By Polaris Aries Black

The Black Secret

Chapter 12

Sorry for the lateness of this chapter.

But better late than never, right?

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Daphne Greengrass sat regally on the dark colored sofa in the drawing room. She was dressed in an expensive pale blue silk dress robe. Her straight golden hair was worn down much to her grandmother's disapproval. She had wanted to have her hair all done up as if she were getting married and not just having a luncheon with the Black heir. She understood the importance of making a good impression on the future Lord Black, but she was not getting married nor were they discussing a betrothal contract no matter what Grandmother Laurel thought.

She frowned as she thought that over more clearly. Her father Aurelius Greengrass had made a point to see her in the art studio she had claimed as her own ever since she fell in love with painting. He had told her to try to feel out Herakles Black and to see if he was as different as the rumors made him out to be. Basically she was to find out if he was still the rash and uncultured Gryffindor golden boy. Aurelius told her it was of the utmost importance to try to make a connection between them if he held up to her family expectations of what a good heir was like. Daphne knew for certain her father was up to something and she wasn't certain that there wouldn't be a betrothal contract between House Greengrass and House Black popping up when she least expected it. So Aurelius was either plotting her marriage or had some political scheming in mind between their Houses.

"Don't frown dear," Laurel scolded softly before turning her attention to the little female elf that popped into room.

"Misty be telling you yous guests arrived in the entrance hall." She said after giving a curtsy.

"See them in, Misty." Laurel said waving the elf away.

Daphne withheld a sigh as she thought just how much time she was wasting on this afternoon when she could be in her studio working on the landscape portrait she had been in the process of creating. She was brought out of her musings when two people stepped through the open arched double doorway that led into the drawing room. She barely spared a glance for the elder lady who sometimes took tea with her grandmother. No her attention was completely fastened on the boy who was taller than her and definitely taller than he used to be as Harry Potter. If she had not read the article the Daily Prophet wrote on Sirius Black's trial that had a picture of his new face on the front page she would have lost her composure due to her shock. As it was she had come close to gaping at the unfamiliar boy who used to be the model Gryffindor. Now with his facial features the way there was supposed to be and coupled with his black and silver dress robes that there was no other place he belonged other than Slytherin even his posture was impeccable. What drew her eye first was the fact that his forehead showed unblemished pale skin with no lightning bolt scar marking his status of the boy-who-lived. She wondered if that was a side effect of the removal of the blood adoption potion.

His straight ebony hair was slicked back into a style that accentuated his prominent Black family features. A few traits were easy to spot that Daphne knew came from his Malfoy mother, but other than those he was the spitting image of his father. Brilliant blue eyes caught hers in their grasp. He may have lost the unique shade of green that muggleborn had, but his blue eyes almost shone with its perfect clearness. She could honestly say his eyes were like sapphires and made her own blue eyes pale in comparison to the sheer shining ones he had. It really shouldn't be a surprise that the boy in front of her was so good looking.

Both the Blacks and Malfoys were known for their otherworldly beauty. Their features usually ran dominant in the main lines and to come from both the Blacks and Malfoys well she should have expected it anyways. Draco Malfoy was very handsome as well but he took more after the Malfoy's but with a few traits from his mother's side of the family. Black was the opposite with taking after his father with some traits of his mother in his looks. She just knew both boys would capture all the attention from the girls at Hogwarts. A little part of her thought she would probably be one of those girls but she ruthlessly squashed those thoughts.

Daphne was brought out of her inspection of the Black heir when the elder woman Melania Black spoke after pulling out of the brief hug she gave Laurel. "I would like to introduce you to my great grandson Herakles Black. Herakles this is my good friend Laurel and her granddaughter Daphne who you should know from Hogwarts."

"My it is good to see that the House of Black will be continued on in this fine looking young man, isn't that right Daphne dear?" Laurel asked slyly. Daphne could feel a light dusting of pink color her cheeks as she once more got caught up in his mesmerizing gaze.

"Yes Grandmother," she agreed trying to will away her light blush.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Greengrass," Black said taking her offered hand and bringing the back of it to his lips.

"Please call me Daphne, Heir Black."

A small pleasant smile curled his lips as he straightened and nodded his head at her request. "I will do so if you will return the favor by calling me Herakles."

Before she could respond to his statement she was startled out of her conversation by the loud clap Grandmother did as she brought both teens' attention to her. "It is a lovely day, isn't it Melania?" Laurel asked as both older women looked out the huge bay window that showed the sun shining upon the winding gravel paths of the garden.

"Oh yes, beautiful day indeed."

"Daphne sweetheart, why don't you show Herakles the magnificent gardens of Greengrass Manor? I'm sure you two don't want to listen to two old ladies gossip. We shall call you in for lunch when it is ready."

"Wonderful idea Laurel," Melania stated and the Greengrass daughter did not miss the wink the elder Black sent her grandmother's way. Those two were conspiring together of that Daphne was certain.

Herakles looked almost as nervous as Daphne was sure she looked at the thought of going off somewhere alone where they won't have the two elder ladies from keeping the conversation awkward.

It was but a few moments later that they were both now at the gleaming golden archway that was at the entrance of the large and elaborate garden that belonged to her manor. They started walking down the graveled pathways that winded around the many different flowers and trees. It was not exactly warm outside but it was nowhere near chilly enough to hide inside. Silence hung between them as neither knew exactly what to say to one another since outside of today they had never interacted with each other even though they shared some of the same classes.

"Have you finished your summer homework?" Daphne asked breaking the awkward silence that had settled over them ever since they got outside.

"Yes," Herakles said straightening his posture as if he had to remind himself not to slouch. It made her grin that at least the boy was not completely different from who he used to be. "Aunt Cassie is a slave driver." He smiled wryly.

"Cassiopeia Black, right?"

He nodded.

"She's a genius from all that I've heard of her, but sort of mad at the same time." Daphne said before she thought of censoring herself. "I'm sorry that was rude-" She was interrupted from her apology when Herakles waved her statement away a smirk playing on his face.

"Aunt Cassie is a little mad, but I hear it sort of runs through the family." Herakles said amusement clear in his tone. "I think she said something like… we Blacks are known for our dubious involvement in the dark arts, our volatile tempers and our questionable sanity… when I first met her."

That startled a laugh out of Daphne.

"Yes that sums up all I've known or heard about your family."

Herakles grinned down at her. "The Blacks are notorious aren't they?"

Daphne raised a disbelieving eyebrow as if saying you seriously just asked me that.

"Well I wouldn't change my family for the world well not the ones I met." His voice grew serious at the end and Daphne was sure he was thinking of Bellatrix Lestrange née Black and Regulus Black who had both been Death Eaters. Bellatrix was imprisoned and Regulus died in the service of You-Know-Who.

"Are you looking forward to the coming school year?" Daphne asked trying to lighten the conversation.

They suddenly fell into easier topics as they started to talk about their shared classes and their mutual Slytherin friends. Neither noticed by the time they were called into the manor for lunch how much closer they stood next to each other. Four other people in the large manor did notice the change that spending an hour together had done towards their budding friendship.

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"Father?" A hoarse voice questioned sleepily pulling Orion Black from his thoughts.

Gray eyes met eyes equally as gray and Orion couldn't help but feel regret that he had failed both his sons so completely. To think the only reason he was starting to heal from the grief that Regulus had left in his heart was due to the grandson he had never had the chance to know until recently. To think how different if things were if the Malfoy girl had been up front and honest right from the start regarding her pregnancy. Sirius might have been spared Azkaban and he might have more than just the one grandson. It was something he thought about on occasion ever since Herakles had come into his life, but he tried to not to let those thoughts and dreams consume him.

"Is there anything you need right now, Sirius? No? Then I believe we need to have a conversation that should have been had years ago." Orion stated as he crossed his right leg over his left to settle in a more comfortable position for what would most likely be a long discussion.

His son carefully moved himself into a sitting position as the hospital bed magically moved to accommodate this change of seating. Orion was pleased to see that Sirius was moving better than when he was first brought to St. Mungo's. It let the Lord Black know his son was healing and would soon be allowed to go home.

"What did you want to talk about?" Sirius asked hesitantly.

Orion sighed as he wondered where he should begin. He was never an open or emotional man so it was difficult for him to give voice to his most private thoughts. But he would do it for his son if only because he truly cared for Sirius and wanted to start to bridge the large gap that had formed between them ever since that fateful day where Sirius left his home to go live with the Potters.

"I was not raised to be Lord Black," Orion began slowly.

"Father," Sirius questioned and Orion knew that he was wondering where he was going with this.

"Listen to me Sirius and everything will make sense after I finish explaining to you."

"I had an older brother, Antares who was seven years older than me." He paused as memories of his older sibling flashed through his mind. "He was everything that made the Blacks proud. He was so very cunning and used his charm to get the things he wanted. Antares had a wicked temper," Orion said as his finger ran over a scar that was on his left forearm. He had received that one after a duel they had gotten into. "He was a prodigy and my father's pride and joy."

"How come I never heard of him before?" Sirius asked breaking Orion out of thoughts of the past. "He's not on the family tapestry either."

Orion sighed. "Antares was groomed to be the next Lord Black and I feel he had too much pressure on his shoulders from our family. That's what I would like to think that was the reason for his actions. The reason he is not on the family tapestry is simple. He was disowned."

Sirius frowned and Orion knew his son was thinking that over.

"Why was he disowned?"

"He fell in love with a halfblood," Orion said. "And that was his downfall."

Sirius looked like he was about to argue and probably start going off about how everyone should be treated as an equal but Orion just held up his hand to stop Sirius from spouting off the Light's propaganda.

"Antares was disowned shortly after his sixth year for daring to go behind Father's back and marry the halfblood. Not only did he marry before he was out of Hogwarts but he married someone of inferior status. The former could possibly be forgiven, but it was the latter that saw him out of the family. My father was furious of course." The Lord Black paused before continuing after taking a deep breath. "He stripped my brother's name from the family tree which permanently made it look like my father only had two children instead of the three he really sired. That is why Antares' name is not on the tapestry."

Sirius nodded. "It's a sad story but I don't see the point it has to do with anything that you and I have to discuss."

"The point I am making is that I was not raised as Lord Black and that in my father's eyes my brother was everything I was not. Even after my brother's disownment I still lived in his shadow. So I began to do anything in my power to gain approval from my family. It was something I had to work hard for unlike Antares who had everything come to him easily." Orion said a frown appearing on his usually blank face. "I married Walburga because Father wanted the marriage and I allowed it if only to further make him happy. I do regret allowing my need for recognition to cloud my judgement. I had always known Walburga was unstable, but since Father encouraged me I could not say no. I do not regret the two sons I was given though. Don't look so surprised Sirius. You and your brother were the only things that kept me sane through my marriage. What I do regret is the way I let Walburga take control of the raising of you boys. Herakles was right when he called her a screeching harpy." Orion and Sirius shared a chuckle at that.

"Antares reminded me a lot of you and maybe that is why I was so hard on you when you were younger. I didn't want you to end up like my brother, but I can admit my insistence of making you follow the family ideals had further pushed you into rebelling against the family. Regulus was very much like me reminding me of when I tried to fill the too big of shoes that Antares had left in his wake. It saddens me to admit that I had allowed history to repeat itself." The Lord Black spoke with regret clearly heard in his tone. "I think my brother would have been proud of you if only because you had stuck to your ideals in a time when that could have easily gotten you killed."

"It did land me in prison though," Sirius said sardonically.

"Point," Orion agreed. "I do hope that someday we could get past all of this. I care for your son and I don't think he would appreciate having to pick between us. I can see that he enjoys being with all of our family and it would hurt him to have us fighting all the time."

Sirius nodded a sad smile appearing on his face. "I know. I don't know why he thinks the family is so great, but I don't want to force him into feeling the same way I do. I want him to form his own opinions."

"Then I shall endeavor to try to make things work for all of us."

"I hope you will be able to."

A few minutes later Sirius broke the silence that had enveloped the room. "What happened to Antares?"

"He was killed when he was twenty by Grindelwald's forces."

"I'm sorry," Sirius said knowing just how much it must have hurt his father as he could hear the grief in his voice.

"It was a long time ago," Orion told him in a soft tone.

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