A/N – This chapter happens more or less alongside the last one. Some bits are from before it, but the majority happens at the same time and the ending pushes the time a little bit. It is more laid back, but there is still a fair bit of action and some characters show what they can do on the battlefield.
Also since it isn't clear for some people. I kicked the start of Hogwarts to 13 to have more freedom with behaviors and such and be allowed to have more fun with the characters.
o-0-o
A single ripple in the pond can cause much more impact than at first glance it seems feasible. Lara Raith contemplated that sentence as she scanned the documents recovered from the Red Court strongholds. The strikes from the Winter Court, Lara chuckled in amusement, Wild Hunt, wrecked their confidence and made them pull back.
The income from the European estates would most likely at least triple and that was including giving the White Council a fair share of the cake. It was a necessary concession to keep them away from the Court and besides, she didn't need the money making corporations the Council desired. She needed data, she had data and knew how to use it, she could get the money.
With grabbing the entertainment and media and the shady businesses owned by the Reds or their puppets she could still remain in the shadows. Acquiring the publicly traded companies or those privately owned and large was far harder to do without getting attention. The Council was far more scattered and had the council as the leader. A thing that gave them a leevay when it came to hiding many weird transactions.
For the Raiths it was more complicated at once as the human puppets could be traced back to her and getting many new companies on her own made certain institutions too curious and focused on her.
"Studying the ledgers?" Thomas asked, sneaking into the room and Lara looked at him. "I never expected to see you do this, sis."
"Well, our father is locked in his chamber and it is me who rules the Court now, brother," Lara said and her eyes flickered with irritation. "Your remarks don't help me much. This operation was supposed to be clean, subtle and stay in the shadows. So far we've had several gangs at war! That's not good."
Thomas winced and looked at the map pinned to the wall of her office. "Greece and Italy are getting under control. Some idiot got the Sons of Carthage involved. Whilst in Greece, easy progress. Italy...the interesting part of the Giovanni are not happy with us," he said and she could see how weary he was. "The governments want peace and the Reds got quite a bit of attention from the militaries there. It didn't go as smoothly as it should have, but we avoided most of the chaos."
"That's better. I'll have a mission for you. In Scotland, in an almost forgotten castle there is a school of magic. One attended by that son of Mab. I need more information from that place. Well, information and influence."
"Am I supposed to seduce the principal and sleep with them?" Thomas asked with an arrogant smile.
"Not quite." Lara allowed herself a smirk. "What you need is to take several million pounds from one of our accounts, exchange into the strange currency they use and donate it to the headmaster out of goodness of your heart. They're the kind of society wealth makes right and we have more than enough cash to gain partial control over the school."
Thomas frowned and then looked back at the map. "Isn't Madame Zabini supposed to have some control over it? I thought that it was one of reasons why we keep her around."
"She does. But her gaining the control over the school would make other wizards out there look weirdly at her. You can pass as a wealthy, generous and foreign wizard that wants to be charitable and share his wealth with an educational institution."
"And be your dutiful pawn," Thomas said with a smile.
"That is something obvious, brother," Lara said and then tapped her finger against the desk. "Actually, first, we will need to have a talk with Madam Zabini and our agents there. I don't know the environment well enough to give you detailed instructions and this is one of the projects I want to reap benefits over time. They are almost completely isolated from the White Council, but close to the power levels of their weaker members."
"And you want to get a big slice of this cake for us," Thomas said. "The wizards would boost our potential and let us have more options."
"More I don't want the Reds or the Blacks to grab it," she said and grimaced. "Or the Fomor. The Winter seems to be expecting them to be a problem soon and they need manpower. Marcone ran into them a time or two and I don't want them to grab this castle. It is anchored in the Nevernever and the wards are strong and dislodging them would be a massive undertaking."
"While giving them a lot of wizards to kidnap and indoctrinate them. That would kill the Council, the Red Court drains them of the manpower and around a thousand wizards assaulting the Hidden Halls would be a death blow."
"Exactly," Lara said and then walked to the map before tapping Hogwarts. "We will need to negotiate a treaty with the White Council so that we can scour the world for the children with sufficient potential to be trained into something useful. The Merlin will snarl and growl, but the rest of the Council should agree to that." Seeing Thomas frown she pinned him with her eyes. "We never had issues with the Council and considering the coming chaos, we need them as strong as we can manage. The chance that they turn on us is small and we can't be known to be growing magical muscles."
"Lara, I know that you want to be building the world based on the power sharing with the Council and the Sidhe, but, do you really believe they will want to work with us?"
"I don't think that initially there will be a desire or need," she said, her eyes clouding. "The Senior Council won't see one, probably never. However the wizards that do the dirty work and know how badly out of manpower they are will be happy to have some manpower to work with."
"Fair enough," Thomas said and then looked at the map. "How do you plan to do it?"
"Slowly and carefully," Lara said, frowning. "I believe that Mab might be the one that can get us to work together. She is the one that sees the reasons and logic, while emotions are less of an issue for her. She's feared by the Council and at the same time they want her support, so she can make them behave."
Thomas nodded and looked at the map of the world. His thoughts wandering as he tried to grasp the idea his sister was trying to make work. He worked enough with the Wardens to know that it would be a huge miracle if it worked.
o-0-o
Daphne tsked in annoyance and discreetly looked up from her book, her gaze drawn to Hermione who was getting buried in various obscure tomes and scrolls many didn't know existed. That girl was a problem and wandered towards some very dangerous ideas and theories, personally, Daphne didn't care much about what Hermione read. However she greatly cared about Lara being happy and that meant keeping an eye on those trying to dig up data on Mab.
"She's stubborn," Daphne muttered with a sigh. "Stubborn and too damn smart for her own safety."
"I doubt she will share what she knows with anybody," Blaise said as he joined Daphne. "For me she's the type to hoard away knowledge and don't share it easily. Frankly, she's the least of our worries for now."
"Bloody Lions," Daphne muttered as she scribbled down some notes. "They got unhappy over Snape eliminating that spy. Even if it was for their own safety. They will be our doom one day."
"I never know that their hostility against our house could get even worse. They seem to lack any ability to think."
"It was worse in the time of our parents," Daphne said as she moved behind a shelf and out of the way of few fourth year students. "They had duels in the corridors and few people died. This is more subdued and more restrained."
"I think they fear Dumbledore."
Daphne scoffed. "That old wizard favors the Lions whenever he can. Last year House Cup was a clear example of that. The points for the Weasley, Granger and Potter were biased. I bloody know he favors the Boy-Who-Lived and his lackeys, but seriously. He could have been subtler and did it differently."
"He likes to show off," Blaise pointed out. "He is as much of a wizard, as he is a politician and an artist. He needs to have the attention."
Daphne muttered something under her breath and gave him a look. "You are probably right," she said. "Just, I'm used to the Raith style of making politics. Stay in the shadows, thrust dagger when you need and use plenty of bribes."
"At least Dumbledore has more finesse than the Malfoys. Their approach makes me want to vomit or piss onto their shiny, gold-plated boots."
Daphne chuckled at this, but then quickly grew serious. "Sirius Black escaped Azkaban and dad mentioned that the aurors that tried to apprehend him met troubles. Malfoys might not be pleased with that. After all, if he is free, he has his family fortune and power."
"And with that they won't be able to strut around like peacocks." Blaise frowned and Daphne looked at him, studying the suddenly serious expression. "That Sirius was arrested right after death of Voldemort was quite fortunate for a lot of families."
"With male line extinct they could go back to the politics they all loved. Not looking at what the Black says and what he thinks about them. Potter dead, was fortunate too. Same as Harry landing with that family."
"I wonder...," Blaise trailed off. "How much of it was arranged and how much was a simple accident. Once is an accident, two is suspicious, three, I won't buy shit about any unfortunate event."
"Probably quite a bit," Daphne said and then looked at him. "Can you send your dear mother a letter? Ask her to take a look at the Black's, Malfoys and other important families. Or even ask Lara to make her people go over it."
"I can," Blaise said and smiled. "I was about to write a report. I can add that."
Daphne nodded and went back to the very boring and repetitive watching of Hermione. That girl should really stop hoarding the knowledge and books. Her search could quickly lead into dangerous areas and Daphne was quite surprised nobody tried to tell her to stop. She wasn't sure who were the spies on the payroll of the Faerie courts, but they really were lenient in keeping an eye on trouble or what was more probable didn't know that girl was such a threat to their courts.
o-0-o
"Bloody idiots," Snape snarled as he pushed aside third year Lion. "Learn your place in the pecking order."
"Some kindness can change everything," Flitwick said and Snape glared at the diminutive professor. "I was your teacher, Severus, trust someone who has been teaching for more than you live."
"What do you want?" Snape asked as they both walked towards the dungeons.
"The accident of Mr Thomas is quite peculiar," Flitwick said with a smile and Snape tensed. "I asked one of my friends to recreate the potion used on that unfortunate day. The results are quite peculiar and he ruled out the probability of a student causing such an accident." The smile became even more predatory. "Tell me, who did pay you to sabotage Mr Thomas' work?"
"I don't know what are you talking about," Snape said as he shoved his emotions behind Occlumency shields. "Nobody paid me to sabotage his potion."
Flitwick shook his head in amusement. "You never was a good liar. Your Occlumency is nigh on impossible to see through. But there are other things I watch for. So, tell me and I won't bring in the aurors."
"White Court and the Fae," Snape said as he looked around. Trying to spot any curious busy bodies. "Mr Thomas is a spy on the payroll of something I'm not comfortable having in the school."
"The Red Court?" Flitwick asked, his teeth showing in a grim smile. "I thought that they were chased away from the school. The Halls kept them away in the past."
"The War was going bad for the Council," Snape said and shrugged. "The Red Court decided to push into Europe and somehow coerced Mr Thomas to be their spy. I don't know how he was convinced, but that I don't greatly care about."
Flitwick nodded and then changed the topic. "What about Ms Granger? There is something strange about her. I know that I have felt something similar in the past, just am unable of telling where and from whom."
Snape froze in place and looked at Flitwick. "So I'm not the only one seeing things and signs." He shook his head and sneered. "The Headmaster knows, even if he pretends he doesn't know."
"Not for the first time," Flitwick said. "At least the next DADA professor ought to be a more competent one."
"Do you know whom he will be hiring?"
"No. He said that this time he will ensure that they possess some competences and aren't frauds or possessed idiots."
o-0-o
Sirius stepped out of the Nevernever and smiled as his companion for this business joined him. Leanansidhe looked like a proper lady ought to look and her flowing dress in the colors of winter was getting all the attention. While nobody seemed to spare a glance at Sirius, a thing that meant a lot at the moment as he technically was a wanted criminal.
"So this is the Diagon Alley," Lea said and he nodded, gently inclining his head. "I was expecting something grander."
"It is cozy and friendly," Sirius said as he looked around. "I'm surprised that nobody spotted us."
"I cast a veil to hide us. They think that we are two average wizards." She smiled in a manner that could send a wizard running away screaming. "I love attention. Getting attacked by madmen screaming at me is not an idea I like."
Sirius smiled and nodded as he looked towards a grand marble edifice. A pair of goblins at the entrance looked keenly at them, as if the veil didn't matter. "That's the bank, the Gringotts. They hoard all of the gold, gems and other wealth."
"Goblins?" Lea asked as her eyes flickered to the guards. "They are violent and brutal, but not known for sleeping on gold."
Sirius looked at her and shrugged. "They were always managing our bank. I never had issues with them, but some people were murdered by them. When they tried to steal the gold."
"That is interesting, very interesting," Lea said with a small smile. "They don't feel to me the way the servants of the Erlking do."
"What are they then?" Sirius asked as he walked across the street and towards the entrance.
"I don't know," Lea said and her eyebrow arched when the goblins pointed their spears at her. "Now, this is unexpected."
"Peace," Sirius said and the goblins looked at him. "Leanansidhe is an ally of my and I have utmost trust in her."
The goblins looked at him, then at her and then lowered the spears. "You don't know the threat she is. But we trust you and won't bar you access."
Sirius nodded and then strode forward, passing between the guards as if they were below him and not worth his attention. "Are your veils supposed to be seen through by everybody?"
"No. I didn't use the most complicated ones. I used one that shouldn't be noticed by most people." She tsked in annoyance. "The goblins that I'm familiar with wouldn't be able to see through it."
"Those can," Sirius said and then approached the counter, showing the key to his account with the coat of arms of his family. "I wish to speak with my family accountant."
"Mr Black?" the goblin asked, its eyes slightly widened and at the same time Sirius could see some curiosity and hunger in them.
"Yes," Sirius said and gestured at Lea who stood behind him. Her disguise shed and her true Sidhe beauty revealed. "Leanansidhe will accompany me to the meeting."
"Of course, Mr Black," the goblin said and rang a bell. "Please, wait, your accountant will come for you."
o-0-o
Ebenezer McCoy was ancient by human standards, he walked the world since before the Seven Years War in then New World. Since that time he grew in power and wisdom, climbing to the position of the Warden Commander during the rise of Kemmler. He was given the Blackstaff, the only weapon in the arsenal of the Council that allowed one to kill fellow humans with no repercussions. And now he was a member of the Senior Council, a body of seven of the most powerful, oldest and most politically connected and richest wizards that ruled the White Council.
He was feared by a great many people and beings, while at the same time respected and loved by even more. The position of the Blackstaff and Champion of the White Council drew attention and it was hard not to be noticed. Especially now when the war with the Red Court was going on.
However the conflict with the vampires was one thing, less important now, especially with them getting butchered by the Wild Hunt. What was more important was the growing rott, corruption and discord inside of the Council. Some members started to get complacent and cared more about their own goals and interests, instead of those of the humanity and the Council.
He pulled the hood to shade his face and stepped into the light. It hurt him that he needed to conceal his identity from the fellow wizards and allies when wanting to save the Council. Yet the Enemy was out there and he was too precious to risk getting killed by some lucky shot.
"My Lord," he muttered as he approached the other being in the room. A man with a mane of storm gray hair, single blue eye and second covered by an eyepatch.
"Blackstaff," Odin vel Donar Vadderung vel Kringle grunted. "I didn't expect you so soon."
"The Red Court is broken for the next few weeks, so I have time to pull away from the fighting." Ebenezer grimaced. "We lost too many good Wardens and wizards and can't easily replace them."
"They're gutted out worse," Odin said with some satisfaction. "The attacks from the Fae, White Court and other groups hurt them even more. Two Lords of the Outer Night dead has a huge impact on them. You know how we can use our will to make lesser beings follow us?" Ebenezer nodded. "The vamps need it more desperately than I or Mab. Human mercenaries they so love are breaking when you show them enough horrors of the Nevernever."
"So they use the Lords and Dukes to put the pressure on them and keep them going until they are dead."
"Yes. The more of them are dead. The more issues with keeping in line the troops there will be. However the Red King will grow desperate if we butcher too many of them. He already is willing to commit his forces to something drastic as long as he secures some victory."
"He has been hammering us hard in Asia," Ebenezer said and then focused his gaze on Ebenezer. "But the War is not why I'm here."
"The Black Council as you call it?" Odin grunted. "Hard to say what will they do and when. I don't think they factored in the sudden activity on part of the Faerie courts. They didn't expect them and now are scattered."
"Not only they didn't expect the Fae to be so effective. We tried to crack open Copan, we achieved nothing. The fact that the Erlking scoured it clean, butchered the garrison and killed the army passing through it shook us."
"That was a thing to predict," Odin said and Ebenezer looked at him. "The Winter is building up its forces and potential. For that they need more raw material and recruits. Thralls let them shift some of their Fae away from work and train them. Herne the Hunter is the only lord that can organize a large enough raid and is independent so they can claim they didn't orchestrate it."
"Perhaps it is a time for me to seek out Lara Raith and Mab and negotiate with them," Ebenezer said and felt Odin's gaze focus on him. "They are trustworthy and should be a good addition to the Council."
"You're playing a dangerous game, Eb. They are trustworthy, but might scare away a lot of other allies. Not everybody fancies working with sexual predators and blood-thirsty Sidhe."
o-0-o
"Albus!" Harsh voice of Professor McGonagall cut like a whip and Professor Dumbledore jerked in his seat at it. "Can you for once stop plotting and scheming and exposing students of the school to danger?"
"My dear," Dumbledore said with his best grandfatherly smile. "Sometimes it is a thing I can't avoid."
"You can limit it," she said. "And keep most of it as far away from students as you can. The Chamber of Secrets… You knew about it."
"I suspected," he said and sighed. "I planned to tell Harry once he climbed out about its history and the tale of the Sword of Gryffindor. Now he is out of our reach and all I can do is limited the mess we are in. The beings that are out there are dangerous, much more dangerous than the Ministry wants to admit."
"You didn't need to bring their conflicts into the school."
"If I didn't bring what I brought, we would have a much more toxic environment. The more violent ones I made stay out of school, the less so are careful in not drawing my attention." McGonagall gave him a glare that would scare a weaker person, but he ignored it. "Minerva, I really would have preferred the school without them, but it is impossible now. Too many beings want to know what is happening here and I can do nothing about it."
"I won't let you injure my students anymore," McGonagall stated and stormed out of the office.
Her robes flowed around her as she walked down the stairs. The moment she came out of the hidden stairwell, students scattered. Her furious expression sending many of them screaming in panic as they thought they did something wrong. She ignored them all and went into her office. There she finally calmed down, her emotions subduing and she managed to think. As Deputy Headmistress she had some power and could greatly annoy those that tried to have vile intentions towards the school. She would need to refresh her knowledge of the castle and the magic worked into it, but there ought to be something she could use.
o-0-o
Ron moved the chess piece and looked at the board. Nobody wanted to play with him. Dean was unconscious. Seamus and Nevill weren't interested and Harry was missing. He let out a sigh and toppled the piece before looking at his rat.
Scabbers lost some of its weight and now slept for most of the time. As if something stressed him. Not that Ron blamed the rat very much. Last few weeks were hell and he lost Harry and even Hermione ignored him.
She spent the days in the library and she barely had time to talk with her in class. Even if she talked she didn't pay him much attention. Always focused on something else. He was mad at her, she didn't know a thing about wizarding world and ignored him, even if he knew so much more. She ought to listen to him and pay some attention to what he said.
He shook his head, playing mindlessly with a rook. She was going to end in troubles. He could tell that. She would make enemies with her bookworm attitude and sooner or later that would cost her dearly.
Harry would have understood and would have managed to convince her. Yet he was missing and nobody knew where he was. Some knew, the Professors knew. That much Ron was sure about, they always knew things and kept them hidden from students. He sighed and returned to toying with the chess pieces, there was nothing more he could do now.
o-0-o
White Court security is over the top, Blaise thought as he watched four heavily armed mercenaries and a vampire follow them to the mansion. He never expected Lara Raith to come to Britain, yet she did it and the meetings were less of a hassle to organize. Fly on the brooms for few hours was more interesting that the portkey they used the last time.
"Are there always so many guards?" Daphne asked, her eyes flickering to the guards they passed. "There are so many of them."
"Mother mentioned that they fight the Red Court and don't hold back. And considering how close to last skirmishes we are..."
"Makes sense," Daphne said. "The leaders are here and they don't want to risk things happening. Especially if we are also here."
Blaise smiled at her, his smile as charming and seducing as he could manage. "Don't think about ourselves so highly," he said and kissed her on the cheek. "We are just lowly agents and not vampires."
"Position doesn't matter when you have the data someone needs. And I think we have a lot of the data they seek. Especially if your mother wasn't lying too much in her letter."
Blaise sighed and then frowned. What Daphne was saying was true, but he also knew how easy it came for the White Court to find new agents when they needed them in hurry. And then they often went for simply seducing someone and getting every bit of data out of them. He was in a comfortable position as his mother was in the inner circle of Lara and could protect him from getting into too much trouble. Daphne, she on the other hand could get raped by any of the vamps if Lara was angry at her.
"Yes, we are somewhat useful," he said after a moment and leaned towards Daphne's ear. "But also, you, especially you can be easily replaced and you don't have family to protect you."
Daphne paled and shuddered, losing her composure for a second. She then swallowed and regained the perfect mask she had. "I see," she said and kissed him. "You could have mentioned that, Blaise. Before we went here."
He smiled apologetically and right then they stopped in front of the doors to Lara's office. Blaise took a couple of deep breaths and then pushed the door open and stepped through.
The first thing he noticed was that it was dark. It wasn't really dark, but less bright than in the corridors outside. Then his eyes adjusted and he saw the Raith siblings sprawled on the couches with his mother standing behind them.
"My Lady," Blaise said with a bow, then his eyes flickered to Thomas and his mother. "My Lord, Mother."
"Blaise," Lara said, her voice having a sultry edge to it. "Daphne, join us you two so that we can begin."
Blaise nodded and sat down on one of the couches before reaching for a cup filled with some liquid, probably coffee and knowing the Court spiked with something. "My Lady, the summon was quite a peculiar one."
"I know," Blaise's mother said, answering for Lara. "However, there are circumstances that can explain that."
"Yes," Lara said and Blaise could see the ancient vampire shift uncomfortably. Showing far more emotions than he normally was used to. "The things that happened in the Latin America sent ripples into the world and one of them is about to hit Hogwarts."
"More like change than hit the castle. But still, Lady Raith is right."
"Frankly, my lady I won't mind a change to strike the castle. Some of the things are in dire need of that," Daphne said and Blaise arched an eyebrow in question. "Including some people forgetting their places and spending more time on politics than teaching."
"I would also add that it is so boring," Blaise said and yawned. "I feel like I'm dying there and spend most of the time counting cobwebs on the walls. The last time I enjoyed the time there was... I can't quite remember when."
"Is Binns still teaching history?" Black Widow asked and Blaise looked at her. "He taught me that very fascinating subject and I wish he was gone or banished elsewhere."
"He's as interesting as a blank wall," Daphne said with some disgust and seeing Lara glare at her she shrugged. "Oh, I'm aware that how much money I get into my vault is tied to my grades. But it isn't my fault that this teacher can't freaking teach."
"Easy, Daphne," Blaise muttered as he saw Lara give them an angry look. "Anyways, My Lady, can you tell us what do you have in mind?"
Lara smiled, this simple expression making Blaise shudder. "I'm making a minor investment in the Isles. Or rather, my brother is doing it in my name and Hogwarts is one of the interesting things there."
Blaise frowned and then looked at Thomas Raith. "Is it true, My Lord?"
"Yes," Thomas said and sent a look at Lara. "If Lara did it, many people would dig and look for troubles and you know how prone to finding that is your little world."
Those words made every wizard present wince, Daily Prophet was infamous for uncovering secrets everybody long thought safely buried and forgotten. The chance that they would dig around a strange woman donating a large sum of money to Hogwarts would make them dig furiously and a lot of the information about the Raiths wasn't that hard to find.
"That could be a problem," Daphne said and paused, thinking. "My dad is a somewhat respectable wizard with a high standing with the Ministry and from what I heard from him the Ministry is a pit full of greedy and treacherous snakes. So most likely you would need to buy them insanely large bribes to keep them silent."
"And even then some madman might ask what did happen that the concerns suddenly disappeared," Lara said and smiled at Daphne. "You're a smart girl. Amuse me and tell me, how would you play it?"
"Approach the Headmaster and the Board of Governors," Daphne said and chewed on her lip. "The Headmaster will probably be against you, while the Board is hard to say. But then, Dumbledore is a politician and a teacher."
"So he will listen to convincing arguments," Lara said. "Thank you, dear."
o-0-o
Sirius smiled at the scarred and aged goblin that faced him and then followed the gaze of the creature. It was focused on Leanansidhe, not that he saw a reason to blame the goblin. The Sidhe lady was attracting a lot, a lot of attention and not staring at her would have been strange.
"She's with me," Sirius said softly. "She was the one that helped me to recover from the stay in the Azkaban."
"Very well," the goblin said with a heavy sigh. "She can come with us, but you are responsible for everything she does."
Sirius nodded and followed the office into the maze of offices and corridors hidden in the bowels of the bank. The goblins and wizards were moving in and out of it and if some noticed Sirius, none showed their interest in him. Focused on their tasks and making business, possibly the most important activity for this tribe of goblins.
It didn't matter for them who owned the gold. Neither did it matter how did he came into its possession, as long as he didn't steal it from them. All they cared about was business and making more gold, as well as customers that were honest and willing to engage in business activity of any shape and form.
Sirius knew that he had wealth, a thing that made most of the goblins respect him no matter this slight fact that the Ministry wanted his head or soul. The fact that Leanansidhe was causing panicked reactions told only that she was known and that she had power. And that while she was known, she caused some troubles in the past and the goblins remembered every single slight and insult.
They entered a small room and the goblin closed the door behind them before taking his place behind a spacious desk, motioning for them to get comfortable and summoning a house elf with a tray of refreshments. "Mr Black," he began. "Your presence here is intriguing. According to what the Ministry is telling us, you were last seen in Surrey. To be exact at Privet Drive 4 in Little Whinging." The goblin then smiled, revealing most of his teeth. "You were supposed to murder Petunia and Vernon Dursley and kidnap their son."
"I didn't do that," Sirius said, his expression sombre and serious. "I wish I could do that, but I was there too late to have any opportunity. My godson was there before me and he killed them before leaving the house hours before I managed to get there."
"He is speaking the truth," Lea said and the goblin looked up from the parchment he was writing on. "My mistress and I watched her son and Sirius' godson murder them and then chase away the agent of our rival."
"I know that Sidhe and we can't lie," the goblin said and then smiled like a shark. "Yet we can twist the words we say... For as long as we don't say a lie."
Lea grinned and then threw her head back, cackling. "Yes, I am aware of that. But for once I'm completely and totally honest. Sirius was there after the crime was done. I'm unaware of what he was doing when it was committed or where he was, but I'm sure he wasn't in that house."
Goblin waved his hand, cutting further explanations from Sirius. "I was just checking facts, Mr Black. The Ministry is quite known for being rather... Ah! Lax with data. We had people that were killed come to us. Ones that were locked in that dreadful tower of Azkaban and many more."
"Speaking about Azkaban," Sirius said, wincing at the name. "What exactly happened to the vault of my nuttier than a nutcake cousin's vault and other assets she owned?"
"Bellatrix Lestrange née Black?"
"One and only," Sirius grinned. "I don't quite remember the details of her dowry and other such things. But correct me if I'm wrong, but since she rots in her lovely cell with her even lovlier husband, I can take the vaults in custody."
The goblin frowned and then reached into the papers he had on his desk. He rummaged through them for few moments and then pulled out a couple of pieces of parchment. "There won't be much left of her vault, as most was transfered out. But the sum of several dozen thousand galeons and a pile of artifacts of various quality would be placed in your custody."
Sirius nodded and looked at the paperwork handed to him before reaching for one of the steaming cups of tea and sipping it slowly. "Master Goblin, can you remind me if anybody from the male line of my family lives?"
"From your direct family, none. Your younger brother, Regulus Arcturus is dead, same as is your father. Any properties, any assets and any artifact owned by them is now yours to use and manage however you wish to."
"Can you send any of your curse breakers to Grimmauld Place 12?" Sirius asked, almost a pleading look in his eyes. "That place is a nest of creatures and curses and I don't want to have them kill any of my guests."
"Of course," the goblin grinned. "The fee will be calculated once the team cleans the house and sees how much work did it take to do so. However, we know it is an old house, very old house. One your family owned for centuries and your family was dark and had a penchant to collect random artifacts and trinkets. Many of which are possibly dangerous or even lethal."
"Most of them is dangerous," Sirius said with a wince. "Speaking about that, considering whom my cousin was and whom were my brother and father. Look through the vaults and remove anything looking like dangerous or lethal."
"Of course."
"Can you be trusted to keep the vault and its content safe and protected at all times?" Lea suddenly asked and the goblin looked at her. "My mistress is considering moving some of her treasures and artifacts to different locations so that her enemies are less likely to find all of the dangerous objects."
"We can, for a suitable price," the goblin said and Sirius glanced at him. "The vaults, like the one owned by Mr Black are fairly secure, however there are ones where we meet every demand and request of our customers. Golems, dragons, curses, shifting it into the Nevernever, all of it is an option. The matter is of course the price, but I believe that Mab doesn't lack money."
Lea grinned and then sobered up quickly. "In a week of time I will be here to negotiate it in her name," she said and then turned to Sirius. "Today, he is the main client of yours."
o-0-o
The Merlin was as much as a nigh on invincible wizard as was a shrewd politician and often a skilled manager. The current holder of the title, Arthur Langtry, mastered the art of politics and diplomacy and while he wasn't a wizard that excelled in the more brutish arts of battle magic he still was an enemy not to be underestimated.
Twelve Dukes that were facing him weren't much more than an annoyance for him, nor their army of several hundred ghouls and half-vampires. He could wipe them out with a single word, yet he didn't do it. Simply standing in the middle of the street and stalling for time. There were reports of one of the Lords of the Outer Night in the area and that was his prize here. More would be a bonus, but he wanted the head of the Lord, not one of their underlings.
The Dukes for all their power and experience wouldn't be enough to make him leave the Halls, a Lord and a confirmed sighting of one was a thing that was of a different caliber and one that he couldn't ignore. Especially if a death of even a single one now could disorganize the Court even more. Not that it was stable and organized now. All of their attacks in Asia were a hasty operation, one of desperation and need to do something, not a planned campaign like all of the previous offensive actions.
His blue eyes scanned the abandoned buildings and then slipped towards the Dukes. He knew that they knew that they didn't stand much of a chance against him, yet their stubbornness in remaining here was peculiar. They could vanish into the Nevernever at a whim, their retinue sacrificed to buy them time, but they were still standing.
Their lack of inaction was a curse and a blessing. Him being in the open lured a great many of the assassins of various reputation and experience. Some of them, like the one half-vampire slipping through the buildings to his left were an annoyance. But it also attracted those he wanted to kill and thus it made this endeavor a risk he was willing to take.
His eyes didn't leave the vampires in front of him when he muttered under his breath and the neck of the assassin was squeezed. It was pest control for him, not worth his time and usually done by his Warden bodyguards. His attention focused back on the vampires and he smiled when a figure wearing a golden mask appeared.
"Finally," the Merlin whispered and added loudly. "Morgan, Luccio, now."
The two oldest and most experienced Wardens dropped their veils, alongside them further eighteen less experienced warriors, while he activated a ward that was planted in this very place several decades ago. It was a subtle one, one that blocked any escape into the Nevernever for as long as the wizard that cast it lived.
Merlin allowed himself a smile when he felt shock and surprised of the trapped vampires. Then his eyes widened when felt two more Lords leave the Nevernever, a retinue of nobles following each of them. It was clear that someone, somehow knew about this trap. A rather interesting thing as the ones that knew about it were limited to the Senior Council and the most trusted lieutenants of it. He suspected that there was some spy, Petrovich killed in a surprise attack was a thing that wouldn't have happened otherwise. Now he had a proof of how highly placed that bastard was.
"Morgan, Luccio," he muttered. "Take care of the chaff. I'll deal with the Lords and Dukes."
The Wardens nodded and he strode forward. His white staff almost glowing with the contained magical power. He swept it through the air and three of the twelve Dukes facing him were shred in half. Their bodies ripped apart by furious winds that slashed into the ghouls behind them. He sent second such a strike and was forced to hide behind a shield when the Lord unleashed its own magic.
"Pathethic," the Merlin said as he stopped the spells and strode forth. He stomped, his boot smashing into the surface of the street and the ground below the vampires opened up, swallowing a good chunk of their forces and almost trapping two of the Dukes. "You really are nothing more than the parasites feeding off the humans. I'm on my own and you can't beat me."
One of the Dukes let out a roar of fury and hurled itself at him. Making the Merlin step aside and pull out his sword. The silver blade flickered, the runes and symbols inscribed on its surface lightning up with fire, and then droplets of scarlet liquid spilled onto it as it effortlessly sliced the Duke in half. The two halves of the corpse dropped behind the Merlin, a pool of blood quickly forming around the ugly creature and he didn't pay it any more attention. It was dead or dying, the strike severed its spine and destroyed the stomach that contained the blood it needed to fix itself.
The White Council gathered through the ages an impressive armory of obscure, powerful and often deadly artifacts. Some were of the divine origin, some of the mortal and some of the demonic, but above all they were significant in one way or another to either some religion or civilization and with that came their immense power, prestige and reputation.
Some were available to the most experienced and trusted Wardens, but the best and the most powerful were restricted to the Senior Council. Their power so huge that nobody else could utilize them fully nor could be trusted with handling them. As the Merlin, Arthur Langtry could use any of them and when taking to the field he often used them. He had his own gear and all of it was a wet dream of many practitioners, but the artifacts from the vaults of the Council usually were far above it.
His gear was crafted by a mortal wizard and while it was perfectly attuned to him and his magic. It lacked the sheer power and strength of one forged in the forges of Olympus or created by a deity and then handed down to a mortal champion. Or even just bathed in a blood of a deity. Not many mortal weapons had properties that allowed them to be an anathema to one of the monsters that crawled out of the Nevernever.
The weapons of the gods and their mortal champions or even followers were surrounded by myths, legends and stories that attributed them many properties, most of which was a real thing. Some of which were a bane of the supernatural beings and in other cases simply provided the user with power. Power that often was needed to win a battle and in many cases provided a very needed advantage.
The sword that sliced one of the Dukes in half was the legendary sword of Charlemagne Joyeuse and in its blade was hidden the lance of Longinus. An artifact that was especially deadly against the Red Court as it was its anathema, a vessel of pure and honest faith of millions of people since the ancient times.
While one of the Swords of the Cross would have been even more effective, even this blade made the Lord of the Outer Night hiss and back away in some respect and fear. The Merlin allowed himself a faint smile, he glanced back at Luccio and Morgan and they were holding on their own. It was all he needed to make the Red Court consider its choices.
His wrist flickered and the silver blade exploded in flames. Flames that burned away the darkness and made the creatures of the night back away in fear. He moved and slashed, the blade making an arc in the air, licking the the limb of the Lord of the Outer Night. It was not a kill, far from one, but the scream of anguish and pain sent the lesser vampires scattering in all directions.
o-0-o
A pained sigh escaped a mouth of a teen sleeping in one of the chambers deep inside of Arctis Tor. Then his eyes slowly fluttered open, the green and blue cold and filled with untapped power and potential.
He sat up and groaned as he slowly stretched. He slept for what felt like an eternity and he felt as if his body wasn't his own. He looked down at his bare chest and saw more muscles than he remembered seeing, yet that wasn't the only change. He was also taller and he felt as if in few seconds, maybe minutes grew more than he did in a span of months.
There was also the unconscious awareness of what was happening in the realm of Winter. He felt about Aurora and he immediately could tell where she was and that she was talking towards the chamber he was in. It freaked him out, maybe even more than the power he felt waiting his call to answer.
He was dimly aware of the fact that a transformation he underwent when he had made the sacrifice would have changed him, yet he wasn't quite aware how extensive the changes would be. Being taller and more muscled was a thing he appreciated, the strange awareness of what everybody was doing in the fortress and beyond was extremely disturbing...
o-0-o
A/N – The Merlin is a badass and has access to a wide collection of toys so he won't have issues killing one or two Lords of the Outer Night. Especially since he chose the terrain, the time and situation. But three Lords and a whole crowd of nobles is a different kettle of fish. He can probably win it, but he is even more starved for manpower and can't afford losing too many Wardens.
For those that are lazy and don't want to keep track of killed ones. Of the original twelve, currently dead are two and third is wounded:
1st KIA – Lily and the Eldest Gruff
2nd KIA – The Erlking/Herne the Hunter
1st WIA – The Merlin
Joyeuse is one of my more favorite swords. A weapon of Charlemagne and according to some say that it holds the Lance/Spear of Longinus. The weapon that pierced Christ's side when he hanged from the cross which here means POWER. Not only a weapon that injured a god, but also people revere it as a sacred item and belief = power and we have and had a lot of people that revered it.
Second legend is that it is a sibling of Curtana and Durendal, another thing that gives it power. I wanted to use something that wouldn't be too obscure and would have a nice name. Joyous sounds better than many names of swords and is a fitting name for a sword of one who leads a body that tries to keep humanity safeish.
The fact that is was used by the first Roman Emperor in the west since the fall of the Roman Empire and we know that royal bloodlines have power in Dresden Files. Well, what would be a better weapon than this large needle?
Reviews:
Uzushiogakure – The Summer was winning even without Oberon being there. Winter's Knight is an ice sculpture in Mab's garden as Mr Dresden is a very stubborn individual and isn't keen on taking the Mantle.
There is one huge advantage of the Mantle Harry has. He can be killed in a single day/night of the year, Halloween, outside of that he is immortal. Well, unless he pisses off things like Mothers, possibly the Gatekeeper and some of the deities. But say a stab to the heart? He will be hurt, he will be very, very, very mad and wanting to murder the one that did it, but other than that he will be fine.
As for Hogwarts being a battleground. It was even without the mess with all of the Courts trying to keep an eye on troubles and trying to sabotage others works. Slytherin and Gryffindor fought each other and during Order of the Phoenix they had riots... Granted, none of them there was stupid enough to actually use poisons, but oh, well, they were nicer and kinder.
