Wayfaring Stranger

I had taken a quick shower once I flashed into my home after the duel. My house elves dealt with my soiled clothes before laying out a fresh suit and robes for me. Moments later I had a sudden itch to go back. Summoning my wand to my hand I shifted it to its trident form and flashed back to the courtyard. 

The lords and their families had still been arguing when I got there. Reinhard Lestrange still hadn't learned from his mistake and continued to insult me. Finally having enough of the man I blasted him to bits before going on a restrained rant about their idiotic way of life. After speaking with the Black head of house I flashed back to my home and shifted my trident back to its wand form. 

I had been planning on just smiting everyone, if not for the familiarity I felt with the Black household I would have done so. Consequences be damned. 

Tucking my 'wand' back into my sleeve I waited to be called by Arcturus. A house elf popped into existence in my living room and I looked at the elf. 

"Kreacher?" 

"Master Black bes inviting yous." 

The grizzled elf didn't respond to the name. I nodded my head before taking the elves hand. Regular apparation was just as unpleasant as the books described. There was that claustrophobic tube feel and a rather unpleasant warm sensation. I had preferred using my powers to flash in and out of places since it was much more convenient and, no pun intended, much more flashy. 

I had experimented with my instant travel powers a bit before the school term had started. I learned that I could utilize the godly 'flash' travel, as well as using the elements. So far my favorite has been imitating Zues and using lighting to travel places. It looked rather badass but did leave scorch marks everywhere so I tried not to do it so often. 

The entire Black family was standing around Arcturus who was seated while everyone gathered in a half circle around him. The home was large, decorated with exquisite furniture and expensive looking fabrics. It was much larger than a regular home so this wasn't 'Grimmauld Place'. More than likely this was the main family manor that was supposedly in Wales if the fans were to be believed. 

"Welcome Lord Theseus, my family welcomes you to our home and would like to extend an invitation to stay for supper. I believe what we have to speak about will go on for quite some time."

"It's an honor to meet your family Lord Black. I have heard quite a bit about the Infamous Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. I also accept your invitation to supper. Taking out the…. trash… has given me quite the appetite." 

I noticed several members of the family tense at my words. Mostly a woman that I suspected was Walburga, judging by the growing vein on her forehead and the thinly veiled hostility in her eyes. 

"I see, come then. We will continue our conversation in my study." 

"Will the whole family be there? I struggle to see how everyone will fit in the room." 

"Space is no issue, nevertheless only my sons will be present. If that is alright with you?"

"I see no problems with that, hell you can have the whole family sit in on our conversation." 

"Perhaps another time Lord Theseus. The things we will speak of are for specific ears only."

"Shame, I was hoping for a bit of excitement."

"That duel wasn't enough for you?" 

"I'd hardly call that a duel. When you can destroy an entire world with a mere sneeze you tend to find 'excitement' in the little things like family squabbles and the occasional battle." 

They looked at me as if I had sprouted another head. Shrugging I gestured towards the hallway we were walking towards. 

Moments later we were seated around an ornately furnished study with a singular painting on the wall that was covered by a black curtain. I could have looked through the curtain but found the mystery of not knowing what the painting was to be more, for the lack of a better term, entertaining.

"Well? You've got me in your home, in a private study. What now Arcturus? Do you and your sons ambush me? Do we talk of marriage contracts? Are you going to try to convince me to join a cult?"

I could sense Lord Black's 'sons' tense at my lack of 'respect' in addressing their father. I made note that neither Alphard nor Cygnus bear any hostile intentions towards me. But the same could not be said for Orion. 

"None of that I assure you." 

"I see, is this going to be a conversation that will reveal some sort of secret? I assume that is the reason only the male Black 'heirs' have been invited to this supposed talk."

Having read the books, watched the movies, along with reading a fair amount of fan made stories I knew that the Black family had a serious issue of inbreeding. An issue that led to the confusing mess that was their family tree, currently visible to me. My mentioning of the supposed sons of Acrturus had incited this train of thought as I observed the three relatively younger men. Younger in comparison to Arcturus at least. Who by my estimates, was or should be in his late eighties or early nineties. Not too old for a wizard but his age was much more evident than others his age. 

Shaking myself from my own straying thought I focused back in on the study. Arcturus was looking at me intently as if trying to sus something out. 

"Lo-"

"Please, enough with the Lord nonsense. I have never been one for stuffy formalities." 

"Theseus then?" 

"That should do yes." 

"Very well, Theseus. I'll get directly to the point.  I have invited you here for the sole reason that I believe the Black family is related to you in some way." 

"What?"

"What!"

"WHAT!" 

I raised my eyebrows at the various reactions the three younger Black heirs had. I suppose finding out that an apparent muggleborn could be related to your pureblood family was shocking. I didn't see how it would have been possible though. I had just arrived in this world and had not previously visited. That I knew of. 

"I take it that you have a reason for that claim?" 

"Reason and proof, which I will get to once my heir and his brothers settle down."

The three Black's immediately reined themselves in. I stifled a snort at the way they behaved. 

"Please, continue Arcturus. I find this development to be rather interesting if not highly entertaining." 

"The progenitor of this family, its founder if you may, told tales of worlds separate from this world we are in. He had many tales of adventures in his youth. Adventures that led him to many worlds apart from ours. When he did eventually settle down here it was early into the fourteenth century. Somewhat at the height of magical society." 

"I don't mean to be rude, Arcturus, but please do get to the point. I hate listening to drawn out explanations."

The old man nodded before continuing, "Among these tales he had one particular story. A story about his father."

The longer the explanation went on the more I suspected something. It all sounded rather familiar to Cirilla's power. Our children had inherited her blood and along with it her powers. It wasn't too hard to believe that a grandchild or great-grandchild stumbled into this world. Still, I waited for him to 'reveal' the secret. 

"A father he described as having a very specific set of abilities." 

"Not very specific. Did he mention what these abilities were?" 

"Why don't you ask him yourself." 

The heavy curtains covering the painting flew apart and revealed a scowling man with dark hair and steel gray eyes. Familiarity flooded my core and I smiled. Standing from my seat I shifted my form to that of the one I had hundreds of years ago. 

"Father?" 

"Randall…. Interesting meeting you here." 

"Father, but- we saw you at your deathbed." 

"Aye, that I did. I apologize my son, for not telling you about my ability to reincarnate at the time."

"Tha- I am just glad to see you again father." 

Behind me Arcturus and his family were looking back and forth between our conversations. It wasn't every day that you discovered your relations to a supposed god. 

I went on to give the highlights of my story before and after my time in the world of The Witcher. Randall or as he was known here, Radu, listened intently. 

"That is enough about my son, tell me. How did you come across this world?" 

"You know we inherited mothers gifts," I nodded. "Roan, Cilla and I decided to travel the worlds like our mother did." 

I smiled at the memory of my other children, Randall, Roan, and Pricilla. They were the brightest moments of my life. Even brighter than finding family in the Jackson's in my prior life. My sons and daughter had shown me a side of me that I thought was long gone. 

"We would travel to different worlds exploring and learning about the different cultures. Roan eventually settled down in a world where people traversed the stars and fought battles with bright flaming swords, Cilla, she settle here with me once I found this world of magic." 

"Forgive me Lord Radu, you never mentioned that you had siblings. Our ancestors by blood." 

"You never asked." Randall's eyes darkened. "And it shames me to show my father how low his descendants have fallen into depravity." 

"You couldn't have known son," He turned back to me. "their mistakes are not yours. I will always be proud of what you and your siblings have accomplished." 

"Father- I," 

"I have missed you all dearly. Though you are but a shade of what you once were, it gladdens me to speak with you once again." 

If paintings could cry the portrait would have been flooded. Randall smiled sadly at me before turning to Arcturus who was still standing behind me with his sons. 

"Give me a moment with my father." 

The quartet nodded hastily before fleeing from the study.

"Pricilla has a painting as well, we had ours made together once we discovered the magical beings of this world were capable of such enchantments. Though I know not of where they have placed her. She used to occupy the space across from me." 

"I'll find her portrait, worry not, you know my powers have grown. I could bring you and everyone else back. Roan, your sister, your mother." 

Randall smiled sadly, "Our time has passed father, let us rest in the peace that we found. And remember Uncle Geralt's teachings. Just because you have the power doesn't mean you should use it without a second thought." 

"Ever the wisest of your siblings…. I remember when you were just a welp trying to fight your Uncles with a stick." 

"Times passed, father. We all had to grow up at some point." 

"I guess I should go and seek your sister's portrait. No sense in dallying."

"Please come and visit again father, even though they are our descendants they don't make very good conversationalists." 

"I will, it was good seeing you again my son." 

"Aye father, till we meet again." 

Out by the hall the rest of the Black family was gathered around Arcturus. It seemed that the old man had informed them of who I was if their looks were anything to go by. I had taken my newer form before stepping out so that there would be no confusion from the rest of the family. 

"It seems that you're all my descendants." 

"LIES!" 

Arcturus glared at the woman who spoke out. "When I was there, the founder of our family addressed him as such." 

"He must have bewitched the painting." 

"Good gods you magical people are dense as fuck. I find it hard to believe that you idiots are related to my son in any way." 

"Orion, get your wife out of here before I cast her out." 

The man glared at his wife before pulling her away. The rest of the family looked at me expectantly as if waiting for me to address them.

"I'm willing to bet that you have a lot of questions." 

"That's an understatement." 

I looked at the origin of the feminine that had spoken and raised an eyebrow. Bellatrix realized that I was looking at her before flushing and ducking away behind Andromeda. Narcissa was the only one that held my gaze, I could see the excitement in her eyes. 

"Shouldn't you three be at Hogwarts?" 

"I had them brought home while you had a conversation with your son Lord Theseus." 

"Was Radu the Black really your son?" 

"Cissy!"

Druella attempted to pull her youngest daughter away to reprimand her. I raised a hand to stop her. 

"Yes, though I knew him by another name. His mother and I named him Randall, after a friend of ours." 

"But you're our age, how could you have a son that founded our family centuries ago?" 

"I see that the Hogwarts rumor mill hasn't spread that information around yet." 

"What? That you claim to be a god?" 

"Claiming to be and actually being one is completely different. My divinity wasn't something I really wanted. More like a consequence of my temper. A temper that your sisters are well aware of as they saw first hand the incident that started all of this." 

Narcissa turned to her older sisters wide eyed while the adults glared. Vela and another young man entered the hall followed by a woman I hadn't seen yet. Arcturus greeted her with a kiss before looking at Vela and who I assumed was her brother. 

"Vela, Regulus, why are you late?" 

"Vela here was caught sneaking into the kitchens to slip a potion into a batch of pumpkin juice." 

"It was just a harmless prank!" 

"Vela, that is unbecoming of a Lady of House Black." 

"I don't want to be a La-" 

"Vela…. We will speak of this later." 

I tuned out of their argument and turned back to the Black sisters who were now looking at me. Cygnus and Alphard were talking with Arcturus about the recent revelations while Druella and Melania had retreated to a drawing room of sorts. 

"Ask your questions Bellatrix I know you have plenty." 

"On the contrary I only have one."

"Oh? Pray tell, what is it?" 

"I want you to train me and my sisters." 

"Train? In what. I know the three of you are already well versed in spell casting." 

"The way you fought Lord Malfoy. I have never seen such a display of elegance." 

"I wouldn't call it elegance. More like quick efficient violence." 

"Shut it Cissy."

"And why should I train you?" 

"We want to learn to fend for ourselves." 

Andromeda had answered before Bellatrix could, but judging from how both nodded slightly. They both had the same reason. Narcissa on the other hand looked deep in thought.

"It's still hard to believe that we're all distantly related to you." 

The abrupt shift of topics drew the attention of Melania and Druella. The two older women walked over, Druella addressed her daughters and I. 

"My daughters are right Lord Theseus. I heard what the Malfoy and Lestrange heirs were planning from a contact in the castle. I want them to know how to defend themselves should they lose their wands." 

"Fine, I will think about it. Also, believe it Narcissa. Because now that I can really examine your features. I seem to see a lot of my daughter in you." 

"What?"

"Don't you find it strange that you're the only one in this family of dark haired individuals to have nearly ashen hair? My daughter was the only one of my children to inherit her mothers hair." 

"There's always been one every few generations in the house of Blavk to have blonde hair, Lord Theseus." 

"Melania I presume?" 

"Yes Lord Theseus," I felt my eyebrow twitch in irritation at the overly formal address. "In our family, there is always one that is born with lighter hair and fairer skin every generation or so. They're usually blessed with powerful magic or are frighteningly intelligent." 

"I see, my son mentioned a portrait of a woman. Possibly bearing a resemblance to Narcissa. Do you know what happened to it." 

I decided to change the topic so that I could process what she just said. It wasn't hard to believe that at some point the Elder Blood would resurface in their family. It was a genetically dominant trait after all. Though, with their heavy inbreeding, the potency of the blood would have deteriorated over the years.

"It was moved to the Black vaults in Gringotts. My husband's great-grandfather moved it after getting into an argument with the woman in the portrait." 

"Would you be so kind as to having your husband bring it back?" 

"Easily so, but I have to ask. Why?" 

"I would like to speak to my daughter again after centuries. Why else?"