Noble House of Black

Chapter Eight

Sirius and Regulus both remained silent until Slughorn left us alone in his office to use the Floo to return home for the meeting. Then both glanced towards me with raised eyebrows.

Moments like this really showed we were siblings and in tune with one another.

Something which had taken years to gain thanks to Walburga's meddling.

Truly, her death couldn't have happened sooner.

"She decided to not be patient and await my owl," I mused aloud eyes focused ahead while my mind ran a mile-a-minute. "She also made this grave, so I will make sure she gets to lay in it considering how it was her choices that led to this."

Neither refuted my words as we took turns to floo to Black Manor.

A place only used to either hold a gala or family meeting.

It was also blood warded, meaning if we didn't have Black blood running through our veins we would be violently rejected. Most often it would lead to someone's death.

Our family wasn't known for our submission or gentle ways.

Any possible threat was a dead threat.

"Heiress Black," greeted Cygnus Black with a dip of his head. "Please, come right this way. The others have also just arrived, per Lord Black, you shall be leading this meeting."

Meaning it would be yet another test concerning my right to take up the Lordship.

"Very well," I offered face emotionless as I entered the room he motioned to with Regulus and Sirius both stepping back a step behind me. "Well met, Lord Black."

Because the only one I had to greet was the Lord of the House. The others weren't important in the totem pole. Though I also made sure to greet Lord Malfoy as well.

This was going to be a long meeting.

"Here," stated Lord Abraxus Malfoy as he held out the marriage contract written up and signed by both Lucius and Andromeda, "this holds each clause and shows clearly that Andromeda Black broke the agreement between our Houses."

Cygnus Black was well known for his hatred over having no sons to possibly push to inherit the Black Lordship. Something that he changed his tune on when learning I had been chosen as the next Lord Black by both the current and previous Lord Black's.

What he didn't know was that even our Family Magic had chosen me.

"I, Heiress Black, Syrina Black, call upon the House of Black's magical guardian," I began making Cygnus, Narcissa, and Druella Black suck in a breath. "Hear my words, Andromeda Black shall be removed from the House of Black and forever have the Family Magic stripped from her and any future children she may have. So, mote it be."

With this the future Nymphadora Tonks wouldn't be a metamorphmagus.

There was a rustle as the magic around us surged outward and all heard the loud roar of a nundu. Many weren't aware of how each Family Magic also had a magical guardian.

Ours happened to be a nundu.

Which also happened to be my animagus form.

"So, mote it be," chimed in Regulus, Sirius, and Orion, our father and Lord Black, causing the others to join in afterward.

"I hadn't believed you would take it that far," mused Lord Malfoy with some intrigue and respect in his eyes. "Though I do appreciate you taking the break in contract and trust seriously."

"We hold an alliance with one another," I stated simply with a dip of my head. "Andromeda knew that to break the marriage contract and go against it would be going against the very House she owes her loyalty to. This was the only punishment fitting for doing just that."

Though I might just take it a step further considering I had reached out my hand to her, only for her to spit in my face with this stunt. Because of her the galas held this year would hold whispers of this incident and would cause the House of Black to lose face.

Something I couldn't allow to happen with my plans in motion.

"In return," continued Father stepping forward with his hand moving to rest upon my shoulder while meeting Lord Malfoy's eyes, "Narcissa Black will take her sisters spot as the agreement originally was between that of your son and a daughter of House Black."

Meaning the true contract and agreement between Lords wouldn't be broken.

From there things went smoothly as we easily repaired the alliance that had grown tense due to Andromeda running away. Not that it had been too badly ruined as Abraxus wasn't happy with the first choice for bride as he had been hoping for me for Lucius.

That fact had annoyed Rodolphus as by that time we were already engaged.

After that Lord Malfoy and Father stepped out of the meeting room with Druella and Cygnus.

"Well done," cackled Bellatrix as she surged forward to wrap me into a tight hug while rubbing her cheek against my own. "I knew you were the perfect Lord Black."

"You mean the future Lord Black," retorted Sirius with a narrowed look shot at Narcissa and Bellatrix both. "Though we wouldn't have had this mess if you had better controlled Andromeda."

"Says the one who ran from being Heir," snarled Bellatrix while letting me go and turning to face Sirius. "Do not think I've forgotten how you had all but wiped your hands of this family until Syrina cleaned things up and stepped up in your place."

Neither would ever get along, which was why I tried to keep them from being in the same room for too long. Though now, with Andromeda dealt with, I would need to keep an eye on Narcissa.

Mainly since I wasn't sure if she was on our side or against us.

"Stop," I ordered making both fall silent. "Narcissa, be warned that should you try to run from this as Andromeda has, you will have an even worse punishment on top of this one."

From the way she paled I knew she would take my warning seriously.

As I didn't speak my words lightly.

"This marriage contract will be more binding," added Lucius speaking up for the first time since the meeting had started. "Though do be aware that thanks to Heiress Black there will be an added clause in case either of us wish to petition for a different spouse."

That had been something I had been working on for Andromeda.

Too bad she lost more than gained, and I knew in truth it wasn't even for Ted Tonks as many would believe. No, she had been in a similar situation to Sirius with Walburga.

Only she didn't trust me to help her get out of it.

So, instead she ran with the first one who gave her that option for freedom.

~ Time Skip: Gala ~

Narcissa seemed to pretty much avoid me at Hogwarts for the rest of that year while Lucius had written to me a few times in order to set up future meetings between himself and her. Father had fully handed over the control of this alliance to me with Lord Malfoy's agreement.

It seemed I had truly impressed the other.

"You seem bored, darkest flower," mused Marvolo as he appeared beside where I stood off the side after finishing my conversations for the evening. "I was very impressed with how ruthless you were concerning Andromeda."

Because of course, Abraxus had likely shared the memory with him.

What with him being Marvolo's right hand man and all.

"I do not take betrayal lightly," I offered with a light smile even while accepting the hand he held out to me. "Many will talk if you only offer me a dance."

Mainly since it was well known by now that 'Lord Voldemort' did not dance during the galas.

Meaning I would need to watch out for Bellatrix in case she took this the wrong way.

"No need to fret," soothed Marvolo as we easily began to waltz while paying no attention to the eyes upon us. "Those with any say and power are already aware of my attentions."

Well, that didn't sound reassuring.