Chapter Text
September 1975
A dark, cloaked figure stands behind the couple, married for years- trying and failing, failing to have a child. Tara's tear tracks have dried on her skin, and her wife's brow is furrowed in grief. It has only been four hours since they dropped their nephew James off at platform 9 and 3/4 but the realisation that they may never have that for themselves leaves a gaping hole in their hearts.
The figure glides forward.
Tara, the matriarch, the Head of her family, drops to a knee. She recognises the figure, from stories, tales, and her clan's folklore, passed down for generations. Their family is one that deals in Life magic, in creation and growth and prosperity, and the figure in front of her reeks of Death. Her wife follows her lead, and both are silent, waiting for either news or commands.
The figure speaks to them, not out loud, but into their minds. A soul for a soul. It says. My Lady Life, I have an offer for you. One that will bring you your greatest desire.
Tara looks up. She looks up into the face of everything her family is against, to the one thing that claims them all in the end. "I am at your service." is all she can say, voice rough.
A soul for a soul. Death says again. I have a soul, a soul from the future, sworn to save the world from the plague currently on the path to destroy life as we know it.
Again, Tara bows her head and asks, as is her duty, "How may I be of service?"
There are only two families who the soul can join. The family of Life, and the family of Death. Give the soul a home, a family, and a support system to create her place, and I shall give you your greatest desire. Death glances at her wife's abdomen, at the hand, cradling it. A soul for a soul, and your next attempt will be fruitful.
Tara looks at her wife, and it takes only a split second for them to agree. "I accept. What are your terms?"
She will retain all her memories. She will gladly join your family magics if you will have her. You will raise her from a babe to an adult, and nurture her as all parents do. You will give her what she will not yet have, what she needs to prosper- a name, a family, a life.
Greengrass. The clan of prosperity, of growth, who hold their names so sacred and their lives even more so. It is not a difficult choice. "We will do what is asked of us, and raise her like she is our own, as she is one of us from this moment forth. Thank you, my Lord."
Death bows once and disappears as silently as it appeared. Tara turns to her wife, whose hands are still on her abdomen. Ashwini smiles at her, wide, excited, and hopeful. Tara knows without having to check, that by Samhain, her wife will be with child.
"How do you like the name Morrigan?"
September 1st, 1987
Prefect Arwen turned to the first-years and led them to the corner of the common room. The Slytherin common room is painted a dark, rich green, homely and regal. The low, warm lighting painted shadows across her face as she speaks. "Slytherin house has a hierarchy. We have seven members forming a structure called the Court. The Rex or the Regina, who's the head and chosen by conquest, the three chosen by vote, and the three chosen by the head. They choose how to run the house and take care of the house members in regard to safety, schoolwork, and the image we present to the school. Slytherin has the highest standards for its students, and we expect the best of you while helping you achieve it. There is a reason we win the house cup the most often. And why Slytherin produces the most politicians, scholars, and high-ranking specialists. You have made a wonderful choice for yourselves simply by coming here."
She faced the room and inclined her head at Quintus Flint.
Quintus kicked off the wall in a fluid movement. "The current head is my older brother, Tiberius Flint, sixth year. As his second, it's my job now to ask you all-" he looked over all the assembled students, from years one to seven. "-Is there a challenger for the throne? Any year, whether you're nobility or not." he sneered at the not, lip curling as he looked over the students he knew to be half-bloods or muggle-borns.
Morrigan stepped forward. She ignored the gasps and horrified looks being sent her way. She stood tall and proud, squaring her shoulders and planting her feet into the ground the way her mother had taught her in both lives.
"Are you sure, firstie?" Quintus asked mockingly. "Tiberius gutted the previous Rex's rule so firmly that he had to be sent to St Mungo's to recover. Do you even know how to duel?"
She looked Tiberius Flint in the eye. She had faced far worse men with ten times the talent, all without a single flinch. This boy did not scare her. "I stepped forward, didn’t I? Tiberius Flint, I, Morrigan, challenge you for the throne."
Quintus Flint twirled his wand. "Well, I warned you. Rules are to defeat the opponent using any means necessary, whether by rendering the opponent unconscious or by forcing them to yield." he shot a nasty smile at her. "Sometimes, accidents happen, though. But as you said, you stepped forward." He pressed a rune etched into the wall and a ward line rose up, separating the common room from the empty duelling area.
Prefect Arwen stepped forward, eyebrows drawn together in worry. "Contenders, step behind the ward line."
Morrigan and Flint stepped behind the line and walked to opposite sides of the common room. She turned to face him, sliding her wand out of its holster with a flick of her wrist.
"Bow," Arwen commanded, and the two of them bowed shallowly at each other, a clear sign of disrespect to each other.
They locked eyes and Tiberius surged forward. "Consido." he cast.
Morrigan ducked, shooting a leg-lock jinx at him. He cast a protego, and slid forward.
"Impedimenta!" she shot out before he could say anything. The curse caught him and he stumbled, righting himself with a hand against the wall. He looked up at her, and the expression on his face could only be considered murderous. Letting a first-year who hadn't attended a single class best him, even in a single spell, was clearly a hit to his pride.
"Sectumsemptra," he snarled. She jerked to the side just in time, letting the spell hit the chair behind her, ignoring the crowd's panicked noises as it splintered. Her gaze hardened. Flint wasn't just trying to win, he was trying to harm her irreparably.
Morrigan knew she was young and her magical core wasn't developed enough to channel her magic through her wand, but she had stores of wandless magic and strengths of her own. Ones she had honed and developed for centuries.
She leaped forward before he could curse her again and boosted herself up, wrapping her legs around his neck and using their combined body weight to twist and slam him into the floor. They landed with a thud and she snatched his wand from his hand, tossing it behind her. She grabbed his arms and twisted them behind his back. He let out a pained groan, struggling against her hold. His cheek was pressed to the cold, hard, ground and she pressed down on it further for no reason other than spite.
"Silencio," she whispered into the silence of the common room, grinning sharply when he looked at her in surprise. "You have no choice but to yield."
He snarled at her, baring his teeth in what he clearly thought was intimidating to her. Her only response was to slide her wand discreetly back into her holster, pull his arm back tighter and look at Prefect Arwen expectantly.
"You have to let him speak for him to yield," Arwen said tiredly.
Morrigan shrugged. "Finite," she stated, making sure the room's occupants could see that she wasn't holding her wand.
Flint snarled at her. "Couldn't beat me with spells, so you resort to mudblood methods? I will never yield to you," He swore.
Morrigan's lips twitched. "I was hoping you'd say that. Now you get to see my party tricks." She lifted her head to the ceiling and hissed softly. "
Rise," she coaxed, and watched the blood leave Flint's face as the snakes that were all over the common room, on statues and chairs and portraits- leave their place and heed her call. They slithered towards her, holding their heads up and waiting for her command.
"Hold him in place," she ordered, and they hissed in obedience, locking around him so she could stand up. Parselmagic- to control snakes and use the snake-tongue for magic, was even rarer than being a Parselmouth, and to have both the control and respect of snakes spoke of rare magical prowess and control.
She dusted her robes off, and to the horror of Flint and the rest of the common room, held her hand out as a thick snake slithered out of her robes. "Hello, Aine," crooned. She looked back at Flint, who stared back at her in genuine terror.
"This is my Loharian Viper," she informed him. "She's my bonded familiar and it's been quite a while since she's tasted human flesh." She let Aine slither towards Flint and kneeled down next to him. "The last Parselmouth to step foot into Slytherin was Lord Voldemort himself," she mocked, laughing at the flinches of the students around her. She grabbed Flint's chin with her hand and forced him to look at her face. "Though, you and I both know that he was never destined for nobility, with how he scorns our culture. Pathetic of you and your clan, I must admit, to kneel at his robes like a dog. Let me ask you one last time before I let Aine bite you. Do you yield?"
Flint gritted his teeth and glanced at Aine, and then at Morrigan. "I yield." he ground out. Morrigan raised her eyebrows at Arwen.
"You win the duel." she declared, looking reluctantly impressed.
Morrigan inclined her head at the snakes, and they released him, bowing their heads to her.
"Quintus?"
Quintus dispelled the ward line and stepped forward to help his brother off the floor, taking care to avoid the snake carvings slithering back to their places. He pulled Tiberius up and turned to Morrigan. His face twisted in hate, but as he bowed to her, the rest of the room followed.
"Rex Mortuus est, Vivat Regina." he intoned dully.
"Vivat Regina," the rest of the room chorused, and Morrigan grinned at the surge of magic she felt. It was ever so satisfying when things fell into place just right.
April 1989
Morrigan picked up the ornate dagger with her right hand, and made a shallow cut on her other palm, letting her blood drip into the goblet in front of her. She pulled her heir ring off and slid the family headship ring on her left hand, before dipping her pointer finger into the blood and drawing a rune on the back of her hand and then her forehead. She closed her eyes and whispered, "Libet te."
The family magics swirled around her, enveloping her in what felt like a whirlwind of love, support, and warmth. She closed her eyes and felt them tugging at her magical core. She felt the magic of her ancestors and saw them dancing around the wildfires of the plains, magical staffs in hand. She saw the generations of women before her who held her place before her and the generations of women that would hold them after. She felt her mother's keen gaze from beyond the veil, her strong, capable hands, and the whirlwind of power that was the family magics transferring to her.
Ours, it seemed to say.
Yours, she vowed. For however long you have me, I will be yours. She felt a hum of approval and opened her eyes, knowing without looking into a mirror that her eyes had gone from brown to pale green. The magic settled into her, relaxing in contended approval, leaving the air around her smelling like fresh lemongrass. She placed the heir ring back into a small box and slipped it into her robe pocket for her younger sister, turning back to Axeclaw expectantly.
"That's a rather rare reaction to a Ladyship being claimed. You must have quite the connection to the family Magics." Axeclaw peered down at her, eyeing the gold signet ring on Morrigan's little finger.
Morrigan ran her finger over the dark green Dara knot on her ring, feeling the family magics reach out in glee. This was going to be fun. "I suppose I've always had quite the connection to them." She looked up at him, green eyes glowing with power. "Mother said the Manor's wards sang when I was born, after all."
Axeclaw grinned sharply at her. "You will make a formidable Lady of your house. I'm sure." He looked back down at the roll of parchment containing Morrigan's ancestry report and Family magics and frowned. "The Potter family magics? I am aware of your relationship to the main branch of the family through the late Euphemia Potter, but why are you listed as a holder of the magics until the heir claims his place?"
Morrigan tucked her hair behind a pointed ear and shrugged. "Who knows? Grandmother passed on while I was a child, the Patils are headed by their grandmother, Great-Aunt Euphemia's other sister, so they have no claim over it. And one Ladyship is quite enough for me." She glanced up at him slyly. "After all, I am now head of a third of the Wizengamot."
Axeclaw sighed and put the matter to rest, rolling up the parchment and banishing it to her vault. "That you are, My Lady. That you are."
She stood up, shrinking down the items she withdrew from her vault and dropping them into the bottomless bag at her waist, the metal items making a satisfying clink noise as they rested against her skirts. "As always, you are a faithful manager to my vaults and a powerful ally. May your enemies cower at your name, Manager Axeclaw of the Northern Warrior Clans."
"And may yours fall dead at your feet, Lady Morrigan Rhianne of Greengrass."
August 1989
Morrigan ducked out of the Weasley fireplace, banishing the soot from her shorts as she walked into the living room.
"Hello?" she called out. There was no one in the comfortable-looking sitting room, so she hesitantly stepped forward. She had been here plenty of times in her past life, but none in this one.
She heard a short scuffle and the clang of something metal hitting the floor before Percy Weasley stuck his head out of the dining room and waved at her. "Lady Morrigan Greengrass?" He asked, hastily wiping the ink and soot off the bridge of his nose. "Well met, Bill and Charlie are out in the field with Ron and Ginny."
She smiled at him warmly. "Well met, Percy, I do know who you are. And it's just Morrigan, we are nearly the same age, after all." She glanced at the papers in his hand, eyes widening in interest. "Is that Jemma Travers' Rune Combination theory?"
He looked at her in surprise, moving out into the living room. She held her hand out for the papers as he walked closer to her.
"We haven't had classes together since our first week together, and we haven’t really spoken since then," He replied, placing the sheaf of papers in her outstretched hand. "And yes, I'm trying to derive some of the Ango-Saxon combinations in Sanskrit, but I think my translations are wrong."
Morrigan shoved her wand in the holster on her thigh and glanced at the dining room table, covered with textbooks and parchment with ink marks all over it. "May I?" she asked. They looked rather fascinating, and it was a good way to extend a hand in friendship to the young Weasley, who she knew didn't have a lot of friends.
"Of course," he said, guiding her to the dining table and pulling her chair out for her.
"Well, aren't you a perfect gentleman," she teased, grinning when the tips of his ears turned bright pink.
"It's only proper," he muttered, sitting down in his own chair and grabbing a textbook and a quill. She smoothed the papers out on the table and looked at them intently.
"What seems to be the problem with the translations? My Mama's native language is Hindi, so my sisters and I grew up speaking it. I might be able to help."
Percy leaned across the table and circled a line of translations. "I'm trying to translate the word for 'order' to the Hindi sequence to see if it works that way as well, but the utensils simply keep falling off the shelf instead. Bill took runes but he only has knowledge of Arabic and is more familiar with Elder Furthak."
Morrigan plucked the quill from his hand and quickly jotted down corrections to his writing. "Written Hindi and spoken Hindi are slightly different," she explained to him. "And unlike English, the letters sound the same no matter what word you put them in, in most cases. Write them in mirror and try carving them into the cupboard or the pots directly and they'll work."
He blinked at her in surprise. "Merlin."
She laughed. "Morrigan, actually. But I see how you'd make that mistake."
"What about the mirrored writing helps make the sequence more accurate?"
She frowned, taking a second to think about it. "I'm not sure, actually. I read it in a Runic Textbook, a rather old one from the Black family library." His eyebrows raised slightly at that, but she ignored it and continued. "You should be able to access the texts as well, it’s quite disappointing that the family won’t talk to you. Your grandmother was of the main branch after all."
Percy scrunched his nose, scribbling corrections into his notes. "It's quite alright, I've never met any of them so there's no lost love there, at least. And thank you very much again, you have no idea how much you've helped with this."
She waved her hand dismissively. "No, it's quite rude of them. I have a copy of the text so maybe I can show it to you when term starts up again."
He looked up at her gratefully. "Well, I was planning on just experimenting and hoping I didn't singe my eyebrows off until I could get ahold of Professor Babbling, so my gratitude to you. I'd like to try these out now, would you like to accompany me?"
"Maybe in a few hours," Morrigan said, standing up. "It was lovely talking to you, Percy. We should study together sometime. I'm going to go find Charlie, though, he said he needed help with a Quidditch Play."
He squinted at her. "Don't the two of you play on different teams? And different positions, at that?"
"I play Beater." she agreed. "Charlie would like to practice trying avoiding a bludger while flying, however, and batting bludgers around is one of my cherished pastimes."
"Alright," he shrugged, not even pretending to understand why people enjoyed Quidditch so much. "I'd like to talk to you about some other runic systems later if you'd be willing."
He sounded hopeful, and Morrigan realised with a twinge that he probably didn't feel much kinship to the rest of his family. They were all extremely intelligent in their own right, but he was the only was who didn't play Quidditch or enjoy flying. He seemed to prefer spending his time surrounded by books, and while she enjoyed the same pastimes, she had more diverse tastes.
It was no reason to treat him like he was lesser, though. She loved the Weasleys, but she could admit that maybe they weren't the nicest to Percy. She resolved to spend more time with him because he had a wonderful mind and seemed like a great study partner.
Morrigan tucked her chair in and grinned at him. "Absolutely. I can be reached by owl or floo, you'd just have to get my address from your brothers." She gave him one last smile, then turned and walked out the front door into the field around the burrow, seeing the two older Weasley brothers in the air and the two youngest Weasleys tossing a quaffle back and forth on the grass.
Charlie turned in the air and zoomed down to her, grin widening as he dismounted the broom and pulled her into a hug, sun-warmed skin pressing against hers. Her magic sang in delight at seeing one of her closest friends for the first time since June, after months of Wizengamot meetings and updating the family investments that had fallen apart since her mother died.
"You're taller than me now," he exclaimed in surprise, releasing her and looking her up and down in indignation. "That's not bloody allowed, you're three years younger than me."
"You're not very tall, Charles Andrew," she teased. "It wasn't that hard to grow taller than you." From the corner of her eye, she saw the two youngest Weasleys pause their game to discreetly try and see what was happening. As someone who also had younger siblings, she was familiar with their behaviour.
Bill dived down and dismounted his broom, letting it fall to the grass with a clatter. Charlie stepped back, letting Bill move forward to stand in front of her. He bowed deeply at the waist, keeping his palms open at his side. "Well Met, Lady Morrigan Greengrass," he greeted formally, standing up straight again after a few seconds had passed.
She inclined her head at him. "Well met, Heir William Weasley." She felt his magic reach out to her, the fiery Weasley magic so different from Charlie's steady Prewett thrum.
They both dropped the formalities and reached forward to clasp forearms tightly. "By Circe, it's been nearly two years, hasn’t it? I'm sorry I wasn't able to make it to your ascension ball."
"I understand, Bill. I wouldn’t have wanted you to miss your training, especially now that I've learned what a skilled curse breaker you arerumoured to be."
"Even then." he insisted. "Have you met my younger siblings?" he asked, beckoning Ginny and Ron towards them. The two of them immediately ran forward, Ginny tucking the Quaffle under her arm, Ron hot on her heels, curious to meet her. Charlie plucked the quaffle from Ginny, pushing her and Ron forward with an easy grin.
Bill laid a hand on each of their shoulders. "This is Ronald and Ginevra," he introduced. "They're eight and nine. Ron will be in the same year as your middle sister, I believe." He looked down at Morrigan, "This is Morrigan Greengrass. She's Percy's age, and on the Wizengamot with Dad."
"It's Ron," Ron grumbled immediately, pushing Bill's hand off his shoulder and looking at the ground.
Ginevra bounded forward till she was right in front of Morrigan and grinned up at her, gap-toothed and freckled. "Call me Ginny," she said cheerfully. "You're so pretty, I've never met anyone as pretty as you. I like your ears! My friend Luna has ears just like yours, but her hair is silver."
Morrigan laughed out loud in delight and crouched down till she was at Ginny's level. "You're the prettiest little firecracker I've ever seen," she exclaimed. "And what a strong throwing arm, too." She looked up at Ron. "It's so lovely to meet you too, Ron. Charlie's told me all about you and how good you are at chess. I'm a bit rusty myself, so maybe you'd be willing to catch me up to speed?"
Ron peered up hesitantly at her, not used to any of his brothers' friends acknowledging him.
Charlie groaned. "You came here to help me, you know. Two minutes in and you've already charmed my youngest siblings. Who's next- Percy, Fred, and George?"
Morrigan grabbed a hand of Ginny and Ron's each and let them pull her to where they were tossing the Quaffle around earlier. "Percy and I already bonded over anglo-saxon runes," she called cheerfully over her shoulder, wandlessly summoning the Quaffle from Charlie's grip. "And I think Fred and George could use some prank guidance from the prankster of the Great Robe Dyeing of 1988, don't you?"
"How did you-" Bill sputtered. "Already?"
"So unbecoming, Heir Weasley." she teased. "See you in the field!"
January 1990
Morrigan strolled quietly down the charms corridor, looking around the corner of the hallway and sighing in relief when she saw it was empty. She walked down leisurely, hidden from view with a dillusionment charm and her wand light held in front of her.
Guiding a homesick Cedric Diggory to Sixth-Year Nymphadora Tonks had been the right move, even if she had wanted to comfort him herself. But she was an older Slytherin who he wasn't yet comfortable with and he was a first-year Hufflepuff, so she made sure the Hufflepuff was sent to her God-Sister instead. Dora was a good role model for him, steady and strong and always a good time.
Morrigan heard the pattering of footsteps and halted her steps, putting out her wand light and peering curiously down the corridor. No one else should have been out at this time of the night.
First-year Gryffindors Fred and George Weasley were bent over a familiar-looking parchment, whispering to themselves.
"It says Morrigan bloody Greengrass on the map, but she isn't here. The map hasn't been wrong till now." Fred whispered.
"Well I don't know, do I?" George argued. "It's not like I can see her either."
Morrigan sighed, cancelled her dillusionment charm with a whispered "Finite," and looked at the twins in resignation.
She looked at them calculatingly. "I won't tell if you don't."
The twins relaxed. "Deal," they chorused together, walking up to her. Now that they knew she wouldn't rat them out, they were as comfortable as they usually were around her. Which likely was comfortable enough to talk to her unselfconsciously and make fun of her, but not prank her. That, she had gotten back at them for. All the furniture in their shared room being stuck on their ceiling with an unstickable charm and some runes she had blended herself was a good response to attempting to dye her hair green, in her opinion. Though, the shade of green they had selected matched her eyes perfectly so she had ended up keeping it for a few days. Morrigan would never forget what Molly Weasley's near hysterical laughter when she saw Morrigan sitting calmly in the twins' upside room with sage green hair, sounded like. She's had a place on the secondary family clock ever since.
"What's a nice, rule-abiding senior like you doing out of bed at one in the morning?" George asked, leaning against the wall.
"Rule abiding? Merlin, I don't think anyone's described me as rule-abiding in years. What are two delinquent little juniors like you doing out of bed in the middle of the night?" she shot back. "Wearing hello kitty pajamas, at that."
Fred flushed. "They're quite comfortable, I'll have you know," he muttered. "Bill got them for us."
"No answer to the question asked?"
"Who do you want to know? You're not a prefect and you didn’t answer our questions either."
"I was at the kitchens for a late-night snack," she relented, tossing Fred a packet of crisps when he perked up at her words. "Your turn now." She looked at them expectantly, crossing her arms over her chest.
The twins looked at each other for a long moment before Fred shook his head, crisps in hand. "Sorry Mor, I'd rather not say. You might want to avoid the pudding tomorrow night though."
She looked at them intently, waiting for them to say more or explain, but they stayed resolutely silent, staring at the ceiling above them.
"Suit yourselves then," She said, a teasing grin stretching across her face. "But say hello to Moony, Padfoot, and Prongs for me, will you? And I'll have you know, my middle name is Rhianne, nothing so uncouth as bloody."
Their gazes snapped down to her, but she walked past them, ignoring their sudden questions. She turned around the corner of the corridor behind them and reapplied the dillusionment charm with a small press to the rune on her bracelet. She heard them look down the corridor after her and exclaim in surprise when she was gone. She was still smiling when she reached the common room.
December 1990
"And you say you saw him as a human and then he turned into a rat when you saw him?" Amelia Bones asked, peering dubiously at the rat in the rather large cage taking up so much space in her office.
Morrigan clasped her hands together tightly. "I did, Madam Bones. I am willing to testify in court or involve my family barristers if you don't believe me."
"That won't be necessary." Madam Bones assured. "I'm willing to perform the Homorphus charm on the rat since it will cause no harm to it unless it's actually Pettigrew. However, I will have to do it on record and call a few senior Aurors in."
Morrigan let her face crumple and she wiped a few tears from her eyes. Amelia's expression softened as she was suddenly reminded that however grown up and accomplished Morrigan seemed, she was barely a teenager to her. "Is there anyone I can call to accompany you while we wait?" she asked, drafting a quick memo to the Auror office down the corridor.
Morrigan looked up, watching the memo zoom out of the window. "Mama's been in India with Daphne and Astoria since Yule," she explained, wiping her tears away. "It's quite late there now and I should hate to disturb them." She visibly collected herself and sat up straighter. "Is Trainee Auror Tonks here?" she questioned, folding her hands primly in her lap once more. "His father is my Godfather, making us siblings of a sort. I'd like him to be here."
"Of course. They should be here any second, would you like to change into something more appropriate? The memories will be used for testimony, after all." She offered.
"That would be appreciated, Madam Bones," Morrigan said gratefully. She pulled her bandana off and transfigured it into a deep purple open robe, pulling it on over her muggle clothes. She waved her wand over her t-shirt and skirt and changed them to a shirt with buttons and slacks. She pulled her hair out of the back of her robe and turned to Madam Bones once again crossing one leg over the other delicately.
Two Aurors walked up to the room, clad in grey-edged robes that showed their status as senior Aurors, Antares Tonks coming in right on their heels, clad in his trainee uniform. "Are you alright, Mo?" he asked, his face creased. His hair was jet black, unlike his usual navy blue, eyes in their natural grey, shining with worry. He looked a startling amount like the Black family cousins he was descended from. If everything went according to plan, he would be reunited with one of them as well.
One of the senior Aurors stepped forward. "I'm Auror Shacklebolt," he introduced, before nudging the other Auror's shoulder. "And this is my partner Auror Matthews-" she nodded once at Morrigan, "-Madam Bones said that this rat is an animagus?" Morrigan nodded in agreement and Auror Matthews stepped forward, placing a silver orb on the table.
"This is a recorder," Auror Matthews told Morrigan. "It's pretty self-explanatory, but it'll be used as testimony if there is a need for a court case rather than you having to explain twice since you're legally a minor. Do you consent?"
"I do."
"Alright," Auror Matthews placed the orb on Madam Bones' desk and tapped it twice. The orb lifted an inch off the table, glowing slightly brighter than it was before. "This is Aurors Matthews and Shaklebolt interviewing Lady Morrigan Greengrass, age fourteen, at 1900 hours on 23 December 1990, Head Auror Amelia Bones' office, Ministry of Magic. Witness, Trainee Auror Antares Theodore Tonks, in Heir Black capacity."
"Lady Greengrass," Auror Shacklebolt began, "Can you narrate the events that took place at Ottery St Catchpole earlier today, in summative detail?"
"I can," Morrigan said. Antares squeezed her shoulder in silent support, and she continued. "I was in the living room of the Burrow, which is the residence of the Weasley Family, studying with Percival and Charles Weasley. Charles and I were studying for the Charms NEWT, which we are both taking this upcoming year when he realised that he had left his notes upstairs in Percy's bedroom. I offered to go up and get them. I walked upstairs and saw a man who I later recognised as Peter Pettigrew. He turned into a rat and tried to run away, so I stunned him and floo'd Madam Bones immediately."
"Where were the rest of the Weasleys?" Auror Matthews questioned. He was rather efficient for someone who had just been told that a supposed dead war hero was a death eater, she would give him that.
"Lord Weasley was working in this building, Department of Muggle Artefacts, Frederick and George were at their classmate Lee Jordan's house in muggle London, and will remain there for the week, William is in his current place of residence as per his contract with the Northern Goblins of Gringotts in Cairo, Egypt, and Ronald and Ginevra were with their mother at Lovegood family cottage, across the field." Morrigan paused and swallowed. "Pandora Malfoy passed away last month, so they were delivering some food supplies and giving their company to Xenophilius and his daughter."
"My Condolences," Auror Shacklebolt said. "You say he was in human form? What did he look like?"
Morrigan scowled. "Yes. I'm assuming he didn’t notice me coming upstairs because my footsteps are soundless. As for how he looked-" She pursed her lips. "-Rank. Dirty. Hair long, skin covered in grime. Clothes in tatters."
"How did you recognise the man as Peter Pettigrew?"
"He is a traitor to the House of Greengrass as we are cousins and allies of House Potter. He was in Uncle James and Aunt Lily's house in a photo on their mantelpiece. I recognise him from the wedding as well."
"That's enough for now," Madam Bones added. "I'll perform the charm and we'll see if it actually is Pettigrew. After all, we only found his finger nine years ago." She pointed her wand at the rat, twisting it slightly clockwise. "Homorphus," she said clearly. The rat suddenly blurred and turned into a man covered in dirt and tattered robes, who immediately fell to his knees.
"Sirius Black trapped me-" he started, holding the bars of the cage.
Madam Bones waved her wand at him, lips pursed, silencing him immediately. "That's a Dark Mark on his left forearm," she said. "Handcuff him and take him down to the holding cells. We have to bring Black in from Azkaban now and review the trial transcripts." She turned to Morrigan, who was nearly shaking with rage.
"Trial?" She asked dangerously. "There was no trial last time, and as a result, Albus Dumbledore illegally decided that he could hide my cousin away wherever he desired. Never mind that he has three branches of close family available by owl or floo! We were all turned away when we came to the ministry or the school demanding to have him sent to us, as was our right.
"Lord Black has no access to the Black family barristers, so I will equip him with my own," she said fiercely, as the Aurors escorted a weeping Pettigrew to the holding cells. "If my testimony is over, I'd like to go home, please. It's been a rather long day."
Madam Bones stood up and lightly grabbed the recorder from where it was floating above the table and tapped it once, switching it off. "I’ll look into that as well, Lady Greengrass," she said, face stony. "You have done the DMLE a great service today, and you'll be rewarded for it. Will you be headed back to Greengrass Manor now?"
Morrigan glanced at Antares, who had been uncharacteristically silent for the entire proceedings, with a vice grip on her shoulder. "I shall head to the Tonks' house instead," Morrigan said after a second. "The matter concerns our family, after all. I can floo Aunt Narcissa as well to let her know before the information becomes public since the trials will most likely take all year."
"Yes, it relieves me to know that you won't be alone tonight." Madam Bones sat behind her desk and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I'll be flooing over to Arthur and Molly to let them know the news."
Morrigan stood up as well, brushing over her robes and wiping under her eyes one last time. "Thank you, Madam Bones. I left the Burrow in quite a hurry and I'm sure they're worried. Do owl me once the trial date has been set so I may send my Barrister the pertinent details."
"I will, Lady Greengrass."
And later, once Antares and Morrigan were at the Tonks house, surrounded by the rest of the Tonks family, Morrigan grinned, tendrils of magic weaving through her fingers, sparking off of Antares' ring. The Black family magic, wild and so potent, so dark and somehow still so bright, hummed, would always be home for her even though she no longer held it in her core. Magic held memory, after all, and across Time and dimensions, it would always recognise it's fiercely ambitious daughter.
Once Harry was home, the three factions of the Wizengamot would be united. The Potter magics would settle, the Black magics would fight, and the Greengrass magics would grow. Andromeda Tonks' raven pendant glowed, as Nymphadora's hair slowly shifted to its natural inkycurls, grey eyes shining in the night.
"Auntie," Morrigan told Andromeda, their magics swirling around them. "Sirius is coming home. The Black magics are to be free once more."
Dear Aunt Narcissa,
It has been quite a while since we have communicated through letters rather than simply flooing or meeting up outside, but I find myself quite exhausted after today's events, so Aunt Andromeda suggested I write to you. Peter Pettigrew is alive and was found with a dark mark. He was hiding in his animagus form all this time and I stumbled upon him entirely by happenstance. I am informing you of this because it means that your Cousin Sirius will be put on trial, bringing your family and the Tonks' into public scrutiny once again. I have equipped him with one of the Greengrass family's Barristers. Would it be alright if I floo'd over from Aunt Andromeda's house tomorrow so I could explain to you the whole story? Forgive me for the rather informal letter, it has been a rather harrowing day and I find myself ready to turn in.
Your Goddaughter,
Morrigan Greengrass
Darling Morrigan,
Pettigrew is alive, and a Death Eater? I confess, this is news to even Lucius and I. Do not apologise darling, I am your godmother after all, and formalities are not required among such close family. Please do floo in tomorrow at your convenience, for we would like to hear the full story. Are you fairing well? It must have been quite a shock. The Black family thanks you dearly for equipping him with legal aid, as we are not able to help him unless, or rather, I should say until, his innocence is proved, Lord of our House or not.
All my love,
Aunt Narcissa
June 1991
"Lord Black?" Mediwitch Brown called. "There's a young woman outside who would like to visit you."
Sirius sat up and smoothed his sheets. He had been waiting for a visitor since morning, and patience was not one of his strong suits. "What's her name?"
Mediwitch Brown picked up his lunch place and loaded it on her cart. "Morrigan Greengrass."
Sirius frowned. "James' cousin, right?" he asked after a second, remembering a giggling toddler squirming out of Lily's arms and James cradling a baby to his chest at Potter Manor. "She's what, fourteen?"
"Fifteen," Mediwitch Brown corrected. "She's a Lady on the Wizengamot right now, and her Barrister was the one who represented you during your trial."
"Oh," Sirius said. "That's rather young, isn't it? Send her in, please. I'd like to thank her myself."
"Will do, Lord Black," she confirmed, pushing her cart out of her room.
Sirius pulled his hair back in an attempt to make himself more presentable, grimacing at his horribly drab hospital pajamas. He had only been cleared for visitors that morning, after two long months of intensive care for dementor exposure, and was surprised and slightly hurt that Remus hadn’t come to visit him yet. He had filled out slightly, his eyesight and other senses improving with the help of nutrient potions. His muscles were still quite weak, and he would need to use a wheelchair to for at least a year until he regained his strength. His musings were interrupted by a knock on the door.
He glanced up. A teenage girl stood in the open doorway. She was tall and dark-skinned, with long hair tied down in an intricate braid down her back. She was wearing casual robes open over an expensive-looking blouse and slacks, with steel-toed boots on her feet. She carried a large bouquet of daffodils in one hand.
"Well met," he said hesitantly. "Lady Morrigan Greengrass now, isn't it?" He couldn't stand up to bow so he tilted his head downwards as best as he could.
She stepped forward and placed the flowers on his bedside table, before taking a step back and bowing deeply with her palms open at her side. "Well met, Lord Black. And please call me Morrigan or Mor, though we haven't seen each other since the first war, we are nearly family."
At his questioning look, she clarified. "Through Uncle James and Aunt Lily, Harry is my cousin. My godparents are Ted and Narcissa, and the Black Magics have always taken to me well." As if proving her point, his ring, which he was still getting used to, hummed on his hand as if in approval.
"Morrigan it is then," he said, and she smiled.
He felt like someone had dumped a pitcher of ice-cold water on him because that was a smile he hadn't seen in ten years. The smile that had spread across James Potter's face when Sirius first met him at age ten at a gala, sneaking behind the gardens to escape the stuffy atmosphere of the party. The one that he saw when the two of them were joking around, for all the twelve years that he had known him. It was the smile that Euphemia Potter had given him when she nursed him back to health after he tumbled through her floo in the summer before his sixth-year, loving and motherly.
He swallowed, gathering the tattered remains of his emotions and calling up the years of training he had gone through in etiquette. "Call me Sirius, please. I was informed that your Barrister represented me during my trial. You have my gratitude, Cousin. Please allow me to cover the costs, now that I am out of Azkaban and a free man once more."
"You needn't be so formal, Sirius," she said softly. "Take it as a token of well-wishing." she pulled a brown paper cover out of her robe pocket. "I just came by to drop these off before today's Wizengamot meeting. Aunt Andromeda said you like the cookies from Sarabelle's Bakery down in Islington," she added. "Auntie and Uncle Tonks are a bit busy with work and will be here to visit you in the evening, so I thought I'd bring them along instead. And Aunt Narcissa will be here in an hour or so. Most likely without her peacock of a husband."
Sirius laughed. This young woman who James had loved so much, who he had learned how to change nappies for, shared the exact same dislike for Lucius Malfoy as he did. Sirius wistfully remembered how James had already known how to take care of a baby when Harry was born because of this girl. How he had expertly cradled Harry, warming up bottles and bouncing him gently while toddler-Morrigan climbed all over Lily's shoulders.
Morrigan waved the cookies at him. "Has Mr. Lupin visited yet? Auntie said the two of you used to share them when you were younger."
Sirius accepted the package gratefully, grey eyes shining with unshed tears. It had been so long since someone had done anything kind to him, and he felt his wretched heart break all over again when he realised that Morrigan must be the current Lady of her house because her mother had passed away. He silently promised himself that while being there for Harry, he would look out for Morrigan too. It was what James would have wanted. He gestured for her to sit down on the hospital chairs. "All this for someone you barely know? You must be quite the kindred soul. I don't know how I'll repay you."
Morrigan sat down and crossed her ankle over her knee. "I will have all the thanks I need if I can watch you heal and get justice for my cousins."
"Remus hasn't been by with Harry yet," Sirius said answering her earlier question and setting the packet of cookies down on his lap. "I thought they'd be here first thing in the morning?"
Morrigan frowned. "Why would Mr. Lupin come with Harry? As far as I know, he hasn't seen him since Harry was a baby. None of us have."
Sirius sat up straighter. "What? Harry didn't go to Remus? Where is he?"
Morrigan shrugged. "None of us know, not even our family or the Patils. Albus Dumbledore has him hidden with Lily's muggle relatives somewhere. He sealed the records and I can't access them. And if I can't access them, no one can."
That was understating it, Sirius thought. While the Potters and Longbottoms jointly headed the light section of the Wizengamot and the Blacks headed the Dark section, the Greengrasses were the leaders of the Neutrals, the largest block of them all. If she couldn't access the records, there was little chance of anyone else being able to.
"Meddling old goat," Sirius swore. "Morrigan, the only relatives he has in the Muggle world are Lily's horrid sister Petunia and her family. They hate magic and want nothing to do with the Potters. Albus had no right to decide what to do with Harry."
"You're his Godfather, right? Is there any way we can transfer custody or get in contact with them?"
Sirius shook his head. "Even if I could get it legally, I'm in no shape to care for him the way he deserves. And Dumbledore gets what Dumbledore wants."
Morrigan looked at him thoughtfully. "What if we both approached it from the magical and legal aspects of it? As his cousin and his godfather, then as the Heads of the other two sections of the Wizengamot?"
Sirius shook his head. "Dumbledore can overrule it as Chief."
Morrigan rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Then there's no way to find out where he is until he attends Hogwarts. Fucking Dumbledore," she said under her breath.
"Fucking Dumbledore," Sirius agreed. "Though it is a bit of a surprise to hear a Pureblood Lady say 'fuck'."
"I only control the swearing when I'm at school and when I'm in the Wizengamot." she dismissed. "I'm a prefect at school this year and a Lady on the Wizengamot, but I'm a regular teenager everywhere else. I have a meeting at Gringotts now, so I have to take my leave, but I promise to visit you tomorrow and see what I can do about Harry."
"Thank you, again," Sirius said gratefully. "It was lovely seeing you again, cousin."
Morrigan stood up. "Merry part, Sirius," she said and turned and walked out of the room, leaving the soft smell of lemongrass behind.
August 1991
Remus pushed open the door to his house, toeing his shoes off. There was a pair of emerald-green converse on the shoe rack next to his work shoes, and Remus frowned at them before shrugging off his cardigan and hanging it up. He wasn't aware that any visitors would be coming over, but if they got past the wards that Bill Weasley from Gringotts had put up, then surely they didn't mean him or Sirius any harm?
He walked past the living room and dining room, marveling at the shiny wood and clean walls as he put the groceries down on the kitchen table. He hadn't lived in a house this nice since he, James, and Lily had shared a flat for the first year after Hogwarts until the other two got married and moved into Potter Manor.
He heard the sound of Sirius' loud, barking laughter and smiled. As soon as Sirius had left St. Mungos, he had tracked down Remus and all but forced him to move into his new townhouse. Remus had been in between jobs and Sirius had money and needed near-constant care, so it had worked out for both of them. It had only been two weeks since they moved in, but the two-story townhouse was already starting to feel like home.
He ducked his head into Sirius' bedroom and raised an eyebrow at what he saw. Sirius was sitting up against his headboard clutching a Tupperware full of what looked like Indian food and struggling to keep his laughter under control. Facing him was a familiar-looking teenage girl in a t-shirt and cutoff jean shorts, sitting on a chair with her socked feet resting on the bed. She was leaning back on the chair, her long hair unbound over her shoulders, looking very unimpressed at Sirius. He inhaled and looked at her sharply. He was so familiar with Sirius' scent, the mishmash of homepackdoganimagus that he almost missed that there was another animagus in the room. The girl, whoever she was, was an animagus. And a rather powerful one too.
Sirius glanced up and his smile brightened. "Moony!" he said delightedly. "You probably don't remember her, but this is Jamie's cousin Morrigan. She's the one who caught Pettigrew and she's telling me about the new generation of pranksters at Hogwarts."
Remus entered the room and sat next to Sirius, leaning down to accept the kiss Sirius pressed to his cheek. Attaining an animgaus form changed a person's scent, which was why he hadn't recognised her initially. "You wouldn't be the elusive Morrigan Greengrass I haven't seen in about ten years? Sirius never seems to shut up about you, these days. Not that Sirius can shut up, really. I'm Remus Lupin, it's a pleasure to meet you. Well, meet you again I suppose."
Morrigan pulled her legs off the bed and leaned forward to shake his hand. "Morrigan isn't exactly a very common name here," she said drily. "You'd be right, I'm that Morrigan Greengrass and Sirius won't shut up about you either. I meant to visit earlier, both to see you and check on the wards that Bill put up," she said apologetically to them both, "But I'm restoring an old property of ours and only finished yesterday."
"I don't know how you do it," Sirius said, shoving a spoon of biriyani in his mouth. "When do you sleep?"
"I'm just very good at time management," Morrigan said with a shrug. "Remus, were those groceries I heard you bring just now?"
"They are." Remus agreed. "The Tonks family is coming home for dinner tonight, and I had planned to cook. You're welcome to stay over as well."
She brightened. "I'd love that! Mind if I take a look? Uncle Ted has recently decided that he's vegetarian so you might need some help cooking his favourites."
"I could use the help," Remus said easily. He didn't really need help, but he was intrigued and wanted to see what she was like after all these years. "Would you like to see them now?"
Morrigan hopped up and grabbed a flannel from the back of her chair, knotting it around her waist. "Please," she whispered loudly. "There's only so long I can take Sirius' company."
"Hey!" Sirius said, then frowned. "You know what, that's fair. I'll be here with my food and TV and you two can be boring adults."
Morrigan and Sirius shared a long-suffering look, the first of many. Remus gestured for her to go first, and then tilted his head towards Sirius so he could kiss him properly as soon as she left.
"You're okay with me leaving?" he asked quietly.
"It's okay, Moons. She's a good kid and she's become important to me in the last few months. It's important to me that you two get along."
"Alright, Padfoot. I'm just a holler away."
Remus got up and left the room. He turned and walked down the kitchen, to see Morrigan leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.
"You two needn't hide your relationship from me, you know," she said, and he nearly jumped out of his skin.
He narrowed his eyes at her and she shrugged. "Anyone could tell by the way you look at him. Do you think I would have an issue with it because you're both men? Or is it because you're a werewolf?"
Remus stiffened. "Both, actually." he said carefully."But what I'd like to know is how you found out I'm a werewolf. Sirius wouldn't have told you without asking me first."
Morrigan pushed off the wall in a fluid movement. Remus noted that she was tall, nearly as tall as him, with broad shoulders and strong-looking arms. She crossed them over her chest.
"Let's see. Amber eyes, scars from claws," she listed out. "Sirius calls you Moony, you clearly have enhanced senses since you knew I was an animagus as soon as I walked into the room. Red meat, which I know Sirius and the Tonks family don’t eat," she added, fingers tapping the container of meat on the table. "Also, you look ready to jump out of your skin any second, and tomorrow is the full moon."
She leaned against the counter. "I don't, by the way. Have a problem with you being gay, or being a werewolf. I was just going to offer to brew your wolfsbane for you if you wanted to. I think creatures are pretty neat, especially considering I'm part creature myself."
Remus didn't even know where to start with that. He paused, then walked forward and began putting the groceries away. "I'm glad to hear that," he said after a minute. He picked up a bundle of leafy greens and placed them in the fridge. "I did notice you're an animagus, and I'm assuming Sirius doesn't know since he hasn't mentioned it so far. I couldn't tell that you're part creature, though."
Morrigan accepted the packet of crisps he held out to her, and placed it in the cupboard. "I haven’t told Sirius yet because I think it'll be funny when he figures it out," she admitted freely. "And as most in the Greengrass line are, I'm part fae." she tucked her hair behind her ears and he noticed the pointed ends. "It doesn't show up often, but iron irritates my skin, I can usually tell when someone is lying, and I can't really lie too much myself. I have slightly enhanced senses as well as strength and I'm really quiet while walking around. I can pretty much grow any sort of plant with touch because of my ancestor's connection to agriculture." she paused, grimaced, and continued. "I can also place someone under an imperius-like trance if they give me their full Name, but I've only done it once when capturing Pettigrew."
"Ah," Remus said. "Thank you for telling me. And for capturing Pettigrew. However, I couldn't ask you to make wolfsbane for me for free."
Morrigan hoisted herself up onto the counter and grabbed a potato and a potato peeler. "How about as an exchange? I have a sister who's too young for Hogwarts. If you'd be willing to tutor her say, two days a week, I can brew for you. I took my potions NEWT and got an O, so I'm certainly qualified, and I can supply wolfsbane to you. And none of that rubbish that's sold in stores. That sludge only hurts you and your wolf. I made some modifications that could make the process easier."
"Three days a week," Remus said immediately. Having Wolfsbane would make his and Sirius' lives infinitely easier. Especially a properly brewed version. The only two other people he knew who were as capable as she claimed to be were Narcissa Black and Severus. Neither of which he was comfortable with interacting with.
"Done." Morrigan agreed. She held a fist out and he bumped it gently with his, giving her a bemused look.
She shrugged. "We're family now," she said solemnly.
"Family." he agreed.
August 1991
"Honey, I'm home!" Morrigan sang, entering the Black Townhouse. Daphne walked in behind her, looking vaguely embarrassed and holding a satchel over one shoulder.
Astoria waved from her place at the dining table. "Show me your wand!" she ordered immediately to Daphne.
"Why hello Astoria, it's wonderful to see you too," Daphne said mockingly. She pulled a wand out of the new holster on her forearm and handed it to Astoria. "Elm and dragon heartstring, ten inches. Good for transfiguration, apparently."
Astoria held it consideringly. "Feels warm but not familiar, same as Mor's." she handed it back to Daphne.
Morrigan shrunk the school supplies down and put them in her pocket. "We got new books, and robes, and spent some time in muggle stores in London. I can't believe you didn't want to come with us."
Astoria grimaced. "I'd rather learn about charms, thanks. I can't imagine anything more boring than shopping."
"Boring," Morrigan said flatly. "You should take a break and come out with us for lunch. You too, Remus. Sirius can come in his wheelchair."
Remus closed his book and stood up. "I'm ravenous," he admitted. "And craving junk food?"
"Junk it is." Morrigan agreed. "Mama's just popped over to the Manor to check if the preparation for the dinner tonight is going well. She wanted to talk to Aunt Casseiopia as well, and since Auntie Cass is in charge of the ball, it works quite well. I can let her know where to meet us, though."
"Sirius is with her, isn't he?" Daphne asked, handing her supplies to Morrigan so she could shrink them.
"Why do you think the house is so quiet?" Remus asked. "Cassiopeia said that it was his dinner so he had to play a role in the preparations."
"Well, it is his big reintroduction to society. Many members of the Sacred 28 will be there, and so will any politicians that are neutral and dark-aligned. You have your robes for your introduction as his consort, right?"
Remus looked at her tiredly. "Ironed and hung up in our bedroom. Our lives are only going to get busier, aren’t they?"
"Oh, Moony. You have no idea."
September 1st 1991
Harry Potter climbed into the Hogwarts express, and from afar, a Slytherin girl who shared his blood eyed him shrewdly. He would be safe, she vowed. She would make sure of it.