(I don't own Harry Potter or its characters, only this fanfiction's plot)

Arcturus spent a good bit of the day rounding the family after Sirius's confession. Safe to say his grandson was not invited.

"He wants to what?!"

...If only for his own safety.

Resisting the urge to rub his temple, Arcturus turned to Pollox.

"You heard me, Polly."

Currently, they were in his office. Privacy wards on.

"What are we fucking waiting for then? The full moons in less than week," Pollox pulled his wand out, standing up. "Between you, Lucius, and I we can have Lupin bagged and in Scandinavian in time for the full moon."

"No! Pollox we are not killing him."

"And why the fuck not? You just said-"

"- I just said Sirius is loyal enough to the man he wants to cover for him!" Arcturus cut off, silence raining for a few minutes before he forced himself to breathe.

Acturus couldn't appear as if he cared about the death of a werewolf. Not if he didn't want it to actually happen.

Pollox stood, setting his jaw.

"He's a fucking time bomb and you know it. The monsters already threatened Sirius's life once!"

"I also know that Sirius is not completely brain dead," Arcturus spelled out because apparently he had to. "If I didn't care about his loyalty to us, I'd have just gone ahead and aired Lupin's dirty laundry."

"Why haven't ye?" Irma asked, brows forwarding. "There ain't much of another way of it, is there?"

Interlacing his fingers, Arcturus rested his elbows on his desk. "Hence I call this meeting. We'll need to handle this delicately."

Huffing, Pollox sat back on one of the coaches in the room. "Any bright ideas?"

Lucius humming as his in-laws started deliberating around him. Leaning on his leg as he smiled smugly.

"I think I may have a solution.."

Dumbledore stifled a groan when he saw who was in his office.

"Lord Black, such a lovely surprise," Dumbledore said with forced politeness

"Uhuh, I'm sure you've been dying for my presence."

Taking a seat in front of his own Merlin-damned desk, Dumbledore gave another ingenuine smile on his lips. "What can I do for you?"

"More so what I can do for you, I think in this case." Arcturus pulled out a teacher's file from one of the desk's drawers with almost practiced ease. Waving it as he said, "I understand you have hired Severus Snape as your Potions Professor?"

"I would assume that would please your circles?"

Giving Albus a smug smirk, Arcturus set the file on the desk. Flipping it open.

"Severus is indeed a dear friend of my cousin-in-laws', the Malfoys, and an old schoolmate of my heir. You do know Sirius, yes?"

"Hmmm, I was unaware that Sirius was friendly with Severus."

"He's not. And Sirius has thought to tell me why."

Arcturus's silver eyes locked onto Dumbledore's; but even still the Headmaster could not gain a glimpse into his head. Arcturus Black was the Lord of the oldest Pureblood Family for a reason, after all.

Unfortunately.

"Oh?"

"Do you make it a habit of allowing Lycanthropes to nearly kill children at your schools?"

Dumbledore felt like the conversation had inverted. Heart racing as his mind quickly worked to catch up in time for rage to warm the cold that had settled in his gut at the words.

"So Sirius has finally betrayed Remus?"

"Betrayal is a strong word, let's just say Sirius uncovered something, and now Lupin might become a liability if you don't do something about it."

Gritting his teeth, Dumbledore forced himself to keep eye contact.

"And what might that be?"

"Gilderoy Lockhart has been caught red handed plaggerizing his books and using memory charms to erase the evidence," Standing, Arcturus closed Severus's file. "It came to Sirius's attention due to his latest book, which flaws were obvious to him for well, a rather obvious reason.

Unfortunately, my beloved grandson didn't consider how suspicious that information is to have. Currently, Lockhart believes Sirius is the werewolf; and intends to use this information to get himself a lighter sentence and potentially detract from his own arrest."

Arcturus gave Dumbledore a measured look.

"You understand I cannot allow such rumors to prosper, yes? And I'm sure you're smart enough to know that won't stop the media from digging around until they find out about poor old Lupin."

"So this is a warning." Dumbledore realized, a scrutinizing look finding its way on his face. "Why?"

Arcturus shrugged, not meeting Dumbledore's eyes for once.

"I'd rather not let it be known Sirius associated with such sorts, even as a child."

Shaking off whatever that was, Arcturus walked around the desk, handing Dumbledore his employees file.

"Here's what's going to happen; you're either going to do whatever necessary to prevent Lockhart from testifying, or I will have Severus tell everyone what you let into this school."

Dumbledore's fists clenched.

"Severus would never."

"Believe that if you will," Arcturus shrugged. "It's really of no use to me; now do you we have an understanding?"

Dumbledore stared down at the file in his hands, the tome light in comparison to the burden now on his shoulders. Sirius had been different; he had been a killer and a Death Eater. He'd killed and been willing to kill again. He probably would.

But Gilderoy hadn't. He had potential to be good.

But so could have a lot of people Dumbledore had to sacrifice. It was for the greater good.

"Yes, I believe I understand perfectly well."

Patting the Headmaster on the shoulder, Arcturus bid him good day.

There was pounding the door, and Sirius was vaguely surprised to see Lucius and Draco on the other side of it.

"Sorry, I don't believe we have a play date scheduled today..?"

"We don't," Lucius admitted. "But I.. Need to discuss something with you."

Smiling, he crouched down and clapped little Draco on the shoulder.

"I figured it was just as well I bring Draco over to play with Hades, assuming he is feeling well?"

"Of course." Opening his door wider, Sirius nodded them in. "I was just getting started on lunch; Hades is in his room if you want to see him, Draco."

Not needing to be told twice, the next Malfoy heir raced off towards the back of the house with a grin.

Lucius dropped his own.

"I think it's better if we stepped outside."

Noting the tension, Sirius gave a wary nod.

"Let me just turn down the burners."

Lucius for his part waited patiently by the door as Sirius fiddled with his muggle stove. Setting his apron on a chair before coming back. Raising his eyebrows at his cousin.

"Do you want to borrow some of my muggle clothes? We can take a walk to the nearby town if you'd like."

Nose wrinkling, Lucius quickly shook his head. "I'd rather not, this.. I just rather the children not hear us."

Well. That certainly didn't give Sirius any more warm-fuzzy feelings.

Following Lucius out the door, Sirius took a moment to appreciate the summer air as the walked a bit deeper into the woods. The moss on the trees bright green in contrast to the dark look on Lucius's face when he whirled around on him, jaw clenched.

"What the bloody hell were you thinking?!"

"You're.. You're going to have to be more specific Lucy..."

"You- I'm talking about nearly pretending to be a fucking werewolf over a highschool crush!"

"Remus isn't- Remus is my friend," Sirius stammered, face warming for all of the reasons. "Why shouldn't I protect him from my own stupid mistakes?"

"Oh yeah, some real good bloody brilliant friend you have, what with all the threats of death Lupin makes!" Lucius exclaimed, rolling his eyes. "Even still, there's loyalty and then there is risking your fucking life. You realize what people do to werewolves, yes?"

Shrugging off his concern, Sirius looked away as he crossed his arms.

"I don't see why you would care."

"Why I would care?" Lucius sputters. "Why wouldn't I? I've known you my whole life- and perhaps I haven't been the best of friends to you, but that hardly means I want to attend your damned funeral!"

"I don't get you," Sirius admitted before he could stop himself, turning back to meet Lucius's eyes. "You try to kill me for years, yet now that it's all over you rag on me for not getting my bloody eyes checked or- or invite me to dinner every Tuesday like none of that even mattered."

"Severus was trying to kill you, not me!" Lucius corrected with a snarl, "If you recall I never used Unforgivables when we dueled, and neither did Bella for that matter."

Sirius felt like his brain was full of fog while he tried to recall and instance of it. But...

"Why would you-"

"-Because you are still our family!" Lucius seethed, cutting him off. "You really think I could come home after a raid and look my wife in the eye and tell her I killed her baby cousin? Do you think I could live with knowing I had your blood on my hands?!"

Searching the older heir, Sirius squinted. "What are you saying? That you didn't hate me for being a blood traitor? For being a member of the Order?"

"I'm saying I cared, alright?!" Lucius admitted. "You were stupid, proud, and everything we stood against and yet Bella and I would stay awake, worrying over your reckless hide. Worrying you'd get yourself killed, or worse."

Hand gripping into his previously-perfect hair, Lucius closed his eyes as Sirius leaned against a tree, not knowing what to say as he slid down to the ground.

How the fuck was he supposed to unpack all of that?

"You should know Lord Black is handling the situation," Lucius informed. Trying to smooth his ruffled edges. "Assuming Dumblerdore complies, Lupin's secret should stay a secret."

"You're not going to tell anyone?"

Lucius sighs.

"What would be the point? He's just one mangy mutt.."

For lack of a better response to that after before, Sirus buried his face in his knees with a groan. Lucius huffed, sitting down across from him.

"Gee thanks, I only poured my bloody heart out to you and all."

"Well I.. I'm not used to this okay?" Sirius stuttered, looking up despite how blotchy his face must look. It sure felt hot. "You're.. I figured you only pretended to stand my blood traitor existence, I never figured you actually.. You know."

"Can't it be both?"

"What?"

Lucius sighs. "I find your views deplorable, if I had an actual way to brainwash you into thinking correctly don't think I wouldn't seriously consider it but.. You're still the little brat my wife doted on every vacation. Do you truly find it so easy to hate me?"

Jaw working, Sirius eventually gave a humorless laugh. Covering his face with one of his hands.

"Merlin, we're so fucked up."

"Perhaps," Lucius didn't disagree. "You certainly are, at least."

Glaring at the older heir through his fingers, Sirius kicked Lucius in the shin.

"Ow! Why if you aren't the most childish-"

"I thought you liked me when I was a baby," Sirius teased. "Did you pinch my cheeks and give me cute nicknames."

Flushing, Lucius buried his face in his arms.

"Opening up to you was a mistake. I swear I'm never telling the truth again."

"Should be easy enough," Standing, Sirius offered Lucius his hand. "Come on, I need to finish lunch before it will have to become dinner."

Rolling his eyes, Lucius let Sirius pull him up.

"You're such a bloody pain."

Gilderoy Lockhart did exactly as Sirius requested the night following the Gala. But no news of his trial ever came.

In a different world, Dumbledore had used his influence and Bartimus Crouch's hatred of the Death Eaters to ensure Sirius wouldn't be able to stand in his way. In this one, he used said influence to keep a powerful ally by sacrificing a potential one.

Gilderoy Lockhart was sentenced to five years for plagiarism and violating the laws against unethical memory charms. If there were no written records of his trial percedings? Well, the man was quite wealthy. He obviously just paid to have the case sealed to preserve his image as much as possible.

That's at least the story Dumbledore fed the Prophet, anyways.

The Headlines the following morning talked about exactly what Sirius expected them to be.

And, if in another part of England, a werewolf was receiving a letter warning him of what could have happened. Why should that concern the Black Heir at all?

Yoooo I'm back. Mental fatigue sucks but not updating also sucks kghfgf I have been working on all my works as of late

One of the most prevalent criticisms I tend to get is that Sirius is tolerating Lucius: so have been looking forwards to really exploring their dynamic

Cause on one hand they legally cannot do anything to each other due to the blackmail they both have, so that is a stand still. On the other they could be unpleasant at all times to each other, but a) when Thanksgiving isn't once a year that suuucks and b) family is not that simple, is it?

So yeah. They are fucked up. I and they both know that. It's very much intended

In any case, I hope you enjoyed :D Arcturus had Dumbles do Gilderoy away without a trial, Sirius and Lucius confirmed they need therapy, Remus may or may not also need therapy, and Harry and Draco finally got to play. Please lemme know what you think in the comments down below, like, and share!