"Hog— Dumbledore stopped. No, Hogwarts wouldn't work. That is the first place they would look for him. Aberforth's...that traitor. Abandoning him and telling him to not fight Lord Black over Harry. Adopting that freak of nature as the Dumbledore Heir! Aligning with Black. The fool had told him everything in his last visit, bragged to him.
Well, not told exactly. Aberforth was always horrid at occulmency.
That would do very well. There was a ritual he could do, one he had memorized decades ago, destroying the dark book it came from. Darkest blood magic...But this was for the greater good, "Aberforth's living room."
It was early, three hours before the Hog's Head opened, plenty of time for the ritual.
Aberforth wasn't here. That fool Daedalus was asleep in Aberforth's bed!
Dumbledore sat down in the chair by the bed. He was still so weak. As soon as he could get a hold of Snape he'd order some strengthening potions he knew of. Plenty of virgins in a school, after all.
"Imperius."
Daedelus looked at him with glazed eyes.
"Where is Aberforth?"
"He took a farmstead on the Black Estate. Teaching Alchemy to two apprentices."
Blast Merlin's Ball. The Weasely twins, no doubt. He had hoped to keep them distracted with pranks, followed by Firewhiskey and inappropriate women. Maybe a pregnancy and disgrace. No Newts. Dead ended manual magic jobs...
"Will he come here this morning?"
"Usually around ten thirty to help Helena, the new cook, and I with lunch and the banking."
"Floo him. Tell him you are sick.""
Aberforth came grumbling through the floo thirty minutes later.
"Petrificus Totalis." He fell with a thud. "Silencio."
"Daedalus, get dressed and maintain your usual routine in the Hogshead. You will tell no one I am here, or that Aberforth is here. Do not come back up the stairs."
Daedalus stripped off his nightshirt and began dressing for the day.
Dumbledore stretched out on the bed for a moment to catch his breath. He needed potions.
"Pearli," he called for his personal elf.
"Master!"
"I am visiting Aberforth for a while." He rattled off a list of potions for her to fetch. "Tell Snape I will have a special order for him later today."
"If you pleases, Headmaster Whiskers, SnapeySnape bes gone away from Hoggiwarts. All this thingsies be gone away, too."
"Hmmm. Well, get what you can from Pomfrey, get the rest in Knockturn Alley, just put them on the Hogwarts account."
"Yes, sir!"
A short time later he had the potions and ingested them. Feeling revived he turned to Aberforth.
"Legilimens." Soon he knew every disgusting detail about Aberforth's new life. Flirting with Cassiopia Black! How low could he stoop. And that ugly little goblin girl was his Heir! That was going to end! Her magic wasn't even human!
He levitated Aberforth onto the bed and drew the runes in a mix of their blood. He started the ancient chant. Odd how dark magic required so much work! A lesser wizard would never have remembered this, after all these years.
He opened Aberforth's vein first, then his own. Watching Aberforth scream with no sound made him glad he'd had the foresight to take the pain potions. Aberforth finally stopped, unconscious.
"There now. The Black wards will accept me as they accepted you."
Dumbledore flooed to the Black Towers Reception Room. I am the greatest wizard since Merlin, he thought gleefully as he entered the Black Reception room.
An elf popped in but he was ready for it. Couldn't have the little blighter raising an alarm. He killed it with a quick cutting curse. "Oh, so sorry for the mess."
Now, where would Harry be? He used an overpowered Point Me spell.
Arcturus woke next to his new betrothed bride, Petunia. He stroked her hair for a moment. What a delightful evening.
But something had woken him. Something not quite right.
He left Petunia asleep and went out to his study. On a shelf was a magical globe with rendition of Black Towers within.
The Reception room was flashing both red and white. "Wispi, elves to the reception room! Silvi, protect Petunia and Cami!" He apparated.
Smokey always needed to be walked at the crack of dawn. Dudley was not allowed to ask the house elves to care for the puppy when he wasn't in class. He groaned and crawled out of the bunk bed in the boy;'s dorm.
He had slept in muggle sweats so didn't need to dress. He grinned. The old aunties would have conniptions if they saw him walking around in such clothing. Good thing none came out of their rooms until breakfast at nine. He pulled on a jacket and his black dragonhide boots.
"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you." Both Harry and Neville were sitting up. Draco was drooling on a pillow.
"It's okay. I'm starving." Harry got up, also dressed in sweats. Harry was on a growth spurt, Mom said. He sure was eating like a horse. Harry pulled in his dark green dragonhide boots.
"I'm hungry, too." Neville wore silk pajamas but quickly pulled on a pair of trousers and shoes.
As they left the boy's dorm they met Milly, who was wearing what the old aunties called a morning dress, which Harry figured meant it was soft and baggy, like a nightgown. Her dress was soft knit, pale pink. Harry rubbed her arm, admiring it. "That's nice, Milly." She smiled and kissed his cheek. Dudley fake gagged.
Stormy entered the common room just as they were leaving. "We're taking Smokey outside and then finding food!" Harry said. She joined them.
Smokey ran wild for ten minutes or so in the wet grass until Harry's stomach got so loud it made them giggle. "Let's go to our schoolroom. Ervi can bring us food."
They went down the stairs and turned into the main hallway of the Castle, heading to the west wing.
A tall man with a scruffy white beard and sparse white hair turned the corner, His plain pale green robe was covered with blood. Stormy squealed.
Dumbledore saw Stormy first.
"Ah, the abombination!" He cast a spell at her that she dodged. Then he quickly cast a Petrificus Totalis spell on Harry, who dropped like a rock.
Smokey went crazy, barking and leaping, distracting the bloody man.
"Not again," Milly growled. She pulled a knife from her boot and got the old man in the shoulder. His wand fell to the floor. Then she started screaming for house elves.
Dudley, always regretting he'd never gotten a piece of the old man in the garden, pulled his dagger and ran forward. He stuck his knife in the old man's soft gut. With a cry the old man fell to the floor. Neville kicked Dumbledore's wand down the corridor, Stormy grabbed it.
Uncle Arcturus, a dozen house elves, and Gore popped into the corridor.
Blood everywhere. Dumbledore, bleeding profusely on the marble.
"Harry!"
Milly held Harry's head in her lap. "He used Petrifcus Totalis on Harry."
"All right, easy to fix." Arcturus ended the spell and Harry leaped up,
"Him again!" Harry screamed in rage and kicked Albus on his good shoulder. "He tried to kill Stormy!"
"He'll never cause you another bit of trouble," Uncle Arcturus said. "Now he is in my power. He will never be free again."
Dumbledore tried to speak. Arcturus ignored him."Elves, secure him in the magic suppression cell in the lowest dungeon. Strip him. Not even a blanket. I will be right there to set the wards."
The elves popped Dumbledore away. "Children, he will not be in a cell like our new village people were in. This cell you won't be able to find, nor do I wish you to try. You did great work here. Ervi, Silvi." The two popped into the hallway. "Take the children to the boy's schoolroom. Alert Petunia."
Harry's stomach growled and Dudley grinned.
Uncle Arcturus smiled. "Feed them anything they want."
Argent Lovegood could no longer think of himself as Severus Snape in disguise. He was just so different. Not just his appearance, the physical changes,
His mind was changing. His mood. Sometimes he found himself singing along to the music as he drove. Singing! He noticed that he had a fine singing voice. That was new. As Snape he'd had a tin ear and only the ability to croak.
At a magical market he came upon small dolls in delightful Bohemian dress. They were spelled to walk and drink tea from a toy tea set. He bought three dolls, several doll dresses, a tea set and furniture. "Please wrap these up, I will send them to my little nieces in England."
The shop woman gave him a soft-eyed look. "Du must be der most favored onkle," she said with a smile. Her teeth were dazzlingly white, her hair a mass of chestnut curls, eyes hazel green. Older than the college girls. He smiled back, dazzled.
"Well, I am the only Uncle."
"Zo, vill you be staying here for a while? On vacation?" She asked. "Ich been Henrietta. Owner." She said her name in the charming French way.
"Do you make these?"
"I make der dolls. Many toys are from other magical toy makeers."
"Of course. I am Argent Lovegood, a Potion's Master. I plan to forage in the old Bohemian Forest through the fall and winter. A long held dream of mine."
"Ahh, and vhere vill you live?"
"I have a caravan."
She nodded and handed him the package. "If you vish a place to park, du bist velcomen to park behind my shop. Free of charge, for a favorite onkle."
His eyes widened. "That would be superb. But you must let me take you out for a meal, for your generosity!"
Henrietta dimpled. "I close dis shop at five."
Argent walked back to his caravan, in an expensive a tourist camp on the edge of town, humming the whole way. He Argent— once, Severus Snape, despised by women— had made a date with a lovely, not-too-young woman! And found a cheap place to park!
Petunia threw on her robe in a panic and Silvi popped her to the boys.
They were eating. Dudley had an omelette with spicy sausage and peppers, with bacon on the side. Harry had a cup of cocoa with whipped cream nearly as big as his head. His waffles were swimming in butter and syrup. Neville had coffee!
"Boys! You are ...all right." She sat down at the table with a plop. Silvi brought her cup of tea.
"We stopped him, Mum!" Dudley grinned. "He tried to hurt Stormy and froze Harry, but we stopped him."
Dudley's hair was wet from a shower.
"Dudley stuck his dagger in Dumbledore's stomach. So he had to take a shower and change," Harry explained. "I couldn't do anything." He stabbed a piece of waffle. "I was like the fair maiden, getting rescued. Again," he said in disgust.
"Harry, don't feel bad. Dumbledore wants you for some reason," Milly said.
"Well no one needs to worry about Dumbledore anymore. Lord Black caught him! He's in the deep, dark, dungeon now." Neville looked at the children at the table. "Grandmother told me once that the Black Tower dungeons are harder to get out of than Azkaban!"
Lord Black popped into the schoolroom. Petunia ran into his arms. "I don't understand how this keeps happening!"
"Dumbledore is the most powerful wizard of our age, my dear. We will know more soon. He can't get free of my dungeon and there is nothing to fear." He hugged her tight with one arm and ruffled Harry's hair. "Harry's a Potter, you know. Potters, historically, are always involved in the important events in the wizarding world. Family magic. Known for their bad luck, and for their good luck."
Harry groaned, the kids snickered.
"Good thing you are getting training, Harry," Milly said.
"Good thing we all are," Dudley said.
Arcturus let Petunia go and squatted down by Stormy. "We found your Grandfather at the Hog's Head. Dumbledore did dark magic on him. Your mother is with him at St Mungo's. He will be fine, but will need to stay there a while. Ervi, would you take Stormy to her mother when she is done eating?"
Four days later, Lord Black called a Black Family Meeting for the immediate family and Heads of Households.
"Good Evening Family. I know you have heard rumors, and I am bringing you the actual news concerning Albus Dumbledore and the state of my Blood Feud." He looked around the room. "This information is covered by your family oath, and private knowledge to the Family Black.
"The Blood Feud between House Black and House Dumbledore has been satisfied, and is no more. At two this afternoon, Dumbledore expired from injuries he received in his attacks on House Black.
"Dumbledore escaped St Mungos, killing a young mediwitch with brute force and stealing her wand. I have offered a place in House Black for her two small children, she was a war widow. Molly and Arthur Weasley have generously opened their home to the children, a three-year-old girl and two-year-old boy. Molly is home with them tonight."
"Dumbledore used a dark blood ritual, willing to sacrifice his own brother to gain access to Black Towers. His goal was to kidnap Harry. He also tried to kill Aberforth's granddaughter, the Dumbledore Heir. The Dumbledore Family Magic sealed his fate, working with Black Family Magic.
"Aberforth is at home, recovering with his family. On his order, Dumbledore's body was turned to ash and the ashes tossed into the North Sea near Azkaban by house elves, with no ceremony. No notice will be given to the papers, and his end will ever be unknown to the Wizarding World. He died as a murderer of a hard-working young mother. Gringotts will soon inform the Wizarding public of his death. His estate falls to Aberforth, Head of House Dumbledore, who will disperse it to his victims as he sees fit.
"May I just say, I have no fears for the future of House Black. Our youth are proving to be resourceful, loyal and strong."
"And now, on a happier note! Petunia?"
Petunia came forward, dressed in lovely dark green robes. "Family, I wish to announce that Petunia has agreed to be my wife. We will marry on Christmas Day, followed by a Christmas Ball. All the Black Family is invited to Black Towers for the event."
