Review Replies:
WhiteEagle1985: too bad 'cus I've got a lot more cliff hangers coming in the future ;)
The Shadow Mistress: I only think that Daphne is overdone because practically all Lord, Heir and Slytherin!Harry books are done with Daphne and – while she is still an option – I wanted to try to be a bit more diverse. And Draco will be doing some serious growing up soon ;) And sorry but the Weasleys will definitely be in this as I love a good bit of bashing (though I'd never bash Fred or George).
Yaw6113: new chapter is up!
Mizzrazz72: you're right, the Blacks would destroy him… Walburga is on it ;) even though I do feel a bit bad for poor AW.
Nadasnape: you'll just have to read and see :)
TheGirlWhoSawImagination: yeah, I didn't want to make Remus some sort of mass, money-motivated villain because that's not who he is, he's just a good person who is too naïve and is letting himself be lead astray. And yes, Arthur's intentions are good, trying to protect his family but as the quote you wrote states, he has condemned himself. The meeting will be in next chapter and I am very much looking forward to writing it :) thank you and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Sam139nyc: I guess you'll have to read and find out for yourself ;)
I.C.2014: ;)
Lady Potter Black: yep, spot on and he definitely had good intentions – trying to help his family – but he certainly was an idiot as you said, he should have found a different way. I'm so glad to hear that you like this story and hope you like the new update :)
Geekymom: thank you so much!
Child of Dreams: YES! ;)
Just going to do some shameless self-promotion and inform you all that I have got a new book out called the Vicious Cycle and if you like this book then you'd love that one too! I hope to see you guys there ;)
Shout out to Child of Dreams who reads so many of my stories :)
The Black Heir
Chapter 10
Walburga Black was the first to react, knocking her son's chair to it's side, making it and it's inhabitant fall to the floor. The spell barely missing as it flew into the stand directly behind where Sirius had been, blasting at least four people in opposing directions.
Then Aurors had spot numerous spells at the caster, knocking him cold before casting chains around the man's hands, dragging the flame-haired man out of the building.
Soon followed by Healers, running to those who had been blasted in the stands whilst Amelia Bones commanded those at her sides to remove Sirius from the room, who took one last glance at his son and his mother before allowing himself to be taken away.
Walburga turned to Aurora, who had been sitting on the Wizengamot in her place as Lady Gaunt – luckily her seat was situated not far from where the grandmother and grandson were seated – commanding of Corvus' grandma to take him out of here, and that she would deal with the 'murderous Weasel'.
If the man had not tried to kill his father then Corvus was sure that he would have felt sorry for him, for to be on Walburga Black's bad side was a place where nobody wanted to be.
So, with streams of people still filtering swiftly from the room, Aurora softly took Corvus' hand, Abraxas – who had been seated within the Malfoy Lordship seat in a different area of the auditorium – meeting them, and together Lady Gaunt, Lord Malfoy and Heir Black made their way out of the chaos, Abraxas' hand slipped reassuringly into Aurora's.
TBH-TBH-TBH-TBH
It wasn't until much later that night that Walburga Black arrived back at Malfoy Manor, where Cassiopeia – who refused to let Corvus stay anywhere without her (partially due to how much she loved her great-great-nephew and partially due to how much influence she would have over the next generation of Malfoys, Potters and Blacks if she remained close to Corvus) -, Meissa, Aurora, Corvus and Abraxas had all waited for her. Meissa too had been at the trial, having been there as Proxy for the vote of Potter until Sebastian came of age.
They had tried to get Corvus to go to bed, but the boy was stubborn and refused to go without hearing about the outcome of his father's trial, and the justice that would be served to his murderer.
When Walburga got in she announced, a cruel grin on her lips, "Sirius has been declared innocent, he will be out within the fortnight and Arthur Weasley has been kissed by the dementors. His spell ended up killing three members of the Wizengamot: Lord Cassius Greengrass, Lady Sienna Fawley and Dowager Lady, now Proxy, Rosandire LeStrange and fatally injuring – perhaps also killing - Lord Amycus Carrow."
The room was silent for a moment, that was until Aurora spoke up, "Walburga, I saw his eyes he didn't want to kill Sirius-,"
"Well he still tried to!" Walburga barked out, but even she was silenced under the infamous Gaunt glare.
"What I was saying was I think that somebody is trying to have Sirius killed. And probably us too."
Meissa nodded, "my mum's right. I had seen him at the beginning, near crying, I didn't think much of it though, I thought that maybe he had been an old school friend of Sirius' or was one of those people who were just having a rough day."
"Dumbledore," came Cassiopeia's voice, you could tell in her tone that she was certain, you could tell in her words that she hated the man of whom's name she was speaking.
Nobody in the room protested against her accusation, in fact all had agreed.
Throughout it all Corvus Polaris Black had stayed silent, wondering why this Dumbledore character wanted his father and his beloved family dead. But if there was one thing that he did know it was that he certainly did not like this Dumbledore character, for who would be so inhumane as to use a man – who clearly didn't want to as he was crying – to kill another?
In fact, he loathed this person.
And Corvus had no idea how much he would mess up Dumbledore's plans just by feeling an emotion such as hate towards the old man.
TBH-TBH-TBH
30th March 1986
If there was one thing that everybody knew in the Southside of Malfoy Manor it was that Lucius Malfoy was angry. In fact, he was fuming.
And the reason for his anger? His intruding sisters. From the grave Ceres Dione Black nee Malfoy – daddy's little girl – still showed him up, for she had had a son with the Heir of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, the most respected house of all, as well as that son being a Parselmouth and an 'absolute dear' and 'a fast learner' according to his parents.
And then his pathetic squib sister – Meissa Auriela Potter nee Malfoy – also came charging back into his life with two twin brats with a blood traitor to top it off! And had been welcomed back with open arms and, despite being a squib, still favoured above him.
Not to mention the matters of inheritance.
Before, the titles Lord Malfoy, Lord Gaunt and Lord Slytherin (the latter two being his mother's titles) were all coming to him upon their deaths, and Lord Black would go to his son. Now Ceres' brat had the title Heir Black, and he had even heard his mother talk of giving her Gaunt title to Sofia as her brother and cousins would have their own respective titles (thankfully, Lucius knew that they could not give the Malfoy title away as he was still the firstborn son) and the Slytherin one to Corvus as well as he is the only of Aurora's descendants to have the Parselmouth trait.
What he wouldn't do to have those brats gone for good.
He had taken to putting extra pressure on Draco to be perfect but even then Abraxas and Aurora still payed more mind to Corvus, Sebastian and Sofia.
And, another factor that enraged him was that while he, his wife and his son slept on the Southside of the Manor the Black parade and Meissa and the Potters all slept in the North with his parents.
In his spite he had ordered of Narcissa to throw a party, a Pureblood party with all of his allies in attendance and their children. Let his parents watch on in shame as their pathetic other grandchildren – all of whom had been raised in the Muggle world until months ago – made a fool of themselves.
And he had personally made sure that they didn't have much time to prepare them, for the party was to be the following night.
TBH-TBH-TBH
31st March 1986
"Head up!"
"Back straight!"
"Posture!"
"Don't walk funny!"
"Stop it with the Surrey accent!"
"Hold your knife like this!"
"Don't dance like that, you'll step on somebody's toes!"
All in all Corvus Black was exhausted and in a very, very bad mood by the time that the sun descended from the sky.
Walburga had taken to teaching Corvus Wizarding Etiquette and dancing before tonight's party whilst Aurora took Sofia (and Meissa as she didn't have a clue either thanks to her memories of her younger years being wiped) and Abraxas took Sebastian.
He truly wished that he was with his grandma or grandpa or even Auntie Cassie as he was positive that they would have gone easier on him than Walburga currently was, but – to her credit – out of all of them he was learning the fastest.
By the time the two hours of dancing were done, however, he had stepped on Walburga's foot a grand total of two-hundred and ninety-seven times, Walburga having kept a total. Apparently his father had been a natural dancer – though Walburga had informed Corvus that Sirius would never have admitted to such a fact – and that it was his mother who was the terrible dancer to begin with, though a good one after many lessons.
He'd have to go and see her portrait again – which he did at least four times a week – and ask her how she improved at it, as he felt awful at it.
By the sixth hour that they had danced, however, he had at least hit the 'okay' mark, still bad enough to step on his grandmother's toes at least thrice but good enough that he would not be mocked. His etiquette and eating mannerisms were something he was a lot better at, Auntie Cassie having already gone through it with him several times and he was most fascinated by the whole Lords and Ladies idea – like from one of his muggle fairytale books – that he picked it up very easily, it was proven, after all, that when one was intrested in a subject then they tried harder in it.
Soon enough, however, it was approaching the time of the party and Corvus, Sofia and Sebastian were donning the clothing that Auntie Cassie had swiftly gone to get, Corvus' donned with the Black crest and Bash's with the Potter crest. For the adults Walburga wore formal robes with the Black crest, Aurora with the Malfoy, Gaunt and Slytherin crests, Abraxas with the same as Aurora, Cassiopeia with the Black crest, Lucius and Meissa with the same as their parents other than Meissa additionally having the Potter Crest and Narcissa with the Black crest as well as the Malfoy, Gaunt and Slytherin crests.
Much to Draco's ire he didn't don any as only the Heir(ess)s and Lords/Ladys would have the Crest on their breast, neither did Sofia but she didn't seem to care, claiming they looked itchy either way.
Okay, she did care. But just a little bit, she reassured herself.
Everybody was already there, as was custom, as the hosts were to enter the party last, announced.
One by one each of the Malfoy-Potter-Black clan were called to the stage area of the ballroom to be admired, Aurora and Abraxas went first as it was their home and then it went in order of first born son and his family (Lucius, Narcissa and Draco); eldest daughter and her family (Meissa, Sebastian and Sofia), who had had many onlookers judging the Malfoy squib and getting a glimpse of the Potter Heir and his sister; youngest daughter's family (Corvus), Corvus approached the stage alone, many murmurings also passing as they eyed up the Black Heir, hopeful in their alliances. Under all this scrutiny Corvus was most grateful when his grandmother and Auntie Cassie also took to the stage, taking at least some of the attention off of him.
Soon, they were told that they were allowed to mingle. And Corvus found himself being pushed forth by his grandmother, over to where a group of two boys and three girls stood talking as if they had known each other for years.
Which they probably had.
Corvus knew that he was the outsider in this situation, and deliberated how he should take advantage of that.
Looking from each of the children he found that five out of the six children there were Heirs or Heiresses that would be in the same year as him in Hogwarts, his grandmother would proclaim that he had struck gold with finding such a group together so, head held high as he had been taught, he strolled over to the group.
A dark haired girl was the first to see he was coming, elbowing the boy at her side the entirety of the group turned around and nodded their heads to him as a sign of respect, "Heir Black."
In turn he nodded his head to each of them as he said their title, "Heir Nott, Heiress Greengrass, Heiress LeStrange, Heiress Moon, Heir Avery and Madam Zabini."
Of them he knew that Theodore Nott (Heir Nott), Daphne Greengrass (Heiress Greengrass), Rhosymerde LeStrange (Heiress LeStrange) and Lily Moon (Heiress Moon) would all be in his year at Hogwarts whereas Tiberius Avery (Heir Avery – Corvus seemed to recall that his Auntie Cassie had a distinct dislike for Averys) would be a year older and Isabella Zabini (Madam Zabini) would be a year younger.
Theodore Nott had dark brown hair and bright blue eyes, his eyes shone with intelligence even at a young age and he seemed to observe every movement of Corvus' carefully; Daphne Greengrass had golden blonde hair and icy blue-grey eyes, her face let no emotions show as she tilted her head at Corvus; Rohosymerde LeStrange had pitch black, wildly curly hair and startling violet eyes, she smirked at Corvus like he was prey and she the predator, as if all of this was merely a game; Lily Moon had bright, beach blonde hair and shining jade green eyes, she was the only one who permitted Corvus a faction of a smile; Tiberius Avery had lighter brown hair and brown eyes and seemed to don a permanent frown and, lastly, there was Isabella Zabini who had dark hair, dark eyes and a tan skin tone – she was Italian, and her brother Heir Zabini, his grandmother had informed him – and seemed to regard Corvus with curiosity.
"I am very glad to see you all here," Corvus informed them with his best charming smile that Walburga had proclaimed to have imitated Sirius' perfectly, before he allowed it to fall, "I was very sorry to hear about your father, Heiress Greengrass, and your grandmother, Heiress LeStrange."
The latter's lips seemed to tighten at the mention of her grandmother, "I would have thought you'd be rather relieved, Lord Black, seen as the spell killed my family rather than yours," he observed that Rhosymerde LeStrange did not need to raise her voice to sound voiltile, in fact, her deathly calm was rather more frightening than a raised voice.
"While I am indeed grateful that it did not hit my father, Lord Black, I am not pleased to hear that it cost other Most Ancient and Most Noble family members their lives," Corvus informed her.
"Charming as a snake," were the only words that fell from the wild haired girl's mouth.
The Heiress Greengrass rolled her eyes at the girl, offering her hand to Corvus, "Heir Black, would you be so kind as to award me this dance?"
"It would be my honour, Heiress Greengrass."
By the end of the night Corvus was more than pleased with the progress he had made, he had secured alliances for the House of Black and had even made friends. He had always longed to have somebody to call his friend.
They were all young, of course, at five and six their speeches still broke in parts (he had known that Madam Isabella Zabini had giggled when he tried to pronounce 'honour') so Corvus knew he was a long shot from being the perfect Heir but he also knew that he had also charmed many adults today with his 'polite and sweet' – Lady Avery's words, not his – nature.
And with the group that he had met coming for a 'play date' of sorts next week he hoped that he would also charm the LeStrange girl – Morgana knew what her problem was – and become closer to his new found friends.
But nothing would be complete until he had his father back.
What did you guys think? Did you like the chapter? Opinions on pairings now (as you can see I've started to introduce some ideas like Daphne, Lily, Rhosymerde and Isabella)?
Next chapter will feature the naming of new Heirs, Dumbledore making a new ally (who do you think it will be?) and the RELEASE OF SIRIUS!
Until next chapter,
-LadyHallows
P.S If you can't tell then I'm trying to make up for that long period of time where I gave you guys no updates at all :( I'm so sorry about that, I'm back ;)