Chapter One, The Ancient Gift

It soon became apparent mere hours after Aquila was born that she was incredibly special; she was a wielder of Ancient Magic. Hours after she had been born James, Dorcas, Dorea, and Lucretia (the Healers in the family, along with Cassiopeia who had a Mastery in every field of magic) had come to check over James (after the caesarean birth and to check on Aquila, as she was so tiny) when they received a shock; Aquila's molten silver eyes - that every Black member held - turned a luminescent blueish-white colour as an orb of the same colour appeared in her tiny hands: the colour of Ancient Magic. Such magic hasn't been seen in the British Wizarding community since Phineas Nigellus Black was Headmaster of Hogwarts.

Before they could even comprehend what was happening, her eyes turned back to normal, and she levitated her plush black dog toy towards her with her normal magic that Sirius had left on the dresser on the other side of the room.
"Did she just -?" James muttered, stunned, hazel eyes large behind his high-end oval glasses.
"She did." Dorcas confirmed absent minded, she was just as stunned as her best friend over what she had just witnessed. "I haven't heard of anyone using Ancient Magic before, at least not for an age."

"My Grandfather Sirius's younger sister, Aquila I, could use this type of Ancient Magic along with her own." Lucretia revealed. "She was incredibly powerful so it was kept between the family until she reached Hogwarts, that's when Ranrok, Harlow and Rookwood started hunting her." James got up (despite their protests) and clutched his baby girl close to his chest at that. "Due to the two types of magic coursing through her veins she started in her fifth year and was homeschooled with tutors. She started late so it would give her time to gain better control over both her magics essentially. She had magic literally embedded in every cell of her being, not just within her core."
"That's... so you think that's what will happen to my baby?" James asked, scared, staring down at his baby who cooed up at him.

"No. We won't let that happen Jamie." Lucretia assured. "I can scan her during the checkup and find out her power level and affinity if you wish. That way it should be at least slightly easier to protect her. Dorcas can check you over while I do so and then we shall inform the family. You and Sirius aren't alone, James. If you go through with the betrothal to Heir Rowle she will have - including Ignatius and I - eight powerful families behind you, shielding this little star from all who dare to wish her harm."
"Please Lucretia." James whispered, bestowing a kiss to his newborn daughter's forehead just as Sirius reentered the bedchamber, he had been contacting their VERY large family with the news of the birth. There had been A LOT of fire calls to make.

"What's wrong?" Sirius asked, panicking, immediately picking up on the tension within his and James's bedchamber.
"Aquila is very special Sirius," Lucretia started to explain, holding up a hand to stall Sirius saying anything, "she's like my Great-Aunt, your Great-Great Aunt Aquila, Sirius." At once Sirius knew what his aunt meant as his eyes widened in fear, FOR his daughter.
"No!" Sirius whispered, voice breaking.
"She'll not only have the Magic of the Peverells from me, Siri, but she also has Ancient Magic as well as her own magic." James explained gently. "We saw her use it before she used her own magic to levitate mini Padfoot to her." He nodded to their daughter in his arms where their newborn was clutching the dog toy.

"She's only a few hours old!" Sirius groaned, he did not want her in any more danger than she was previous to this knowledge; she's his little star, his baby girl, his princess.
"I know." Lucretia placated her eldest nephew. "I was just about to scan her when I check her over."
"Please Aunt Lu." Sirius begged, his hand resting tenderly on his daughter's black curly downy hair. Lucretia smiled at the use of the shortened version of her name that both her nephews gifted her when they were young it has been a long time since she heard it; taking the newborn gently from her parents, Lucretia gently placed her back in her cot waving her wand intricately over her Great-niece while she vaguely heard Dorcas checking James over. Accepting the parchment that floated beside her once the spell was complete, Lucretia's eyes widened at its contents, stunned beyond belief.

"It's as I suspected she is like Great-Aunt Aquila but much more powerful." Lucretia revealed. "How is James, Dorcas?"
"He's fine, the caesarean scar is healing nicely. I've given him some more pain relief and there's no complications." Dorcas explained.
"That's good." Sirius sighed with relief, kissing his bonded husband's temple lovingly. "Now, our daughter, Aunt Lu?" Sirius asked desperately.
"She's fine Sirius, don't worry. She has Golden level magic..."
"That's... that's Merlin level." James stuttered in shock, Lucretia nodded before she continued.

"Yes, and while that is her magic level she also has the Dark Grey affinity that Peverells are known for along with Death Magic, Necromancy and Foresight, and the Potter Battle Mage affinity. Now, like our Great-Aunt and all others who have been bestowed this gift by Mother Magic, Aquila will be able to see and use Ancient Magic alongside her own magic." Lucretia explained. "You know the stories, Siri." Sirius nodded and whispered what he knew. "We MUST keep this within the family."
"I'd have it no other way Aunt Lu, I won't endanger Jamie or our Princess. A Black protects their family, no matter what." Sirius declared passionately and so sure of himself and firm in his belief.

"Good." Lucretia said satisfied, "I'll inform our family downstairs, no doubt they're all here by now to see her and James," laughs reverberated around the bedchamber at that, of course their VERY large and extended family would arrive at Potter Manor to see their new star, just like they went to Black Manor for Nymphadora's birth, Lestrange Manor for Rhea's, and Malfoy manor for Draco's. Normally as Sirius was Lord Black (having took over from his father the year before) the Lord would live either at Castle Black (like his grandfather and great-grandfather had despite his father choosing the Black Townhouse) but Sirius knew how much James loved his home in the Scottish highlands.

So he had chosen to live there and gift the manor to Cousin Andromeda and Castle Black to his Grandparents and Aunt Lucretia and her family with Uncle Ignatius Prewett, as they had adored living there and Lucretia actually missed it. However, to celebrate the holidays Samhain and Yule etc, they differed between Potter Manor and Castle Black due to the vast lands and ceremonial fire pit where they burned their bonfires and effigies to Mother Magic, plus they also had the capacity to hold the VERY large and extended family which will only grow when Sirius and James signs the betrothal contract with Lord Bjørn Rowle - Sirius's Auror partner - and his Lady wife for their children.

"Of course they are." James laughed, pulling Sirius from his thoughts. "Remus, Batsy, Lucius and I owe Sirius, Reggie and Marlene ten Galleons as they won the bet on us having our little Aquila." James' tone turned adoringly as he accepted his daughter back from Lucretia and stroked her cheek as she slept in his arms tired from her bursts of magic.
"I told you my love." Sirius boasted. "I knew we were having a little Princess." He leaned forward to kiss her tiny forehead, smiling happily as she scrunched her nose in her sleep an 'aww' slipping from his throat. While the couple were bonding with their daughter, Dorcas and Lucretia slipped from the bedchamber heading for the family lounge where everyone was waiting for news.

* * *

"Well," Arcturus demanded eagerly as soon as Lucretia and Dorcas entered the family lounge.
"Both James and Aquila are doing extremely well. She's a little on the small side but it's nothing to worry about, we will just keep a close eye on her in the coming weeks and months." Dorcas explained, the moment she had finished speaking a simultaneous sigh of relief went around the room passing from adult to the next while little Nymphadora and Rhea celebrated that their uncle had lived up to his promise to give them a girl to play with. They loved Draco but they loved having a girl more so.

"However, she is extremely special." Lucretia interrupted the celebrations. "She has already done two types of magic.."
"T-two types?" Fleamont stuttered, like James he was completely floored at this revelation. "She's only a handful of hours old!"

"How powerful is she, love?" Ignatius asked his wife shrewdly, knowing her too well.
"She has Golden level magic or in other words Merlin level, a Dark Grey affinity that Peverells are known for along with Death Magic, Necromancy and Foresight, and the Potter Battle Mage affinity." Dorcas explained.
"And the other?" Dorea asked intelligently, an elegant black eyebrow raised as if she already knew the answer.

"She is like our Great-Aunt Aquila, and all others who have been bestowed this gift by Mother Magic, Aquila will be able to see and use Ancient Magic alongside her own magic." Lucretia explained. Silence befell the room at large as the Blacks all knew (Walberga, Cassiopeia and Dora quietly explained it to the Potters and Garcías').
Suddenly a wave of powerful magic filled the room causing all heads to turn towards the loveseat on the north side of the room where Bellatrix sat leaning against Rodolphus a dark glare on her face as her magic crackled beneath her skin, black sparks dancing along her fingers as she clenched her fists.

"Dumbledore will meet the wrong end of my wand if he even thinks of coming near our little star!" She spat, as she was the most skilled at Occlumency among the Blacks she was best suited to find out who was out for her family.
"He'll have to get through us first!" Fleamont spat with contempt. "Us Potters aren't known for being Battle Mages for nothing, you know. I'll train my Princess so no one can ever beat her. And if he or anyone else dares they'll find out how we can use Death Magic and control the Elder Wand."

"We all will." Orion agreed. "Lucius, Rhodolphus, Rabastan start gathering allies to our family. We will not be bested and any one else who even thinks of becoming obsessed with James, Aquila, or even Dora, Rhea and Draco you need to deal with it."
"But despite the warnings that come with this news it is wonderful to have our family blessed in so many ways with our children having long lost gifts." Narcissa declared. "Dora a Metamorphmagus, Rhea who seems to have Bella's and Dolphus' affinity, Draco who is an Ice Elemental and now sweet Aquila."
"It is true that we have truly been blessed, dear niece," Cassiopeia agreed, "and we must thank Mother Magic while making plans to protect our children and our family as a whole." She stated firmly before turning to Lucretia.

"Lucretia, I take it that Sirius and James will be making this contract with the Rowle family after all." She stated rather than asked.
"Yes Aunt Cassiopeia." Lucretia agreed, accepting the tea passed to her by the Head House-elf Pimsey and offering her a small thank you.
"Good. I shall contact our Ancestors and see if I can speak to Aquila and look into this Ancient Magic as she will need a teacher to help her." Cassiopeia stated, ignoring the teasing look Arcturus sent her for her eccentric ways. He was far too used to his cousin delving into all sorts and types of magic.

For the rest of the evening they took turns going up to see Sirius, James and their Littlest Star to offer James and Sirius their congratulations while promising them - like they had with the three other children when their gifts developed and their powerful magic was showcased - they will come up with a plan to protect all four children. After all nothing was more dangerous than a Potter or a Black being threatened. Their family was more united and close knit than ever and it was all thanks to the love that had developed between James and Sirius during their teens.

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Author's note: DO NOT ask me to update in any way shape or form. There are other ways of telling me what you thought of this.

Author's note two: the Blacks have always been a close knit family in this story and only became closer with the bonding marriage of James and Sirius. Plus with Tom having went the political route and became Minister (stated in the previous chapter. There are no Death Eaters so the Longbottoms were never tortured and Bellatrix is actually a Mind Healer in this).

Also comment on the following people for the jobs you would like to see them have (more will be added later, right now it's only the adults):

Adults:

• Regulus Black:

• Remus Lupin:

• Rabastan Lestrange:

• Andromeda:

• Ted Tonks: