The world dont stop for you
Antares had always been an early riser. An habit for his school days when he had to wake up at dawn to be able to get ready for the day as the dungeons were pretty far from of the Dining Hall and he always had to made sure Reg and his court –as well as Narcissa and Andromeda– were alright before made his way to the aforementioned dining room.
Of course that ritual changed as time passed. But the pattern of waking at dawn never did, even when he moved with the Potters much to Prongs and Padfoot dismay as all of they slept together or when he moved into Bulgaria; The only times he didn't wake up this early was the morning that followed the full moon as he was exhausted form have been running the entire night in company of his pack.
And talking about pack and full moons…
Seeing the placid appearance of his old friend –they had fallen asleep at the couch– it was obvious that he would have to find a safe place for Remus to transform. They were many properties he could use, but he should make sure that they were absolutely sure, after all, he didn't want a repetition of their fifth year and neither did Remus.
Another thing was that he had heard about a new potion that could help Moony whit his furry little problem, the Wolfsbane, if he wasn't mistaken allowed Werewolf's to keep their mind even when their transformed.
It still made the transformation hurt like a bitch, but even after all this years, Jason hadn't found a way to make it less painfully – He supposed that it was because it was a forced change, so different from his own, and the fact that was an infection, a disease. A dark curse highly contagious– but even then, Antares was sure that if it worked Moony would be feeling much better if he could conserve his mind in the full moon.
He, himself, had investigated long and extensive about Lycanthropy but it really wasn't there much information about the causes or the curse, just how to identify the persons affected and how to kill them. They were dark creatures, so the wizards were more interest in eliminated them than to learn from them.
Such a pity as Antares couldn't work with so little information and so he was going to take what he could and bought some vials of the potion before the end of the week and arranged the new place for the pack before the next full moon.
Jason left a sigh of his lips and shook his head. His hand pet kindly the hair of his friend a few times before getting up and moving to the stairs, he had to take a bath and change his clothes, and maybe work a little in the pending paperwork before breakfast time.
When he got into his room, the house elf´s had already made sure the bedroom was ready, as well as to put a set of clean robes on the bed. Antares smiled as he entered in the tube, he really love the feeling of warm water caressing his nude skin.
House elves were amazing little things. The most faithful servants he had ever known and kind of cute with their necessity to please, he always had thought that Regulus had the right idea at treating them with respect and courtesy, because if they loved you, they were nothing they wouldn't do for you, even without an order. And of course, if they hated you, they will find a way to twist your words or find dangerous loopholes in your orders just to fuck you up.
He always had been kind with them when he was a child, mostly to made Regulus happy, but now that he was an adult he was starting to see the benefits in doing it. He was thinking in enforce it as a rule for the members of his pack, particularly in the cubs as he wanted his pack to be happy and not to end like the Blacks of old.
Once he finished, he dressed and went back to the ground floor.
He smiled maliciously at the sleeping face of Remus before turning his hair emerald green. It had been a recurrent prank in their school years, transforming their cloths or hair into the colors of the contrary house that the one the victim belonged. Usually in Quidditch season or at the end of the year, mostly to show they could as all of the Marauders were very powerful wizards and when the protections were up, changing the colors was quite difficult. A real challenge.
But of course, in this moment, Moony was sleeping. So he was an easy target.
He left the sleeping wolf behind and went to find his cub. After all, a long, but productive day awaited them.
OoOoOo
"Uncle Moony…" Harry said in a hesitant tone, seeing at Remus with big, incredulous, green eyes, once the tree of them were sitting in the table.
"Yes, Harry?" The werewolf asked whit an elegant arch of his right eyebrow and a fond smile.
"Why is your hair green?" The youngest wizard asked in a confused tone.
Remus eye started to twitch and Jason burst laughing, grapping his sides to shoot down the pain, trying to breath. Moony glared at Antares, gritted his teeth and breathed a couple of times to calm down before answering his nephew with the calm air that characterized him.
"Because Hati has the soul of a trickster"
That only made Antares laugh even more as both of they knew that ´Has the soul of a Trickster´ was just another way to say: He´s being an arse and not being caught saying the actual words by the teachers back at Hogwarts or in Prong´s home.
Of course, Moony wasn´t going to curse in front of the cub. It was cute seeing the werewolf took the role of responsible uncle once again. Not that Jason would curse in front of his cub, but hey, he knew that it was only matter of time for Harry to learn and that the only thing he could do was to make sure to teach his cub that was an occasion for everything –including the use of bad words.
Harry blinked, confused. He couldn't see why that phrase was so funny, but seeing Remus fight a smile he came to the conclusion that it must be an internal joke from the Marauders.
After a few instants, Jason managed to stop himself and regain his cool, then, he smile down at his pup and said "Don't worry about it, pup. It´s a Marauder tradition that I longed to continue."
It was a simple spell. One that James had developed when they were in first year and the first time he use it was in Jason, as a prank, two weeks after they entered Hogwarts. It´s effects disappeared in a few hours, but it wasn't a way to end it before that time. They all had experimented more than once and it was quite annoying, because avoiding it was very simple, but once it stuck, you could only wait until the effect disappeared.
"I will have my vengeance," Moony informed Jason in mock seriousness.
"I look forward it" He smirked playfully as he winked.
"Oh, no," Narcissa´s voice was covered of mock horror. "I will not have another prank war in this house. The one of Christmas of your and Sirius third year was bad enough." She told Jason as she and her family entered in the dinner hall.
"That was a terrific Christmas dinner" Andromeda added as she and her daughter, also, entered in the room. Unfortunately, Ted had a reunion in the morning so he hadn't been able to eat breakfast with them.
"Yes, it was." The blond witch laughed. "Until Antares turn Mother´s hair into a nest of feathers. Then it became a war field."
"It was an accident!" Antares exclaimed flustered, making everyone –except Lucius, because he was a prick– laugh as they took their places in the table.
Jason had been really mortified when that happened, truth be told. And the memory still made him blush in shame, because he had tripped on the carpet and so his spell lost direction, and instead of having connected with Bella's head, it connect with his aunt's. Of course, neither Sirius, nor Regulus – Or either of their cousins, for that matter– let him forgot about it.
Although, fortunately for him, his parents hadn't been that upset with him, mostly because all the child's of his generation were participating and was an iinnocent way to improve the dueling skills of all the participants. Even if all knew, it had started as a prank war. But, that didn't change the fact that he had received a stinky spell and a week of lessons by the Black Patriarch as punishment.
"Anyway," He drawled, as he tried to change the topic and calm his blush. "I´m glad you could join us for breakfast. Seat, please."
Their cousins were very amused by this fact, but neither said anything. So both families sit on their respective places and the elves brought the food, serving breakfast to all the presents.
"We don't mind spending the summer on family, cousin. But I really hope that you use this time for something more productive that turning poor Remus´ hair green." Andromeda said sending Antares a You know you had better things to do, young man look that made her look disturbingly similar to Aunt Cassiopeia.
He, actually, had to shake up his head to get rid of the need of sit straight and say yes, ma'am.
"In fact, I do." Jason allowed with a sheepish smile, ignoring Moony snickering, before adding in a more serious tone "My intention is using the rest of the summer to educate our pups into what really meant to be a member of the Black Family and preparing them for the years to come."
From what he had saw, all the children need urgently to learn what his generation had already know by the time their letters came. That Harry didn't knew that kind of basic things, was to be expected for his upright. After all, being raised by muggles didn't do much to his pup.
But, Draco and Nymphadora? Their mothers were Blacks. And both, Narcissa and Andromeda, should had educated their sons to be aware of what meant to be part of their family, even if their surnames weren't Black.
And they knew it.
He could see it in how their eyes flashed with anger, but couldn't hold their gaze when he challenged them. Although, Jason wasn't blaming them, he needed to put the right cards in the table so they could move on.
"What do you mean, Hati?" Harry asked confused and a little worried, putting in words what Draco and Nymphadora were thinking. I mean, Harry knew he had much to learn, but he couldn't understood that his cousins were going to receive the same lessons.
"Well, cup. Being part of an Ancient and Noble House means many things that neither of you are aware of. So, we are going to give you a crash curse so at least you have the basics when you return to Hogwarts." Jason told his son with a smile. "After all, we can't allow that people take advantage of any of you, now that all of you are recognized as Childs of Black."
That was a point that worried him. Because, he could remember how all the important families –and many, not that important– inside England had tried their best to acquire a member of their house, including the so called Dark Lord who had wanted to have all of them at his side.
Truth be told, he didn't wanted to imagine what the Wizarding World would do to his heir. After all, his son was the Boy-Who-Lived and heir to two Noble and Ancient Houses. He was a big prize at the eyes of many, and Jason would be dammed if he let someone abuse of his cub because Harry was unaware of how he was seen by many.
Not that Draco and Nymphadora weren't in danger of being treated like that.
After all, the blond was the future Black King of the Slytherin house and that alone made him a target inside the school, inside his own house, never mind the other houses. He also was heir of the Malfoy fortune, so he was too a big prize, even if he wasn't in the kind of danger that Harry was.
Of course, Nymphadora, was also a target. She being the only female heir of the Black House and a metamormagus, and being near to became of age, made her a look like a reward for many stupid wizards who believed that marrying her could take part of the fortune of the Black household. Pretty much like it had been with Bella, Andy and Cissy when they had that age.
So teaching them how to defend themselves was a priority.
"What do you meant whit «Now that you are recognized as Childs of Black», My Lord?" Nymphadora asked with curiosity, making Jason blink and look at Andromeda, who shook her head and look at him as saying, it's your responsibility to tell them this things, after all, you're the Patriarch of this family in a mocking kind of way.
Witch was true, but, come on!
I tell, you. His cousins were evil incarnate! This was revenge for his comment of how they had raised their child's, he was sure.
"He means that even if you don't had the surname Black, you are recognized by law and magic as if you did. In a similar fashion of what happened with Jason when he was adopted to the main family, but he kept the surname Stark."
Moony explain to the children calmly, using what the Marauders had denominated his teacher voice as he took naturally the place of Hati´s right hand. The children nodded, haven understood what he meant. And Jason sighed silently as he thanked the gods for Remus Lupin.
"I agree with your idea, cousin. But, I would like that you allow me and Andy to be the ones doing the teaching." Narcissa told Antares, still with mischief glowing in her dark grey eyes. "With the only exception of Draco´s new mantle as King of Slytherin, because, neither me, nor my sister can help in that matter"
Antares pouted. He had wanted to teach the cubs! But, he could understand. He was Lord Black and had many affairs to worry about, including looking for Peter and freeing Sirius form Azkaban. In reality he didn't had time for teaching the children.
"Of course, but…please, Cissy. Try to not teach them nothing inappropriate for their age." Hati told her as he give her the stinky-eye. After all, Blacks were known for teaching their children how to make their enemies suffer and then disappear the evidence at a tender age.
But, things were different now.
They were not a war anymore. So he wanted to take things slow for the cubs and with that he meant not lessons to hold knifes and horrible curses.
"I promise, my lord." The blonde witch told him, ignoring his dark look. "Although, I must remind you that Nymphadora is almost of age, she needs to know certain things as a female of our house."
"Well, of course. "Jason agreed easily as the Witches of House of Black were known for their master at dark rituals and the legendary grimoire that belonged to them and only them. Things that even the Patriarch wasn't allowed to know.
"In the matter of Draco´s education as the next Black King. I will teach him the basics today, after I return form Grimmauld Place." He added, already making plans for the rest of the summer. The Slytherin crown wasn't an easy thing to wear, but it wasn't really needed much instruction, as every King or Queen was their own person and have a unique way to rule.
The adult at the table nodded, accepting his intentions of returning to his old home without a word.
"What is that thing about being «King»?" Harry asked innocently at his cousin, almost in a whisper. But, to Moony and Hati had very good hearing and both of them smiled, liking the progress on the bond in the two cousins.
"It´s a position on the Slytherin House." Draco answered in another whisper.
"A very important one, for that matter" Antares said, causing both boys to blush. "It´s also a tradition that had been carried for centuries. It marks that the strongest Black of the generation that is attending at Hogwarts rules the house of the snakes. And as it involves our Family Magic, not even the Headmaster can say a thing of how you rule. Of course, it also involves a lot of responsibilities along with the power it gives to the one who is holding the crown."
"Really?" Harry asks, surprised to hear that as Gryffindor doesn't have something similar.
"Yes" Moony intercedes. "It´s not only Slytherin, tough. I believe that Ravenclaw has something similar, but with a council of seven years. And we had an unofficial King in James, but he didn't have a real power like Antares did when he hold the crown or Regulus after him, as many of the Gryffindor population belongs to light families and muggle-borns and rituals like the one that involucres the Black family is not something that would be allowed inside our house"
"I believe the Hufflepuff´s are very much the same as the Gryffindor's." Jason added, with a thoughtful stance.
""We are" Informed Nymphadora with a nod and an enthusiastic "We don't have a King or a Queen, but sometimes we had a leader that shows to be a promise from time to time."
That was news to Jason, but he hadn't pay much attention to the other houses during his residence in Hogwarts as he had been more worried about his own house and the one of his pack-mates and the hate that ran between them.
Anyway, it was always good to learn new things.
They continued talking as they ate breakfast. Once they finished, Lucius said his goodbyes and went to work. Jason did the same, he kiss his cub´s forehead and rub his cheek against Moony as he went to the flu network to be able to access to Grimmauld place (He also had ruffled Draco´s hair and kiss Nymphadora on the cheek, and send his cousins a warning glare that they ignored without a second thought).
"Welcome home, Master" The old elf said to him the moment he step outside the fireplace. He was just as Jason remember him, although there was a little more bitterness in his voice "What can Kreacher do for Master?"
"I came to see a few things in the Library…and to speak with Mother" Jason said a little awkwardly, he didn't dislike the house elf, but Kreacher wasn't his favorite servant either. And he actually didn't want to spend much time in this house, that once on a time had been his home, but now, was only a tomb.
"I will stay a while, so prepare lunch for me in a few hours." He added, hoping that with and order, Kreacher would stop staring at him.
"Of course, Master" The elf bowed again and then, disappeared.
He really was a creepy elf.
Jason had no idea why Reg liked him so much, but his little brother had always been a difficult being to understand…
Anyway, Mother´s portrait should be in the hall, almost in the beginning of the stairs, if his memory didn't fail him.
Aha!
There it was.
He plastered a smirk on his face, walked right in front the big portrait and greet the portrait with the most I'm a-very-well-educated-pureblood voice he could muster. Doing his best to act like he wasn't scared as fuck for the reaction of the late Lady Black at seeing him.
"You!" His Mother snarled in fury and the hate in her eyes made Antares shiver, because if looks could kill, he would be death and buried six feet's under the ground in that very moment.
Walburga Black had always been a terrific woman; proud and slightly psychopathic, she was a less bloodthirsty version of Bella –Or maybe Bella was a crueler version of the late Lady Black.– and one of the women Jason respected the most.
And although, her love was toxic, Antares has wanted it and worked very hard to obtain it
Of course that when she and Orion went far enough in their quest to aid the Dark Lord, it was too much. Because Hati would had condone many things, but never the use of an unforgivable on his Mate. (Or his brother, Reg, for that matter) and given the option between Sirius and them, well, his decision was obvious.
Should had been obvious. As well as his reaction.
And still, seeing her in a post-mortem picture was heartbreaking.
"Please, Mother…" Jason practically begged at the portrait. "I´m not here to fight."
"Then, why are you here, savage scum?!" She spat at him, poison drifting form her lips, in the way only women of their family could. "To rub in my face that even after what you did, you are still Lord Black?!"
"No, Mother" Jason told her with a soft tone. "I´m here to tell you that I´m going to make our family great once again. As you dreamed. Me and Sirius, leading our family and putting everyone in their place, taking England and making everyone shiver at the sound of our name."
It had been her wish.
That they would marry and became the most powerful Black couple the world had saw since the time of Morgana herself. Of course, that dream had died even before Orion tried to use a cruciatus on his mate and they were disowned, because Padfoot had never see him as more than a good friend.
The face of his mother softened a little at the mention of his plans, but her eyes didn't lost their fire. "Why would you do that? You and Sirius are mudblood loving, blood-traitors."
And she is right. They are. But the difference is in that little fact that when Sirius don't believe that blood matters, Jason does. He knows that blood is important and that the fact that they are purebloods and members of the Black family, makes them better than anyone else, but he also knows that chosen bonds are more important than blood relation and that you should value the person not his genealogy.
"Because, I adopted a cub. His name is Harrison Black." Hati smiled as he mentioned his son. "And, what would be the best way of guarantee that he would live a happy life than to control the country?" As he says this, his smile turns into a cruel and dark smile, his teeth are more close to fangs than human set, and his eyes became gold, shinning gems that reveled his predator nature.
"I see…" Walburga says in a soft tone.
She, as a mother, could understand the need to protect your sons and could see that because of this child, his grandson, Antares would do anything. He would burn the world for Sirius, but for his cub, he would conquer it and rule it with an iron fist.
In that moment she saw a Dark Lord much more frightening and powerful than Voldemort and she felt her chest explode in pride, but taste the bitterness in her mouth at the same time, because she wasn't alive to see her favorite son became the man she always was sure he could become.
"Very well." She returns to the sharp end her voice always had as she asked "What do you need?" Because, Antares would not put a foot in this house and talk to her if he didn't want something.
"I need a ritual to track down someone who has been hidden for almost eleven years." Jason smile is still in his face as is the dark aura that promise pain and suffering to any who was stupid enough to get in his way. "I was wondering if you knew of something that I can found useful to fix my little problem"
"I think I have a few rituals in mind." Walburga tell him with a cruel smirk in her lips. "Do you need them alive?"
"Unfortunately, yes." And for his tone and face, it was really unfortunately for Jason. It almost seem like it hurt him that he couldn't kill his target.
Walburga hummed thoughtfully. "Look the book Wonderful and useful tricks by Nymeria Black in the third and four chapters you should found a ritual it could work for you, my son."
The addressing was surprise to Jason, but a wonderful one. He couldn't avoid feeling happiness at hearing those words coming for her lips.
"Thank you, Mother" He breathes as his smile turns into something more kind and soft.
"You're welcome."
"When I had deal with this, I will return with Siri and Harrison. So you can know my son." Antares promise as he bows, grateful for the help. He wants to do what he said, but he knows it will be a long time before he can do that.
Even then, portraits aren't aware of time as persons do. So it didn't matter if he waits years before bringing Harry and introduce him.
His mother bows back and smiles her thanks to the promise.
Jason directs his steps to the library, feeling much better now that he knows where to look. In no time, he would find Peter. And when he did, well, less just said that Peter would regret his first breath, because Hati was not going to show him mercy. And neither would, Moony and Padfoot.
Death would be his punishment for betraying their Alphas and hurting their cub, the worst act of treason.
One that force them to act, even if he had been their brother in the past.
OoOoOo
Ted Tonks was having a bad morning. And his day didn't look like it would improve.
He had a reunion with a member of the Wizengamot, Lady Bones, who also was the head of the department of Aurors and had confirmed what he feared: There wasn't a registry of Sirius Black trial.
That were bad news. Very bad news.
It meant the Ministry had made a mistake. What mistake – Either not creating a copy of the trial, which was illegal or not having a trial at all, which was even worse – they still had to see, but whatever it was, Lord Black was going to be furious.
And he feared a furious Antares Black.
"I don't know what to do…" He confessed to Amelia, looking and sounding lost. It was obvious that he needed to tell Jason, but he didn't knew how to break him the news.
"Well…" Lady Bones, who was a strong woman who believed firmly in justice, offered him a solution. "Tell Lord Black I need to see him tomorrow at 10:30 of the morning. I will give him the news."
"Oh, Merlin. Thank you" Ted said, looking at the Chief Auror gratefully before composing himself and returning to his natural professionalism "I will inform Lord Black of your request. Please, have a good day, Amelia."
They interchanged nods and then, Ted exited of the office, leaving Madam Bones alone, still thinking about what they had discovered and how much it would affect their world.
