The next morning, Marc got up early and ate breakfast provocatively dressed in his Gryffindor Quidditch robes. To his surprise, his father didn't comment, just started muttering about safety spells. After they ate another huge meal, he revised the books once more, did his warm up stretches and found his broomstick. This was going to be fun.

He only had the mornings to work with - the afternoons being taken up with lessons and the evenings he'd planned to use to practice his duelling. The first things it was suggested that he try were exercises to help him control his broom. He stood, the broom lying on the floor behind him, and tried to mentally summon it. When he'd managed that, he started guiding it around the pitch, summoning it to him every few minutes. If he couldn't position the broom where he wanted it in mid-air, he was going to be in trouble.

Under the anxious (and admiring) eyes of the rest of the family, Marc finally began the impressive stuff about an hour later. He flew up about ten metres into the air, then slowly stood up on the broom. He fell off. He'd managed this before in his very first Quidditch match, but it was very different so much higher and without the snitch to focus on. He landed, caught five centimetres above the ground with a jerk, and promptly remounted for more practice. By the end of the morning, he was flying comfortably around - just very slowly - and was talking enthusiastically about all the things he was thinking of trying next. Altair's face was getting greener and greener.

The next day he spent falling off his broom and hanging upside down above the pitch by his ankles because he hadn't managed to coax his broom into catching him before he it.

The next few days were the same.

A week later he jumped off and his broom soared down to settle comfortably underneath him with enough time for him to pull up out of the dive. He'd done it. The most famous manoeuvre of the Silvanian technique and one of the most difficult and he'd managed it after hours of solid training.

A few days later, dressed in black and silver formal robes of the Black family, he looked at Altair with horror.

"I can't do that! It's far too. . . too. . ."

"Its just how Sirius used to act, and we agreed you were going to try and be a bit more flamboyant, didn't we?" she said, her tone starting to get dangerous.

"Yes Mum, sorry Mum," Marc said quickly. Then he turned to his cousin, standing beside him in the Dumbledore robes. "Are you sure you'll do it?"

"I'm the only metamorphmagus around, aren't I? Who else would, kiddo?"

"Children, children," Merlin interrupted, doing a remarkable impression of Albus Dumbledore. "Now is not the time for this."

Marc scowled at her, she smirked back. Altair intervened quickly before fireworks broke out between the two most hot-tempered of his family.

"Fix your hair, then Sev can go over it one last time."

He sighed and spelled his hair silver to match his eyes. A growth spell followed, leaving it loose down to his shoulders.

"Marc, you'll go first. When you get there, ignore everyone else to start with. Next you'll see 'Harry's' head in the fire. Act like he's a good friend but like you're trying to get rid of him. We don't want to hang around long enough for your friends to notice anything wrong. Then I will come through, we've already discussed how you'll act. Finally, Miss Dumbledore will enter. You will act the perfect gentleman, however challenging that will be, and escort her to your seats."

"I know, we've been through this all before."

"Stage fright," Merlin whispered loudly to Peregrine. He was meant to hear. At a glare for his father, Marc ignored them and stepped into the fire.

"Gringotts, Room 253!" he called and was whisked away.

He arrived in a small hall in the depths of Gringotts. Despite Sirius' status as an escaped convict, it was already very full: all of the Order were there and a few others that Marc assumed were old school friends and relatives. Several of them turned to identify the new arrival. Strangely enough, no one seemed to be able to. Marc smiled sweetly at them and waited. He had to admit that in his black and silver robes, with his silver hair and eyes and perfectly tanned skin from his Quidditch, he did cut quite a stunning figure. He was just glad he wouldn't have to go back to school like this.

A moment later the fire flared again and a head appeared. Marc winced inwardly - it was very weird talking to himself.

"Yes Harry, what is it?" he asked, trying the 'big brother' style approach.

"Just wanted to make sure you'd say 'hi' to them from me."

"I told you I would, didn't I? Gramps will kill you if he knows you're there. Besides, there are other people wanting to Floo in, aren't there?"

"Yes. I'll see you later then."

Marc breathed out. That had gone okay. As his father stepped through, he bowed slightly and stepped aside. Everyone suddenly lost their interest in the fire and went back to their conversations. No one crossed Severus Snape, especially his former students.

A few minutes later, when Marc's self control in preventing himself from fidgeting was starting to waver, Nymphadora Dumbledore stepped through looking every inch the scion of a pureblood house in the silver and white robes of the Dumbledore family. He bowed with a flourish, cursing his stepmother as he did so for the embarrassment she was causing him, and she curtsied deeply. That made him feel better - she was hating this just as much as he was. He offered his arm as he'd practised so many times and led her formally to their seats at the front of the room.

At that, Remus Lupin, who'd been asked by Sirius to read out the will, got up onto the platform at the front of the room. The room fell silent.

"This is the will of Sirius Octavius Black. I will begin by asking you to forgive anything in this document that is not perfect legal language. I was unable to access legal advice at the time of writing due to reasons beyond my control.

To Kingsley Shacklebolt and Alastor Moody I leave any equipment and items from my career as an Auror. I know they will put them to use - they have been sadly neglected recently.

To Ronald Weasley, Remus Lupin and Severus Snape jointly I leave the contents of my personal library. Ronald should know exactly what he is to do with this inheritance.

To Severus Snape I leave any Potions, ingredients and brewing equipment found in my townhouse. Contained amongst these are some valuable basilisk fangs.

To Remus Lupin, I leave exactly one sixth of the money in Gringotts vault 711, my personal vault. With this, he requested to buy a new wardrobe. To him is also left the photographs and memorabilia from my school years.

A further sixth of this vault is left to Albus Dumbledore, to be used to further the work of the Order of the Phoenix. The property that has been given over to him continues in his possession until the need for it is no longer present.

Two sixths of the contents of said vault is left to Arthur and Molly Weasley to be dealt with as they see fit.

The final two sixths is left to my cousin Andromeda or the house of Black to be inherited upon her demise by her daughter Nymphadora. I formally request that she take guardianship of my heir, who has not yet reached his majority, and look after his interests until he is capable himself.

Everything else belonging to the family Black is left to my son, Orion Sirius Black. He is heir to my name and estate and inherits the position of head of the House of Black immediately upon my demise. To him also goes the seat on the pureblood high council and responsibility for the scions of the house of Black, few though they are.

As I have stated, let it be done.

Sirius Octavius Black

Master of the House of Black

Auror

Order of Merlin 3rd Class"

Remus stepped down and the silence was broken as people began to talk. For Marc, there had been no surprises, although for practically everyone else, the knowledge that Sirius, an acknowledged ladies' man in his youth, had actually settled down long enough to sire a son was a revelation. Even more astonishing was his lack of discovery in the notoriously nosy wizarding world.

Sandwiched firmly between his cousin and Severus, Marc walked over to join the group containing Remus, Albus and the Weasleys. His father was acting the disapproving guardian to him and was no doubt enjoying every minute of his discomfort. Hermione, of course, could not attend since she wasn't a pureblood. This was supposedly also the case for 'Harry'.

"Well done Moony," Marc said quietly, coming up behind him.

"Orion," Remus acknowledged him. "You're looking well. You've grown since I last saw you."

"Well, it was about time. You have Mum to blame for the hair, I promise you it was not my idea."

"I never expected that it was. It's not quite your style."

"I've been informed I'll be wearing it like this whenever I'm in public. She thinks is a better image for a pureblood to present. I couldn't care less personally."

"It does look a bit strange on you," Remus said, smiling slightly in amusement and approval. The long hair in particular would hide any resemblance to Harry Potter. "I apologise, everyone this is Orion Black. He's been going through some intense training, that's why he hasn't been attending Hogwarts. Have you finished now?"

"Almost. By next term, I'll start working for the Order properly, though I can' t see them allowing me in any sort of combat situation for a good few years."

"I should think not," Molly Weasley said sharply. "Not at your age. You can't be much older than Ron here."

"I'm younger actually," Marc said, winking at her.

"Exactly. I'm Molly Weasley dear, these are Arthur, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny. My eldest son, Bill, is over talking shop with Alastor. I assume you know Remus and Albus?"

"I have that pleasure. They've been kind enough to assist with my training. I am sure everyone here knows Severus Snape. This is my cousin Miss Dumbledore."

"Albus?" Arthur said, sounding surprised.

"Oh yes, I was married. She's been doing much the same as Orion as regards to her education. Informed me quite plainly aged ten that she didn't want to go to Hogwarts because everyone would stare at her. Quite the character she was."

"Grandad," Buzz moaned. Marc grinned at her.

"Come on, we'd better get back to work. I really want to get out of lessons soon and I promised Merlin I'd help her with that Quidditch move. It was a pleasure meeting everyone - I'm looking forward to working with everyone in the future. I am sure we will be seeing a lot of each other when you return to Hogwarts."

With that, he bowed slightly to the assembled company, shook Remus' hand, hugged Dumbledore and led his entourage out, leaving a stunned group of people behind. Yes this was what they would have expected from someone so closely related to Sirius, but to be so dashing with them in that setting, when they'd hardly met, was surprising. As for seeing them next term, what could he mean by that? If he was younger than Ron, he was far too young to take the Defence Against the Dark Arts post, however qualified he was.