Chapter Ten

It took Harnock two weeks to set up the meeting between Arcturus and Sirius. The two men were scheduled to meet at the bank the day after New Year's Day.

Padfoot arrived a half of an hour before his grandfather. He needed to get the glamour applied and pay the fees for the use of a meeting room. He looked and felt exactly like his old self. Sirius hadn't realized how differently his magic felt until he experienced the old feeling again. It felt strange and wrong to be his old self.

Padfoot allowed his grandfather to arrive in the meeting room first. It would give the old man a feeling of power that Padfoot hoped would throw him off the scent of being duped. He took a deep breath and stepped into the room.

"The prodigal son," Arcturus said sarcastically. Padfoot merely smirked in return. The two stared at each other for a few moments.

"You look less dead than I was expecting," Arcturus tried again. This time Sirius responded.

"Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you."

"I'm a vision of beauty and youth, boy," Arcturus shot back. Sirius started laughing.

"A vision of death more like it," Sirius muttered in return.

"What was that?" Arcturus said sharply.

"Nothing, Grandfather. You've summoned me. What do you want?" Sirius said, letting his laughter die.

"I want you to do your duty, son! I want you to take the Black lordship. I am too old to keep up these responsibilities any longer. You're the last of my line. It's your responsibility to take over the family." Arcturus said all this in a vicious tone.

"You owe the Blacks, Sirius." Sirius bristled at that statement.

"I owe the Blacks, do I? Not one of you nutters have treated me like family. Now I'm suddenly your only hope. Well I won't have it. I'm dead to the rest of the world and I'll stay dead," Sirius hissed.

"Stay dead, then. I know you have a son. His name is on the family tree. You think I don't know the silly name you're using these days? If I wanted you dead, you'd already be gone."

Sirius stared at his grandfather in shock. Did the man really know? About Harry? About Prongsworth?

"I, er, don't know what you're talking about. I have no children," Sirius said. His voice and face were blank and unbelievable.

Arcturus snorted. "You're no Slytherin, that's for sure. I know you have a son. As the head of the family, I have access to magics the like of which you've never even heard of, boy. I know you have a son. He was brought into the family in 1981. Is he of Black blood?" Arcturus demanded.

Sirius was so angry. He wasn't safe! Harry wasn't safe! All because of this old blighter. He couldn't stop himself from answering. "He is blood of my blood. You will stay away from him!"

Sirius puffed up his chest and tried to look intimidating.

Arcturus put up his hands. "I mean him no harm, Sirius. I am pleased to see you already have an heir of your own, even if he does have a stupid name like Prongsworth. I need someone to take over Sirius … or should I call you Padfoot?"

Sirius sat down hard in his seat. All his plans, all his attempts at being careful were ruined. If Arcturus could find him, anyone could.

"Don't look so glum, son. I promise you that no one but myself knows your identity. I won't tell, if you'll take on the lordship. You can act in secret; you wouldn't be the first Lord Black to hide his identity. You can hire a law wizard to act as proxy in the Wizengamot. I don't care if you use that stupid name you came up with! I just care that the primary line of Black stays with my blood. I know I messed up. I should have never allowed your mother to steer my son and your brother into service for the Dark Lord. I let a cadet line make the decisions that were only mine to make and we all paid that price in blood and pain. Please, Sirius. Take over and make sure we don't make that mistake ever again." The old man started quietly weeping.

"So many of our kin lost. So many in prison, where they belong. Please, Sirius. Help us," Arcturus choked out the words.

Sirius sat in shock. Could his grandfather really mean these words? Could he really want to steer the Black family away from the dark? As if reading Sirius' mind, Arcturus continued.

"The Black family will always be dark. It's in our blood. However, we do not have to be evil. That's the lie we have purchased to our detriment. That dark is the equivalent of evil. It doesn't have to be. You have proven that, Sirius."

Padfoot sat in thought. Was he dark? Yes, he guessed he was. His sense of humor and pranks always had a dark edge to them. He fought for the light but not because it was light. No, he fought for the light to fight against evil. He didn't believe in causing pain, torturing innocent people, or causing their deaths. He never would but he could see the difference now as an adult that had been missing from his cognizance as a youth. Dark didn't mean evil. Even James was dark. The man had killed at least a dozen times but he had done it to fight against evil. Sirius was proud to say he had done the same and would continue to do so for however long he could keep fighting.

Padfoot sighed. "I don't know what you want me to say."

"Say you'll do it. Say you'll do your duty to your family." The old man whispered the last few words. "I am not long for this world, Sirius. I can feel my time approaching. Your grandmother, father, mother, and brother are already gone. Your father was my only son and your aunt has no children. You're the last of my line. Please, Sirius. If you won't take it, pass it on to your son."

Padfoot sat in thought. There were some wrongs he could right, if only he were head of the family. Could he stay hidden? He might have to risk it. Being lord was more likely to aid him in getting the final two soul shards than being the heir. Padfoot thought, fast and hard.

"You have to continue as the wizengamot lead for a few more years. If you'll do that, I'll accept. I cannot risk my identity being known, at least until my son finishes Hogwarts. You can hire a proxy, if you like," Sirius said quickly.

Arcturus sat in thought for a few more moments before agreeing. The goblins were called back into the room. A few hours and a giant stack of paperwork later and Sirius was the official Lord Black. It was all so surreal. The old man finally left, after demanding Sirius bring his son to meet his grandfather soon. There was no way Sirius would agree to that but he made some agreeable noises and the man left Sirius alone with Harnock.

"This endeavor has been more successful than expected," Harnock said seriously. "You have much authority over the Black line now. What will you do?"

"Well, tomorrow, I'm going to Grimmauld Place to look for the locket. Then, I'll have to think on how to handle Narcissa. Maybe I can threaten to kick her out of the family and annul her marriage if she doesn't hand over that diary. I can't let the lordship go as long as my grandfather is living." Arcturus was old but he was no fool. The contract he had Sirius sign to accept the lordship was filled with penalties for early termination of the lordship to anyone other than his own blood son. Sirius was starting to second think his agreement to accept it all.

"That might be a wise plan. Your grandfather hired our best barristers to write up this contract. I would caution you against breaking it without dire need. I fear for your identity but I believe it can be protected. For a fee, Gringotts would be glad to act as your emissary, as needed," Harnock gave Padfoot a greedy look as he spoke.

"I'm sure Gringotts would be glad to charge me as many fees as possible," Sirius said with a snort. "Not that I don't appreciate it. I'm glad to pay if you'll help smooth my way, Harnock."

Harnock smiled in anticipation of all the fees he would indubitably be able to charge.

"I do have a few plans to enact. I want to reverse all of the expulsions that have happened in the family since my grandfather's generation. I also want to expel Bellatrix from the family. You can leave her disgusting marriage intact. No one else would want either of them. Please send a notice to my Aunt Andy, Andromeda Tonks, that she is personally welcomed back to the family. She can help me turn the Blacks away from our evil reputation towards something that fights against evil instead. Her daughter is welcomed to be considered part of the family, as well. Lastly, please get me a copy of Narcissa's marriage contract. I want to see what we have to play with there."

"Excellent. I will take care of these items. Is there anything else for today, Mr. Prongsworth?" Harnock inquired solicitously.

"Just make sure Harry is listed as my heir for the Blacks as well as everything else, Harnock." With a few more parting instructions and words, Sirius stood and left the bank. It had been a very long day.

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