Chapter 23 - Union and rejection - Part1

Andromeda and Ted no longer knew what to do. All their troubles disappeared as soon as they joined the House of Black. It was a strange feeling for both of us, coming back like this. It was especially complicated for Ted because his last name that had been with him for so many years had to be changed. Now they where part of the family Black. Ted and Andromeda Black, the new last name had a strange feeling that they were not fully used to.

For Ted it was something new but for Andromeda the feeling came full of memories of childhood. Even if Andromeda didn't say it, Ted could see how happy she was to be back in her family even if it was only in name.

Andromeda couldn't explain what was happening to her and the new feeling she had being in her family's main house. It was as if this was her real home, even if he hated her parents and all the horrible things that happened in that old house.

They had many things to talk with Arcturus. But it was not the right moment yet. First they wanted to talk with her daughter and explain their decision. Andromeda was also a bit nervous because she had to talk and get to know her nephew well. She still remembered how Sirius was the only relative she felt so close to. Not even her sisters gave her that feeling of closeness.

Ted and Andromeda didn't really talk with each other after walking out from office. After leaving, they felt much more relaxed and and were finally able to appreciate the beauty of the place. Ted never saw such a beautiful furniture even if everything was old it was well preserved to the point that one could tell it was new.

As they walked into the living room, they heard their daughter laugh from one of the rooms.They looked at each other's faces and with their eyes they nodded and decided to go and see what their daughter was doing. It was only enough to open slightly to see that he was still with her cousin. Then they began to observe their interaction.

As Nymphadora was laughing she said. ''It's my turn. Arcas, now you need to transform into a billywig.''

''Ok'' Arcas replied. As he said, his shape became smaller and his skin tone turned blue.

Many wings began to come out of his head. He finally became a billywig and suddenly began to spin to fly around Nymphadora.

This scared Andromeda a bit since she hadn't really thought about what it meant to be a shapeshifter. She had not fully understood it and only now realized that he could become a magical animal. She did not notice the first time he became a puffskein as she was distracted by everything that was happening and the revelation of the existence of Arcas.

Ted didn't understand it at all, as he was too clumsy to realize what his nephew was actually accomplishing. He was only interested to know that his daughter was really happy playing.

While they were both lost in thought. Arcas stopped spinning and changed back then he said. ''Now is my turn. Nymphadora, now you need to transform into the neighbour you told me. What was her name again? Mrs. Mumps.''

''Arcas, don't call me like that. I don't like it. Call me Dora.'' Replied Nymphadora a little angry.

This surprissed Arcas. He rised an eyebrown in a way that made them remember of Arcturus and said. ''Why you don't like your name? I think it really suit you.''

''Because its weird. Everyone else have a common name and I have a strange one. It's ugly like me'' Nymphadora said. Tears where close to pour from her eyes. It was obvious sometime ago another person had make fun of her becouse of her name.

It was the first time their daughter had exprese herself like this. Both Ted and Andromeda didn't know what to say to their daughter. They had been so busy giving her everything she needed that they had forgotten to worry about how she felt. And they had ignored why she had stopped liking her name.

Suddenly Arcas asked. ''You know what your name means? Why every member of the House of Black have a name like that?''

''I don't know.'' Nymphadora replied.

''It means gift of the nymphs. And they where beatiful and cheerful spirits. That's why it fits you so much, since you resemble them even if you are a bit clumsy.'' Answered Arcas with a little smirk on his face.