Crossing the barrier that protected the Black Mansion, the Tonks family car approached, and Nymphadora's eyes widened at the enormous building constructed in Victorian Gothic style.
"Fuck, this isn't a mansion, it's a damn palace!" She instinctively cursed out loud, her hair changing to many colors, showing just how shocked she was.
Andromeda, in the back seat with her daughter, gave her a reproachful look and reprimanded her without hesitation. "Nymphadora Tonks, don't use that rude language, especially here."
Nymphadora's hair turned red with embarrassment at hearing her name, but just as she was about to retort, her father Ted's look – he was driving – made her keep her mouth shut.
However, she still murmured in a dissatisfied tone, "Don't call me Nymphadora."
Shaking her head, Andromeda let out a tired sigh and focused on the enormous mansion, her eyes filling with a feeling of nostalgia and reluctance.
The fists resting on her thighs clenched tightly, showing that the woman was not as calm as she appeared on the outside.
Ted looked in the rearview mirror at his wife in the back seat and remained silent. He knew his wife better than anyone; Andromeda was so nervous that she was in the position she always took when she was anxious about something.
Turning his gaze to the mansion, Ted showed a complex look. Being the cause of his wife's expulsion always brought a lot of guilt to the man, especially when he saw his wife looking at the photo album with longing eyes.
Letting out a sigh, Ted focused and skillfully parked the car in front of the mansion. He turned off the car, put on the handbrake, and got out of the car, helping to open the door for his wife while his daughter got out on her own.
"Thank you, Ted." Andromeda said after getting out of the car, giving a sweet smile to her husband and entwining her arm with his.
When the family gathered in front of the door and knocked, the doors opened, revealing an old House Elf.
Andromeda almost immediately recognized the Black House Elf – Kreacher.
"It's good to see you again, Kreacher." Andromeda greeted the elf with a sweet and gentle smile.
"Lord Asterion awaits you in the drawing room." Ignoring Andromeda's greeting, the house elf gave the woman an unpleasant look and spoke in a humble tone.
Andromeda couldn't help but show a bitter expression upon hearing the house elf's tone.
Nymphadora, who heard everything, looked rudely at the mummy-like creature known as Kreacher. When she was impulsively about to draw her wand, she saw her father looking at her with an almost deadly gaze.
Reluctantly putting her wand away, she looked at her father with an angry glare and then back at the house elf, as if promising that this wasn't over.
Entering the mansion, the first thing the Tonks family saw was the enormous statue of the Black House ancestor – Corvinus Black.
For some reason, in front of the statue, Tonks felt as if she was under the gaze of a very stern grandfather, especially since the statue's eyes, made of rubies, seemed almost alive for a moment.
Andromeda picked up the hem of her skirt and curtsied gracefully to the statue.
Ted, recalling the etiquette lessons his wife had made him attend, placed his hand over his chest and bowed slightly forward.
Seeing this, Kreacher showed a satisfied and proud look, and he guided the entire Tonks family more efficiently than before. Without realizing it, they all arrived at a room with sofas and armchairs, a fireplace burning with crackling flames.
The gaze of the entire Tonks family fell upon the young man and woman sitting side by side, each calmly sipping a cup of tea.
"Cissy." Andromeda, seeing her younger sister, couldn't help but smile again.
"Dromeda." Narcissa also smiled at her older sister. She stood up and embraced her.
"What a beautiful reunion, little sisters." Suddenly, the doors of the room were opened, and Bellatrix entered, ignoring the wide-eyed looks of Ted and Tonks.
"Bella." Andromeda was also shocked by her older sister's entrance.
Finally seeing the three Black sisters together for the first time, Asterion couldn't help but think they were completely different from each other.
As if reading Asterion's mind, Bellatrix's lips curved into a malicious smile. "Didn't I tell you, master? My lovely mother probably cheated on my lovely father, look how different we are from each other."
Bellatrix's words made Narcissa's and Andromeda's faces turn very dark. Bellatrix's words were no different from calling them bastards.
"Bella." Narcissa growled her older sister's name. Andromeda, next to her, also looked fiercely at her older sister. The two exchanged glances and confirmed each other's thoughts.
Without any hesitation, they both rushed towards Bellatrix. Seeing this, Bellatrix turned and ran, fleeing without looking back even once.
"Don't run, Bella, and face our wrath." Andromeda shouted loudly with a big smile on her lips.
"I refuse!" Bellatrix sped up even more with her words.
Narcissa remained silent and jumped over the sofa, almost catching Bellatrix by a hair.
Seeing the three grown women running around the room like mischievous children left Asterion speechless, but noticing the smiles on their lips, he realized that all three were having fun after a reunion of decades.
"Please, have a seat." Asterion gestured for Ted and Nymphadora to sit across from him on the sofa.
"Thank you for the invitation, Lord Black." Sitting on the sofa, Ted responded with a smile as well. Seeing his wife enjoying herself like this made him realize how much she missed her family.
"I wanted to surprise Arcturus. Although he hasn't said anything, the man still wants to see the whole family reunited once more." Asterion replied calmly, bringing the cup to his lips and tasting the tea.
Ted nodded and remained silent. An awkward silence hung in the air. He really didn't have much to talk about with someone as powerful and famous as Asterion Black, a Special Grade Wizard.
"Asterion, I joined the Aurors!" Seeing her father's predicament, Tonks spoke with a big smile, her purple hair changing to a very bright gold, apparently very proud of joining the Aurors.
"Congratulations, Nymph." Asterion congratulated her with a very sincere tone. It was truly a great achievement to become an Auror at twenty. Only the best of the best could become an Auror, especially right after graduating from Hogwarts, it was a notable accomplishment.
Tonks lifted her head with pride and received the praise from the powerful Special Grade wizard as if it were natural, as if it were normal to be praised by powerful people.
"Please, avoid talking about Bellatrix when you're outside the mansion." Calmly drinking his tea, Asterion's red eyes fell on Ted and Tonks.
Although it was just a normal look, to Ted and Nymphadora, it felt like a mountain on their shoulders. Both nodded, agreeing with Asterion's words. They could see that Asterion was serious.
While they conversed, the three sisters finally tired of running and sat on the same sofa with a rather inelegant posture.
"You didn't manage to catch me. I'm still the best older sister in the world." Catching her breath, Bellatrix spoke, looking at her two sisters with an extremely proud look.
This made Narcissa's and Andromeda's faces contort for a moment. Best older sister in the world? They couldn't believe her shameless words and snorted coldly.
"Let's go see the old man already, if we wait any longer, he might enter the coffin, literally." Bellatrix was indifferent to her sisters' judging looks and spoke lazily.
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Next Chapter Second Volume: Chapter 103 - The Black Sisters (2), Chapter 104 - Rose's Past (1), Chapter 105 - Arrival of Country Representatives (1), Chapter 106 - Arrival of Country Representatives (2), Chapter 107 - Arrival of Country Representatives (3), Chapter 108 – Party (1), Chapter 109 – Party (2), Chapter 110 - Back To Hogwarts (1), Chapter 111 - Back To Hogwarts (2), Chapter 112 – New Students (1), Chapter 113 – New Students (2), Chapter 114 – Ophelia (1), Chapter 115 – Ophelia (2), Chapter 116 – Doubts (1), Chapter 117 – Humbug (1), Chapter 118 - Ophelia's Mother (1), Chapter 119 - I Decided to Seduce Daphne (1), Chapter 120 - Arrival of the Twelve Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry (1), Chapter 121 - Arrival of the Twelve Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry (2).