Chapter One
Lupus, as Kakashi had come to refer to himself over the years, stood silently at the window. His grey eyes tracked the silent waves of the Black Lake, contemplating his new life. It was storming and the violent ebb and flow of the lake seemed to mirror the tumultuous journey of his rebirth and adaptation. He closed his eyes thinking back over the years.
When Lupus was a newborn still getting used to life in this bizarre world, he had very few worries as a baby, which gave him a lot of time to think. The quiet moments between feedings and naps were filled with contemplation, piecing together the fragments of his new existence.
When Kakashi first awoke in this new life, he had been confused and disoriented by his surroundings. The language, the food, the people—everything was so foreign, but Kakashi had quickly settled into the routines of an infant. During those fleeting moments of lucidity in the first few months, he deduced that his brain chemistry was likely aligned with his physical age.
He learned that his new father was named Sirius and that his mother had not survived the birth. Despite this tragedy, Kakashi was surrounded by an abundance of love, a stark contrast to his previous upbringing. The warmth and affection he received from Sirius were overwhelming, filling a void Kakashi had long since buried.
There was also a huge black dog that frequently came and went. For Kakashi, this dog became a symbol of familiarity, a bridge between his old world and the new. He would cling to the dog's fur, finding comfort in its presence during the disorienting early days of his rebirth.
Kakashi had even once encountered a stag in the living room, which had startled his then six-month-old body and made him cry. He dismissed the incident as magic gone wrong because, a minute later, his Uncle James was there, picking him up and soothing his tears.
During his first year of rebirth, Lupus had quickly grown accustomed to life with Sirius. His new father was mostly infectious with joy, exuding an energy that filled their home with laughter. But there were days when Sirius would fall into depressive episodes, weighed down by memories of Marlene, the mother Lupus had never met.
These episodes led to Kakashi spending considerable time at his godparents' house. James and Lily Potter reminded Kakashi of his Sensei and Kushina-ni with their antics and affectionate bickering. The warmth and camaraderie they shared enveloped him in a sense of belonging that was both new and familiar.
Kakashi also had two other honorary uncles. Uncle Moony, another of Sirius's close friends, was a constant presence. He was the calmest of the group, always babysitting Kakashi when Sirius went to work. Uncle Moony would read books to him, his voice a soothing balm in those early, confusing days. Uncle Peter, on the other hand, was rarely present. Whenever he came around, he brought toys for Kakashi.
The Potters had a daughter shortly after Kakashi was a few months old, and she was to be his first friend, as his father told him one day before taking him to meet the baby.
She was named Holly and had the greenest eyes Kakashi had ever seen. She was a very cute baby, but she was so loud that Kakashi would scramble away from her as fast as his baby limbs allowed.
One such day, while Kakashi and his father were over at the Potters' cottage for dinner, Kakashi had refused to be placed with Holly and clung to his father desperately. The other two adults smiled adoringly at their daughter and their godson, amused by the sight.
As they gathered in the cozy living room, the adults engaged in cheerful conversation, passing around plates of food. Suddenly, Kakashi found himself sailing through the air toward Holly, who had been crying for "Pus" (referring to Lupus) and had apparently performed her first piece of accidental magic.
Kakashi landed gently beside Holly, who promptly awarded him with slobber to his cheeks as she gave him cheek kisses. The adults erupted in laughter and cooed at the adorable scene.
"Well, look at that!" James exclaimed, his eyes twinkling with delight. "Our little Holly already knows what she wants. Look, Padfoot, she's already after Lupus!"
Lily chuckled, capturing the moment with a camera. "Just imagine, fifteen years down the line, Holly and Lupus may one day come from Hogwarts dating!"
Sirius shared a mischievous look with James, both clearly entertained by the thought.
Holly giggled, delighted by the presence of her friend. "Pus!" she squealed, wrapping her tiny arms around him.
Kakashi, still a little annoyed, couldn't help but be touched by the genuine affection in her voice. "Hi, ‘ols," he murmured, his baby voice barely audible.
The room was filled with laughter and love, the adults marveling at the bond forming between the two children.
Lily crouched down to their level, smiling softly. "You two are going to be the best of friends, aren't you?" she said, gently brushing Holly's hair aside.
Sirius, gently untangling Kakashi, nodded. "Absolutely. They're going to have each other's backs no matter what."
"Can you imagine the chaos?" Sirius grinned, shaking his head.
Kakashi, meanwhile, shivered with foreboding, at whatever his father and godfather were planning now.
As the evening continued, the interactions between Holly and Kakashi were marked by small, tender moments. Holly would reach out to touch Kakashi's hand, her eyes bright with curiosity. Kakashi, in turn, would give her a half smile wishing he could still hide his face in masks.
On All Hallow’s Eve, his father had appeared jittery and tense all morning and had only grown more agitated as the sun set. Sirius had given him a small kiss on his brow and whispered, "I love you, I'll come back after checking on Jamie, okay?" before leaving him with Popi, their house-elf.
However, Sirius had not come back, and Lupus hadn't seen him since. It had been Uncle Moony, his father's friend, who came to pick him up a day or so later. Moony’s face had been a mask of sorrow as he held Lupus close, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Remus had picked up Lupus, his voice thick with emotion. "Hey there, little man," he had said softly, pulling Lupus into a gentle hug. "Everything's going to be okay."
Lupus, sensing the underlying sadness in Uncle Moony's words, had clung to him, involuntary tears welling up in his own eyes. "Where's Daddy?" he had asked, his voice trembling with a sudden fear.
Remus's heart had broken a little more at the question, but he had forced a reassuring smile. "Your dad had to go away, Lupus. He's... he's not coming back."
"Why?" Lupus had whispered, his small hands gripping Remus's robes tightly.
Remus had taken a deep breath, struggling to find the right words. "Sometimes people we love have to go away and can't come back."
The explanation had done little to soothe the ache in Lupus's heart, understanding the unspoken answer and nodding solemnly. Remus had held him close for a long moment, seemingly trying to spot his own heart breaking.
Later that day, Lupus had met his grandfather for the first time. Arcturus Black had been a stern and imposing figure, his sharp eyes scrutinising his grandson with a mix of curiosity and expectation. He looked like his father, Lupus had realised.
With a final squeeze, Moony had reluctantly handed Lupus over to his grandfather. The old man had taken him firmly by the hand, leading him away. Lupus had looked back, his eyes searching for Moony, but his uncle had already been turning to leave, his shoulders slumped in defeat. That was the last time he had seen Moony.
That night, as Lupus had lain in the unfamiliar surroundings of his grandfather's house, he had realised for the first time that he truly loved his new father. The ache in his heart had been almost unbearable as he thought of Sirius, of his bravery and loyalty. He also thought of Holly, and how much he missed her.
Lupus and Holly would never get to come to their parents about dating anyone, because their parents were dead. Even though Lupus had already lost three parents, he didn't know why Sirius' death had hit him so hard. Perhaps it was because Sirius had been so full of life, so devoted to his friends; of his chosen teammates, that his absence left a gaping void.
As a few tears had silently escaped down his face, Lupus had understood that, no matter which life he lived, Kakashi would always be bereft of parents. He had clutched a small blanket that still smelled faintly of his father's cologne, a sad reminder of the family he had lost.
Over the years, Kakashi had learned that his father wasn't dead but incarcerated. He had been taught about the war waged by the dark lord called Voldemort, who was also the one who had exterminated the House of McKinnon, his mother's house, and had tortured his mother. She had transported out with the portkey to St. Mungo's that had activated when her water had broken during the torture, which was the reason his mother had died that night.
His father had been fighting against the Dark Lord's faction along with his friends, but apparently, Sirius Black had been a secret Death Eater who had betrayed the Potters to Voldemort as he had been their Secret Keeper.
It hadn't made sense to Lupus, who knew how devoted his father had been towards the elder Potters and Holly. It hardly made sense for his father to support his girlfriend's murderer, set up a marriage contract for his son and Holly, and betray his best friends all at once.
And wasn't that a surprise!
Kakashi was somehow betrothed to a little child. No matter his body's age, Kakashi still felt uncomfortable whenever he thought about that.
After the first five years of his new life, he had realised his mental age seemed to align with his body's age, and his past memories seemed faded.
The faded memories of his past life, though still present, had lost their sharpness. The pain of losing Rin, Obito and his Sensei and students had dulled, transforming into a quiet, persistent ache. It was no longer the all-consuming agony it once was. Instead, it was a part of him, a shadow he carried but one that did not define him.
Kakashi didn't know if that was a good or a bad thing, but he felt relieved one day when he realised he didn't actively want to die anymore. Instead, he felt a strange sense of resolve.
His father’s apparent betrayal gnawed at him. The Sirius he remembered was fiercely loyal, passionate, and would never harm his friends. Kakashi couldn't reconcile this image with that of a Death Eater. As he pieced together the stories he heard, doubts crept in. What if his father had been framed? The idea began to take root in his mind, providing a glimmer of hope that Sirius might not be the villain everyone believed him to be.
The revelation about his betrothal to Holly was another perplexing aspect of his new life. Holly, with her striking green eyes and loud, vivacious presence, was a far cry from the ninja comrades Kakashi once knew. The notion of being bound to her by a contract was jarring, but apparently a common enough decision in this world.
Despite his initial discomfort, he found himself looking forward to their eventual reunion, curious about the kind of person she was growing into, and how she was coping with the loss of her parents. Kakashi didn't know when they would meet again but he looked forward to meeting his first friend.
“You are Heir Black now.” Grandfather Arcturus intoned solemnly on Lupus' 7th birthday, sliding a ring onto his index finger. The heavy, ornate piece felt cold against his skin, a tangible symbol of responsibility.
They were in his grandfather's study, a room steeped in tradition and history, with grand-aunt Cassiopeia standing by the fireplace, her expression a mix of pride and sorrow.
“Remember,” his grandfather continued, his voice carrying the weight of centuries of Black lineage, “You are the last of the Blacks. You are the future of a once Great House. Even now, with our dwindling numbers, we still command respect and fear in our world.”
“It is said that every time a Black is born, the Gods flip a coin. We carry the stars in our blood, which can either make us the most formidable or drive us into madness. Dorea Potter nee Black was the only witch feared by Grindelwald; Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black was the most formidable of the Dark Lord's followers.”
His grandfather paused, his eyes searching Lupus's face for understanding. “When Sirius dueled against Voldemort's forces in raids during the last war, many fled to save their lives. James and his wife faced the Dark Lord himself and fought him to standstills more than a few times. I'm telling you this because it will always be your decision on what path to take. That decision will determine whether you will be the agent of change or succumb to the madness that has plagued our family.”
“You are the future, Lupus; our future, and I am proud of you. Always remember, a Black bows to no one,” his grandfather concluded solemnly.
“Yes, grandfather,” Lupus replied softly, his gaze steady as he absorbed the weight of his legacy.
“If only you had taught your children that,” Aunt Cassiopeia interjected, her tone laced with bitterness. She glanced at Lupus with a mixture of scrutiny and approval. “Come here, Lupus.”
“You will begin lessons with me starting this summer,” she declared firmly, her voice carrying authority softened only by a rare tenderness. “You will learn what it truly means to be a Black. Your grandfather and I are the last of our generation, and we failed your father and his siblings. We will not fail you, Heir Black.”
Aunt Cassiopeia knelt down to Lupus's level and pressed a kiss to his forehead, a gesture of both affection and solemn commitment.
Dismissed after the meeting, Kakashi retreated to his thoughts, pondering the weight of his guardians' words and the burden of their guilt. They were nearing a century in age, burdened by loss—of their children, grandchildren, and the fading glory of their once-proud House. The responsibility laid upon his young shoulders felt immense, but he knew he must bear it with the strength and dignity expected of a Black.
As Lupus walked away, the weight of the ring on his finger seemed to symbolize not just his heritage, but also the future he must forge—a future that would define the legacy of the House of Black.
The next few years passed in a blur for Lupus as he delved deep into learning about his family and studying the intricate traditions of pureblood culture. Aunt Cassiopeia became his mentor in navigating the complexities of their lineage, teaching him about House Vassals, political maneuvers, and the significance of maintaining ancient customs.
"Blood purity prejudice is not just about ancestry, Lupus," Aunt Cassiopeia explained one evening in her study, while they were discussing the reasons behind blood purity prejudice. "It's also about preserving our heritage, our way of life. Muggleborns disrupt that delicate balance, much like intruders in a foreign land disregarding local customs."
Lupus nodded thoughtfully, absorbing her words. "It's like disrespecting centuries-old traditions and rituals," he mused aloud. "But the world is changing."
Pureblood culture was another reason, it seemed that Purebloods didn't like muggleborn witches and wizards. For wizards, it was how one would feel if someone moved to Japan and refuse to follow their culture and go about changing their centuries old traditions and outlawing the Family practices. As in the last half century, Pagan holidays were looked down upon and rituals outlawed while Family Magick was censured; not that it did much to stop the Ancient Houses.
"Indeed, it is," Cassiopeia agreed with a hint of nostalgia. "But some things endure, like the role of Heir and Shadow in the House of Black."
She gestured towards a small, leather-bound book resting on her desk. "This little book has been a cornerstone of our influence. It holds secrets and leverage over others—information passed down from one Shadow to the next.”
Lupus was going to be the first Heir without a Shadow, because he was an only child.
Cassiopeia Black had been Arcturus Black's Shadow and Alphard Black had been Orion’s while his Uncle Regulus was his father's. She was the Heir’s Shadow and that is also why she had never married. The House of Black was once one of the most influential families and one of the reasons behind that was the work done by the Shadow in the shadows. However, Lupus hardly needed a shadow, he had a lifetime of being one during his former life as Kakashi and was a master of subterfuge.
Their lessons extended beyond politics. Aunt Cassiopeia taught him the art of navigating society with grace and diplomacy, but also the subtleties of operating in the shadows of the wizarding world.
Lupus' lessons with his grandfather focused on estate management and how to tread the treacherous waters of the Wizengamot. His grandfather, Lupus had found was one of the driving forces against Grindelwald and had on more than one occasion tag teamed the dark lord with Charlus Potter.
And so when Lupus had turned nine, he was taken to the Family vault to choose a used wand and afterwards, his grandfather had started giving him duelling lessons. It had started with dodging and his grandfather had asked Lupus to start running in the morning.
When his grandfather had found that Lupus had been doing that for the last four years, he had given a sharp laugh before asking him to run while dodging his grandfather's paint balls. It had greatly improved Lupus' already good reflexes.
And so time passed between lessons with Grandfather and Aunt Cassiopeia, learning new languages and reading books and soon his 11th birthday had arrived.
On 7th January, 1991, when his Hogwarts letter arrived, Lupus had been in this world for eleven years and had a unconventional family but a family anyways.
And then he met Holly.
During the last years of his life as Kakashi, he had adopted a certain persona, knowing that people perceived others as they saw them. Lupus, too, had adopted a slightly uncaring and bored mask, always slouching unless something genuinely piqued his interest. But since he had met Holly again, it seemed like he was always standing straight.
She wasn’t what he had expected. The loudest, happiest baby had transformed into a slightly scarred pre-teen. She was quieter, a little somber, and seemed to greatly underestimate her own value, she was still bright and regardless of her childhood seemed like a ray of sunshine.
Lupus had thought it would be hard to befriend her, but it was almost unbelievable how easily he came to care about her. She was his betrothed and his responsibility, but he hadn’t thought she would also become his best friend.
When Lupus had thought about his Hogwarts years, he hadn’t expected friends. He hadn’t expected to care so much about Holly that he would seek her out across rooms just to see if she was okay or relish the way she pulled him into hugs. He hadn’t known that pulling on braids could be so enjoyable because her green eyes would peer at him questioningly, or that he’d be happy sitting on grass just because she loved to fall asleep there.
He hadn’t foreseen how similar Hermione would be to Rin, yet also so different with her love of books, authority figures, and her deep desire to fit in. He hadn’t expected to find Obito’s clumsiness in Neville, or his staunch loyalty to friends. Yet Neville’s calm demeanor and steadfastness slowly but surely made him one of Lupus' best friends.
For the longest time, Lupus had thought the Black madness had skipped him or that, due to his former life, it didn’t affect him. But he was wrong.
As he turned from the tumultuous Black Lake, his eyes tracked the steady rise and fall of Holly’s chest. She was so small and young, Lupus realized. He had been a shinobi at five in another life, but Holly didn’t deserve to be dead at eleven or even twenty. She was a witch, and she deserved to live until she was at least two centuries old.
Lupus slipped her hand into his, he could almost hear the madness in his blood sighing at the touch. He hadn’t known it, but he would bring the stars to Holly if she asked.
And he wasn't going to allow anyone to harm her.
Lupus Black at eleven