A/N: Characters and world property of JK Rowling. No copyright infringement intended.
Beta Love: ambiguousgoldfish, the best beta in the world
Of Blacks and Boarhounds
By Zorak23
The bloody palm print on the parchment was moving, slowly forming shapes. Before their eyes, words appeared.
Alula Ophelia Black
Daughter of Orion and Walburga Black
Date of Birth ~ February 25th, 1970
Chapter Twenty One
July 1, 1992
Severus fell back against the chaise longue in shock. Lulabelle looked confused.
"That's not right, that can't be right," she said, to no one in particular.
"I assure you, my Friend, the identity parchment is infallible," King Ragnuk assured her.
Lulabelle turned to Severus. "But I wasn't born in 1970, Lou. Something went wrong," she said, visibly getting upset.
"Lulabelle, it's not wrong…" Severus started to say.
"No! It's wrong! I don't belong here! I don't belong in England! I don't belong in this time! My home is in Oklahoma, thirty years from now! It's wrong!" she yelled, starting to cry.
Severus wrapped her in his long arms and pulled her into his lap. "It's wrong, it's wrong," she sobbed into his chest. King Ragnuk looked at them, shocked.
Stroking Lulabelle's back, Severus spoke to the king. "When Lulabelle's accidental magic sent her to England, it also sent her thirty years into the past. She left Oklahoma on June 27th, 2022, and ended up in Manchester on June 27th, 1992."
King Ragnuk sat heavily upon his throne. "So whoever blocked her magic…"
"Also sent her forward in time," Severus finished, pressing a kiss to the top of Lulabelle's curls. "May I trouble you for a Calming Draught, your majesty?"
The king simply snapped his fingers, and within moments a goblin was handing the draught to Severus. After popping off the lid and smelling the potion, he spoke into her ear, still stroking her back.
"Drink this, my lady. It will help you calm down. Come now, sweet witch. Drink it all… very good, Lulabelle. I've got you. No need to worry." He continued stroking her back and speaking quietly as he held her tightly. Soon her sobs tapered off and her fists, which had been tightly clenched in the front of his robes, relaxed. Severus realized she had fallen asleep.
"Perhaps a smaller dose for her first Calming Draught would have been preferable," he said with chagrin to the king.
Baring his teeth with a small grin, King Ragnuk replied, "Perhaps."
"You know, she is quite convinced that she's actually in a coma. She thinks this - magic and witches and wizards, all of it - is a dream, just something she made up. She thinks she's in a coma in Oklahoma after her accident, and instead of being upset for herself, she was worried about the fate of her dog."
"An uncommon witch, indeed. And an excellent quality to have in a Friend to the Goblin Nation," the king replied.
Severus snorted. "She thought she had an 'oversized' boarhound. He's a bloody Cŵn Annwn."
King Ragnuk laughed at that. "Tell me, Esquire. Do you think she can change the fate of the Nation?"
"Honestly, your majesty? I think she's going to change the world."
Lulabelle awoke disoriented. For a few moments, she simply laid on the soft bed and tried to remember where she was. When the answer wasn't forthcoming, she tried to remember how she'd gotten there. That knowledge escaped her as well. She sat up and looked around the room she was in. Although small, it was lavishly furnished, with decorations of delicately wrought precious metals scattered throughout. Lulabelle was just rising from the bed when the door opened and a female goblin entered.
"Madam Seer should not be getting up on her own!" The goblin cried, rushing to her side and helping her back under the covers.
"Really, ma'am, I feel fine," Lulabelle tried to say, but was immediately spoken over.
"No no, Madam Seer, you shall stay right here. I shall fetch the Esquire for you," she said, and turned to leave the room. Before she opened the door, however, she turned back to Lulabelle.
"You stay," the goblin told her firmly, and walked through the doorway.
Lulabelle huffed a smile at her retreating back. Soon, Severus was striding into the room and to her side.
"Lulabelle, how are you feeling?" he asked. She raised her arms to him and he scooped her up into his arms and sat on the bed, placing her in his lap.
"I don't know where I am, Lou," she said against his robes, her head laid upon his chest. He brushed his hand down the back of her curls.
"You are in a guest room in the palace. King Ragnuk had me bring you here when you fell asleep after taking a Calming Draught." Severus winced at that. "I am sorry, my lady. I should have thought about it being the first time you had taken a potion of any kind, and given you a smaller dose."
Lulabelle sighed into his chest. "I kinda liked it when you called me 'sweet witch' instead of 'my lady', Lou," she softly told him. Severus quirked a smile at her words and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
"Did you, sweet witch? And why is that?" he wondered.
"I dunno. Just seems… less formal, I guess. You don't have to, Lou. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."
Severus tightened his arms around her. "Of course you should have, sweet witch. Now, Before King Ragnuk requests our presence, let me tell you what has happened whilst you were asleep." He cast a silencing charm around them, then snorted.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"I 'did the thing'," he replied, and she snickered as well. "After I brought you in here, the king asked to see me privately. I told him everything, except for the fact that you aren't truly a Seer; mostly because I didn't want to inform the King of the Goblin Nation that we had lied to him. He now knows all of the information in the books that you have told me, however he thinks that you have Seen these events." Severus paused to take a deep breath and continued, "I also told him about our plans for Potter, Black, and the horcruxes. King Ragnuk is actually a great strategist, and when he is not terrifying me, a brilliant conversationalist as well."
"He terrifies you?" she asked incredulously.
"Sweet witch, goblins and wizards do not have a pleasant history. He scares the bloody hell out of me."
She snickered at him. "Imma tell him you said that, Lou. He's been perfectly pleasant since we got here. All of the goblins have been," she added.
"I cannot believe you managed to charm the entire Goblin Nation, Lulabelle."
"Speakin' of, Lou, what does bein' a Friend and an Esquire even mean?" she wanted to know.
Severus blew out a breath. "As a Friend, you are basically considered a member of the king's family. You have the same rights and protections afforded to goblin royalty, and they will back you in any way they can. I'm sure there is more to it, but that is what I know. As an Esquire, I am more like a member of the Nation as opposed to the royal family, and have the rights and protections of any member thereof."
"All that for bein' nice?"
"All that for being nice," he agreed.
"That really pisses me off. And makes me even more mad that I ended up fuckin' British."
Severus shifted her in his lap. "Yes, well, that is something else we need to discuss," he started to say, but there was a knock on the door. Severus quickly cancelled the silencing charm and called out, "You may enter."
The same female goblin that had been there earlier entered the room. "King Ragnuk wants to know if Madam Seer has recovered," she announced.
Lulabelle scooted off Severus' lap. "Yes ma'am, I'm feelin' much better now. Thank ya so much for all your help," she replied. "I'm sorry for all the trouble."
The goblin looked at her curiously. "You call me ma'am?"
"We haven't been introduced yet, ma'am. I don't know your name," she said, and turned, intending to whack Severus again for yet another slight against the goblins, only to find that he'd moved out of her range.
"Lulabelle, this is Urkat, Head of…" he paused. "My apologies, Urkat, I don't remember your title."
Urkat bared her teeth at him in a small smile. "Apologies accepted, Esquire," she said, and approached the couple. To Lulabelle, she said, "I am Head Chargoblin Urkat. May your vaults overflow and your enemies cower before you, Madam Seer."
"Pleased to meet ya, Urkat. I'm Tallulah Isabelle Blackburn, but please call me Lulabelle. May your vaults overflow and your enemies cower before ya, too," Lulabelle replied, extending her arm to the goblin.
The two grasped forearms and smiled at each other. "If you are well, King Ragnuk has requested your presence, Madam Seer. Yours as well, Esquire," Urkat told them.
"Lulabelle," she corrected. Urkat bowed her head in acknowledgement.
"Yes. Lulabelle," she replied.
Severus rose and offered Lulabelle his arm. They followed Urkat out of the room and down a long gilded hall towards the throne room, but stopped in front of another set of doors instead. The trio entered a lavishly appointed room, richly decorated yet surprisingly comfortable. King Ragnuk was seated in a chair similar to his throne, but softer somehow, more comfortable looking.
The king rose as they approached. "Lulabelle. I trust that you are recovered?" he asked.
Lulabelle blushed. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry to be such a bother," she started to say, but the king cut her off.
"You had a shock. I apologize for my part in it. I was not fully aware of your circumstances," King Ragnuk said with a wave of his hand to brush off her concerns. "I gather you were not aware that you are a Black?"
"No sir. I knew I was adopted, but I always thought that I was born in Phoenix, in the year 2000."
At that, Severus' head snapped up. "Phoenix? I thought you said you were found in Arizona."
Lulabelle rolled her eyes at him. "Yeah, Lou. Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix is the capital city there. Try to keep up, sugar."
Severus huffed at her. "It is an interesting coincidence, Lulabelle, that you would be found in Phoenix, having been kidnapped during the same year that the Order of the Phoenix was founded."
She sat down heavily on the settee across from the king. "I was kidnapped? How do you know?" she demanded.
Severus sat next to her and wrapped his arm around her. "The infant daughter of a Noble and Most Ancient House being kidnapped? It made national headlines, sweet witch, even in the muggle world. I remember my parents talking about it after seeing it on the telly."
"Oh," she said softly. "I always thought I wasn't wanted. That I was a mistake someone left on a park bench because… well, I don't know why. They wanted me?"
"Yes, sweet witch," Severus told her, gathering her into his arms. "And they never forgot about you, either. Regulus spoke of you from time to time. And throughout Hogwarts, even when they were at each other's throats, Reggie and Sirius would celebrate your birthday together every year. You were very much wanted, and very much missed."
Lulabelle was silent for a moment, trying not to let her tears fall. King Ragnuk cleared his throat.
"I take it you have Seen your family?" he queried.
"Yes, well no, I mean… I mean yes I know who they are, but I didn't know they were my family," Lulabelle told him.
King Ragnuk grunted at her. "Your father refused to believe you were lost to him forever. He kept your trust vault open, and barred his wife from accessing it. Accounts Manager Nagnok has managed your vault all this time, and has made several wise decisions regarding your finances."
"Oh, that's nice of him, I'll have to tell him thanks," she said in a distracted voice, her mind racing, trying to connect the dots. "So I was kidnapped, magically bound, and sent to the future? Why? Could someone really have hated the Blacks that much?"
"I do not know, but they will be found, and they will be punished," growled the king. "As for now, I have commanded Accounts Manager Nagnok to present an accounting of all your holdings for you."
He pressed a rune carved into the arm of his chair. Almost immediately, the door to the sitting room opened and a goblin entered carrying a large book.
After bowing to the king, he said, "Madam Seer, I am Accounts Manager Nagnok. May your vaults overflow and your enemies cower before you."
The traditional greeting was completed, and he placed the book on the low table in front of the settee. "As you can see, your trust is quite robust. I have been able to make some sound investments for you over the years, much more so than I would have been able to do had you been present and using the account. You also inherited a significant amount upon the deaths of your father and your brother. As your only other immediate family member still living is currently residing in Azkaban, you are now the de facto head of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, pending the outcome of the trial of one Sirius Black."
Lulabelle glanced at Severus in surprise. "Ya really did tell King Ragnuk everything, Lou," she commented.
Before he could reply, the king bared his teeth in a grin and spoke. "He did, as any Esquire should. However, we already knew that Sirius Black is still awaiting trial. Our records would have changed to reflect it had he been either sentenced or released."
"I see," murmured Lulabelle, looking over the figures. "So what does bein' the de facto Head of House entail?"
"You have access to all Black vaults, in addition to your trust vault. You have power over the trust vaults of all members of the Black family. You have sole access to the financial vault, and controlling interest over the family vault. You have ownership of the Black family ancestral home at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, and all contents therein. You have a seat on the Wizengamot. All of this is subject to the outcome of the trial of Sirius Black," Nagnok replied. "Should he be found innocent, you shall retain sole access to your personal trust vault, as per the decree of Orion Black. You shall have limited access to the family vault. Everything else will revert to the control of Sirius Black."
"What's the net worth of my trust vault?" Lulabelle wanted to know.
"687,794 Galleons, 14 Sickles, and 20 Knuts," Nagnok replied.
At the blank look on Lulabelle's face, Severus said, "Could you tell us what that would be in American dollars, please?"
"Certainly. In American dollars, your trust vault is worth $3,308,125.54. As I said, I was able to make some very good investments."
"Thank ya for that, Nagnok. I do appreciate it," Lulabelle said. Severus was quite surprised that she seemed to take the vast amount in stride. "And what is the liquid net worth of all the vaults? Excluding the trust vaults of other family members, of course," she went to on ask.
"5,976,778 Galleons, 9 Sickles, and 5 Knuts." Nagnok thought for a moment, then said, "In American dollars, the liquid net worth of all vaults, other than the ones specified, is $28,746,847.02."
Severus had paled in shock when he heard the amount. He was vaguely aware of Lulabelle asking if she was allowed to set up trusts for non-family members and whether or not they'd be honored when Sirius was released, but mostly his mind was spinning, wondering how long he had left with her before she realized how much better she could do than him. He hoped she would at least want to stay friendly, but didn't expect her to do so. After all, she was a Pureblood princess, a wealthy Pureblood princess, and he was just a Manc from Spinner's End, the worst part of the wrong side of the tracks in Cokeworth. 'You knew she was too good for you, man. Keep it together. Offer to help her move her things to her fucking ancestral home…'
"Lou. Lou! Are ya listenin' to me?" His thoughts were interrupted by Lulabelle's voice.
"I'm sorry, what did you say, my lady?"
She narrowed her eyes at him. "I asked ya if ya thought it would be okay to set up trusts for each of the Weasley children, or if it would offend their folks. Are ya okay? Ya look like you've seen a ghost," she replied. "And why am I 'my lady' again?"
Severus ducked his head in an attempt to hide his face with his hair. "You've had a change in status, Lulabelle. I didn't want to presume…"
"Presume what? That now, since I have access to money that actually works in this time period, I'd just, what, run off and forget about ya?"
"No, but you have to see…"
"I see that ya have little faith in me," Lulabelle said, hurt evident on her face. Severus grabbed her hands in his.
"No, sweet witch. I'm sorry. I should not have reacted this way. Please forgive me."
Lulabelle softened. "I'll forgive ya, ya silly man. Besides, ya already knew I came from money. We talked about my daddy bein' in oil," she reminded him.
Severus chuckled softly. "Yes, but this is quite a lot of…"
"Lou," she interrupted him. "Daddy's in oil. This isn't really all that much money to me." Severus' eyes widened at her words. "So if you're worried about me changin' or puttin' on airs just 'cause I inherited a bunch of money from some people I never met, it's not gonna happen. Ya liked me before, right?"
He nodded at her, and she squeezed his hands. "I'm still the same person. It doesn't amount to a hill of beans what I have in the bank."
Severus snorted. "That would be a rather large hill, sweet witch," he told her.
"Lou. I put more into my foundation every year than what's in my trust vault. And that money comes from my real trust, the one back home. I mean, I'm sure inflation has a lot to do with it, but these vaults? It's enough to be comfortable, but it's not what I'm used to."
"Merlin's bollocks," he said, flabbergasted. "I had no idea…"
"So this? This changes nothin' for me. Except that I won't feel bad makin' ya pay for everything anymore."
"I see," he said faintly.
At that point, King Ragnuk cleared his throat. "Lulabelle, I wanted to ask you about the basilisk," he stated.
"Oh sure. There's one in the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts. Why?"
"The Nation traditionally used a basilisk to guard our vaults. At the unfortunate death of our last guardian, we had to resort to the use of dragons."
Lulabelle narrowed her eyes at him. "And ya want me to get ya the snake," she stated.
"Yes," he replied.
"No."
"No?" the king asked, curiously.
"Absolutely not. I know how y'all treat the dragon that the kids escaped on. Clankers? Seriously? Y'all trained a beautiful animal to respond to pain, and kept somethin' born to fly trapped underground. I will not facilitate the capture of another animal for ya, Friend or no Friend."