B.Q. Book Two: Black Princess Ascendant

Chapter 3: Dire Whisper of Destiny

Everyone who mentioned Lily: I am well aware that the blood adoption is beyond unfair to her. When I started Princess of the Blacks, I already had this twist planned, but at that point James was set to be the in-denial Potter while Lily would be the pushy one. It was only when writing chapter 21 that I discovered she had morphed in my head into a sympathetic character; perhaps now you understand better why I made so many comments in ANs about how I wanted her to act more like a jerk. I don't know how she's going to take the revelation about Jen's adoption other than "not well".

Disclaimer: Was Augusta Longbottom portrayed as a decrepit old lady despite being likely around the same age as Hagrid and definitely younger than Slughorn? If so, I don't own the Harry Potter franchise; it belongs to J.K. Rowling, Scholastic Press, Warner Bros., and whoever else she sold the rights to.
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"...Her husband has abandoned her, thrown her to enemies of the House. Enemies whose hands she barely managed to escape, and at great risk to her life. To return to him now would surely see her pass beyond the Veil."

"A grave accusation, one a true daughter of this House would not make lightly. Our family cannot ignore this plea and let such a fate befall her. May this child find shelter and succor in the House of her birth once more."
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The memory ending, Amelia pulled her face from the Pensieve belonging to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and turned to the dark-haired lord seated opposite her desk. "While I do not claim to be an expert in memory evaluation, there are no obvious signs that this has been tampered with. It's proof enough for me to officially recognize House Black as having primacy over House Malfoy in regards to Narcissa Malfoy née Black."

"Thanks, Amelia," Sirius sighed as he slumped in his chair.

"Don't thank me too quickly. You're the one who has to deal with her now." The youngest of the Black Sisters, two years her junior, had never impressed her much when they were at Hogwarts together. Too arrogant, too presumptuous, too used to getting her own way; it was beyond obvious that the girl had been the spoiled baby of the family. Her marriage to that slime Lucius had only further stained her in Amelia's eyes. Still, nothing for me to worry about. If he wants to stick his neck out for her, that's his problem. Picking up her stamp and dipping it lightly in a bowl of red ink, she slammed the wood onto the bottom of both copies of the primacy form, then nudged one closer to him. "You keep one, and I'll file the other inside the Hall of Records."

He took the indicated roll and slipped it inside his robe pocket. "Will do."

Nodding, she grabbed her quill to resume the seemingly never-ending parchmentwork that went along with the position of Head of the entire DMLE before she noticed that the man had yet to leave. "Was there something else I can do for you, Sirius? And so help me, if the words coming out of your mouth are innuendo..."

"They're not, don't worry. I know how you get about that. After work only." He grinned at her disapproving glare for a moment, though the expression quickly changed to a much more serious one. "I was actually wondering if you had heard—"

"About a Dark Lord who officially isn't Voldemort, but who the sole eyewitness claims is despite telling Fudge otherwise?" she drawled, causing his jaws to clack shut. "Yes, I received the note Auror Tonks wrote, as well as the message Susan relayed to me. I am well aware of the situation, and all necessary steps are already being taken."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Come on, Amelia, I'm not some Prophet reporter digging for a scoop or a random wizard barging into your office. You know me; we fought together in the War, for Merlin's sake."