it and am currently on the second year... Just remembered why I didn't post until now. Proofreading is my mortal enemy.
Until the next time!

Chapter 6: Perspective of a Stag

James grimaced as another person pushed him. The station was full.

People, children, pets, all of them making noise and doing their best to push each other. It was hell.

“Yes mum, I will write every week,” Jacob agreed while looking around, most likely for Ronald Weasley.

There was a sharp pang in his chest. James wondered what Harry looked like before his first train ride to Hogwarts. Was he anxious? Did he get home sick?

Two years ago, there was something important they needed to do. Was it an interview or a meeting? James couldn’t remember. Obviously, it wasn’t that important.

And they missed a very important event in their son’s life, he wished they didn’t.

The fight with Harry last month left a very bitter taste. His oldest was always too calm and collected, understanding and forgiving. It was the first time he snapped. And Merlin if it didn’t hurt.

James knew there were topics they never touched, such as Harry constantly being called Mr Black or his occasional slip, when he called them James or Lily. He knew all too well Harry was closer to Sirius and his woman, but Lily and him were still his parents. Or so he thought.

Harry put in the open that one thing no one spoke about and Lily cried every night since. James was too busy with his own tears to properly console his wife.

The worst part? Harry was right.

He did talk with McGonagall. She gushed over Harry helping the first years.

“Saw you so many times around that day but your son had you busy, didn’t he? I hope he is like his brother and not you.”

And that is how they learned what Harry’s plans were that day. The guilt was unwelcome and there was no way to apologise considering Sirius and his woman took Harry on their yearly month-long trip.”

“Don’t forget to have fun kiddo,” James did his best to smile, messing up Jacob's already messy hair. “Lily? Love?”

Lily was staring at the side, mouth slightly open. James followed her gaze.

Oh.

A tall couple with their tall son. It was picture perfect. The woman gently combed the son’s hair while the father smiled at the scene.

Sirius was always tall and so was his wife, Harry got all the height James’ didn’t inherit. Everyone knew Harry looked an awful lot like Sirius (hair, face, build, even bloody personally). Even Lily asked him if they pranked her with polyjuice because their son only looked more like Sirius each year.

But he could see the Potter in the curlier hair than any Black could tolerate. In the actual healthy skin tone rather than the pale (phantasmagoric) tone all Blacks inherited. In the full eyebrows and curly eyelashes. And the eyes, of course, those were all Lily’s.

Everything else? That was all Sirius.

Sometimes James thought it had to do with the birth and all the blood Sirius sacrificed to ensure it went well. Others he thought it was all the attitude.

Harry was calm. Never made messes or was overly mischievous, preferring to read in the library or the garden the times he was at home rather than the Black Manor. Just like Sirius. He dressed formally, like a poncy pure-blood heir. Just like Sirius.

And now here he was, looking like a copy of Sirius. Same posture and demeanour that made other people do their best to not invade their space.

“Black blood runs deep,” Molly once said while looking at Harry playing with her twins, absently, as if she didn’t notice.

James was forced to agree.

“Let’s go there,” Lily ordered, squaring her shoulders.

Facing the crowd was horrible, especially while protecting the silly trunk they wasted so much money on. Harry was right, the thing already looked old and mangled despite the price suggesting the quality was superior.

Sirius’ woman was the first one to notice them. James personally thought it was actually Sirius, the man just didn’t care.

“Harry, sweetie, it has been a while!” Lily said with much more enthusiasm than he saw the past month.

Their son turned around, looking an awful lot like a confused owl.

“Mother, it indeed has been a while. Don’t mean to be rude, but what-” Harry looked at him, then and Jacob, “right, never mind, it’s Jacob’s first ride to Hogwarts. Father, Jacob, how have you been?”

It hurt so bad for their son to be surprised to see them here to see him off. It hurt worse to realise they didn’t come for him. The wounds from that fight were still fresh and the overly formal politeness Harry always treated them with felt like rubbing salt on them.

“Didn’t know you wore muggle clothes!” Jacob said, smirking.

Harry scoffed and messed up his brother’s hair. “Don’t shoot them until you try them, sweatpants are a blessing.”

James let go of the trunk’s handle and of course the thing fell over. He was too busy to care.

Sirius “I would rather die than wear rags” Black was in grey sweatpants and a hoodie. As a matter of fact, the three of them wore similar things. Sirius’ woman wore an indecently tight version of it in lilac and, what James suspected, a stolen hoodie three sizes too big.

“Whatever, you have to tell me how was Colombia!”

Harry grinned, “not asking for your gift first, a sign of maturity. I’ll give it to you once I have time to unpack.” He nodded at his own trunk besides Sirius.

It was a beautiful emerald green thing with lots of gold. Real gold no doubt, Sirius wouldn’t take anything less than that. HCB was clearly emblazoned on it. James looked away.

“Of course I want my gift-”

“Harry!” A boy crashed into his oldest, not before Harry half turned, ready to catch him. “You have to tell me every detail! The Colombia VS Brazil match was epic! I can’t believe you got to see it in- for my bludger! Didn’t see you there professor Black, doctor Black.” The boy bowed.

“Mr Wood, hope you are not roping my child into learning another death defying trick,” the woman teased.

“Of course not doctor Black, learned my lesson,” the boy absently rubbed his left arm. “Corvan, we have a seat for you, don’t let the girls kidnap you again.”

“Tell that to Lyra.”

“Then again, we have the whole year to catch up.” With that the boy left.

Sirius laughed. Oh, it had been years since James heard that sound.

“Oh my goodness,” Remus wheezed as he almost tackled James while arriving. “Sorry, fell asleep.”

“What happened to you?!” Lily asked, looking as surprised as James felt.

The last time they saw Remus, the man was not red.

Remus sighed and winced. “Thailand and Colombia’s sun is dangerous. You should see Regulus.”

“Reggie was not built for adventure and yet he craves it,” Sirius agreed.

“Hurry up so I can take the pictures and go and pass out in cold water.”

Sirius and his woman got on each side of Harry when Remus snapped a picture. Then Sirius lifted Harry with one arm while the woman laughed.

“At this rate I don’t think I will be able to lift you next year,” Sirius breathed, putting back a beaming Harry on the floor.

“Only a few more years and I will be taller than you. Look! I’m almost mum’s height,” and he hugged the woman that indeed was only a few centimetres taller than him.

“If you don’t mind, I will decline getting my picture this year. I would rather not immortalise my lobster-”

“Oi! Corvan!” A boy that had to be in sixth or seventh year yelled. “512!” the teen signalled the compartment window, Harry gave him thumbs up.

“Don’t let us keep you, your friends look ready to kidnap you,” Sirius signalled with his chin the rather large group of teenagers looking his way.

“Oh well, we only have ten minutes. Let’s go. Want me to help you find a compartment?” Harry asked Jacob.

His youngest son shook his head. “I’m waiting for Ron.”

Harry grinned. “Good luck with that kiddo, the Weasleys are always late. Aunt Andromeda and uncle Ted are helping Cassie, you can ride with her.” Jacob grimaced. “Lyra’s younger brother is your age and the Malfoys are also inside,” Harry added, perhaps not knowing those two didn’t get on. “Or you can wait here, see you later.”

As far as James was concerned, Harry was not a physically affectionate person. He was proved wrong. Sirius’ woman hugged Harry and he accepted the contact with a bright smile. Then Sirius hugged the boy, a bear hug James hadn't received in more than a decade.

“I’ll call you tonight.” Then Harry stopped abruptly, looking at him and Lily as if he just remembered their existence. “Right. Mother, father, it was nice to see you.”

Harry leaned down to hug Lily, awkwardly patting her back and stepping away a little too soon. James received the same treatment and did not complain because it was the first time in years he hugged his oldest son. And that realisation soured his mood further.

“See you next year. Bye uncle Remus!” Harry took out a camera from his pocket and snapped a picture of a bright red Remus Lupin before running away.

While Remus grumbled about brats, Sirius placed an arm around his woman and she leaned on his shoulder.

They looked like a couple. They were legally married, but James just never imagined they were actually together.

He was wrong once again.

“It feels like yesterday we were inside the train helping Corvan with his trunk. He can do it himself now,” the woman. No, Sirius’ wife, sighed.

James turned to see Harry joining the crowd of teenagers and being well received, his trunk floating behind him.

“Master the levitation charm at thirteen, at this rate I will have to take the more advanced material.”

Remus scoffed, “wonder who Harry learned from?”

Sirius smirked.

James did his best not to feel too left out. He did remember Sirius being years ahead of the curriculum.

“It’s a Black tradition.” And for everyone concerned, Harry was a Black.

This couldn’t go on. Harry was HIS son and Lily’s. It’s true that they made a horrible mistake years ago, but they already paid for it. James refused to lose his son.

He would talk with Lily about this once they were home.

And before he could keep getting depressed, a large group of redheads caused a commotion with their arrival.

“Aunt Sarah!”

“Uncle Sirius!”

The twins bellowed. Sirius’ woman, no, wife, smiled. “512, hurry.”

Arthur’s son ran away again, not caring to tease Remus.

“Ron!” Jacob perked up and started waving.

“Now Percy, you are the only one I trust to help-” the warning whistle resounded, “crap. Hurry up.”

James ignored the woman and hugged his son and wife tight.

“Write to us, alright?”

“Yes dad, going to miss you both a lot.”

And they watched their son and his friend being herded by Percy. At least the older boy was nice enough to carry their trunks.

Molly sighed, hugging her daughter as they watched parents rushing out of the train while students rushed in. James heard a sob and immediately hugged his wife.

“Don’t worry Lily, Corvan is a responsible young man. Jacob is in good hands.” Molly’s words only made Lily cry harder.

James had no words to offer, he simply watched as Sirius and his wife walked towards one of the train windows. Ah, there was Harry.

The whistle blew again and a bell rang, signalling eleven of clock on the dot. Sarah threw a kiss at Harry, who made a show of hitting his friend for stealing it, as he waved goodbye.

Not a single glance spared at them.

It was for the best Lily was too busy crying to notice.

Molly came back, winded, as she ran to wave off her children, wiping her own eyes. “Oh dear, I would like to say it gets easier but it truly doesn’t. But it’s a beauty in and of itself to watch your children grow up.”

“True that,” Sirius said, making James flinch with his sudden appearance.

“Oh, shush. You became a teacher for Corvan’s first year and you sent Bella for his second. And I know about Sundays,” Molly rolled her eyes, there was a smile playing on her lips.

Sarah laughed. “Guilty as charged. Corvan will one day leave the nest, but today is not the day. Want to come home for lunch? Kreacher learned this delicious pudding recipe while we were in Colombia.”

“It’s just the two of us. Arthur was called during breakfast, an emergency I was told.”

Sirius sighed. “I’m going to enjoy my last day of vacation then. Moody will throw a fit when I go back tomorrow.”

And they left, Molly forgetting they were present while asking the juicy details about Bellatrix’s new boy toy and the Blacks simply ignoring them. Only then James realised Remus left a while ago.

When did he lose so many of his friends?

Chapter 7: First School Week

“-that is how Pereira got the snitch,” Harry finished narrating the quidditch world cup’s last game to the overly full compartment that had its doors open so everyone outside could also hear.

“That has to be the best game in history,” Cedric sighed from his place on the floor, “and I can’t believe you got so many autographed goods!”

“It’s called daddy’s money,” George declared, clutching his signed shirt like a baby.

Fred nodded, “tell us if uncle Sirius wants to adopt.”

“Please, if he wanted to adopt it would be us,” Carina scoffed, turning into a female version of Sirius.

Leo followed her, “hear, hear!”

They burst into laughter and Harry almost didn’t hear the small boy.

“E-excuse me. Have you seen a frog?”

Harry looked at the small child on the compartment door. Flustered red and teary eyed.

Damn. Why were all kids cuter than his brother? Life was truly unfair.

Flint snorted, receiving a chocolate frog straight to the forehead for his meanness. Marcus was an arse and Harry made it his mission to correct his wayward friend. Until the date, Marcus only made fun of people and got into a fight once. Harry was confident he would straighten him out before the year was over.

“We did not. May I offer my help? Corvan Black, by the way.”

The boy eeped and turned redder. “Uh, yes please. Longbottom, I’m Neville Longbottom.”

Ah, Auror Longbottom’s child. Harry remembers going to their house and playing with him sometimes.

“I remember you. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the reason why professor Sprout loves me since that first class, Neville. Now, please tell me your frog’s name and let’s hope it is the only one that is named like that or people are going to be mad at me for kidnapping their pets,” Harry winked at the boy as he crouched down to speak to him so he knew there was nothing to worry about.

“Trevor,” Neville said, voice a little more steady.

“Accio Trevor,” Harry muttered, thinking of a frog while jabbing his wand.

They waited. It was a fifth year spell but, to be fair, Harry had access to a wand since he turned five and by seven he could already cast charms with ease. As Sirius said, it was the Black tradition to teach them young.

Only his sharp reflexes allowed him to catch the frog before it hit Angelina. Knowing the girl, she would hit the poor frog back out of principle.

“Trevor! Thank you so much!”

Harry smiled at the child. Ah, he really wanted a younger sibling and only had a beast in its place. More the shame mum wanted nothing to do with babies and dad swearing he used all of his patience in Harry.

“I’m glad we didn’t kidnap a random frog. Now, do you have a compartment?” Neville nodded, “good, let me take you there and see if I can find the beast that has the honour of being called my brother on our way.”

“Harry Potter!” Lily’s voice resounded, “how dare you speak of the perfect boy-who-lived that way?!”

It was creepy to see Lily’s head on Leo’s body.

“Boy-who-lived-to-be-a-nuisance,” Lyra declared, throwing her long, straight (bleached blond, just like her father’s) hair back.

“Come on, he isn’t that bad,” Richard said, half grimacing.

Lyra rolled her eyes.

“He threw a tantrum at the potion store because he wanted a gold cauldron,” Cedric muttered, grimacing.

Oh fuck, how embarrassing to have his friend seeing one of Jacob’s meltdowns.

“Sorry,” Harry sighed. “I’ll do my best to keep him in check. We’ll be going now!”

He would also look for Cedrella. Last time the youngest Tonks was left unsupervised, she sent another child to the hospital. The girl had a nice hook and no patience. It was still better than Jacob’s habit of throwing tantrums to get what he wants.

Harry asked Neville about how were his plants going. The boy beamed, shyness forgotten, as he began telling Harry about his greenhouse and the new plants his parents got him for his birthday last month.

It was nice to hear about the Longbottoms, Alice had always been nice when she babysat them while Harry was still living with the Potters. Afterwards, Sirius did invite them every once in a while, but they never brought their son along. He was making sure they did next time they visited the manor.

On their way they found their path blocked by a crowd.

“So what’s going on?” Harry asked Katie Bell.

The girl brightened up. “Corvan! Nice to see you. Wait, Potter. Your brother is in the compartment showing off his scar. You two really don’t look alike. At all.”

Well Jacob was a red head with Potter hair and James eyes. Corvan inherited the Black genes. Fortunately.

Harry sighed, doing his best not to face palm. “I am so sorry about him. Nev, give me a minute.”

As annoying as Jacob was, he was still his younger brother, Harry still cared about him. More than likely the brat had pocket money and snacks, but he was still getting a galleon to buy whatever he wanted from the trolley Lady.

“It still hurts,” Jacob said, pointing at the scar on his forehead to all the firsties and occasional older student. The brat’s eyes widened when he saw Harry. “And I am going to be the best Gryffindor in Potter history.”

Why was his little brother not as half as cute as other kids and thrice as annoying?

“Yeah, best Gryffindor ever,” Harry easily agreed, “do you have pocket money or snacks?”

“Are you going to steal them?”

Harry sighed. He wanted to change brothers or a refund. “Have it your way, Jacob. Oh, Hermione right?” the curly haired girl sitting in front of her brother nodded. “Smack some sense into him for me. Ron, Fred says you have his corned beef sandwich. He has your ham and cheese toastie, swing by, we’re at 512. Enjoy the ride ladies and gentlemen, and Jacob, of course.”

He heard children giggling and rolled his eyes.

“Your brother looks charming,” Katie dead-panned, “no wonder you never talk about him.”

Harry tilted his head in acknowledgement. “A total delight. See you around, got you a souvenir from the Quidditch Final.”

Katie squealed and gave him a quick hug, running away soon after.

“Alright, which one was your compartment?”

Neville’s shoulders were hunched. “That one.”

So aside from annoying, his little brother was a trespasser. Cute.

“So, how about you join us? Marcus doesn’t look like it, but he loves his plants. He names them and everything.”

And before the boy could answer, his baby cousin ran to his side.

“Corvan! Can you give me some money, pretty please? Everything is in my trunk and I saw the trolley lady.”

“Cedrella,” Harry patted the girl’s head. Yet another metamorphmagus in the Black Family. Aunt Andromeda and uncle Ted were on a winning strike with their four kids. “Greetings to you to.”

The girl rolled her eyes, then bowed gracefully. “I greet the heir of the family,” then immediately straightened up and showed her empty palms.

Harry had to laugh. Leo was so lucky to get an adorable brat instead of an annoying one.

“Here,” Cedrella’s eyes widened seeing the two gold coins. “Treat your friends. I wanted to give it to Jacob but he is a brat and I’m sure his parents gave him some already. Oh, let me introduce you. Neville Longbottom, my baby cousin, Cedrella Tonks.”

“First year?” Ella asked, Neville nodded. “Nice, want to join us then? I’m planning to spend every knut.”

“I-” Neville looked at him, “can I?”

“We are going to miss you, don’t be a stranger Neville,” Harry told the boy, patting his head. “Here, another galleon for you lot to get sick on sweets.”

Ella squealed, hugged his waist again, and dragged Neville again while babbling about all they could buy with three galleons. Harry sighed, he indeed got the least adorable younger brother.

The rest of the ride was rather chill. Harry shared the box of dried mangos and spicy peanuts he got from Thailand while Terrence Higgs drew on Harry’s arm with a sharpie.

“Tada!” Terrence presented his masterpiece.

Harry gently traced the silver rose that grandma used to grow, it looked awfully realistic. “When you learn how to do this for real I want one. I saw a muggle with her whole arm tattooed, I want something like that.

“It would look way better if we could animate it,” Marcus sighed, already offering his own arm to be drawn on next.

And wasn’t that a wonderful idea?

So Harry did that exactly, reciting from memory the charm dad used to animate the muggle books he got Harry when he was learning to read.

“Argh, at this rate I will never catch up,” Lyra complained, “not fair I’m not receiving the traditional Black education only because mother is a bitch.”

Whatever Richard wanted to say was interrupted by a loud gasp. Goodie, look what the cat dragged in.

Jacob, Ron, and Hermione were here. Harry just knew the girl was already corrupted, he dismissed it, not his problem.

“Need something?” Harry asked as he lowered his sleeve.

Jacob opened his mouth, then closed it with a loud snap. Took a deep breath and finally talked. “Seamus saw you giving Cedrella money.”

“And?”

Jacob squirmed in his place. “Well, do you have any more? It got late this morning and we didn’t even got to have breakfast… I’m hungry.”

As a rule of thumb, Lily and James Potter forgot about their oldest, not their youngest. This whole situation was plain weird.

“I gave everything to Ella because you didn’t want it,” Jacob deflated, Harry sighed. “Here. Dried mango and spicy peanuts, not what you are used to, but the only thing I have.”

“I heard you always bring a million sandwiches,” Ronald said, almost a whisper.

The three firsties were clearly intimidated by the older students.

“Yup, Kreacher makes those and they have been gone hours ago.”

Jacob was turning a very familiar shade of red. Uh-oh, incoming tantrum.

“Why didn’t you-”

“Oi!” Lyra barked. “You didn’t want any so go to mummy and daddy to cry. No one else cares.”

That is why Jacob didn’t like Lyra, she knew how to stop a tantrum as her own brother threw them constantly.

Jacob turned even redder. “I’m telling mum and dad about your tattoo!”

After the bold declaration, he ran away.

“Lets use your brat and mine to appease mother earth and get a plentiful harvest,” Lyra suggested, unfazed by the whole drama.

“Sure thing,” Harry rose and gave the wide eyed firsties some of the leftover snacks. “Sorry, come earlier next time.”

With a flurry of thanks, they left as well.

And if the year went anything like the train ride, Corvan was getting white hairs before he turned fifteen.

---

Against all odds, the welcoming feast went well enough.

Jacob went to Gryffindor, no one was surprised. Ella to Slytherin, breaking her older sibling's strike as all went to Hufflepuff. Richard’s younger brother did go to Hufflepuff while Neville was sent to Gryffindor. Harry knew he would talk with his friends in the house to keep an eye on the boy and help the lad out.

And, aside from the “painful death” part of the Headmaster’s speech, everything was peachy. That and the muggle studies professor returning with a turban and a speech impairment.

Of course Jacob had to complicate things.

It was the first Friday of the week, which meant it was the first duelling club meeting of the year. Relatively new club dad established during his year as a teacher. Fortunately Helen Shacklebolt was the captain of the club. Unfortunately, she requested (demanded) Harry’s constant input and actually considered his opinions during decision making.

He was happy being just a worker bee, alas, it was not to be in this club.

As always, firsties trickled in, almost all of them. Shacklebolt looked at him to give the speech. Darned lazy woman. “You already know the firsties,” his arse.

“Good evening ladies, gentlemen, and people in general. Today you will be introduced to the duelling club. The purpose with which it was founded was to help older students catch up to professor Black’s expectations,” Richard, the wanker, led a loud whoop, Harry ignored it. “And basically to practise spells in a safe environment. The rules are the following:

“One. If we hear any whispers of the new members hurting another student, out. Two, we learn about the spell before learning to perform it, don’t forget to bring parchment and quills. Three, this room is only allowed to be used with professor Flitwick's permission and one of us,” Harry signalled himself, Helena, Gemma, Clara, and Jason, “present. No exceptions. Any questions before we begin?”

Jacob raised his hand so vigorously it was impossible not to notice.

Knowing he was going to regret it somehow, Harry nodded at his brother.

“What are they doing here? She’s a Slytherin! They are evil,” Jacob said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Harry sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Everyone is welcome here, Jacob.”

“Even death eaters?! Slimy Slytherins don’t belong with decent people.”

“Jacob, enough.”

Jacob turned beet red. “No! You want us to spend time with death eaters, that is not right? Maybe they will try to kill me for getting rid-”

“Enough!” It was the first time Harry ever raised his voice to his brother, it shocked the boy enough to quiet him. “Either apologise now or you are out. Banned until you give a public apology.”

Jacob stared at him, mouth agape. “Are you being serious right now?!”

“Jacob!” Hermione, sweet girl, hissed, looking panicked.

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

The boy even redder. “You can’t do this! Mum and dad are going to be SO mad with you when I tell them and Dumbledore-”

Harry snapped his fingers, two suits of armour came to life and took Jacob’s arms, escorting him out and straight to professor Flitwick’s office. Helena hot on his heels and looking angrier than he felt. Fair, considering she was a Slytherin.

“Any other question?”

Almost all the kids shook their heads. Except a wide eyed Neville Longbottom. Well, the hat was right. Harry’s anger mellowed and he nodded at the boy.

“I am not good at magic, will I still be allowed to stay?”

Harry sighed. Sirius did mention once he arrested Algernon Longbottom because he threw his grand nephew from the highest floor at the Longbottom Manor. All because he was “forcing the magic out of him”. While he remembers being horrified, now he understood how deeply that may have affected the boy.

“We are all here to learn and we all learn at different paces. You will be a member for as long as you don’t break any rules. So, ready? Our first task is to run ten laps.”

Harry led the kids around with ease. It was easy to know who would return after the fifth round.

“Great job, we have a five minute break and then we will begin with the basics.”

Clara took over and started lecturing the panting kids about the reason why all the members jogged almost everyday. Helena stormed right in, Harry approached the woman.

“I am so sorry for what Jacob said. I will make him apologise to you.”

Helena deflated. “Not your fault and he won’t appear in front of me if he knows what is good for him. Piece of work, can’t believe the two of you are related.”

“Hear,” Jason agreed, draping an arm of Harry’s shoulder. “Corvan got the looks and brains, the menace-that-unfortunately-lived got the fame.”

Harry smiled, “thanks for the support but don’t be mean. The brat, as annoying as he is, still is my brother. And you both are in the same house.”

“Ha!” Helena laughed, “Flitwick docked thirty points and gave him a week of detention.”

“Thirty?! We were doing so well thanks to girly there. Fuck me, between the Weasley twins and now Corvan’s brother there is no way Gryffindor will get the house cup in the next seven years.”

“Yup, Slytherin and Ravenclaw will be rivals again this year,” Gemma said, winking at Harry. “Now let’s give the newbies a little practice.”

Harry was pretty sure his parents were going to have a good laugh at tonight’s events.

---

Harry was finishing his morning run with a nice dip in the lake. Merpeople were nice… After Harry started learning mermish and taking dried fruits with him, that is. Before they were just plain mean, making fun of his swimming.

The sun was rapidly rising so Harry knew it was time to go to his room and take a shower.

“Bring more of that,” Nesadoe asked, pointing at the dried mangos he was munching.

Harry raised his thumbs. Speaking mermish out of water always gave him a sore throat.

Jauntily he trotted to his dorm. Richard was still dead to the world while Edgar was sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at his shoe. Then there was Nakao, choosing to contort himself in what he called was the best sleeping position and made Harry’s back hurt only by looking at it.

A shower and four chapters of his book later, Richard was finally ready for breakfast.

Lyra barged in the room to make sure of it. If she wasn’t his cousin and, you know, crazy, Harry would fancy the girl.

Breakfast was wonderful. Harry loved Hogwarts house-elves, always made sure to bring them souvenirs and they always made sure to give Harry his favourites. This morning was some kefir with oats and a plate of berries.

“You know aunt Sarah isn’t here, right?” Lyra asked, judging his breakfast.

Harry almost laughed. Mum was a doctor and her best friend a nutritionist, Harry grew up with a very balanced diet. “I want to finish this first,” just as he said that, a plate with three bacon toasties appeared in front of him.

House-elves were the best.

Richard choked, Lyra immediately patted his back with unnecessary force. Another peaceful morning.

There was a loud clap, Harry immediately looked at the staff table. Dumbledore was standing. Today’s robes were orange and hot pink and it didn’t burn the retina as much as that sparkly orange and neon yellow the headmaster used yesterday.

“Good morning students, a few announcements before the mail arrives. Our dear caretaker, Mr Filch, caught the dragonfly flu so Madam Pomfrey will be expecting the ones who are not inoculated in the infirmary. Also, professor Flitwick asked me to remind you that insulting other students will end up in a dock of points and detention. I would also like to remind the students that they should ask the captains of their respective houses about the open positions in the Quidditch teams. Miss Lestrange for Slytherin, Mr Potter for-”

The headmaster was interrupted by the loudest: “I told you!” He ever heard.

The voice sounded eerily familiar, Harry turned with dread.

“I told you all my parents would take care of it. Ha! And now I became the quidditch captain without going through any trial. Stick it, Wood!”

Please, Hogwarts, use me to feed the wards. Harry begged and was ignored. So he covered his warm face with his hands.

Never once he felt so utterly humiliated. And it wasn’t even his fault!

“Ron, I told you I would make it to the team in the first year. Captain to boot.”

The silence was so absolute Jacob’s voice reached every corner. After this, there was no way he was ever using the surname Potter.

“Stop it Hermione. I told you I-”

“Potter!” Prince bellowed, the only one of the staff who wasn’t staring dumbfounded at Jacob. “Be quiet.”

It was enough to break the headmaster’s shock. The old man cleared his throat rather loudly, Jacob looked so excited Harry would pity the boy if he wasn’t too embarrassed to barely look up.

“Ah, yes, Jacob, your enthusiasm is admirable. However, I was talking about your older brother, captain of Ravenclaw team,” the stares felt so heavy Harry prayed for the wards to consume him again. No luck. “Let us continue. Miss Elina Carter for Hufflepuff and Mr Oliver Wood for Gryffindor. Thank you.”

“Oh, Potter-”

“Please, don’t,” Harry begged to whoever was ready to tease him. “If you excuse me, I am going to throw myself down the astronomy tower and pray to be reborn as a cat.”

There was a lot of laughter. Before Harry could run away the owls swooped in. He resigned himself by trying to asphyxiate on his forearm. An owl bit his finger, Harry looked up.

“Oh, Thunder, what are you doing here?” Only then he saw the howler tied to the Potter’s owl. “The hell?”

“That has to be a first,” Richard said, finally fully awake.

“Wait, YOU got a howler. You. Corvan Perfect Black?! Bloody hell,” Ivan, the team’s keeper, whistled.

And suddenly everyone seemed to be looking at him. Even the teachers. Especially the teachers.

“Alright, I will open it when the owls leave, they don’t deserve to hear it.”

Ten minutes later and no one left except the owls. Harry stopped procrastinating and broke the seal. The bright red letter unfolded itself.

“HARRY JAMES POTTER!”

That wasn’t his name, not even the legal one!

“I can’t believe you were so horrible to your younger brother! Get him expelled from the duelling club on a whim?! I can’t believe we never saw that side of you, young man!”

Lily’s voice was loud and clear, making his ears ring. It was official, Harry was murdering Jacob Potter.

“Lying to the teachers to get him in trouble?! Your father and I are furious! And we learn that you got a tattoo?! What is wrong with you?! I knew Sirius was no good and this is the perfect proof! Your jealousy is disgusting and your actions reprehensible! Be ready-”

The howler froze in its place. Harry sighed in relief, his ears were hurting. Someone laughed.

“Twenty points from Gryffindor!” McGonagall barked. “Now, Mr… Potter,” Harry appreciated the woman’s slip, everyone was used to calling him Black. “I will take this and personally talk with the Potters and explain the situation.”

McGonagall was the best professor ever.

“Thank you, ma’am. By the way,” Harry showed off his arm and the almost faded ink, “it was a drawing.”

The professor smiled at him, an actual smile. “I must let you know tattoos are not forbidden in the school normative. One must do what one must do.” And if that wasn’t the biggest seal of approval to annoy the Potters, what was? “Potter! You will come with me to my office, I will explain everything to your parents and your punishment will be decided afterwards.”

“But prof-”

“We can start with two weeks of detention. I’m sure the house-elves will appreciate you washing the dinner dishes every day. Follow me.”

And to think the day started so well…

“Your brother is a snake. No, that is an insult to snakes! What a little filthy liar!” Lyra hissed, lips pursed and breath shallow.

Harry had no arguments. “Let’s just leave, please.”

Dinner couldn’t be soon enough, Harry desperately needed to talk with his parents.

Chapter 8: Reality Check

Lily is FURIOUS!

What Harry did? It’s horrible. Get his little brother in trouble out of jealousy. And a tattoo?! No. She would get her child back from Sirius and give him the discipline he so desperately needs after years of being spoiled rotten.

James was quiet, not a word since he read the letter. Lily hurt for him.

Then McGonagall summoned them to the school. Lily was expecting to see both of her children along with the professors. She was greeted by the Blacks. Sarah showing off a silk dress and ostentatious jewellery with killer heels. That is why Lily never liked her.

Always painfully muggle, never wore robes or covered her legs nor shoulders. And, unlike Lily, Sarah never received criticism. Lily had to fight for her place in this world while it was almost handed on a silver platter to that horrible woman.

Then there was Sirius. For the life of her, Lily couldn’t see a strand of the guy that once loved her so dearly in the statue wearing an expensive suit.

The four heads of the houses along with the headmaster were present as well. No refreshments on the table, only parchment.

“Mr and Mrs Potter, have a seat,” McGonagall ordered, signalling the only empty chairs left.

Jacob was sitting on a chair. Silent. He didn’t even look up when he heard their names.

“James, Lily, there was-”

“Let me manage this Albus,” McGonagall asked in a saccharine tone that Lily never heard before. She knew this was bad. “Alright, let’s start.” The quill on the centre of the table perked up. “Mr and Mrs Potter sent a howler to Harrison Corvan Potter on Saturday seventh at nine a.m. That is how the staff learned Jacob Dorian Potter accused his older brother of getting him expelled from the duelling club out of spite. Let’s clear that first. Mr Potter, read this.”

Jacob immediately took the parchment, his eyes widened as he looked up for the first time. “But-” he closed his mouth. “What are they doing here? She’s a Slytherin! They are evil,” Jacob read in a small voice, turning redder with every word. “Even death eaters. Slimy Slytherins don’t belong with decent people. You want us to spend time with death eaters, that is not right? Maybe they will try to kill me.”

What?

“Those were your son’s words and the reason he got expelled.”

Lily felt her jaw drop. What in the world was going on?!

“I will take on from here,” professor Flitwick said, more serious than Lily ever saw the man before. “After insulting fellow students, threatening his older brother, and refusing to apologise, he was brought to my office by Miss Shacklebolt. Once again he refused to apologise so I docked points and gave him a week of detention.”

“I- That is not what we were told,” James almost whispered.

Severus snorted, “obviously.”

“What I want to know is,” Sarah said, firm and as expressionless as always, “what made you think you can yell at our child?”

Lily almost gasped, doing her best not to tear up at the sudden pain in her chest. “You spoil Harry rotten, what Jacob said just made sense.”

It was the best defence she could come with. She knew it was a weak one.

“My question is,” Sirius said, deep voice surprising her. How long had it been since they last talked? “Why didn’t you contact the teachers first? Or why didn’t you write to Corvan to clear the situation.” Ugh, that bloody name. “Or whatever made you think calling my child an “utter disappointment and waste of tuition” was remotely acceptable?”

Lily was told from a young age that her volatile temper was going to be her downfall. It did get her in trouble sometimes. But this? It was beyond what she ever imagined. The humiliation as Sirius read the howler felt like a physical slap.

“I am sorry,” James whispered, burying his face on his palms. “I am so sorry.”

In all their years together she never saw James breaking down in front of so many people and she couldn’t even blame him. She wanted to do some crying herself.

So she grabbed the last string. “What about the tattoo? Even if-”

“A mere drawing his friend made during the train trip,” Dumbledore sighed, taking his glasses off. “I am afraid there was a big misunderstanding here Lily, James. Jacob was rather rash and couldn’t control his-”

“Their son lied to try to get mine in trouble. Corvan felt humiliated, at least his social standing is firm so no one is making fun of him. But this will be the first and last time this happens,” Sirius declared. With a wave of his hand the quill stopped writing and the parchment moved in front of him along with the frozen howler. “We are going to present this to the child protective department to ensure it’s a one time occurrence.”

“Anything you want to send Corvan will be sent to either us or his head of the house,” Sarah said, finalising the conversation.

What could she even say? Lily had no arguments and James refused to look away from the floor. Even Dumbledore was quiet.

“Thank you for calling us, professor,” Sarah said in a gentler tone than before.

“Don’t worry, Corvan is simply a wonderful student. It would be a shame for something so silly to become a burden on the poor boy.” McGonagall sighed, “too bad he prefers other subjects over mine. A shame to see two insanely talented generations choose other branches.”

Sirius tilted his head to the old woman gracefully, “we live to serve.”

“Ah, shall we all have tea in my office?” Professor Sprout spoke for the first time. “Then we can all sign the testimonials and I can properly thank you for raising such a wonderful child. You see, I have this painfully shy first year and he knows so much already, I would have never noticed his natural-”

Sprout led the other head of the houses along with the Blacks.

They were talking about Harry. HER son. It was as if everyone forgot that fact already. Sirius was the godfather, not the father.

“James, Lily,” Dumbledore muttered, looking already older than he was at the beginning of the meeting. “I would lie if I said I was not disappointed, but I understand your reasoning to a certain point. However, let me make this clear. Jacob, you may be the boy-who-lived but that doesn’t make you untouchable. If another event like this were to happen, I will have no other choice but to suspend you in the best case scenario and expel you at worst. Now please go to your common room, I need to speak with your parents.”

Jacob fled without a word.

“Through the years it has become well known that your oldest, Harry, lives with his godfather,” Dumbledore began, not truly looking at them. “When he started school the teachers reported he didn’t react to being called Mr Potter. Severus noted it was because the child was not used to being called that so he started calling him Mr Black and all the teachers followed. Sirius mentioned something about muggle paperwork and identities, I could not fully understand what he meant.”

James’ shoulders were shaking and Lily doubted the tears blurring her vision went unnoticed.

“Harry Potter is rarely ever called that. Everyone else, including myself, I admit, knows him as Corvan Black. Lily, I want to know when did he stop being a Potter?”

“Harry is still a Potter,” Lily argued, “I… don’t know when he got so distant. It’s true that after the accident he went to live with Sirius but the days we had him he was always normal. I thought everything was fine until-”

Her voice broke and Lily did her best to try and breathe.

“We thought everything was fine until we took Jacob school shopping,” James finished in a tiny voice. “Harry left early and we noticed a little too late. We were worried at first, until Mr Fortescue told us he was with his school friends. We were supposed to talk to him and it got out of hand. He left that night and only saw him during the train ride.”

That cursed day. The day she realised she truly didn’t know a single thing about Harry.

Albus was nodding, “I feared so, Jacob mentioned something. I also fear I am greatly at blame for this. After the attack, I shared my suspicions with you about Voldemort’s escape rather than death. Considering Jacob is the child of the prophecy, it is normal for you to worry more about him… Let me be honest with you, I see a lot of myself in your son and I see a lot of my brother in Jacob.”

Lily almost choked. Dumbledore saw himself in Harry?!

“We used to be close when we were young. I always did my best to spoil Aberforth, not unlike Harry, if the professors are to be believed. And look at us now, the last time we spoke was three years ago and it was about my students getting into his bar. I would hate for them to end like us.”

“What can we even do?” James asked, there was a tiredness Lily hadn’t seen since the funeral more than a decade ago.

Dumbledore looked at them, his own face twisting in something wistful. “If I knew, I would have fixed my own relationship decades ago. But perhaps the first step lies with asking forgiveness and following it through with actions.”

---

Severus Prince (once known as Snape) took another sip of his firewhisky while he stared at the school grounds and took his time to think.

Seeing Lily after so many years was strange, especially in the situation they were in.

Their school years were nice despite Potter being annoying. But there was Black reining his group in so Potter was an annoyance at most. The fight with Lily about the dark arts marked a clear end to the close friendship they once shared. Severus refused to be limited and Lily refused to cross the line. So they simply drifted and never reconnected.

That same year Black told him one could become a legal adult at fifteen as long as they had a master willing to teach them. Handing him a letter of recommendation for Potions Master Dagworth-Granger along with a small vial that had simple instructions: three drops mixed with any liquid to make a hippogriff fall asleep.

Father weighed a fifth of a hippogriff and fell in seconds.

So, years later, when Black asked him to infiltrate the death eater along with Bellatrix, Severus did so with something akin to glee. Easily passing off whatever information Black wanted that always made Voldemort lose his mind.

A decade after the war and now life was far less interesting. Hogwarts paid well and the sheer variety of available materials in the Forbidden Forest made the dunderheads almost tolerable, likeable even. And it was always a treat to find and nourish talent.

After all, Severus swore to himself he would protect children the way he wish he was protected from his father. Being a teacher granted an advantage in that matter.

Discovering Black’s godson had talent for the subject was no surprise. All Blacks excelled in basic potion brewing. But passion? That child had it in droves. It reminded him of Regulus Black, fellow potions master who was devoting his life to creating salves and hoping to brew cures.

Realising Lily’s youngest had no talent nor passion whatsoever was a disappointment after having his older brother excelling in his class. Severus considered Jacob Potter would surmount to an average student who happened to have fame and ended up with a borderline malicious child with inferiority complex.

Who would have thought it was going to be the most famous child in the country who suffered from it?

Severus honestly hoped Albus dealt with the Potters because Black was not above getting rid of the whole family. There was a familiar set of knocks on his door before it was opened.

“Up to chat?” Minerva asked, showing the fine firewhisky bottle.

“For a taste of that, always,” Severus nodded at the couches.

As expected, Flitwick came from behind, carrying a tray of sandwiches. Pomona right behind, carrying her famous lemon pound cake.

“The meeting was postponed to next week so we figured we could have a little get together,” Pomona said while taking out the desert plates.

Severus grabbed some glasses and levitated the forks. “What about Barty?”

“Oh, you know him. He is interviewing yet another ghost. That boy is a scholar at heart,” Minerva sighed, eyes soft. “So, what should we do about what happened this morning?”

“Nothing,” Pomona asserted as she sliced the pudding. “Mr Potter was warned. If he chooses to misbehave again then he will get his comeuppance.”

Perfect logic there.

“Potter couldn’t be any more different to his brother,” Severus added, almost drooling when Pomona placed a slice of goodness on his plate.

Filius sighed, going boneless. As dramatic as always. “Bummer. I expected so much from him.”

Severus rolled his eyes. The brat surviving the killer curse didn’t mean he had exceptional talent.

“Well, you know Dorea was a Black,” Minerva said as she poured the firewhisky.

And wasn’t that a terrifying implication?

Being a Black took another meaning the moment Sirius Black became the General of the Hit Wizards. Being a Black meant being talented and having access to magic long forgotten. It meant being powerful enough to break the rules of nature.

It wasn’t far-fetched to think Dorea Potter did something to protect her grandson. Something very illegal and dark in nature.

“Either way, Severus, how is Corvan doing? The youngest assistant you ever chose, right?” Pomona asked, drowning her shot as if it was water.

That woman was made of steel, if he tried that, his intestines would shrivel.

“Well, he is a Black,” that spoke for itself. “At this rate he will be starting on NEWT level potions before winter. And he has the patience to deal with first years. Avoided three accidents in the first week and took Longbottom under his wing.”

Pomona and Minerva brightened while Filius inhaled his pudding.

“Oh yes,” Pomona nodded profusely, “I asked some high level questions, the usual, you know, and Mr Longbottom answered all of them! I am definitely upping his curriculum. I overheard him and his friends gushing over Corvan and how he helped them during the day.”

“He is always helping around,” Minerva sighed, “the children love him.”

Filius (finally) stopped stuffing himself. “Too true. I hope you don’t mind me giving him a reward already.”

“Forbidden section?” Severus asked.

“Yup. Then he told me Irma already gave him one. Bugger. Any ideas?” Filius sulked, taking another sandwich from the tray.

“Well, not really. He rejected the house points we offered for helping and Irma already loves him. Unless we want to give him a free pass to the forbidden forest?” Minerva offered.

Pomona shook her head. “Hagrid already took him to meet Aragog.”

Ah, right, those two bonded over Black feeding the thestrals.

“Just give the boy a book and he will be happy,” Severus suggested.

That is what he did and Black always gushed on whatever he was given. The boy was the most stereotypical Ravenclaw in history, except for the quidditch player thing.

Filius pouted. “I hate not having arguments against that. Well, whatever, Sirius and Sarah took Corvan for the weekend, I hope the boy has a fun time.”

Not like the Blacks needed any excuse to take their son out. They did so every Sunday since his first year.

Black is a spoiled brat indeed. But at least a likeable one.

Chapter 9: Detentions and Expectations

Harry had a free period when the firsties had their first flying lesson so he and Lyra volunteered while Richard stayed with their fellow Ravenclaws rather than “risking his life on a magical stick”.

“The brooms can feel your nerves so take a moment to breathe before calling it. When you are ready, put your hand over it and up!” Harry explained, the school broom smacking his palm with a tad too much eagerness.

“It can take time before it responds, it’s normal,” Lyra agreed, shutting her brother up with a single look.

Madam Hooch nodded, giving them a rare smile.

“When you feel ready, mount your broom, kick off the ground. Lyra and I will be ready to catch you, so don’t worry,” Harry said, touching his broom. “Now, any questions?”

Ah, little Greengrass raised her hand. “Uhm, I have never done this. Can you help me?”

Adorable child.

Harry smiled at the girl. So innocent and adorable even when trying to flirt, why was his own brother the only brat?

Lyra scoffed, “I am in charge of helping the girls while Corvan is in charge of helping the boys, so line up. Girls left boys right.”

“I don’t want to have a Weasley beside me!” Draco whinged. Loud and high pitched.

Good to know someone else lost the baby sibling lottery. The boy was smacked by Lyra.

“Ow! Wait until my father hears about this!”

“We have the same father, you brainless goldfish. And dad likes me more, I’m cuter.”

Draco turned red. Harry blew his whistle to avoid the drama.

“Let’s begin!”

For all his annoyingness, Lyra’s brother got it on his first try. So did a Slytherin girl and Regina Zabini’s (aunt Bella’s bestie) son.

They went around correcting grips and postures when one of the brooms chose to act up. Neville got scared and kicked off his feet.

Off he went and Harry rushed right after. Good thing his new broom was faster and he easily caught up to the boy. It was tricky to manoeuvre himself to grab the broom handle while also putting an arm on Neville’s shoulder.

The school broom went still.

“Come on, Neville, breathe with me. Good. I caught you, right? Now, I won’t let go but I want you to manoeuvre the handle so we go back down.”

Harry gently helped the boy, thighs burning with the effort to keep himself stable without using his hands. But once they were near the ground Neville was no longer shaking nor strangling the handle.

“See? Not entirely horrible.”

“Yeah. Not as scary as falling down the top floor of the manor.”

Harry would curse Algernon Longbottom if he ever met the man.

Aside from that little mishap, the flying lessons went well. It would have been better if Jacob and Draco didn’t start fighting over who flew better, the whole thing ending up in a duel challenge. Which Madam Hooch heard and made official. Somehow, he and Lyra ended up as seconds.

They definitely ended up with the worst brothers ever.

Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw flying class went better. A slight girl, Sue Li, caught his eye. She was good, exceptional control. He would talk with her later about trying to be a reserve. Either seeker or chaser would suit her.

“Should we take pictures?” Richard asked as the three of them looked at the two firsties ready to duel.

The great hall was almost full, everyone waiting to see the boy-who-lived duelling the Malfoys youngest. The oldest students came for a good laugh. After all, what could firsties do?

Too bad this was going to reflect on him and Lyra as well.

“Alright. Mr Potter, Mr Malfoy, raise your wands and bow. At the count of three the duel starts. One. Two. Three!” Flitwick signalled.

Neither of the boys moved. Draco was the first one to react.

“Lumos!”

“Please, drown me in the lake,” Lyra begged, covering her pink face.

“Ah… Stunner!”

Harry facepalmed. Was Jacob’s objective to murder Harry with embarrassment? If so, he was on the right path.

“The merpeople won’t allow it and there are wards in the astronomy tower. Let’s go and pick a fight with some hippogriff near the forest.”

The twins, the four of them, were laughing their arses off as the firsties insulted each other.

“Are you sure you are related?” Cedric asked, squinting as he looked at Jacob.

“Of course,” Marcus nodded, “this one got all the brains so that one was born brainless.”

Penelope giggled, “well reasoned,” and kissed Marcus’ cheek.

Who would have thought those two would end up together?

Flitwick whistled. “As none of the duellists have thrown a single spell in a minute their duel is over. Seconds, step in.”

Lyra groaned before squaring her shoulders. Corvan followed her example.

“Loser get the winner’s brother?” He offered.

Unfortunately Lyra snorted. “Believe it or not, I know better than to bet with the under thirteen champion duellist.”

“You came in third.”

“Which means there are two people better. Winner gets a shoulder massage.”

“Deal.”

They bowed to each other.

“One. Two. Three!”

His classical first move during duelling season was a silent stunner. But, considering they were only allowed to use first year spells, Harry chose an overpowered lumos followed by an ice jink. Lyra also reacted, her verdimillious charm clashed rather brightly with the lumos. Though the conjured ice hit her on the nose. Lyra tried to murder him with a glare for that one.

Ha!

Lyra, dirty player, used a smokescreen spell. It always made him want to sneeze.

In revenge, Corvan used a softening charm on the floor, an overpowered one that made his own feet sink in the stage. There was a high-pitched yelp to where he sent the familiar petrificus totalus. Not wasting time, Harry used the counter-spell to the smokescreen charm. Technically illegal for this duel but he was more than willing to lose this one.

A frozen Lyra was on the floor. Bugger, she was going to be prissy the rest of the day.

“We have a winner!” Flitwick declared while Harry reversed the spell on the stage and rushed to undo the damage on Lyra so she didn’t try to murder him in his sleep.

They have known each other all of their lives and she was always a sore loser.

“I will bring you whatever Kreacher bakes on Sunday,” Harry promised once Lyra reacted.

She inhaled sharply then rolled herc eyes and sighed. “You better. Help me up:”

Harry wanted to talk with Jacob about challenging other students to duels when he barely knew how to cast a lumos and turn a matchstick into a needle. Too bad he was being mobbed by his friends.

“Good show, Corvan!”

“Nice duel.”

“Have you seen my brother?” He asked a boy small enough to be a firsty.

The boy shook his head.

Well, darn. Mum and Dad would come to pick him before dinner and there was still the duelling club before that.

Oh well, the chat could wait until he was back. What was the worst that could happen?

---

I should have never said that, Albus Dumbledore thought the second those words left his lips.

Yesterday’s staff meeting was changed to Sunday after breakfast because the Minister needed to talk with Albus. Something inane about ratings and approvals he ignored and offered some cryptic advice for.

Now, here he was. In the staff meeting, getting informed about how Jacob and another two first years got caught after curfew on the third floor.

Albus was too tired and said: “He is only eleven.”

Good Morgana if that didn’t throw Minerva into a fit. A very justified one, much to his chagrin.

“-inconceivable! Potter is simply reckless! And he dragged Longbottom and Weasley with him!”

Severus passed the woman a glass full of brandy. “Now Minerva, I fully agree with you. However, the boy already has detention this whole month. Something tells me some drastic measures need to be taken before detentions are no longer a deterrent for bad behaviour.”

“Miss Granger did mention Mr Longbottom was not originally involved and tried to plead his case,” young Barty Crouch said, not interested enough to look away from his book.

Albus had to admit Sirius demanding they change Binns was an overall improvement.

“I honestly don’t think contacting his parents will be any good,” Pomona huffed, pouring some brandy into a glass and proceeding to chug from the bottle. “We all saw how the Potters are.”

That was a low blow. However, what happened during breakfast last week tarnished the Potters reputation quite a lot.

“I wish he was a little more like his brother,” Rolanda muttered, perhaps not intended to be heard. But, as he was right beside her, Albus did hear.

And that was the crux of the matter, was it not?

Harry Potter arrived two years ago and established himself before the first week was over.

Excellence came naturally to the boy, from magical performance to theoretical knowledge. Before the first month was over, everyone knew Corvan Black. Excellent student, youngest seeker in a century. Sarah and Sirius Black only child.

Harry Potter ceased to exist.

However, everyone was aware the child was related to the boy-who-lived. And if his brother was so capable, just how much could Jacob Potter do?

Albus himself admitted looking forward to seeing how many feats Jacob would accomplish. The results were disappointing, to say the least.

Jacob’s wand work was that of a novice, unlike his brother’s ease with spell casting. Jacob’s essays were not bad and he performed the spells as well as his peers. Jacob Potter was average and everyone was expecting excellence.

Their disappointment was not the child’s fault but their own for expecting so much from him.

“This many detentions have to be some record,” Filius was saying.

Albus sighed. There was another problem.

Corvan Black proved himself to be responsible. Excellent behaviour and unfailingly polite. Not a single streak in his record. No detentions, no missed homework, bloody hell, not even late arrivals!

Too bad Jacob was the exact opposite in this matter as well.

The meeting concluded with how the new head boy and girl were doing in their duties. Albus offered himself to talk with Jacob about how he and his friends would serve their detention dusting off the castle’s paintings the whole evening.

If this was the second week, Albus feared to know how the rest of the school term would go.

---

James untied the letter from the owl, looking at it with trepidation. The last letter Jacob sent caused a lot of trouble and they had yet to talk about the matter.

Lily buried herself with work and he would be lying if he said he didn’t do the same.

Working was way easier than thinking about how exactly they messed up so bad.

“Ah, Potter, it’s your son’s first year at Hogwarts, right?” Benedict Vance, an old Auror working for administration asked. James simply nodded at the man. “Good grace, my children forgot to write to me while both of your kids drive you crazy with letters. Ah, some are simply lucky.”

The man sighed and James froze.

Then he remembered. He did receive a letter each week. However, at that time James was so busy with the Nundu case he was working most weekends and he barely had time to glance at them. When did they stop coming?

James opened the letter on his hands, not daring to postpone reading what his son sent.

Dear dad,

You won’t believe what Harry did! He and his friend humiliated me so bad I couldn’t leave my dorm all Saturday! And guess what? When I did, we got detention. It’s SO unfair! Filch is just so mean and his damn cat is a menace.

One week ago he would have demanded an explanation from Harry. After last week’s fiasco, James decided he would write to McGonagall and get the story from her.

This week was so bad. Everyone is teasing me for what happened last week. How mean is that?! Why didn’t you tell me Harry is in the quidditch team?! The youngest player in a century, Hermione says. This older girl that also plays quidditch makes fun of me ALL the time… And she is in Gryffindor! She tortures me.

School is going fine I guess. Not as interesting as I hoped. Very boring. And everyone is comparing me to my older brother. So not fair. At least Ron agrees with me.

Mum is good at charms, right? Please tell her to help me to get the spells on the first try. Apparently Harry is known for that. Dad, tell me how to transfigure a quill into a teapot. Pretty please?

I love you and I am sorry for lying about what happened last week. I was so humiliated at the time it felt like I was wronged. It will never happen again.

Love, Jacob.

James sighed and decided to go home. This talk could no longer wait. There was a pop and an elf wearing the Ministry insignia on its uniform appeared, carrying a lot of cleaning products.

“Good night Auror sir,” the elf said as it unloaded the cleaning products, then looked at the letter on his hand. “I can take that to the junk mail, just like the other letters.”

Ice made his gut twitch. James clenched his jaw.

With a muttered, “no thanks,” he ran away.

When he arrived home, he found Lily on her favourite chair, nursing a bottle of wine. A wrinkled letter on her lap.

“I’m assuming you didn’t know Harry played quidditch,” Lily clutched the bottle tighter. “Yeah, me neither.” James sat on the couch next to hers. “So what do we do?”

“I don’t know James, I truly don’t.”

Not that he expected her to. Until only a few months ago Harry was the perfect child.

After the accident, when they lost Harry’s custody, James realised something. They had one day a week with Harry so they made sure to enjoy it fully. Only then they learn their oldest son was rather quiet and enjoyed reading a little too much.

It was a slap to realise they interacted more with their oldest son when they lost his custody than before.

But they needed to protect Jacob and travel so much for his interviews and book deals. There simply was no time to worry about that.

They should have.

“Did you know Harry used to send me letters during his first year? I was so busy with the Nundu case until last year that only now I realise they must have been sent to the spam bin and burned.”

Lily took another swing of her bottle before speaking. “I asked the elf if Harry sent any letters to us. She told me that we didn’t add his name to the allowed ones so they were all disposed of.”

Oh. So it was their fault Harry no longer wrote to them.

“Do you think this is just a rebellious phase? I used to fight with my sister all the time when I was thirteen,” Lily said, somehow sounding desperate while looking impassive.

“I don’t know. Maybe? I rarely fought with my parents… Actually, I don’t think I ever did. They used to spoil me a lot.” James should have enjoyed his parents before they passed. He did miss them. “Maybe he is. Harry is a teen now, so it’s normal to be a rebel. But Lily, we also messed up. A lot.”

“I know.”

Her voice broke along with James’ heart.

“How about we ask him to spend Christmas with us. It has been,” now that he thought about it, a long time, “since the attack, I think.”

“We can turn down the Ministry gala,” Lily suggested, “Sirius never goes and no one tells him a thing,”

The difference was that Sirius Black is the war’s hero. The one who hunted Voldemort and his followers mercilessly. The hit wizard that created a difference. Everyone knew that without Sirius in charge the war would have been a very grim affair rather than random blitzkrieg attacks on muggles and some families.

After all, things were looking rather bleak during their last year of school.

But he chose to stay quiet. James needed to reconnect with his son and have the old Harry back. Book loving, plant collecting, gentle, and polite son back.

Chapter 10: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

One day.

Corvan was away for ONE SODDING DAY and Jacob managed to get himself in trouble. He looked for answers and found them.

The little shite agreed to duel with Malfoy despite Saturday's fiasco. At least Lyra’s brother learnt better and was clever enough to set Jacob and his friends up. Corvan was impressed with Draco’s idea and Jacob’s brainlessness.

Now, here he was, grovelling to McGonagall.

“I am deeply sorry, professor. I will talk with Jacob but I please beg you not to write this in his record.”

At this rate the brat was going to be expelled before Christmas. Ten detentions before suspension. Two suspensions meant immediate expulsion.

McGonagall sighed, pushing the platter of tea biscuits towards him. “I would be lying if I said I am not disappointed with your brother’s behaviour, but these weeks showed me your parents raised you well, Mr Black.” He puffed out in pride. “Alright then, I will erase this from their records and hand them to you the whole evening.”

“Thank you ma’am.”

“Now that we are on the subject, could I ask you to teach your brother to write a proper essay?”

Harry was handed a parchment that he scanned while grimacing. At this rate, he was going to need to hit Jacob with a dictionary enough for either the knowledge to transfer through osmosis or give him an excuse to claim such a horrible orthography.

“I will write to the Potters. I admit children raised in the magical world tend to have a harder time with writing and school work in general, so it’s nothing you should particularly worry about, Mr Black.”

He sighed. “I think I will use this as an excuse to keep an eye on Jacob.”

McGonagall handed him another parchment. “Homework Exception” it read, he immediately rejected it.

“Please, hear me out. We both know you already tutor students in potions, help out in the library, and are one of the members that lead the duelling club. That is without mentioning your own studies, responsibilities as quidditch captain, taking all the elective classes, your own duelling practice, and leisure time. All of the professors talked and agreed that you will forget things now that you will dedicate a lot of time trying to control your brother. Besides, it’s not like you need to do homework either way, we both know Sirius taught you all of this before first year.”

Not exactly wrong. Honestly appreciated. All of the teachers were getting nice gifts for Christmas.

“Thank you, professor. I will do my best.”

“We know that, Corvan. Now off you go.”

He left McGonagall’s office after giving the woman a military salute that made her roll her eyes. Just as dad said, that woman was fun to be around.

Once he was in front of the fat lady, Gryffindor’s guardian, Corvan greeted her. “Good evening ma’am.” The portrait looked at him with narrowed eyes. “Knight Crawford told me you are the best singer in the castle.”

As on cue, the woman’s hostility melted. “Oh my! What are you doing here, young man? Want me to summon someone for you?”

“Allow me to introduce myself. Corvan Black, at your service. Professor McGonagall gave me the password. I need to keep an eye on my brother.”

“Ooh! The Ravenclaw boy! Handsome as the rumours say! And polite to boot. No wonder my girls wake up so early just to see you run!” Wait. What? “And I was indeed told. So, password?”

“Ignis Draconis.”

The portrait winked at him and the door swung open. Wake up early to see him run? That had to be a joke. Right?

Right in the middle of the common room (so much red and gold) were Jacob and Ron, playing chess.

“Having fun, aren’t we?” Corvan asked, placing a hand on each boy’s shoulders. They both jumped. “Too bad, you will be coming with me.”

“Wait, what are you doing here?! You can’t-” Corvan hit his brother for the first time. It was cathartic, no doubt Lyra did it so frequently. “Ow!”

“McGonagall gave me carte blanche to set you three straight. Wait, where’s Neville?”

“He’s still in his room,” a boy said, looking at him with wide, doe eyes.

Harry hummed. “Dean, right? Great. Bring him for me please.”

Dean ran to the stairs.

“Terrorising firsties, I see,” Anna Rosier, fifth year prefect purred.

Corvan had a tiny little crush on her on first year and tried asking her out. Two years later and Anna went out of her way to tease him all the time.

He was forced to laugh. “Oh, you know me.”

Anna snorted. “Such a bad boy. If only you were three years older Black,” she fluttered her eyelashes.

“You would still be a cougar.”

“Yes Rosier, don’t cradle rob,” Angelina came to his defence, a teasing edge on her voice.

Corvan rolled his eyes. “Just say you want to call me babe, Johnson.”

“Is that permission?”

“Oi, oi, oi! Angelina, mate, I won’t tolerate competition. He is the one that braids my hair!” Lee whined, placing himself between them.

“We really should hang out more,” Harry told them. “Swing by the room on Saturday, let’s enjoy a class reunion.”

“Deal,” Angie winked at him, then looked down. “If you are planning what I hope you are, we never saw you here. At this rate we won’t have a single house point at the end of the year.”

“I got permission to keep an eye on him. So don’t worry… For a few weeks at least.”

Two boys came running down the stairs.

“Alright, now that you are all here, follow me. Ladies, gentlemen, Oscar,” Harry said his goodbyes. Oscar the cat ignored him and kept licking his beans. Cute.

“Harry, I don-”

“You are two detentions short of a suspension,” that worked magic to shut Jacob up. “Neville, I heard you have trouble remembering the password. I will teach you a trick once I am done with them.”

Despite the groans the four of them made it to the pitch in record time.

“The two of you,” he let go of Ron and Jacob, “fifty laps. Neville, thirty. Once you are done I will teach you how to remember your password.”

“You can’t-” Corvan used a little charm to zap some sense into Ronald. “OW!”

“Percy gave me his blessings to set you straight. We won’t leave until you are done. Not even puking your lunch will get you out of this one.”

Corvan joined them because, why not?

Neville, the only one in the group that joined the duelling club, wasn’t dying by the fifth lap. By the seventeenth one, he was the only one that kept going steady despite being drenched in sweat and red in the face. Corvan gave some water to the three of them by the twentieth and sneaked Neville regenerating essence.

What could he say? He has a soft spot for the boy.

Neville finished his laps soon after and Harry taught him a spell to make ink invisible on his skin and visible again with the tap of a wand. Not something he entrusted the other two with.

“Not even forty and you are dying. Shame. Let’s go to dinner before it’s over. Jacob, get in another detention and you are doing this every single day.”

Jacob nodded profusely from his seat on the floor. Corvan personally dragged the two suckers to the great hall for dinner. Neville followed, gushing about the devil’s snare that Sprout let him take care of.

Cute child. He really should work on begging for a younger sibling. It was his tenth year in a row, perseverance is the key to success, after all,

Dinner went well. Jacob and Ron almost falling asleep on their plates meant they had no energy to get in trouble, which could only be good. Prince’s impressed look at Corvan’s accomplishment was only the cherry on top.

Only once he was in bed with a full belly and hours of having fun with his friends did Harry realise he had yet to visit the thestrals, Aragog, or Fluffy, nor paid his respects to Bane. He would do so tomorrow instead of his morning run.

Turns out carrying a bag of meat, another of dog treats, one with dried mangos, and three very thick books was harder than expected. This was his yearly reminder to visit one of his friends at the time.

“Corvinus,” Bane greeted, not looking at him.

Dad told him centaurs were able to see a persons’ name. The real one. Very dangerous ability. His parents taught him how to pay proper respect so the centaurs had no reason to give that information away.

“Chief Bane.”

“Don’t bow child,” Bane said, finally looking at him. “There is no reason to pay your respects every time.”

Harry grinned, “my family and I took a trip, we brought you something.” He handed the dried mangoes bag, expanded of course, so the whole tribe had to spare. “We couldn’t bring them fresh, they turn wanky.”

Magic sometimes did wanky things and the expansion charm clashed with the preservation one. The mangoes turned slimy and salty, for whatever reason.

“A very appreciated gift, it is rare to get tropical fruits.”

“No luck with the seeds I guess.”

Bane sighed, “the Black patriarch is working with our shaman and your mother brought muggle seeds that actually started flourishing. The magic of the forest is whimsical however, it has to like something before it allows it to grow and sometimes the forest consumes it before it flourishes. Do visit the tribe, the children are asking for you.”

“I am going to in a few days. Thank you, Bane.”

“Let Jupiter guide you, Corvinus Black.”

Harry kept jogging until he saw the multiple spider webs, then ran. Aragog was waiting.

“It has been a while, Corvan Black,” Aragog said in that eerily deep voice of his.

Corvan bowed, “A few months indeed, Aragog.”

“You brought me books.”

He took that as permission to walk towards the gigantic spider. After so long, Aragog appreciated learning new things to enjoy his last years. Curiously, he enjoyed knitting. A gentle giant indeed, despite his hunger for humans.

“Good, I will use them well. I smell some dried meat, I think the thestral herd was near the silver river.”

“Thank you, Aragog. Please tell me when you finish them, I will bring you more.”

Aragog let out something akin to a gurgle, his version of a laugh. “I will send one of my children.”

Corvan visited the thestrals and was gifted a silver hair so soft he swore to treasure it. And the highlight of the day and perhaps the whole month? A unicorn approaching him and allowing him to pet the silky mane. All for a few pieces of dried mango.

It was sublime. His body felt rested and light. And he might just understood all those stories of people sacrificing themselves for unicorns. It was impossible not wanting to protect such a pure creature.

Harry was still all floaty when he arrived at Fluffy's cave. It was empty, not even the bedding was there. He ran to Hagrid’s hut in a panic.

The man was watering the pumpkins.

“Hagrid! Fluffy isn’t in his cave!”

No time for niceties when Fluffy was kidnapped!

Hagrid choked. Then gave some excuses. Then tried to change topics. Then finally spilled the beans.

Fluffy was paying for his stay, Dumbledore demanded it. Harry connected the dots between that and the third floor corridor.

Then made a choice.

He sent a patronus to dad with all the information and, for the first time in his three years of school, he was late to class. Not that it mattered when the classes were cancelled that day thanks to the Aurors, magizoologists, General of the Hit Wizard Squad (dad), Head of the Creature Department (a fuming Linnet Scamander), and a few journalists.

It was a scandal.

A maze inside the school with a Cerberus guarding it? A teen Cerberus in a tiny room with no entertainment whatsoever was asking for trouble.

At least Hagrid and him were able to show Fluffy was a very gentle dog, wary of strangers but very obedient.

The whole situation ended up with the Headmaster being in very deep trouble. Corvan somehow ended up getting a new pet and an offer from Madam Scammander to give him a recommendation letter. And, for some reason, the whole school learning about the ordeal and blaming him for solving it.

He did no such thing, he only tried to protect his friend. No one deserved to be trapped in a tiny room without even a window or a place to pee. Poor Fluffy, he is such a good boy and deserves better.

And there were so many people trying to speak with him that he flat out refused to leave his bedroom.

If this was only the beginning of the third week, Corvan feared to see how the rest of the year would go.

Notes:

I was supposed to proof read, which I sort of did. I just got distracted enjoying the story. I really like where my whimsy is taking me ^.^

Chapter 11: Troll! In the Loo!

Sirius took a gentle sip of his tea, the silence in the room absolute.

“So, let me see if I got all the facts straight. Dumbledore said you had to create obstacles and no one complained or even asked what it was for?” he asked in the calmest tone he could muster lest he starts yelling and cutting people.

Severus cleared his throat. “If I may say this, it is not unusual for us to do these kinds of things. Last year we collaborated to create an ice statue to appease the fire spirits that reside in the pits of the dungeons.”

Sirius sighed, that is an awfully good point. Old magic is whimsical and, sometimes, it demands strange sacrifices. Last year the Manor demanded to have all maples removed and have them replaced with elder trees.

“Moody, please take the professors and interview them. Take this opportunity to learn from him, Nymphadora,” his niece’s hair turned awfully similar to his when she nodded. Sirius waited until the room was almost empty to speak. “Minerva told me you created the maze to protect something.”

The old man sighed, lips pursed. Obviously unwilling to talk.

“This is a school, Sirius Black, and you are disrupting it.”

“A school indeed, so a Cerberus should not be inside a cramped classroom.”

Dumbledore flinched, shoulders slumping over. “I admit my folly there. I did not think of the creature’s well-being only of the object’s safety.”

The door was kicked open, Sirius turned to glare at the intruder only to find a fuming Bella. And dear Bella rarely shows anger, she was raised a Black, after all.

“Patriarch, I found something disturbing,” she offered her hand, perfectly manicured nails showing off her new silver set.

Sirius took the offer and looked into her mind.

There was a mirror in the middle of an abandoned classroom. The sound of high heels clicking echoed. There was a gasp, Bella’s.

The mirror was not reflecting Bellatrix’s uniform. It was showing him, Sirius Black, at the head of the ritual room. Bella on his right and Corvinus on his left, the three looking at the family. A very large family, all surrounding the sacrificial circle. Familiar faces (all of whom Bella disliked) being consumed by the wards.

“So, a mirror that shows not your face but your true desire?” Dumbledore’s eyes widened. “Thank you Bella, keep looking around for me and keep an eye on Quirrell, his magic is strange.”

“Of course, patriarch.”

Bella left, her heels clicking on the ground.

“Care to explain?”

“Do I have an option?”

Sirius snorted. “You know you don’t. Whether you speak or not, I will find the truth regardless. And once I do, this whole matter will be discussed with the board of directors to decide your standing in the school.”

Dumbledore laughed without mirth, simply looking at his hands. “You were always ruthless, Sirius. I always envied and feared that trait. Very well, allow me to come clean then. You know Voldemort died a decade ago. I fear that may not be the case. I have my suspicions about him being alive. Lily tells me Jacob occasionally complains about his scar hurting and, according to the prophecy, he marked the poor boy. I believe that scar to be a link between them.”

“Is that it?”

Sirius could have slapped the old man. Only manners reigned in the impulse.

Dumbledore recoiled. “Sirius, you don’t understand the-”

“Tom Riddle divided his soul, am I wrong?” Dumbledore froze, blood draining from his face. “The knowledge I possess would lead you to insanity, Albus Dumbledore.”

Rituals. Sacrifices. Old magic. It would drive normal people insane. But Blacks are not normal, they are raised to control magic like they would a hand. The family tree passed knowledge and protected the mind. Within reason, of course, only the strong willed are able to take it. The others succumb to it. A reason why the Black madness is so famous. In the end, either you control the dark arts or they control you. No in between.

“I feared, but I dared not imagine.”

Sirius sighed, looking at the Headmaster. A man that tried so hard last war and failed so spectacularly. Because Albus Dumbledore was too kind to be a man of war.

“I destroyed almost everything. I just need some more blood. Should have asked Bella to take the whole arm… Well, whatever. The object you brought to school, either get rid of it or make sure I never find it. A single warning, Albus, place my son in danger again and I will be forced to take matters in my own hands.”

Just as he did during the war. No threats against Corvan are allowed to live.

The headmaster looked at him, expression twisted in unmistakeable sadness. “I know, dear child.”

They came to a mutual understanding. Sirius's priority was Corvinus while Dumbledore’s was peace. And if he wanted to keep dreaming of it, he better not place Sirius’ child in danger.

After visiting Corvinus in his room and assuring him Fluffy would be well received at the manor, he wondered how he would tell his lovely wife they now have a dog that weighs more than the two of them combined.

Oh well, nothing a night of loving is not able to fix.

---

Pomona watered the carnivorous begonias while her mind wandered. Until the date, the school year was unwelcomingly eventful.

From young Mr Potter’s shenanigans to Albus’ ones. Both were in hot waters, the latter one with the board of governors that only decided to keep him because of his wonderful work as headmaster until the date.

And good events, of course, such as Mr Black’s birthday.

Once more he proved his popularity by being sang happy birthday by the school body, a large birthday cake that the elves especially baked for him on the table. His parents choosing to treat the whole school, including elves, ghosts, their neighbours in the forbidden forest, and even Peeves to a scrumptious dinner they ordered from whatever restaurant caters for hundreds of people.

As every year, Sarah and Sirius Black went all out on the birthday. Everyone had fun.

She wonders who else notices how intentional it is. Sirius Black was always charming, scarily so. And the child seems to have inherit that trait.

“Professor Sprout?” Ah, thinking about the Devil.

“Mr Black, over here. It is pretty early.”

The boy in question appeared, already taller than her when he once looked up to her. How time flies by.

“Oh, you know, I like waking up early.”

“A sentiment I am sure your friends don’t appreciate. So, Mr Black, what can I do for you today?”

The boy grimaced, sheepish. “My cat decided to get into your greenhouse and brought me a mandrake. I am so sorry, ma’am, I will get you another one.”

Oh my, what a shame. And what an unusual cat. Only half kneazle, Pomona knew, yet smart enough to enter a warded greenhouse and strong enough to murder a mandrake. She should loan the cat and offer some payment in exchange for hunting plagues.

“Well, nothing to do about it. Don’t worry, Mr Black, and thank you for telling me.”

The child apologised once more and left after she shooed him lest he start helping around.

Oh, how she wished to give him the appropriate house points for helping all the children. She did know Minerva gave Corvan free reign to put young Mr Potter in place. The child was rambunctious as no other and ten times more problematic.

What began as Mr Black tutoring his young brother ended up with the child creating a group of volunteers to help the first years. All of the teachers were thankful, but the children refused the house points.

“It’s unfair,” Mr Black declared as Mr Diggory and Miss Farley agreed.

So they all agreed on looking the other way if they ever got in trouble. Such a shame Mr Black was sent to Ravenclaw when he was the epitome of Hufflepuff.

Such a shame even she was charmed.

Pomona went back to watering her plants, humming a merry tune.

---

The great hall was wonderfully decorated. Harry appreciated the gigantic pumpkins and the undoubtedly delicious pumpkin pie that the elves would make out of them.

The Halloween feast was as wonderful as always.

There were four Weasley twins courtesy of the Tonks twins assuming other faces for the feast. As always, Lyra, the extreme lactose intolerant, chose to overindulge every dish and pudding containing lactose on sight. May the toilet rest in peace.

“Ah, I’m stuffed,” Oliver groaned, throwing his head back and patting his middle.

“No offence, but what are you doing here and wearing a Ravenclaw uniform?” Laura, the fifth year prefect, asked in a tone that intended full offence.

Oliver took a bowl of lemon ice cream. “Well, after losing the last game and failing to drown in the shower, I decided I’m changing houses.”

Corvan had no option but to laugh so hard he almost fell out of his seat. Only Oliver, really.

“What about you Ced?” Richard asked the other boy invading their table.

Cedric pouted. “You are the only ones that have mint chocolate ice cream. Talk about favourites…”

Harry winked, taking a spoonful of his favourite ice cream. “It’s this face, you can’t beat it mate.”

“Beat who?” Angie asked, leaning almost on the table and opening her mouth. He rolled his eyes and fed her a spoonful. “Bloody hell! And here I came to murder the traitor for wearing Ravenclaw colours.”

“Unfair, innit?”

“Truly,” Angie agreed with Cedric.

Her arms snaked around his shoulders and damn if that wasn’t nice. “Are you sure you are not here to steal my ice cream?”

“Maybe,” the drawled whisper in his ear was also nice, butterflies fluttered in his stomach.

And right as he was about to turn and ask her to go out with him to Hogsmeade the great hall’s doors were thrown open.

“Troll! In the Dungeons! I thought you ought to know.” With that, Quirrell fainted.

For a moment, Corvan thought how strange it was for such a capable teacher to be unable to get rid of a single troll. Then children screamed and the headmaster ordered them to go to their common rooms.

He gently pushed Angelina away and stood on the bench, pressing his wand to his throat.

“Seventh and sixth years, you take the lead! Fourth and fifth years go in the back! Second and third years in the middle protecting first years!”

The head girl took command soon after. Slytherins were going to camp in Hufflepuff, as it was dangerous to go to the dungeons while Gryffindor and Ravenclaw went together until they needed to part to get in their respective towers.

“Black! Your brother is missing!” Anna Rossier yelled midway, eyes wider than they ought to be. “Weasley and Granger are missing as well. One of the firsties said they went to look for Granger, she has been crying the whole evening in the first floor bathroom.”

Fuck it!

“It will be safer for everyone to stay here. Big groups mean safety. I will go and look for that little shite.”

Takashi, his own prefect and Head boy, scowled. “I don’t like that but I have to stay and protect the children. Vance! Dagworth! Boot! Carmichael! You are going as well.”

“Thank you.”

Takashi sighed, “get hurt and I am murdering you, Black.”

“I fucking hate your sodding brother,” Elina Dagworth muttered as they ran down the stairs.

“Trust me, I am starting to do so as well.”

Corvan pushed himself to go faster. They arrived on the first floor and the putrid smell hit him almost physically. He cast a silent bubble head while he ran at full velocity to the loo.

Screams.

He ran even faster. Lungs burning and legs screaming in pain.

The troll was holding Jacob by the ankle. Corvan acted without thinking and used a curse that would send someone whose father is not in charge of the Hit Wizard department to a very uncosy stay in Azkaban.

The head came cleanly off.

A levicorpus was enough to avoid his little brother cracking open his skull on the floor and only once the three children were safe is that anger exploded.

“What is wrong with you?! You could have died! You could have been impaired for life! Why in the world are you three here?!”

“It’s just that Hermione-”

“Why didn’t you tell a teacher?! Or a prefect?! Or even me?! Jacob, do you think life is one of your books and you will somehow always win? This could have been it for you-”

“Mr Black, please calm down,” Corvan turned, wand ready. Prince was there, hands raised. “We are here and there is nothing to worry about.”

Only then did he realise his magic was going high-wire, whirling around and floating the debris. The floor around his feet was cracked.

Corvan took a deep breath.

“The mind controls the body and you control your mind. Feel your emotions, Corvinus, live them, but never allow them to control you.”

“I am sorry,” he muttered, deciding it was a wonderful idea to sit on the floor.

“May I approach you?”

“Yes sir. I am sorry, I am calm now.”

Prince walked towards him, slow and deliberate steps. Fuck, one slip and now even Prince is wary of him.

“No one would ever blame you, here.” Harry took the vial without even asking, at this point basilisk venom would be welcomed. “I will escort you to your the infirmary so Madam Pomfrey can check on you as well as contact your parents.”

“Thank you sir.”

His last thought before closing his eyes was that mum was going to be furious and dad was going to crucify someone.

And he was too tired to care.

---

The sight Severus was greeted with was nothing less than terrifying.

A decapitated troll on the floor, blood around the body. Corvan Black yelling at three children, magic so thick it was hard to breathe, moving debris around at his will.

Undeniable power that should not belong in a thirteen year old.

Amazing control that a child his age shouldn’t possess. Then again, someone so young shouldn’t have the power to cleanly decapitate a troll.

Severus sent a patronus to the Blacks, knowing they would would be a nightmare to deal with.

“Allow me, Severus, I will take him directly to the infirmary,” Filius said, uncharacteristically serious. “I can’t stay here.”

Oh, Filius is furious. Potter is going to have a very hard school year.

“And what were you doing here?” Minerva asked, deceptively calm. “A single lie and I will personally request your expulsion.”

Weasley broke immediately, closely followed by Granger. Potter himself still looked shocked, not fully present.

“While not done out of malice, you two made a truly foolish decision,” Minerva sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I am afraid I will need to contact your parents so we can talk about your punishment. If Corvan arrived a minute late, we would have three bodies instead of one.”

Severus noted Quirrell was unusually composed while looking at the scene. One could even say he looked eager.

---

Molly Weasley was sitting and breathing, or breathing while sitting. Too shocked to do much else.

Of all her children, she always assumed Fred and George were the troublesome ones. Even though there was always little Corvan talking sense into them, they got into a lot of trouble and created mischief everywhere. Both Arthur and her agreed the twins were going to be the hardest to parent.

They were wrong. So, so wrong.

It is quite clear their youngest son is the troublesome one. From getting detentions in the second week of school (feat no child of hers ever accomplished) to almost getting killed by a troll in the second month of school.

Molly clenched her fists.

This could have been the day she lost a child and the mere idea made her choke in tears. When did Ronald get so reckless?! He would get the scolding of a lifetime!

…once Poppy was done with him, of course.

The school’s matron was scolding the children while she thoroughly examined each one of them on the beds of the far corner. On the other side of the room was a sleeping Corvan, the three healers Sirius and Sarah brought with them were in charge of the boy.

Molly started tearing up again.

Corvan, the sweet boy, was always so lively. It broke her heart to see him unconscious and only because he chose to protect the silly children. Her whole family owed the boy a life debt.

“-didn’t know how mature his magical core is or if his body could keep up with the magical output so I chose to give him a sleeping draught and put him in stasis to prevent any possible injury,” Severus Prince was explaining, also looking at the unconscious boy. “I am so sorry, I should have been there.”

Sirius remained stone still, as if he didn’t hear.

“Not even you can be in three places at the same time, Severus,” Sarah said, not looking away from the boy.

Oh, how Molly felt for them.

“There is no undue stress on his core and his body is way healthier than average,” a healer declared, the whole room breathed in relief. “We are sure there will be no trouble if we wake him now.”

“Do so.”

Two words and Severus immediately took out a vial. The healers took it and gently feed it to the child. Seconds dragged by until Corvan’s eyes fluttered.

“Dad?”

Sirius turned to that gentle, kind man that Molly only saw when he was with his family. Sarah almost collapsed in relief. The two fussed on their child, Molly melted.

“-so I used a lascero, I don’t know any other curse that could have worked.”

That was very advanced magic. And dark in nature. Very dark. Indeed the only kind of curse that could have decapitated a troll.

“Corvan, you did the right thing. We will work with controlling your emotions later on,” Sirius said, still holding the boy’s hand. “You gave Severus quite a scare.”

The potion’s master rolled his eyes. “I was only worried that you strained your core, Mr Black.”

“Oh love, this is turning out to be an overly exciting year,” Sarah was brushing the boy’s hair. “At least now I can commiserate with the other mothers about being constantly contacted by my son’s professors.”

“It was not my fault.”

“You will be coming home for the weekend, Corvan,” Sirius said, then finally stood up. “Severus, I need to know who let a troll got inside the school.”

Someone cleared their throat. Molly flinched, only then realising the man wearing a turban was leaning on a wall.

“I-if I may. The question h-how they got it i-inside without disturbing the wards nor anyone noticing i-in the first place.”

Sirius nodded at the words. “True enough, Professor Quirrell. My son’s praises about your classes are certainly deserved.”

Quirrell nodded… Defence against the dark arts, if she was not wrong. Ron always complains about the man’s classes and the twins are not far behind. She definitely needs to have a serious talk with her boys.

“But it’s not fair!”

Molly turned to the voice, then remembered she has a son to murder. She brought him to this world and Merlin if she wouldn’t take him out before he does so himself with his foolishness.

“Ronald Weasley!” Her son stiffened up, eyes wide as a scared deer. “How could you be so foolish! Making fun of this poor girl! Leaving the banquet when you should have told a prefect! I am so ashamed of you! You cause a single more problem and I am dragging you home, understood?!” Ronald nodded profusely. “Hermione, dear, please ignore this silly boy and write to me if he ever bothers you again.”

“Molly, I don’t know what else I can do with these two. I sent a letter to the Potters and already notified Miss Granger’s parents. We will have a meeting tomorrow at nine. Moody offered to keep an eye on the kids in Hogsmeade, something about using it to train the new batch of newbies.”

“Professor, about that suspension-”

Minerva’s lips pursed. “Thank your brother about this not happening sooner, Potter! Bullying a classmate on top of constantly breaking school rules. Oh no, enough is enough. I already penned your parents and they will be taking you home tomorrow.”

For Morgana’s sake! Molly never imagined Jacob to be so troublesome. Perhaps she should talk with Arthur about that friendship and whether they should allow it to continue.

Chapter 12: Duels In Christmas

Corvan woke up, the warm water making him want to sleep again.

Only he is too awake already. Last night was certainly an experience he did not care to repeat. Dad brought him to the cleansing pools, just in case, then left because aunt Bella and uncle Remus on a mission abroad and he trusts no one else to conduct the investigation. Mum was sleeping, right beside the pool, holding his hand.

Dad was passed out beside her.

Yeah, definitely not repeating that, if only to spare his parents the stress.

Breakfast was nice, Kreacher bested himself and prepared more of a buffet than a breakfast. Everyone ate until almost passing out. And suddenly it was fifteen past eight.

“Do you want to come with us to the meeting?” mum offered.

He immediately refused. “Not really, but I would like to spend the morning with my friends.”

Dad messed up his hair. “Remember you have an open tab with Rosmerta, treat your friends. I know they have been driving the school staff crazy with worry.”

He hugged his parents. Life truly blessed him with them, didn’t it?

The three of them flooed directly to Flitwick’s office, the closest one to the meeting room.

“Ah, good morning Mr Black. It is a relief to see you are safe and sound. I am sure your friends will really like to see you, we had at least a dozen people sneaking to the infirmary.”

He was blessed with wonderful friends. What else could he ever want?

“Thank you sir. See you later,” Corvan hugged his parents and jogged to the great hall.

The place was as lively as ever, with a grumpy Moody having breakfast at the staff table along with a few other Aurors. The man was not a morning person. Or a people person, in specific.

“Corvan!”

He was almost tackled by Richard and the hall went quiet before someone decided to start clapping and others followed… He should have stayed home.

“Ow!” he complained more out of habit when Lyra smacked him.

“Do you have any idea how worried we were?!”

“Sorry, my parents wanted to have me home for the night.”

And he was mobbed, the Tonks twins lifted him on their shoulders. “Move away from the hero!” The Weasley twins yelled as they walked towards the Ravenclaw table.

As much as he loves his cousins, he is going to murder them later.

Marcus, who was sitting beside Penelope, moved over to make room for him. “You better tell Wood you are still alive. He is planning troll extermination for killing the best seeker in history.” Only Ollie, really. “Good to see you safe and sound, mate.”

Corvan accepted the hug. “As if a simple troll could best me.”

Lyra threw a toastie at him, pouting when he caught it.

Richard elbowed him. “You really gave us a scare. So, tell us every detail. We don’t trust the boy-who-lies version.”

Oh bloody hell, that is Jacob, is it not? What did he do now?

“Nothing much, only went to look for Jacob and found the troll as well.”

George snorted, “well, ickle Ronnikins’ troublesome friend is saying he was on the verge of defeating the troll when you stole his win.”

Please, why couldn’t the wards simply consume him? This is humiliating.

“Hear, hear,” Fred nodded, “bunny teeth corrected him and said the troll was about to make your brother into paint splatter when you saved him.”

“Hermione should get better friends,” Katie Bell agreed, standing as there was no more place to sit. “Now, Corvan, be a dear and help us get Oliver out of his room and stop his genocide plans.”

Corvan noticed Jacob was sitting with Ron at the Gryffindor table, other students giving them a wide berth. He was too angry with that little shite to care. Then glanced at the points on the wall.

Gryffindor went down to forty while Ravenclaw skyrocketed to two hundred and ten. Yep, there was no way they were not winning again this year.

The great hall’s doors were thrown open.

Oh, what were they doing here? Dad is not one to tolerate unpunctuality and the Potters would be late if they ran to the meeting room now.

“Jacob Potter!” Ah, Lily’s dulcet tones, how much it reminds him of all the times he hid in the Potter library to avoid them. “What is this of a suspension and why didn’t you mention a word of it in your letter?!”

James was close behind, so red it was actually noticeable in his tan skin. “You are in so much trouble. Where is your brother?”

As the little coward he was, Jacob immediately pointed at his table. The Potters anger turned into surprise. James recovered first and stomped towards Corvan.

“Here we go,” he muttered, everyone around him heard him in the silence of the room.

“What are you doing here instead of your house?” James didn’t sound angry, but the man was still serious.

This is dealable.

“First of all, good morning father. You do-”

“Harry Potter!” Or not. Lily is rarely reasonable when she is in a good mood. “I can’t believe you risked yourself! Do you have any idea of how worried we were?” The cuppa in Lyra’s hand shattered, this is boding to be disastrous. “And what are you doing here instead of your table?!”

“Where else would he be? Slytherin?” Marcus, such a good friend and so clueless.

The bloke was genuinely confused, looking at his girlfriend for some explanation. Penny was stoic, looking at the Potters while holding Carina’s arm to keep her in place.

Lily stopped, eyes widening. James looked from him to his wife to Marcus.

And Corvan is simply not in the mood to deal with them. “You do know I was sorted in Ravenclaw, don’t you?”

Their faces were the answer and oh so satisfactory. Well, it would be strange if they did considering they saw each other once a year for three weeks and rarely talked in that time. Although this was the third time they did. Twice too much, if he is asked.

“Harry, sweetie-”

There was a loud cough. Moody looking at them. “So I gave you time off for this, Potter?”

Corvan rolled his eyes. Moody is a mean one and, considering how long they have known each other, almost an uncle to Corvan. As well as James’ boss.

James went still. “Auror Moody sir, I-” Moody scowled, he hates excuses almost as much as he hates criminals. Not a good move on James’ part, at least the man noticed. “No, sir.”

“The meeting room is on the fifth floor, two corridors from Flitwick’s office.”

“Thank you sir.”

James dragged Lily out despite the woman’s blatant reluctance. Corvan breathed a sigh of pure relief. He mouthed a thanks to Moody, the man waved him off and kept eating.

“They are… Something,” Penelope muttered, doing her best to break the awkward silence.

“And when I go to Azkaban you already know the reason,” Lyra said, standing up and drying her jeans.

Richard did the same with the table. “Come on, Malfoy, as if I would allow you to stay in prison. I am paying your bail.”

Lyra smiled, the one that they rarely saw, a full smile that showed off her dimples.

“Okay, not to break the moment or anything, but we need you. Angie was already planning to throw Oliver down his window.”

Corvan and his friends did go to Gryffindor and if he found Angelina reading while Oliver laid petrified on the floor he didn’t say a word. He liked capable women, after all. And he preferred to have his body uncrushed by a happy Oliver, thank you very much.

Despite the Potters and last night's events, Corvan did have the time of his life in Hogsmeade.

---

Months went by peacefully. Thank Morgana for that because dad was ready to uproot Hogwarts and burn it to the ground.

There were little mishaps, such as giving little Malfoy detention for using a jinx on Neville. The boy learnt that day that washing dishes was not worth a cheap laugh, Prince personally thanked Corvan for that. Apparently, Lyra’s brother was Slytherin’s resident troublemaker.

Oh, of course there was also the dragon egg matter. Of course Hagrid wanted to raise it but Corvan was firm. He was not willing to see his friend behind bars for this.

Newt Scamander came in person to pick the egg and place it in an incubator.

“We are guessing the one who attacked the mother wanted to get rid of this one as soon as possible, there is a nationwide search.”

Hagrid was inconsolable because he almost separated a family. One of the kindest men indeed.

And the highlight of everything? Jacob didn’t cause trouble!

Almost impossible to believe but true nonetheless. Whatever the Potters did was certainly good. Dad told him that the Weasleys sent their youngest to Moody’s trainee boot-camp that week he was missing.

Ronald Weasley returned with short hair and straight posture. Spending most of his time in the chess club, a reluctant Jacob behind.

Life was finally normal, so Corvan focused on his duelling practice as the tournament was approaching. It was going to be nice visiting Lapland, he wonders if he is going to be able to ski. December looks promising already.

And of course he talked too soon.

Just another day of brutal practice with Lyra. After leaving his cousin in the hospital wing, he was trying not to fall asleep on his way to the common room when he almost crashed into Prince.

“I am sorry sir.” A familiar redhead caught his eye. Corvan covered his face. “And I am so sorry for whatever he did.”

The professor sighed quite loudly. “Quite the troublemaker. Wouldn’t believe you are related.”

“What happened this time?” he asked, resigned.

Prince looked at him with narrowed eyes. “Believe it or not, Black, we don’t think it’s your responsibility to keep Potter in check.”

“I know sir, but I do. He is my brother.”

Unfortunately.

“He was found in the restricted section.” Of course the brat would look for trouble in the library. “No permission slip and carrying a candlestick.”

Corvan facepalmed. Why? This is it, he is exchanging brothers with Lyra. At least the other brat knows better. That and Lyra has Draco trained.

“Seeing as you are limping and covered in dirt I assume you are returning from your practise. Here,” Prince handed him a vial, a regenerating potion. Best professor ever. “Go to your common room and rest.”

“Thank you so much. Professor, may I ask you a favour?” The dour man nodded. “Can you allow me to take care of my brother’s detention?” Jacob lost all his colour. “I cannot ask you not to put this in his record, but please give me a chance to knock some sense into him.”

Prince half-smiled. “Minerva did tell me your lessons worked better than hers.”

“Thank you sir. Wait, I have my permission slip to be-”

Prince waved him off. “I know Black. Common room, now.”

“Good night professor. I will pick you up tomorrow at five Jacob. Run away and things are going to get much worse.”

Jacob was waiting the next day, shuffling on his feet. Corvan made him run until he threw up and then some more. At least he took the chance to condition himself while torturing the little shite.

“Alright, we are done.”

Jacob collapsed, panting hard. Corvan sighed. If this didn’t work then he is giving up. He handed his brother a bottle of water, which he gulped greedily, choking a few times.

“Now, tell me what you were doing in the restricted section.”

“Looking for Nicholas Flamel,” Jacob slapped his hands to his mouth.

Corvan rolled his eyes. If he was too thirsty to care about the flavour of the water and not feeling the potion, then that is on him. “Why?"

“Because he has something to do with the stone that Hagrid is worried about. What did-”

“Let’s make a deal,” Corvan offered, interrupting Jacob. Kreacher would be horrified at his lack of manners, but the situation was too dire to care. “I will tell you who Nicholas Flamel is if you promise not to break the school rules for what is left of the year.”

Jacob’s mouth fell open and he immediately nodded. “Promise.”

Ha! He trusts a total stranger more than the little shite. “Left hand. Do you, Jacob Dorian Potter, promise to keep your word?” Jacob nodded.

Corvan felt the boy’s magic awfully close. Very warm and volatile. This is why knowing full names was so dangerous. With only this he bound his brother.

And he was not explaining a word about what he just did. Illegal magic was not something he was willing to explain knowing and much less performing.

“Nicholas Flamel is, arguably, one of the best alchemists in history. Not hard to do if you have lived almost seven hundred years. His most famous creation is the philosopher’s stone, grants the elixir of life and turns lead into gold but needs sacrificial blood rituals to keep it powered up. He is actually banned from Europe, all America except for Chile, and most of Asia.”

Jacob’s mouth fell open. “Hagrid had it… I think. We met the day I went shopping for school. We met at the bank because mum and dad needed more money. We used the same carriage. He got out a small package and then there was a reported robbery attempt at Gringotts.”

Ah, the wraith attempt, he remembers dad adding another layer to the manor wards afterwards.

“And then I heard Quirrell and Prince talking about a stone that the headmaster had. Well, Prince was threatening him. And then Hagrid mentioned Nicholas Flamel!”

“Lucky you, Hagrid was wrong,” Corvan lied easily. “Flamel has not placed a single foot in the continent in three centuries.”

He was not saying a word about Dumbledore’s dubious research with Flamel’s supervision that earned them both a life ban from Canada.

Jacob deflated. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, he is kind of a very wanted criminal, so he wouldn’t get out of his hiding spot and risk his little stone.”

“Oh.”

“And you got yet another mark on your record for this,” Corvan noted, “ask me for help next time. I will hit you, but it beats getting a step closer to expulsion.”

Jacob nodded, quite defeated. Alright, that matter was taken care of. Hopefully, life keeps going peacefully.

 

---

 

Christmas sneaked up on Corvan.

Between classes, duelling practice, potions club, quidditch, tutoring, family Sundays, and so much more, he didn’t even notice as months went by. And if the holidays are way too close, the tournament is also close.

Professor Quirrell, despite his speech impediment, is rather good. Insanely clever and crazy good control. Gives excellent pointers and tips, all spot on. Even helped Corvan come up with rather ingenious spell combinations. Nice man and the garlic smell was not that bad if you lived on garlic confit for a month. Ah, the deliciousness of Italian cuisine.

“Don’t forget to take pictures!” Cedric reminded Richard. “As the only one that will be going to the duelling tournament.”

“What are we? Chopped liver?” Lyra demanded, throwing her long hair back.

Cedric grimaced.

“You are both participants so you can’t take pictures. Uh, I heard the flying course and quidditch pitch in Lapland are beauties,” Ollie came to the rescue without even noticing. “Bludger! I should have signed in when I had the chance.”

Typical Oliver, the bloke breathed quidditch.

Angelina snickered, her fingers threading through Corvan’s hair. Their compartment is full, so he along with a few others were sitting on the floor. And what a wonderful place to sit when a beauty offered her legs to lean on.

“I would worry about leaving Corvan’s brother in the castle if I didn’t know already there is no way we are winning the house cup,” Angie sighed, her fingertips going down to his neck.

Well, she is not wrong. Gryffindor was barely recovering from the troublesome duo’s shenanigans at the beginning of the term. In the meantime, all the other houses are at least two hundred points ahead.

“I asked Fred and George to keep an eye on him... And I just realised that sounds terrible.”

“You know?” Richard said, “it says a lot about your brother those two were left in charge.”

“Yup. Let’s change topics, it is rather depressing.”

At least the train ride was nice and the thing he had going with Angelina was still unnamed. But he was not ready to make it official. Angelina, before being a beautiful girl, is a friend. A very good friend. His hormones are not ruining that.

When he got out of the train, he immediately spotted his parents and ran to them. The holidays were promising to be wonderful.

After a family reunion to light up the chosen logs (yew and oak this year) wetted with seven drops of blood per individual in the ritual room. As always, dad had to stop Kreacher from slicing his whole hand. It threw off the blood balance of the ritual.

And with that taken care of, they took the international floo that dad installed in the manor. Is it legal? Moody said it is, technically speaking, not illegal.

The hotel was a thing of beauty. Muggle facade and a magical side, which meant he could use this wonderful thing called the internet. Oh, technology, how much he missed it.

After getting his fill of cat videos, they were finally ready to visit the local market.

Eternal ice sculptures and real snowflake dix. Moose skewers and a black sludge he dared not to taste lest it ate him.

Mum got a pair of beautiful purple boots, he got a new coat that would suffocate him in England but it was too soft to pass up. Dad got himself a cat. Picked a matted ball of fluff out of pity and the next thing they knew is Corvan got his coveted younger sibling. Oh well, beggars cannot be choosers.

At least this one is cute and adorable.

Lyra arrived two days later alongside Richard. Narcissa was stiff to be in the presence of muggles but smart enough to remain quiet. Lucius was fussing over his children, as always. Corvan guessed Lucius already got used to Richard’s parents, considering he knew them since Lyra and him were sent to muggle primary school.

And of course there were the younger siblings.

Draco looked green, Lucius helping the boy to drown a potion and not throw up in the process. Justin was coughing soot.

“The trick is not to breathe through your nose at the arrival,” Mum explained to the boy, “Sirius, a little help please.”

“Always happens,” aunt Diane, Richard’s mum, sighed. “Richard, dear, come here love.” Richard junior and senior looked at the woman. “Not you, honey, go with your friends, we will register ourselves.”

Justin, the poor boy, looked terrified at the idea of being left behind. Corvan elbowed Richard.

He rolled his eyes but conceded. “Justin, come with us. Corvan got himself a new younger sister you will like.”

The boy, so small and obedient, brightened up and looked at his parents for permission. How nice would it be for Jacob to be even a little more like him.

Uncle Richard nodded and the child ran towards them.

“Thank you!” Justin hugged Richard, his friend huffed yet still ruffled his hair. “Why was I never invited to see a tournament before?”

“Because the last time you floo travelled you puked for three days straight,” Lyra snapped, “don’t get whiny brat, I still have the pictures of the times we used aunt Diana’s makeup on you.”

Justin coloured up. “That is so unfair!”

“Come on, Justin, tell us how school went. We didn’t have much time to talk before.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you are, like, super popular. Literally, everyone wanted to speak with me when you talked to me before charms!”

Urgh. It is obvious who got his fill of American reality shows.

Corvan shared a long suffering look with Richard while Justin and Lyra talked about the Kardashians and some grande new beau. Then they mentioned something about guts and Richard was lost to the dark side.

Oh well, there was still Clawdia, the fluffy cat.

The tournament was here. Knowing he got queasy, dad got a nutritional potion so Corvan was fed. Unlike him, Lyra was a black hole before a match. Different ways of managing nerves.

And now they are sitting, waiting for the random selection. He recognised at least half of the participants already.

The first under fifteen tournament he participates in. It is not too different from the under thirteen league. Main difference is that only one match could take place at the time as the risk factor heightened.

Nakamura Honoka vs Potter Corvan.

Dad patted his shoulder. He took a deep breath and walked to the centre stage.

The girl was about his height, jet black hair, and small face. As well as last year's semifinalist for the under fifteen league.

Rotten luck.

They bowed to each other, her bow way more graceful than his own. At the count of three the floor under his feet melted.

Corvan thanked his paranoia, using an aqua eructo no longer seemed overkill when the ground was trying to swallow him. He quickly transfigured the rock into water, jumping out before returning it to its original state.

He was sent flying by a deprimo. What a petty girl. At least the shield came naturally to him after so much practice with Professor Quirrell. He deflected the next spell and purposely missed.

They repeated the pattern twice more. When his opponent realised what he was doing it was too late, the vines were already holding her legs and he petrified her.

“Winner! Potter Corvan from England!”

He rushed to the girl, undoing the curse and vanishing the vines. That was intense, a really good duel, it was the least he owed to her.

“Good match.”

The girl’s eyes narrowed and then relaxed, taking his hand. “Fun.”

Oh, they didn’t have a language in common. However, there was one thing he learnt from his short trip to Japan. He bowed to her. She smiled and returned the bow.

Four wizards undid the damage on the stage when they left.

“That was close, she almost had you twice,” dad commented, obviously impressed.

“Yup, I still feel it.”

The healer came over and started mending him. His ribs were a deep purple and he could swear his arm kept throbbing despite already being healed. At least he was too hyped up to feel it before, but now he really wanted a pain numbing potion. Which are not allowed.

First time he got so beaten up in the first match.

Compared to that, the following matches were a piece of cake. Corvan was always praised for his reaction speed, almost silent casting, and clever spell combinations. He actually got to show off instead of struggling.

Malfoy Lyra vs Antezana Mariana

Lucius lost all colour (not that he had much in the first place) and no one could blame him. Antezana was brutally effective and the undefeated champion.

Lyra walked towards the centre stage, determined. Antezana was a relatively muscular yet short girl, tan skin, and long hair. And Richard told him last year he was nuts, but Corvan considered her to be very beautiful.

Dad told him it was because Blacks are attracted to strong women.

The match started. Antezana threw a purple spell, Lyra’s shield barely stopped it, being shattered in the process. Lyra’s wand went out flying in one direction and her another.

A silent, non-visible expelliarmus?

Goddammit! He may be in love.

Lucius bolted from his seat, running after the healers carrying Lyra to the infirmary. Corvan knew Narcissa was a cold bitch (Lyra’s words) that was disappointed to have a girl as first-born. Not a good mother to her. Lucius made up for Narcissa, he adores Lyra.

“Winner! Antezana Mariana from Bolivia!”

“She is good, really good,” dad commented, no doubt going to offer her a place amongst the Hit Wizards once she graduated, if not sooner.

“She is going to beat me.”

Because no curses are allowed in the tournament. And curses are his forte.

Dad opened his mouth, then closed it and nodded. “I won’t deny your chances of winning against her are almost non-existent. But you can make her fight for that win.”

Which was exactly what he was planning.

His win against the Canadian bloke was swift and the inevitable came.

Antezana Mariana vs Potter Corvan

Alright, at least he got to the finals.

He walked towards the centre stage. Bowing and already thinking of the combination he is planning to use.

Transfiguration the floor into water, dodge. Take advantage of the distraction, depulso. Dodge the flying debris. Try not to double over in pain when the hidden jinx hit his leg. Freezing charm, bombarda. Oh, she deflected that. He returned the favour.

The numbing charm hitting her arm felt like a personal victory. She easily dodged the next jinx and caught her wand with her other arm. He was hit straight in the chest and fell.

Corvan almost considered moving but breathing hurt, so he gave up.

Ow.

“Sorry about that, good match Corvan,” Antezana said, almost giving him a heart attack.

“Say sorry to my body. Great match,” he wheezed out, talking hurts.

At least she was dripping frozen water and has a numb arm. A win is a win.

And now his leg is really starting to hurt like a bitch. A healer fed him a pain numbing potion, he took it gratefully and resigned himself to being fussed by mum for the following days. And perhaps with dad trying to adopt Antezana.

---

James and Lily made all sorts of plans for Christmas. They had a lot to talk about with Jacob and Harry.

Dear mum and dad,

Why didn’t you remind me Harry’s birthday is September 30?! There was a huge birthday party, the whole great hall was decorated and lots of cake. Everyone was giving him gifts when Hermione asked what I was giving him (she got him a book) and everyone heard me when I said I didn’t even know it was his birthday!

It was so humiliating and the cake disappeared from our table. Everyone was mad at me. Can you believe Harry got a customised Nimbus 2001?! They are not supposed to be out until next year! I also want one, pretty please?

Love, Jacob

James reread the letter that Jacob sent months ago. He only remembered about Harry’s birthday then. And he felt sick.

It had been years since the last time they celebrated their oldest son's birthday and neither he nor Lily realised until that letter. They scrambled to find a present.

Lily broke down when they realised they didn’t even know what Harry liked. The portrait of his grandfather in the office scowled and disappeared from the frame, permanently moving to the library. They ended up sending cufflinks James’ parents gifted him. He rarely used them so he hoped Harry didn’t see them before. Lily added an enchanted bracelet with two runes as charms.

They received an overly formal letter that said thank you for remembering in a dozen flourished words.

It was disheartening, to say the least.

And before they could even start planning how to ask Harry to come home for Christmas he sent a letter at the beginning of December.

Dear Mother and Father,

I hope this letter finds you well, if it finds you at all. As usual, I will not be going to the Potter Manor for Christmas, however, I wish you a very merry holiday.

Attached to the letter I send you some gifts. With this you have the full set.

Ps. Give Hedwig fresh meat and two slices of bacon. NO MORE. Slice everything for her or she will bite you. Also give her some strawberry if you have them, if not, avoid touching her.

May Yule bring you rest and blessings,

Corvan

There was another letter the white owl was carrying and the cursed creature bit James’ finger when he tried to take it. (So hard he actually needed to have it checked by a healer.) Winky untied it with ease, already handing the bloody animal (which had some of his blood smeared on its beak) crispy bacon already sliced up on a plate.

And it was almost offensive to realise the owl had better manners than him.

Not as offensive as realising the elf received a far warmer letter along with a herbology book signed by its author while they got a matching pair of red and gold slippers.

On top of that was Jacob’s latest letter.

“I will be staying in Hogwarts for Christmas. Ron’s parents are going to Romania with Ginny so I’m staying with him. I also want to spend time with my brother, I noticed we are not that close and we never spend the holidays together.”

Is what Jacob wrote, followed by how Harry was torturing him and forcing him to do homework.

“James, do these earrings match the dress?”

He turned towards his wife and melted. Thirteen years of marriage and he still loved her like the first day.

“You look beautiful.”

She rolled her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips. “Not what I asked, but thanks”.

Enough moping, they have a Ministry party to attend.

As every year, the Minister wasted money on the event. As always, they were effusively greeted, that is until Fudge realised Jacob was not present. Then the man left as quickly as he came.

They drifted around until they settled on the Auror table, Moody poking and prodding at his food. As festive as always.

There were Frank and Alice along with their son. Amelia, her daughter, and her niece (her husband, brother, and sister-in-law caught the flu going around and couldn’t attend, or so she claimed).

“I guess Jacob stayed at school,” Frank said conversationally.

James almost melted in relief, anything to break the awkward silence. “Yeah, excited to be at Hogwarts, you know how kids are.”

“We heard,” Amelia said, absently playing with her wine glass, “quite the troublemaker.”

“Mum, he is the worst troublemaker in school,” the redhead girl whined.

Once upon a time, he would have puffed his chest out in pride. Sirius never allowed them to create too much trouble, but at least his children could have fun. Only that being a parent to a troublesome child was not as fun as he imagined.

James heard the whispers, Lily told him about them as well. Spoiled rotten. Disrespectful. Rude. Troublemaker. All adjectives that were used to describe Jacob.

“Oh, Neville, you were telling us about that potions club,” Alice prompted her son, who immediately perked up.

“It’s really fun. Corvan teaches us to prepare ingredients and even took us to collect plants in the Forbidden Forest last-”

“Goodness gracious,” Lily sighed quite loudly, covering her face. “Did someone get hurt? The school never contacted us about it.”

There it was again. Awkward silence, people looking at each other, as if keeping a secret from them. Or as if making fun of them.

Moody snorted. “Good one, Potter.”

“Mrs Potter,” Sally, was it? Or was it Susan? “Corvan took us along with professor Sprout and even professor Prince joined in.”

Frank’s son nodded, Alice caressed his rosy cheeks. “I am told your oldest is a great student, Lily. He helped our Neville a lot.”

Lily was rapidly turning red so he changed topics. “Anyone else is empty nesting for the holidays?”

Moody soured further. Emmeline Vance raised her hand.

“My son stayed back so he and his friends could hear the duelling tournament. We have a perfectly working radio at home and he decided to stay at school.”

And before he could keep asking, the rather familiar sound of high heels clicking on the ground was heard. Everyone sans Moody sat up straighter.

Bellatrix Black, wearing her usual bold make up and unnecessary high heels that made her tower over most men. This time the second in command of the hit wizard squad wore a green dress instead of the usual uniform, she looked disturbingly feminine. No one that vicious should be beautiful.

She invited herself to their table.

“Oh, Alastor, quit moping already.” The man slouched over. “I mean, I couldn’t go and see my cute little niblings either.”

“You because of the vampire case, me because I never imagined my research time counted as vacations.”

Bellatrix laughed, an eerily melodious sound. As beautiful as the woman was, James knew there was a blood thirsty beast inside and he will not join her rather long victim list.

“You went to the Bahamas for a month.”

Moody groaned, “the Bahamas triangle! I went because of the missing case and the next thing I know is that I can’t watch the tournament in person. Bah! What a waste.”

“Excuse me,” James froze at the young voice and tried to tell the child to apologise with his eyes. Interrupting the conversation between Alastor Moody and Lieutenant Black is not something a sane person would do. “Do you know how Corvan did?”

And what did his son have to do with the duelling tournament?

Bellatrix brightened up, “oh, and who might you be?”

“Sorry ma’am, Neville Longbottom,” the blushing child introduced himself.

“Ah, yes, Corvan’s young friend, of course,” the child blushed redder, “he came in second. The patriarch did say the winner is insanely good.”

“Wait, what did our Harry come second in?” Lily asked, perhaps as lost as he was.

Bellatrix’s smile melted, she looked at them up and down with obvious disapproval. “Potter,” Bellatrix had a talent to make even a last name sound like an insult. “I guess you didn’t know Corvan duels professionally.”

Wait just a moment. Their son, Harry, duelling? Even the young leagues are demanding! Why was this the first time they are hearing about it?!

“No, that is not right. Harry stayed at school,” James found himself saying.

Amelia choked, Frank went to help her. Moody dropped his fork and Bellatrix smiled, showing her teeth and left dimple.

James shuddered.

“Corvan is always home for the holidays, Potter,” Bellatrix cooed, then sharply stood up. “I am going to my table, want to join us, Alastor?”

Moody was still looking at them, open mouthed. “And here I thought I sucked.”

James recoiled at the words. As much as he tried, no words left his mouth.

“Alastor, you take your dogs to daycare and spend a whole hour making their meals.”

“They are just babies! And of course I take care of their food, my babies have to eat well!”

Bellatrix and Moody left, bickering. The silence was even more awkward than before. Especially when the children started talking about their clubs and what “Corvan” was going to teach them next.

Only mum’s lessons from when he was young stopped him from crying at the pain constricting his chest. Lily had to leave to the loo.

James started wondering just how little they know their son.

Chapter 13: Quirrell Went Nuts

Richard Finch-Fletchley stared at the last quidditch match of the year: Slytherin Vs Ravenclaw.

As expected, the seats were full of screaming students. Most of the student body wearing an amalgamation of black and bronze, with crows scattered around and moving banners. Because they were not supporting Ravenclaw, but Corvan.

His dear childhood friend. Excellent student, talented player, disgustingly handsome, offensively tall, and overall perfect. Impossible to hate with how kind he is.

“Black just dived! Is it another faint or has he spotted the snitch?” Lee narrated, a ridiculously oversized crow hat on his head. “There he- Merlin’s hairy arse! Did you see that?! Corvan Black pulled back last second and caught the snitch! Ravenclaw wins!”

And the whole school, including himself, was screaming.

The party that followed was nothing less than epic. Prince gave them a severe warning about whoever wakes up Madam Pomfrey this year is cleaning the whole school, then left after handing them a crate of butter-beer.

Richard didn’t doubt the man was being lenient because Corvan would keep an eye out. Terrence did give them quite the scare last year. In the bloke’s defence, Terrence was never good with potions and thought mixing tentracula sap with his alcohol was a good idea at the time, totally forgetting the sap is very sweet poison.

Oliver, Marcus, and Clara got into a drinking match. Firewhisky at first, then they turned to who could finish the most chocolate milk in a minute.

He was sitting on the couch, Lyra half asleep on his shoulder after drinking five butter-beers in a row. Richard himself was buzzed, he was stupid enough to take a sip of firewhisky and learned the hard way why it is called that, his intestines are still on fire.

The Tonks twins were causing general trouble by changing their faces and confusing people. Gred and Forge were hot pink, he couldn’t remember why. And of course there was the man (bloke? teen?) of the hour, Corvan Black, on the couch in front. Angelina almost sitting on his lap.

Eurgh.

“Geraroof!” Couldn't they flirt in private? His stomach would appreciate it.

Angelina laughed. Oh god, she really is pretty. Corvan is definitely the first amongst them getting a girlfriend… Lucky arse.

A large group of quidditch players (built bastards) crashed the happy-almost-couple. Why did Cedric have feathers instead of hair again?

Was he that pissed already? And was that Shacklebolt? Damn, the woman was gurgling firewhisky as if it was water.

---

Corvan looked around the room with a wide smile. It was one hell of a party, the best one they had to date.

The older guys were playing spin the bottle until the Head boy got a little too excited with his not-so-secret-boyfriend. At least the girls appreciated the show, Angelina included. And who was, conveniently, peacefully sleeping on his lap.

Seeing as he was the only sober - well no, but just a little tipsy - one left, Corvan took it upon himself to ensure everyone was comfortable. He transfigured random pieces of fabric into blankets, empty bottles into pillows, and softened the floor.

After making sure Angelina, Richard, and Lyra were comfortable (and taking Shacklebolt’s bottle away) he finally got comfortable on the floor. Sleep never came sooner.

His bladder woke him up, it was still early outside. Corvan groaned. Then realised he was cuddling George. Oh well, way better than what happened last year.

The elves were already in the room, carrying migraine relieving potions and hydrating elixirs. Prince is the Best Teacher Ever.

“Didn’t expect to wake up and see you with someone else in your arms,” Angelina teased him.

Face puffy, hair messy, and ruffled clothes. Yet so gorgeous it should be illegal.

“I was a gentleman and gave you the couch. I think I threw my back off.”

And he is thirteen! He dares not imagine back pain at thirty.

Angie laughed. “Thank you, Corvan,” she kissed his cheek and winked at him before she left, almost carrying a half-dead Alicia.

Someone slapped his back.

“Easy lover boy,” Takashi said, his neck showing off a large hickey.

Corvan pointed his own neck, looking pointedly at the bloke. At least he had the decency to blush.

He went to bed, lunch is a perfectly acceptable breakfast.

And, after having so much fun after the last match, exams came. The Final Exams. Fifth and seventh year students in the usual frenzy. He was most definitely not looking forwards to OWL and NEWT years.

The first exams were a success. McGonagall did look awfully pleased with the transfigured jewellery set and Vector actually congratulated him when he turned in the exam with the extra questions solved.

Of course, life was going simply too well. Corvan should have known better.

He almost crashed with a frantic Quirrell after leaving Arithmancy.

“I am sorry, sir.”

“Black,” the man muttered. “No, no. The fault was mine. I just saw two first years heading to the forbidden forest and was not looking in my rush. Two red-heads together mean trouble.”

Any other day, he would have silently congratulated the man for not stuttering once. Not this time, stress did strange things to everyone.

Sodding Jacob Potter!

“Let me come with you, sir!” Corvan turned to ran towards the staircases, concentrating to send a Patronus when he felt it.

The tell tale prickle in his skin that warned him of danger. All his duels taught him to obey that instinct so he used a shield. It was shattered and a red spell hit his chest.

Fuck, he should have noticed there was something wrong with Quirrell when he didn’t stutter.

It was hard to breathe, there was something pressing his chest.

Corvan opened his bleary eyes. Unknown room, plenty of books. Carpet under his cheek. Quirrell staring at a mirror. He just knew he should have stayed until everyone else finished their exams.

“We may have to shatter the mirror.”

“Don’t be a fool! The mirror is the only way to get the stone.”

“But master, we have been here for an hour and people are going to look for the boy. We should take the mirror.”

“Can’t you recognise the magic circle? It will shatter if it’s moved... Ah, Harry Potter, or should I say Corvan Black? You are awake way sooner than expected.”

How was Quirrell talking without moving his lips? And why did his voice sound so strange? He did not think it was possible for a wheeze to sound so sibilant. Weird.

“But it is no wonder. You are so powerful despite your young age. Of course, I expected nothing less from the toddler that defeated me.”

Bugger, Quirrell went nuts.

“Sir? I think we-”

There was a deep laugh that made his hair stand.

“Show me to him!”

“Master, you are not-”

“Now!”

Quirrell started undoing his turban. Of course he had another face on the back of his head. So Quirrell didn’t go nuts, he was already crazy enough to allow a possession.

At least the spirit was a good teacher. Albeit, a possibly murderous one.

“See what I have been reduced to, Corvan Black? A mere shadow of myself. Forced to roam for a decade as nothing more than a parasite to survive. All because of you, child, the boy-who-lived.”

Corvan was too stunned to answer. So, aside from being a nutter, Quirrell didn’t even know the difference between him and his brother? Great. And somewhat offensive.

He concentrated on the ropes binding him, forcing his magic to relax the ropes so they stopped trying to strangle him.

“Even now you are showing exceptional control. What an amazing power… Let me tell you a story, child. There was once a boy with exceptional power, not unlike yourself. Powerful enough to scare Albus Dumbledore as well as to be a threat to all the pure-bloods in his year, so they tried to contain the boy. Failed in the process, of course. The boy grew up and learned about magic, taking fascination in the dark arts and old rituals. Once he graduated Hogwarts, he searched for knowledge and found it.

“He had a plan. Change the magical world that once shunned him and make sure the pure-bloods bowed at his feet. He formed an army and got followers, then attacked. The magical world was not ready so the boy now turned man was easily winning… Until he no longer was.

“A new Auror recruit appeared. Rumoured to be powerful and smart in school, proved it in the field. The new Auror used, no, commanded the dark arts in ways never seen before. He rose through the ranks fast as his success spoke of itself. You know who I am talking about, don’t you?”

Corvan nodded, the lump on his throat growing larger.

“Indeed… Your godfather, Sirius Black. One of the best strategists I ever met. Brilliant indeed, a decent opponent. If it was not for that man, then I would have taken over the Wizarding world. He sent his cousin to spy on me. Clever, dangerous, and sadly traitorous Bella. My best soldier. She cut my hand, took two of my best soldiers, and disappeared.

“They started hunting my death eaters and purging the Ministry. I had to hide amongst muggles to survive. Then he came to me, Wormtail. You may know him as Peter Pettigrew. Terrified of the godfather’s oath, looking for a way out. Wormtail brought to me a few drops of the brat’s blood and an interesting tidbits he heard from your parents.

“It took an entire year to create the appropriate ritual to locate the brat. Then I struck. The plan was simple: kill the Potters. I gave up on winning the war, but at least I could take what HE loved the most. You can guess who it is…”

Corvan choked, the knot in his throat making it hard to breathe. “You attacked my family to get to me.”

In the end, it is his fault grandma and grandpa were gone.

The spirit on the back of Quirrell’s head (Voldemort, he corrected himself) chuckled. “You were my goal indeed. When I first heard your brother was the boy-who-lived, I confess I was amused. No, no, no. Let me tell you what happened that night.”

Only now did Corvan notice the man was close enough to smell the rotten meat odour. He didn’t care.

“That night, Fleamont Potter didn’t resist, he took the curse without flinching. Dorea was standing in front of you, she begged me to spare you. You, Corvan Black. Not Harry Potter. She begged for your life. She didn’t resist either. Then I wanted to kill the crying brat but you got in front of the crib and told me to leave…”

Voldemort’s face twisted. It was disgusting to see the skin under Quirrell’s head move, skin rippling as gelatine.

“You apparated me to the living room. You, a toddler, apparating a powerful dark wizard. I was meant to torture you then flee the country. At that moment, I knew I had to get rid of you. And I tried, only that the curse rebounded. The last thing I remember is the green light coming for me. Do you see now? You were the one that survived the killing curse.”

No. No, it is impossible. Jacob has the scar in the middle of his forehead to show he is the boy-who-lived.

“I took this body to see if I could get a hold of your blood and phoenix tears. Then I got curious. What were you, the rumoured brilliant child, able to do? You did not disappoint, not even once. I could expect nothing less from the child that defeated me.”

Oh, so that was the reason Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff third years are alone in the idea that Quirrell is a great professor. If he survives this, he owes so many galleons.

“As you were the one that turned me into this, you will be the one to return my body.”

Quirrell turned sharply and forced him to his feet by dragging the ropes and giving him no choice but to awkwardly jump lest he sprained an ankle. Fuck, breathing hurts with this cursed things.

He was dragged until he was in front of the mirror.

“What do you see?” Quirrell prompted him.

Nothing. There was not even a reflection. Not a normal mirror, but that was deduced ages ago.

“Stand back! Only one person at the time!”

Quirrell moved a few steps away. Corvan looked at the mirror. And his messy reflection stared back. The side of his face was already swollen and bruising, his hair was a mess (he never looked so much like a Potter before), and his lip was busted. And of course, the cursed rope binding him like a mummy.

“What do you see?!”

Corvan did his best not to flinch. “Myself? It’s a mirror, innit?”

He did remember Richard swearing his sass is going to get him killed. Damn right he was, Quirrell’s face twisted.

“No, that can’t be! You have-”

“Undo the bindings!”

Quirrell took a second too long to obey. They were most likely counting on his lack of wand. They shouldn’t have. Now he only needed to calm down and concentrate enough to send an emergency Patronus.

Then Quirrell pushed him rather unceremoniously towards the mirror with a hex. Couldn’t he just use normal physical violence?! Corvan’s knees gave out and he fell with a hiss. That hurts, he could already feel the bruises forming.

“What do you see?!”

Corvan looked at the mirror. His reflection looked back. His uniform took a beating, good thing the active magic stopped the ropes from breaking something. Or from strangling him.

“My reflection.”

What else was he supposed to see?! The cure for Lycanthropy?! Uncle Reg is already working on that.

“No, no. That’s impossible!”

Quirrell tried to touch him and hissed, immediately stepping away. Then the man turned around. Voldemort’s face was contorted into the ugly version of a muggle monster mask.

The face let out the strangest of sounds.

“You are not lying… First, I can’t take your blood and now you are not even useful enough to get the philosopher’s stone!”

Quirrell started pacing, Voldemort’s face twisting and moving around the whole head. Disgusting.

Corvan took the chance and allowed the magic to leave his body, a grim appeared, he ran through Quirrell. The man let out an unholy sound that would scare off a banshee.

Now he only had to survive until Prince came. Hopefully, his patronus didn’t vanish before the man was guided back.

“How dare you?!”

He dodged the yellow curse. Wandless magic did come easy to him, as every Black, but he was not able to use anything lethal (or useful) without it backfiring. Goddammit! Corvan swore to meditate in the family tree until he was blessed with the ancestors’ knowledge. Then train until he drops.

“Talented indeed,” Voldemort muttered, the sepulchral voice making his hair stand. “Kill him Quirinius. Nothing dark, whatever the Blacks did blocks it.”

Corvan dodged. Ran and hid. The bookcase exploded with a curse. Crap, he should have gone elsewhere. What a shame.

Well, nothing to do. He forced the books to fly towards Quirrell. The man cursed.

Corvan took the chance to look around the room. Bedroom, apparently. Whose bedroom were they destroying? He would need to apologise… If he survives this.

He transfigured the floor under Quirrell into water. Two books hit Voldemort straight in the face. And perhaps that was going to be his biggest victory as he already felt his core throbbing and his left arm going numb.

Dad was going to be so mad and mum, gracious Morgana, she would be heartbroken.

He hid behind the mirror. There was a cry. Corvan looked at the window. Blessed Morgana! Hedwig! She flew straight to him, dropping his wand. Yup, she was getting something nice.

“Bombarda!”

“Protego!”

“NO! Kill the boy!”

Dark arts, no other option. Blood boiling. Spine crusher. Bone breaker. Organ melting. Only the bone breaker got him. Goddammit.

He deflected a curse. It hit the mirror and it shattered.

“No! The stone, look for the stone!”

There was a bang on the door. Quirrell looked away. It was all Corvan needed.

“Lascero!”

The body fell into two pieces, unevenly cut. Blood was rapidly spreading around, no doubt staining the wooden floor and red carpet.

The door flew off its hinges, Prince rushed in. Oh, good. Corvan is too tired to fight and his left arm is very much unresponsive. And his face is hurting. No, scratch that, everything hurts, especially his core.

An unearthly scream left Quirrell’s body and smoke left the cut, forming a face. What in Morgana’s name is that?!

Prince tried to shield him with his body as the wraith shattered his shield. It went right through the professor and the man fell to the ground. Corvan readied himself for the attack. The wraith tried but something stopped it. It screamed and left through the open window.

“Professor!”

The man looked rather green as he sat. “Are you alright?”

“Everything hurts and I am dying,” Corvan tried to laugh, but it hurt.

Those ropes did a number on him. He really would offer plenty to the ancestors (as prejudiced as they were) during Litha.

Flitwick appeared, closely followed by Sprout. They froze at the sight.

“Mr Black, what is-”

“It was me,” Prince said, grimacing soon after. “Call the Aurors and General Black.”

Good, he could rest now. Prince indeed is The Best Teacher Ever.

---

Albus Dumbledore stared at the child on the hospital bed.

Harry Potter, surrounded by three healers and his parents. Not James and Lily Potter, but Sarah and Sirius Black.

What is even going on?

Albus was summoned by the Minister, an emergency, that is what the letter said. When he arrived he was told the Minister was on a trip. He blamed Dolores, a despicable woman who honoured her name. And met Sirius on his way out.

The young man was accompanied by Bellatrix and Amelia. They were on their way to Hogwarts because Sirius felt he needed to see his son. Albus wanted to protest by principle, but Sirius Black’s word was almost law.

And what a sight they arrived at. A full great hall with the professors guarding the doors. The children talked about the dog patronus that appeared and a missing Corvan. Sirius ran and Bellatrix immediately summoned her own patronus to send to the hospital, ordering three healers to be sent.

Albus had an idea of what happened and his suspicions were confirmed.

Tom Riddle managed to infiltrate the school, not as a student as he suspected, but as a teacher. How could no one notice?!

And the biggest surprise of them all: Jacob was not the one taken, but his brother. And he was the one who defeated Tom, no matter what Severus said. The lascero was not as precise as the one with the troll, but only someone with enough control over the dark curse would stop it from cutting everything on its path. Severus was talented in the dark arts, but not that talented.

That amount of control was something Albus only ever saw a Black achieving.

The question is: why Jacob’s older brother?

Albus at first assumed it had to do with Quirinius wanting to use young Mr Black as hostage. Only Jacob’s class was in the middle of a Defence exam when Quirinius left the room, making it pretty clear Jacob was not the objective. Then he assumed it was to get to Sirius Black. It was the only reason why Tom would ever go out of his way to take the boy.

And he had yet another question: where was the philosopher’s stone?

An imitation, of course. He would be in so much trouble if the Ministry knew he is still in contact with Nicholas. It would be preferable if no one ever knew Albus ever saw the real stone. By his calculations, young Mr Black should have it.

The problem was getting it back while hoping the boy had no idea what it was. Otherwise, Albus would be in very deep trouble.

“I would recommend not using your left arm to cast magic. And no wandless magic for a month.”

Young Mr Black nodded. “Healer, trust me when I say I have no desire to do so.”

“So no major damage,” Sarah sighed, clutching her husband’s shoulders. “Thank goodness.”

Albus took his chance and added himself in the conversation.

“Now, Mr Potter, can you tell us what happened?”

The child looked at his parents, then at him. “Quirrell went nuts.”

Well, that is a great summary, but he needs the details. “A good summary. Alas, I need to have the details. You see, very few would be able to get in my bedroom without triggering the alarms. Even fewer would be able to shatter the mirror.” The boy frowned at the mention of the mirror, so Albus chose to explain. “You see, the mirror of Erised. Not cursed, but almost. It shows not-”

The child groaned, throwing his head back.

“Why is everyone obsessed with that bloody mirror? Quirrell wanted to know what I saw and got hysterical when I told him I see my reflection. I mean, what was he expecting, the answer to immortality?”

Albus felt his face slacken. This… this is not right. The child did not see himself surpassing his brother nor becoming his parent’s priority, he didn't see fame nor riches. He saw his reflection.

Corvan Black is happy. So undeniably happy, he covets nothing.

And perhaps that is a bigger shock than Tom’s reappearance.

“Quirrell was obsessed with getting the philosopher’s stone and thought the mirror would give it to him.”

The moment the words left his lips, Albus knew he should have kept mum.

The looks he received weighted physically on his slumped shoulders. Albus knew it was going to be a very long day.

And how right he was.

Bellatrix and Amelia were the ones who took the statements of every member of the staff and the students who were already seventeen. The Blacks took their child to the hospital for a second check-up and then home to rest.

Alastor and Kingsley, along with a Hit Wizard squad, were in charge of investigating the scene… Which meant Albus had no access to his books or clothes or anything, really. He sighed, he should have placed the mirror somewhere else. Then again, if Sirius or Bellatrix found it in one of their visits, they were getting him in trouble.

The worst part of the Hit Wizard squad getting involved was that Albus had no access to any information of what happened that morning. He tried asking and the only information he got from the professors was not important.

“Mr Black’s friends were looking for him all morning. Mr Weasley came to us with a map showing Quirinius was with the child in your room, Albus. And just then a patronus arrived at the great hall mid lunch and prodded Severus. Everything else you know,” Flitwick answered when Albus asked.

So the only thing left was to wait.

Next morning young Mr Black arrived, immediately being hugged by a crying Mr Finch-Fletchley and a scowling Miss Malfoy (whose dark circles stood out against her pale skin). Albus heard the boy’s explanation with stoicism, fully convinced the child has a promising acting career if he choses that path.

“Nothing much. Quirrell broke under pressure and decided to ransack Dumbledore's room as revenge for hiring him. Wrong place at the wrong time.”

Even Albus would have believed the child if he didn’t know better. A Black indeed, through and through.

And then Mr Filch notified him the Potters were waiting at the castle’s gates. Albus immediately regretted notifying them. Until only yesterday he was under the impression Harry Potter saw himself as a Potter and craved for his family’s attention.

He could not have been more wrong.

---

Lily wanted to pace around the room or maybe yell a little instead of waiting for the silly creature to bring some tea. James was picking at his trousers and Albus was unusually quiet.

“Here is being some tea and refreshments.”

She ignored the chirpy creature while the headmaster was thanked it. The sooner she knew what happened yesterday, the better.

Unfortunately, she only heard rumours and the official morning paper saying Quirinius Quirrell, Defence Professor, had a mental breakdown due to stress. It also said that the man tried to take a student as hostage and Severus rescued the child. No names and no more information. Good enough, only that James told her the Hit Wizards got involved, which meant one of the two: either it was a very serious matter or Harry was involved.

God, she hated not knowing.

“Lily, James, I guess my letter worried you,” Lily scoffed at the old man’s nonchalant attitude, “I fear I cannot tell you much more than you already know.”

“Albus, you can’t be-”

Dumbledore raised a hand, placating James. “Please allow me. The matter was indeed serious and General Black himself is carrying the case, hence, my lack of knowledge in the matter. What I can tell you is that the child taken was indeed your oldest son.”

Lily felt her stomach turning and bile rising. Oh God, is her baby alright?!

“Please don’t worry, young Mr Bl-” Albus coughed, “your son is in perfect health, Sirius made sure of it. However, there indeed is worrying news. Quirrell was possessed by whom I assume was Voldemort, I couldn’t confirm it with the child but I am sure.”

So Voldemort is alive, just like they feared.

“Why Harry?” James asked, dropping his teacup rather unceremoniously on the coffee table.

Oh, that is a very good question.

Albus took off his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I have no idea, James, only suppositions. I do know Quirinius told him he saw two first years heading to the Forbidden Forest and your child followed the man under the assumption his younger brother was one of them.”

So Harry got himself in danger for playing the hero? Oh no, that boy was getting the scolding of his life! How dare he get himself in danger?!

“Call him here Albus, we need to talk with our son.”

The headmaster looked at her, then sighed. He summoned an elf to send the message.

Waiting in silence was the hardest part. Minutes dragged on and Fawkes barged in the office, threw his dead mouse on the table, stole a sandwich from the platter, ripped a little of Albus’ beard, and fled. That is exactly why she hates birds, Albus’ excuses while he cleaned notwithstanding.

“Lily, please love, remember to control yourself.” Lily glared at her husband, he didn’t react. “I don’t want a repeat of what happened last time. Please.”

Lily flinched at the reminder. Alright, she would control the need to yell at her reckless boy.

Minutes dragged by until there was a knock on the door. Finally! Albus used his wand to open it.

“Ah, Severus, thank you for escorting young Mr Black,” Lily clenched her teeth. Now even Albus was going with calling HER son that? Ha! “Please, take a seat.”

Harry is there.

And only then it hit Lily just how similar Harry and Sirius look, especially wearing the school uniform. No, not similar, it was as if her baby was Sirius’ child and no one else’s. Not hers nor James'. Good God, only last night she was looking at her old school albums and her baby is almost a replica of young Sirius. Similar hair length, same nose, cheeks, and general face structure. Tall for his age. And oh so confident in his skin, as if he is ready to eat the world.

Same straight posture and expressionless face. Standing tall and proud in clothes that only a pure blood from a wealthy family would ever be able to afford. Everything was Sirius. Sans the eyes, of course, those were all her.

She wondered for the umpteenth time if she accidentally slept with Sirius all those years ago.

“Mother, Father. Good morning,” Harry bowed slightly, the way she saw pure bloods do in those stuffy parties. “Professor Prince, may you please stay in the meeting?”

Lily looked at Severus. Once a dear friend, now nothing but a stranger.

Severus looked at them while answering. “Of course, your parents asked me not to leave you alone so I would have stayed regardless.”

James tensed up beside her. She couldn’t blame him. It was as if the world decided Harry was a Black, them being amongst the few that remembered he is a Potter.

“Harry, please sit down,” James said, Lily turned to look at her husband who already looked tired. “We need you to tell us what happened yesterday.”

“Everything is on the papers.”

And she had enough. Harry was not acting as if they are strangers, not on Lily’s watch!

“Harry Potter!” Her son didn’t look away from James. “It is not your decision, we need to know so we can protect your brother!”

Harry looked at the headmaster instead of her. Dumbledore refused to look away from his lap.

“Professor, may you be the one to explain? I doubt they will believe me.”

Severus sighed and looked at her straight in the eye. “What happened yesterday is under the Hit Wizard jurisdiction, if you want any details, please speak with General Black or Lieutenant Black.”

Lily went rock still. Oh, so they were using that tactic? Fine! She would take measures to protect her children herself. First of all, setting her oldest straight.

“Fine! Harry, I want to know what you were thinking when you got yourself in danger? I thought you were old enough to no longer play the hero.”

Harry’s eyebrows went up, looking genuinely confused.

Oh god, yet another Sirius thing, managing to always look innocent.

“Are you perhaps insinuating it was my fault Quirrell attacked me?”

Putting it that way made it sound wrong. Suddenly, her amazing argument fell flat.

“Harry, we know you followed Quirrell because you thought Jacob went into the forbidden forest. We are just asking you to be smarter next time. Use your head and don’t be reckless. Your mother is right worrying about you trying to play the hero.”

Harry’s mouth fell open, only slightly. Sirius once told her showing emotions openly is crass. Guess he taught her child that.

“Father, are you implying I should no longer trust any professor?”

James hand stopped midway retrieving his tea. “No! I’m just saying you should be more careful.”

“And how should I do that, dare I ask?”

There it was again. The thinly veiled sass.

“Harry, don’t talk to your father like that. What he is suggesting is not to trust what everyone tells you.”

Severus covered his face with a hand, barely hiding the sigh.

Harry smiled, “alright mother. Next time someone tells me my brother is putting himself in danger, I promise not to intervene. As a matter of fact, I will be as hands off as possible.”

And that made THEM sound horrible. God, why did no one tell her raising a teen would have little to do with emotional outbursts and a whole lot with their child dissecting their arguments thoroughly?

Severus cleared his throat. “I find myself forced to intervene. First of all, Potter’s record speaks for itself,” Lily tried not to flinch at the reminder. “Reckless, careless, irresponsible, and the list goes on. If it wasn’t for his brother, I surmise Minerva would have expelled your son already.”

“I know Jacob is a little mischievous but that do-”

“He got another detention this morning for presenting a copy of his classmate’s assignment.”

Harry facepalmed. “He copied from Hermione again for the personal research assignment, didn’t he? I am so sorry professor, I will be talking to him before lunch.”

Severus waved Harry off, as if already used…

Oh.

“I must remind you that Jacob is not your responsibility,” Albus sighed, an obvious grimace on his face. “We cannot possibly ask you to spend even more time tutoring your brother. All the professors agree that you have done more than enough for Jacob.”

Oh.

Lily tried to blink the tears away. She had no idea about any of this and, by the glare Severus is giving them, he already reached that conclusion.

“I am afraid to cut this meeting short, but I believe we are needed elsewhere.”

Harry actually relaxed and the idea of her son looking forward to being away from her broke her heart.

“I will see you in the summer father, mother.”

Severus actually placed a hand on Harry’s shoulder and mouthed something that sounded horribly like “are you alright?” God, she hated being so distant to her baby.

How did it even turn this bad?

“Is Jacob really that bad?” James asked once the door closed.

Lily looked at the headmaster as the man wilted on his seat. Oh, she is going to hate this conversation, isn’t she?

“I would say Jacob is not used to structure and discipline. He indeed had trouble making it on time to classes during the first month, as-”

“But that is not something to worry about, is it? Everyone is late during the first month, the castle is quite big.” Lily found herself defending her child.

Oh God, she is becoming one of THOSE mothers. Just like Petunia excusing her brat… God, how did this even happen?

Albus sighed. “Mr Black, in his year as a professor, established a new system. Aside from maps provided with the schedules, the house ghosts are in charge of taking the first years around.” That would have been useful when she was at school. “Sir Nicholas informed me that Jacob and young Mr Weasley were never in time in the common room so he had to leave without them. As you know, five late attendance equals a detention. Both children accumulated quite a lot with their late morning habits. Combine that with their escapades and the unturned assignments.”

Oh, God.

“Why weren’t we told?”

Albus looked at them. “Minerva did inform you. She still has your letter archived.”

Wait, was it that letter that asked them to remind their children to wake up on time and do their homework? She thought it was a letter sent to all parents.

How embarrassing! She wrote that Jacob always woke up early and was a diligent boy.

“I know Jacob is used to having your house elf wake him up and clean after him, however, this is a school and he can no longer depend on a house elf to do everything for him,” Albus said in a gentle tone, looking at them with something akin to pity. “He had a very hard time adapting to the schedules and rules in general. I would indeed recommend enforcing some rules during the summer because Minerva will not be as lenient next year.”

“What about Harry?” James asked while Lily was trying not to die of shame.

Albus tilted his head. “What about the child?”

“How is he doing in school?”

The old headmaster immediately brightened. “Nothing to worry about. Your oldest child is very responsible and a bright student.”

“How many detentions did he have thus far?” Lily asked, perhaps hoping Jacob was not that much of a problem child as they were painting him to be.

“During this term or all his years at school?”

Aha! She knew it!

“All detentions this year.”

Albus nodded, with a snap of his fingers a thin book flew to his hand. He opened it and leafed through it. “Here. Your son has a total of zero detentions this year. Not a single detention since first year… Jolly that, quite admirable. Maybe I should give some sort of award for exemplary behaviour.”

“Really?” James trying to look at the book on the headmaster's lap.

“Indeed, I would show you. However, this contains quite a lot of information on my students. I would have to obliviate you afterwards.”

Lily wanted to flee. She blames James for Jacob turning out to be so troublesome.

“Albus, what do you think we should do?” Lily asked, not only wondering what they should do about Jacob but the whole family situation.

The old man took a long moment to deliberate. “I think you should leave things as they are. Look, Lily, you cannot blame your oldest for being distant. I would be lying if I told you I didn’t think it was affecting him, but now I know better. The child doesn’t need more guidance than what he already has.”

James threw his head back, fully leaning on the couch.

“And about Jacob… Well, he had his time to be a celebrity, now is time to be a child. If you are not able to guide him properly, I fear he will suffer many disappointments as the years go by.”

While James seemed to accept the advice, she refused to do so. Lily would rather die than to see her family crumble apart right before her eyes.

Chapter 14: Of Pranks and Revenge Schemes

Corvan leaned on the plush lounge chaise, doing nothing more than bask on the fireplace warmth and sipping hot cocoa. The past weeks were… busy and mentally taxing. At least the exams were a nice distraction.

Dad is… not pleased, to say the least, with what happened with Quirrell. The professors were all examined by aunt Bella personally. At least there was not another nutter in the staff.

However, he had to confront some rather harsh questions. Such as what Quirrell said. Jacob not being the one that survived the killing curse but him.

It made an awful lot of sense.

Dad explained to him when he was seven about the ritual of seven sevens that grandma and grandpa along with him and aunt Bella prepared for him. It was meant to protect him from fatal damage and the dark arts. There was no way Voldemort, or anyone really, could use dark magic to harm him. Blood rituals were old magic, very powerful at that. Dad told him that night he apparated to the Black Manor ritual room cleansing pools and it took days to purify whatever was trying to latch on his magic.

It was too much to think about. Corvan wanted nothing to do with Jacob’s fame, he saw what it did to his brother. People expected so much from Jacob and were so easy to condemn him. Whatever he did, Jacob would never be able to please everyone.

No, thank you.

Corvan would rather be like dad. Recognised by his hard work and respected for his results. Sirius Black was the war’s hero, he earned everything he got. Corvan wanted to be like that. Dad promised to keep the information Quirrell revealed a secret.

So dad changed the report. Quirrell was possessed by a greed spirit and tried to get the rumoured philosopher’s stone in Dumbledore’s possession (at least now Corvan knew what the whole mirror drama was about). Professor Prince was forced to use a lethal curse to get rid of Quirrell. Nothing else was written.

And that is how he liked it.

Just being another student is perfect.

And he knows he did well in the exams. Flitwick even tried to exempt him from the charms exam for the patronus stunt and, as kind as the gesture was, Corvan rejected it. Having the professors being extra considerate to him was more than enough favouritism, he wanted no more.

As the exams were over and the fifth and seventh years got ready for their examinations, he took his chance to relax. Lyra was passed out on the floor while Richard was sprawled on the couch. Most of the house was either resting in the common room or dead to the world in their rooms.

“Hi Corvan,” he looked to the side, a rosy cheeked Cho Chang was standing next to him. “Can I talk with you, please?”

Corvan wanted to say no, but the girl looked flustered enough already. Oh well, he needs more hot cocoa either way.

“Sure love, want to come with me to the kitchen?”

Cho nodded, turning a deeper shade of red. He considered placing Lyra on the couch, but she was a violent little shite when woken up. So he put his blanket over her.

He did some small talk, mainly quidditch. Cho is looking forward to becoming a main player rather than only a reserve chaser now that two members of the team are graduating. They talked about the exams and the party that is waiting for this year’s graduation. Apparently, Corvan is one of the few younger years that were invited. Oh well, Cho is a little too young to party.

The little voice in his head called him a hypocrite.

“Good night!” Corvan greeted the two house-elves looking at a thick book.

The two perked up. “Oh! Young Mister Crow, what is you needing?”

“Nothing love, just will make some hot cocoa, don’t let me bother you.” The oldest house-elf narrowed his eyes. Tatters, as sceptical as always. “You are busy deciding the feast menu, I can do this.”

The old elf huffed, a small smile playing on his lips. “And yous better not burnt the pot.”

“Yes sir! Come on Cho, do you want any?”

The girl was simply staring, then she blushed a deep red. “Sure. If you don’t mind, how did you get the elves to allow you to cook? Every time we come they barely allow us to touch our plates and they kick us out.”

Corvan huffed a laugh. Typical. Elves didn’t trust students not to mess up their kitchen.

“I asked them to teach me how to cook. Dad is great at it, mum… well, she is a wonderful woman.”

Cho laughed hard, immediately covering her mouth. Adorable child.

So he went to work, not like making hot chocolate is hard. Once done pouring the cocoa on the cuppas and washing the pot and ladle, they bid the house elves goodbye. Tatters didn’t immediately frown when tasting his cocoa, that was a major compliment.

“I see why the elves like you so much. Cedric will pull his hair out if he learns it was this easy.”

Corvan laughed at the idea of a bald Cedric. “That bloke is the nicest human being around, but he can’t even boil water without exploding the kitchen. Ask his parents.”

Cho let out a little giggle, then sighed and stopped on her tracks. Corvan stopped as well. He did wonder what she wanted to talk about.

“I have something to tell you,” Cho took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, then looked him in the eye. “I like you. A lot. I was wondering if you would like to go to on a date with me tomorrow!”

Oh, so that was it.

Corvan tried not to grimace. “Cho, you are a beautiful girl and a wonderful person,” the girl turned a deeper red. “However, I am not ready to be in a relationship. I am sorry, I can’t return your feelings.”

Fuck, seeing her curl in herself was most definitely a slap. For Morgana, he feels like rubbish for hurting the girl.

“I- I see. I think-”

Something moved in the corner of his eye, Corvan shot a petrificus totalus without thinking. There was the clear sound of something falling to the ground.

Other than his cup, of course.

Cho paled, he pushed her behind him. “Get your wand ready, worst case scenario you run. I will cover you.”

The girl nodded, holding her wand with a shaky hand.

Corvan carefully walked to the corner of the corridor and saw the petrified person. Then decided he would murder Jacob Potter. He dragged the brat, Cho almost dropped her cuppa when she saw Jacob, whether it was relief or something else was unknown.

“Finite,” Corvan muttered, Jacob gasped before he was held by the back of his neck. “Did you hear what happened here?”

Jacob looked away. Dammit. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

Morgana, bless me with patience because if you give me strength, I will murder the brat.

“You are a terrible liar, Potter.” Corvan’s grip on the back of his neck tightened, the boy grimaced. “A word of this gets out and I am making your life hell, got it?”

Jacob nodded, then ran away when he let go. He would order some of those complete Zonko’s boxes. Peeves would murder for those.

“I am so sorry.”

Cho giggled, Corvan looked at the girl with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m sorry, it’s just that I think with a brother like that I totally wouldn’t date anyone younger. Or guys, in general.”

Corvan sighed, looking at his hot cocoa splattered on the floor. Sodding brat.

He vanished the mess.

“Making sure Jacob doesn’t off himself is time consuming… I need some more.”

Cho gave him hers. “I’m lactose intolerant.”

“Oh sweet Morgana, I am so sorry.”

“No need, I guess that knowing you are just another guy makes talking to you easier.”

“I live to please, Miss Chang.”

Cho laughed, this time without covering her bright smile. Corvan relaxed, at least Jacob was useful to break the tension. Good thing that things wouldn’t get awkward between them.

Perhaps he should even get the brat something nice.

 

---

 

Next morning Corvan swore to give Jacob something nice, neon pink hair would look great.

Sodding brat needed only one night to spread the rumour of Cho rejecting him last night. Well, if Jacob dared to spread what actually happened then Aragog was getting a nice snack.

“So, is it true Cho Chang broke your heart?” Marcus asked, joining their table as usual.

Corvan sighed, then smiled. Better him than her, Cho didn’t deserve the humiliation. “Yup, guess this face can’t get me everything.”

Penny laughed, “oh, Corvan, you are so sweet, honey. I am sure the right girl will come.”

A flushed Cho came to him, his friends stopped laughing. “Corvan, I am so sorry. I will-”

“Hey, don’t worry about it, alright? I will survive my first heartbreak,” Corvan winked at the girl, her expression falling further. “Don’t worry. But you can make up to me by being a great chaser next year.”

Poor girl, she most definitely did not need the drama.

“Hey Chang, don’t worry, he is a strong guy;” Angelina said, he jumped in surprise. “Now, I will kidnap him, sorry.”

He followed the girl without a complaint until they were out of the great hall.

“Thank you for that.”

Angie waved him off. “No worries, but Fred and George are looking for you. By the way, real chivalrous from you, Mr Black, covering for Cho.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

Angie laughed, punching him lightly on the arm. “Edgecombe was boasting yesterday about how her friend was going to bag the hottest guy in school. That title is shared between you, Cedric, and Terrence. And today Jacob is talking to everyone who will hear and who won’t about Chang rejecting you. All of the school knows what happened.”

That is not good. “I think I need to talk with the guys, give me a minute.”

His robe was pulled back. “Corvan, we know. No one will say a thing, the guys just like teasing you.”

Still, he is rather uneasy.

“Alright, so, Miss Johnson, would you like to help me plan revenge against the brat that I have the misfortune to call my younger brother?”

Angie laughed, loud and clear and looked so beautiful his stomach fluttered.

“Of course, Mr Black. Actually, the twins have a few ideas already.”

That devilish grin and those bright eyes, they did things to him. This whole ordeal was definitely worth it.

---

Hermione Granger sighed, knowing she wouldn’t be able to read with all the racket around her.

Jacob was complaining. Again. During the OWL and NEWT week, Jacob Potter’s hair was turned into hot pink and his skin into Slytherin green. There was glitter on everything he owned (Seamus started collecting it, swore it had nothing to do with how pretty it is). He also got a detention during the older students' Hogsmeade Saturday because he was caught in the hippogriff corral.

He swore someone attacked him from the back and put him in the hippogriff dung pile of the corral. The care of magical creatures professor said the wards of the corral immediately petrify any unauthorised intruder for their safety. Hippogriffs are territorial and rather violent, Hermione learned.

Jacob swore his brother was to blame.

Honestly? Hermione didn’t think so. Not one bit. Corvan is really nice and a great student. Everyone knew Corvan couldn’t kill a fly.

Besides, even if Corvan did something to Jacob, it was well deserved.

Who in the world told the whole school his brother was rejected?! Jacob Potter, of course. Everyone, especially the girls, were annoyed at him for that.

At least Cho Chang was a nice girl and said it was the other way around. Considering even she heard Edgecombe swearing her friend was going to bag Corvan, Hermione thought it was a pretty brave thing for Cho Chang to set the record straight. Much to Jacob’s annoyance.

“Argh, when I tell my parents they are going to be sooo angry;” Jacob groaned, penning his letter.

Lavender dropped her magazine. Parvati’s jaw clenched. Lily Moon’s quill snapped.

“I mean, it is so unfair! I told the professors and they did nothing! Look at me, I am the victim here! I swear mum is going to be furious when she learns that Harry is bullying me!”

Lavender stood up, Neville gave her a wide berth while Seamus not so subtly collected the glitter that fell from Jacob’s hair onto the table. Lavender, as girly as she is, obviously has a strong arm. She used her rolled magazine to hit Jacob on the back of the head. A bloody lot of glitter fell on the table.

“OW! What-”

“Shut up Potter! Don’t you think enough is enough?! You are the reason why Gryffindor is in last place for the House Cup! You are the reason why Corvan is having such a hard time! I should just finish what fucking Voldemort couldn’t do because: You Are Annoying!”

The whole common room went silent. Jacob’s face turned into a weird shade of murky green. Neville started clapping, everyone else followed.

“Hear, hear! This firstie has the biggest bollocks in the whole house!” George (or was it Fred?) yelled.

“That is right, Gred! Let’s bow to the firstie!” Fred (or was it George?) agreed.

Lavender blushed. Parvati touched Hermione’s arm and walked towards Lav. She sighed. The girls in her dorm and her had so little in common, but the one thing they shared with her was the teeny tiny crush she has on Corvan. They all bonded over that.

So Hermione took her book and went with the girls to their room. She almost wanted to invite Dean and Neville, they are just so nice.

Seamus is just Seamus, funny and a bit of a pyro, and now obsessed with glitter. Ron and Jacob are nice enough, but they are just so… They are BOYS. And she likes them, they are fun, but the girls are simply less dramatic and ten times cleaner.

And, as much as she loves school and her friends, she is looking forward to having a calm summer.

Notes:

This marks the end of the first year. I honestly had loads of fun while writing this. I am currently on the third year, this story is just so much fun to write. This literally is my “no thoughts, just vibes” story. No plans, no charts, no timelines, nothing. Just having whimsical fun and I love it.

Harry/Corvan’s personality is based on a friend of mine. She is simply gentle and unfailingly kind, I absolutely love her. My dear friend provided much help when answering my strange questions on how would she react in the bizarre scenarios that I conjured.

Lily and James are inspired by the hundred of answers in a forum to a question I asked about Golden Children. The stories there honestly left me speechless and very horrified but gave me tons to work with.

I considered posting all the story in one but chose to divide it for years. Organisational purposes. I hope you enjoyed this whimsy of mine as much as I did.

Until the next time!

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Black Path