Chapter Text
July 14th, 1992
Iris Black flipped the page of her book on magical beasts— curious in particular about the Cerberi, a species of creature with an XXXX danger classification from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, usually only found around the Mediterranean Sea— before a soft knock brought her attention to the living room entrance to the Tonks Family Library, where she was currently relaxing.
Ted stood in the doorway with a smile on his face. “‘Bout to start on lunch, if you’d like to help me. I was thinking of keeping it nice and simple today— what with the busy afternoon ahead.”
Iris closed her book and left it on the small end table just beside the comfy chair she’d been reading in and made to join the man in the kitchen. Like she expected, the library was probably her favorite place on the Tonkses’ property, though the potions lab was definitely a close second.
The first week living with the Tonkses had been very strange; Andromeda had to return to St. Mungo’s where she worked the day shift on account of having seniority in her department, so it was mainly Ted, Tonks, and her in the house. Tonks would sometimes visit friends and go to music concerts or other things like that, but usually she was in her room studying the Auror training prep book, practicing spells and dueling out on the sports pitch, or taking a break by coming to pester Iris to throw the quaffle or, if Tonks was particularly frustrated, whack the bludgers around. Iris learned that Aurors were sort of like wizarding police, only further trained to take down extremely dangerous wixen, perhaps close to the States’ SWAT units. Tonks was determined to make their training program that started in November— hence her practice.
Ted was able to work from home for most of the week, only needing to step out for a day or two to handle some business that couldn’t be done from home. He ran his law practice with another head lawyer, and years ago arranged it where his summers would be less busy so he could spend time with his daughter who’d be home for the holiday. When he wasn’t in his office, Ted was either in the kitchen making the day’s meals, or tending to his wife’s garden. Iris, familiar with working in a kitchen from her chores at St. Jerome’s, offered to help after a few days of feeling guilty. Ted easily waved off her guilt but welcomed her help, happy to teach her anything she wanted to know.
The first weekend after her arrival, Ted took her shopping for things for her room, with Tonks tagging along. They got three more bookshelves to round out her total to four counting the one connected to her desk, a medium-sized round table with three matching chairs, a few comfy beanbags at Tonks’s behest (who said if Iris was going to be reading all the time she might as well be comfortable while doing so), and some odd things here or there. Iris mentioned liking plants, so Ted bought some that boasted bright green foliage (safe for animals in case Maud decided she had a taste for greens) to add some life and color to her room. Tonks threw in a pack of flickering fairy lights with a conspiratorial wink, and Ted bought some midnight blue paint for her ceiling when Iris told him about the ceramic tree figurine she received last Christmas that projected the night sky (discreetly informing her of a spell that magicked paint evenly onto surfaces that he would demonstrate for her when they got back).
They stuck to the mundane world to get everything, mostly because it was a tad cheaper and allowed them a greater sense of anonymity. Not that any of them had issues with being mobbed on the magical side of things, but the Alleys surrounding Diagon were always busy during the summer months and they wanted to avoid the rush until they had to shop for Iris’s school things, which won’t be until after she received her exam scores and the second year booklist. That would be in about a week, according to Tonks.
Though today they were braving the crowds of Diagon to make a trip to Gringotts. Andromeda got a few hours off from work after lunch to take her to speak with the Black accounts manager and secure Iris’s Heirship, obtain proof that her father was the current Lord Black (for Ted’s benefit, who was building a case for a retrial with the Wizengamot), review the state of the Black accounts and assets with Andromeda’s assistance, and to withdraw some spending money for Iris. Ted and Andromeda insisted on covering all of Iris’s necessities like school supplies, personal hygiene and grooming things, clothes, things for her bathroom and bedroom, Maud’s food and grooming supplies, and whatever else she might need, and told Iris to only use her own money on things she wanted, or for her friends’ birthday and Christmas presents. Iris tried to argue that if she was set to gain access to a Black Family trust vault then she could easily cover the cost of anything she might need, but they wouldn’t hear anything of the sort. Eventually Iris conceded defeat with a grateful thanks, which too was waved away.
Andromeda sat her down the next time the Healer had a day away from work and told her of what she knew of the events of Fall 1981. Iris already knew what everyone did, of course, about the deaths of Lily and James Potter at the hands of the recent Dark Lord Voldemort, commonly referred to as You-Know-Who. The madman attempted to kill their infant son, Harry Potter, only for the boy to reportedly survive the unsurvivable Killing Curse. After which You-Know-Who seemed to have either died, perhaps destroyed in the resulting blast, or vanished, never to be seen. The history books she’d read stopped there. Iris had read some vague accounts of the followers of the psychopath being arrested in the following months, given trials and sentenced to Azkaban for their crimes.
She hadn’t thought her father would be among them.
Andromeda first told her what the public knew: that Sirius Black, close friend of the Potter Family and known black sheep of the Black Family, who happily consorted with Muggles and Muggleborns, flagrantly wore Muggle fashion, and so on, turned traitor. They, the Potters, Black, and some of their friends, had been a part of some group intent on fighting back against You-Know-Who’s reign of terror. The Potters in particular had been known to be a thorn in the Dark Lord’s side, and he’d been hunting them as a result. Her father, their close friend, who knew where they were hiding, revealed their location to his secret Lord, leading to the well-known and now half-legendary events stated previously. Soon after the Potters’ deaths on Hallowe’en 1981, Black, still at large, had been tracked down by their mutual friend, Peter Pettigrew, who tried bringing the man to justice. Before he could, Black, apparently raving mad at this point, killed Pettigrew and twelve Muggle bystanders. He was reportedly cackling as he was apprehended by Ministry officials. Pettigrew’s pinky, which had been the only thing left of the man’s body, had been buried with full honors, and he was awarded an Order of Merlin, First Class for his valiant effort in the face of evil.
Iris, hearing this, had felt the urge to be violently sick.
Andromeda was quick to tell Iris of her own opinions on the veracity of that story. According to Andromeda, Sirius, her younger cousin by several years, was loyal to a fault. He considered James Potter his brother, had in fact been taken in by James and his parents (James’s mother had been a Black before she married James’s father, and was someone Sirius respected deeply and looked up to as a role model) after his 5th year at Hogwarts when his own parents threw him out for his rebellious ways. When the news came that James and Lily were expecting, he’d been beside himself with excitement, impulsively buying the most outrageous things before Lily, baby bump not even showing yet, had to put her foot down. When Harry had been born, Sirius, who had been named the boy’s godfather, exhibited such a fierce love and affection that even Andromeda had been surprised. The man had seemed to have grown up overnight, solemnly devoted to and protective of the Potters and their child, his godson. In Andromeda’s opinion, there was no possibility that Sirius had been a traitor. Her theory proposed one of the Potter’s other friends being the traitor, either Lupin or Pettigrew, and Sirius had gone to track either of them down. He managed to find Pettigrew and they fought, leading to the explosion and Pettigrew’s death. Andromeda conceded that if Sirius was guilty of anything, it was perhaps accidentally triggering that explosion that killed those Muggles and destroyed most of Pettigrew. She feared that the grief and trauma of the night may have caused her father’s mind to break.
Iris wasn’t sure which version of the story she believed. Tonks obviously disagreed with her mother about parts of her theory, and they got into a few short arguments over it whenever the topic was brought up. Ted had faith in his wife’s knowledge of her cousin’s character. Since they discovered that Sirius had accepted the Black Lordship and not only made Iris his Heir but reinstated Andromeda and included the Tonks family on the Black Family tree, there was grounds to appeal to the Wizengamot for another trial, to try Sirius before the full governing body as an official Lord and fellow governing member. Half the time Ted spent in his office he was working to build a case for a retrial. Iris hoped that her father hadn’t betrayed the Potters to You-Know-Who. She thought perhaps he did go insane, but from grief, like Andromeda believed. But either way, Iris didn’t think she could ever look Harry Potter in the eye again after learning the full sordid story of how her father was imprisoned.
Another quiet reason they were going to Gringotts was to try and find any information about Iris’s birth mother. Andromeda hadn’t seen Sirius much in the months leading up to when Iris had been born, and nor had she heard anything about Iris when she’d spoken to her cousin since, before he’d been sent to Azkaban. She wasn’t aware of Sirius seeing anyone at that time. The story Iris had been told of how she’d been brought to St. Jerome’s involved having been left at a nearby daycare last minute, perhaps there had been some sort of emergency, and then whoever dropped her off never came back for her. The authorities attempted to track them down, but they’d essentially vanished. If Sirius had indeed gone to find whoever had betrayed his friends and was taken into Ministry custody shortly after, it would make sense why whoever had dropped her off had never come back for her. (Iris ignored the traitorous voice that whispered in the back of her mind that he might have dropped her off before betraying the Potters, before turning traitor and going mad and becoming a mass murderer.)
If her mother had been the one to drop her off, that begged the question of who she was, where she’d gone, and why she was never able to return for Iris. The fact that Sirius named Iris his Heir led Andromeda to believe that Iris hadn’t been in danger from him, that he had perhaps wanted to support Iris and give her the protection and status of being a legitimate Heiress of a Family that was part of the Sacred 28, the ancient group of families chosen centuries ago to act as stewards for the wixen of the British Isles.
Iris was anxious to be going to Gringotts today. There was a possibility that she’d learn a lot more truths about her birth parents and early circumstances that she’d always been left to wonder about. She tried not to think about her father, still locked away in Azkaban (a prison that she’d been told by Ted should be considered a crime against humanity with its unique brand of prison guard that sucked the happiness and warmth from their victims and tortured them with their worst memories), with the question of his guilt hanging over her head. She tried instead to focus on the good things to have come from this— mainly in gaining the love, support and care of the Tonkses, in the early days of what Iris may eventually be able to think of as her family, throughout this process, and in no longer having no money to her name. Being the official Heiress of the Black Family wasn’t necessarily anything Iris wanted to deal with, as it would require her to be in the social and eventual political spotlight, but Andromeda assured her that they would be there to help support her the whole way and teach her how to navigate the fraught High Society interactions and events safely and intelligently.
(She continued to use her journal as a diary of sorts— using it to try and process all the information that had been laid on her shoulders. Iris would have to thank Daphne when she saw her on the train for conning her into the habit of doing so several times a week.)
The earliest Andromeda could get some time off during the week happened to be today, two weeks after Iris had arrived at the Tonks Residence. In the meantime, she started and finished the homework her professors had assigned for over the break before starting on exploring the tomes within the library. When Andromeda had a day off, she usually joined the older witch in her potions lab, observing over her shoulder and asking countless questions about potioneering that the woman gladly answered. Sometimes Tonks would bring her out to the sports pitch and have Iris do her best to dodge her spell fire, or would try to teach her the concepts and spells Tonks herself was learning so the older girl could gain a better understanding of the subject. Other times Iris would help Ted in the garden or the greenhouse. Any time she wasn’t busy with the various Tonkses, she was reading.
She started with three subjects: Warding, Healing, and magical beasts, though she was quickly becoming interested in dueling after spending time helping Tonks prepare for training, and history after chatting so often with Ted about the subject. Warding was very interesting, but the branch of magic turned out to be pretty advanced— Iris probably wouldn’t be able to cast even the most basic wards until she was at least in fourth or fifth year. She noted down the theory and some spells that seemed the most useful in her journal for future reference. Healing as a discipline was incredibly fascinating. There were many subcategories of magic that belonged under the Healing umbrella: Potions and Herbology included medicinal herbs and potions, antidotes for poisons, salves and other tinctures and treatments. Most Healing spells were considered Charms, though there were also spells that utilized Transfiguration and some Defense. Healers had to have a good knowledge of curses in order to cast their appropriate countercurses, after all. The discipline seemed to require one to be extremely proficient and experienced in a wide range of magic, and Iris was endlessly fascinated with all the ins and outs of the subject, as well as all the advancements and current research into furthering the limits on magical medicine and healing procedures. Everything Iris read was interesting, and the subject contributed to filling a great number of her journal’s pages with all her notes and thoughts of everything she was learning. She’d already read almost half a dozen recommendations from Andromeda and had to physically restrain herself from peppering the St. Mungo’s Healer with all her questions all the time, even though she was constantly told that the older witch didn’t mind fostering Iris’s interest in her career.
Learning about Healing took up a good part of Iris’s days, but sometimes she’d take a mental break and switch to something else, like her book on magical beasts that she was almost finished with. She’d been recommended some good books on wizarding history by Ted that she’d been planning to start once she finished learning about magical creatures, and had found some on offensive and defensive magic for beginners on the shelves of the library that she was interested in cracking open.
After helping Ted make a lunch of sandwiches that was indeed quick and easy and once they finished their meal, Ted coached her through using the Floo Network for the first time. They’d be going straight to the Leaky Cauldron, where Andromeda would meet them, and from there make their way to Gringotts Bank. Tonks wouldn’t be coming in favor of going to spend time with one of her friends and work on some difficult part of her training prep book.
Iris arrived in the Leaky Cauldron with little fanfare, having followed Ted’s instructions exactly, including taking a few steps forward once she started to feel her spinning form slow down. Iris emerged almost seamlessly from the Leaky Cauldron’s fireplace, with only a slight hitch in her step betraying her inexperience in catching the timing just right. Andromeda was already waiting with a warm smile on her face, still wearing her lime green Healer’s robes. She removed the traces of soot from Iris’s own set of casual witch’s robes— the light purple set with dark green accents that she bought last summer— with a deft flick of her wand. “Hello, darling. How was the trip over?”
Iris smiled up at her, replying just as Ted emerged from the Floo with a puff. “I think it went well, Ted told me exactly what to do, and I felt myself slowing down— it was weird— but I knew when I needed to take a step.”
Ted grinned proudly at her. “I didn’t doubt you’d get the hang of it, sunshine.”
Andromeda’s smile was fond as she flicked her wand a second time to remove the small bit of soot from Ted’s cheek. “For your first time through, that was extremely impressive indeed, Iris. I’m sure you’ll be able to effortlessly step through in no time.”
Iris couldn’t help but beam at the combined praise from her new guardians. That was another thing which was strange— just how often the Tonkses complimented her and gave her praise and kind words. It wasn’t like she never received any at St. Jerome’s, but it always felt like she had to work extra hard for the matrons of the orphanage to notice her. Whereas the Tonkses seemed to always be paying attention to her in small, caring ways, like when Ted complimented her efforts when she helped him cook meals, or when Andromeda commended her whenever she asked the woman insightful questions about something she’d read in one of the books on Healing she had been recommended, or made an astute observation of the way Andromeda was brewing a particular potion. Anytime Iris spoke about the topics she’d learned in the last year, both Andromeda and Ted praised her accurate recall and retained understanding of the topic, saying it showed how well she absorbed the material. Even Tonks, who had quickly begun treating Iris like a younger sibling and so started to tease and annoy her in good humor (ruffling her curls into a frizzy mess, calling her a nerd and trying to steal the book she was currently reading in order to begin a frantic chase around the house which would always end with Tonks falling or running into something and Andromeda’s exasperated calls to be careful) would call encouragement to her when Iris made a good play to catch the Quaffle, and patiently helped her figure out the best ways to dodge spell fire, even demonstrating when Iris still was having trouble.
It never failed to send warmth fluttering through her chest whenever they did so, or whenever she was referred to by affectionate nicknames, like when Andromeda would call her ‘darling’ or Ted calling her ‘sunshine’. Tonks called her ‘squirt’ and 'little birdie’ and other fun names.
She was still feeling that fluttering warmth as they walked through Diagon and stepped into the impressive opulent room of tellers. Andromeda walking in the lead, they approached a desk off to the side, where a goblin watched them approach. Once they stood in front of the desk, Andromeda tilted her head politely. “Goodday, Teller Draglok. We have a 1 o’clock appointment with Accountant Scarpick.”
Teller Draglok nodded. “Follow me to your meeting room, Madam Tonks.”
The meeting room was located a confusing few twists and turns in the back of the Bank. The room itself was sparse, it obviously served solely as a room for doing business but wasn’t also anyone’s office. They had just sat on the three chairs arranged before a formal looking desk before another goblin entered, who Iris assumed was Scarpick. The door closed and Scarpick seated with his briefcase settled before him, he nodded at each of the wixen in front of him. “Greetings, members of Family Black. We have quite a few items of business to discuss, so I will start with the first, if you are in agreement?”
Andromeda nodded. “Of course, Accountant Scarpick. We will inform you at any point if we require further clarification.” Ted nodded in response to his wife’s words.
“Good. First, finalizing the Heir Black’s acceptance of her title and position, she will be presented with the Heirship Ring, which she will place on her left pinky finger. If it displays a pleasant glow or a warm sensation, the Heirship has been accepted by Magic and legalized in the eyes of Gringotts. Please note that once this occurs, Gringotts is required to send a notice to the appropriate Department at the Ministry of Magic informing them of the acceptance.” Scarpick brought out a ring from his briefcase and set it on the desk in front of Iris. “Scion Black, if you please.”
Iris glanced at Ted and Andromeda, who both smiled and nodded encouragingly. “Go on, Iris.”
Iris picked up the ring, which was a pristine silver band with an ornate Black Family Crest inlaid on the top. She slid it onto her left pinky finger, and sure enough, the Crest glowed a bright, twinkling yellow, and warmed pleasantly where it rested around her finger. It also seemed to fit her perfectly. Iris inspected it, wondering what sort of magic could be used to automatically make a ring size to whatever finger tried it on.
Her attention was brought back to Scarpick, who cleared his throat. “Very well. It is very nice to meet you, Heir Black.”
Iris nodded politely. “Thank you, it’s nice to meet you as well, Accountant Scarpick.”
Scarpick seemed to have trouble looking away from her, but managed it shortly enough, turning to her guardians. “The notice will be sent by the end of the business day, around 4 o’clock.” He ruffled through some of the documents in his briefcase. “Now that Heir Black is recognized by the Black Family Magic, witnessed by Gringotts, I am allowed to share with you some information that I believe has been sorely missed.” He handed a single document first to Andromeda.
She took it wordlessly, her eyes quickly roving its contents, her eyebrows raising sharply in surprise. Iris shifted restlessly in her seat, and Andromeda looked over at her. She cleared her throat. “Iris, this is your birth certificate. It doesn’t have your mother’s information on it, but it does have a few things that may be upsetting to learn.”
Iris took a calming breath and reached for the document. “I understand, Andromeda.”
The birth certificate wasn’t complicated. It listed the full name of the child, the child’s date of birth, the full names or name of the child’s parents/guardians/etc. That was it. In the space for the child’s full name was Iridiana Lilith Black. Iris must have been the nickname either her father or mother referred to her by when they left her at the daycare. Iris stared at her full name. It was beautiful, Iris thought. Musical.
Her date of birth was another shock. She’d always celebrated her birthday on July 27th. Madam Peaks told her that while the daycare center hadn’t known the exact date, they knew it was in the last week of July, which was apparently something they’d been told by one of her parents. Iris thought perhaps her parents must have used that daycare more than once, if the daycare workers knew that detail. For lack of a specific date, the matrons at the orphanage chose the Sunday of the last week of July 1980. However, the certificate stated that her true date of birth was July 31st, 1980. It was only a difference of four days, and yet to Iris it felt like the difference of eleven years celebrating her birthday five days too soon.
Lastly, there was the full name of her father, Sirius Orion Black.
Iris handed the document back to Andromeda, feeling a little faint. The older woman looked visibly concerned, but refrained from saying anything. She let Ted read the certificate before he placed it in his own briefcase. Apparently this was the copy they were allowed to keep.
Scarpick nodded. “Moving on. Considering the circumstances befalling the current Lord Black, as the Black Accounts Manager I am required to inform the current Heir Black that should she reach the age of thirteen while Lord Black remains barred from adequately fulfilling his duties as Lord and Head of the Black Family, Heir Black would have the option to accept the Ladyship early for the good of the House.”
That made both Andromeda and Ted’s brows raise. Ted frowned. “Forgive me, but would that give Heiress Black all the legal rights of an adult?”
Scarpick nodded. “In the eyes of Magic and the law, she would be emancipated and considered an adult by wixen standards. This would also give her access to the Black Seat in your governing body, and full control over the Black Family’s estate and magic as Head of the Household.” He paused to allow that bit of information to set in. “As previously stated, this would only occur if Lord Black remained incarcerated at the time of Heir Black’s thirteenth birthday, on July 31st, 1993, and if Heir Black decides to accept the Ladyship. As it stands,” the goblin flipped through some documents in his case, “there is nothing pressing on Gringotts’ end that would require Heir Black to accept the Ladyship early. All investments and other financial business made through Gringotts can be managed by Madam Tonks, as a born member of the Black Family and as Heir Black’s legal and magical guardian. In this case, she can wait until her seventeenth birthday, in which Heir Black must be presented with the Ladyship Ring and begin performing any duties required of her as Lady and Head of House Black.”
That was overwhelming to think about. Even at seventeen, Iris wasn’t sure she’d be ready to do what she needed to do as a Lady of the Wizengamot and as Head of a prominent wixen House. Andromeda had assured her previously that she would be there to help teach her, having been given the proper education of a young Scion of House Black, but the idea of having to sit and act like she belonged in a governing body a majority of which were probably three or four or hell, even five times her age was incredibly daunting. Iris took comfort in the thought that she had years to educate herself and prepare, seeing as she wouldn’t be accepting the Ladyship next year unless something dire happened in the meantime that forced her to.
Iris breathed out slowly, consciously trying to relax. Ted had brought out a pad of legal paper and was jotting down notes, and Andromeda was watching Iris, looking worried. Iris nodded at Scarpick, signaling she was ready to move on. Scarpick eyed Ted, who quickly signaled he was ready as well. Scarpick flipped through a few more documents before handing a folder to Ted. “This was an item of interest from your office, as I understand it, Solicitor Tonks.”
Ted nodded gratefully, carefully placing the files in his briefcase. “Indeed, thank you, Accountant Scarpick.”
Scarpick simply grunted before turning to Andromeda. “You will be managing the Black accounts as Heir Black’s guardian, correct, Madam Tonks?”
Andromeda nodded. “That is correct.”
Scarpick handed her a slightly thicker file folder. “Here are the various account summaries and asset information for your review, along with a breakdown of all living, active members of the Black Family and what portions of the Black Family wealth and assets they are utilizing. If there are any changes you would have us make, you may set up another appointment through the usual channels.”
Andromeda nodded.
Scarpick shut his briefcase. “That concludes the items of business on Gringotts’ end. Is there any other business you would bring to our attention?”
Andromeda sat forward a little. “Accountant Scarpick, is there any information Gringotts has about Heiress Black’s birth mother? Did Lord Black list her or mention her in any official business?”
Scarpick shook his head, his expression unreadable as he glanced at Iris a bit longer than was normal. “Unfortunately not, Madam Tonks. Gringotts has no information regarding Heir Black’s biological mother.”
Iris thought it was odd that Scarpick’s answer was mostly a restatement of Andromeda’s question. She glanced over at her guardians to see them looking a bit dubious, but Andromeda nodded all the same. “In that case, Heiress Black will request a key to her Black trust vault and a trip down to withdraw some funds. And perhaps a coin purse, as well.”
Scarpick nodded. “It will be done. It’s been a pleasure doing business with the House of Black once again.” He made to stand, the rest of them beginning to stand as well, before he stopped momentarily. He turned first to Iris, inspecting her strangely, before looking to Andromeda. “Ah. Madam Tonks, on behalf of Gringotts I must request that Heir Black returns here on the day of her thirteenth birthday, regardless if she decides to accept the Black Ladyship early or not.”
Andromeda’s eyes widened in surprise and then narrowed in confusion. Her tone was suspicious when she replied. “May I or Heiress Black know the purpose of the Heiress’s summons on such an important day?”
Scarpick grinned, baring his pointy teeth. “We will have new business to discuss with Heir Black on that day. The Director will be overseeing the proceedings.”
That seemed to stump Ted and Andromeda both. Iris thought the Gringotts director must not meet personally with wixen very often, and wondered what in the world they had to talk to her about that couldn’t have been discussed today. Her guardians were quiet as they were given Iris’s vault key and coin purse and brought down to her Black trust vault, obviously lost in thought. Iris’s new vault was laughably large, holding perhaps a couple dozen times that of her Hogwarts’ stipend she was allotted for her first year school supplies. It was ridiculous, and Iris was having trouble with the thought that this was simply a trust vault. She quickly piled some galleons into her coin purse, probably taking more than she’d really need but wanting to be safe rather than sorry.
By the time they were walking back to the Leaky Cauldron, barely an hour had passed. Iris felt like that meeting had taken much longer on account of the subject matter they discussed. Her fingers were twitching, itching to open up her journal and write out all her thoughts on everything she learned today. It was all too overwhelming for her to think about just in her own head, she needed to break it down and take it piece by piece just like she did with Andromeda’s first letter to her that told her she was the Black Family Heir. Iris suspected her guardians were feeling similarly dazed, because they exchanged subdued goodbyes with Andromeda as she headed back to St. Mungo’s before she and Ted returned back to the Tonkses’.
Iris lived in her journal for the following week. Thankfully Tonks must have been informed that Iris had learned some important personal information, because the older girl didn’t attempt to playfully steal her journal like she’d done with some of her books. Iris worked through her name and her later birth date, she wrote about her feelings regarding becoming Lady Black at some point in the future, the remaining unknown identity of her birth mother, everything. Iris had been bombarded with so many personally significant and even life-changing revelations within the past few months that she felt like her entire sense of self that she grew up with was at risk of vanishing; she’d suddenly gone from being a smart, orphan, Muggleborn witch named Iris Black, who celebrated her birthday on July 27th, to being the smart Heiress Black, with family who took her in and a father imprisoned for possibly being a prejudiced traitor, whose name is Iridiana Lilith Black born on July 31st. The two identities sounded like two different people.
Of course, after writing that out, Iris realized that wasn’t necessarily true. Her parents, whoever had dropped her off, had called her Iris, and not Iridiana. Iris was still the same girl who grew up starving for attention and praise, who only received praise or validation when it came to her academics and her smarts. She was still the same girl who was incredibly lonely growing up, with all the other children avoiding her and most of the matrons keeping their distance due to the odd things that sometimes happened around her. She was the girl who found solace in learning, in discovery and investigation, in the accomplishment of connecting two previously unrelated ideas, in experimentation and research. And she was still the same girl who made friends at Hogwarts, who learned, and struggled, and played, who laughed with her friends over the Leaving Feast, who didn’t have enough money to buy her friends Christmas presents and so gifted them what she could— magic. She’s the girl whose first instinct was to bury her troubles in her academics, and the same girl with friends willing to pull her out of it. She’s the same girl who was contacted by long lost family and who came to live with the Tonkses, who discussed Healing with Andromeda while learning how to brew healing potions and history and politics with Ted over a cooking meal, who was treated like a little sister by Tonks and who immediately felt at home in their house, in their space. Who now has her own space in their home.
Did knowing her full birth name and her correct date of birth really change anything, besides the fact that she knew about them? Iris didn’t think so. Iris could imagine introducing herself as Iridiana in the future, and allowing only her friends and family to call her Iris. Iris could now celebrate her birthday on the day she had actually been born, and not five days before because the matrons never knew the exact date. Iris now knew she had a family, and that they cared about her enough to make her feel at home in their home. She knew a bit about her father, even if the subject was difficult. Iris had more knowledge about her origins, her family, and herself than she’d ever had before. Now she just needed to figure out how Iris fit into it all.
Iris had just managed to get back to some semblance of the ease she had before visiting Gringotts when the Hogwarts letters came.
They’d all been at the breakfast table, enjoying one of Andromeda’s days off, when two barn owls were spotted flying towards their kitchen window. Tonks hopped up to open it and allowed them in. One bird dropped a letter in front of Iris, the other in front of Tonks. Tonks’ hair rapidly changed through a nervous rainbow of colors before landing on a queasy looking yellow. Iris, having no such hesitation, immediately tore her letter open to find out her results, Tonks reluctantly followed suit.
“Well?” Ted asked the girls, practically bouncing in his seat from excitement. “How’d you both do?”
Tonks, still distracted by her own results, absently waved for Iris to speak. Iris gave a shy smile. “All O’s except for Transfiguration, which is an EE.”
Andromeda clapped while Ted let out a loud whoop. “That’s our sunshine! Oh, let me give you a hug! That’s incredible, Iris!”
Ted stood and gave Iris a celebratory hug. Andromeda gave Iris a warm smile, her hands clasped together in front of her like she wanted to reach out and hug her but not wanting to steal her from Ted. “Congratulations, Iris. I know you worked hard all year. I’m glad all your effort revealed itself in your exam results.”
Iris, face red hot from all the attention, nodded awkwardly and cleared her throat. “Tonks? How’d you do?”
Tonks looked up from where she’d been gaping at her paper. “I passed.” Her hair slowly turned a bright, bubblegum pink. “I actually passed! I passed all my NEWTs, even Charms and Potions! I’m going to be an Auror!”
Their celebrations that day for the good news for both girls were very festive. They went out for lunch to a nice restaurant, and each girl was taken to a store of their choice as a reward for their academic achievements. Tonks chose a stylish thrift shop that had some nice leather jackets and begged her parents and then Iris to get Iris a matching one. Iris chose the nearest bookstore, of course, and found a novel that focused on the life of Morgan le Fay, a Celtic sorceress, as the mundane world knew Morgana as, and her struggles with her half-brother, Arthur, and in defending Morgan’s matriarchal and idyllic kingdom, Avalon, from outside invaders. The book was called Covenstead, and Iris immediately knew she had to get it.
Later in the evening, after Tonks had gone out to celebrate with her fellow Hogwarts graduates, Ted and Andromeda briefly sat her down to check how she was faring after last week’s Gringotts’ visit. Iris answered truthfully, that she was struggling a little with all the big changes that have happened recently, including all the revelations she’d been having to deal with, but that she was slowly coming to terms with it all, and that she especially appreciated all their care and support during this time, which helped her settle and feel like she had something she could fall back on. That seemed touched by that, and they spent the evening together in the living room, chatting and relaxing.
Another week passed and Iris’s twelfth birthday arrived. She had told the Tonkses that she was fine waiting until the 31st this year, but it had been odd not to do anything for the 27th. Of course, all her friends still sent her birthday letters and presents on the 27th, but she waited to open them until the last day of July. When the morning of came around, she opened her letters first thing after her usual morning routine was done with. Most were simply letters, and Iris put them in the same place she’d put her Christmas letters in a drawer of her study desk. Padma and Parvati sent her a package of chocolates and sweets, saying they’d have another present to give her on the train in September, and Daphne’s present was a book titled 50 Difficult Spells You Can Easily Learn, which Iris was planning on absolutely devouring soon. She reminded herself to send out thank-you notes to everyone as she went downstairs at the usual time to help Ted make breakfast.
As she made it to the kitchen, however, she saw that breakfast was already made and waiting for her, along with all three Tonkses, who were smiling warmly at her as she approached. They stood and gave her hugs. “Happy birthday, Iris!”
“Thank you! Though, I could’ve helped with breakfast—“
Ted scoffed as he hugged her. “Nonsense! The birthday girl shall not be lifting a finger on her day of celebration— it’s the law.”
Tonks rolled her eyes but grinned as she retook her seat. “Mr. Solicitor doth decree it so, squirt.”
Andromeda shot Tonks a look as she came around to hug Iris herself. “No name-calling either, Dora.”
Tonks groaned. “It’s an affectionate nickname, Mum! Iris is fine with it, right?”
Iris smiled as she took the empty seat at the breakfast table. “I don’t mind, Andromeda.”
Breakfast was a cheerful affair, and afterwards Iris was informed they would be making the trip to Muggle London to visit the British Museum, to which Ted had already secured them tickets. Before they left for the day, Tonks insisted Iris open the older girl’s gift to her and ran to grab it while Andromeda snorted and waved a wand to summon all three of the Tonkses’ gifts. (“Oh yeah!” Tonks was heard exclaiming in the distance.)
From Tonks, Iris received a pair of high top shoes made from black canvas— Doc Martens, Tonks called them. Iris had seen people wearing them around Hackney but never knew what they were called. From Andromeda, Iris received a jewelry box, a Black Family heirloom. Inside were a few necklaces, bracelets, and pairs of earrings that each daughter of the House of Black received for each of their birthdays starting from when they were born. Andromeda must’ve spent quite a bit of time trying to find all of them for her. Iris smiled and did her best not to get too emotional. From Ted, Iris received a broom of her own: a Cleansweep Nine. When she’d been playing catch or hitting bludgers with Tonks, Iris had borrowed Ted’s old broom, which had been a dated but still well maintained Cleansweep Three model. Now she wouldn’t need to borrow anyone else’s, and could even take it to Hogwarts if she wanted. Tonks, who had a Cleansweep Seven, had been very appreciative of the newer model.
After fervently thanking the Tonkses for their gifts and giving them each another hug, Iris went to put her gifts away and prepare for the eventful day ahead. She came down wearing her leather jacket and new Doc Marten shoes, and ended up matching with Tonks, who had changed into her matching leather jacket and beat up pair of Docs as well. They then were informed by a chuckling Ted that it was the middle of summer and the leather jackets would roast them dead, so they both sheepishly trooped back upstairs to put their jackets away.
The hour car ride went by quickly, owing to the karaoke concert that began only fifteen minutes in. Iris had brought her novel about Morgana (or Morgan le Fay, to the muggles), but hadn’t read any in favor of enjoying the music. Their day at the British Museum was endlessly fascinating, and Iris wished she’d thought to bring her journal and a muggle pen to note down all the interesting facts about world history she’d learned. The Tonkses were happy she was enjoying herself, and at the end bought her a souvenir, a bronze figurine of a stallion to put on her desk. Next they went out to eat in London, and finally stopped by a fancy bakery for some rich slices of chocolate sponge cake, Iris’s dessert of choice.
It was easily the best birthday Iris had ever had, and she made sure to give the Tonkses big hugs before they went their separate ways for the night, unable to adequately put to words how much it meant to her. She thought they understood, though, if the way they made sure to hug her just a bit longer or tighter than usual was anything to go by.
(Iris had to not get ahead of herself. It’d only been a month since Iris had come to live with the Tonkses, and already she felt at home with them. She worried it was all too good to be true, like something might happen that could take this all away. It wasn’t a logical thought, and Iris was still trying to work through it in her journal, but it was a fear that lingered in the back of her head as she grew increasingly attached to her new life and family.)
Iris was taken to the Alleys for her school supplies a few days after her twelfth birthday. She didn’t need much besides some textbooks, more stationary supplies, potion ingredient refills, and some things for Maud and other small odds and ends for the upcoming academic year. Iris asked to go to Horizont Alley for everything so they could avoid most of the crowds and get things for a better price. Andromeda insisted that Iris get several more sets of everyday robes, since she only had the two from last year, so their first stop was a different robes shop on Horizont, this one much smaller that Iris hadn’t even noticed it until they were a few steps away from the entrance. The quality of the robes’ material and craftsmanship on display were much higher than the ones from the other shop on Horizont, though done in tasteful and subtle ways. Iris admired the designs of some of the sets as they waited for a seamstress to take Iris’s measurements. Iris tried to say she had her measurements from last year, but Andromeda just shook her head, saying that this place preferred doing their own. Their next stop while the seamstress worked on her clothes was to the apothecary, followed by the stationary shop and the pet shop.
The second-hand bookshop that she’d visited last summer had a used copy of the Standard Book of Spells, Year 2, and even carried the full set of this year’s Defense texts, practically brand new. The attendant at the front counter, that same cheerful man who had told her where to find her wand holster, explained that the wizard who previously owned them dropped them off for free, ranting about frauds and the gullible masses. Concerned, Iris and the Tonkses each skimmed through a book. Immediately, Iris noticed Gadding with Ghouls read like a dramatic, fictional narrative, with the author writing himself as the hero in the tale. There seemed to be no accurate information regarding how to properly deal with ghouls or any other similarly lingering, malcontented spirit. By the disgusted looks on the Tonkses’ faces, the other volumes were the same. Tonks in particular looked furious, her hair a bright, fiery red. “Right, this is bollocks, squirt. Let’s go see if this place has actual Defense books that cover the typical second year subject matter.”
Ted was already walking in that direction, muttering to Tonks about the sad state of the Defense Against the Dark Arts position if books by Gilderoy Lockhart were being treated as academic texts. Andromeda closed her book with a loud snap. She turned to the attendant. “How much for the novels?”
The man grimaced sympathetically. “Three galleons for the lot, and apologies in advance for your upcoming Defense classes.”
After that mess was sorted, Iris allowed herself to find two books for herself, just like last year. She returned to the section where she found The Power Within to see if there were other books by the same author. Iris struck gold with a sequel, The Mind’s Power: A Practical Guide to the Foundations of Mind Magicks, which seemed to utilize the first stage discussed in The Power Within of practicing meditation and daily rituals to feel one’s magical core and changing it slightly to apply to what the author described as Occlumency, the magical art of defending one’s mind against attacks and intrusions as well as a tool for categorizing, organizing and refining the information stored there. This book was for building the foundations of the art, but on the very last page the author listed other books for further reading. Iris hugged it to herself, already dying to dive into its contents.
The second book was one Andromeda found for her, a comprehensive collection of the many magical theories behind the wide-ranging and multifaceted discipline of Healing, with a good list of reference material listed in the back to do further research on once she got to Hogwarts.
By the time they left the bookstore, laden down with the rubbish by Lockhart, a few actual Defense texts, the Standard Book of Spells, Year 2, and Iris’s two choices, Iris was having to physically stop herself from hopping up and down like a fool— she was so desperate to return home and start reading. Unfortunately, the robes Andromeda insisted Iris needed still had another hour before they’d be ready for pickup, so to kill time they followed Tonks into the general resale shop on Horizont and browsed for a bit.
“Is there anything else you want for your room, Iris?” Ted asked her softly as they wandered past an antique vanity.
Iris shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. And I’m only here for another month before I leave for Hogwarts, so.”
Andromeda shot her a look. “What have we said about that, Iris?”
Iris shuffled her feet slightly, her face warming at the pleasant feeling rushing through her chest. “That it doesn’t matter how long I’m away, my room will always be mine and to fill it with what makes me feel at home.”
Tonks, busy checking out the gnarly assortment of hats a few isles away, snorted. “Too right, little birdie. You’re stuck with us now. No take backs.”
Ted chuckled. “So?”
Iris exhaled as she looked around the store, genuinely considering how she felt about her room. It was great, the nicest room she’d ever had to herself. She had a nice, comfy bed, a desk with an attached bookshelf, plenty of workspace and drawers for storage, three other standalone bookcases that were slowly being filled by Iris’s personal library that was growing day by day, a little reading corner complete with a few bean bags and a table with matching chairs. That was really all she could ask for in a room: a place to sleep and places to read. It was even decorated with flourishing green plants, charmed fairy lights and a dark blue ceiling. Though…
“Well, I was reading about warding a few weeks ago and wondered if it’d be possible to put something like a miniature work area in the center of my room, you know where there’s all that empty space?”
Ted’s face lit up. “Oooh, I love that idea! We can place a mat on the floor with firm padding– or maybe just cover the wood with reinforcement runes– I’d have to check and see where we put my old book on perimeter magic… The basics can be done easily enough, but if we want this to be something advanced, then–” Ted cut himself off, muttering to himself as he became lost in the details of Iris’s proposal.
Andromeda smiled fondly. “Perhaps it can be a project Ted can work on while you’re away, Iris. It sounds like something that will take time and research, and not anything we could simply buy at a second-hand store like this.”
Iris beamed. “If you’re sure? I’d love to help, only I don’t think I’ll be able to manage warding for a couple more years, at least.”
Ted tuned back in and waved a hand. “No, no, I can do all the necessary spellwork, no problem. All I need from you, sunshine, is a description of how you want it warded, and maybe anything else you want done while I’m at it– that window in your cozy back corner looks like a perfect spot to install a reading nook, don’t you think?”
Tonks laughed. “Do you want the squirt to never come out of her room? We’d have to pull her away at this rate, Dad.”
Iris rolled her eyes, though she was fighting a smile. “I spend more time in the library, Tonks, come off it.”
Tonks nodded at Iris like she was missing the point. “Yes little birdie, and now Dad is going to make you a mini library in your room. If you’re safely hidden away, how will I bug you to play catch with me?!” She threw herself down onto a dusty chaise and let out a wail of despair.
“Dora, enough dramatics, please. You’re going to catch a disease from that thing.”
Tonks groaned at her mum, but got up from the gross piece of furniture.
When they returned from the Alleys, Iris now with more everyday witch’s robes than she could wear in a week and various other under and over things, Ted followed Iris to her room to do some quick measurements of the space Iris talked about. She wanted a place where she could practice the spells she was learning in peace, without having to go all the way to the sports pitch to do so, and without having to worry about damaging anything in her room. The area itself would start even with the middle of her bed, all the way to the edge of her desk that ran along the inside wall, and the width would be just enough to allow others to easily walk around the edges of the workspace if the wards were active. Ted was talking about installing some sort of rune Iris could press with her magic that could activate and deactivate the wards whenever she wanted. It sounded very interesting to Iris, and she made sure to keep her journal on her as they talked about possible ideas for the space.
The following weeks found Iris buried in her new books. She made sure to give the books by Lockhart each a halfhearted read-through, noting down anything that could perhaps be considered useful. (Iris wrote three sentences.) Then she started on the second year book of spells, cataloguing which class each spell would most likely be used in, followed by the Defense books Ted and Tonks picked out for her. It wasn’t as big of a stack as last year, though that was due to most of her texts from first year still being used for the upcoming year’s curriculum. Iris gave those sections of her texts another read-through as well, just to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything in the month or so away from Hogwarts, before moving onto the books she’d been really interested in reading, mainly The Mind’s Power and the Complete Compendium of Healing Theories, though she’d also been wanting to explore some of the theory behind dueling as well, in the effort of surprising Tonks next time they went out onto the sports pitch.
In between her reading, she spent her time getting the hang of duelling basics with Tonks, who told her all she could remember about various aspects of her second year Defense class, and some impressive Defense spells she would be learning in later years. Iris became proficient at Expelliarmus, stinging hexes, almost cast a successful stunner, as well as Protego as a consequence of helping Tonks practice every so often. She asked Ted about wizarding Britain’s political scene, the major events and issues happening right now while they both cooked the day’s meals, and he taught her loads of useful charms to help with chopping and stirring and washing dishes. He also was happy to answer all her questions on warding and runes, and Iris couldn’t wait until next year when she would be able to take Ancient Runes as an elective. Whenever Andromeda was home from work, she joined the older woman in either the potions lab or the garden and greenhouse learning at the Healer’s shoulder, and was even allowed to try her hand at brewing a few complicated healing potions once she demonstrated her proper understanding of the brew. While they worked, and whenever Iris’s long list of questions regarding Healing, the branch of magic that has quickly become a bit of an obsession for her, was momentarily dried up, Andromeda would tell her a bit about the Black Family, and how members of the House of Black were educated.
The now reinstated Scion and Daughter of House Black informed her there was much about the Black Family that would have to wait, since most of their Family’s closely guarded secrets, traditions, and magic were hidden away in either Grimmauld Place, the Black Family townhouse in London, or Black Manor, the Black Family’s ancestral home somewhere in Anglesey. Neither of those locations were currently safe to visit after a decade or so of neglect, so Andromeda would be working on that while Iris was away at Hogwarts. Until then, Andromeda told Iris what she could remember of her own Family education, at least the parts that weren’t horribly prejudicial.
On the morning of August 21st, Andromeda and Ted sat Iris down at the breakfast table and informed her that they would be attending the Wizengamot’s August session the following week. The Department of Families and Titles in the Ministry of Magic sent Andromeda a summons in response to Gringott’s notice of Iris accepting the Black Heirship. Andromeda would have to go and essentially confirm Gringott’s account before the full body of Lords and Ladies. Ted was going to use this opportunity to get the ball rolling on his case to get her father a retrial. Andromeda assured Iris that she would not be mentioned by name, however it would likely make the news for a few days before the no doubt sensational reactions to Ted’s evidence could bury it, meaning there was a reasonable chance her friends at Hogwarts would put two and two together. With a sick twist in her stomach, Iris realized she hadn’t told any of her friends about being related to the Black Family, let alone anything about accepting the Heirship and coming to live with Andromeda. Though, perhaps Daphne already knew. Iris remembered how she acted on the train when they said goodbye, and the knowing look on her face last March when she told Iris that whatever had been bothering her was most likely private and none of her business. Iris had thought Daphne was just being polite and hadn’t wanted to force her to reveal her personal information to someone who, while they were indeed friendly, Iris hadn’t necessarily trusted entirely with something so private. But maybe Daphne meant it in a different way, if she realized Iris was dealing with Black Family business.
The next day, without revealing anything too essential, Iris wrote her friends and explained to them that a lot of things have happened this summer which they may be hearing about, that she would explain in detail once they were all back at Hogwarts, and that she was sorry it took her this long to let them know. Iris hoped that would do, not really wanting to put any of her sensitive and very private information in a letter where there was a possibility someone else could read it. Iris cursed her lack of foresight in not insisting her friends also learn illegilibus and its counterspell that turned words to gibberish and back.
Andromeda did her best to coach her on how to properly interact with the other Scions and fellow Heirs and Heiresses who might approach her once the news breaks, and Iris did her own pestering for Tonks’s help in practicing. As the 28th of August grew ever closer, Iris distracted herself by spending most of her time either outside hitting bludgers and practicing her swings (a remarkable avenue for stress relief, Iris has come to learn), or in the library bent over a thick history tome, or her journal that was almost reaching its limit, sadly. Iris’s constant notetaking and journaling hadn’t diminished over the summer holiday, and a thousand pages seemed to hold just a year’s worth of Iris’s notes and almost half a year’s worth of her diary entries. She would have to run to a fancy stationary shop, maybe one on Vertic Alley, that sold something similar in style and function as her own before leaving for Hogwarts, otherwise she wouldn’t have anything to take her notes in.
The morning of August 28th, 1992 dawned in a dreary cloud cover. Andromeda and Ted were dressed and ready, already making breakfast together by the time Iris made her way downstairs. They’d have to leave soon after they finished their meal in order to arrive appropriately early. Iris felt so nervous she didn’t think she could eat a thing, and she wasn’t even going with them. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before Tonks came down, because the older girl took one look at Iris and decided to be her most chaotic, distracting self, cracking jokes and stealing a bite of eggs from Iris’s plate, attempting to steal a bit of bacon before Andromeda scolded her, waiting until her mother turned to speak to Ted before changing her nose into a pig’s snout and mimicking the woman’s words and making Iris giggle and her shoulders relax ever so slightly. By the time Ted and Andromeda left through the Floo, Tonks had already gotten Iris up on her Cleansweep, guarding the nearest set of hoops and challenging her to try and score on her. They’d moved on to trick moves after Iris only managed to score once out of ten tries, and then Iris wanted to try hitting a bludger while upside down. She managed it, but hit it in the wrong direction that she’d been aiming, and so had to redo the move until she’d successfully hit it at Tonks, who was distracted tossing the quaffle to herself. “Oi! I’ll get you for that, you little punk!” And that began an exhilarating game of chase, which really had no limits besides making sure they stayed within the property wards, which hid them from any passing muggles, and staying on their brooms as they attempted ever more daring moves in order to escape from the other’s clutches.
When Iris and Tonks finally trooped back inside around noon, her worries about how wizarding Britain would react to the news of her existence and the question of her father’s innocence were far from her mind. They snacked for lunch before curling up in the Den upstairs, playing any game that called for just two players. That really only left them with Wizard’s Chess, and Iris, having played at least once a week for a good portion of the spring term, was holding her own. Tonks was ruthless, however, changing her face into a devil’s and laughing wickedly any time she took yet another one of her pawns.
It was late afternoon, closing in on early evening by the time Ted and Andromeda returned, looking tired but satisfied. Iris, in the middle of grabbing another snack from the kitchen, clutched at her sandwich in trepidation. “How did it go?”
They pair looked over to see her looking out at them on the other side of the kitchen bar. Ted tilted a hand in a so-so gesture. “We’ll know more when tomorrow’s news cycle comes, but I’d say it went pretty well, all things considered.”
Andromeda huffed. “I’m just glad that we added more wards around the house. I think if that horrid reporter ambushed us here, I wouldn’t be able to keep from cursing her.”
Iris’s heart sank. “There was a horrid reporter?”
Andromeda shook herself, turning to Iris with a reassuring smile. “Unfortunately, yes. However, she, and any other ambitious reporter who thinks they can get away with selling lies will have to contend with Ted’s lawsuits. They, and anyone else, are nothing we can’t handle, darling, I assure you. I’d just like to send a Bombarda her way if she tries anything, is all.”
“Mum, once I’m an Auror, you can’t talk like that anymore. I’d have to write you up for threatening to do another harm,” Tonks called as she stepped from the stairs, likely having gotten tired of waiting for Iris to return and came to see what was taking her so long.
Andromeda snorted and collapsed in the comfy recliner before the fire, Ted similarly letting out a relieved groan as he sat on the couch. “Please, Dora. It’s not a threat. It’s a promise of what will happen if anyone dares to mess with my family. I’d be well within my rights, too.”
Ted chuckled. “Like you’d get caught even if you weren’t.”
Andromeda sniffed. “Well, I suppose that is true.”
Iris felt herself crack a smile. “I thought Healers took oaths when it came to doing harm to others?”
Tonks, leaning against the arm of the sofa, waved a hand. “Generally for things such as self-defense and defense of others, there’s a bit of a gray area. Anything in the effort of what Mum considers as a defense of you, including from being lambasted by unscrupulous reporters looking for a juicy story, is fair game. Killing is, of course, a strict no-no unless there’s another life in the balance.”
Ted nodded in approval at Tonks’s description. “Nice job, Dora. Was that in your prep book?”
Tonks laughed. “No, I just know Mum would absolutely be pushing the limitations of her Healer’s Oaths if she needed to, and asked her so I’d know exactly what I might do to avoid arresting my Mum for breaking her oaths.”
Andromeda hummed thoughtfully. “I admire your foresight, daughter o’ mine, but unfortunately, if I were to break my Oaths there’d be nothing left of me to arrest.”
Iris’s jaw dropped. “They’d destroy you? Why are the Healer’s Oaths so… severe?”
Ted sent her a knowing look. “Seems very extreme, doesn’t it? But Healers have so much trust placed in their hands, and since there’s magic that exists that can force them to keep their word, instead of relying on each individual Healer’s integrity and sense of duty and honor, why not? To a smaller degree, Solicitors like me are also tied by Oaths, as are Aurors.”
“Accio journal!” Iris’s journal and her self-inking quill landed in her hand, to the sound of Tonks’s exasperated groaning. (“Not the journal! It’s the sign she’s going to live in the library for the next few days.”) “What other sorts of Oaths are there, and what do each entail? What are the specifics, if you can tell me?”
The news the next morning was just as daunting as Iris expected it to be; her father’s moving mugshot blown up to cover most of the front page, with the loud title, “BLACK TO POSSIBLY STAND IN SURPRISE RETRIAL– LORDSHIP ACCEPTED IN SECRET!”, with subsequent secondary titles like, “Hidden ‘Child of Black’ Accepts Heirship– Disgraced Daughter of the House Confirms”, and “Muggleborn Solicitor Ted Tonks with Proof of Black’s Instatement as Lord Months Before You-Know-Who’s Defeat!”
Iris felt like she was going to be sick. She excused herself from the table to go hit some bludgers around, idly musing that if all her classmates were about to besiege her with their judgment, hatred, curiosity, and or scorn, then perhaps she should bring her Cleansweep Nine with her, since whacking bludgers was easily becoming her go-to method of letting off steam. Iris was positive she’d need the extra catharsis during the upcoming year.