Summery – The Black Nightmare! … When everyone knows he's out to get you, should you be more afraid?
Disclaimer – J.K. Rowling, I am not… there are some direct quotes, some mixed quotes, and some indirect quotes from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in this, but I did try to make it fun to re-read what you've probably read before if you're reading Harry Potter fanfiction.
Segment 10 – Decisions & SWA
Jamie was broken.
Over the course of the next five weeks she was little more than an automaton, blankly following directions with absolutely no emotions and barely whispering when she spoke, during the very rare instances that she did so. Professor Lupin even called off their Patronus lessons since Jamie had no will to try casting the spell and the Bogarts were ignoring the girl in front of them as even they were having no luck finding a form that would frighten her.
Yelling at her during Quidditch practice produced no results, the Girl-Who-Lived could hardly get the broom to hover, let alone fly like the wind demon she used to be. Angelina was forced to replace Jamie as Seeker with Ginny Weasley, who borrowed Jamie's new broom from the completely apathetic girl for the mid-March match against Ravenclaw.
Her grades suffered across the board, but she just didn't care.
After five grueling weeks, only Hermione and Daphne even bothered to try anymore, even the teachers had abandoned their broken pupil.
She blamed herself for her godfather's death, denying or ignoring anyone that said differently.
Draco had been overjoyed by Jamie's sorrow, but his insults were met with silence, his hexes and curses ignored, and his boasts unanswered. After more than a month, he'd begun to feel pity, and even remorse, for his actions against the girl he'd hated for so long.
Investigations into Lord Black's assassination were stymied, evidence thrown out or suppressed.
Even the calls for Dumbledore to step down, or to be tried, had lessened from the revelations of the Potter Will.
Dumbledore couldn't have been happier.
The 27th of March found Jamie with Andy and Master Crushbone in an upstairs room of the Three Broomsticks, warded for extreme privacy; while Dora masqueraded up at the school as her younger 'sister' to hopefully prevent a certain meddling Headmaster from interfering with this meeting, as he had the previous three attempts.
"Lady Potter, you know why we are here today?"
Jamie nodded slightly at Master Crushbone's query.
"The Public Reading for the late Lord Black's Will will be one week from today. Is it your intention to be at that reading?"
Jamie gave the briefest of twitches to indicate a negative response.
"Very well, let us begin."
-LW&T-
I, Sirius Orion Black, III, do hereby state my Will with regards to my House, Betrothed, and all of my holdings, be they monetary or physical. This Will, created on this the 18th day of February, in the Year of Our Lord 1994, does override and replace all previous incarnations of this document.
I don't know why Amy wants me to do this today, since I'll just have to update it again in a few months after the wedding, and I'll do half of this stuff this weekend myself, but here goes.
As the House of Black, by Charter, must be held by a Member of the House, by Blood, in Good Standing, I designate my God-Daughter, Harriett Lillian 'Jamie' Potter, Granddaughter of Dorea Lacerta Potter nee Black as Heiress to the House and Line and ask that she carry out my wishes if I am unable to do so. If something, God forbid, should happen to Jamie, I name Arthur Septimus Weasley, Son of Cedrella Weasley nee Black, as secondary Heir.
For my Betrothed, Amelia Susan Bones, and her niece, Susan Seraphina Bones, I extend the Protection of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black to the Noble and Elder House of Bones through my Heir, and request that she aid the both of you as family should. You don't really need anything I have, but I trust Jamie to help you if you need it.
If I was betrayed, then I leave it to Jamie to deliver the Judas Price to my betrayer, but I know, without doubt, that if my passing has anything to do with the trial this weekend, my little Faun is, in all likelihood, blaming herself without any justifiable reason to do so. You brought me hope, pup, let that shine forth unto others and keep living. I know you would never betray me, so don't take my death upon your shoulders, but place it upon those that prevented me from spending the rest of my life spoiling you rotten. When you do find out who caused it, remember my House's creed, Never Cross a Black.
All of my holdings belong to my House, and thus to my Heir.
Andromeda Belvina Tonks nee Black, I ask my Heir to Reinstate you, and by extension add your Husband, Theodore Edward Tonks, and Daughter, Nymphadora Natalia Tonks, to the House of Black and to also present to you the Dowry you should have had all those years ago.
Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black, I ask my Heir to annul your marriage as the stated terms of two children, including an Heir, be born within ten years, has not been met. The House of Black demands the immediate return of Dowry, fortitude of Bride Price, and Restitution of losses to the House of Black. I leave it to my Heir to banish you from the family, though I strongly suggest my Heir do so.
Narcissa Helena Malfoy nee Black, I ask my Heir to annul your marriage as the stated terms of two children, including an Heir, be born within ten years, has not been met. The House of Black demands the immediate return of Dowry, fortitude of Bride Price, and Restitution of losses to the House of Black. I leave it to my Heir to banish you from the family, though I strongly suggest my Heir do so.
Draco Lucius Malfoy, I ask my Heir to Banish you from the House of Black for your multitude of betrayals to kith and kin.
Harriett Lillian 'Jamie' Potter, know that there are three betrothal agreements with your name on them. It was my intention to negate two of these the moment I was declared a free man and tell you of the third. If I failed to achieve that, I'm sorry. You deserve to find love for yourself, not because some white bearded wanker chose to saddle you with someone, or your father got drunk with Lord Longbottom the week you were born. Don't worry about the penalties, the old bastard had no right and your father, thankfully, wasn't drunk enough to forget a few escape clauses. Please take this opportunity to negate them for yourself, though you may wish to acquaint yourself with Heir Longbottom first.
Arthur Septimus Weasley, grow a pair. Stop letting your youngest get away with things I know you raised your eldest against. I know losing Peggy and Annie was hard on you and your wife, but that's no reason not to stand firm in your beliefs and raise your younger kids properly. You're a good man, start showing it.
Molly Julianne Weasley nee Prewett, I don't know why you did it, but for writing up not one but two Betrothal Agreements, one between Harry James Potter and Ginevra Molly Weasley, and another Harriett Lillian Potter and Ronald Bilious Weasley, with the white bearded wanker, Albus Wulfric Dumbledore, I request my Heir banish you from the House of Black, whether or not Arthur banishes you from House Weasley as well is entirely up to him. I would caution anyone that has had any contact with that woman to get checked for potions; she has been known to use love and loyalty potions in the past.
Albus Wulfric Dumbledore, LEAVE MY GODDAUGHTER ALONE!
Signed
Sirius Orion Black, III
Witness
Amelia Susan Bones, Betrothed of Lord Black, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Crushbone, Potter Account Manager of Gringott's London
Ironhand, Black Account Manager of Gringott's London
-LW&T-
Once Jamie looked up from the Will, Master Crushbone asked, "The Will lays obligations upon you, do you accept these obligations?"
Jamie nodded slightly once more.
"Acceptance must be sworn to."
Jamie glanced away from Master Crushbone for a moment, then raised her wand and whispered more words than she had said in the last three weeks combined, "I, Harriett Lillian Potter, also known as Jamie, Lady of the Houses of Potter, Peverell, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Monroe, and Gaunt, Heiress Designate of the House of Black will accede to my late Lord Black's wishes."
"I know you do not like the number of Houses you already have, but you will be adding more Houses and a Clan to that list," the goblin account manager said with a sigh.
"What?" Andy asked.
"The House Black is descended from the House of Le Fay with Rights of Conquest over the Houses of White and Bell, the English House not the Scottish Clan, and the Scottish Clan of Dunn. The House of Le Fay also brings with it the Sister-House of Ravenclaw."
"Sister-House?" Jamie's guardian whispered.
Master Crushbone nodded, "By the charter of that House, unless and until a legitimate heir can be found for the House, all of its' holdings and interests are controlled by the House of Nearest Relation. Rowena's nearest relation was her sister Morgan of House Le Fay, and thus you young Lady are Regent of Ravenclaw." The goblin then laid out four ring boxes and what appeared to be an iron ringlet before her. "The band goes upon your upper left arm, the rings are the same as before."
Nodding her slight nod, Jamie slowly picked up the rings and donned them, officially taking up her leadership of her new Houses and Clan.
"The Weasley Betrothal Agreements?" Master Crushbone asked.
Jamie whispered, "Negate them."
"The Longbottom Betrothal Agreement?"
"I need to see it first, but will probably negate it as well."
"Bellatrix and Narcissa?" Andy questioned.
"Annul and collect what is owed," Jamie stated quietly.
"Do you wish the same agreement with the new Account Managers as we're arranged with the previous Account Managers?"
Jamie gave her minimalist nod of agreement once more.
"We have a trip to the States next weekend, perhaps Friday evening would work for a short meeting or perhaps the weekend after?" Andy enquired.
"Very well," Master Crushbone said gathering his papers as he prepared to depart.
Outwardly, very little had changed about Jamie Potter during the next week, although Hermione, and to some extent Daphne, could tell something had happened. No matter how much Hermione begged however, Jamie just wasn't talking. Friday evening saw Jamie walking through the main gate to Hogwarts to meet Andy and Dora, since even the Headmaster locking down the Wards couldn't prevent the majority owner of the castle from moving about as she wished. Surprisingly, Hermione had taken to resetting the Time Turner nightly for the week leading up to the school visit.
The meeting at Gringott's was 'short' by goblin standards, only four hours long, to introduce her to the thirty-seven new Account Managers, only three of which she would need to deal with on a continual basis, and give her an overview of her new estates. After a four hour nap, and an international portkey, Jamie, Andy, and Dora were walking through the front gates of Salem Witch's Academy, New Salem, Rusk County, Texas, in the United States of America.
"I thought this place was in Massachusetts?" Andy asked as their guide arrived.
"Most folks do, and we let 'em," the lanky woman replied.
"Why?" whispered Jamie.
"Hmm, well… you hear 'bout them Witch Trials way back?"
"The ones in 1692 right?" Dora asked.
"Them's the ones. None of our girls was involved mind, but Colonel John Pruitt could see another risin' force 'gainst us and convinced the Board to change location fur safety sake back in the 1840s. Got the Salem Wizard's Institute out in Oregon to move down too a few years later; they's across town now. Nobody expects to find us down here after all that hullabaloo back North."
The pink haired Auror was curious, "And the town? How do you maintain the Statute of Secrecy?"
"Oh, that's easy. Colonel Pruitt set up a big ward 'bout the area. Iffen's you can't handle magic, or want to go blabbin' 'bout it, when you leave town, you forget, or have an uneasy like feelin', and don't wanna come back."
"Interesting… That could be handy to have back home," Andy commented.
"Right," the woman said cracking her knuckles, "Let's get crackin'. I'm Linda Roberts, one of the Defense Instructors here, and you are?"
"I am Andromeda Black-Tonks," then waved her hand to Dora, "this Auror is my daughter Nymphadora Black-Tonks…"
"Mom!"
Andy smirked at Dora's outrage, "And this is…"
"Lilith Black, Madam Roberts," Jamie said quietly, shocking both Andy and Dora by the sudden name change.
"Sis?" Dora asked.
"White… bearded… wanker…" the newly rechristened Lilith replied quietly, holding up a finger for each word.
Dora nodded in understanding.
"I sense a story there… but anyways," Ms. Roberts began as she led the three Brits about the ninety acre main campus, highlighting various activities, clubs, and electives that were available to the students, the Equestrian Studies classes really peaked Lilith's interest; and while there was flying clubs available, they didn't have Quidditch, which suited her just fine.
Unlike Hogwarts, the students were not divided up into houses for classes, but the three dorms on campus did have a bit of a friendly rivalry between them about a wide variety of things. The uniforms were fairly casual, almost no one wore robes, but the formal skirts were a bit of a problem for Lilith.
"Madam Roberts, would I be required to wear that tartan?"
"Tartan?"
"The Wallace Clan's red, black, and yellow tartan that is displayed on the formal skirts?"
"Not sure what Wallace Clan means, but that is the official uniform. Why?"
"Would you have a Cherokee Chief dress as an Apache Chief?"
"There's a difference?" Ms. Roberts asked with a bewildered look.
Lilith sighed, "Yes, there's a difference. I would need to wear Clan Dunn's blue, black, and red tartan. It would be inappropriate for me to ware another clan's tartan… even though I think we were allied."
"Why's that?"
"I'm the Chieftess."
"Oh… ah… I'd have to check with Principle Morehouse. Don't reckon we've had that issue 'round here before."
They had lunch in the 'cafeteria' and met several girls who would be in Lilith's classes, and everyone seemed open and friendly to the foreign witches in their midst, and highly amused by Dora's Metamorphmagus antics during the meal and a feeling akin to contentment slowly leaked its' way into Lilith's voice.
As they left, later that day, Lilith told Andy that, pending dress code issues, she would indeed like to attend this Academy, but still wanted to check out Antipodean in Australia before making the decision final.
After another international portkey, Jamie spent the evening of Easter Sunday at home being questioned by Andy and Dora about 'Lilith Black.'
Having sealed the Wards of Hogwarts to prevent the Potter brat from escaping, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore made his way to the lonely and remote spire called Nurmengard. In the top most cell, in an obsidian throne draped in golden chains and looking out a small, North facing window, sat the only occupant of this ancient looking, black structure.
"Hello love!" Dumbledore greeted the nearly identical man gaily.
"You should stop this, they will find out eventually."
"Oh, I doubt that very much, love. The enchantments here are working flawlessly. It's already been nearly fifty years you know."
"You really shouldn't have strayed so far from the path."
"You really shouldn't have taken my favorite play toy from me. But I think I could forgive you if you swore to serve me again."
"Let me go you bastard. How could you ever think I'd support you after I found out about my sister?"
"Ariana made such interesting noises for me. It was all for the Greater Good, you know," Albus said in a patronizing tone, "surely you remember the oaths we swore to achieve that?"
"You are an evil man," the chained man glared at the unchained one, "There is no way you are working towards the Greater Good."
"Oh but I am! I am… and I've nearly got it all set. Just over a year from now, young Tom will rejoin us and I'll finally be rid of that annoying Potter brat," he said with a scowl.
"I won't help you."
"Oh, but you already are, love. You already are!"
When Jamie got back to Hogwarts, her depression slammed back down on her like a ton of bricks. She really did not want to be anywhere near the castle any more, or even England for that matter, the pain and betrayal caused by those within made her want to run away.
There were only nine weeks left of the year.
Nine more weeks of this torment.
Nine weeks and she would be free.
Jamie could hold out for nine more weeks; she'd had to endure such heavy hardships before, and she had a few things she needed to take care of still.
Finding Neville reading in the common room, Jamie decided to take care of the Betrothal Agreement first. Gently patting him on the shoulder to get his attention and motioning for him to follow her up to the third year boy's dorm room; curious as ever, Hermione followed. Jamie sat on Neville's bed and glared at Hermione for a moment when the other girl entered, then shrugged it off and patted the bed for Neville to sit beside her.
"What is it Jamie?" Neville asked somewhat nervously.
Jamie handed the boy the document she wanted to discuss.
Quickly looking it over, Neville was startled, "This is… Jamie?"
"What is it Neville?" Hermione asked.
"It's a Betrothal Agreement between Jamie and me; but I didn't know… when was this?" Neville riffled through the document, "We weren't even a week old!"
"A Betrothal Agreement… like a contract? I didn't think those were used anymore." Hermione said shaking her head.
Neville turned to Hermione, "It will be a Contract when it goes into effect, until then it's only an agreement. When you're part of one of the Ancient Houses, especially the Noble ones, these kinds of things are actually rather common still. Gran set one up for me with Hannah when we were five."
"So you now have two contracts for marriage?"
"Maybe three with this one; I think Gran was hinting about another over the Christmas Hols."
"And you're okay with that?" Hermione sounded offended.
Neville shrugged, "There's reasons."
"'Mione… we talked about this." Jamie said quietly.
"Yeah, yeah… sexist society… it's just…"
"Not something you expected to see firsthand?" Neville asked.
Hermione shook her head.
"Let's see…" Neville started reading again, "Houses kept separate… that's good, keeps any Heirs from fighting too much… political independence… also good, allows us to disagree on things… an Heir for each House, that's not too bad… what?"
Jamie interrupted him, "I'm not a broodmare."
"What do you mean?" Neville looked concerned.
"How many Houses do you have Neville? Jamie has seven."
"Ten." Jamie clarified.
"Ten?" Hermione asked, "Potter, Peverell, Black, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Monroe, and Gaunt… what are the others?"
"Le Fay, Bell and White… I'm also Regent Ravenclaw and Chieftess of Clan Dunn, but I don't know what I have to do for those yet."
"I've got Longbottom, Blake and Reeves, but need to take an inheritance test to confirm everything." Neville shook his head, "I was just thinking of Longbottom and Potter… Sorry Jamie."
"We need to cancel this. I'll probably have to pair up the Houses for my Heirs. I don't see me having as many kids as the Weasleys, let alone twice as many."
"Okay then… cancellation penalties… ah… so that's why you brought this to me."
Hermione couldn't help but ask, "Why?"
"Mutual agreement to cancel the betrothal resulting in no penalties for either House… just has to be signed and witnessed."
"McGonagall?"
Neville nodded, "Probably for the best."
Draco was annoyed. His parents had spent the better part of the weekend at Gringott's trying to find out what had happened; their manor had been seized and, though his father wouldn't mention it outright, most of their money as well.
The pampered 'Prince of Slytherin' tried to maintain his normal blustering behavior, but the so called 'Ice Queen' had no problems seeing through his act, and dutifully reported on the downfall of House Malfoy to her father.
-Author's Notes-
For those that failed to realize it (UPSET GUEST among you) Sirius did not get a trial last chapter… Dumbledore, Fudge, and Umbridge made sure of that before Bones could call for the trial to begin, thus temporarily remove certain persons from power, and call on someone to bring Jamie to the courtroom, thereby forcing Dumbledore to allow such an action to take place (remember the note Jamie sent with Hedwig even though she couldn't go to the Owlery?). The trial wasn't the only thing the Wizengamot was meeting for, so Dumbledore's presence is appropriate as Chief Warlock… just because you don't like what happened, doesn't mean that you have to scream and pout about it.
The 19th of February went to HFIL in a handbasket for the Wizengamot… which is how Dumbledore managed to escape somewhat that day. The Potter Will was released in the Daily Prophet on the 20th alongside the news of the assassination of Lord Black. The plan was to ambush the Old Bastard with the Will during the trial… but he did something they failed to anticipate.
Oh… Lizard21… if you know who Ariana is, you should be able to figure out what that other passage was all about. Hopefully the one in this chapter will clear the mud up a bit.
Annie and Peggy Weasley are from Barb LP's Harry Potter and the Time of Good Intentions… a very, very well written story. Start with www fanfiction net/s/288212/1/Harry-Potter-and-the-Psychic-Serpent as I doubt you will regret reading this trilogy.
New Salem, Rusk County, TX - www txrusk com/cities/newsalem htm (add the periods back in)
The Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. The two schools were moved to Texas about 100 years later for my story.
In case you were wondering… Jamie has 85 Account Managers (10 that she will deal with directly), but I haven't named them all yet. Their names will reflect different cultures and rival banking clans… just to have a bit of fun with… but they really aren't very important to the story.
Dunn is my mother's maiden name and is a boarder clan with Highland ties (my father's is from the Highlands), White and Bell were picked for my story and have no basis in Canon, but with the history of violence attributed to the House of Black, it stands to reason that they would have conquered at least a couple of other Houses, and I've seen the links to Le Fay in a few different stories and liked the idea… especially with the three ravens on the Black crest.
I haven't decided if Katie will be a vassal of House Black yet… if she is, I'll probably borrow Sam Bell from Barb LP as well… though he won't be much more than a mention in my story.
As always… Like / Review / Whatever… till next time.