The Sorceress and the Grim
Chapter two
Trusting your Instincts.
Nearly four years had passed since the binding and very little had changed. What was to be Sirius' younger sister turned out to be a little brother called Regulas Arcturus Black and became doted upon by his Mother. This didn't bother Sirius much as he spent very little time up at 12 Grimmauld place instead he was found where he always was, in the garden with his best friend Alyssa or Aly as he liked to call her. At the start Sirius had learnt to not trust the binding nor did he trust the family regardless of the things he heard but over time Alyssa and Ezra Rivas had wormed their way into his heart. So whenever things got to stressful for the young heir he would send an owl to Ezra asking to come over only for her to send the house elf to collect him with a message for him to bring an overnight bag. However his stay always ended up being longer than one night and he was always sent home with a pat on the back from Callcus, the one member of the family Sirius had grown to hate. Over time Callcus had become a touchy subject with the 8 year old Sirius and no matter how many times he explained to Alyssa that he just didn't trust her father she still continued to try and change his opinion.
"For the last bloody time Aly will you shut up? I hate your dad, I don't trust your dad and I never will like nor will I trust him for as long as there is breath in me" Sirius groaned for what seemed like the millionth time.
"Yes but why, why don't you. Can you at least explain that to me?" Alyssa asked as she kicked the snow up from the ground.
It was the 21st December and Sirius had just celebrated his 8th birthday on the 19th and every year he celebrated it with a trip to the healer to show that the young heir was still breathing. Every time the healer had been surprised to see the boy in perfect condition for someone who had been born 28 weeks premature. Sirius remembered his mother telling him that he hadn't meant to survive because of a curse on the family. The curse of the firstborn placed on the family by Morgana le Fay after she learnt her sister Morgaine had been alive and well after being classed as deceased. Every firstborn son of the Black family was either a miscarriage or still born and Sirius had been the first one to conquer that earning him the title of "Walburga's little miracle". He hated that title but he used it to his advantage when his cousins teased and picked on him for being slightly different. It wasn't much of a difference, Sirius just didn't find the torture of muggles, half bloods, muggleborns and innocent animals interesting nor did he find it fun. Unlike his cousin Bellatrix who had grown to be quiet psychotic and enjoyed such activities immensely. So for the past four years Sirius had ended up at the Riva's manor after every check-up which genuinely followed with his Mother fussing over every little thing he did.
"I still can't believe you have to keep going to that healer, what do they think is going to happen." Alyssa said, changing the subject.
"As if I know is that he probably thinks I'm going to kick the bucket. I'm a Black for Merlin's sake I'm not going anywhere. Mom would take a fit if I did die though, well so dad says." Sirius replied shrugging.
"I'm only 26 weeks premature yet I don't have to go see a healer every year."
"That's probably because your families not cursed, anyway I kind of like how there is only a two week difference between us." Sirius grinned.
"I'm starting to think it is, no one in my family has made it past 56. Mind you that's probably because they're all power hungry fools who have too much magic than they can handle." Alyssa complained.
"I'm bloody starving." Sirius intervened, changing the subject completely.
"You've just ate."
"I'm a growing boy" Sirius grinned as he tried to lead Alyssa inside. "Come on its freezing, plus you haven't given me my birthday present yet."
"Yes I have, your looking at it" Alyssa replied before Sirius could interrupt.
Nudging her in the arm Sirius chuckled as he dragged her inside out of the cold weather, to him however it never seemed to be that warm in the house either. Especially, Sirius had learned, when Callcus was nearby. For some reason Callcus had always made the air around Sirius go cold which just kept adding to the list of things he had that made him hate Alyssa's father even more.
"Ah there you are." Callcus called as he approached them from a side door. "Alyssa your mother is looking for you."
Alyssa, who had grown to be more silent around her father, nodded and headed up stairs where her mother was resting. Sirius went to follow after her but was stopped in his tracks as Callcus grabbed the boys arm. Trying to wrestle it free Sirius found the grip tightened and the older wizard leaned down until he was eye level with young boy.
"Your getting too close to my daughter Black, watch your step we wouldn't want anything happening to Walburga's little miracle now would we." Callcus snickered as he let go of the boys arm.
"Your empty threats mean nothing, did you know that." Sirius answered back.
Callcus just looked down at the boy sneering slightly at the boy's bravery to stand up to him. Laughing, Callcus just shook his head and headed towards the study where he spent a majority of his time. Sirius had tried countless times to find out what it was he did in there but seeing as Callcus worked in the Department of Mysteries Sirius knew he wouldn't find much. Shaking the thoughts out of his head Sirius went to head upstairs only to bump into a dark haired girl coming down the stairs. Amelia Rivas nee Potter, wife of Ivan Rivas, stared down at the young heir her worried face breaking out into a broad smile.
"Well now aren't you a ray of sunshine today." Amelia smiled as she studied Sirius' scowling face.
"Hello Aunt Amelia I didn't know you were here today." Sirius replied as he smiled back at her.
Amelia may be his mothers Aunt but he found adding a "great" in front of it really didn't make much of a difference. Sirius had grown found of his Great Aunt Dorea's sister in law but had never met Amelia's brother Charlus who he heard had a son Sirius' own age. Although his family had made him aware that the Potter's were troubled ground to walk on and were classed as blood traitors, Dorea Black's marriage into the Potters wasn't as frowned upon as others had been as the Potter's were still a respected pure-blood family which had kept them in the Black family's good books. Amelia had married into the Rivas family and became good friends with Ezra through Callcus' brother Ivan who had became very close with the Potter family since he and Charlus were friends at school and remained just that.
"I wasn't supposed to be but Ezra needed my advice on something. Tell me this Sirius, do you trust Callcus?" Amelia asked curiously.
"No" Sirius said immediately which caused Amelia to smile brightly.
"Good, don't. Ezra's started to think Callcus remained with her because of the power she gave him because of her heritage. She's already signed everything over to the Blacks through the binding."
"Wouldn't that make Aly my parents ward should anything to Ezra?" Sirius asked curiously.
"Yeah something like that, it would still need to go through the Wizengamot but with your dad's influence on them due to his position I'm sure things would run smoothly."
Amelia seemed to whisper that last part and looked around her fearing she was being heard, shaking her head Amelia took Sirius' hand and led him back out into the garden where snow was beginning to fall again. Casting a warming charm and a shield bubble charm preventing them from being heard Amelia knelt in front of Sirius.
"Listen to me Sirius, be very careful around Callcus. I'm not supposed to be telling you this but I guess you are already aware seeing as your Father keeps trying to stop you from coming up here. He doesn't trust Callcus intentions either anymore especially seeing as evidence is building to suggest Callcus is behind the disappearances and deaths of some wizarding families." Amelia informed.
"Mother seems to be quiet content with that." Sirius added. "But that's probably because those families are blood traitors."
"Your mother, well your family really, are all about purity. They may think this Voldemort guy is doing the right thing but it's different to what people are thinking Callcus is doing. It's not just muggleborns and half breeds there are pure bloods as well. Did you not hear about Lucius Malfoy's cousin Serena, her body was found yesterday evening?"
"Yeah, I heard that." Sirius frowned. "So they think Callcus is behind it."
"The Ministry have reason to believe the victims are being experimented on, the Auror department doesn't know why yet but we'll find out soon enough."
"Keep forgetting you're an Auror" Sirius mumbled.
"Just be careful okay, Ezra really doesn't want her only daughter, her only heir being left in the hands of her father. Ezra has put your family in charge of Alyssa's protection I guess with your parents being her god parents will help boost matters slightly. I just don't want you or Alyssa getting hurt it's been a good while since a binding was successful only other one I can think of was Lucius and Narcissa's binding."
"They're binded? I didn't think Aunt Druella would go through with it she never did like the Malfoy's much."
"Well they did think Narcissa could do better but her and Lucius have become quiet close, they may not be much older than you but…"
"Only by 3 years." Sirius interrupted.
"I know, it's not a big difference but remember Narcissa has a direct claim on your family's line. If she get's an heir and something happens to you and Regulas she can take over. I know the Blacks don't want the Malfoy's taking over their line but I guess Callcus doesn't want your family taking over his line either." Amelia explained.
"I know not to trust Callcus Aunt Amelia, I never really did and to be honest now I never will."
"Good, keep it that way. I'll be back later I need to go see your parents and inform them on some things Ezra told me. You should stay close to her and Alyssa I fear Callcus may do something soon."
Sirius nodded as Amelia took down the charms and led him back inside. Walking towards the front door Amelia knelt down and placed a kiss on top of Sirius head before grabbing her travelling cloak of the house elf and walked out the open door. Turning on his heel Sirius sprinted for the stairs as the urgency of Amelia's warning played over in his mind. Something within him was warning him that Amelia was right and given how close he had grown to Alyssa he didn't think he would cope very well if something happened to her or her mother. However he didn't seem to get far as he managed to collide with his friends form as she returned from her mother's chambers.
"Thank Merlin you're okay." Sirius said happily as he helped her up from the floor.
"What are you going on about?" Alyssa asked staring at Sirius strangely.
"Amelia seems to think your dad's going to do something and said I should stay close to you. I don't know why but I thought something had happened."
"I knew you were just a teddy bear." Alyssa smiled. "Come on I'm hungry."
Sirius had forgotten all about his hunger and followed Alyssa down to the kitchen were Daisy the head house elf greeted them happily with Milk and cookies sitting on the table. Sirius had grown to like Daisy over the years, he preferred her over his own house elf Kreacher who seemed to ignore everything he said. Over the time he had spent here he noticed that Daisy was quite protective of her young mistress but Sirius figured that was because she had been Ezra's own elf before she married Callcus. Picking up what turned out to be his fourth cookie Sirius noticed how everything in the kitchen seemed to stop, turning to Alyssa he found her staring at the kitchen door which Ezra soon walked through.
This had been the first time Sirius had seen her today and only now noticed how frail she now was. Her robes seem to drape over her thin frame and her once shinning eyes seemed dead and life less. Ezra wore an expression of panic before her gaze settled on the youngsters and she walked over to them as she ordered everyone else out of the kitchen.
"Sirius take Alyssa and go home. Quickly now, take the floo and head back to Grimmauld." Ezra urged.
Before Sirius or Alyssa could ask what the problem was the door opened behind them which caused Ezra to jump and whip out her wand only to find Amelia standing in the doorway who had immediately put up her hands. Walking forward slowly she watched Ezra lower her wand slowly before holding up a piece of parchment.
"I forgot the letter you wanted me to give to Orion." Amelia informed slowly.
Ezra's posture relaxed slowly as she turned back to Sirius and Alyssa it was at this moment that Sirius saw how terrified Ezra was. Her hands shook as she took the letter of Amelia and walked towards her daughter and god son and slowly knelt down in front of them.
"I need you to go to Grimmauld right now, okay. Don't ask question just go, Give your Father this letter and tell him I sent you and that you are to stay there until further notice."
Ezra made to carry on but her head snapped to the door behind Amelia and she stood up quickly, wincing at the pain in her back. She took Alyssa's and Sirius hand and led them to a cupboard under the stairs where she handed Alyssa a piece of parchment.
"Mom" Alyssa said quietly as she reached out for her mother.
"I love you darling, just stay here." Ezra said as she hugged her daughter before turning to Sirius. "Stay here; do not leave no matter what you hear."
Ezra closed the door as Sirius nodded and put his hand on Alyssa's shoulder to comfort her, even though they were unsure as to what was going on they knew by Ezra's tone and expression that something was wrong. Sirius sensed it as well, he had felt a shift in the air since his run in with Callcus but he was praying it wasn't going to play out the way he thought it would. Shouting had dragged Sirius out of his thoughts and his tight grip on Alyssa tightened as she went to open the door. In the distance Ezra could be heard yelling at Callcus who was shouting back at her but as soon as it had started it had stopped and before Sirius could do anything Alyssa bolted out of the cupboard and back towards the kitchen.
"Mom what's going on?" Alyssa asked as she opened the kitchen door only to have it shut in her face.
Just as she opened it back up again Sirius grabbed her hand and tried to pull her back but through the crack of the door both of them saw Callcus come up behind the form of Amelia and raised his wand in a slashing movement. Sirius slammed his hand over Alyssa's mouth as Amelia's head fell from her shoulders and her body fall to the ground. Callcus' grinning form walked towards Ezra who was standing in front of the table with her wand raised her mouth moving in silence. Just as Callcus raised his wand Ezra slashed hers downwards and a ward wrapped itself around her but her husbands curse seemed to crush through her protection and she fell backwards. As quick as cat Ezra raised her hand instead of her wand and a fireball shot out from her palm towards her husband who managed to dodge it easily. Just as Ezra had sent her spell she stumbled slightly her breath coming out in sharp gasps as she fought to keep her strength intact but Callcus used this to his advantage.
"Crucio" Callcus sneered and he laughed as Ezra gripped onto the table, willing her self not to scream.
Sirius had to fight to keep Alyssa from screaming yet neither one of them could move and watched helplessly as Callcus walked towards his weakened wife. Ezra looked up as her deranged husband walked towards her but out of the corner of her eye she caught her daughter's wide ones and Ezra mouthed two words to her just as Callcus shoved her onto the table. The apology Ezra had mouthed became forgotten as Ezra tried to crawl away from her husband but before either one of them could blink Callus' wand turned into a sword that was brought down with a ruthless force Ezra had not prepared for. The sorceress's mouth opened in a gasp as her back fell onto the table her hands feebly attempting to push her husband away. But her strength gave out and her arms fell just as her head hit the table and turned to the side. Ezra's last breath left her lips as her eyes latched onto her daughters and Alyssa watched as the life left her mother.
"MOMMY" Alyssa yelled as she broke out of Sirius' grip.
Sirius cursed as he saw Callcus turn his gaze to his daughter and aimed his wand towards her and just as the curse left his lips and green light surged towards her Sirius dove and pulled Alyssa down to the ground just as the curse destroyed the door behind them. Thinking quickly Sirius pulled Alyssa to her feet and sprinted out the ruined door way ducking quickly as another spell soared over their heads. Around them the house crumbled and shook as Ezra's wards fell and Sirius couldn't help but thank his lucky stars that this put Callcus of his game and helped give the two of them a better chance to escape. Knowing he didn't have time to use the floo Sirius pulled Alyssa towards the front door and bolted up the path just as the roof caved in. Sirius never looked back until he found himself in the middle of the forest surrounding the now destroyed manor. Behind him Alyssa stumbled on a branch and she fell to the ground her tears now falling rapidly as reality of what she had just witnessed kicked in. Sirius couldn't help but kneel down and wrapped his arms around her shaking frame as he watched smoke begin to rise in the distance and in a matter of seconds black smoke rose into the sky and took the form of a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth.