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Chapter 3- Who are you?

The two older men watched their gathered family after their shopping. They had made it a tradition to shop together and before the usual Hogwarts rush began.

These were two families that garnered attention without asking.

" You seem tense, Arcturus." The livelier looking man spoke, having observed his friend being tense all day.

His friend was not one for much emotion. He was subjected to a lot of teasing among family due to that. But Charlus Potter can confidently say that he had come to read his friend very well. The two had been inseparable from the moment they fought back-to-back against Grindelwald.

It was a shock. A huge shock to see the alliance between the Potter and Black houses. They always seemed to be two opposites. Blacks were feared all over the world for their cunning. They were quintessential Slytherins, through and through.

The Potters were ruthless warriors. They were world renowned for their abilities with a wand.

The most shocking news was when the Potters and Blacks had announced the marriage of Charlus Potter and Dorea Black. Many traditional dark families were affronted. Dorea Black was one of the most beautiful women in Britain. One who every house was trying to bring in to strengthen their alliance with the Blacks.

Imagine their surprise when Charlus Potter and Dorea Black announced their engagement. There were disagreements voiced but no one dared to oppose the Potter lord.

The man might be as gentle as they come but getting on the wrong side of the man's wand was confirming a death sentence.

Arcturus was the more temperamental among them but if he truly puts his two seconds to think of a person, he feels slighted, their remaining life will be very difficult.

" They keep pestering me. I don't know what to do. Cygnus is agreeable with the arrangement just because he had been to school with those bunch of piss mongers. That bitch my other son calls his wife. She is unbearable. I don't know how the fucking hell he even manages to sleep next to the sow. Her and her big mouth." He spat.

" The moment Sirius walked out of that house; it came tumbling down." He grumbled.

" They are planning ahead. They have already sniffed out the vulnerability we are facing. That's why they are trying so hard." He grumbled.

" What do the three say?" He asked, nodding towards the three young women who were speaking quietly to themselves.

" They haven't outright said anything, but they certainly don't like it." He said. " I can see it in their eyes, Charlus. I am holding out as much as possible. The moment I fall, the vultures will swoop down." He sighed softly.

" Well, we won't let it come to that." Charlus reassured him.

They were about to call their family when they felt wards go up. Arcturus and Charlus stiffened.

" Trapped." He said and Arcturus nodded.

" Get them to the center. I'll see if I can find any cracks." Charlus spoke as he flicked his wand to his wrist.

___&&&---

Bellatrix was not having a good day.  Her grandfather had once again rejected the marriage contract that Lestrange and his ilk were demanding. Malfoy, Lestrange and Yaxley families were pestering her grandfather to sign a marriage contract between her sisters.

Her grandfather had seen through their attempts to control this family. He had rebuked their every effort.

Bellatrix shuddered and she felt her skin crawl listening to the conversation. She would never even think of letting those gits touch her or her sisters. But even she felt worried. They might be idiots, but they are dangerous idiots.

She worried for her sisters. Narcissa and Andromeda could handle themselves with a wand, but when overwhelmed, they would not be able to defend themselves.

Her eyes suddenly fell on her grandfather who was hurrying towards them. He seemed worried.

" Hurry up. We are being attacked." He announced. The group was now surprised and worried.

" Get to the center. Stay in the group." He instructed as he motioned them to move.

___&&&---

Charlus studied the wards put up. They were strong. He could of course break them, but it will almost empty his reserves.

He watched as her wife and son hurried towards him. " Charlus?" She called out.

" Is there no way out?" She asked.

Charlus shook his head.

" We are trapped." He said, his eyes flitting everywhere possible.

" What do we do, dad?" James Potter asked his father.

" Nothing much, nephew." Arcturus cut in.

" We fight, we have no other choice." The younger man nodded warily at his uncle's words.

James stood next to Bellatrix and Sirius as they waited for the fight to begin.

"James." The girl called out. " Whatever happens, see that my sisters remain safe, would you?" She asked.

James shook his head. " Nothing is going to happen, Bellatrix. We will fight our way out of this." He spoke firmly.

A bang was heard and a group of at least five dozen men surrounded the entrance of the alley. Their paths were blocked.

James sensed something that made his blood run cold. " Werewolves." He muttered.

Sirius Black nodded. " Not much. A dozen of them." He spoke.

The group was now cornered.

" Black." A disembodied voice spoke. " You should have agreed to our conditions."

" Malfoy." Spat Arcturus. " Still the same coward, I, see?" He smirked.

A cold laughter escaped the man.

" Still the very same sharp tongue. Put it to better use." He said and without a warning, the overwhelmed group fired spells at the same time.

Dorea and Melania Black stood around the youngsters, shielding from stray spells. James, Sirius and Bellatrix took shots of their own. What the rest of them failed to notice was the six werewolves that surrounded the two youngest.

Narcissa and Andromeda were left at the back and the rest were concentrated on the men surrounding them but paid no mind to the werewolf threat.

The Potter and Black patriarch had got the upper hand for the moment . They were considered the most dangerous men of their generation for a reason a very good reason.

There were around thirty men around them. They were good with a wand yes, but these two had faced a much worse during the previous war.

The factor that held them down here was that their family was present here and if they failed, their family would be destroyed.

So, they decided to take a more conservative approach. They didn't outright charge and use their battle spells.

They used complicated spell chains for this and felled ten of them quickly.

They were now ready for a full-on assault when a scream was heard. The fighting stopped suddenly.

Arcturus and Charlus had their hearts sinking when they saw that the werewolves were surrounding Narcissa and Andromeda.

The two girls fired spells. Whatever they knew at the beasts but to no avail.

Charlus was about to cast when a low growl was heard all around. The night was filled with silence once again. The fighting had ceased. This was more dangerous. The sound was extremely feral, and a chill went through their bones.

" Greyback?" Arcturus whispered.

Charlus had his heart sinking. Greyback was the worst of the beasts. There was nobody as vicious or dangerous as Fenrir Greyback.

" We have to do something…." he trailed off as he saw the sight in front of him.

___&&&&----

Narcissa Black was a very dangerous girl. She  much like Arcturus she could when the need arise think and act strategically.

Yes, she was not like her older sister Bellatrix. She didn't give much preference to dueling though she was no slouch. She relied on her sheer brilliance to solve a problem without any fights. She loved politics. She loved to play those who slighted her, and boy would she enjoy the look on their faces when she gets one over them.

Her Slytherin brains were one she was very proud of along with her beauty. She was a girl that would turn heads with just her appearance.

But this was different. Nothing had prepared her for this situation. Werewolves were not in her league. She didn't give up though. Her sister Andromeda was a powerful witch. She was with her throwing spells at the beasts but that was to no avail. This action only enraged the beasts, egging them on.

She lost all hope of surviving and for the first time in her life, she felt scared. Scared of her life.

She lost her footing and tumbled to the ground. Two werewolves advanced upon her barring their teeth. She closed her eyes and prayed with all her heart to save her this once.

She felt a snarl and a little squeak suddenly.

A dissembled roar was heard, and her eyes snapped open. She looked into the eyes of an of a predator an Asiatic lion, staring at her, in all its majesty those green eyes radiated power.

She would have screamed in fright if not for the fact that the eyes were a burning green.

'Odd. Green eyes?' she thought. There was something reassuring about those eyes.

The lion then turned back to the now whimpering werewolves. Werewolves tended to bend to the alphas. That is the reason that Fenrir Greyback, although a decent wizard, was so dangerous. His ferocity made even the werewolves fear him.

Who better to control the beasts than the king of the jungle? Asiatic Lions were silent but extremely dangerous and powerful in a fight.

They commanded respect and would strike fear amongst the various beasts of the forests. A true alpha if there was ever one.

The lion let out an earth-shattering roar and the werewolves scrambled trying to get away. But the lion was faster not letting them leave. He pounced on one of them before striking it with his powerful front paws.

The strongest point of a lion is his extremely powerful front paws. A single strike at full power can kill.

The immediate area was filled with a stream of crimson red and the air was filled with a pungent coppery metallic odor.

The werewolf dropped dead seconds later. At the loss of their comrade, the remaining five ran helter skelter and disappeared through the dark sewers of Diagon Alley running for their lives.

The masked men shouted in fury and fired a spell at the lion. Narcissa screamed as the curse almost struck true. But the lion jumped away at the last minute.

What happened next, surprised her and the remaining watchers. The lion slowly transformed into a tall young man.

" Animagus." She heard Andromeda whisper next to her.

The young man covered in black, twirled his wand as he surveyed every side of the surroundings. Narcissa got a good glimpse of the man. He was familiar… all too familiar and then a light bulb switched on.

" He looks like Uncle Charlus and James." She whispered. The only difference was the almost proper hair, with almost being the key word. He had long hair which still retained the Potter messiness but somewhat tame compared to James and her uncle.

The young man's eyes met hers.

" Are you fine, Ms. Black?" He asked. The girl had her breath hitching in her throat at his voice. There was something special about that. She could only nod dumbly; not taking her eyes off him.

He turned back to the death eaters.

" You decided to mess with the wrong people." He spoke softly. He sprang into action. His wand was a blur as spells flew at  blistering speed, taking down the men in minutes. He danced around the Alley, swatting spells like they aren't relevant at all.

He started cutting down the death eaters. Some were  burnt to death. Some were left without hands and legs. Some had their organs tumbled out of their bodies. Some were decapitated.

Within five minutes, the stranger had decimated the death eaters. With only Abraxus Malfoy and another person standing.

He walked up to them, whistling a tune. He stood in front of Malfoy who was struggling against the bonds that held him.

" It's no use gentlemen. They won't break." He chuckled.

He suddenly rammed his fist into the man's stomach, sending him tumbling down.

His eyes fell on another man who was shivering in fear. He raised his eyebrows.

" What? Are you cold or something?" He questioned. The man shook his head but still was shivering.

" Okay, but why the dance?" The man struggled to reply but eventually managed it. " Scared." He mumbled.

" What was that?" The stranger questioned. " Scared." The man replied a bit louder.

The stranger hummed. " You didn't seem all too scared when you were attacking women who could hardly protect themselves.”

Looking down at him the stranger speaks. “Men who attack women are eunuchs… Am I right?" He asked. The man whimpered in fear at his raise in tone and nodded quickly.

" Good." He intoned. " I will give you a chance. One chance" He said. " Go back and make sure that you show all that happened here to your master." He instructed. " If you fail to, you will die the moment you go anywhere else but back to him." He warned. The prisoner nodded quickly and disappeared as soon as he was freed.

The stranger turned back to his other prisoner. " You won't get away with this." Abraxus snarled.

The stranger chuckled. " Your brother said the same thing when he met me, you know. And et voila. I am Here and your brother, tch tch… poor Antoine." He mocked.

Abraxus became deathly pale. " Blaze?" He asked. The man nodded." Right in one."

He bowed, "Keep that name to yourself, would you? It won't do good to blow my identity so quickly." He winked at the man.

" I have a present for you, by the way."

He took out what looked like a butcher's knife out of his cloak but grandly decorated.

Abraxus stared at the knife. His face paled further if that was possible.

" Scum like you and your brother are don’t deserve to live let alone bread, You kill and torture people for what?

Taking a knee Harry said, “Listening to a mad man who is fucking deranged and power hungry. Just to prove a fucking point that you are better. " He snarled.

" You won't be able to stop us. You won't be able to fight this. The dark lord will kill you. " Abraxus laughed.

The stranger nodded. " We will see… we will see. Say hi to your brother. I will make sure that the rest of them are sent to you, directly." He said and with the very same knife, he separated his head from his body.

He dropped the knife on the dead man's body and slowly turned back to us.

" Who are you?" Uncle Charlus was the first to consider. " Why do you look like us?" He asked.

The stranger chuckled. " Good question. But not here… not now that conversation is not meant for delicate stomachs.”

“Not to mention  prying eyes or ears." He said.

" Hedwig?".

Narcissa watched in shock as a pure white phoenix materialized out of thin air.

" When they are ready." He said and disappeared silently.

___&&&---

The group was flashed in front of a grand manor by Hedwig.

" Impressive." Arcturus muttered.

" Indeed." Dorea said as she walked up the path.

The doors of the manor opened. An elf greeted the group.

" Welcome to Peverell manor." He said.

That came as an explosion. The group froze in surprise. Sheer surprise.

" Wh…. what?" Charlus choked. " Peverell Manor?" He asked again.

The little elf nodded, flapping his ears along. " Yes sir. Master Potter is waiting in the sitting room. He be, wounded. Please excuse me." He popped away.

" Potter??" Dorea choked. She looked at Charlus. Her eyes started to tear up.

" Charlus. Please don't….please don't tell me that he is yours." She pleaded.

Charlus frowned in confusion. When he understood what Dorea was about to say, his eyes bulged.

" Merlin no. What's wrong with you, Dor?" He questioned as he gathered his wife in his arms.

" Never in my life do I want anyone else. You know that. He is not mine. I would never do that to you." He soothed his wife who just nodded as he held her hand.

" Let's go in. We will get our answers soon enough." He told his wife gently.

The entire group walked into the manor, admiring the elegance of the huge place.

" So, this is where my ancestors lived. It is wonderful." He said.

They entered a large  room that was ornately furnished. The young man sat on the chair stripped from the waist up, “Please excuse the mess.”

He looked up from the bloody clothes to the arrivals.

"And Ah… welcome. I will be with you shortly. Take a seat." He gestured. He then silently went about cleaning the blood from his body. Dorea noticed this and she couldn't help her maternal instincts flaring. She rushed forward.

" Here. Let me help you." She spoke quietly. Harry didn't say a word. He sat as still as a rock as the woman cleaned his wound.

" Do you have a healing salve?" She asked. Harry shrugged. " Do we have some, Matty?" He asked his elf.

" We don't master Harry. Yous be in trouble too much. " The elf chastised. Harry chuckled.

" It's fine. Make sure some are prepared for emergencies." He calmed his elf.

"Give me a moment." He said and with a wave of his hand, the deep cuts started knitting itself together, the one thing Dorea noticed was he gave no indication of pain

This charm was very painful and she knew it, and Saul had been adamant that he learn this. Of course, knitting your wound without sedation is very painful.

" What is wrong with you? Are you crazy?" His grandmother snapped. " Of course, you are an idiot. All you Potters are." She grumbled as she watched in hesitation, his body stitching itself.

Harry chuckled. " True." He answered.

" Is that a tattoo?" Melania Black asked in disapproval.

Harry gazed at the marking of his animagus form on his chest, right above his heart.

" No… It's a magical pact, it’s my animagus form." He said.

He then turned to James and Sirius.

" Aren't the two of you animagus as well?" He asked.

The two boys froze in place. Their eyes went wide. " You haven't informed them, have you?" He asked shaking his head.

Dorea narrowed her eyes in anger.

" What is this?" She asked.

James gulped. His mother was not one to annoy. She would make him regret it.

" Uhmm...you know Remus right?" He asked. " The werewolf." The woman nodded. " Well, his transformation will be less lonely with the company. So, we came up with an idea to become animagus to help him." James replied.

" That is a very noble reason, of course. '' Harry smiled. The two boys grinned uncertainly.

Dorea nodded, seemingly agreeing with the answer.

Harry gestured for Matty to bring tea.

" Ok. I guess you have questions." He said.

" Who are you?" Charlus asked. " There are none of us left. We three are the last of our line. " He said.

Harry agreed.

" Okay. First things first. One. I never lie. I don't care if it's a small or big thing. I don't lie.

Two. If I am holding back anything or any matter, it's for the best and you must never ask about it again." He told them, “There are some thing I can tell you, and some things I can’t”

Moving to a writing desk Harry scribbled out a note saying, “If you need more contact him, tell him Blade said Hi.”

Taking out his wand Harry said, " To your benefit,  I, Harry James Potter, swear on my life and magic that I am and only telling the truth and will answer any question asked by the Potters and The Blacks of my choice. So, mote it be."

He swore and his oath was sealed with a golden glow.

" As I said, my name is Harry James Potter." He said.

" B..but there is nobody by that name. The family tapestry doesn't show." James spoke.

" Yes. You would have been shown on the Black tapestry if that was the case." Sirius frowned.

" That is because I am not from around here, not yet anyway." He said. The others frowned at the answer.

" What do you mean?" Narcissa Black asked.

" He probably means that he is from another country." Bellatrix replied, eyeing the young man with interest.

" No. I am Harry James Potter. But not from here. I was born on the 31st of July 1980." He answered.

His answer was met with silence and confusion.

" It's still 1976." Sirius pointed out. He then smirked.

" You are pulling one over us, aren't you?" He asked.

Harry chuckled. " I wish I could. But no. I was born four years from now." He said.

His face hardened and Harry said, "I may joke about many things, this is not one of them.”

" You are a time traveler." Bellatrix whispered in realization, but everyone heard her.

" Come on. I don't think so. It's said to be impossible." Sirius ground out but his jaw dropped when Harry said otherwise.

Silence had occupied the room before. Nobody said a thing. They were all digesting this new fact.

It was Dorea who broke the silence. " So, are you…." He nodded.

" Your grandson." He answered. She gaped and her eyes widened again.

He observed his father and could see horror and realization on his face.

" Oh Merlin." He groaned. " I am a father at fifteen. Unbelievable. And surprise, my son is as old as me." He groaned.

He then glared at Harry. " You are not trying something, are you?" Harry shook his head.

" But what about the other us?" Dorea asked. " Aren't they worried? Aren't they looking for you?" She asked.

Harry chuckled, though this time, his laughter was emotionless.

" I am an orphan. All of you are dead." He pointed towards the older couple. His eyes then fell on James. " You as well." He said.

James blanched at the answer. His grandparents lost all color from their faces.

" How?" Charlus asked.

It was then that he began his tale. His entire life story. The group were horrified, humbled, and angered before their expression rested on one of pity.

Pity for the life one of their own had suffered. Pity for the poor boy who had lost everything. Pity for the life he had led. Pity for all the choices that had been taken away from him.

Dorea couldn't take it any longer. Her grandson. Her blood had his life taken away from him. The hollowness in his eyes as he finished his explanation broke her heart.

She slowly gathered the boy in her arms. He flinched at the contact. Dorea cursed those nasty muggles for their treatment of her blood.

She was about to pull away when the boy slowly hugged her back. He then pulled back. " Thank you." He said with a smile on his face. The smile made his face look a lot younger.

The older woman smiled gently.

" What are you going to do?" Charlus asked. " Finish him. That is my task. After that, I don't know. I haven't thought about life after that at all." He explained.

" You could come to Hogwarts." Narcissa replied too eagerly for her liking. Harry smiled a little. " I was thinking of it, yes. I still need my NEWTs. Matter of fact, I need my OWLs as well." He said.

" I just needed closure. Now that the old timeline has been erased,  my name would have surely come up on the tapestry in some time. " He explained.

" Whatever happened last time, I won't let it repeat." He said defiantly. He then frowned. " Why was Malfoy attacking you? I thought that you two would be betrothed." He pointed to Narcissa.

She frowned distastefully. " I hate him." She said. " They were trying to lock us in a contract, but grandfather didn't allow it." She explained.

He then locked eyes with Bellatrix. " What about you? Lestrange." She flinched.

" He is a pig." She spat. Harry snorted.

" That probably is one thing I will never disagree with."

The group fell into silence. " So, shall we get back to Potter Manor?" Charlus asked.

Harry frowned. " I have a place to stay." He pointed out.

The elder Potter shook his head. " You want to live here. I don't think Dorea will allow it." He pointed out. Harry frowned.

" For an excellent fighter, you are stupid." Dorea pointed out with a smirk.

" What Aunt Dorea means is that you are coming to stay with us." Sirius pointed out excitedly. Harry could only look on dumbly.

" B..but." he was interrupted.

" My family won't stay away from me. Not when I am alive. This place is good. But that will be after I see a nice young lady for you to settle down with." Dorea smirked.

" La..lady!?" He squeaked out. " She is joking, right?" He asked his father.

" Nah ah. Mum doesn't joke. She will set you up with a girl. It's a good thing that I am already in love. " He looked smug.

" Is it by any chance Lily Evans?" Harry asked. James stopped. " You know her?" He asked. Harry calmly pointed to his eyes. James's eyes widened in shock. "Wait...is ...she...is she your mother?" He asked. Harry nodded eying his father for some reason lost the ability to speak.

James was silent. " I think he lost it, Harry." Sirius said, poking James in his side.

James whooped suddenly and looked excited. " I did it. Well not me, but the other me did it." James pointed out.

" But that doesn't mean that you will marry her again. Just by being here, I have changed many things. So, if you want her, you must mature a bit. Otherwise, she might slip away." Harry said.

James suddenly realized what he was being told. He straightened up.

" But back to the matter. Charlus, I need to discuss something with you." Dorea said and pulled her husband along with her.

Harry turned questioningly to the others but couldn't gleam anything.

His grandparents came back after five minutes. They looked at him expectantly.

" Charlus and I have had a discussion. If you are okay with it, we have decided to perform a blood adoption." She said. Harry froze. " What?" He whispered.

" No matter where you come from, you are my blood, Harry. You know how important family is." Charlus explained.

Dorea grabbed his hand. " I have always wanted another child, Harry. When James was born, we had never expected that we could never conceive again. It's been eating me up." She explained tears freely flowing down.

" But it wouldn't be fair on him." Harry pointed to his father.

James shook his head as he placed an arm around his shoulder.

" Listen Harry. I know how much mum feels sad that she doesn't have another child. Dad doesn't try to show, but when they got the news when I was a first year, they were devastated. So, I think it's fair." He said. Harry protested but James stopped him.

" Let me finish. It won't matter to me. I can't have a son. Not now. I am too young.

But you can't expect me to forget all this. How do you think we can sleep, knowing that one of our own blood is right here and fighting a war on his own?"

He continued." I certainly won't say no to a brother. I could be the cool brother and the heartbreaker, and you could be my less handsome sidekick. " He grinned.

Narcissa couldn't help but snort. A very un-lady-like gesture. " Yeah right." She whispered to Bellatrix who smirked.

Harry's eyes fell on the two. Narcissa burned red as she felt his eyes on hers. Bellatrix was a bit more composed, but the slight reddening of her cheeks showed that she lost her composure.

James feigned hurt. " Ouch, Cissy. That hurt..." He clutched his heart, though his smile was infectious.

He turned back to Harry. " The point is, our family is very small, Harry. And according to what you say, you are the last. Jokes apart, the prestigious family of Potters, the powerhouse of Britain and a very respected line. I don't like the idea of us being the last. Just accept it, Harry. It won't change a thing. I can't be a father to you. No. You are my age. But I can sure as hell be a good brother and best friend." He explained.

Harry scrutinized his family. This. This sounded too good to be true. After all these years, after longing all his life for this, it had come true.

He sat down heavily in his seat. He found it difficult. Very difficult to accept it. This all seemed like a dream.

Without even knowing it, his eyes were leaking tears.

Dorea and Charlus were horrified. They were not expecting this reaction. They were about to back pedal when Melania gestured to them to wait.

She slowly approached the boy and sat next to him. She reached out for his hand. He let her take his hand.

" What's wrong, Harry?" She asked. Harry shook his head. " It's all too good to be true. All my life, I wanted nothing more but them. Just ten minutes with them." He said.

The downside of being an orphan, you will never want anything else. You won't feel much jealousy for any trivial things, but if we see a child spending time with his or her parents, we burn in jealousy. Seeing parents with children I had known, I felt jealous of them. They thought that just because I was famous, I was happy.

They didn't know that I would give up everything so I could just hug them." He explained.

" I feel stupid. I feel childish crying in front of you. But I have that privilege. I have that right. I am broken. More than you can believe. I have seen and done things that would disgust most of them. If you still would have me, I am more than happy to accept the offer." He said softly without looking up.

He was surprised when Dorea grabbed him in a hug. Harry smiled as he slowly hugged her back. " Thank you...thank you...thank you…" she repeated, holding him tightly.

Harry smiled. " No, it's me who should be thanking you. You don't know how much this means to me." He said.

" Thank you." He smiled.

It was a happy Charlus who suddenly noticed Harry's finger. " Harry?" He spoke.

" That ring?" He questioned, pointing at his finger.

Harry raised his hand. " I am Lord Peverell." He announced to the shock of the group.

" Okay. You must stop giving us shock upon shock, mate. I might blow up." Sirius spoke with a small grin.

" It's been ages. Probably a thousand years have passed since the last Lord Peverell. Now I know why the bastard went after you." Charlus beamed at him with pride.

" What do we do?" Asked Andromeda.

" We continue as we would. Harry will join you in Hogwarts. We will have him get his OWLs in the ministry." Charlus explained.

" In the meantime, we will see what we can do for you from the political side, though you might want to claim the seat and assign a proxy right after." Arcturus interrupted.

Harry scrutinized the Black Lord. He had come to the point in his life that he found it difficult to trust anyone new. Trust had been a big issue in his short life.

" What is in it for you?" He asked Arcturus.

" I am sorry. You might be family, but from where I come from, your family was certainly not one I would trust with my eyes closed. I know for a fact that some of them served that fucker." He pointedly ignored Narcissa and Bellatrix.

" Two of them were married to death eaters. One became a crazy lunatic and tortured thousands of people. She was so into it that she tortured two purebloods into insanity with her husband and brother-in-law. The two of them have lost their minds and are still spending life in St Mungo's for that. Their son. He still feels helpless. His parents are still alive but are dead. " He ranted.

Arcturus listened to  everything with wide eyes. It had been decades since anybody had the gall to question him and make him look small at the same time, but this young man had managed it. He couldn't refute it. The boy was speaking the truth.

Arcturus for the first time in his long life looked away from the boy's burning emeralds with shame.

Just how far had his great family fallen that his own blood was distrusting of them. That made it two of them. Sirius and now, young Harry.

" I am sorry for whatever that our family caused. But I won't repeat it this time. I give you my word Harry that my family won't stand with him. Not after this and not after everything you said. I cannot ask you to trust me, but I hope that you will come to trust us again." He said not daring to look the young man in the eye.

Harry didn't say anything for some time. It pained him to see his great uncle this way. The regret on the man's face increased exponentially with everything he said.

" It's fine. Maybe some circumstances led to what happened. We need to put it behind. But don't expect me to trust you…. You’re going to have to earn that!" He pointed out. The man nodded grudgingly.

He turned back to his family. " I need to get a few things. Can I?" He asked. Dorea nodded.

" I will help." James said and followed Harry.

The others watched the two go. Dorea patted her brother's back.

" He will get there. Don't worry. Afterall, I wouldn't trust anyone if my life had been like his." She said.

Arcturus nodded. " It wasn't that. I knew that he would find it difficult to get along with us compared to you. It's everything he said about the Blacks." He turned towards his grandchildren.

" If any of you dare to even think about joining those bastards”, His face darkened as he said, “I will kill you myself. Don't forget it." He growled.

They had never seen Lord Black head of the family in his element, but they were seeing it now

The Black youngsters cowered in fear.

" If what that boy said is true, my family went to ruins. No. It won't happen. That young man isn't one to show mercy. I can see it in his eyes. You might be Family, but if you cross him, you will die… of that I have no doubts, And if what he did today was any indication, I won't be able to do anything." He explained.

The four younger Blacks were scared as they nodded.

Arcturus was no one you ever wanted to stand opposite from but what he just admitted to. "

“I have no love loss for muggles, but I sure as hell don't take the thrill in doing what those cowards do. Please don't make me kill you." He begged.

" Do you know of anyone who is already in league with them?" He asked.

Bellatrix didn't hesitate to answer.

" Lestrange, Malfoy, Yaxley, Nott, Rookwood, Rowle, Jugson. These are the ones that are still present in Hogwarts." She explained.

" The bastards have been trying to recruit me for three years now. They know to fear me." She said with a grin. Arcturus nodded.

" He wanted the Black support. That is the reason he sent them to get a betrothal." He mused.

" Stay away from them." He warned coldly.

" Don't forget to show them what I have taught you.  Don't forget to write to me if there are any developments. He will make sure that nobody touches you in there." He said pointing to the young man that had just left the room.

"He might not trust us, but he values family. I can see that. Don't do anything to break his trust. Have him open up to you. You might just learn the life that you are living is a blessing in disguise." He spoke.

The youngsters were quiet for some time, thinking about what was being said.

Narcissa silently walked and stood next to her aunt.

" Aunt Dorea?" She called. The woman smiled at the young girl. " Yes, dear." She responded.

" Can I please date Harry?" She asked, suddenly taking her aunt by surprise and much to the amusement of the others and slight annoyance of Bellatrix.

Dorea chuckled at her niece. " Seems like he made a good impression on you." She said. The girl nodded, now sporting pink on her cheeks.

Dorea chuckled." It's entirely up to you. If you want to, you may. " She said and smiled at the way her face lit up.

" But what about your father and mother?" She asked. That put a pause to Narcissa.

" Mother is not going to say no." She replied confidently. " It's Aunt Walburga, I am worried about." She said.

Her grandfather growled. " I will curse that bint back to her father's pathetic loins if she dares interfere." He growled.

" You do what you want to, Narcissa." He said.

Narcissa turned back to her eldest sister and stuck her tongue out. Bellatrix scowled at her much to Andromeda's amusement.

___&&&---

" Did you have to lash out at him?" James questioned as the two walked back to wherever Harry was taking him.

" You should understand my take. I don't have anything against him. Honestly. But it's the others. Bellatrix married Lestrange and those two became his most trusted lieutenant. Narcissa, it was her that was the most unbelievable. She is far from her older self. Let's just say that if she had married a certain Malfoy, she would be a cold bitch." He grimaced.

James blanched. " Cissy? Not possible, Harry. The three are always around and Sirius is always here. Bella appears cold. Very cold but she is not a lunatic. She despises Lestrange and his gang. Sure, growing up in the Black family and with Walburga and her father, she still has that attitude, but she is good. Probably one of the best duelists at Hogwarts. You better not be on the end of her wand." He explained.

" Andromeda. Now she is a kind goddess. If I wasn't already head over heels for your mother, I would have been courting her by now. She is sweet. Very sweet for someone who grew up there. Intelligent and damn her rack is big." He pointed out with a dreamy smile.

Harry frowned. " Rack?" He questioned.

James stopped short. " Harry. You don't know what 'rack' means?" He asked incredulously. Harry shook his head.

" Oh god. Her breasts, Harry." James said, causing Harry to sputter and his face became red. James was amused with Harry's reaction.

" Why do you keep the names of furniture to girls? You could just call it breasts, right?" He asked with exasperation.

" Did you have a girlfriend, Harry?" He asked. Harry didn't reply. He slowly shook his head. " Well, once you have one, you will understand." He said.

" And Narcissa. She isn't cold at all. She is very warm and bubbly. And damn is she intelligent. She doesn't need a wand to win a war, Harry. That girl has got some serious brains. Beauty with brains, dream combination." He explained.

" Regulus. He is one bother. He is scared of his mother too much. He is in his third grade. The woman has been trying to control the boy for a long time now, but because of Uncle, it's been better.

Sirius moved in with us a week back. He was fed up with his mother's preaching." He said.

Harry sighed. " I need to be careful. I have changed a lot of things, being here. I only have to wait and watch." He said.

___&&&----

" Who is that guy?" Lord Voldemort questioned the man who came back.

He appeared calm on the inside, but he was burning with fury. He had lost almost two and a half dozen of his men. And most importantly, Abraxus Malfoy was dead.

His most important route of gold was now in danger of closing.

" I….I… I don't know….mmmm….my lord." The man shivered. " He just appeared, and nobody stood a chance, my lord. He killed everyone. Within five minutes….it…...w...was all over." He stuttered.

Tom slashed his wand. The man fell down in a heap, his head separated from his shoulder.

" Find him. Find out who he is. I want him brought before me at any cost." He roared.

" I will kill him. He would die painfully. He will beg for his death by the time I am done with him." He said as he disappeared from the room in a plunge of black smoke.

TBC-----------

Hey guys. I have brought to you the next chapter. I hope you like it.

You people have responded very positively to my fics. I am very grateful and happy that you are enjoying it.

I will make sure to get better stories for you to enjoy.

Harry meets his family. He kills Malfoy. Narcissa has fallen in love at first sight and Bellatrix is in confusion and denial.

Let's see how this plays out. Keep reviews coming. If you have ideas, feel free to dm me.

Stay tuned and enjoy…...