New Year Gathering Ⅲ

The silence is interrupted by Marius loudly coughing instantly causing Marius Jr.'s face to darken. Without any fear or hesitation, Annis hurries over and reaches into a small pouch at her side. She removes a small potion and says, "This ought to cure that nasty cold that you're developing. You must be cousin, Marius."

Annis warmly smiled offering the potion to them. "Thank you," Marcel thankfully said accepting the vial and carefully uncorking it before handing it to his grandfather.

"Are you a pureblood too?" Marcel carefully asked as his grandfather drank the potion down.

"Goodness no, boy," the rough voice of Eaton huffed marching over to them. "Our family's been in exile since way been before your grandfather was even born. No, our great-great-grandfather, Eduardus Limette Black was exiled for marrying a squib. Our family is a hereditary line of squibs including my two boys there, Thurman and Harmon. Although my ma was a hag, Annis is the most magical out of us since she takes after ma."

"A hag?" Marcel said in wonder glancing at the plain-looking female with new eyes.

"Although Cousin Andromeda here is a pureblood, her husband, Ted Tonks is a muggleborn wizard," Eaton grumbled causing Andromeda to politely smile at them and Ted to warmly greet them.

"A muggleborn?" Marius exclaimed in shock. "You mean to say, she has not been cast out of the family for marrying beneath her?"

There is a small pause of silence, but Andromeda does not react knowing full well that Marius Black had left the family for many years. "My grandfather, Pollux Black, the Head of the Family has permitted the acceptance of muggleborn spouses. You will find my grandfather, your brother, Great Uncle Marius is a bit more lenient now than he was before," Andromeda politely responded.

"So, you are my brother's child, my great-niece," Marius's muttered coolly assessing the younger witch. In doing so, he greatly resembled his older brother, Pollux. Then again, the Blacks were a haughty lot and well, the apple doesn't always fall far from the tree.

Sensing the tension, Ted rather friendly in a mellow voice says, "Well, it is cold, and I can see Walburga standing in the doorway waiting for us."

"Walburga?" Marius's gray eyes lit up making his wrinkled face appear younger. "She is my brother Pollux's daughter is she not?"

"That is correct, great-uncle," Andromeda politely answered. "However, my father and Uncle Alphard have already passed away only Aunt Walburga remains among grandfather's living children."

"Oh," Marius blinked lost in thought for a moment, "And what of their descendants?"

"My Uncle Alphard never married and did not leave any wild seedlings behind. And as for my father, Cygnus only bore three daughters, Bellatrix, myself, and Narcissa," Andromeda explained as they moved forward. "My older sister Bellatrix wed Rodolphus Lestrange but perished without any descendants. My husband and I have a daughter, Dora," she paused tactfully omitting the fact that she was pregnant and carrying the child of another wizard.

Andromeda cleared her throat and continued, "And my younger sister, Narcissa wed Lucius Malfoy. She recently bore a daughter, Aurora."

"No male heirs. By merlin's beard, what a horrendous fate!" Marius widely exclaimed in shock revealing a bit of his prejudiced old-fashioned thinking. His son does not react beyond continuing to study his relatives. On the other hand, Marius's grandson, Marcel quietly shakes his head and smiles apologetically at them.

Eaton loudly snorts at Marius's words, while his two sons pretend not to hear their father's reaction. Annis worriedly peeks at her older brother, because she knew that if worst came to worst, her brother would beat the living sh*t out of their distant relatives. She hoped it wouldn't come to that, but her brother hated bigots more than anything in the world. It was all because of bigotry that the second great world war had occurred and changed all their lives.

Waiting at the door is the stern, dark-haired woman with sharp features and startling gray eyes, Walburga Black. "Welcome family to our humble summer abode," she sincerely said.

"Humble?" Thruman mouthed to his younger brother Harmon causing them to share a befuddled glance. If this was humble then just what was considered to be lavish?

"Welcome Uncle Marius and cousins," Walburga bowed to her father's brother and acknowledged them. Marius barely kept from weeping, but loudly sniffed bowing his head in reverence. His son, Marius Jr. stiffly bowed his head, while Marcel easily did so.

Satisfied, Walburga then turned and bowed and said, "I welcome our cousins, the descendants of Eduardus Limette Black." Annis easily curtsied, while her brother, Eaton stiffly bowed, and his two sons, Thurman and Harmon clumsily bowed from nerves.

"The Black family is pleased to see the return of these two stray branches," Walburga happily said. "Please follow me inside, the rest of the family eagerly awaits your arrival." This was only partially true as the children weren't present nor were the descendants of Harfang & Callidora (Black) Longbottom. Tragically, this line of the Black's resided in France and was far too French to be formally acknowledged. Apparently, they were too free-spirited…. but at least this line got along well enough with the Longbottom line from which Frank Longbottom is descended.

They all happily step inside as Eaton's sons, Thurman and Harmon gawk at the majestic home. They let out amazed gasps at seeing the many Black Family portraits on the wall that gaze down upon them and even move. Their eyes practically glow as they confirm with their own eyes everything their father and aunt had ever told them was true!

Eaton and Annis are much reserved, but still, Eaton and Annis quietly marvel at the extravagant home. Now Eaton and Annis had never been inside such a home. Oh, they'd been on a tour of Buckingham Palace, but that just wasn't the same thing. This was actually a family member's home.

On the other hand, Marius removes a silk handkerchief and dabs at the corner of his eyes. His son, Marius Jr.'s lips pressed into a thin line causing him to greatly resemble the stern, arrogant moving family portraits hanging on the wall. Although Marcel happily enjoyed the walk having seen similar moving portraits in his grandfather's wealthy townhome. He wasn't in awe, but he could appreciate the fact that the home was obviously worth far more than their imposing family townhome.

The dining room is silent as Walburga stands at the entrance of the dining room. "I, Walburga Black have the great honor to present these two estranged branches. I present uncle, Marius Black, his son, Marius Black, the second, and grandson, Marcel Black."

There is stark silence as everyone turns to gaze attently at the Head of the Black family, Pollux Black. The elderly wizard lets out a trembling sigh. "Welcome brother and kin," Pollux croaked.

Without any care for her appearance, Cassiopeia rushes forward holding her skirts high enough to show her ankles! "Marius!" She burst into tears hugging her precious younger brother. Oh, so many nights, she had despaired of dying before ever seeing her brother again. She could at last die in peace having witnessed her brother's return to the embrace of their family.

"Cassiopeia" Marius loudly wept as he embraced her. "I'm finally home!"

The two quietly sobbed as Pollux slowly rose to his feet with the aid of his sister, Dorea Potter (nee Black). There is a sentimental silence as they watch Marius embrace his other two older siblings, Pollux and Dorea. Why even the usually heartless Pollux is forced to blink a tear or two out of his eye!

Marius Jr.'s face softens only a smidgeon, but his gray eyes show that he still doesn't trust his father's family. His son, Marcel, however, happily smiles at the joyful reunion. His father was wise to remain alert, but he could still enjoy their grandfather's reunion with family. And based on what he knew of their relatives, they couldn't fake cry rather their tears were genuine.