AN: Hey, guys! Glad everyone seems to have enjoyed the last chapter! Also, in response to reviews, I would like to say that I will not be killing Harry in this story, just because you happen to think I've made him a background character, and in a way, I'll admit he kind of is, because this story is mostly going to be Wisty, and as you can see, I have changed the title and summary. The story will remain the same, however. Also, Narcissa's claim through Dorea is faint at best and very indirect. A blood adoption by Sirius would give her a stronger claim as she would then be the heiress of House Black. And while the books say the line is patriarchal, it doesn't say that the Lord of the House can't name a female heir if he wishes, just implies that it hasn't been done. Now, with that out of the way, enjoy the new chapter, and be sure to tell me what you think! I always enjoy reading your reviews!

"Godfather?"

From Wisteria, the word was calm, questioning, with just a hint of steel beneath, demanding an answer. Harry, on the other hand, was distraught, angry, and slightly incredulous, and demanding in a different way to his sister. Harry wanted to know why. Why wasn't he there? Why hadn't he taken them in? Why had he left them to rot with the Dursleys? Lucius grimaced.

"I say he blood adopted you, however, the process wasn't complete, though he seems to have left you the means to do so, should you wish."

Wisty arched a brow.

"Alright, so where is he, why doesn't he have custody of Harry and I, and why were we left with the bloody Dursleys if we have a godfather?" she demanded, furious by the end. He sighed.

"Sirius Black has been in Azkaban Prison for the last eleven years, and will likely remain there until he dies."

Another brow joined the first.

"And what, exactly, did he do to end up there?" she drawled. He grimaced again.

"He stands accused of the murders of thirteen people – twelve of whom were muggles – and the betrayal of your parents to the Dark Lord." He informed them grimly. Wisty could sense her brother's growing rage, and knew she was about to make it worse, but she needed to know.

"You said that the adoption wasn't completed?" she asked calmly. She felt her brother's eyes boring into the side of her head. Lucius nodded.

"That is correct."

"And completing the adoption will provide a way for both Harry and me to get away from the Dursleys? Permanently? Not even Dumbledore will be able force him back?" she demanded. Again, the man nodded.

"Correct. Once you complete the adoption, no one will be able to contest Narcissa's claim to you, and your evidence against your relatives will get your brother removed from their care for his safety."

She nodded slowly.

"Alright. How do I do it?"

Lucius' eyebrows rose in surprise.

"What?! Wisty, you can't!" Harry protested immediately. Wisteria looked at her brother with both eyebrows raised.

"You seem to be under the impression that I need your permission." She responded coldly. She knew he was going to be angry, but if this would keep them safe, it would be worth her twin's hatred. His green eyes narrowed.

"Wisteria." He growled warningly. She merely stared back at him impassively.

"You don't have to like it." She began calmly, "I'm not asking you to join me, and I certainly don't expect you to be jumping for joy at the thought of living with the Malfoys. I'm not asking you to do that either. Perhaps Dumbledore will allow you to stay with the Weasleys once the Dursleys are no longer an option. But I will not ignore a viable option to get us out of that blasted house just because you don't like the methods I'm using to get us out!" she snapped. She turned her attention back to the elder Malfoy.

"How do I go through with the adoption?" she asked again, ignoring her brother's furious glare. He looked her in the eyes and she saw something in his that she couldn't quite identify.

"We will have to speak with the Black family account manager, and you will have to drink a potion. Thankfully this particular potion can be stored safely for up to fifteen years."

"So the potion has been waiting for the last twelve years?" she asked, slightly dubiously. He nodded.

"Do you wish to finalize the adoption?"

She nodded, feeling her brother's glare, sensing his growing rage, and knowing she was about to make him hate her. But she didn't care. At least he would be alive to hate her. Lucius inclined his head.

"Very well. Sharptooth?"

"I will fetch Ironclaw immediately." The goblin replied, inclining his head before leaving the room. The four sat silently, Harry practically vibrating with rage. Wisteria didn't look at him, instead watching the goblin healer in interest. The silence stretched out, and Wisteria could see the Malfoys becoming uncomfortable with the tension between the two siblings until, finally, blessedly, Sharptooth came back with another goblin.

"Ms. Potter?"

Wisty nodded.

"Yes?"

"You wish to complete the blood adoption your godfather started twelve years ago?"

"Yes. I take it you are the Black family account manager?" she asked in return. He inclined his head.

"Ms. Potter, if you would come with me, we'll complete the adoption."

She nodded again and stood, following him out of the room, leaving her brother alone with the Malfoys.

They reached Ironclaw's office in short order and he ushered her inside, waiting for her to be seated before closing the door behind them. He made his way to the desk, where a medium sized, ornate black chest lined with silver sat. Wisteria could just barely make out the top of a crest on the front as he opened it. He withdrew a vial and held it out to her. The potion inside was a surprisingly pleasant shade of red – somewhere between cherry and burgundy. She arched a brow at him in question. He smirked at her.

"It's the adoption potion. You need to drink it to complete the adoption." he informed her. Nodding, she pulled out the stopper and tilted her head back. She threw back the potion, swallowing it as quickly as she could and grimacing at the taste. Surprisingly, it hadn't been as disgusting as she had anticipated, it had a deep, smokey, dark flavor to it that she couldn't quite place, but it had been heady and held a hint of something she couldn't name, something addictive. It unsettled her. Then, something inside her began to shift. She didn't know what it was, just that it was an integral part of her and it was changing. She felt a brief moment of fear. What was going on? Then her body began to shift and pain came with it. It started in her bones. She felt her toes shorten, then her legs elongated slightly. Her spine felt as though it were being stretched and she could feel her facial structure begin to shift beneath her skin. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her blonde hair turn black and start to curl just slightly. She let out a grunt of discomfort as the changes seemed to stop and her body began to settle. She looked at Ironclaw.

"What the hell was that?" she demanded irritably. The goblin smirked again.

"That, Ms. Potter – or, Ms. Black, rather – was the blood adoption taking affect. Now, you need to accept your heirship ring or all of your plotting will be for naught." he told her, outright grinning at her peeved expression. He opened the chest again and pulled out a small black box. Arching a brow, she took it and opened the lid. Inside was a ring, the band was a black metal she couldn't name, and in the center was an onyx stone, a crest etched in silver on it's surface. The words 'Toujours Pur' stood out proudly under a *shield with greyhounds rampant, charged with a chevron, two five pointed stars and shortsword. The base around the onyx was studded in small emeralds. She looked back to Ironclaw, who gestured for her to put it on. She did so, and bit back a gasp as a wave of power surged through her. It was cold at first as it traveled through her body, eventually settling in her chest, around the area of her heart, where it warmed. She looked at Ironclaw with wide eyes.

"What was that?" she demanded breathlessly. He chuckled.

"That was the Black Family Magic accepting you as Heir of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black." he told her, dark amusement in his eyes, though she had no idea why. He abruptly became serious once more.

"Now, Heiress Black, there are a few things we must go over before you may rejoin your companions. Narcissa Malfoy shall be charged with explaining your duties as Heir and instructing you in etiquette and behaviors befitting your station. We will also need to discuss the marriage contract Lord Black and Lord Potter arranged for you with a Marcus Flint –"

"Marriage contract?!" she cried, cutting him off. He glared at her for the interruption.

"Yes, both the late Lord Potter and the current Lord Black signed a contract promising you in marriage to the firstborn son of Lord Claudius Flint – a boy by name of Marcus."

Wisteria felt herself going numb. She was contractually obligated to marry a boy she barely knew. She gritted her teeth.

"Is there any way to break the contract? Or annul it?"

He shook his head.

"Only if you wish for yourself and Master Flint to lose your magic as well as any children either of you may have."

Wisteria felt her eyes bulge as the blood drained from her face.

"What?" she asked shakily, "Who's idea was that?!"

He pulled out a stack of parchment and shuffled through it.

"Lord Flint's, I believe. He seemed very eager for an alliance of your three Houses." he told her mildly. Wisty's eyes narrowed.

"Really?" she drawled. "Would it be possible to meet with Lord Flint and his son?" she asked abruptly. Ironclaw looked at her in amusement.

"In regards to the contract?" he clarified. She nodded and he did as well in answer.

"A letter can be sent out for him to meet you here in a private room. Your guardian would have to be present, of course, as well as someone to represent House Potter."

Her brow furrowed as she thought it over.

"Does the person in question have to be a Potter?"

Ironclaw shook his head.

"No, merely someone with the interests of both yourself and the House in mind.
And the approval of the current Head of House, of course."

"Interests of the House? Meaning what exactly? And who is the current Head of House Potter?"

Once again, he shuffled through his papers.

"With no proxy assigned by Lord Potter in the event of his passing, Headship passes to your brother, being the Heir. As to the interests of the House, the representative chosen would have to be able to prevent anything that could be to the detriment of the House as well as aware enough to act to its benefit."

She nodded slowly.

"I think I can find someone. Is there anything I need Harry to sign to appoint someone? And would you be willing to arrange the meeting?" she asked curiously. He smirked and nodded.

"It will cost you." he replied as he searched his desk. She arched a brow.

"How much?"

His smirk grew.

"Twenty-five galleons."

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"I'm fairly certain that you're overcharging me, but as I'm only twelve and not aware enough of the bank and all its fees to challenge it, I won't argue."

He chuckled, handing her a slip of parchment.

"Get Lord Potter to sign this along with the representative and hand it to me when next you are in the bank. The money shall be drawn from your account. When would you like this meeting to take place?"

She shrugged.

"As the meeting will be held here, whatever is at your earliest convenience." she replied. The smirk returned.

"Very well, a letter shall be sent to you with the date and time."

She nodded.

"Thank you." she paused, "What's my name now? Black? Potter?" she asked, her brow furrowed. He arched a brow.

"Your name is now, legally, Wisteria Camellia Black, though you do still have claim to the Potter name. The adoption only added a parent, it did not take one away. Now, is there anything else?"

She bit her lip, hesitating.

"Do you have a mirror I can use?" she asked unsurely, "I wish to see what changes were made to my appearance before I face my brother."

He studied her for a moment before he nodded, snapping his fingers. The wall behind him shifted, and a full-length mirror was pushed forward. She walked over to it, her eyes growing wide at what she saw. She was an inch taller, her legs were longer. Her once blonde hair was now black and wavy nearly to the point of curls, it was also longer, falling down to the small of her back, whereas before it had gone just barely below her shoulders. Her hips were wider, more pronounced, where before they had been just as narrow and slim as the rest of her. The most drastic change, however, was to her face. Whereas before her face had been soft and somewhat rounded, it was now sharper and tear-drop shaped, her cheekbones stood out in relief, sharp and high. Her nose was smaller and had narrowed. She had an almost aristocratic look to her now. Her eyes, thankfully, were still their familiar hazel, though there was now a ring of silver around the pupil. She took a deep breath and turned away from the mirror. Would her brother recognize her? She turned back to Ironclaw.

"May we go back to the others now?" she asked in a more subdued manor than she had spoken in previously. He eyed her briefly before nodding and leading her out the door and back down the hall.

When they arrived back at the healing chambers, Wisteria sighed at the sight that greeted them. Lucius was watching in bemusement as Harry and Draco stood in the middle of the room arguing. She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"That's enough boys." she drawled, thanking whatever deity that was listening that her voice hadn't changed as well. Both boys froze, despite the fact they had been shouting. She smirked at Lucius' exasperated expression.

"They know better than to ignore me." she told him, amusement flashing through her briefly. The boys shuddered at the vague reminder before turning to face her. They both paused at her new appearance. Harry stared at her, the uncertainty on his face cutting her deeply. Draco seemed to realize this, because he quickly shook off his surprise and smirked at her.

"Being a Black suits you – cousin."

She chuckled briefly, appreciating the effort for what it was. She smiled at him and gave a short, sarcastic curtsy.

"Thank you, good sir." she replied with a mock haughty expression. Draco laughed as he approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder, curling a lock of her newly dark hair around a finger.

"Black suits you much better than that blonde did." he told her sincerely. She smiled briefly in thanks. Then she snorted, her smile quickly becoming a smirk.

"Are you saying I looked bad as a blonde?" she demanded, pretending offense. He rolled his eyes.

"Of course not, only that the black looks better on you. You, of course, are beautiful either way."

She chuckled, which quickly became a snicker when she caught sight of her twin's expression and saw his eye twitching. Some things, it seemed, never changed.

"Enough of that, Charmer, before my dear brother bursts a blood vessel."

Draco smirked, and his expression told her that he was tempted to continue, but he subsided, for which she was grateful. This was difficult enough as it was. She turned to face her brother, fighting to keep the apprehension off her face. The room was silent for long moment as the two siblings stared at each other. Finally, Harry took a step forward. He looked her up and down before smiling weakly at her.

"You look great, Wist."

They were silent for another moment. Wisty snorted, then started laughing, a grin stretching across her face, and she saw Harry rolling his eyes, a faint flush of embarrassment in his cheeks.

"That," she chortled, "was the least believable you have ever been in our lives, brother dearest." she told him cheerfully. He rolled his eyes again.

"I'm sorry, how was I supposed to react to you looking like a completely different person?" he retorted snidely. She smirked, and he shook his head. She turned to Lucius.

"We'll need to speak to the Weasleys before you can take me to see Madame Bones." she told him. He nodded.

"Of course. They'll likely be waiting for you at the Leaky Cauldron. How is your head?"

She shrugged.

"Fine. The potion they gave me for the concussion worked wonders." she replied, grinning at his contrite look. She turned back to Harry hesitantly while Lucius went to the Healer to get the scan results to show to Madame Bones. She knew he was still angry, still in shock over the changes to her appearance. She approached him warily.

"Harry?" she called quietly, gaining his attention. Enraged emeralds snapped to her face. She gulped. Yup, he was still angry.

"Why, Wisty?" he demanded lowly. She glared at him, her expression taking a stubborn cast.

"I told you why. This was the only option presented to me to get us away from the Dursleys! Harry, if Ron and the twins hadn't come when they did, we could have died from starvation! You know as well as I do that Vernon had no intention of letting us out of that room! What else would you have me do? Watch you die?!" she hissed furiously. His eyes flash, and she saw the righteous anger in her brother's eyes.

"You could have found another way," he insisted stubbornly, "We could have gone to Dumbledore –"

She snorted derisively, cutting him off.

"You think I didn't try that already? I went to him at the end of last year, and he assured me that it was for the best that we – specifically you – stayed with our 'loving' relatives and surely I was exaggerating!" she snapped. He blinked at her. Then the stubbornness returned.

"We still could have found another way." he repeated. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"And gone to who? The Weasleys? They think the sun shines out Dumbledore's arse and would have insisted we listen to him! 'The headmaster knows best' after all!" she snarled, "I didn't know about Madame Bones until recently and I certainly didn't know how to go about arranging a meeting with her! Not to mention, if Dumbledore had gotten wind of it before they had looked into the Dursleys, he could have had the whole thing shut down, claiming that I'm prejudice against muggles because I'm in Slytherin!" she added furiously, "So, please, brother mine, tell me what I was supposed to have done instead?!" she demanded. He turned away from her, his jaw clenched, she huffed in irritation before turning on her heel and making her way over to Draco, who once again rested a hand on her shoulder. Lucius cleared his throat.

"Shall we?" he queried, gesturing to the door. She and Draco nodded, and Draco, in a rare moment of spontaneity, released her shoulder, and, with a gallant bow, held out his arm, which she took with a laugh, looping her arm through his. Though, seeing his expression from the corner of her eye, she wondered just how spontaneous her friend had really been. Harry stormed past them, knocking Wisty's shoulder as he passed. Wisty and Draco shared a look, but said nothing. They made their way to the Leaky Cauldron, planning to wait for the Weasleys there. However, Lucius was correct and they were already there, waiting, the Grangers had already left. Mrs. Weasley started forward when she saw Harry, only to pause when she caught sight of Wisty. The others looked at her in confusion and followed her gaze, only to stare in shock. Wisty fought to keep her head high under all the attention, resisting the urge to withdraw into herself. Finally, the silence was broke by Percy stepping forward and asking shakily,

"Wisty?"

She forced herself to grin playfully at him and waved cheekily, removing her arm from Draco's.

"'Lo Perce." she greeted cheerfully. He looked her in the eye, searching for something. Apparently he found it, because in the next second he was in front of her, a hand on her shoulder, the other cupping her chin and tilting it up so that she was forced to look at him.

"Are you alright? What happened? Why do you look so different?"

She took a deep breath, meeting his eyes almost reluctantly.

"That's a long story, Perce." she told him tiredly. Seeing the determined cast to his face, she relented.

"Alright, short version it is," she sighed, "Apparently, Sirius Black is mine and Harry's godfather and our parents allowed him to adopt me as his heir. I completed the adoption while we were at the bank." she told him shortly. He held her gaze for a moment before nodding slowly.

"You can tell me the rest later." he murmured quietly. Wisty slumped in relief, thanking whatever deity was listening that he wasn't asking her to have this conversation in public. And thanking Merlin that he had understood enough that he didn't automatically hate her.

"On the train?" she suggested hesitantly. He looked back at Fred and George with an arched eyebrow, turning back to her when they both nodded vehemently, and smiling. He nodded once.

"Of course. What are you going to be doing now?"

She looked at Lucius over her shoulder.

"Lord Malfoy is taking me to speak to Madame Bones about the Dursleys. After that..." she bit her lip anxiously, "I suppose – if Lord Malfoy doesn't mind of course –" she added hastily, shooting the man a nervous glance as she spoke, "I'll stay with the Malfoys while Lady Malfoy petitions for custody of me. Harry, I think, would prefer to spend the rest of the summer at the Burrow – presuming, of course, that your parents don't mind." she added, biting her lips again as she looked furtively at the two adult Weasleys. Mrs. Weasley, predictably, hurried to reassure her.

"Of course Harry can stay with us, dear! And so can you, for that matter!" she added, glaring at Lucius briefly before turning her attention back to Wisteria, who was genuinely surprised by the reaction, "You don't have to stay with the Malfoys if you don't want to!" she assured her. Wisty managed to smile sincerely at the surprisingly kind woman.

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley, but I"ll be alright." she assured her, "I've not spoken to Draco properly all summer, and," she glanced, fleetingly, at her brother, "Harry's not best pleased with me at the moment. It's best I give him some space – time to cool off." she told her gently. Mrs. Weasley chanced a glance of her own at Harry. She noted the tightness of his jaw and the tense set of his shoulders. Yes, the twelve-year-old boy was most certainly angry with his sister. She nodded at the girl.

"Of course, dear, just so long as you know that you're always welcome at the Burrow."

Wisty smiled again.

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley." she repeated gratefully. Mrs. Weasley smiled and pulled her into a hug, surprising her again.

"Anytime, dear." she replied. Still smiling slightly, Wisty stepped back and went walked over to Percy, pulling him into a hug.

"I need to speak with you privately when I come to get my things later." she murmured lowly in his ear. He nodded as they parted to show he had heard her. She turned to face her brother. She could see his jaw working furiously as he fought his temper. He embraced roughly, quickly releasing her. She sighed, only to laugh shortly afterward when the twins dragged her into a hug.

"Merlin's sake!" she huffed playfully, grinning when they released her, "You realize I'm still going to have to go back to the Burrow at least briefly to get my things, don't you?" she asked them with amusement. They grinned unrepentantly. Wisty's grin fell in surprise when Ginny stepped forward, holding out a couple of bags.

"Percy and the twins are fairly certain they replaced everything from your potions kit, as well as some ink and new quills, and here's your books. Your pouch is in the bag with the books." she explained, grinning a little as she spoke. Wisty nodded in thanks as she took the parcels. She shot Percy a curious look.

"Fred and George wanted to go to Zonko's with what was left, so I gave it to Ginny." he explained, seeing the look. She nodded in understanding before making her way back to the Malfoys. She looked at Lucius.

"Would you mind shrinking these please?" she asked politely, holding up the bags. "Just until I can put them in my trunk." she added unsurely. He arched a brow, but nodded and did as asked, pulling out his wand and shrinking the parcels. Grinning in thanks, she put them in her pocket.

"Thank you." she said cheerfully. Lucius nodded once and gestured towards the fireplace.

"Shall we? Madame Bones is expecting us."

Wisteria nodded, waved to the Weasleys and Harry, and followed Lucius and Draco to the fireplace. She didn't look back as they flooed to the Ministry.

"Welcome to the Ministry for Magic." Lucius drawled. Wisty took a moment to look around. The walls were high and dark and intimidating. People were walking hurriedly from Floo to lift, looking harried. Lucius started walking towards a lift and Wisty hurried to keep up, Draco following at a more sedate pace. They got into a lift with about three other people, who eyed her curiously. Once again, she fought to keep her head up, resisting the urge to look down and hunch her shoulders, anything to make herself smaller and less noticeable. A flash of movement caught her eye and she flinched involuntarily. A hand landed on her shoulder and she fought not to jump, turning her head to see that it was, thankfully, only Draco. He was watching her with concern in his eyes. She had, she would guiltily admit, been playing it up a bit for the Weasleys, but now, her reactions were real. She normally had better control of her reactions than this, but having already been hit once today, she was reacting instinctively. At least no one else seemed to have noticed. She nearly jumped out of her skin when the lift stopped and a smooth, feminine voice announced.

"Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

Lucius stepped off the lift, and Draco and Wisteria followed, Draco remaining close to his friend. They followed him down a corridor, into a room with a receptionist.

"Madame Bones is expecting me, tell her Lucius Malfoy is here with Wisteria Potter."

The receptionist, a pretty young woman with her blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail and bright blue eyes, looked stiffly at Lucius, before her eyes slipped to Wisteria, who was looking down at the floor, and widened.

"Of course, Mr. Malfoy."

"Lord." Wisteria corrected hoarsely, looking up from where she had been staring at her feet to meet the woman's gaze, "Lord Malfoy." she added. She saw Lucius' lips twitch, and the woman frowned.

"Of course, Ms. Potter." she glared at Lucius, "Apologies, Lord Malfoy."

Lucius smirked.

"Apology accepted, Ms..." he made a show of checking her name tag, "Inglebee." he drawled. Wisty heard Draco snickering and rolled her eyes halfheartedly. The girl went to the office door and stuck her head in. A few minutes later, she came back, a sour expression on her face.

"Madame Bones will see you now." she informed them stiffly, turning and making her way back to the office, obviously expecting them to follow. They did, and Inglebee closed the door behind them. The room was rather spartan – plain crème-colored walls and a black desk in the center of the room against the far wall. Behind the desk sat a grey-haired woman with a monocle and square jaw saw, studying them as they entered. She gestured for the three of them to sit, and waited until they had done so before speaking.

"Well, Ms. Potter, Lord Malfoy informs me that you would like to tell me something?" she asked leadingly. Wisty's lips twisted wryly.

"It's Black now, Madame, and I would like to file abuse charges against my and my brother's muggle relatives." she said lowly. The woman stared at her in stunned silence for a moment before snapping out of it. The woman looked the twelve-year-old girl in the eye and commanded,

"Tell me everything. From the beginning."

Wisty took a deep breath to steel herself and opened her mouth to begin.

*Description from the HP Lexicon of J.K. Rowling's drawing of the Black family crest.