CHAPTER 4

Andromeda Tonks exuded calm, that was the norm… no situation would see Andromeda losing it, when Nym threw a tantrum, it would be dealt with intense calm, when Dad forgot a thing or two for that night's supper, she would still stay calm, though there would be a steely look in her eye but she would be calm nonetheless.

But as far as Alexis was concerned, Andromeda really couldn't really maintain her calm, and that was the thing Alexis has been noticing for the past few years. Unlike with the situations with Dad and Nym, Alexis personally felt that her mother always seemed tensed regarding her, be it her schooling process, her trips with Harry or even a simple trip to Diagon Alley, Andromeda Tonks just wasn't calm around her. It was a fact that had been written off as anxiety, a fact that Alexis was quite used to by now.

However, today it was different. Maybe it was the tensed set of shoulders, or the chalky pallor or maybe it was the tightness around Andromeda's eyes that made Alexis's heart thump rather loudly. A feeling of dread welled up within her and Alexis felt like running away, not wanting to hear whatever terrible thing was about to be said.

"I belong to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black…"Andromeda began in a steady voice, her eyes hard and dull, her face void of expressions and back ramrod straight.

"Our name is our identity. We are one of the Sacred Twenty Eight and as Blacks, we are the only line that is linked to all other pureblood lines." Raising her chin, Andromeda continued in the same leveled voice "Our duty is first and foremost to the name that we are born with. We live by conduct and we are expected to follow it all throughout our lives, only living to add testimony to the greatness of it…"

It sounded horribly like a commercial advertisement, Alexis thought.

"…But of course, it does not quite work like that…" fixing Alexis with a wry look Andromeda continued "…by keeping the name and keeping it pristine meant that we had to marry only and only purebloods, which in turn meant that we kept to our own family, because to be very honest, the pureblood families have dwindled in numbers, for much like ours, the pureblood families live in the name bestowed upon them and would try to keep it as pure as possible…"

Now Andromeda turned fully towards Alexis.

"…this lunacy meant marrying and producing only purebloods, which is really quite difficult especially when the blood and magic is inbred, resulting in the illnesses within the children born out of such union. You see Alexis, I'm telling you all this because now is the time, you should know who you are before you face such prejudice of our world."

"What? Mum…" Alexis asked stunned

"Hear me out please" Andromeda beseeched, almost and Alexis, her heart thundering through her chest, simply sat there and waited for the axe to fall.

"I was one of three sisters, all born and raised like proper Blacks. We all had our lives decided the moment we were born and all three of us defected in our own ways. Bellatrix, my elder sister, she refused to marry at the proper age and joined a blood supremacist gang. Though my parents were thrilled that she was an advocate of blood purity, she took it a bit too far and dabbled in all kinds of magic, evil and cursed that took a toll upon her sanity, though to be honest she was a bit extreme to begin with."

"My younger sister, refused to marry anyone but her sweetheart who she had her heart set upon since she was a little girl." Andromeda shook her head fondly "Narcissa only and only wanted Lucius Malfoy, and Lucius was the one she got."

"And then there was me. I defied all the odds and shunned my family and their values by marrying a muggle born..."

She knew, Alexis knew they were half bloods, but the way Andromeda just said it, made the hair on her back of her neck stand up on its end.

"…And I would do it all over again if I had to because that was the best decision of my life. I could not have asked for a much better life than I have with Ted. But all this had consequences, ones that I was so ready to face. You see Alexis, once you go against the House, you get disowned."

"Disowned?" Andromeda nodded and took a deep breath.

"Yes, disowned. I was disowned for marrying a muggleborn. What I did was the highest level of offence one could do against the House. And I had no qualms, none whatsoever. I was finally free, why would I begrudge that?"

She gave a short laugh which sounded quite forced to be honest.

"The reason I'm telling you all this now is because you will face the judgment Alexis. The moment you enter the Great Hall and your name will be announced, you will face burden that comes with your name."

"Mum… name?" the beat of the tattoo of her heart was pounding in her ears and in that instant, just as soon as her mother uttered those four words, her heart stopped.

"Yes Alexis, name." and finally, finally for the first time, Andromeda let Alexis see just how truly heartbroken she was, as her eyes shone with unshed tears.

"You are a Black"

In that moment Alexis's world came to a standstill. No, that was not possible. Mum was mistaken.

"No…"

"When you were four, you were sent to live with us so that no one would know about you and you'd remain safe."

"Safe?" what?

"Yes safe. Plea-"

"No! Mum, what are you talking about? I'm not a Black-"

"Alexis, please, listen-"

"NO!"

"Please Alexis, this is very important. You need to hear this"

Andromeda steeled herself against the betrayed and frightened gaze of the little girl and carried on.

"You were four when you were brought to me by an elf, and all you had was a letter." She reached into her robes and produced an envelope made of thick parchment, black as the night and with a seal that was silver and broken, and handed it to Alexis.

All the air left Alexis, because, for a moment she had felt that this was some highly elaborate plan cooked up by them all, pranking her just before she was due for her Hogwarts letter. A large part of her still hoped and Alexis would really be fine with it… as long as it was all just a prank but as soon as the heavy envelope was placed in her hands, her hopes were drowned.

Gingerly plucking the envelope open, Alexis pulled out a sheaf of parchment black as night and written with the same silver ink in a beautiful penmanship.

Andromeda,

The last we saw of each other was a decade ago and under extremely unfortunate circumstances. I must admit, that under my protection, the actions taken against you were unforgivable, and for that I shall forever remain regretful.

It still bothers me and you shall be the first one to whom I must confess, that I did not succeed very well in the role of your protector. I'm afraid I let the momentary lapse of judgment affect my ability to choose my successor and therefore condemning my entire line to damnation. For that, I will remain eternally remorseful.

Andromeda, I implore you heed this carefully. As my unworthy choice, my son failed to manage his wife, whose actions has led to the demise of the line of Black. That ungrateful woman has single handedly razed my entire family to ashes, my son, Orion, drunk himself to his death, my grandsons, one is locked up in Azkaban and another dead by the deeds of his selfish mother. My entire line was subjected to eternal damnation and though the hands were that of your aunt but it was I who led us all to this point.

But despite my terrible mistake, despite all that darkness that descends upon us, hope still remains. I feared that the line of Blacks was forever terminated, but a light still shines bright. A child. She was brought to me by a friend of my grandson, right after her birth. The mother could not survive the birth but the babe was healthy and a number of purity spells couldn't deny that she was a Black. After losing my family, my son and grandsons, I was presented with this miracle and now, for four years, I have kept this a secret, but not for long.

Only this evening we were graced by the presence of Walburga, and now, as Melania is facing some disorder of the mental faculties, she let slip about the babe in front of Walburga.

Andromeda, anyone who looks at her would know that she is a Black, the last of my line. My blood and magic runs deep within her, and though I'm loathe to part with her, but I must do this. For her, for her safety, for her birthright, because if Walburga got her hands on her, I fear all will be lost.

Accept the child as yours, knit her into your family, protect her and keep her safe, this is all I ask of you. She is four and as soon as you accept her, the magic will bound her memories of the past four years and you would be her mother, your family shall be hers, you will be her home and her anchor. This is least what a motherless child deserves.

As soon as she turns eleven, tell her. Tell her the story of her family for I do not know how long would I survive. Tell her, because we may be able to hide her in plain sight but we cannot undo the magic that will have her name in the Hogwarts register. Tell her because she would have to face a world that would be far too cruel to her just for taking the name Black. Guide her and strengthen her for the challenges she has to meet would be dire. Once you tell her, let her read this letter, as soon as she reads it, the magic will unfurl and she'd regain back her memories as a child.

I, as your Paterfamilias, ask you Andromeda Black, of the most Ancient and Noble House of Black, to aide us and protect us in this grave situation, to do your duty and save your family. Gant an old man his last wish.

Prepare her Andromeda, prepare my little Astraea Alexis Black.

Arcturus Black

Alexis felt numbness spread from the tips of her fingers that were holding the letter, into each and every particle of her being, and before she could form a coherent thought, the letter dropped from her numb fingers and her eyes closed.

A part of her mind realized there were some garbled voices coming from a very long distance but her mind was not ready to accept, because right now, in her mind, she could clearly see a man, old with silver hair and sharp silver eyes reaching out to her…