May 15, 1980, London.
The Thames River relentlessly crashed against the shore, sending waves rippling through the water and then retreating...
Nearby stood a splendid manor exuding quintessential British elegance. At its heart was a grand marble fountain, surrounded by lush lawns where a few gardeners diligently tended to brightly arranged flower beds framing the east and west wings of the estate.
The playful peacocks meandered about, adding to the idyllic setting. Meanwhile, the current proprietor of Shafiq Manor, Brian Shafiq, paced anxiously before a door adorned with white jade, distressed by the agonized cries of his wife, Elina Shafiq (née Black), echoing from within. She lay on the bed, her complexion pale and an excruciating pain gripping her abdomen. Both were aware that their child about to be born would carry the legacy of the pure-blood Shafiq family, one of the revered Twenty-Eight Families.
Yet, the midwife's hands trembled slightly as beads of sweat trickled down her forehead, a testament to her anxiety. Elina had always enjoyed good health; what could have caused such a sudden and difficult labor? Was someone trying to sabotage her? It seemed unlikely since, under the mysterious man's reign, the Shafiq family had maintained a stance of neutrality.
"Madam, take a deep breath and follow the same rhythm as before. If that doesn't work, we may have to resort to magical induction."
"No, I won't allow that! I must protect my child at any cost—no magical induction!"
The term 'magical induction' referred to a risky practice that could prematurely deplete magic, possibly resulting in a child who would lack any magical power altogether, a Squib.
After what felt like an eternity, the triumphant cry of a baby pierced the air, leading the midwife to exhale in relief—her own fate hanging in the balance. It was a known fact that if the delivery had been unsuccessful, Brian's wrath would be considerable. Brian, now the head of the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic and holding the title of Earl in the mundane world, was also connected to the prestigious Black family, the Potters, and even the infamous Gaunt family.
Rushing into the delivery room, Brian saw his newborn son. The midwife, wielding her wand, was casting Brackium Emendo to ensure Elina's swift recovery. "It's a boy, darling! He looks just like you!"
"No, he has your eyes—golden and bright." Just then, Brian felt a familiar presence behind him. He turned to find his friends, Lucius Malfoy and his wife, Narcissa. "Sister, what a joy to see you!"
"Congratulations on the birth of your son, Brother."
"What does this mean, Brian? This signifies that the pure-blood Twenty-Eight Families finally have heirs! Isn't he adorable, Lucius?" Narcissa cradled the newborn. "You're a big brother now; you must protect little Draco as he grows."
"Brian, have you gone mad? Let me be the godfather of your child!" Severus Snape chimed in. "Oh, Severus, let's not say that," Lucius replied, but Brian had made up his mind to name Severus as Warren's godfather. "I think you'll be perfect for the role, Sev."
Lucius interjected, "You should—"
Severus softened, settling into a chair, sipping coffee. "Let's give him a name already, Brian."
"I have a name in mind: Warren Shafiq. Now that it's settled, I need to brew potions for the Dark Lord."
"Severus Snape, do you accept the role of godfather to Warren Shafiq, vowing to love and safeguard him always, and to raise him to adulthood if his parents cannot?"
"I do!" As soon as Snape uttered those words, a shimmering silver thread bound their wrists before vanishing into thin air. From that moment forth, Severus Snape became Warren Shafiq's official godfather. The infant reached out with a tiny hand to touch his godfather's face but fell short, grasping Snape's hand instead. Brian noticed a hint of a smirk on Snape's lips; the next moment, however, the joke was on him. "What's that smell?" Snape looked down, eyes wide, realizing, "Oh Merlin, the child has peed!" He promptly handed the baby to a maid, using a drying spell and a freshening charm on himself before huffily walking away.
The following day, Sirius Black burst into laughter as he learned of his sister's joyous occasion at Shafiq Manor. He scooped up his nephew, jesting, "You dealt with Snape's antics better than I ever did! Hahahaha!"
Brian laughed until his sides hurt. James Potter turned to Warren, adding, "You've inherited the Marauders' gift—navigating Snape is second nature for you, my nephew."
"James! You're only getting worse! I pity your parents and hope your son doesn't turn out like you," a relative teased.
"No need for that, Auntie. Just kidding!" Brian's mother hailed from the Potter family, making James Potter technically her nephew too. This made both Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy cousins of sorts to Warren Shafiq. Given these familial ties, it was evident that Harry could also be considered a branch of the Black family line. Moreover, Arthur Weasley was distantly related to Sirius Black and connected to the Malfoys, while Harry's godfather, Sirius, was a direct descendant of the Black family. Following Sirius's death, Harry became the heir, further complicating the intricate family web. At this point, the Black family had only four heirs: Harry, Bellatrix Lestrange, Narcissa Black, and Nymphadora Tonks.
With the deaths of Bella and Tonks, only Harry and Narcissa remained as heirs to the Black fortune. Furthermore, Tonks—a member of the Black family—was the daughter of Ted and Andromeda Tonks (née Andromeda Black), making her the niece of both Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy, as well as the late Sirius Black. Not to mention, Tonks was the biological mother of Harry's godson. Thus, Sirius Black's niece brought Harry into the fold of relations that included Tonks and Lupin.
This web of connections also implied that Harry was tied to the Malfoys (what a tangled mess!). Narcissa Black wed Lucius Malfoy, and their son, Draco Malfoy, shared a distant relationship with Harry. All things considered, it's safe to say that this circle of families was exceedingly complex.
T/N : like it? Add it to library!!!