Disclaimer: Not mine of course.

Chapter 1:

Harry crept into the clearing underneath his cloak behind the two death eaters. Voldemort himself paced in the centre. Bellatrix was perched upon a large rock while the rest of the death eaters, many of them without their masks stood in a loose half circle around, and Harry noticed with a sinking heart that Hagrid was there as well, tied to a tree with massive chains around him.

"No sign of Potter My Lord", one of the two death eaters he'd followed said.

"I thought he'd come", Voldemort mused quietly. "It seems I was mistaken".

Before Harry could announce his presence Voldemort spun around and fired the killing curse at Hagrid who immediately slumped forward, making the tree and chains groan in protest.

Harry saw red. His first real friend, the one who had first taken him away from the hell that was the Dursley's casually murdered as if he was nothing. He gripped Draco's former wand harder in his hand that was visibly trembling in rage and took aim at Nagini who was lying docile in her magical cage. He didn't even care at that point as he took Bellatrix lessons to heart again and summoned up his fury, his desire to see Voldemort dead at his feet. Not because of everything Voldemort had done, but because he truly hated him and wished to remove him from the mortal coil. "AVADA KEDAVRA".

Voldemort howled in rage as the green light of the killing curse flew from his wand and pierced through the shield and hit Nagini straight on, blasting the enormous snake away as a black cloud and inhuman scream erupted from her. Everyone turned towards him, his cloak having fallen off him as he surged forth. Another hard jab of his wand sent an incorporeal scythe of magic forth that bisected Bellatrix and he turned his wand towards Voldemort, both of them shouted the incantation of the killing curse at the same time. Harry desperately threw himself to the side just as Voldemort did, but Voldemort was swifter. Harry's last sight before Voldemort's curse hit him was the shocked face of Lucius Malfoy as his form crumbled like a marionette who just had its strings cut.

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Opening his eyes, he found himself in an enormous hall, divided at regular intervals by huge columns. Benches were placed every twenty feet or so and he could see huge tracks on either side of him. Further observation showed that he was naked as the day he was born, yet as soon as he thought of clothes a collection of white robes and trousers appeared in front of him. After dressing quickly, he started walking only to come across a small ugly and twisted baby underneath a bench. The pathetic bloody and wrinkled form whimpered pathetically. At first he thought of approaching the thing further yet a sudden realization struck him.

The similarity it shared with Voldemort's twisted homunculus before his resurrection was eerie, was this then perhaps a representation of the Horcrux that had resided in him? Spitting in disgust he turned away only to nearly jump in shock at what greeted him.

The form of Headmaster Dumbledore, all clad in white was familiar to him of course, a sad smile on his face and looking a great deal more tired than Harry had ever seen him. The other 'guest' was a remarkably plain middle-aged man. Suit impeccably dressed, short brown hair and finely trimmed goatee and lastly a pair of very angry yellow eyes.

"Harry", Dumbledore said sadly as he, for the first time in Harry's memory hugged him. "I am so proud of you Harry, so proud", as he drew back he wiped a tear from his eye even as the other man spat in disgust.

"You would Dumbledore, after all a lot of this is your fault", besides the eye the man's expression could be carved from stone, but the cool ice in his tone sent shivers up Harry's spine.

Ignoring the man for now Harry turned to Dumbledore. "Umm sir, where are we"?

Dumbledore opened his mouth to no doubt vax verbose as was his way yet the other man had no patience for Dumbledore's eloquence. "WE, are in Limbo Master Potter. The place between places, between life and death".

That raised Harry's eyebrows. "So I'm dead then"? he stated. Dumbledore's wince was almost as interesting as the other man's snort.

"I see why you got sorted into Gryffindor Master Potter". Completely ignoring Harry's sense of outrage the man droned on. "You were supposed to turn yourself over quietly, let that blasted half-blood shite hit you with the killing curse to destroy the Horcrux within you and then go back and finish him for good but nooo…Harry Fucking Potter, always have to fuck up the best laid plans".

Regardless of the seriousness of the last days and current situation Harry couldn't resist the slight upturn of his lips, the man carried an unlikely resemblance to Snape when his blood was up for 'that blasted Potter'. "Ask Voldemort, I apparently have a knack for it", he said cheekily.

Dumbledore's snort of laughter more than made up for the other man's reaction of breaking out into several swears and curses in several languages…and several suggestions that Harry was certain were impossible even with magic.

"You- ", he said as he repeatedly poked Harry's chest with a trembling finger. "-do not test me!".

Sufficiently cowed Harry schooled his expression before the man's earlier words struck him. "WAIT! You said that I was supposed to go back"?

"Yes", the man hissed. "But someone had to fucking railroad a well laid plan. Yourlittle plan pissed of little Tom's death eaters, so coming back is something of a problem since your body has been reduced to a fine fucking red smear on the ground". Yup there was no mistaking it, the man was absolutely furious.

"Well excuse me- ", Harry said with a sarcastic tone to his voice. "- seeing my first friend murdered right in front of my eyes just before I was going to do what you expected turned up my temper a bit".

The man visibly closed his eyes and looked as if he was counting down from ten before opening them again. "I know that couldn't have been easy for you Potter, but regardless your temper has fucked up the temporal stream and balance something fierce, and damaged your soul as well".

THAT was news to Harry, and as he looked questioningly to Dumbledore the other man produced a mirror and let Harry see. His face was torn and bloody from where his scar had been, his eyes bloodshot and his skin had a pallid tint to it, while his body itself was covered in bloody tears and spidery cracks.

"Killing tears the soul Harry", Dumbledore said sadly. "The killing curse especially so. It heals relatively fast of course, unless you do like Tom and tears a piece away, but you cannot go back as you are now".

Harry swallowed thickly, his form our soul if you will looked terrible. "Why", he asked with a thick voice, his throat feeling like it had a great lump in it.

"You killing Lucius and Bellatrix served to shatter your soul enough that when Tom's killing curse blasted his Horcrux into oblivion it tore chunks of your soul with it as well…you are damaged", the man actually looked more apologetic than angry now.

"But why would I even get a chance to go back"?

"Because, when Voldemort used your blood to resurrect himself he inadvertedly created a sort of semi-Horcrux for you with his own body. Not to mention that he tried to use your wand against you".

"What? But Voldemort possessed the Elder…oh that is beautiful", Harry sniggered as he realized what the man was talking about. That he was the Master of the Elder Wand without ever having touched the blasted thing was almost as amusing as the pure irony of Draco Malfoy of all people being the Wand's Master for near of a year without knowing it.

"Wait…" Harry said as he narrowed his eyes at the man. "Are you…supposed to be death"?

The man grinned as he gave a short bow. "Indeed, took you long enough Master Potter".

Harry blushed slightly, "I was expecting something more…"

The man spun and in his place was a large form in a flowing black cape, the face hidden underneath a flaring hood while skeletal hands grasped a large scythe. "Something like this Potter"? At Harry's stunned nod he laughed before returning to his previous form. "While I do enjoy the classics it never hurts to try something new".

"So- ", Harry said as he ran a hand through his hair. "Does that make me your Master then? Since I apparently own all of the Deathly Hallows"?

Death laughed as Dumbledore for the first time Harry could remember actually sulked. "Hardly. All three items were crafted by a trio of exceptionally skilled wizards, and none of the items, even the stone has anything to do with me…you can blame the legend on the oldest brother who was an exceptional tall talker, which is after all what led to his death in the first place".

Harry let out a slight grin at that, while Dumbledore muttered curses in what sounded like German…or possibly French for all Harry knew. "Well, what happens now then"?

Death stroked his goatee slightly as he gave Dumbledore a sly grin. "Well, you'll go back of course, but back much farther than you'd think".

"Eh"? Harry said with surprise. "But I thought you said…- "

Death stopped him there. "While you fucked up this plan, Dumbledore here has fucked up much worse. Had he not meddled as much as he did, Voldemort would not had been resurrected for another three years, and had he for once in his blasted life decided to trust someone else and ask questions he would have figured out that the Horcrux in your head could have been removed safely".

Harry widened his eyes, "How could that have been done"?

Death laughed as Dumbledore closed his eyes. "Just about any experienced curse-breaker is also a qualified exorcist, or at the very least is on first name basis with one. They have to as many tombs and the like are haunted by both malevolent spirits to Horcruxes and similar constructs".

"You mean- ", Harry said as he narrowed his eyes at Dumbledore who had the decency to look ashamed. "- that Dumbledore could have asked Bill, or any other experienced curse-breaker at any given time and gotten that blasted soul piece out of me"?

"YES", Death practically giggled as he rubbed his hands together.

"But what does all this have to do with me going back further as you said"?

"Oh I think you are going to like this", Death said. "We obviously can't send you back to your own body, not even to a point in time where your body was not a pool of blood, since your soul is…damaged. SO we have to send you into an entirely new body, that hasn't had a soul take residence in it yet".

"…"

"You see Harry; a soul doesn't really come into creation until the foetus is around thirty-six weeks along or so".

"…" Harry was still confused.

"It is a simple enough matter to make sure that a girl who took a pill after a romantic rendezvous doesn't take that pill, allowing you to be born anew…and you'll have more time to prepare for the future".

Harry's eyes widened at that point. "…err".

"Don't worry Harry, I'll make sure you won't remember the process of being born, terribly traumatic that", Death shuddered. "And you won't remember the 'gestation period' either as your soul will use that time to pull all its parts together".

"What do you mean"?

"Weeeeell…Like I said, parts of your soul was obliterated or otherwise fubar'ed, so to fill this 'hole' in you if you will, we'll stuff in some excess soul there and voila: new healthy soul", Death spread his arms wide as he gave a grin that would have made Lockhart weep with jealousy.

Instead of being relieved by this Harry was more worried. "Define excess soul…"

Death shifted slightly as he looked to the ground quickly before plastering the grin back on his face. "Well, we have more than enough 'Tom' over here. Albus here- ", he gave Dumbledore a slap to the back. "- has volunteered some, and to finish it off a little bit of Grindelwald".

Harry gaped. "Voldemort, Grindelwald…and I don't want to damage Professor Dumbledore's soul".

"You won't damage his soul", Death reassured him quickly. "The piece is small enough that it will recover quickly enough, and Tom and Grindelwald are the only other two souls that have 'expired' within the proper timeframe that we can use them. And it is far better to have a little bit of both of them than a larger piece of one of them".

"What do you mean"? Harry asked sharply. "What will it do to me"?

"Honestly"? Death said as he softened his features. "Not much, you might pick up bits and pieces of what they learnt across their lives, Tom's case, probably parseltongue, Grindelwald, an ease for German and other languages, same with Albus here. All in all, you might find some things easier, or know them on an instinctual level, and…you might pick up on some small mannerisms".

"Oh", that didn't sound too bad in Harry's mind. Sure he didn't exactly want pieces of other's souls in him, but from the explanation it sounded more like he was a dying man who would receive an organ transplant. He would still be him, just…slightly different, and really, he had a chance to make a difference, to change things.

While Dumbledore may have bungled up his fair share with his meddling, including training Harry many would argue, he had done more than alright with Harry. Would he prefer to have grown up with a happy childhood? Of course. Would he have preferred to not have to fight vicious lies, rumours, homicidal teachers and creatures every year at Hogwarts? Naturally. But those experiences had hardened his spirit, shaped his mind and instincts to become more than a fighter and hero. It had forged him into a survivor. Hermione knew far more spells and magical theory than he would probably ever learn, yet Harry's knowledge of the deep magicks, old and primal magic far surpassed what most researchers could hope to learn in decades. He understood the nature of sacrifice, how choices could impact on the weave of history, and he knew that as long as he could make a difference he would always stand against Voldemort and his followers.

"I'll do it!" He said as he steeled himself. "But…out of curiosity, who will I be"?

This time even Dumbledore grinned! An honest to God GRIN! "Well Harry, a Saturday night in early February seventy-six, young Sirius, James, Remus and Peter snuck out of the castle to attend a muggle concert. Three of the four boys returned that same night, while one of them followed a slightly older muggle girl home and spent the night there…can you imagine who"?

Harry snorted, that was obvious as night and day. "I assume Sirius will be my father then"?

"Just so", said Dumbledore.

"Alright alright, time to get this show on the road", Death said impatiently. "This might feel a bit…strange", and before Harry could even brace himself Death punched him in the chest with a glowing hand, and he briefly spotted Dumbledore wincing in pain and grasping his chest before his senses went into haywire.

Pain, all-encompassing pain as he felt his body twist and warp as if he was caught in the most violent portkey ever. Images, or glimpses of memories flashed through his mind. A young beautiful woman with dirty blonde hair and kind brown eyes smiling to him. Kissing his nose or forehead, singing soft lullabies as she rocked him in her arms. A pair older than her who both shared some of her features 'my grandparents'. Of course, he grew more and more…lucid and aware as time seemed to fly by, if he concentrated he could barely remember two birthday parties where his mother and grandparents, as well as friends showered him with gifts and affection. He remembered his name: 'Herakles'. He could remember taking his first steps, and his first word: 'mama', quickly followed by 'gan'ma and gan'pa', until sometime after his third birthday party he became 'fully' aware as it were.

His mother 'Mary', had dropped him off with a neighbour, an older woman called Sarah who had three children. A pair of twin girls called Jane and Elizabeth, three years older than he, and a boy called Simon who was perhaps a month or so younger than him. His mother who was fortunate enough to have parents who didn't throw her out for having a child out of wedlock allowed both Herakles and herself to live with them. His Grandparents both worked, which allowed her to continue to go to school as they could afford a daytime nanny.

All in all, as the days turned into weeks and then months Herakles was for the most part content. He got on well enough with the kids of his nanny, spending his days speaking in incoherent sentences about everyday things. His nanny was pleased to tell his proud mother and grandparents that 'young Herakles, was an astonishingly intelligent young man', due to his vocabulary and ability to understand what happened around him grew 'quickly'. Actually it was slightly frustrating for him to pretend to be a stupid young child. He tried of course, but that didn't last more than a week or so. Of course not all was well. He was perfectly aware of the war that was raging across the country due to Voldemort and his death eaters, and all the seemingly strange accidents and mysterious disappearances brought a strange gloom across the country, and before he knew it, it was October twenty ninth, nineteen-eighty-one…they day before his other self would lose his parents.

He was safely underneath his covers, his mother sat at his bedside, her lovely voice reading aloud from a book to him when a loud 'BANG'! sounded from downstairs. His mother sprang up to her feet. "Don't worry my sweet", she said as she gave him a kiss on his forehead. She swiftly walked out of the room, no doubt to yell at her mother or father for making such a racket when his grandmother let loose a horrified scream and Herakles' heart made a wild jump in fear and anger as several voices laughed, worst of all was that he could hear Bellatrix's horrible cackle.

Quickly after the unmistakable voice of Lucius Malfoy shouted "Avada Kedavra". Everything went silent before his mother raced into the room and slammed the door behind her. Her face was stricken with fear and silent tears ran down her eyes as she grabbed Herakles by the arm and dragged him over to the window.

Even as the sound of the death eaters walking up the stairs came closer his mother, a mere 'muggle' seemed to keep her head together. Once she realized that it was too far down to jump, and no ladder or similar to climb down she looked around wildly before spotting a lamp pole beside his bed that she hefted up like a bat. "Herakles, get down beside the bed", she said with a shivering, but determined voice as she took up a position beside the door.

Herakles, his mind going a thousand places at once, ideas forming and then discarded did as his mother said. Without a wand there really was nothing he could do, so he did as his mother told him. The door slammed open and the death eaters walked in. As soon as the first one entered the room his mother swung down the steel lamp post, and the death eater went down like a dead sack as the steel pole hit his neck with a sickening 'CRACK'! His mother couldn't do more as Bella hit her with a banishing charm that slammed her into the bed, drawing a scream of pain from her as her spine snapped from the impact. And the last death eaters entered the room, their wands out. Lucius, Bella, Rabastan and Rudolphus Lestrange.

"MacNair"? Lucius questioned.

Rabastan bent down and inspected him. "Dead", he spat.

"So the filthy muggle can play", Bella said with a sickly sweet voice as she smirked nastily. "And she even has her own little muggle brat".

"Please, don't hurt my son", His mother pleaded, and Herakles was painfully assaulted by flashbacks of Lily Potter begging for her son's, his life.

"Oh no, you with your filthy muggle hands killed a wizard with blood far purer than yours bitch", Rudolphus snarled. "I think we'll save you for last, let you watch your son die. Then, after we've had our way with you, only then will we allow you to die".

Rudolphus then shouted "Crucio", as he pointed his wand towards Herakles who surprised the death eaters by leaping to the side.

"HERAKLES, RUN!" his mother shouted to the laughter of the death eaters.

Tears of rage and anger streamed down his face as he looked at his desperate mother. "I'm sorry mum", he said before, to the shock of everyone on the room he spun on his feet and disappeared with a loud 'CRACK'.

"Mudblood", Bellatrix hissed as the little brat that for some reason looked very familiar disappeared right in front of them.

Her fellow compatriots looked as shocked as she was, and all of them felt anger at a mudblood who hadn't even gotten his wand yet had slipped from their grasp. His mother however, despite the shock of seeing her son disappear right in front of her, smiled with relief. Her body hurt like hell, and her heart was filled with grief at the death of her parents but her son, her beloved son, the only thing she had left of the enigmatic Sirius Black she had met at a Led Zeppelin concert was safe, her only regret was that she never managed to get in contact with him to tell him off his son. The only thing she had managed to do was to give him a name like Herakles, as apparently his family used to name everyone in their family after constellations. Thinking of Sirius and the lovely night they had shared she didn't even notice as the green light snuffed out her life.

"What the hell Bella", Rudolphus snarled as his wife lowered her wand.

"We don't have time for your sick games Rudy", she spat at her husband. Muggles or not, she was a woman, and the idea of rape never sat well with her, regardless of the target.

Lucius at the very least seemed to agree with her and the four death eaters quickly made their way out of the house and fired off the Dark Mark before disapparating to safety.

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While the death eaters murdered his mother Herakles spun through the all too familiar sensation of apparition. His thoughts right before he apparated was on his father, and subsequently because of that Grimmauld Place, and it was to his great shock that he appeared in the drawing room in Grimmauld Place with a loud 'CRACK' of displaced air. His current body had never apparated before so as soon as he landed he fell to all fours and vomited heavily on the carpet.

"MERLINS BEARD!", a strong male voice shouted in shock while three women let out loud shrieks of shock.

"Who in Merlin's name are you boy"? the same voice asked sharply.

Herakles looked up and widened his eyes. Standing around him was an older man. His long hair was mostly grey with streaks of black in it, his face had strong aristocratic features too it. High cheekbones, a strong angular jaw, mouth in a stern line and cold grey eyes, 'Sirius' eyes', Herakles noted. Two of the woman shared the man's features, the same eyes, lustrous mostly black hair and stern faces while the last woman had flowing blonde hair.

"He-Herakles Sir", he said while eying the wands warily.

The woman to the far left gasped and whispered 'Sirius', as her eyes narrowed.

Now that he had time to study them he was able to place the adults in the room. The man was Sirius' grandfather Arcturus. The woman who had whispered his father's name was his grandmother, Sirius' mother Walburga. The woman who looked similar must be Sirius' grand-aunt Cassiopeia while the last woman was Narcissa, Bellatrix and Andromeda's mother Druella Black nee Rosier. And seeing as his grandmother had whispered his father's name he was more than ready to capitalize on it.

"You-you kn-know my father"? he asked hopefully.

Walburga's wand clattered to the floor as she fell back heavily in the chair she had risen from. Cassiopeia too looked faint while Druella was a bit more indifferent. Arcturus however looked triumphant.

"Who is your father boy"? he asked.

"My mama sa-said his name was Sirius Black sir", Herakles said with an expertly performed sniffle.

Arcturus muttered something and a bolt of yellow light flew from his wand and hit Herakles. The light made his form glow for a moment before a scroll of parchment appeared in thin air. Grabbing it Arcturus read it before passing hit mutely over to Walburga and Cassiopeia. Walburga gasped for breath as tears sprung up in her eyes, while Cassiopeia started laughing.

"How did you come here boy"? Arcturus asked, his voice softer now and his wand pointed down.

"My Mama was reading me be-bedtime stories wh-when bad men came. They hurt mama and s-said they would k-kill me and her". The eyes of the adults widened slightly and Herakles was surprised to see Walburga quietly sobbing. From what Sirius had told him of her he wouldn't think there was a single emotion in the blasted harpy beside hate.

"Th-the one ca-called Bella called my mama bitch after sh-she killed the man called Macnair- ", Druella drew in a sharp breath, while both Cassiopeia's and Walburga's eyes grew thin as slits while glaring at her, and Herakles almost crowed in victory, fortunately his knowledge of occlumency, and abundance of hatred towards Voldemort and his death eaters allowed him to continue to play the role of hysterical child.

"B-be-bella hu-hurt my mama with a stick, and th-the man they called Lucy ki-killed my grandmamma. Another man they called Rudy shouted crucio and this red light a-alm-most h-hit me. Then-then mama t-told me to ru-run away. I wanted to be far away where th-they couldn't hu-hurt me, s-so I wished to be far away, to find my p-papa and then I was here", having said that he started sobbing uncontrollably while producing a flow of crocodile tears. He had seen Dudley do it often enough.

"Oh you poor boy", to his shock Walburga had raced out of her chair and enveloped him in a hug, stroking his hair and back.

Cassiopeia was still glaring at Druella who looked distinctly uncomfortable while Arcturus's wand spat out spark as he addressed her in a tone that was trembling with rage. "Druella, you better get the hell out of here".

"Excuse me"! she snarled with outrage.

"Your daughter and son in law just tried to murder my great grandson", he stated coldly.

Druella puffed up with rage.

"A filthy halfblood, a bastard", she spat.

"Halfblood or no Druella, he is the last male of the Black line who is able to one day sire children besides Sirius. AND, powerful enough to apparate instinctively to family", Cassiopeia said as she joined Arcturus.

"I've said it before Druella, I said it when this whole mess started. I will never serve a man who demands other Purebloods to follow him when he cannot even give us his real name", Arcturus took a sip from his goblet on the table.

"This so called Lord Voldemort has done more to damage Purebloods and our cause than anyone else in our world", he held up his hand in warning as Druella attempted to cut in. "How many Purebloods has he killed hmm? Edgar bones and his entire family. Three children not even in Hogwarts yet, CHILDREN Druella as well as his mother and father. Pureblood children, the Prewett twins, both whom are family, the McKinnons, Dorcas Meadowes, Benjy Fenwick, Caradoc Dearborn…Purebloods the lot of him, who has been murdered simply because they refused to bow down to him".

Druella seemed to sag a little.

"I'm not fond of muggles or mudbloods who come to our society and start telling us how everything we're doing is wrong. But whether they're muggles, mudbloods, halfbloods or Purebloods there is NO excuse for murdering children. That murderer who demand that we, PUREBLOODS, debase ourselves to his will has already cost me both of my grandsons. Sirius fled, and probably does not even know he has a son, while Regulus was murdered for trying to leave Voldemort's service".

Arcturus closed his eyes while he calmed himself down.

"You tell Bella and Lucius that they have one week to turn themselves in to the Ministry and pray for leniency, or I will disown them and their spawn from the family…and you can be damn sure that I will demand both Bella and Narcissa's dowries returned".

Druella's eyes widened at the threat. "Arcturus surely you can't mean that"?

"Oh I mean it; Blacks bow to no one. For hundreds of years' members of our family have fought beside Dark Lords, or even been Dark Lords themselves, but we never called anyone else Master, and family always came first. But of course that seemed to have gone down the drain as you, Reginald and Abraxus are busy with keeping your little French alliance going".

Druella hissed in rage and turned to leave before Arcturus' wand dug into her neck. "Before we let you leave Druella, I'm going to need an Unbreakable Vow to keep everything that you've seen or heard here today secret".

"And if I should refuse"? she asked testily.

"Then…I'm afraid that you'll have an accident", Arcturus said calmly as he dug the wand deeper into Druella's neck, causing her to hiss in pain.

"Fine", she spat as she accepted Arcturus' hand while Cassiopeia initiated the bond, Walburga and Herakles both watching with disgust and fake awe respectively.

"Do you, Druella Black nee Rosier swear to keep secret all you have seen and heard here today"? Arturus asked.

Druella's eyes were burning with rage as she answered "yes", through gritted teeth.

As soon as Cassiopeia sealed the bond Druella walked out the door, cursing up a storm as she did so. When the door slammed behind her Arturus turned to Walburga and Herakles. "My name young Herakles is Arcturus Black, your great-grandfather, the woman holding you is your grandmother Walburga and the last woman here is your great-grandaunt Cassiopeia".

Herakles gave them a trembling smile. "Is-is my mama dead"? he asked with a soft voice.

"Yes", Arcturus said as he knelt down to Herakles level. "We are your family now Herakles".

"Oh", he said as he wiped away a few more crocodile tears. "Will I meet my papa"?

Arcturus looked at Walburga who grimaced slightly at the thought of her disappointing son but nodded slightly nonetheless. "In a few days I hope, there is much I need to do first before we can find my grandson. Now I and your aunt Cassie will be very busy for the foreseeable future, so in the meantime you are to do as your grandmother tells you understood"?

Herakles nodded.

"Come Herakles, and I'll take you to your room", Walburga said as she stood up.

Nodding Herakles followed his grandmother in silence up the stairs in Grimmauld Place. She stopped first before Regulus' room, intending to give it to him, but the pain of losing her favoured son was still too fresh so she steeled herself and led him into Sirius' room instead.

The room was just as Herakles remembered it from the time he, Ron and Hermione had sought refuge there while hunting for Horcruxes, still pictures of scantily clad models draped over elegant cars or motorcycles littered the walls, as well as various Gryffindor paraphernalia.

"This was your-your father's room. You'll stay here for now", she said as she showed him the room.

"Kreacher", she said sharply and the elf, still as ugly as ever popped into existence.

"Yes Mistress", he said as he bowed low.

"This is my grandson…Sirius' son Herakles, and heir to the Black family, you'll be responsible for his welfare understood", she said sharply, now resembling the harridan that Herakles remembered.

"Of course Mistress, Kreacher lives to serve the Ancient and Noble House of Black", Kreacher simpered as he bowed.

"What is he grandma", Herakles asked.

"Kreacher is a house elf, a servant of the family", Walburga explained. "And you will address me as grandmother is that understood? You've lived with muggles before so I suppose you can be forgiven for now, but you'll learn proper etiquette, I'll make sure of it".

After delivering a meek, "Yes grandmother", Walburga left the room along with Kreacher while Herakles went to bed. He had not expected that his new family would be murdered by death eaters, yet he also knew that growing up in the House of Black would quite possibly be very advantageous for him. He would gain contacts in the magical world, and have access to the quite possibly oldest library in Britain.

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While Herakles was falling asleep with murder in his thoughts Arcturus had instructed Cassiopeia to summon his wife Melania, and Walburga's parents: Pollux and Irma. Together those four would shore up Grimmauld Place to a veritable fortress. His son Orion had already added nearly every protective charm and enchantment available, and now they would finish the job by adding the truly nasty wards that were technically illegal, he meanwhile had gone to Gringotts. Once there he demanded to see his account manager and was quickly led into the office of Crackjaw.

"Ah Master Black, what can I help you with this time of night"? the goblin spoke with a dull tone.

"Bellatrix and Narcissa's husband Lucius attacked the family of my great-grandson and his family tonight. Herakles barely escaped with his life while the rest of his family was murdered, so I am hereby demanding the return of their dowries for bringing shame onto the Black family".

The goblin's eyes widened before a nasty grin stretched across its face, fucking over witches and wizards always pleased the nasty blighters. "As you wish…you are aware that this will leave the Malfoy vaults and Lestrange vaults quite depleted…and that you'll be earning their ire"? Returning dowries on account of bringing shame upon ones family came with hefty fines on the offending party as well as accrued interest, as said dowry would be considered a loan and with Bellatrix having been married for ten years and Narcissa for seven it would hit both vaults hard.

The Malfoys of course were not poor, far from it. But the Black fortune was legendary, and the dowry of both Narcissa and Bellatrix had both added up to a quarter of the wealth of the family they married into, as was tradition for brides from the Black family.

"I care not for such things, they should fear my ire, not the other way around. I will also need to register my great-grandson as my heir". What followed was a tiring hour of filling out all the necessary forms. His heir's name Herakles Sirius Black, date of birth 18th of November nineteen-seventy-seven. Parentage, setting up a trust vault and so on.

Returning back to Grimmauld Place he informed the rest of the family of the developments. Pollux had been so insensate that he demanded Bellatrix and Narcissa both disowned straight away. They'd all had suspicions of course that Bellatrix and Lucius, perhaps even Narcissa, were death eaters. They certainly knew they were followers, but to have proof so violently tossed right in their face was another matter, so Arcturus acquiesced to Pollux demands and blasted Bella, Narcissa, their husbands and Narcissa's son Draco off the tree before sending out a notice both to Gringotts and their families.

"One last thing Arcturus", Pollux said heavily as is wife wept beside him at the disownment of their last two grandchildren. He swallowed as a grimace spread across his face. "In light of this, I wish to invite Andromeda back. Her…crime of marrying a mudblood is far less, and her mudblood husband is a truly impressive barrister, in spite of his blood".

Arcturus grimaced while Walburga's face tightened. Andromeda had defied the wishes of their family and run off to marry a mudblood straight out of Hogwarts, yet even though the whole wizarding world, the important part at least knew they were in disfavour with the Black family the duo had made an impressive lot with their small law firm.

"Were it just Andromeda", Arcturus started before Pollux's wife Irma broke in with a desperate look on her face. Blood traitor or not Andromeda was her granddaughter.

"Please Arcturus, there must be something…right with the man", Arturus had his doubts as a Irma held back the other words she would usually spout when it came to mudbloods.

"Explain", he said sharply.

"Andromeda had a little girl a few years ago, Nymphadora I think it was", Pollux said as he wracked his brain for the name of his great-granddaughter.

Arcturus raised an eyebrow. "And"?

Here Pollux actually gave a smug grin. "The girl is a metamorphmagus". The eyes of the rest of the family widened. "A talent that hasn't been seen in the family for almost four centuries".

Arcturus' mind swam with ideas when that was revealed. "There will be…conditions", he said as he stroked his chin. "Make sure Andromeda knows that her husband is to show us proper respect, and until he knows how to act like a pureblood at least he is not to address me…and the girl, Nymphadora was it? Andromeda will agree to sign a marriage contract between her and Herakles. It's unfortunate that they're both halfbloods, but their children will be Purebloods by the definition at least, and I will not let such a trait as a metamorphmagus disappear from the family".

Irma let out a sigh of relief while Pollux nodded in thanks. "I'll be off then Arturus, I'll be back soon", with that Pollux disappeared out of the house before disapparating.

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Andromeda Tonks had just put her little girl to bed and cuddled up to her Ted on the couch when she heard the tell-tale 'CRACK' of apparition. Considering the events of the last years, their status in the wizarding world and the time of night the young couple quickly grabbed their wands and trained them on the entrance door. There were no spells cast, and a hand knocked thrice on the door.

"Who is it"? Andromeda asked as she steeled herself.

"It is your grandfather Pollux 'Dromeda, may I come in"?

Andromeda was floored, never had she expected to hear from anyone in the family ever again except from Sirius. She looked to her husband who nodded tightly, and with a flick of her wand the door opened and her grandfather stepped in. Her grandfather looked strict as always, greying hair, sharp grey eyes and a fluid grace to his movements, a predator ready to pounce. He looked dispassionately around their living room, his nose wrinkling in distaste at the objects that were of muggle make. Remembering her manners, she quickly guided him to a leather chair and procured a tea set before taking her seat in the couch with Ted again, grasping his hand comfortingly in her own.

"Young Nymphadora is asleep I suppose"? he asked and let out a small chuckle at Andromeda's surprised look. "Don't look so surprised granddaughter. Just because Irma and I haven't spoken to you for some time does not mean we haven't read your letters or saved the pictures, she truly sounds like a delightful child".

Andromeda was stupefied. For years, ever since Dora was born she had sent regular letters and pictures to her parents, grandparents and sisters but never received a reply. Not that she expected one of course, but it still felt good to rub in the fact that she had managed to produce such a unique child after marrying a so called 'mudblood'.

"Why are you here"? Ted asked nervously.

Pollux narrowed his eyes slightly at the disrespect but didn't say more, he just handed over a roll of parchment that Andromeda and Ted read with widening eyes.

"Bella and Cissa are disowned"? she asked with shock.

"It seems- ", here Pollux actually let a glimpse of a smile cross his face. "- that Sirius managed to surprise us all by fathering a child. A child that apparated straight into the drawing room in Grimmauld Place after Bellatrix, Lucius and some of their friends attacked and murdered his mother and grandparents earlier this night".

Andromeda gasped while Ted let out a curse.

"Unless we can manage to get Sirius to return young Herakles is the last hope for our family- ", Pollux sighed. "- since both Bella and Narcissa are disowned for following that murderer we are willing to let you back into the family along with your daughter and…husband".

Andromeda felt a glimmer of hope swell in her chest. Regardless of their differing views she still missed her family. "There are conditions however", Pollux said gravely.

He took a sip of his tea as he set his stern gaze upon them. "You'll make sure that your husband learns proper etiquette, and you'll both agree to sign a marriage contract to betroth Nymphadora with young Herakles".

Andromeda's eyes widened while Ted looked ready to protest, but a calming hand from his wife silenced him. "Why"? she asked him.

"Arcturus, and I both agree that a metamorphmagus should stay in the family, any children of their will be considered full Purebloods".

Ted looked far from convinced however. "Forgive me for being rude Sir", he said. "But why should we do this"?

Pollux looked at him as if he had just spoken in ancient greek. "After tonight Bella will be out for blood, and you are the ones she will be ablest to reach. Accept and you'll have the security of Grimmauld Place, and also your law practice will have access to the finest clientele, if not for yourself think about the safety of your daughter".

That was the clincher, while Ted didn't care much for the family he had married into he loved his little girl, he just hoped her future husband wouldn't turn into another pureblood sycophant, hopefully his first years having been with a loving muggle family would help in that regard. They both signed the document and quietly woke Nymphadora and followed Pollux back to Grimmauld Place. Their reception wasn't exactly warm, Walburga especially didn't care for him, but his little cherub melted away some of the ice at least as she sleepily introduced herself, her hair shifting colours like a rainbow. After putting Dora to bed he was stiffly introduced to the rest of the family and then sent to bed with his wife. While he still had his doubts about the whole thing his wife…vigorously thanked him, for several hours after they reached the privacy of their room, and despite the shrieks from Walburga to use a damn silencing charm he went to sleep with a broad smile on his face.

Always wanted to do this so thought I'd give it a shot. I'll still continue with Dragon from the North of course, but will be jumping back and forth between this one and that one.

As always read and review.

Tellie571