Being in another time was strange but it was what she knew that made it so hard. It was hard to tell these people anything but Harry had agreed that these were people you laid it out for, forced to hear you and know. Narcissa had agreed as well, don't try and hide it, make them believe the consequences.
So she was, but it was hard and she desperately wanted to keep saying things wouldn't happen or telling herself that but her being here didn't change anything if they couldn't change the game board. If all the pieces stayed in their places then things would go on and so they had to move pieces, change the rules even. She wasn't willing to give up anyone she didn't have to. All the kids that could have parents and the world they could have, she hoped so anyways.
Even if just this one influential family changed, maybe not much but actually then it should be a win.
Harry had a list of things to tell her at their second, and last, post revelation dinner and that was one of them. Even if she time travelled she was only one witch.
"So, what will he think of me?" They both looked her over after her question and she tried not to blush.
"That is not what I meant. I don't even know if my hair is a disaster or anything. Maybe I have something in my teeth, I don't know. I mean would the fact that I am Called, would it mean he believed me? Or would it make him less likely to?" She was having a hard time articulating what she meant and they exchanged glances. All she could do was eat one of the quiches on her plate and wait.
"He will not like it? Whatever it is, you think he would be resistant to the idea." Alphard asked carefully. Regulus looked disbelieving, probably unable to imagine his brother might actually disbelieve her.
"Yes. It is extremely unpalatable. I promised, my friend, I promised him I would try and convince Sirius. Do my best and even use legilimency or something. What I don't want is to be a further wedge. I'll go do this on my own and do my best to help you all if you think my being involved with the rest of you will hurt my chances with him. The Blacks are important and why I am here. Sirius is one and I won't have him be broken by twelve years in Azkaban any more than I will let you die alone in that cave, or have my Potter grow up an unwanted orphan." She met Regulus' eyes, the nearly familiar grey, and held them while ignoring the massive understatement she had started that explanation with. He nodded once, acceptance she thought, and she turned to the older wizard.
Alphard's eyes snapped back to her. From Regulus no doubt, him dying alone in a cave. She wasn't being very discreet but it was true. She could go to Andromeda, even Sirius himself and throw herself at his mercy and deal with the House of Black later.
Narcissa thought this unnecessary and that it would cause more damage to have her run. Hermione wasn't sure though, didn't know if these people could give up their pride or even their superiority complex. Lessen it slightly, make it not the absolute most important thing in their life at least.
"He will listen, eventually. These are drastic consequences." Was what Alphard finally said and she could only nod her acceptance of his opinion.
"I died for nothing and he spent twelve years in Azkaban." Regulus sounded as if this were nearly incomprehensible and she could only agree, it was.
"It wasn't for nothing. You tried. That counts." There wasn't anything she could say about Sirius but this was a bit different and Regulus met her eyes. It wasn't enough for him and she could only try and show him that she would help. It wouldn't happen this time. That part she was sure of, there wasn't much she was sure of but she was pretty sure about that.
"Neither of you will fall to such a fate now Regulus." Alphard spoke as if he could change it with his words and she only met his eyes and nodded once. Feeling like she had an ally, they had an ally.
Arcturus Black had been Patriarch of his family for decades, he had tried. Tried to keep his family as he had been raised to and tried to keep them somewhat together. Managing Blacks wasn't easy and never had been. He knew he had been difficult and it was the same with this generation. It was different too and the Dark Lord was the altered variable.
His mind was on the wizard he had met a few times now and he wondered. Horcruxes, that's what their Called had said. That Regulus knew about one and he had died. They had all died but Regulus was so young. Sirius too, he thought about Narcissa, her sisters too.
Bellatrix had killed Sirius, and little Nymphadora. The thought reverberated like a gong in his mind.
He had never seen the young halfblood but he knew some from Pollux, who made it his business to know the basics about his first great granddaughter. To know her name and her birthday. Pollux had been firm and been the one to disown Andromeda but it had been for his House not for himself. Pollux had two sons and a daughter. Walburga was difficult and Alphard had always been rebellious. Cygnus though, Cygnus and Orion had been the hopes of their House. They had dutifully done what was required and produced heirs.
There had been three sons, Orion, Alphard, and Cygnus. Then there were two. Sirius and Regulus. Now it was one and he knew the boy would have died this summer. It would have been Sirius alone and he had somehow let his only grandson go to Azkaban without a trial. How could that have happened? What was he thinking?
They had done what they had been taught and look where they were now. Arcturus had never been so angry. He was at least as angry at himself as he was at the situation. He had presided over the fall of his House. The Called had told him so and then apologized for speaking so to him. She was so small and had stood up to him, refused to have Regulus explain and then sat alone with him and described the fall of his House. The fall of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black.
They weren't just a name or names to her, he had seen it. Seen it when she spoke to Cygnus about Andromeda and Nymphadora. She really seemed to hope the wizard would know her, the little girl. The woman she had grown into before her life was ended by her own blood, her Aunt.
Perhaps Sirius and the young witch were disowned branches, had different viewpoints, but to have deliberately ended your own House. It showed a level of devotion to something other than her Family and that was as unsettling as anything else. Bellatrix has been raised a true daughter of the House of Black and like her sisters, had been a jewel of their world. Her flashing grey eyes and black curls. Andromeda had them too though and had lived through her daughter being killed by her sister. The betrayal of it was crushing, he pushed it aside and made himself move to the floo again.
He had sent a short note to Shafiq and then waited the half hour he had said he would. Now he held the floo powder in his hands and made himself throw it into the flames as he spoke.
"Shafiq Hold." He said and watched fireplaces whip past his face.
Spencer was standing there, straight and at his full height. The demand for answers was there to see and he ignored the push against his magics as he stepped out of the rough stone fireplace. Were their positions reversed, it would have been similar. Arcturus knew he wouldn't have been waiting like this though, perhaps it was the difference between a House of two and his House of many. Not enough to remain though, the thought was loud and he made himself stand tall and wait.
"Will you explain Arcturus?" It was a demand and he nodded at the man he had once attended school with. Whose only son had married the love of his life and then lost her and their unborn child to dragon pox. It had been a tragedy and unlike his House, unlike what he would have done, Micheal Shafiq had been left to mourn and had not looked at another witch that way since his wife's death fifteen years ago.
"Would you like me to speak here?" He tried to keep the tension from his voice but the man's face told him it had been noticed and he could see the gravity increase.
"My study might suit." Spencer Shafiq tossed his head of dark brown curls going grey, and gestured him toward the door leading into the family section of the house. It was a stone heap, he as he always thought of it. Long and low with only the spires on the four corners for height, not as ornate or gilded as any of the Black homes. The Shafiqs had always been earthier than most of their peers.
He didn't look toward the wizard as they paced quietly through the halls, instead he tried to decide if the fact that they knew each other was a hindrance or a boon. Would it better if they had less knowledge of each other, less animosity that way. It was as it was and this was the survival of his House, his family.
It had to be done and he thought Shafiq would understand, even if he was less than pleased. There would be some lofty glances surely and his teeth clenched at the number of people who had been right. Merlin curse him and his father, they had done this. More generations than that, but this was now and they had been patriarch in the lifetimes of those alive now.
"Would you like to sit?" It was drawled as they entered the room and his host walked directly to the liquor cabinet. Not turning to face him but pouring a generous helping of what he knew was excellent whiskey into glasses and then waiting.
This silence showed the level of agitation clearly and it wasn't flattering but he could admit to himself that it made him feel better. That this capable and seasoned wizard was unsettled and unable to hide it. He doubted he could either and felt his age, felt the years as if they were a weight on him.
"Were you expecting a visitor?" Arcturus asked, not totally sure and so unwilling to blurt out what he thought. Her safety and security was imperative and he could take no chances.
"Indeed. Though I had thought it would be a Shafiq, even if they were in swaddling clothes." He blinked at the wizard's back, surprised by the honest words and the emotion he could hear.
"She was Called." He made the words come out and watched Shafiq spin around.
Brown eyes met his grey and he could only try to keep himself together, not let his magics lash out or the rage overtake him. Wait, and as he watched the man's demeanour shifted slowly. He seemed to come to himself and more than disbelief showed in his eyes.
Arcturus Black let another Patriarch look him over and could see the deep understanding in his eyes. This man understood, at least partially. He had been expecting the House of Shafiq to fall eventually but the blown pupils were no doubt in response to what the fall of the Blacks would mean, how many that was. Maybe they hadn't gotten along or agreed in a long time, however both of them had been raised to appreciate their House and magic. This was a tragedy and he could see the appalled anger grow in the hardening face across from him.
Sirius Black was in one of his stewing moods. Rehashing his life and choices, trying to see if he had made a fatal error somewhere but it felt as much like he had been born into his life as if ever had.
Feeling his House magics shift like that today and been a shock. An nasty surprise, and it brought all of his feelings about his family to the front of his mind. He had been with Moony when he felt it and tersely said he would see him later. After leaving Alphard's he knew he wasn't in any better a frame of mind.
So he was in his flat with all the windows closed and the floo set only to his uncle. He would deal with his friends later if this went on for more time than he could manage but it felt important. Even when he had felt it this morning, he had been as pissed off by how monumental it felt to him, to his magic, as he was about being part of that wretched family at all. Just the thought of his mother made him feel as if he would throw up.
Regulus too, his eyes and the change in him. He had run into his brother during Easter Break. Honestly he had made sure to be in the Alley when Regulus followed his usual habits and Sirius had been drunk for two days after. It was as if his brother was dying or something and it was fucking bullshit.
He had two run ins with Bella, their first few months of Order missions, and it made him feel like he would explode with emotion. Rage and fear too. He didn't like being afraid and it made everything worse. Fear for himself was easier but for Reggie, for Prongs or Moony, his friends. It was a helpless feeling and he felt a remnant of that now.
It was as if his world had changed and he wasn't sure what that meant. Andy had not sent him an owl and he had stopped himself from going to see her. Something about Alphard mentioning his mother not coming and Arcturus being alive kept him here, if the witches of the family didn't know or hadn't felt the shift. It was as if everything he had ever learned, by force or choice, about his family and the old magics they revered was playing in a cycle in his head. This was big, he had never felt anything like this. Not even being disowned had felt as disorienting as the change in his magics had this morning.
It was all so unlikely and outlandish, as Moony would say. Prongs would want to know right now and Peter would give him a look that said 'best leave it alone Pads'. None of them were raised as Blacks though, Prongs was a Potter to his toes and didn't have much Black in him. Not knowing was it's own form of danger and knowing was too. Alphard's face and the controlled tones replayed again and he knew. Knew the man had a good idea and he had said he would contact him. That had been leftover chicken, beans on toast, and three whiskeys ago.
When the floo flared to life all of his attention was instantly on it, though he didn't move from his sprawl. His Uncle Alphard was as much a Black as anyone else. Black wavy hair and the grey eyes. His were more calculating than most of them and by far the warmest when resting on him.
Now those eyes raked him and he immediately knew he was being assessed for something this wizard hadn't considered him for before. As if his uncle had never seen him and he waited, more and more impatiently for him to speak.
"A witch was Called, she is in my study with your brother. Are you ready?" Sirius didn't move but immediately understood the minute assessment he had just been subjected to. Called. A witch had been Called. That's what the shift was and only the males knew. She was with his brother, at Alphard's. Why?
Why was she there and what the hell was he supposed to do with this. He was disowned, the expectation in his uncle's eyes said he was expected. That he personally was expected by the witch brought back in time to save their House.
"You're shitting me." Was what he said and the long look was reproach. This of all things was not a joke and even he wouldn't have made his usual dismissive comments about a Called witch. His House had fallen, and just like that he was on his feet as angrier than ever.
"They fucking killed us off Alphard." He knew the emotion was heard and he watched the man meet his eyes and then seem to grow in front of him. Alphard's magic seething and engaging with his own. Neither had wand in hand, this wouldn't be a duel but he knew the man was as angry as he was.
"The witch is of our mind and waiting for you. I have no doubt this is hard for you and she will give you some time if that is what you need. You must be able to listen, react of course, but listen to her. If you can not, then do not come. This is as serious as anything I have ever imagined facing and while it takes years for the House to actually die out, it falls in essence within two years." The magic and the Alphard's words. In that moment he felt so angry that even disowned he knew he could not say no, could not walk away from the chance to save his House. Regulus, his brother would be dead in two years. The confirmation was hard.
He wished he had Prongs now, that the weight of his friends hand on his shoulder would ground him. This was House business though and she had just arrived this morning. Arrived here in this time from the future and knew about the fall of the Ancient and Noble House of Black. Then something filtered through and he latched onto the legitimate question.
"She is of our mind? Not a crazy pureblood bitch who only wants to save us to be one?" It was disrespectful and he expected the flare of magic in rebuke even as he meant the question. Phrasing wasn't his strong suit and he knew his mind was overloaded.
"Hermione is lovely and you will be surprised at her. I was, I am surprised at her and what has followed her arrival here." The words were common but the implication wasn't. He was curious but he felt wary too.
Lovely, that was not a usual word used to describe a witch, especially in this context, and his uncle's emphasis on surprised made it clear this was true beyond her appearing here.
"You think I should go and talk to the witch? Why is she at your house?" Sirius let himself begin to pace and firmly tore his eyes from the whiskey bottle.
"Yes I do, not if you can not listen though. It is related to why she is at my house and to your brother. It is all related and what she knows, that she knows these things is surprising. Beyond her being Called here. She is at my home because of you. You told her about me, she expected my suave words and smiled at me as if we were genuine friends." Sirius stopped walking at the revelation that he had told the witch about Alphard. How could he have? Two years he had said. How could she come back so quickly?
"Do I know her?" It tumbled out of his mouth and the long look he got was not reassuring. It told him he was asking stupid questions and he thought over the words again.
"She knows me, do I know her now?" He clarified and this received a negative jerk of his uncle's chin. He didn't know her now but obviously did in the future. That didn't make sense though, their House had fallen. He didn't ask this though, it wasn't a joking matter and Alphard wouldn't have exaggerated. He had said in essence, that wasn't clear either.
"Regulus." The shift in Alphard's facial expression and posture at his quiet question was scary, he wouldn't admit it but the grim hard look was shit your pants terrifying to see. He had in fact, never seen it before. Not to this level and he knew it was bad, really bad and he wanted to be sick.
His skin felt too tight and his magic was telling him firmly to find his brother. Sirius had been ignoring it for years now but it had been how he intervened between his mother and brother when they were young. Regulus wasn't being hurt right now, he couldn't feel that anymore, but his magic was looking for his brother because of his emotions.
"Enough. Would you like some time before seeing her? As I said it is your choice, she has assured me sincerely that she will accept you needing some time. She does request you not tell anyone of her yet. This is not negotiable." The hard light in Alphard's eyes was for him now and he was nodding at that before really thinking about it. There was no way he could tell anyone right now. Just the magnitude of all the things he didn't know was trying to push aside his frantic desire to think.
"You think I should go?" There was no one else to ask and he knew the answer.
"Yes, I think you will be pleased with her. That sounds insincere but I mean it. The way she dealt with Arcturus, I didn't see much but it was enough." There was an amused tone there now, it wasn't an actual lightening of the tension or severity of the situation but a genuine amusement despite it.
For fucks sake. Sirius started pacing again and ignored his uncle moving to the cabinet and filling himself a glass of firewhiskey. This was ridiculous but if it was happening then it was. She had gone to Alphard. Apparently he had told her about him. She had met him, he had no idea what to think about that. Now he felt like he shouldn't ask his uncle anything else. So he was going and he didn't like it. Didn't like that everything had changed today and he had no control over that.
Called though, the witch had been Called and so it was. That it had happened was shocking. He couldn't think of a better word for it. Something all the old families knew about but who expected it to happen to them. That a witch would just drop into their lives and inform them of their demise. He almost groaned at the rhyming thought and absently decided to tell Moony when he could. These were the differences between him and Lils, even Prongsie and his lily flower. Merlin knows he loves her to distraction, so did Sirius, she didn't know though. Was constantly surprised by what magic could do. Smart and focused but ignorant. They were too, about things she knew and the two of them fought over it all the time. He loved her though and thought of her now. The fall of his House. Prongs and Lily. Remus and Peter. The Order.
What would it mean that the House of Black had fallen? Would it mean they were alright, that seemed unlikely the way things were going but he would trade his life for theirs. If he could ensure their safety somehow. Sirius was a Black and so decisive, decision made.