7 Hadrian Charlus Black

On the final line, Dorea's quill lingered on the parchment for a tad too long, causing a greater amount of ink to coalesce.

With a sigh, she gently dabbed on it with the tissue in one of the drawers, before shaking her head and pulling out her wand. A slight wave of her hand and the letter suddenly began folding before placing itself into the envelope beside the other two letters.

With another twirl of her wand, string wrapped around the letters - tying them all in a stack, ready for delivery. She then made her way over to the open window and gently placed the letters on the side of the sill.

Only a short while passed until one of the Owls found themselves on the sill. The envelopes already had the recipient's name written on the front, so they would have no trouble finding themselves wherever Sirius was residing currently.

Lute - an Owl that Charlus had purchased once they renovated Black Manor - squawked as he flew into the distance. Now all Dorea had to do now was wait for a reply.

Fortunately, she needn't wait too long, the letters were returned back to her only four hours later. She had been lounging in the garden, reading a book about 'The Development of Magic in a Child' with Hadrian asleep on her lap, when Lute had come screeching her way.

He dropped the stack of letters quickly, cawing mischievously as it landed on the tea set - spilling Dorea's drink all over the table.

"Ruddy owl," Dorea muttered irritably before shouting for Korby to come clean the mess.

He popped in, snapped his fingers - and all was right once more. "Thank you, dear. That's all."

Korby bowed before wordlessly popping away.

Dorea turned back toward her letters, quickly scanning the bottom of each letter to make sure that Sirius had signed, which he did.

He also added his own response, to which she was positively pleased to see that he had shared her sentiment, regardless of the fact that he had begun the letter with, Hello Aunt Dory.

"What do we have here?", a deep baritone voice whispered in her ear as she finished reading the papers.

"Oh!" She whipped her head around to find Charlus right behind her. "Charlus, I was reading!"

Charlus, unaffected by her complaints, kissed her on her temple and sat down next to her and Hadrian. He placed his blazer on the side of the chair as he slowly began untying his tie.

"Go on then, what were you reading this time?", He smirked. "One of your silly love stories, I imagine?"

Dorea reddened slightly before scowling and saying. "Well, it's certainly more entertaining than whatever rubbish you're reading. What was it you were browsing yesterday, 'Quidditch: The Highs and Lows?'"

He smiled before shrugging, "It might have been. Why, are you interested?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, throughout the many years we've been together that I've voiced my hatred for the sport, this day marks the end of it all. You have truly converted me."

Her dry tone was an obvious display of sarcasm, but even whilst knowing that, Charlus' smile became broader as he replied, "Finally! I knew it would only take thirty or so years."

Dorea broke out into an abrupt chuckle - or a light titter as others may describe it, whilst placing her hand on Charlus' chest. "I'm afraid it will take another thirty before I even consider."

Charlus threw his hands up in mock dismay before his eyes finally settled on the now-awake Hadrian. He hadn't even known that the boy had been stirred - with how quiet he had been. It would have been unnerving if it were not for how adorable he looked, his big emerald eyes shining as he quietly studied his surroundings. It brought him great joy to watch the young child take in everything for the first time.

"Hup!", He lifted him out of Dorea's lap, and onto his own as he held him by the inside of his arms.

Dorea watched with a warm gaze, as though reminiscing about something she had seen before, and quite clearly missed.

"So what was it that you were reading?", Charlus asked once more. "Anything important?"

"Extremely," Dorea replied coyly.

"Would you like to tell me?"

"Perhaps."

He sighed tiredly, though there was amusement in his voice. "Enough with your games, woman."

She shook her head, but indulged him anyways, "I have been appointed as the Head of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black. You will refer to me as Lady Black, henceforth."

"Ah, so you've done it.", he beamed. "Brilliant."

He spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, a contrast to his livelier mood a minute earlier.

"You don't seem all that pleased," Dorea noted. "Mind you, I'm not entirely enthusiastic about the whole ordeal either."

Charlus placed Hadrian on the floor between his legs, holding him up as the boy stood in spot. "I wonder what our family will be like now, what with James and all. No doubt our already rocky relationship will deteriorate quickly after he finds out the steps we took… Still, it was clear that the only role we'd have played in the future is Hadrian's babysitter, whenever James and Lily took Arthur on their 'trips'. Perhaps we may have beeen invited to birthdays and Christmases too, but that hardly matters now. And then there's the Dark Lords return..."

Dorea cupped Charlus' face with her hand, as though to quell his worrying, "James is a good boy, we both know he never means to do harm. This is his way of protecting us, and as wrong as it may be - it is his way of protecting Hadrian too."

"He's essentially disowned us, Dora. Ever since he joined the Order - he's been at odds with us." Charlus lamented, his voice gravel as he spoke. "To James, we come second to Dumbledore and whatever he asks of him. Merlin, Dorea! He was willing to give up Hadrian!"

Dorea surrendered. "He was. You're right, our son has made his choice, and now it is up to us to make our own. For the betterment of our family. The family we should have had." She gave a pointed look towards the toddler twisting and crouching next to them.

"So it's final? He will be our heir?", He asked. Though, he already knew the answer.

Dorea didn't respond with a yes or a no, she simply held one of the child's hands. Now, each of them were holding one of Hadrian's hands as the boy rose from his crouching position.

"Hadrian Charlus Black.", She finally responded.

He looked up at them, his gaze switching between the two - serenity reflected in his eyes.

"As of when?"

Dorea turned back to the papers. "Tomorrow, hopefully. Though, anytime before James and Lily return would do."

And that was all the excitement they had for the day. Shortly after the conversation, Charlus and Hadrian had fallen asleep, leaving Dorea to unashamedly read her romance novel in peace.

It would be sometime later, that Korby would find them all asleep in the garden with the sun on the cusp of falling. A sunset to christen a most joyous occasion, the birth of a new family.

...

Another month had passed, and Winter had firmly settled. It was chilly November, and Yuletide was closely approaching. It was a time when parents really ought to be with their children, celebrating and enjoying each other's company.

The more traditional families took part in certain…rituals and practices, of course. The outlawing of these ancient customs did nothing to disturb the more impassioned folks of High Wizarding Society. Though, slowly throughout the years, the number of families participating began to dwindle.

The Potter Family were not ones to leave their traditions behind. Whilst they may have been labeled as blood traitors for being accepting of Muggles, they were not ashamed of the practices that their family had been performing for hundreds of years.

Dorea had been penning a letter to a trusted Apothecary, one that had offered a little more confidentiality and dealt with off-market goods, looking for the ingredients she needed for the upcoming rituals. She wanted to be meticulous in her planning, the day had to be perfect.

After all, it was Hadrian's first-ever ritual. Not that he would remember it, but it was the principle of the matter - Dorea refused anything but the best for him.

Suddenly, Korby apparated in. His face was in a grimace as he made himself known to Dorea.

"Mistress Dorea," he sighed with a heavy weight in his voice. "Master James and Miss Lily have arrived."

Dorea looked up, her eyebrows inclining lightly in surprise before she schooled her features.

She was aware of what was going to happen, but resolute and assured, she stood up from her chair. "Thank you for notifying me, Korby."

The old house elf bowed before popping away.

'A whole month.' Dorea thought as she walked towards the sitting room. 'And only two letters to show for it.'

The letters were not long, though the majority of their contents were filled with wishes of love, promises of return, and nonsense about the hot weather; it was empty platitudes to Dorea. Not once had they replied to the letters that she had sent them about Hadrian, and if they did - it had always been a short side note at the bottom of their letters.

There was no dialogue between the two parties, it felt as if the letters were sent for convenience or a reminder that they hadn't died.

It certainly did nothing to dissuade Charlus and Dorea from their current course of action. In fact, they were even more assured of their plan, because all it did was affirm to them, that there was no place for Hadrian with them.

And now that Hadrian was officially a Black, they weren't all that keen on giving him back. As far as they were concerned, he had been abandoned by them already, in more ways than the legal sense of the word.

Often they would imagine where James and Lily would have sent him if not for their intervention. Charlus and Dorea liked to think that James and Lily were not callous enough to send their child to an Orphanage. But foisting him off onto other families was also hardly becoming of a family of their stature.

A scowl made its way onto Dorea's face. 'If not for Yule, they probably would have stayed there longer.'