Lily
"What are you doing here? This is a private prefect's meeting."
"Ah" The newcomer replied, a sheepish expression on his face. "I was just searching for the bathroom, honest."
"Uh-huh" Alice Prince asked, her eyes narrowed. "Who are you, then?"
Henry raised both eyebrows in surprise, before scrunching them in confusion. "Didn't you hear?" He asked hesitatingly. "I'm Lord Henry Peverell, of House Peverell."
"Pull the other one" Alice replied snarkily. "You are way too young to be a recognized Lord. And everyone and their mothers know that House Peverell is long gone."
"False claims, my lady."
"Without your family denouncing them for centuries?"
"We were…ah, undisposed?"
"Remus…why is everyone acting so weird?" The muggleborn witch asked her fellow prefect, her voice as low as possible, confused by the gaping mouths of the prefects of Hogwarts. She almost cursed herself when she heard all the purebloods gasp, as if she had asked the most unfathomable question.
"Allow me to answer that, my friend. What is your name, Ms.?" The newcomer asked her, making his way towards her in measured, confident steps. She instinctively stepped back, but another body halted her progress.
"Evans. Lily. Lily Evans, I mean." She replied, her cheeks gaining a red tint that usually meant a stinging hex being sent in the direction of someone.
She could see his smile widening a little, before a very visible frown marred his features, his bright emerald eyes staring intensely at her own, ones that looked so very similar.
"Muggleborn, yes?" He asked, placing his head inched away from hers, his eyes boring into hers. She was trapped, and she could admit herself that she had no idea what was happening, but she mutely nodded her head.
"Hmm." Henry Peverell said, tilting her head in several angles, his eyes never leaving hers, stepping back just a moment before inspecting her in circles. Lily could hear the baited breaths of every person in the room, all of them confused about the turn things took.
"Fascinating. So very fascinating." She heard him mutter to himself, his voice hushed but loud enough that several people heard. If she wasn't still frozen in her place, she would have demanded to know what was so fascinating about her. She could feel Remus tensing beside her, before the Gryffindor plowed through.
"Wh-what's so fascinating, Mr. Peverell?" The young lord looked at him, appraising him from head to toe, before leaning a little.
"Tell me, Mr…?"
"Lupin." Remus replied, gulping.
"Tell me, Mr. Lupin, has her eyes always been so bright?"
Lily felt her mind go blank, the previous blush she had rising to new stages, her mouth trying to say something only to stammer uncontrollably.
"Um…" She could see his housemate had gone bright red, the intense look in his eyes cowering him a little, and yet he kept replying. "No? Maybe yes…I don't know?"
"James would know." A teasing voice said, and all eyes were drawn to a young Hufflepuff prefect. "What?" Ted Tonks asked defensively. "I have heard him talk about your eyes at least twice a month, for the past five years. He must be the closest thing in Britain to an expert in Lily Evans' eyes."
She turned towards Henry, like a deer caught in the headlights, and he chuckled at her.
"Perhaps I should take my queries up to him. James who?"
"James Potter."
"Ah." Peverell nodded, his mouth returning to his easy grin. "I do know him. Or rather, about him. His father has spoken highly about him, although I have yet to meet my closest relative at school." Shaking his head, ignoring the ripples of his statement, Peverell's gaze returned to her eyes. "Still, it is quite curious. Is it because I am on Britain? Or is it because of the ring?"
"Wh-what are you talking about, Peverell?"
"Oh, nothing to concern yourself, Miss Evans. All will be explained in due time. And please, do call me Henry. To answer your question, they are shocked about my presence in Britain. My family was reported to be extinct approximately five hundred years ago, you see-greatly exaggerated reports, mind you- and now every pureblood family is confused and uncertain about their place in society. We are, after all, Magical Britain's oldest family, and one of the Five Great Families of the world." He winked at her, before looking past her, at the group of people that still huddled behind her. "Can any of you lead me towards the compartment of Professor Slughorn? I was invited to a meeting before his customary mid-train feast, but I am kind of lost."
"I thought you were searching for the bathroom." Alice grumped, and Henry smiled like a toddler who had just been caught doing something he shouldn't.
"I can take you." Andromeda Black offered, stepping forward and interrupting the voices of the rest of the pureblood student population, something Lily guessed their guest noted, judging by his amused smile.
"The lovely Andromeda Black" Henry said, taking the female by surprise, bowing fancily to her and placing a kiss on her knuckles. "Your grandfather's words do not make your beauty justice."
"You've met my grandfather?" She asked evenly, and yet Lily could see the slight blush she had on her cheeks. Glancing at Ted, she could see him clenching his jaw. She was almost tempted to tease them for payback, but she decided against it. It wasn't in her character, after all.
"Of course." He replied, offering his arm. "He is one of my greatest allies. And a close friend." And with that the couple left, leaving everyone in the same confused state.
"What the fuck just happened?" Asked Frank Longbottom, and Lily could swear that the disappearing figure of Henry Peverell was shaking in laughter.
Andromeda
"What has you so interested in Evans, Lord Peverell? Someone of your status, interested in a muggleborn?" The female asked, unable to completely hide her bitterness. To her surprise, her companion laughed.
"My family isn't that keen on the Pureblood dogma, my lady. And something tells me neither do you."
"Why would you say that?"
"I can see it in your eyes." He said, his eyes glazing into one of the windows. "In your posture. You were standing with the Purebloods and yet, I could see the tenseness of your body. The longing you had."
"Longing?" She asked curiously, her heart clenching as she heard the answer.
"Of not having the burdens your birth placed on you."
"If you say so, Lord Peverell." Andromeda said, her face blank. She was using every lesson she had received to avoid showing how much his words had affected her. He bowed his head, as if asking for forgiveness, before replying.
"Please, do call me Henry. Lord Peverell makes me feel unwanted, and I would very much like to be wanted by you." Henry said, an attractive smirk in his mouth.
She could admit to herself that he was extremely attractive, and not only in his physical looks. He carried himself with a high amount of confidence, but not arrogance, something quite unlikely to find in members of the noble families. And something she completely despised. Still, she regarded him coldly.
"I assume you know how inappropriate that is to a witch of my station?"
"Of course." He replied, his smile unabated at seeing her lips twitch for a second. "Although I doubt you take such a stance on every male that comes across you. That Hufflepuff prefect seemed quite enraged by your offer, after all."
"I don't know what you are talking about." She replied with an aloof posture, her steps quickening just a little.
"Uh-huh." He sighed in disbelief. "Why did you offer, then?"
"I had heard rumors of your presence in Britain. I figured it would not hurt me to make myself acquainted to you." Turning to look at his eyes, she narrowed hers a little. "If you are who you say you are, then you will become one of the big names of the Wizengamot."
"Naturally." He said, nodding understandingly. "Although I doubt Arcturus would appreciate his granddaughter spying on his secret meetings."
"I was not!" She exclaimed, a healthy blush on her cheeks.
His laughter took her by surprise. It was far more honest than she was expecting, with the attitude he had taken so far. She found it refreshing, not having much laughter in her life.
"So, you were spying." He said teasingly. "You don't seem like that type of woman to me."
"I'm not" She replied honestly. "I hate it. My knees shake, my palms sweat, and my heartbeat just won't calm down. But I have to."
"Why?"
She was surprised at herself, having told him far more than she had ever told anyone. She considered keeping up the streak, but ultimately decided against it.
"Perhaps someday, I will tell you, Henry Peverell. If you prove trustworthy."
"I am. And I will."
She almost believed him by his expression alone. So earnest…so much conviction. She opened her mouth to reply when the door of Slughorn's compartment entered her vision.
"Seems like our journey is at an end." She said, a little disappointed. She didn't have many friends, and she was surprised at how much she had enjoyed her brief stroll with him.
"Seems like it. Far sooner than I would have liked. Are you coming to his meal, later?"
"Of course." Andromeda replied, raising her chin. "I am a Black. There is no family above us."
"There is one, but don't say that to your grandfather. He actually hexed me for that one."
Andromeda giggled, covering her mouth with her hand, before sighing. He seemed as apprehensive as she was, and that gave her stomach a little twist, before a picture of Ted Tonks in her mind filled her with regret and fear, both emotions directed to different aspects about herself.
"I will see you later then, Henry. Perhaps we can get to know each other better. You can tell me how and why you are so familiar with my grandfather."
"I would like that."
Offering him a polite smile, she turned around, before a hand clasping her hand stopped her. A jolt surged through her at the contact, and she turned once more, wide eyes staring at impossible bright irises.
"Your grandfather has talked about you. He knows more than you think…he understands more than you could ever know about your situation. I just wanted to say, if you want, you have a friend in me, Andromeda."
"Is this for pity?"
"Not pity, Andromeda. Empathy. No one deserves to feel as alone as you feel."
"I…I will think about it. Thank you, Henry."
"Anytime." He smiled, before letting her hand go. "And my interest in Evans is because she is family. Not Peverell…I'm the Lord of another family, one that was dormant up until I took Lordship, and she is a member of that family. A genetic trait are the bright emerald eyes, and that's where my suspicious began. It seems that her family magic is already awakening. I was surprised, to say the least." He stepped back, turning to knock at the door, before staring at her once more, snorting at her wide mouth.
"Why…why did you tell me? That could be classified as a family secret!" She exclaimed, her chest filling with a sense of horror and euphoria that she didn't quite understand.
"Trustworthy." He said gently, before he turned towards the open door, entering the compartment, and leaving her in the hallway, staring dumbly at the spot he had just vacated.
Henry
Taking a deep breath to collect himself, Henry cursed Griselda Marchbanks for what it seemed the thousandth time in the past few months. She was the one that had told him, back when he was at the planning stage, how much of an asset Lord Arcturus Black would make to his plans, should he choose to carry on. When he found himself in Britain, years earlier than he was accustomed, he searched him out. And while he was impressive in several aspects, in Henry's mind, Arcturus Black could be described using only one word: Bastard.
His imagination drifted to a signed contract, before a voice cut through his haze and brought him back to reality.
"Oho! Lord Peverell. You are early."
Cutting his conversation with Andromeda short had been a spur of the moment necessity, otherwise, Henry feared he would have let all of his secrets come out, secrets that he had agreed with Charlus and Arcturus that no other soul would ever know. Perhaps it had been folly to converse with her as candidly as he had, but his day had been extremely difficult, pretending to be someone he was not, both in name and in attitude. Even worse, to see loved ones he had never met and loved ones he had lost in a war again, healthy, and young…it had almost been too much for the young Lord.
But he had stick to the script, he had insinuated what they had all agreed he would insinuate and following his schedule he found himself in a grand, luxury compartment, the hungry eyes of Horace Slughorn watching him as a predator watches his prey.
"I'm sorry, Professor Slughorn…I apparated, you see, but it was a folly decision. I had to catch my breath a little."
The shrewdness in the eyes scared him, and he could see that Slughorn had seen right through him, however, true to what he had known of the man, the professor just waved him off.
"Naturally, naturally! Apparating so young is certainly impressive—and most decidedly illegal, but I won't tell a soul. Would you like some refreshments, Lord Peverell?"
"Please, sir. Thank you. And please, call me Henry, professor."
"Well then, I insist you call me Horace in private!"
Nodding in thanks to the man, and following him to the seating area he gestured, Henry couldn't help but feel trapped in a foreign environment, and only Arcturus brief political training gave him the confidence to remain seated.
"Now, young Henry, I must say, you have caused quite the uproar here in Britain."
"Have I? I wouldn't know, Horace. Although I have been here for quite some time, I can't really say I have met that much magicals."
"Three months, close to four, isn't that, right? Of course, you wouldn't have met other families, when Lord Black and Lord Potter guard you so zealously."
"You have a surprising amount of information, Horace." Henry replied, narrowing his eyes and clenching his jaw a little, feeling rather stupid as he did so. It was all for show, after all. If the amusing smile he received was any signal, the other man thought so too.
"Of course, Henry, one can't help but try to stay in the loop of things, as the youngsters say these days huh?"
"Of course. Which is why I must ask, how are you so certain of my status as Lord Peverell? Everyone denies it left and right, calling me a pretender. I am actually just waiting from the notice of the Wizengamot to arrive one of these days, calling me on trial."
"Oho! Is that so?" Horace asked, leaning in a little. "You don't seem too concerned?"
"I am not. Magic has made me Lord Peverell, after all. Not something a bunch of inbred idiots can unmake." Horace chuckled at his scathing comment, topping his glass, before nodding.
"Naturally, I agree. I know your status as Lord Peverell is as set as it can be, Henry. As well as your status as Lord of that other family. Quite the month for Britain, the return of two of our greatest families."
"And we come back to the question. How do you know so much about things you shouldn't?"
"I have contacts here and there, my boy. Nothing too complicated. Not even malicious."
"Even amongst the goblins?"
"Even amongst them." Slughorn stated, nodding once to ascertain himself. "Once you figure them out, it is rather easy to compel them to help you. For the right price, at least."
"I should have known." Henry sighed, slumping a little.
"You learn of these things as you go." Slughorn assured him, patting his knee gently. "But then again, I must ask you, why are you so apathic about your other Lordship?"
With a snort, Henry replied. "Compared to the history and might of the Peverell line, every other line comes a far second. Even the Slytherin line is found wanting in my eyes."
"Not many would agree to that, my boy. Especially some…ah, recent political dissenters."
"That is a compliment to what they really are, Horace." He replied, his eyes becoming as hard as steel. "The pretender goes around, parading himself as Slytherin's heir and committing atrocities…he is one of the reasons I have come to Britain. It is my duty to put him down, like the mad dog he is."
"You are much to young to be thinking about such things, dear."
"Perhaps." Henry conceded. "But it doesn't take away my duty. He may not be the Heir of Slytherin, and his family may be nothing more than a distant blip in the grand picture of things, and a rather pathetic one at that, but as Lord Slytherin, I have to put him down, too."
"Admirable." Slughorn said, his voice adopting a more somber tone. "But foolish. This pretender, as you call him, is extremely powerful. Immensely more knowledgeable than yourself. And he is surrounding himself with the best and brightest of the new generation. Should you seek to challenge him, I fear you will face something you won't be able to overcome."
But Henry just chuckled, and he delighted at the surprise look on Horace's face.
"He may be all those things, Horace. But I am Lord Peverell. Death's will on Earth. The madman doesn't know who he is dealing with."