Chapter 11: Chapter Eleven- Birth of the Marauders, Second generation
It was in the late hours of the night some days after the duel with Draco that Magnus found himself sitting in his trunk's office behind his desk with many things on his mind. Never had he thought that his duel with Draco would cause so much commotion as it had. Sure he had expected some ripples from him breaking from the original timeline of events but the speed with which things had happened since the duel had thrown him for a loop.
He had approached Andy with the letters he had received from both Professor Flitwick and Mad-eye about learning how to duel from both of them. Well, duelling from Flitwick, Mad-eye's letter had stated that he had been impressed with his skills and offered him lessons in how to really fight with magic, something told Magnus that the gruff old Auror didn't teach duelling in the traditional sense.
Andromeda had been more than happy to respond to the letters for him as his "guardian" saying that it would be expected for him as a future lord to be skilled in duelling to defend himself and his houses honour, that she had actually been planning to talk with him about continuing the lessons they had been having to improve his skill. But that she would have called him foolish to not take up offers from other skilled teachers such as these two.
Magnus had left the matter with her and by dinner that night she came back to him with a weekly schedule for duelling lessons with both her and professor Flitwick alternating days of the week for one to two hours after class to devote to his duelling lessons. And an agreement with Moody to take him three days of each week over the summer holidays for his brand of training.
Magnus had agreed to the scheduling but had also managed to bargain with her to change it slightly so that he had each weekend off to do his own thing, using the excuse for homework and recovery time from the multiple lessons. Andromeda had seen the sense in that, though Magnus knew that he would be using the weekends for much more than just those reasons.
All and all Magnus found his schedule to be getting quite full with everything he had to do, between his classes and duelling lessons, he found himself extremely grateful that he had the pocket watch with him, while it was no time turner it made getting through the homework assignments that he was given from his classes much easier freeing up more time for him to do other things as well as have some downtime to relax and sleep, he doubted he'd have much of either if he didn't have the pocket watch.
But right now two other letters had his attention that had arrived that morning that he had put off to reading until now and both of them were very good signs as far as Magnus was concerned.
"Heir Black
I am writing to you in response to a letter my grandson sent me concerning your words and actions involving the past actions of your aunt as a member of your house.
Words cannot express my gratitude for your actions and your apology towards my grandson for actions that were not your own. That night and the actions of that woman and those men have long since haunted my dreams. And while your actions and apologies do not help to alleviate them in the slightest, it shows great strength of character and much more to apologies for others who do not deserve it.
Regardless of what others have said about you, I find myself relieved to find that the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black has a future lord of such character and honour.
You can rest assured that the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Longbottom and its allies hold no grudges against the House of Black for the past actions of its former members.
Once again you have my thanks and gratitude.
Dowager Lady Agusta Longbottom
Regent of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom"
Magnus had to smile when he read the letter, it was one of the first steps he had taken to start improving the reputation of his house, apologizing to others for past deeds could only really be received one of two ways and he was happy that Neviells grandmother had been as accepting of his apologies as he had.
But in truth, he had a second motive to doing what he had done by apologizing and disowning Bellatrix, and he had been slightly worried for the past couple of days that his plan had failed, but the second letter that he had received put his mind at ease.
"Heir Black,
You have my deepest apologies for the latency of this letter. But I am happy to inform you that the contents of the former Bellatrix Black's personal vault have not been completely merged with the main Black vault.
The reason for the delay was due to the widespread use of the Gemini curse that had been placed on every item inside the vault, without Gringotts knowledge.
I have personally overseen the removal of the curse from every item and oversaw the transfer to the main Black vault myself.
Due to the many hours that were required to remove the unauthorized curse, a substantial sum has been removed from Bellatrix's vault to pay Gringotts fees, to the sum of two hundred galleons, the rest of the contents now lay in the Black vault as per regulations when a member of a house is disowned.
May gold overflow your vaults and your enemies fall by your blade.
Ironclaw
Account manager for the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black"
Magnus relaxed in his chair as he put that letter down. Bellatrix's vault was no more, and he now had access to all of the contents, including he hoped. Hufflepuffs cup. At least he hoped that was the case. He didn't exactly know when Voldemort had given it to his crazy former cousin, the books and movies never really said. But this would be his first strike against the dark lord if it was successful.
He knew he couldn't destroy it at the moment, he lacked the means to do so but knew he could be able to acquire them in the next few years and if things went to plan, he'd be able to snuff the dark wanker before he ever got a chance to come back, or at least make him much easier to kill if he does.
That meant he now had two of the Horcruxes within his grasp, hopefully. He knew that Kreacher would have the locket somewhere in Black manor and it wouldn't be going anywhere near the toad woman this time. He'd leave it with Kreacher for now until he had what he needed to destroy it.
He knew that the Diadem was still within the room of requirements, or it should be, he hadn't given Voldemort any reason to suspect he was after him, though his little outburst before the duel had no doubt pissed the dark bastard off. He planned to start searching for it when he had time, but he doubted he'd be going near the room this year as much as he was tempted to do so it would put the room at risk if he was caught and until he had the marauder's map in his hands he couldn't risk someone, mainly the twins, seeing him disappear.
He was the talk of the castle at the moment, that and other things. After his duel with Draco and his verbal spar with dear old Lucy in his anger, he didn't want to gain any more attention for the time being.
He'd need to make sure to keep as low a profile as possible for the next while and keep his temper in check. That had been another thing that had been bothering him since his duel with Draco, his sudden outburst of anger.
He knew why he had been angry, Lucius was insulting both him and Andromeda and Dora with every sentence that left his mouth. But that anger was so unlike him, and he had been having trouble with other emotions as well, suddenly flaring up at times, he didn't know what the cause of it was.
He had first suspected that it had been his heir ring, but he knew that that couldn't happen now. His mental barriers prevented even the heir ring from directly controlling his actions like they had the first time. He still felt it trying though, but with his barriers in place, it was less of a controlling voice and more of one of suggestion. A whisper of words in the back of his mind, suggesting things to him at certain times, it helped him remember how to word things at certain times but it didn't control his actions any more.
With a sigh, Magnus folded the letters on his desk up and put them away into the top desk drawer as he put the matter from his mind for the moment. He could focus on that another time, it wasn't a priority at the moment.
Right now he was the talk of the school. Attention, that he did not want. He smirked as an idea came to his as he fished out a roll of parchment from the second drawer of his desk. Well while he didn't know how to solve the first problem he had, he knew how to solve that one. Young minds were such a fickle thing, so easily distracted, if they were focused on one thing, all he had to do was make something else happen to distract them long enough to make them forget about the first.
And he knew just how to do such a thing. A low chuckle escaped his throat as he set to work making a list of things, a glint in his eye. This would be fun, after all, all work and no play makes Magnus a grumpy boy.
Scene break
The next morning by eight the breakfast meal was in full swing, as students were idly chatting amongst one another as they got ready for another day of schooling.
The staff table was full with each of the professors getting their morning meals and much needed morning beverages to help fuel them for a full day of teaching.
Just as the time reached the half-hour mark, shadows began to move in unnoticed throughout the hall, until one moved over a first-year Gryffindor catching their attention and as they looked up they noticed that in the illusionary sky ceiling above, dark clouds were slowly drifting up the hall towards the head table.
Slowly more and more students began to take notice and the hall was full of mutters and whispers that eventually the Professors and teachers began to take notice and were looking at the clouds gathering over their heads thinking nothing of it at first glance before they started growing thicker and darker.
"Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked watching the clouds as they slowly stopped forming.
"Most curious indeed Minerva, I'm not sure…" Dumbledore began to respond before a loud booming roar of thunder filled the hall making the students jump in fright before the clouds opened and began to rain down sheet after sheet of heavy rain on top of the Professors and the head table getting cries of shock from all having only just finished their breakfasts.
It took all of ten seconds before the chuckles and laughter started with the older students, and quickly began to spread through the years until the entire student body was laughing, bar the Slytherin students who looked as though they were trying hard not to do so. As Snape sat at the head table with a murderous scowl on his face that promised pain to any of his house that would dare laugh at him.
Many of the teachers went for their wands and began to cast water repellent charms, only instead of repelling the large raindrops made them change colour, and soon all the professors were being drenched in a rainbow of colours.
"Albus!" Professor McGonagall said angrily, her Scottish accent coming through in her tone as she was drenched purple, orange and peach
"Most curious indeed Minerva, such creative spell work," the headmaster said, having tried to repel the water himself and found himself in various shades of blue and yellow.
"Headmaster" Snape scowled as the laugher in the hall grew after his own attempt to repel the water, now sporting his own colour scheme of bright pinks with a dash of white and red, "perhaps you could save marveling over the spell work another time and fix this"
"Hmmm, oh quite right my boy," Dumbledore said, not having really seen the harm in the prank having noticed that the water was disappearing as soon as it touched the ground, he was fascinated by the creativity at work but pointed his wand to the cloud and cast a powerful "finite incantatem" as suddenly the rain stopped.
The teachers all sighed a breath of relief before a second thunderclap boomed and what was apparently the rest of the rain that had yet to fall, fell, all at once in a mighty splash, utterly drenching the head table and its occupants.
"Well," Dumbledore said, taking off his glasses and wiping them, "that was most unexpected" he mused not having expected that last downpour as the laugher in the hall reached new heights, but all when quiet as more thunder rumbled.
All in the hall watched on as the dark clouds began to move and change shape forming into words that after a moment read.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good, The Marauders second-generation hopes you've enjoyed this debut, and look forward to future works, Mischief managed"
The hall was full with students applause at the prank while various teachers at the head table had different reactions, those who knew of the marauders during their time at Hogwarts had looks of shock, while Snape looked as though he had just swallowed a lemon whole.
Meanwhile, at the Ravenclaw table, Magnus was putting on his act of enjoying the prank like the rest of the students, all the while giving himself a huge mental pat on the back.
He had been up all last night with his pocket watch researching how to pull off this prank. Before he spent the early morning hours before anyone was down putting the spells in place. And it had been perfect.
The best thing of all, no one could suspect him, while some might if they knew who the marauders were, and would find it convenient that this happened the year he started the school, the spell work was far too advanced for anyone to believe a first-year student to have pulled it off, and although he demonstrated that he was skilled with spell work in his duel with Draco. There was a big difference between slinging a few spells and the intricate spell work involved in this prank.
Magnus had to suppress a smirk and resist the urge to openly quote Hannibal and instead chose to do it in his mind, 'I love it when a plan comes together'
Time skip
For the rest of the day the whole school was abuzz with talk of the prank that had happened in the great hall, word had quickly spread throughout the school that most of the teachers were not amused, none more so than Snape who unlike the other teachers couldn't get the coloured rain to come out of his hair with magic and had been forced to teach his morning classes with bubble gum pink hair until he tried simply going for a shower to try and wash it out and succeed.
The entire student body was talking about the Marauders and trying to find out anything they could about them, and all were wondering just who the second generation was.
Snape for his part already had his suspicions and had been searching for the past hour. He had already been wary of Magnus after he addressed him with his mother's house when he challenged Draco to a duel. That information was something that he kept guarded and knew only a few select people knew about his mother's former house. There was no way in Snape's mind that he should have known that information, and yet he did.
Next, there had been the boys display in duelling skill, he was far more skilled than he should have been for a supposed muggle raised student with little more than a month of practice. Even if Andromeda had been teaching him nothing but duelling for that entire month. The way he moved, the way he planned out each step and action, those were not something an eleven-year-old student should be able to do.
And then there was this prank, it had all the markings of one of those pranks that Potter and his band of friends pulled when he went to school with them. Though he would never openly suggest that those four would have anywhere near the skill needed to pull something as complex as that prank off. No, that prank had been planned out in detail, something so intricate that those four buffoons would never have been able to successfully pull off. Which only just confirmed it further in Snape's mind that Magnus was the one responsible.
Though he couldn't prove it, or even suggest such at the moment, the boy was a first-year after all. An incredibly, and suspiciously, gifted first year, but a first-year nonetheless. He'd be openly laughed at if he even so much as suggested that he was responsible, so he would have to bide his time and keep an even closer eye on the boy, he would slip up sooner or later and then he would find out just what was going on.
Scene break
Magnus was well pleased with himself as he walked down the corridor towards the library, his little prank had done just as he had planned it to do, his duel with Draco was all but yesterday's news, and would soon be forgotten about. It wouldn't be long until everyone forgot and he could stop laying low to avoid attention.
But he knew that he would have to set things up so that if he needed it in the future the heat could be taken off him should he need it done again, and that's precisely why he was on his way to the library with a goal in mind, recruitment.
Entering the library it only took him a couple of seconds to spot his targets and grinned as he walked over to the table that Harry and Neviell were sharing and quickly putting up a silencing spell over them with a quick wave of his wand and a muttered spell, a sound muffling charm that he had figured out over the last few days in between his studies. He didn't want anyone listening in now, did he?
"So lads, what's the topic of discussion today," Magnus said with a grin on his face, "how about that weather in the great hall aye?" he joked.
"That was brilliant, did you see Snape's face" Neviell grinned back, "I didn't think he could that red"
"I think that was the rain Neville," Harry snorted, "I never thought I'd see him dressed in pink"
"Yeah, that was genius, almost like these marauders had it out for him in particular" Magnus smirked.
"Well I can't blame them if they did," Harry agreed, "I don't think anyone likes Snape"
Magnus smirked and nodded, "well the first generation marauders certainly didn't" he stated openly.
"You know about them?" Neville asked as both he and Harry looked at Magnus in shock.
Magnus smirked, "Of course I do, who do you think set up this morning's entertainment" he mused, enjoying their shocked expressions.
"That was you!" Harry asked, a gobsmacked expression on his face.
Magnus nodded, "yeah, I was getting a little annoyed with all the attention from the duel with Draco, so I thought I'd give the school something else to talk about for a while"
"Who were they then? The marauders?" Neville asked as he sat forward, "you said you knew of them and that you're the second generation, was your dad one?"
Magnus shook his head, "no he wasn't, Harry's dad was though" he stated as he crossed his arms.
"My dad!" Harry replied with his eyes wide hearing about his father.
Magnus chuckled, "yeah, he along with his friends, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew and my uncle, Sirius Black, were known as the marauders in their later school years, they went by the names, Prongs, Mooney, Wormtail and Padfoot, and pulled a load of pranks on faculty and students alike in their hay day"
"That sounds bloody brilliant," Neville said, his eyes wide and a huge grin on his face.
"How do you know about this?" Harry asked, wanting to know.
Magnus shrugged, "I read about them in my dad's journal, he discovered their little group but didn't out them, something about not wanting to be a target of their pranks" he stated, and it was true, he had actually discovered Regulus Black Journal when he was exploring his bedroom in the month before, it had been one of the books he had read over the month, "some of the things he wrote about them were funny, but some of the things were a little worrisome"
"How so?" Neville asked, his grin falling.
"From how my dad's journal described them, some of their pranks were harmless fun, but a number of their pranks that targeted individuals weren't so" Magnus stated, "they sounded more like bullying described as pranks, picking on some people out of pettiness and revenge because of who their families were associated with. They also apparently didn't like Snape at all, and targeted him frequently, which would explain his dislike for you, Harry."
Harry frowned, "still doesn't excuse him," he said, seeming a little down at the thought of his father being a bully, even if he was doing it to Snape.
"No it doesn't, the man's just petty in taking his anger out on you for things that happened well before you were born" Magnus agreed with him before grinning, "so what do you say to actually giving him a reason to be petty now~"
Both boys looked at him at that statement with confused looks, "what do you mean?" Harry asked.
Magnus smirked, "what I mean is how about you two join me in picking up where your dad and my uncle left off, I'm only one guy, I can't bring back the marauders memories all on my own after all, we can pick up where they left off, only within reason. We don't single anyone out for lone pranks unless we all agree on it, we won't bully anyone like that, and we keep each other on task and make the second generation of marauders even better than the first."
Harry was shocked at the suggestion but the more he listened the more that shock grew to excitement as a grin came to his face, "I'm in, if Snape is going to act like a prat towards me then I may as well give him a reason to do so"
Magnus nodded happily at his acceptance before looking at Neville who was looking down with a concerned look on his face, "what's up Nev?" he asked, wondering why he was down.
"Why me?" Neville asked with a soft voice, "why would you ask me to join you two, Harry's dad was a marauder, and so was your uncle, but why would you ask me… I'm just a.." he went to continue only for Magnus to cut him off.
"A great wizard Neville, that's what you are," Magnus spoke as Neviell looked at him in shock, "and you're my friend. I know you might not see it yourself, but I do. You can do great things if you put your mind to it, Nev, you just need to try. So what if people call you something else, what matters is what you do about it. Do you sit back and take it, or do you keep pushing and prove them wrong."
Neville looked at Magnus in complete shock at the conviction and faith that he was showing in him, he had absolutely no response to this, how could he, his entire life he had been looked down on. His family had thought he was a squib for the longest time, and even now he struggled in the majority of his magical classes, showing no real talent except in herbology, and even that wasn't enough to please his gran. But Magnus was showing such faith in him, they had known each other for a short while and yet he had faith like this in him that he could be great, it was honestly a bit embarrassing.
Harry placed his hand on Neville's shoulder and smiled at him, "we're your friends Nev, you'll always be a great wizard to us, we want you to do this with us, but we won't force you into it, you don't have to if you don't want to."
Neville swallowed hard and looked down at his hands, the same hands that he had always seen belonging to a failure. But now both his friends were telling him that he wasn't, he wanted to help them, he wanted to prove them both right, and prove everyone was wrong about him. He looked back up and grinned at them both with a fire in his eyes, "I'm in"
"That's the spirit Nev," Magnus grinned as Harry gave a laugh hearing Neviell agree to join them.
Neville smiled nervously before swallowing, "but um, what if we get caught? My gran will kill me if we do" he said softly.
Magnus grinned cheekily, "we won't be, as long as we're careful and plan ahead in advance. Speaking of which I think the next prank that we work on should be all you two" he said pointing at them both, "seeing as how I managed to pull off this mornings entertainment all on my own, I believe I've more than proven that I'm up to maintaining the marauders' name, consider this your audition of sorts. I'll still help if you need it, but everything else has to be all you two."
Both boys looked at him wide-eyed at his idea but slowly a grin crept onto Harry's face, "challenge accepted" he replied grinning widely.
Neville looked a little nervous but nonetheless ready, "yeah, me too" he voiced after a couple of seconds to steel himself, he was in it now he wasn't going to back out before they had even really started.
"Perfect," Magnus said as he leaned on the table, "now there is one more thing that I need to mention, our marauder names, for now, they are going to have to wait."
"Why?" Harry asked with a frown, not really seeing why they shouldn't give themselves prankster names already if they were really going to do this.
"Because, the marauders' nicknames were picked after their animagus forms, at least that's what my dad's journal suspected," Magnus explained.
"An animagus?" Harry asked confused as to what that was, never having heard of it before.
"They were animagi?" Neville said sounding shocked and very impressed and with good reason.
Magnus nodded, "Yes," he answered Neviell before looking to Harry, "an animagus is a witch or wizard who is capable of transforming themselves into an animal, without the need of a spell, like how Professor McGonnagal changes into a cat and back" he explained, "your dad was able to take the form of a large stag, Sirius was able to take the form of a big shaggy dog something like a wolfhound or a grim, Peter could turn into a rat" he went on, "my dad was never able to figure out what Remus's form was, though I suspect it was a wolf if his marauder name was Moony"
"That sounds awesome," Harry said, even more, amazed at hearing his dad had been able to do something like that, "so I take it you want to wait until we become animagi before we pick our names?"
Magnus smirked, "now you're catching on. The original marauders took until their fifth year to perfect their transformations, but I think we could probably get it down by our third year if we really tried hard. I've read that it's quite difficult to do, but well worth it to be able to turn into an animal whenever you want"
"It sounds wicked," Harry agreed, eager to follow in his father's footsteps.
Neville swallowed and nodded, "yeah it does, I only hope that…" he began again only for Magnus to cut him off again.
"None of that Neville," Magnus said sharply, "don't doubt yourself, the only way for you to know is to try, you won't fail," he told him, getting a nod from Neviell as his shoulders slumped.
'I really need to work more on getting his confidence up,' Magnus thought to himself before he eyed Neviells wand and a light clicked on in his mind, 'and that's where I'll start' he thought before speaking again, "Neville, where did you get that wand?" he asked, pointing to it.
Neville looked shocked at the sudden change of topic as he picked up the wand and held it protectively, "It's mine," he said as he held it, "well… it was my dad's before it was mine, but my gran gave it to me to use, she said if it was good enough for him to use then it would be good enough for me, I think she thinks that it will make me more like him if I use it"
Magnus shook his head, "that's utter rubbish Nev, the wand doesn't make the wizard," he said bluntly, "and it's no wonder you're having problems in your classes if you're using a wand that didn't choose you" he said before pointing at the wand again, "that wand chose your father not you, it will never work as well for you as it did your dad, you need your own wand because you are your own person. You are not your father as much as your gran may want you to be."
Neville swallowed hard as he looked at the wand, biting his lip before speaking, "my gran won't.." he began to say, but Magnus was having none of it.
"It doesn't matter what your gran wants or doesn't want, especially in this matter," Magnus said his voice sharp as he took on a harder tone of voice, his posture straightening as he felt his heir ring advising him on how to word this next part, "You are heir Longbottom, the Future Lord Longbottom, it is high time you started to act like it, Neville. You need a wand that is yours and yours alone, not some hand-me-down wand. If your Grandmother as Regent Longbottom refuses to get you your own wand because of some silly belief that she holds, then she is failing in her duties, not only as your grandmother but as regent of your house as well."
Neville looked up at him sharply as he set things out like that, his accusations while harsh, were not unfounded, and he knew that if anyone publicly stated something like that it could mean serious consequences, for a regent to fail in their duties when they were trusted to watch over their house in the lord and lady's absence. It meant that his gran was failing, not only him but his mum and dad as well.
Magnus could see the emotions playing out over Neviells face and the concern on Harry's face as he watched on silently, as much as Magnus knew this was painful for Neviell to hear it needed to be said, Neville had to come out of his shell, even if he had to pull him out of it by force if necessary.
"Heir Longbottom," Magnus stated, still relying on his heir ring for proper wording, "I would advise you, from one heir to another, to send your grandmother a missive as soon as you are able and request her to escort you to get your own wand. If she refuses, then as the future lord of her house order her to do so and inform her that she is failing in her duties as your grandmother, regent and magical guardian by restricting your magical studies by making you use a wand that is not right for you," Magnus explained before taking a breath to say the last part, "and her, in doing so is not only putting the future of your house at risk but you as the future Lord Longbottom."
Neville openly gaped at the suggestion of writing his gran such a letter, it was unthinkable, "I… I couldn't do that!"
Magnus gave him a hard look, "you can, because it is the truth, Neville. If you continue your magical education using a wand that is fighting you every step of the way, you will constantly be struggling. You will constantly see yourself as the failure that everyone is telling you you are, that is not the mindset that a future lord of a magical house should have and if your grandmother doesn't see how her actions are contributing to this then she is either a fool or is purposely sabotaging her own house and your future with her idiotic ideas."
Neville looked absolutely shattered as Magnus stopped speaking, he wanted to deny it, he wanted to say that Magnus was wrong, but every word he had said was the truth, blunt and harsh, but nonetheless true. The trio sat in silence for another minute before Neviell finally spoke, "I… I'll do it."
Magnus let out a sigh of relief hearing that as his shoulders relaxed as he gave Neviell a small smile, "thank you, Neville, I'm sorry I said those things but.." he went to apologize but this time it was Neviell who cut him off.
"No, don't apologize," Neville said abruptly, "you were right to say what you did, it was cold and harsh, but it needed to be said, you were just being a friend wanting to help me, thank you"
Magnus smiled and gave him a small nod in return, "alright then, if you need any help with that letter, feel free to ask me and I'll gladly help you word it. I'll even send her a letter myself if you think it will help"
Neville smiled back at the offer, "thank you, I think I might just need some help with this, my gran can be kind of scary."
Magnus smirked, "of that, I have no doubt, but you don't have to thank me, Nev, it's what friends are for" he added before he stood up from the desk, "right then, I'm off, I'll leave you two to brainstorm ideas for your prank, and I'll check up on you both later. I can't wait to see what you both come up with" he grinned.
Both boys grinned back at him as he waved his wand and took down the muffling spell before he started out of the library. No sooner was he out the doors did he come face to face with a hard-faced, Blue haired, Andromeda Tonks.
"My office, now" was all she said before she turned and started to walk away.
Magnus quickly followed while thinking, 'oh shit' over and over in his head.
Scene break
It only took them a few minutes to reach Andromeda's office where Magnus entered first and Andromeda followed behind him closing the door before drawing her want and casting a number of spells silently to give them privacy.
As soon as she put her wand away Magnus went to speak but a raised hand and a stern look from Andromeda cut him off before he even began. While he may have been older mentally than what he was physically, having his backside handed to him multiple times over in their duelling lessons had afforded him a healthy level of respect, and understandable fear, for the elder Black, and he didn't want to put himself any deeper into her bad side than he suspected he was right now.
After he was quiet for a few seconds Andromeda lowered her hand and put her wand away back into her wrist holster before taking a deep breath before she spoke.
"Firstly, I want to say that I am extremely proud of you for what you said to young Neville in the library," Andromeda stated calmly, "I have only met Agusta Longbottom a few times, and while your words were harsh, they were necessary. She can be an overbearing woman at times, and the war took its toll on her. And while I would never believe her possible of harming her own house intentionally, I believe her grief and pain over what happened to her son and daughter-in-law, has clouded her judgement in this matter. I will only ask that you keep that fact in mind when or if you make good on your promise to help Neviell with his letter to her about his wand."
Whatever Magnus had been expecting her to say first, that had not been it, he swallowed. "Um, okay…. Ah how did you…" he said, a little confused as to how she had known what they had been talking about in the library and was even more concerned now exactly what she had heard.
Andromeda's lips quirked slightly at his confusion, "how did I know what you three were saying even under your muffling charm?" she asked, "simple dear nephew, I read your lips, the charm only muffles the sound, it does nothing to prevent people from watching your lips to see what you are saying. And reading lips is a skill I picked up in my younger years, I was watching from the doorway."
Magnus had to fight the urge to facepalm when he heard that, so this was what it felt like to be a wizard, to think magic can solve all your problems only to look over something so simple as reading lips.
Andromeda smirked slightly seeing Magnus' expression but shook her head, "that being said, I am proud of you for what you said, it might have been harsh but Neviell needed to hear it. It's the mark of a good friend who can do that for another, to tell them something like it is without pulling any punches, as you did. And while I believe Augusta has only the best intentions when it comes to Neville, you and Harry are good friends to have his back and look out for him like you are."
Magnus sighed and nodded, "Yeah I know, it was painful to see the look on his face but it's worse to see him keep doubting himself constantly, he could be a great wizard if he just grew a backbone and learned to stand up for himself. But that won't happen if he keeps struggling in his classes because of a defective wand, his confidence is already low enough." he voiced his concerns to her.
Andromeda nodded, "yes, I've seen that well enough first hand, and I have no doubt that had he kept studying potions under Snape that his confidence would have continued to suffer until either he broke down or fouled up a potion so bad in his nervousness that he hurt himself" she mused before eying him, "but what I want to know is how you think that playing pranks will help him to improve?" she said, her disapproval clear in her tone.
Magnus swallowed nervously under her glare, "Um well, it's to help bring him out of his shell more, to give us, me, Harry and Nev, something more to bond over. I'm hoping that the pranks will help not only our friendship but Nev in the long run"
Andromeda watched him closely, her piercing gaze one that only a mother could know how to do as it made Magnus feel two feet tall as she held it on him for a full minute before she spoke again, "as much as I hate to admit it, your idea has merit" she said before sighing, "and I suppose I can allow this, as long as you don't get caught, and, you give me a heads up from now on whenever any of your pranks target all of the professors so that I can avoid being caught up in another one like this morning" she stated giving him an unimpressed look.
"Because I promise you now if I do and I find you knew about it beforehand and didn't, contract or no, so help me you won't be able to sit comfortably for a month, am I clear" Andromeda warned him.
Magnus audibly gulped at the threat that he had no doubt that the Black witch could and would carry out, and at that moment he didn't know what to fear more of the intimidating black witch, her wand or the hand that wielded it.
"Understood Auntie," Magnus said after a moment of fear, "I'll be sure to give you ample head's up if there is any chance that I suspect that you might get caught in one of our pranks that I know of ahead of time."
Andromeda nodded her head as she leaned on one of the desks, "good because while I may not have been at Hogwarts when the marauders were, I heard more than enough stories about what they got up to. In fact, if you hadn't said that you do not intend to use your pranks as a cover for bullying people then I would have outright forbidden it before you even started"
Magnus nodded and wisely remained silent about the fact that even if she wanted to do as such she couldn't, at least in the capacity of his guardian as it would be in breach of her contract with him.
"And don't think I didn't notice that you didn't promise to let me know about all the pranks, only the ones that you suspect I might get caught in ahead of time." Andromeda voiced after a moment watching him.
Magnus couldn't help the cheeky smirk that he got at that, it was just force of habit, "well I can't predict the future, and there will always be the chance that Harry and Nev might decide to pull a prank on their own, keeping me in the dark, so I could hardly be blamed if you got caught up in one of them."
Andromeda pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes, "a technicality, but a fair point" she sighed conceding the point, "I'll just have to be on my guard then. It really is a waste that you didn't end up in Slytherin, with a mind like yours for small details, you'd have them eating out of your palm or under your thumb in a year." she sighed.
Magnus nodded but wisely chose to say nothing more on that particular topic, knowing how itchy her wand hand could get when the subject was breached about how he believed he was being a true Slytherin by not being sorted there.
"Now, there's one more thing I need to let you know about, I meant to do so this morning but with everything that happened���" Andromeda said letting the matter drop without further comment, "before your Duel with Draco I sent a letter to the school board of governors, I have informed them that as of the next meeting I shall be taking up the Blacks seat on the board. After the revelation that was revealed about the school library not being updated in so long, I feel that it's high time that someone needs to take them to task for allowing standards to drop so low."
Magnus blinked at that, "I thought you were going to wait on that?" he asked, remembering her mention the fact that the Blacks had a seat on the board back during their meeting with Dumbledore before the duel.
"I was, but I felt that this couldn't wait any longer," Andromeda explained, "the next meeting isn't due for a few more months, but it's best to notify them beforehand so they can't say I didn't."
Magnus nodded, "well alright then, if I think of anything else or see anything that I think needs to be dealt with I'll bring the matter to you then, somehow I don't think the Headmaster will take any suggestions from a first-year student seriously"
Andromeda smirked, "no I don't suspect he would," she said as she stood up from the table, "know that you can always come to me if you need me, Magnus. You can act so serious and adult-like it's a little frightening at times, but know that you don't have to. You can rely on me if you ever have the need, it's what I'm here for, to answer any questions you have, okay."
That made Magnus think and pause as he realised that he had been neglecting a resource that was right in front of him all this time, while he had come to her for some things and had never told her about his, rebirth or whatever, she would be able to answer a number of his questions, but right now there was only one that came to the forefront of his mind, one that had been bothering him.
"Actually, Aunt Andy, there is something that's been on my mind lately," Magnus started trying to think how to word it before he continued, "before my duel with Draco when I got angry and said those things..."
Andromeda smiled fondly and shook her head, "it's okay Magnus, everyone gets angry sometimes, and it all worked out, in the end, didn't it" she said not seeing what he meant.
Magnus shook his head, "it's not that auntie, all during the talk I had my occlumency shields up full, still do in fact. But during the talk with Lucius, they didn't help at all. My anger just bubbled over them, and I know it's not my heir ring affecting me because I know what that feels like and this was something else. It came from deep inside of me, a deeper part of me." he said, trying as best he could to explain what he had felt at the time.
Andromeda listened intently, at first thinking that it was just his emotions that Magnus hadn't understood, but when he mentioned his shields not holding back his anger she paid closer attention when he described where it came from and that was when it clicked for her and she understood.
"Ah, I see," Andromeda said as she let out a breath, having feared for a second that some outside influence had been affecting him, "you don't have anything to be worried about Magnus, it was just your magic reacting to your emotional state, or more precisely the family magics reacting to it," she explained.
Magnus blinked at that, "the family magics?" he asked not knowing what she meant.
Andromeda nodded, "let me guess, it felt like you had a fire in your stomach, a deep burning sensation that made you want to lash out and punch the person pissing you off." she openly guessed.
Magnus blinked again…. That…. That was exactly how it had felt, "Yeah," he said after a moment, "it felt like I had just drunk boiling water and I wanted to sock Lucius right across his smug mouth when he…"
"Insulted members of your house and your position as heir Black," Andromeda finished for him, "it was the family magics making you respond like that, in your anger."
Magnus looked even more confused, "but how I taught Occlumency was supposed to…" he voiced only for Andromeda to shake her head, making him pause.
"They do," Andromeda stated, "but family magics are much stronger than any individuals own magic, and while occlumency will help you suppress your outward emotions it does not stop you from feeling them," she said as she sat down behind her desk.
"Every magical family that has been around for longer than a few generations gains a sort of residual magic, one that only grows stronger the longer the bloodline continues to last." She explained, "the older the family, the stronger that family's magic, it's something that connects them all. Each family's magics are different and can manifest in different ways, it's usually a closely kept secret within the family. It would explain a lot actually."
Magnus remained silent as he listened, finally getting the answers he wanted, "explains what?" he asked, wondering what she was talking about at the end.
"How you were able to cast so many advanced spells without exhausting all of your magic for one thing" Andromeda stated, "You see Magnus, the Black family magics, express themselves in a rather peculiar way, its different for every family, of course, your extreme outburst when Lucius insulted both myself and Nym is the perfect example of them at work."
Magnus arched an eyebrow at that, "so it makes me hot-headed, that sounds more like a Gryffindor trait than any Black family magic."
Andromeda shook her head, "no you misunderstand, it wasn't just anger that you felt, it was the Black family magics at work inside you and through you. While I have no doubt that your occlumency shields could contain your own anger as they are meant to. When that anger is fuelled by the family magics inside of you it is another matter entirely. That was what overwhelmed your shields. When the family was insulted the magics acted both to increase your anger over the insults, but also to increase your magics' potency to respond to the insults towards House Black."
That was when it clicked for Magnus, "that was what you meant by be duelling for so long and with such advanced spells, the family magics were amplifying my own"
Andromeda nodded with a smile seeing him get it, "yes, the Black family magics have always been defensive of Black family members, and when Lucius began insulting members of House Black the family magics came to you to help you defend us and House Black. I doubt you would have been on your feet after, now that I think about it, you are only just a first-year after all."
Magnus smirked as a thought came to him, "so in a way Lucius actually helped in his own son's defeat by bad-mouthing House Black, just before the duel, which gave me more ammunition to aim at his son," he said with a chuckle, "you'd have thought he'd have known better what with him being married to Narcissa."
Andromeda smirked but shook her head at his last comment, "it's highly unlikely that he even knew what he was doing. Most all the houses don't talk about their family magics openly, especially with others not of the same blood, like most family secrets it stays between family and members of the house. And even with Narcissa marrying into House Malfoy, she wouldn't have told him of them and he wouldn't have asked, it's not something you do."
Magnus smirked at that before sighing, grateful to get that off his chest, "thanks for that auntie, that had really been bugging me for the last few days, I thought my occlumency was failing or something."
Andromeda smiled, "Don't worry, I'm sure your occlumency is as strong as it should be if you are following your lessons from uncle Orion. It's just because you are so young that they are affecting your anger as much as they are, give it time and your anger will lessen. But do not try to fight against the family magics" she said getting serious at the end, "if you do they will turn on you, seeing your actions as a betrayal to the family. It's what I suspect befell my sister, Bellatrix. If she was foolish enough to fight the family magics and put her Dark Lord above the family, her mental state as it was at the end of the war would be the result of the family magics turning on her, ironic really, as the family magics were more than likely the reason she was as powerful as she was, I was always better than her when we had our practice duels growing up after all." she smirked.
Magnus shivered at that. Had he not seen her in action he would have questioned her claim about being better than Bellatrix, the crazy bitch, and the thought of the Black magics being the cause for both her superior magical strength and her insanity made him realise just how potent the Blacks family magics were.
"I'll keep that in mind," Magnus responded as he turned to leave, while inwardly hoping that if that was the case, then he hoped also that by banishing Bellatrix from the family he had also cut her off from the family magics that made her so powerful. If it did, it meant that he had dealt two strikes to Voldemort instead of one, by not only capturing one of his Horcruxes but also severely magically crippling one of his most loyal and fanatic followers.
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PsyChotiX556
PsyChotiX556 To keep up to date on all my fanfiction writing progress follow me on Twitter @Psychopath556
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