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Chapter 9: Family Ties
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Severus glanced at Callista who was now three shades paler than himself. The raven-haired woman had a shocked look on her face.
"I –I think I know who –who could be in Paris," she said, her voice trembling as her shoulders shook. She looked like she was trying hard not to cry.
"Who, dear?" Minerva asked kindly, rubbing circles onto the young woman's back.
"My –my brother, but –but I thought he had died in that bombing eleven years ago!"
"Would this happen to be the one in Marseilles, June of 1982?" The headmaster asked.
"Yes!" Callista cried. "Oh Merlin, Rigel! He's alive!"
"I'm sorry, his name was?" Remus asked, frowning.
"Rigel de Noir," Callista answered. "Like the star; our whole family is named after heavenly bodies –except for my little boy,"
"All of you?" the werewolf clarified, raising an eyebrow. But before Callista could respond, Sirius elbowed his friend.
"What are you going on about, Moony? Can't you see the poor woman's distressed?"
Remus gave him a look before sighing.
"I –never mind. I still need to do some research anyway –excuse me." The werewolf then left the group without another word. Sirius looked at his friend's retreating back before turning to Callista.
"Sorry about that, he's a research addict."
"I understand," said Callista. "I do potions research in the US for a living."
"Very well," The Headmaster said finally. "I shall inform the aurors who are in the Order. Severus, will you head this one as you are more familiar with the lay-out of Lestrange manor?"
"I will," Severus nodded and swept out of the office, but not before laying a comforting hand on Callista's shoulder."
"I will get him back," he said simply. Callista held his gaze and nodded. Severus let himself smile a little before turning to leave.
"Wow, did Snape just smile?" Sirius wondered out loud, shocked, earning a confused look from Callista –to which the sapphire-eyed man shrugged at.
"He never smiles. Ever."
The Headmaster called the attention of those who remained once again. He directed his kind eyes at Callista.
"Would you like assistance in locating your brother, child?" The woman's face brightened.
"Yes sir –thank you!" She hugged the headmaster like a little girl would her grandfather, clearly overjoyed. The old man smiled as he patted her back.
"It is of no trouble, child. At times like this, family and friends are what matter the most." He then turned to his deputy. "Minerva, kindly ask Hestia and Dedalus to go to Paris, would you?"
"How about me?" Sirius frowned. "I hate doing nothing but waiting for Harry to get back. Why can't I join the rescue team, Albus?"
"Well, Sirius, I believe Ms. De Noir would appreciate the support of a fellow parent. Maybe you could keep her company and show her around until the rescue team returns?"
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An ugly humanoid figure sat in a throne-like gilded chair at Malfoy Manor.
"Bella? Are you sure this is wise?" A nervous-looking blonde asked, her slim fingers twisted around the red velvet curtain she and her sister took a peep from, The humanoid was asleep –or at least, they could not see its eyes.
"Quit asking, Cissy," The dark-haired woman spat right back.
"But Lucius –he doesn't know of our plans. I don't think he will appreciate me going behind his back,: the blonde called Cissy, aka Narcissa said.
"If he is loyal to our Lord, he would not mind!" the other one called Bella, aka Bellatrix said in response. She frowned at her sister. "Lucius is loyal to the Dark Lord, isn't he?"
Narcissa gulped. She remembered what Lucius made her promise. She would not fail him or their son. Malfoys bow to no one.
"Of course, Bella."
Bellatrix smirked.
"Then what are you worrying about? He will be thrilled to house the Dark Lord's rebirth! Come and help me pick robes for the occasion!" She grabbed her sister's hand and led her away from the still sleeping humanoid.
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Remus Lupin's eyes widened.
He had been perusing ancient tomes on Wizarding Genealogies in the Hogwarts Library for a couple of hours now.
The dark ritual's peculiar result bugged him, And until he knew why the crystal pointed to Hogwarts, he would not rest.
It did not take him long.
He read the marked section he found on page 287:
De Noir (de Noir, de Noire) –an old French derivation of the Wizarding Family of Blacks from England. The last known de Noir died in 1899 following the Great Purge. No direct heir carrying the name survived into the 1900's- except for distant relatives who took the Anglican form of the name and resided in Devonshire…
Remus' breath hitched as he pushed the heavy leather bound volume away.
For some perverted reason, it seemed that an heir of the de Noirs survived: Callista. The werewolf frowned. He was no novice in dark rituals himself, being the DADA professor. He knew that Severus' ritual was made to specifically locate FIRST-DEGREE blood relatives: Parents, Offspring, Blood-Mated Spouses and… Siblings…
The DADA master closed his eyes as he remembered Callista de Noir's troubled face in his mind.
'Except for the emerald eyes, who does she remind me of?'
A pair of sapphire irises invaded his thoughts.
'De Noir… stars… I'd bet that 'Callista' is a constellation too.'
Another pair of similarly brilliant blue eyes came to mind.
'Rigel… the one in Paris… a star…'
Remus' mind was on overdrive.
Then it came to him.
"Of course!" he cursed. "Why did I not make that connection in the first place?"
The man began replacing the books back to their proper shelves, lest he incur the wrath of Irma Pince, Librarian from Hell.
Remus Lupin now knew the 'why'. The only thing that's left to figure out for him was the 'how.'
He sprinted out of the Library in search of his best friend… and the man's possible sister.
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Severus Snape wore a heavy glamour of blonde hair and emerald eyes. He also used an alternative wand. It was so as not to alert the reformed Death Eaters of his presence and true allegiance. He wore his customary black though.
Behind him stood Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt and Auror-Trainee Nymphadora Tonks. Albus offered a larger contingent, but Severus shot the idea down. Given that this was a rescue mission, it would be more prudent to work in a smaller group.
Severus knew the lay-out of the Lestrange Summer manor like the back of his own hand; some of his misguided youth's summer breaks were spent in the palatial abode, training him for his future role as a Death Eater and consequently, a spy. He shuddered inwardly at the thought.
"Odd, there seems to be no wards preventing entry," Kingsley told him. Severus fought hard not to smirk.
"If you enter the Manor with someone branded with the Dark Mark, the wards would not affect you –makes it easier to recruit back then." He said simply. He then motioned for the two to stay close behind him.
What actually unnerved Severus, other than the unchanged wards, was the lack of guards and look-outs. Surely, Bellatrix would not be that complacent? Bellatrix Lestrange had to be the brains of this operation –Malfoy was playing safe, the Lestrange brothers were all brawn, and Pettigrew –'he couldn't even be considered,' Severus thought. Nevertheless, the Potions Master and his auror back-ups kept their wands drawn and their eyes opened wide.
The trio had just passed the sitting room entrance and Severus began to think that maybe the reason for the lack of minions scattered about the area was just that –a lack of it. Could it be possible that the four fugitives were operating on their own?
Not that Severus was complaining, of course. He knew his reputation; but in reality, the more he could avoid violence, the better for his sensibilities.
Soon, they reached the dungeons. The ex-Death Eater turned to his companions.
"Start searching –ear to door –but don't make a sound. The lack of guards is still disturbing. But knowing Bellatrix Lestrange, there could be traps."
For about ten minutes, the three searched the expansive dungeons until Tonks whispered excitedly.
"I think they're here!" She pointed to a door that had light passing through the cracks. Severus immediately approached it and gently pressed his ear against the plain wooden door. A growl was heard. He shook his head.
"Keep looking. There is nothing but a beast inside. Listen for two distinct breathing patterns or voices belonging to two boys."
Five minutes later, it was Kingsley who shared his discovery.
"Two distinct breathing patterns –they seem to be at rest, though," the auror pointed at a door. Severus approached it. No light shone through the cracks. He pressed his ear to the door. Indeed, two breathing patterns could be heard. He reached for his wand.
"Stand back," he said. But instead of using a spell to unlock the door, he casted the Dark Mark on his palm.
"Morsmodre,"
The ugly skull and snake picture glowed on the bare skin of his left palm. He then gently pressed it against the door. The image transferred onto the plain wooden door and glowed briefly there, before disappearing completely.
The door then creaked open.
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Regulus Black exited St, Dionysus Center for Wizarding Illnesses as Rigel de Noir, his hair lightened to a rich chocolate brown and his eyes darkened to almost black. He also had a brand new wand in his possession –a Lhuillier creation. There was nothing to trace him back to his Death Eater days. He did not know the status of his clearance in the Wizarding World yet –he certainly would not risk capture until he had seen his family and set them to right.
"Sirius, Alana and Severus," he murmured. Rigel owed those three a lot, and he certainly would not allow anybody, anything, any force in this universe to withhold from them the truth any longer.
As he maneuvered his muggle-looking wheelchair away from the hospital entrance though, in came two excited-looking witched. Rigel thought that they looked familiar, but could not, for the life of him, put a name to their faces. He paid them no further attention as he apparated away to the nearest portkey regulation office. He needed to arrange one for California USA.
When the man finally disappeared with a 'crack', the two ladies had already reached the information desk where a young male attendant smiled at them.
"How may I help you?" He asked in a heavily accented English. The two witches told him of their purpose for the visit. However, ten minutes later, the attendant was shaking his head. There was no patient checked in there with the name Rigel de Noir, nothing even close.
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A/N: Oh darn it! They missed Regulus! What now? Up Next: The rescue mission continues. Some Sirius/Callista moments, Bella and her music, chickens… Will Remus finally be able to reveal his suspicions? Spotlight on vermin… and what is that? Another twist coming up? Find out on Chapter 10: Rescue, Revelation, Rat! Don't miss it! –C.