3 Chapter three- reconnecting with family

It was early in the next morning that Kreacher and I appeared with a pop in a side ally of Diagon Alley. I bent over with my hands on my knees as I took several deep breaths as I waited for my stomach to settle, I don't think I'm ever going to get used to travelling like that.

I looked to Kreacher and nodded my head, "Thank you for bringing me here Kreacher, I may be in need of your services later, be ready" I told him as I straightened myself up.

The old elf nodded to me, "Young master is too kind," he said before popping away as I turned and walked out of the alley into the main alley as I started towards the large building that was Gringotts bank.

After three hours debating with myself the previous night I had come to the conclusion on what needed to be seen too and arranged before someone else to try and pull something that I didn't want, while I would rather the position of my magical guardian remained unfilled the fact of the matter was it couldn't, if it was still not filled by the time I made it to Hogwarts then chances were good that I would be saddled with someone who would be under Dumbledore's thumb and I wanted to avoid that at all costs, so the only option left to me was to arrange for my own guardian, but only if they met my criteria.

Walking up the steps of Gringotts I headed directly for the head tellers desk stopping in front of it, and I was internally happy that I had glanced over a couple of books in the Black library on goblins to see what was fact and what wasn't and I was very happy with what I read, "Greetings Master goblin, may your vaults fill with gold and your enemies fall by your blade" I greeted him, while internally grinning like a child, the greetings along with most of the other stuff that I already knew about the goblins had turned out to be facts, they had been a warrior race and while they still were ferocious warriors that only the foolish would cross, they now tended to channel their warrior spirit into their banking, which is why I was treated so well given that house Black was one of the oldest and wealthiest families, my assertion to heir Black had brought the houses gold out of stasis which meant more gold to be made which pleased them greatly.

The head teller looked at me sharply his eyes blinking rapidly at my greeting for a couple of seconds before a toothy grin broke across his face, "And may your gold pile higher and your enemies blood flow red, young wizard, what business do you have with Gringotts this day." he asked still grinning.

I held up my hand to him as my heir ring appeared on it for a couple of seconds letting him see before it faded from sight as I withdrew my hand, "I need to speak with my account manager, can you have someone escort me to his office."

The teller nodded and looking over his shoulder he let out a snarl out in goblin speak and another goblin came around the desk, the head teller looked to me once more, "Filnuk here will take you to Ironclaw's office, may your vaults overflow and your enemies fall to your mercy young wizard" he said as he continued to grin.

I nodded, "May your gold overflow, and your enemies cower in fear." I returned before I was led away by Filnuk down the corridor towards Ironclaw's office, in truth I remembered the way to it as I had just visited the day before, but I figured it would be better to have a goblin escort rather than just go walking around Gringotts bank without one and risk being accused of trying to steal from the goblins.

Reaching the door Filnuk gestured for me to go in, I nodded to him and entered, Ironclaw was behind his desk when I did so and he looked up from some paperwork and grinned seeing me, "Ah Master Black. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

I smiled, "I have three matters that I need your aid in. My grandfather's portrait told me that Gringotts knows how to be discreet in matters, which I feel is most important until I am ready to announce to the rest of the wizarding world that house Black has returned heir and all."

Ironclaw grinned a toothy grin at my statement, "Indeed we are Master Black, and what are matters can Gringotts bank assist the House of Black in today?" he asked as he gestured for me to sit down in the chair on the opposite side of his desk.

I nodded and took my seat, "Well as you can likely imagine after so many years of sitting ideal, Black manor has fallen into disrepair, I have recently restored the wards and bound them to myself with my Grandfathers instructions on how to do so, they are working well, it is the rest of the house that needs to be seen to, I would like to ask to enlist Gringotts aid to see the manor restored"

Ironclaw nodded on this, "Yes I had suspected as much, we can easily arrange to have renovations be done on Black manor, but we will need to have a surveyor out to see all that needs doing before we can begin, of course, all with complete confidentiality as expected" he grinned.

"Of course," I nodded in response, "We can schedule a day, I was hoping to have the renovations start in the next week or so, and take however long is needed, as I will be away at Hogwarts in the months following this," I explained, "Now, as to the next matter, I am sure you are aware being the account manager for the House of Black that the manor only has one house elf, Kreacher, and he is getting on in age and it is this fact that has caused the manor to fall into such a state, I was informed that Gringotts could arrange for the acquisition of a new house elf, preferably a young one or even a pair that could better care for the house and aid its heir, me, in anything I need."

Ironclaw nodded once again, "A very expensive purchase but a necessary expenditure, I can arrange to have a showing of elves for you in the next two to three days for you to take your pick, would that be acceptable?"

I nodded, "Yes. Would the showing take place here at the bank?" Ironclaw nodded and I nodded once more, "Send me an owl with notice as to the time and date when you know and I shall attend, now this third matter is one that I need to be taken care of today, that is of the utmost importance." I said as I leant forward, "As I came into the wizarding world just recently, I was only made aware of the fact that when I attend Hogwarts that the headmaster will take on the responsibilities of being my Magical guardian as I have none and will do so for the time I am there"

Ironclaw nodded, "Yes this is fact, it was put into place in the beginning of Hogwarts when it was obvious that those with only muggle parents couldn't make informed decisions for their children when attending the school, rather foolish if you ask me."

I nodded, "Yes and something I want to prevent happening to myself, but as I have been informed by my grandparents it cannot be stopped, so there is only one option left to me, and that is to choose my own magical guardian before I attend Hogwarts so that the headmaster can't do so for me"

Ironclaw grinned, "A wise decision indeed, I take it you have some people you would like to ask?"

I nodded, "I do and I have a proposition to make them involving it after all one never goes to someone to ask for something and not have a way to make sure they get what they want out of it"

Ironclaw seemed to chuckle darkly at that statement, "Indeed young master Black, do tell me more" he inquired

---Scene break- third person POV---

Andromeda Tonks Nee Black, was not a woman most people dared trifle with, as most people knew the women of the House of Black were forced to be reckoned with, and regardless of the woman's chosen profession of being a Med-witch, she could still throw curses and hexes like Blacks were known for when angered.

Her husband, Edward "Ted" Tonks was another who most knew not to cross as he was an ex-auror who retired to become a law-wizard after his daughter was born, but still kept up his training and could keep up with his wife in order to have her back in any duel or fight.

Their daughter Nymphadora Tonks, who hated her first name, was a recent graduate of Hogwarts, and was currently sporting her latest bright pink hairstyle as she and her mother and father walked up the steps of Gringotts bank after receiving a missive from the Tonks account manager requesting a meeting with all three Tonks most urgently, but none had any idea as to why it was requested as the letter hadn't specified.

"This is really strange, you sure you have no idea what this could be about?" Tonks asked her father.

Ted shook his head, "Not a clue Dora, we'll just have to wait and see" he said as they walked in.

Andromeda was watching around wearily, "I don't like this why would they ask for all three of us, it doesn't make sense," she said as she voiced her concerns.

Ted nodded his head, "It is unusual but I highly doubt the goblins mean us any wrong, come on let go" he placated her as the three turned and headed down a side corridor where the lesser account managers were and soon came to theirs and with a knock and a call to enter they did so.

The Tonks account manager, Ragluk, was sitting behind his desk with a rather large grin on his face which put the Tonks off somewhat, a grinning goblin was a strange sight for most wizards

"As good you've all come as requested, good, this will all run more smoothly then" the goblin spoke.

Andromeda stepped forward, "For what purpose did we all have to come goblin" she demanded wanting answers.

Ragluk put up his hands in a placating manner, "All will be explained shortly, an offer has been made from another house for aid and an alliance, but there are stipulations, one of such is that I have to ask each of you a question and your answer to said question will decide if the offer still stands or not"

Ted frowned at this it was unheard of for a house to just offer aid to another out of the blue and not want something in return, he suspected that's what the other stipulations were but he needed more information, "Which house is offering us this aid and what are the other stipulations?" he asked.

Ragluk shook his head, "I have been instructed to withhold such information until after I have been given your answers for the first stipulation, please take a seat in the three chairs in front of his desk.

The Tonks gave each other glances but nodded to one another and each took their seats with no further complaints, Andromeda sat forward in her chair, after a moment, "Ask the question goblin" she instructed.

Ragluk gave a sharp nod, "The other house requests to know: What is your opinion and do you trust Albus Dumbledore" he stated plainly.

That got various responses from each of the Tonks, Tonks first was too shocked to answer and Ted blinked as he tried to figure out just what the other house could be after wanting to know such information, while Andromeda just crossed her arms and sat back before stated her answer.

"No I don't," She said getting looks from both her husband and her daughter like she had just grown a third head, "Oh don't give me those looks, I was in Slytherin when I was at Hogwarts my views of him are different for a reason"

"But he's Dumbledore," Tonks said sounding scandalised, "How can you not trust him?"

"Because I don't, the man has a power complex. He holds three powerful positions in our world. He claims to be light but yet his actions say differently. He works his wording very carefully and plays manipulation games with others as his pawns. I saw him do so in the last war. It was through his actions that got my cousin Sirius locked up in Azkaban. I don't care what anyone said he was innocent. There was no way a Black would have betrayed the Potters when he knew he was the only one capable of doing so, it would have been like him walking into the ministry minutes after the deed was down and declaring it was him who set them up. Gryffindor or not that would be just plain stupidity and Sirius was anything but that" She stated firmly.

Ted nodded his head as his wife continued, "I'm of a similar position on the matter of Sirius, the man was not a fool and there were too many unanswered questions involving his incarceration, and Dumbledore has never been the kind to strike me as letting questions go unanswered except in this instance, I don't trust the man either," he said before deciding to cover his bases, "But if he offered aid I wouldn't turn it down"

Tonks couldn't believe what she was hearing neither of her parents trusted Dumbledore, sure she knew that neither of them had ever spoken highly of the man but to completely not trust him was something she wasn't expecting, and while she wanted to argued differently, both her parents made good points and she didn't honestly know what to think anymore as she swallowed, "I'm not sure anymore, I used to think he was a good guy and part of me still wants to believe it but with what my folks are saying, I'm just not sure anymore" she said sounding a little down hearted.

Ragluk nodded, "Good, those answers are acceptable" he said as he stood up from his chair, "Please follow me, a meeting room has been set up for you and the current head of the other house to meet to discuss the other stipulations, he requested all of you to be there as there is a single stipulation for each of you that each of you will have to agree to, or so I have been told"

The three Tonks stood up and followed Ragluk out of his office and down through the corridor to a prepared meeting room, as they walked in they were greeted with the sight of Magnus sitting on the opposite side of the large table in the room.

Magnus smiled before looking at Ragluk, "Thank you Ragluk, I take it their answers fell within what I asked?"

Ragluk nodded, "They did, I would not have brought them if they didn't" the goblin replied.

Ted looked from Ragluk to Magnus and back before speaking, "What is this, what's going on here, I thought…" he said before Magnus cut him off.

"That you were coming to talk with another lord about offered aid for your house," Magnus said with a smile, "I assure you mister Tonks that this is that meeting, while I may not be a lord I am capable of offering you aid, please sit down, and let me explain" he said and looked to both Andromeda and her daughter, "All three of you"

The Tonks looked to each other for a moment before they moved to take their seats both Tonks women taking a seat on either side of Ted as he sat in the middle facing Magnus who sat with his fingers stapled below his chin as he rested his elbows on the table, "Alright young man, care to explain just what is going on?" Ted asked sternly.

Magnus smiled, "It's really very simple mister Tonks, I am the heir apparent to a very prominent house, one ancient and most noble, currently the last of my name, but I am in need of assistance." Magnus explained, "You see being as both my parents are dead I am without a guardian, magical or otherwise, and come September I am going to be attending Hogwarts school, and by magical law all students who attend Hogwarts school who do not have magical guardians, have that position filled by the prestigious headmaster at the school for as long as I am there. I would like to avoid this and there are only two ways at present to do that. One is not available to me and the other is to have it filled, I would like to request House Tonks aid in doing this."

Tonks blinked, "Wait all this is because you don't want the headmaster to be your magical guardian? Why not?" she asked Magnus not understanding his thinking.

Magnus smirked and shook his head, "I would have thought that was obvious from the question you were all asked before being brought to meet me," he explained before saying in a deadpan tone, "I don't trust Dumbledore, while I have never met the man just reading his title is enough to tell me he's not to be trusted, he has his finger in to many pies, holds to many cards, and I don't want someone like that using his control over me and to an extension my house for his own gains."

Andromeda smirked, "So that's one of the specifications you have for us if we want your house's aid, one of us take on the role of your magical guardian then," she mused as she voices her suspicions.

Magnus nods, "One yes, that one is meant for you Mrs Tonks, while I would request that your husband here becomes my legal counsel, I hear that he is quite the law wizard and I would like to retain his services for any future needs for my house, I'll make sure that all your fees are paid in full of course" he explained as he smirked.

Andromeda gave a snort, "Those are quite the specifications, anything else?" she asked with a smirk of her own.

Magnus grinned, "In point of fact, I do, but it'd to do with your roll of my magical guardian, I would request that you would only hold that as a title only and not use such power to arrange things against my will, I've already had a contract drawn up by the goblins for you to sign to this effect that I will be expecting you do to so should this come into effect, as a precautionary measure, I don't like to take chances"

Ted shook his head, "Nobody will be signing any contracts, we are just talking right now" he said waving his hand to me, "But I am intrigued by your request to retain my services, young man, I'm sure we can work something out if your family is as reputable as we have been lead to believe."

Andromeda looked at Magnus pensively, "You're talking some big game for such a young boy, who by all accounts should only have just been introduced to the world of magic. If what you have said is true, so how is it you know so much? What makes you think that I would even accept signing a contract like that?" she said as her eyes narrowed.

Magnus smiled as he repositioned his hands so his right cheek was resting on his right hand with his fingers showing as his heir ring flickered into view, "Oh dear cousin, I would have thought it would have been obvious, that you never go into a negotiation without making sure you had something the other person wants," he spoke as he watched Andromeda's eyes widen as she saw the ring and realisation donned on both the other Tonks as they heard him speak, "While the condition for house Blacks aid and an alliance between house Tonks and house Black is for you to take up my magical guardianship, your signing the contract is in exchange for me offering to welcome both you and Nymphadora here back as daughters of house Black, lifting your unjust banishment." he explained with his smile never leaving his face.

Andromeda looked at Magnus her eyes wide, "Who are you?" she asked in shock not understanding at all.

Magnus smiled, "You can call me Magnus, I'm Regulus's firstborn, born after his death, and only recently discovered, I claimed my heirship to the House of Black yesterday but as you can understand I'm in a little bit of trouble."

Andromeda looked like she had just been slapped, "Regulus…" she said as she put the pieces together, "Yes I remember, I heard rumours that he had been dating a girl whose family was just only barely recognised as purebloods with three generations of magic in their line, you were hers then"

Magnus nodded, "I am, which is why I am seeking out house Tonks help, I honestly don't like the whole way you were thrown out of the family, hell you are probably the closed thing I have to blood who isn't currently locked up, which is another reason I don't trust Dumbledore, the whole thing around Uncle Sirius's incarceration is very suspicious to me but I have no way to even try and look into it yet, which is one of the reasons I'm wanting to bring mister Tonks here in as a Law-wizard for house Black to try and get the ball rolling and see if everything is on the up and up" he explained to them with a straight face.

Andromeda sat back gobsmacked by what she had just heard as did Ted, the prospects of what Magnus was proposing would be huge for them both.

Tonks who had been too shocked seeing the ring she had only ever been told about to hear her hated name being spoken finally snapped out of things and leaned forward curiously, "So… cousin, we were told you had specifications for all of us, what's mine?" she asked as she crossed her arms across her chest.

Magnus looked to Tonks with a smile, "Your's is simple really" he said as he shook his head and his black hair turned pink matching Tonks own shade something that he had been practicing all night doing after getting a book on Metamorphmagus from the Black library, turned out they had an entire row devoted to them

Tonks gasped, "You're a Metamorphmagus like me," she said with a smile on her face.

Magnus nodded, "Yep, it's a magical skill passed down the Black line isn't it," he grinned as his pink hair turned to his usual colour, "Sadly I'm told I'm only a partial Metamorphmagus, I can only alter little things about myself, but it's still tricky enough, and I was hoping to enlist your help in learning how to master what of the skill I have" he smiled to her before looking the three over with a grin, "So are you three interested?"

---Scene break---

Half an hour later Magnus and the Tonks came out of Gringotts bank with the contract signed and Andromeda set up as Magnus's new magical guardian thereby protecting house Black and Magnus from any manipulations that Dumbledore could have tried.

"Right then I'll leave you three to get to things, I have files to go hunt down to see if we can't get to the bottom of this whole Sirius matter," Ted said as they walked down the steps.

Magnus nodded his head, "Do that but be careful, if people hear you're asking around about this you could get the wrong kind of attention" Magnus warned him.

Ted gave him a smirk, "I've been doing this a while now Magnus, I think I can look after myself, I know well and good that this is a sensitive matter, I'll tread lightly as possible" he said reassuringly before giving Andromeda a kiss on the cheek and apparated right after to get to work.

Andromeda nodded, "Right you said that you had some business to take care of in the alley first before we can go to Black manor?" she stated.

Magnus nodded, "I did, I have to pick up my robes from Madam Malkin's, I ordered a completely new wardrobe yesterday need to pick them up before we leave, and I need to get myself an owl, in hindsight I should have gotten one yesterday so I could correspond with Gringotts over house matters, but that had slipped my mind given that yesterday that I had no one else to send mail to, that's changed now."

Tonks smirked, "Well I can go and get your clothing if you want, bet the madam will be scared to see me again I gave her quite the headache all those years I was getting my robes as I constantly changed my height and other measurements while she was taking them," she explained with a grin.

Magnus smirked, "Sure thanks, just tell her it's for the second Metamorphmagus she knows, I didn't tell her my name or what house I was from on account of not wanting that information to get out yet" he explained.

Tonks nods, "You got it, see ya in a few cousin" she smirked before heading down the alley ahead of them.

Andromeda looked at Magnus with a raised eyebrow, "You really are a strange little boy, you know that. Planning all this out and hiding your house, all one big plan to keep who you are hidden and not let anyone know just to get things your way, very Slytherin of you in a way."

Magnus smirked, "I'll take that as a complement," he said with an amused tone, he was rather pleased with his actions as of late things were falling into place nicely nothing had gone wrong yet to his knowledge, he had covered all his basis in the meeting, they had agreed to all his terms and he had kept to his with an alliance now formed between house Black and house Tonks, both women were reinstated back into house Black, and he had even set up trust vaults for them both with ten thousand galleons in each to be refiled yearly from the main vault, given how well the blacks were off he didn't see the problem with it as they were entitled to it as much as he was, "I just don't like the idea of someone I don't know controlling me and making me do things I don't want to do, you spend ten years in an orphanage day in day out being told what do to by adults who look down on you because they can feel your different, being treated like a pariah by the other kids, you learn to dislike people controlling you"

Andromeda just nodded accepting that answer as they walked down the alley and into the Owl Emporium, inside they were greeted with the sight of many cages with a number of owls all in their cages. Magnus began to browse the store looking for one that caught his interest, and spotted Hedwig still outside but brushed that idea off immediately not even giving the idea another thought before moving on deeper into the store before coming to a stop at a cage with a most unusual sight.

The owl inside was clearly that of a common Barn owl, but the colours were completely wrong, instead of having a white body with brown wings, it was instead had a brown body and its wings were a dark brown that was almost black, and when he looked at it he could feel something almost like a force pulling him towards the bird.

Thinking to himself for a moment Magnus raised his hand with his detector ring on it thinking that perhaps it was a charm at work to make him drawn to buy the bird, but none of the gems on the ring lit up, he frowned and stepped closer to the bird and looked at it with intrigue, and watched in amusement as it tilted its head at him, he smirked and nodded. "You're perfect" he said and lifted the cage down from its hook gently as Andromeda came around the corner.

"Made your choice?" Andromeda asked seeing him with the cage.

Magnus nodded, "Yeah, he'll be perfect for my owl," he said as he held up the cage for her to take a look.

Andromeda made an O with her mouth as she saw him, "Oh my, what usual colours for such an owl, but he is very handsome looking, do you have any idea what you will call him?" she asked.

Magnus looked to be in thought for a moment before nodding, "Erebus, from the Greek Primordial deity representing the personification of darkness". This seemed to get another head tilt from the discoloured owl.

Andromeda raised an eyebrow, "Erebus... it suits him, even if it is a tad unusual" she smirked and turned heading to the front.

Magnus followed closely behind her with his new owl as he tried to go over things in his head about what was next to do when he got back to the manor when suddenly there was another voice in his head.

'Thank you for the very fitting name, young-wizard, not many would give such a name to an owl.'

Magnus stalled in his steps but quickly fell back into his stride so as not to let the sudden happening be known to those around him, 'Erebus?' he thought mentally.

'Yes young wizard you are hearing my voice inside your head, though we are not bonded yet, I hope to do that shortly with you, it is only because of our close proximity that I am able to speak with you like this' the voice said.

Magnus looked down at the owl and raised his eyebrow, 'I take it that you aren't a normal owl then?'

Erebus seemed to slightly shake its head, 'No I am not, but it would be best if we were in private for me to reveal my true form, and for us to bond properly, but might I request that you purchase a perch for a much larger avian, I have been cramped in this cage for so long'

Magnus seemed to smirk at the comment and chalked up the next thing on his to-do list as he made the necessary purchases, much to Andromeda's confusion before they left the store to meet up with Tonks before they apparated back to the manor.

---Scene break---

The three appeared on the streets outside the manor, both women looked around, Tonks was confused, "Um mom what are we doing here, I thought you were taking us to the manor" she asked looking around.

Andromeda nodded, "I was but all I can seem to remember is this street," she said before looking to Magnus, "I take it's because of some form of magic over the manor?" she asked unable to remember what was the reason.

Magnus nodded to her before speaking aloud to them both, "Black manor is located at number twelve Grimmauld Place"

Tonks looked to him for a moment as his words registered before she looked ahead and her eyes widened, "Wow, where the hell did that come from" she said shocked as if seeing the manor for the first time.

Andromeda groaned and held her head as something seemed to fall into place and she looked up seeing the manor as well, "I see, I remember now, the manor was hidden by a Fidelius Charm, when I was cast out of the family all knowledge of it was sealed in my mind so I couldn't betray the family any further… it certainly looks a lot more run down than I remember."

Magnus nodded, "Yeah just what I thought when I first saw it, the inside isn't much better, but I have arranged with Gringotts for a surveyor to come out in the next couple of days to do a quote on how much it would cost to see the manor restored to its original state, and I have another meeting with House-elf breeders to purchase a pair of new elves to keep the house in good working order, Kreacher is getting too old to do it himself."

Andromeda groaned, "Kreacher, I had almost forgotten about that monstrous little elf, is he still as foul-mouthed as I remember?"

Magnus shrugged as they walked towards the manors doors, "He seems alright with me, but I think that's something to do with him serving my dad before me and to do with my Heirship of the House of Black, he's treated me rather well, I even had him restock the pantry and clean the kitchen up last night, it, the library and my bedroom are probably the only three well-kept rooms in the house at this point,"

Opening the door the three stepped in and Tonks gave a whistle, "Yeah I can see what you mean, this place could really do with a good clean out and some major renovations" she said as she looked around.

Andromeda gave a sigh, "Home sweet home," she said with a droll, "Doesn't look like much has changed but the dust since I last set foot in here" she said not sounding one bit impressed.

Magnus nodded, "I didn't think it would have, so what do you two want to do first?" he asked them.

Andromeda gave a smirk, "I think I'm going to go have a word with my dear old auntie, I can't wait to rub it in her face about this, she took a little too much pleasure in blasting me off the family tapestry, just wait till she finds out that I've been welcomed back."

Tonks shrugged, "I'll go fix the three of us some lunch then, then after we can make a start on cleaning yeah? Looks like there's a lot to do."

Magnus nodded, "Sure, Andromeda mind waiting till I get Erebus set up in my trunk before I join you, I'd rather explain my reasons to my grandmother, so she isn't screaming down the house"

Andromeda nodded, "Sure I don't mind. What room are you staying in?"

"Second floor, in the room that used to belong to my father," Magnus said and gestured towards the stairs.

Andromeda looked sad for a moment but nodded, "Alright then, come on" she said starting towards the stairs carrying the large stand that Magnus had bought for Erebus.

Magnus followed behind her holding Erebus's cage and she shrunken boxes with his clothes in his pocket, while Tonks headed for the kitchen area to start making them lunch.

Reaching Magnus's bedroom Andromeda opened the door and she was greeted with the familiar sight, the room was now restored to its original size, three times the size that it had been when Magnus had first come in, the fireplace was further back and there was much more room to move, two large armchairs were placed on either side of the fireplace facing it their green upholstery looking worn with time, the dresser was still against the wall which was now further away from the bed giving more room to walk.

"It's just how I remember it," Andromeda commented as she came in.

Magnus smirked, "I haven't changed much of it, I spent last night in my trunks bedroom, the bed is more spacious and comfortable in there" he said as he walked over to the trunk and opened its lid, "I'll climb down, and you can pass me the stand when I'm in, would you mind waiting till I have Erebus set up on his stand?" he asked.

Andromeda nods, "I can do that," she said as she looked around the room with fond recollection.

Magnus nodded and started down his trunk with Erebus's cage in hand, getting down he was passed the large stand as well and carried both it and Erebus down the corridor of the trunk.

"Alright, where do you think I should set you up, my library and office or maybe out in the living room?" Magnus asked allowed knowing that Erebus could understand him.

'Your office works fine, and we still have matters to discuss, and our bonding to go through' Erebus responded in his head.

"Yeah, you mentioned something like that back in the alley, what's your deal anyway, what's with this bonding?" Magnus asked as he opened the door to his office and walked in.

'It is what must happen with every wizard when they are the chosen one to be bonded with a Phoenix'

Magnus stopped in his tracks when he heard that and looked down at the cage in shock, "Y-You're a phoenix, like Fawkes" he asked in shock.

Erebus bristles his feathers at the comment, 'Don't compare me to that poor excuse for a phoenix, Fawkes is only a shadow of what a true phoenix is meant to be like, his powers, size and capabilities have greatly demised since he was forcibly bonded to that wizard of his.'

Magnus was taken back by the comment as his mind raced to put together what that meant and his eyes widened, "Dumbledore forcibly bonded Fawkes to him? But why would he do that?"

Erebus snorted in Magnus's mind as if amused by the question, 'Simple, because people are easily fooled by what they believe, and are easily manipulated by their beliefs, such as the belief that we phoenixes will only bond with those who are forces of good, because we ourselves are the embodiment of light, when the reality couldn't be farther from the true, as we phoenixes are like magic itself, neither good nor evil, we just are. As for our choices in our bonded, we can feel when someone has a great destiny in front of them and we choose to bond to them in order to go with them through that destiny. It doesn't matter to us if that destiny is to be the world's saviour or its destroyer, we choose who are bonded are because we feel their destiny is worthy of us to be a part of it, just like I sense of you. Fawkes would have never willingly bonded with a pathetic excuse of a wizard such as he is now, what Phoenix would judge that man's destiny to be worthy of their partaking in it.'

Magnus didn't know what to say to that, but one thing was clear to him now, Dumbledore was definitely not as he seemed to be, he had already suspected the man, but if this was true then it just confirmed it for him without a doubt.

"Why do you look like an owl if you're really a phoenix then?" Magnus asked.

Erebus bristled his feathers again, 'Like I said before we Phoenix are thought to be the embodiment of light, and so expected to bond with wizards who are light, we are hounded by various wizards wanting to try and persuade us to bond with them, some even try to force a phoenix into bonding like that Dumbledore did to Fawkes, which would have been no small feat, it gets annoying after so long, and after the last fool tried to force me into a bonding and failed I was able to convince his student to place a spell on me that would allow me to hide my true form so that I would not be bothered by fools who would attempt such again'

Magnus listened as he set up the stand for Erebus and raised it to its full heights and screwed its top on placing the metal dish below it meant for food, but Magnus realised it would more than likely be used for Erebus's ashes on his burning days.

"But that's something I don't get," Magnus responded as he finished setting up the large standing, "If bonding a Phoenix is such a hard thing to do, why did you call Dumbledore a pathetic excuse of a wizard, wouldn't it take a powerful wizard to do such a thing?"

Erebus was silent for a moment but bobbed his head in agreement, 'It would yes, the wizard would have to have the power to constantly bombard the Phoenix with his will, to force the bonding to happen, doing so revelry weakens the Phoenix and we are drained of our strength in the battle, many wizards don't have the strength on their own to do this, that's why forced bondings are so rare, Dumbledore could never do such on his own, not with how strong he actually is'

Magnus' eyes seemed to widen at the realisation of what Erebus meant, "The elder wand, that's how he did it, the strongest wand, it increased his power to the point that he could easily do something such as force a phoenix into a bonding"

'Yes young-wizard that is it' Erebus responded, 'it was only after his attaining that wand was Fawkes seen with Dumbledore because he had never the power before to force the bonding before he claimed the wand from the dark lord he defeated'

"Grindelwald, the last owner of the elder wand before Dumbledore," Magnus stated as he started to put the pieces together.

Once again Erebus nodded his head, 'Yes, after defeating his so-called friend and claiming his wand the wizarding world was already singing his praises, his image only bolstered by his magic which was secretly enhanced by his new wand, but when he was seen with Fawkes as his familiar it solidified it in people's minds that Albus Dumbledore was a true force for good in the world, like I said people are easily fooled by what they believe, and are easily manipulated by their beliefs'

Magnus shook his head as everything fell into place, 'He tricked and manipulated all of them into believing that he was a force for good so that he could attain his own greater good… funny that it's the same saying that his friend Grindelwald used to follow… you have to wonder just who's greater good he is trying to achieve'

Erebus snorted again, 'That's a very good question perhaps one day you can ask him that to his face'

Magnus snorted in return with a smirk, "Perhaps one day I will, but for now let's get you out of that cage and get this bonding done" he said as he walked over to the cage and opened it taking the beautify coloured owl out of its cage and over to the large stand placing it on its perch, "Just out of curiosity, how do you know all of this?"

Erebus gave what could only be described as a smirk, 'We Phoenix have our ways, the tale of Fawkes is something all phoenixes know well, as it was one of the successful forced bonding's, why do you think phoenixes stay clear of Britain in general, none wish to take the chance of him forcing another bonding, the only reason I stayed is because I can hide myself, no other Phoenix wants to even risk it'

Magnus nodded at that it made sense, "So how do we go about this bonding thing?" he asked curiously.

Erebus stretched his wings out glad to be free of its small cage and bristled its feathers, 'It's simple really, I just need to peck your hand and draw your blood, our magic will do the rest to bond us and then I can show you my true form.'

Magnus sighed and shook his head, "What is it with magic and blood, it seems like every day now I have to bleed to do anything" he stated in mock annoyance as he held out his hand to the bird.

Erebus snorted in his mind once more before his head bobbed forwards at Magnus's hand and his sharp beak nipped at the boy's finger with a quick nip that drew blood, Magnus gave a hiss and withdrew his hand seeing the blood and groaned, "It that it"

Erebus nodded his head before his whole body seemed to glow at the same time as Magnus felt a pressure on his head which made him wince, like the world's worst migraine compressed into a couple of seconds before it began to fade with the glow.

Magnus had shielded his eyes while gripping his head from the pain but when he looked at Erebus again his eyes widened at what he saw, in the place of the different coloured barn owl that had been there moments before there was a phoenix that was at least twice the size of Fawkes, its colours matching that of its previous form, and it looked to be very healthy which made Magnus realise just how bad the effects of the forced bonding were on Fawkes if this was what he was meant to look like.

"You're gorgeous Erebus, so this is what you really look like?" Magnus stated looking at the magnificent creature.

Erebus nodded his head, his black eyes never leaving Magnus, 'It is, as you have no doubt guessed from my difference appearance to Fawkes we are not the same kinds of Phoenix, while he is a fire phoenix I am a dark fire phoenix, a distant cousin of Fawkes's as it were'

Magnus nodded, "I did notice." He stated, "I take it now that we are bonded it means something more? And is it possible for you to return to your owl-form?"

Erebus looked to Magnus for a few moments as his reasons for the questions were made clear and the phoenix nodded again, 'Yes I can, I will be able to hide my form from Dumbledore as you plan on such he will not suspect or realise what I am until you want him to know, as for our bond, we can now talk over much greater distances, you will be able to call me from anywhere and I will know exactly where you are in order to go to you'

Magnus nodded as he went over everything he could remember about phoenixes and looked to Erebus, "Is it true that you can travel with fire like wizards can apparate?" he asked checking.

Erebus nodded, 'We can, and we can also take passengers, so should you ever need to be taken from a place calling me to get you out is always an option'

Magnus nodded again, "And a handy one at that," he said aloud before looking to the door, "Listen I've got to go for now, can we talk later, Andromeda will be waiting up in the room and I don't want her getting impatient and coming down here."

Erebus nodded, 'Very well Magnus, I will wait for your return, should you need to talk to me just think of me in your thoughts and I will hear them.'

Magnus nodded, and after leaving his shrunken clothes in his office he quickly made for the ladder and started climbing out of the trunk, only to find Andromeda sitting on one of the chairs with an old photo in her hand looking at it with fondness, in it was a picture of a young Regulus and a young Andromeda both in their Hogwarts uniforms, she set it down as she looked to Magnus coming out of the trunk.

"Sorry, that took so long the perch was harder to set up than I thought" Magnus commented as he closed the lid to his trunk.

Andromeda nodded as she stood up, "Understandable, you could have… your bleeding" she said as she saw the cut on Magnus's hand.

Magnus looked as well and winced slightly completely having forgotten to ask Erebus if he could heal the cut for him and quickly thought up a lie, "Oh yeah, I was a little over excited with Erebus, he didn't appreciate it apparently, and gave me a little nip, no big deal" he brushed it off, well it wasn't completely a lie as it had been Erebus who'd given him it, just not for that reason.

Andromeda gave a sigh and a smirk rolling her eyes, "Children will be children" she muttered under her breath as she took out her wand, "Come here and let me fix that for you, you don't want to be getting blood everywhere" she said as she walked over to Magnus taking his hand up as she waved her wand over it with an utterance of "Episkey" the wound gave a hiss before closing itself, "There all done."

Magnus smirked, "I'm going to have to remember that one, could come in handy," he said off handily.

Andromeda smirked as she put her wand away, "Episkey, is a mild healing charm, good for small things like this but not larger things," she told him, "Now shall we go and say hello to my dear Aunt and your grandmother"

Magnus nodded, "This should be fun, but I stand by bringing you back in, your blood, my only blood still alive let her yell, I'll have her removed if she doesn't shut up about it"

Andromeda smirked, "I can see why she might have taken a liking to you," as they walked out of the room and proceeded up to the third floor.

No sooner were they one foot off the stairs was the voice of Walburga heard yelling.

"You, what are you doing in this house. How dare you set foot back inside the house that you turned your back on, you blood-traitor, Kreacher, remove this blood-traitor at once!" Walburga screeched, and in a pop, Kreacher appeared to carry out the portraits orders.

Magnus then stepped forward, "Kreacher stop, as heir Black, I order you to stop this at once" he said his voice hard making the aged elf stop as ordered before kneeling and bowing his head to Magnus who waved his hand to the elf, "Leave" and with that Kreacher popped away again.

Walburga's portrait looked enraged her eyes wide as she glared at the scene, "Magnus, what is the meaning for this outrage, what is that blood traitor doing in this house!" she screeched.

Magnus turned his glare on her and spoke again his tone hard, "You will be silent and listen to what I have to say before you speak on matters you know not about" he said as he unintentionally channelled magic through his voice that made it boom throughout the manor.

Walburga's eyes went wide to most it would seem out of further anger about being spoken to like that, but in actual fact, it was out of shock and a little fear that she did so, and that kept her from speaking on the matter further waiting for Magnus to continue.

Andromeda also looked at Magnus in shock, the sudden booming voice had caught her off guard, it made her rethink her stance on the boy yet again, this being at least the fifth time since meeting him, she just couldn't get a feel for him, and every time she did he did something else that seemed to throw her entire perception of him off, whether it was intended to or not didn't matter it was pissing her off a little bit, she had never had this much trouble reading someone before and it was driving her up the wall.

Magnus for his part kept a cool face at his sudden booming voice, while inside he was rather impressed with himself, he had intended just to raise his voice a bit but that was way better than what he had intended it to be he quickly made a mental note of what he did so he could repeat the effect later if necessary before quickly continuing his talking a couple of moments later just long enough for the effect he wanted.

"I spoke to you yesterday evening about the matters of my magical guardianship, how I did not want Albus Dumbledore to retain such position nor anyone else, for fear that they might abuse that power over me, and by an extent use that control to control house Black, and after talking with grandfather, I was informed that there was no way to prevent someone from being placed as my magical guardian nor to keep Albus Dumbledore from taking that position as he does with every muggle born or orphaned child that goes to Hogwarts," Magnus started his eyes never leaving the portrait's, "The steps that I have taken today were to keep this from becoming an issue in the future, by choosing my own magical guardian on my own terms to prevent any such abuse of power over myself or house Black, as such Cousin Andromeda has been reinstated into house Black on my authority along with her daughter Nymphadora, both are now as they should have always been daughters of house Black, and because of the rules in place I retain my heirship of house Black, and through negotiations house Black and house Tonks are now allied houses with Cousin Andromeda taking up my Magical guardianship to which extent she signed a contract that stipulates exactly what control she has over me and house Black which is exactly none, meaning she is only a figure head, a place filler as it where to keep the position from being filled by another who would not be limited by the contract she signed," Magnus continued as he watched Walburga's eyes continue to widen more and more at his every word, "On top of this I also retained her husband's services as a Law-wizard for house Black and he will begin searching into the questionable incarceration of my Uncle some eleven years ago which I am certain he will find there is something amiss with, every action I have taken this day is for the betterment of house Black and myself, all of which leave you no ground to voice your objections to my actions"

Walburga seemed to be pensive at that comment while Andromeda seemed to look on impressed at Magnus's stance, he didn't let her have any ground in that argument, she didn't see much that Walburga could argue against his actions with, everything had been done as he said for the betterment of him and the house.

After several seconds Walburga cleared her throat and nodded to Magnus, "I concede that your actions have had the effect that you wanted them to have, even though you did so through questionable means" she said as she eyed Andromeda with distaste.

Magnus narrowed his eyes, "Please elaborate grandmother, in what way do you define my means as questionable" he asked his tone not wavering as he did so, he was more than ready to defend all his actions.

Walburga raised her chin slightly at the question, "Bringing back a blood traitor into the family, Andromeda chose to shun the family when she married that mud blood husband of hers, she is a traitor to her house, it was the reason she was cast out, you could have sought out her sister, Narcissa is a fine woman and am sure would have gladly have taken up your guardianship had you asked her to do so,"

Magnus shook his head, "Let me go in reverse order here and tell you why I did as I did, your recommendation of Narcissa is noted, but you fail to note one key fact, her son Draco was, before I was discovered, the next in line for heirship of house Black, had she been informed of my existence she would have told her husband about it, and from what I know of Lucius Malfoy he would not take kindly to what he would perceive as my stealing his sons heirship especially when his son realises how much he's lost out on and starts complaining about it, if Narcissa was my magical guardian it would only be too easy for her husband to see me shuffle off this mortal coil in order for his son to slip right back into his position as the next heir Black" he explained making Walburga's eyes widened before they narrowed somewhat and she began to nod in agreement, she hadn't taken in that into account apparently.

Andromeda on her part snorted in amusement she knew her sister well, and it wouldn't have been on Lucius's orders, Narcissa would have taken the initiative herself to see her son as the next lord black before ever consorting with her husband, it was no secret how badly her sister wanted back into the black vault and the wealth inside it, sure the Malfoys had money but they were nowhere near as wealthy as the blacks and even with both her allowance as Lady Malfoy and her trust vault from being a daughter of the House of Black she still wanted more, and with her son to become the next Lord Black she was sure to get it, well that was until Magnus showed up and snatched that hope away, she had no doubt that if given the chance Narcissa would see Magnus disappear if it meant her son would become Lord black.

"Now to address your comment about her being a blood traitor," Magnus continued unaware of the thoughts going through Andromeda's mind, "That is complete dragon dung, her actions in marrying Ted Tonks should be commended, because of their outcome which is one of the reasons I find her banishment so unfair and was why I was so quick to rectify it" he stated and saw the look of shock and Confusion on Walburga's face and the look of confusion that came over Andromeda when he said that "Let me explained as I can see you are both confused on this, tell me grandmother what is one of the blacks magical skills that has all but died out over the generations?" he asked.

Walburga frowned at this before she spoke, "The skills of the Metamorphmagus, it used to be that such skill was ours but as the years went by the skill has faded from our blood, but what does any of this have to do with what we speak of now"

Andromeda's eyes widened hearing that and she looked like Christmas had just come early as Magnus spoke.

"Well grandmother you will be excited to know that during my check up the other day I learned that I possess a lesser form of this skill, I have been told that I might not be able to change my appearance to greet extents I will have some talents in it, but the reason I bring this up in this instance is because of Andromeda's daughter, who is an accomplished Metamorphmagus, the first ever to come from the black family in generations" Magnus came out with as he watched the look of complete shock come over Walburga's featured and the wide shit eating grin on Andromeda's face at that moment, before Magnus continued, "And the only conclusion I can draw how both I and Nymphadora were born with our skills is our blood, and that it was the inclusion of fresh blood from outside the other families that the Blacks have married into before that has caused this to happen, and therefore her actions at the time, though unproven, were of benefit to house Black and thus her banishment was unjust and undeserving" he said his tone with an air of finality to it.

Walburga was left utterly speechless at that final statement, she had no way of disproving what Magnus was saying nor did she have any way to rebut his actions about lifting Andromeda's banishment, if this was true it meant that quite possibly everything that the whole belief system of the purebloods, that she had been raised to believe was wrong, she didn't know what else to say, and so was left with only one option left, to eat some crow.

"I… apologise for my statements, they were unfounded and spoken before I could take full stock of the situation and all that it entailed," Walburga stated solemnly, "I ask your forgiveness Heir black, it is not my place to question your decisions, merely that to give advice when sought."

Magnus nodded his head, "Apology accepted grandmother, now if you will excuse me I will see how Tonks is getting on with lunch and I shall leave you two to talk, as you have much to talk about" he said before bowing his head and turning back to the stairs to return to the bottom floor.

No sooner had he rounded the corner and was halfway down the stairs Andromeda turned to look to the portrait of her Aunt having watched Magnus leave and gestured with her head to the stairs, "He's really something isn't he."

The portrait of Walburga nodded her head in agreement, "Indeed, he is… something" she said as she looked at the stairs her thoughts on her grandson who continued to surprise her with his every action.