Chapter 17

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J.K. Rowling. This story is for entertainment only and not part of the official storyline.

Author's Note: This is where I apologize profusely for falling off the map! My goodness, I am so sorry. But, I'm back now with a new update, and a chapter in progresss! I can't believe how many are enjoying my story. Thank you so much. I will share that while I've fallen off the map with Reclaiming the House, I have wrote several chapters of a new story I couldn't get out of my head. It should begin publishing in January so look for that!!

Anyways, on to the story.

Refresher: The boys meet the family...

Orion watched as the two young men arrived at the Granger residence. He turned to look at his daughter who stood at the window chewing on her bottom lip. She was nervous. Not that she didn't have a reason to be. He may live like a muggle and work as a muggle, but Orion Black came from the Ancient and Noble House Of Black. He was first and foremost the Paterfamilias to his house and several cadet branches of Blacks that, if they knew he was still alive, would have worried about their own behavior. Soon. They would know soon.

He opened the door for the two men, ushering them inside. Hermione stood and swept into a curtsy, her behavior setting the expectations of the meeting.. Both men stiffened, surprise transparent on their faces.

Orion gave a mental grin. They had never been introduced to pureblood Hermione Black. Hermione's Granger persona had to be airtight but Hermione was a Black first and foremost. She was raised to know her place, even if he was extremely more lenient to her then he had been to Sirius or Regulus.

"Mr. Pucey, Mr. Krum. Welcome. We will be departing shortly for France." Hermione stated serenely after straightening.

The two men gave short bows, before gaining their composure. Orion expected it was more force of habit then actual awareness of their situation. Hermione was nervous, yes, but she was also upset. Orion understood. He had heard from two different sources about the happenings at Hogwarts.

He watched, an unemotional mask, as both men turned and gave him small bows. He nodded his head briefly, knowing that the short greeting would make the two men nervous. He smirked as he saw his daughter hide a giggle behind her hand.

"Thank you for inviting us into your home, Mr... Granger." Adrian stuttered out. The boy obviously was unsure of what to call him still. Orion gave a wicked grin in return.

"It was my understanding that my daughter did not give you much of a choice. It was show up or send my sons to retrieve you." Orion nodded serenely, like kidnapping scions of noble houses was an everyday occurrence.

"I vould always show up for Hermione." Viktor grumbled quietly before stating with more confidence, "Ve still appreciate the sincere invitation. Are ve port-keying to France?"

Hermione cleared her throat drawing the attention of the men in the room. "Yes, the pork-key is ready now. Please hold on." She held out a small music box, a trinket from one of the travels Regulus had gone on during her childhood.

The three men grasped the trinket, holding tightly as they watched Hermione activate it. They felt a sharp tug behind their navels before disappearing from the Granger sitting room.

Arriving, the two nervous men glanced around. Adrian held out a hand for Hermione to steady herself but watched as she ignored it in favor of leaning towards her father. Orion straightened Hermione before turning. As he left the room he tossed, "Please escort Hermione to the Silver receiving room. She will show you the way," over his shoulder. He disappeared down a long hallway, giving the three some time to gather themselves.

"This is my home, welcome. We stay here most often and I lived her entirely until I was five. We moved to London then." Hermione straightened her clothing before glancing around the main receiving room. The Black family crest hung largely above the fireplace, a focal point for the room.. She wondered if either of them would notice. She watched the men look around and realized both were staring at the large crest. Apparently both were more observant than she had counted on.

"We are in a Black family home?" Adrian asked. "The other manor was a Black property also."

They both stared hard at Hermione before she stunned both of them. "Allow me to introduce myself." Dipping into a full, formal curtsy that her mother had taught her to use, "I am Hermione Black, daughter of Orion Black and Eileen Prince. Sister to Sirius and Regulus Black and Severus Snape. It's lovely to officially welcome you to House Black."

Both men blinked several times as she rose and stood patiently waiting. Adrian was the first to react.

"Blood fucking hell." He mumbled just loud enough for all of them to hear. "I knew it would be big. People think your house has fallen. Didn't they die, or are imprisoned?" He questioned Hermione to no success. She stood still waiting for Viktor.

Viktor, while Bulgarian, was still familiar with the Black family. They were considered one of the darkest families in Europe after all. While his family were not exactly light, they have never came close to having the reputation of the Black witches and wizards. He nodded in consideration. It did not change that he cared for Hermione. "It does not change that ve are bonded, nor does it change that I care for you."

Hermione smiled at the pair, noticing that Adrian held himself straight but seemed to have calmed himself. She held her arms out to each man, letting her wrap around their arms and guided them down the hall to meet her family.

"My brothers are all here. They know about everything that happened this summer and at Hogwarts. It's the first time they've been able to play protective big brother, so if they're obnoxious, I feel like I should apologize now." Hermione told the two men, embarrassed.

"Don't be shy, love. I can take the punishment. I deserve it for not being aware that I was setting off your magic." Adrian told her, caressing her fingers with his empty hand.

Hermione looked him in the eye. They stopped walking as he waited for Hermione to realize he was sincere. Hermione gave a small happy hum before leaning towards him comfortably. The small embrace was quick but it reminded Adrian what he could have potentially lost in his desire to keep her safe.

Viktor realizing the pair were having a moment stepped to the side. He was stunned when, after embracing Adrian, Hermione pulled him to her as well. He couldn't stop the small grin as the witch wrapped her hands around his waist in a delicate hug.

"Thank you for taking this so well. We've a lot of information that Father feels is necessary to share with you. I would like to fully explain why I hide who I am. Are you ready?" Hermione asked the pair after pulling away from Viktor. She held both men's hands with her own, her soft skin distracting the pair briefly.

"Let's go. Ve can handle this, Mila. I have faced a dragon, as you know." Viktor joked.

She giggled as an elf appeared and opened the door to allow them entrance to the family greeting room. A lunch was spread out over one table, small plates and drinks were placed near three empty seats around the room. Hermione pointed out the food before making her own plate and gliding to a seat across from her mother.

Her brothers and father, upon her entering the room, had stood to greet her. They sat gracefully into their seats, each crossing a leg over a knee. A look they had perfected as casual elegance, for each of them, Severus included, looked exactly like a pureblood snob at that moment. She smiled at her mother, who in turn rolled her eyes towards the men's antics. Viktor and Adrian both walked towards Hermione and took seats next to her.

She watched the men settle their gazes first on the head of Slytherin house. They gave a courteous nod before lowering their eyes and scanning the room. Their gaze fell on Sirius, who while looking elegant and intimidating, had the most relaxed posture of the men in the room.

Gryffindor that he was, he grinned at the two men before it turned into a deep smirk. "So boys, think you're ready to learn about our family? We're murderers and dark arts practitioners, you know."

Hermione tried to suppress her laugh. It came out as an actual snort. Her mother tutted before chuckling herself.

"Sirius was framed. He, of everyone in the room has done the least dark magic. Nor did he kill anyone." Hermione gathered herself, still trying to hide the small shudders as she laughed at her brother.

Viktor, his face passive just nodded before picking at his food. He was unsure of what to say. The man had spent twelve years in Azkaban before escaping. No one escaped. He would wait to pass judgement before taking Hermione's word that he was the least harmless of the group.

Adrian had grown up at the hands of the pureblood elite and was told the story of Sirius Black as a child. He didn't react, but watched as the man in question just huffed at his sister before going back to his sandwiches.

"You're no fun, Hermione. I was really getting into the role of Slytherin Heir to the family. I thought it sounded realistic." Sirius grumbled between bites.

"Brother, if you were an actual Slytherin, you would have sat quietly like Severus or myself. We plan on waiting to find their weaknesses and if they hurt Hermione, we will exploit them and cause unfathomable suffering." Regulus gave an evil grin at the two men who blanched. Severus only grunted a confirmation before crossing his arms over his dark robes.

"Well, hell. That was rather ominous. This is why I wasn't a snake." Sirius chuckled as he watched his brother after threatening the two seventh years.

"Excellent, now that we've established Sirius's lion heart and gotten all of the threats out of the way, can we get down to business?" Hermione said, sarcasm oozing from every word.

All three brothers turned to Hermione, devious smiles spread across their faces. "Hermione, you sound nervous." Severus asserted from his position on the chaise.

Eileen straightened from her seat across from Hermione. Her peach colored day robes pulling tight as she stood. "Boys! That is enough." She pronounced with a frown. "This is serious."

"No! I'm…" Sirius started.

"Do not finish that sentence Sirius Orion Black." Orion Black demanded, making his presence known. All of the men, Adrian and Viktor included, sat up just a little straighter. The paterfamilias acknowledged the change and rose from his seat next to his wife. "Let's begin."

Severus, as a former Death Eater, has noticed changes to the mark that Tom Riddle, otherwise known as Lord Voldemort, placed on his — followers arms." The sneer marked Orion's irritation.

"It has begun darkening. We— Former death eaters and Albus Dumbledore, believe that he will be returning to some form of power by the end of the year. It appears to coincide with the Tri-Wizard Tournament." Severus affirmed, raising his sleeve to show the group the stain on his arm. Regulus nodded, his sleeve pulled up to show his marked arm as well.

Viktor, Hermione and Adrian each stared at the mark as the snake very faintly moved through the skull. None of them had ever seen a mark this dark and apparent. By the time any of them were old enough to remember anything, Voldemort had been destroyed by baby Harry and Lily Potter.

"What do you plan to do, Sir?" Adrian asked, directing his question to Orion.

"The wizarding world will not last if we again go through a second war. My family barely made it out the first time. Bellatrix Lestrange, nee Black, left a deep stain on our honor as wizards with her unholy crusade to torture witches and wizards."

"We need to prepare Potter better. Albus refuses to help him." Severus growled.

"I don't understand what's going on with Dumbledore but I can't help but agree. I'm thankful for you and Harry saving me, but who in their right minds sends two third years with a time turner after a convict in a dementor and werewolf infested forest. Ridiculous.." His face red, Sirius near shouted his anger. The therapy had given him his mind back from the dementors and he was very cognizant of the headmaster's lack of concern for the charges under him.

"Hermione, is that what you did at the end of last year?" Adrian stood abruptly from his seat. "I told you that using that timeturner was dangerous. I still don't understand why you had it." He paced in front of her chair before turning to glare at the young witch.

Hermione reached up and patted Adrian's hand gently. "I know you did. It's over and I returned the device. Now, can we please move along?"

Adrian grumbled but slowly returned to his seat, not removing his hand from Hermione's. If anyone noticed, they made no mention of it.

"We need to teach Harry to duel. Viktor? Adrian? Do you both know occumulency?" Hermione asked.

Both men glanced at each other before turning back to Hermione. "I am not the best at it." Adrian admitted.

Viktor nodded in agreement, "I could use some practice, yes."

"Excellent. When we return to Hogwarts, you both will begin lessons with Severus. You can work out the details, but know that this should not be broadcasted about." Eileen took charge. She narrowed her eyes as several members of their group made to disagree. They closed their mouths immediately.

"As for Harry Potter, we will begin his lessons over the summer. We'll have better access to him then. Though from what Hermione has said, he will not trust Severus easily. We'll have figure out a plan as the time comes. Our first goal is to get him away from those abusive pigs he lives with."

The family nodded, filling in any gaps that Adrian and Viktor, both outsiders wouldn't know about the boy-who-lived. They seemed shocked that Harry Potter had survived so much in his short life. The entire wizarding world heard stories about the boy growing up, no matter the country. For a child to be left in the care of angry muggles, a child hero at that, seemed unbelievable.

The conversation progressed to the next task of the tournament. Viktor told them about the egg, the ship had a carved mermaid that had recognized the language. That led to a swim in the Black Lake to discover the hidden meaning under water. The older men seemed concerned by what they would have to retrieve. They looked towards Hermione worriedly.

She shrugged, "If it's me, at least I'll be asleep while Viktor's in danger. That should keep me from having a magical discharge. They wouldn't keep me awake and waiting for him to rescue me from under water."

The family all made different faces at Hermione's blunt statement. None of them wished Hermione to be put in more danger then need be, especially with her magic out of control when something happened.

"We have until February to come up with a plan if Hermione is taken. Severus will be informed prior to the task so we'll know." Orion declared, ending their arguments. The family moved on from their discussions to familiarizing Adrian and Viktor with the family. Orion told them about the property and Hermione gave them tours.

By the end of the evening, both men were comfortable around Hermione's parents. They all planned to spend the next few days with the family in France. She sighed thinking about what she agreed to earlier. It was almost New Year's Eve and Sirius had convinced the group to go out to muggle Paris. Hermione anticipated trouble with all three of her brothers and her two bonded spending time around alcohol together. Hopefully, nothing too dramatic would happen, though there wasn't much she could do if it did. She was the only one that would be underage.