Ezekiel's return to the land of the living was not as he expected.
For starters, he woke up to find his lungs empty and ,naturally, his first instinct was to gasp for air. A foul stench that filled his lungs left him coughing for air but it only got worse. He couldn't see a thing or move too much. Apparently he was on some sort of metallic bed by how it felt to the touch. He was naked in a metallic bed, enclosed in a small space. There was no light, the air was hot and smelled of...oh, no.
NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Ezekiel twisted until he was on his side and watched where he was lying. The steel sheet where he was lying had holes in it and it was suspended over, not lying at the bottom, a number of burners. "FUCK!" Ezekiel screamed as the smell of gas began began to fill in the air. A door, he thought in panic, he needed to find a door and get out. Preferably before he was burned alive to death. Again. He looked around but as much as he did, the darkness inside the crematorium hid it from him. That problem was replaced with a whole new one as the small chamber suddenly became illuminated by a blue light. Looking down in panic as the burners started their pilot light, Ezekiel's eyes went to his feet where the outline of the door could be seen. He wasted no time kicking the door and screaming, hoping the noise would alert someone of his presence. Sadly, his lucked seemingly returned with him and no one seemed to be supervising the operation. To top it off, the flames fired up and the metal began heating up.
Being burned alive isn't like what many people believe it is. The pain doesn't start immediately, at least not if the heat is too strong, as the nerves endings are seared shut, killing them. One hardly notices the skin melting off, it's almost like a thick sweat washing over you. Then the pain begins. Ezekiel was beginning to sweat as the heat rises and he starting to glue itself to the hot metal sheet were he was lying. His breathing became more erratic as the air heated up even more, kicking the door only tired him even more meaning he had to breath air no longer suited for human lungs. Seeing the situation hopeless Ezekiel decided to take the bull by the horns, placing himself in the same position he had woken up. Ignoring the hissing of his flesh and gathering as much magic possible on his feet, Ezekiel gave one solid stomp on the door.
The door opened wide and he hurried to exit the oven just as one of his arms caught fire. Ezekiel tried to stand up but the change in temperatures brought his body up to speed with the damage that had been done to it. He fell to the floor hissing in pain as the Black Magic began surely but very slowly. Unlike the other times where the healing was almost instantaneous, this one was thorough. To Ezekiel it felt as if he was being licked by a dead cow's tongue and if the echoing giggles that the Black Magic made were something to go by, It was enjoying it a bit too much.
The door opened and a man in a lab coat entered the room reading a chart, only to stop looking at Ezekiel's burned body trying to put out his flaming arm.
"A little help, doctor?" Ezekiel asked.
For all response the man's eyes rolled up and he fell without a sound. Except the one of his head banging on the floor, of course.
"Oh my god, sir are you okay?" A concerned woman's voice sound from outside.
Shit, was the only thing Ezekiel could thing as he hurried to put off the fire. Soundsteps approached quickly as he renewed his efforts to, ii anything else, not start the fire alarm.
"What the hell is going on?" The woman asked. Ezekiel stopped moving and looked up to see...
"Andi?"
"How do you-EZEKIEL?" Andromeda asked dumbfounded. "But, HOW?"
"Little help first?" Ezekiel replied showing the burning limb.
"How is that not hurting..? I don't-sod it." Andromeda looked around to make sure nobody else was coming before taking out her wand and whispering Aqua Eructo pointing at Ezekiel.
A stream of water washed him down and Ezekiel could swore he heard some of his flesh fizzling. Once the fire was out Ezekiel remembered his nakedness and covered himself as best as he could.
"I think I can walk out Andi, but I need your help. Could you get the clothes of the doctor?" Ezekiel asked looking away embarrassed. He was surprised when instead of an answer Andromeda launched herself at him and hugged him. "Andi?"Andromeda's answer was to hug her with all the strength she could muster. "Andi, it's me. I'm fine" Ezekiel assured her but that didn't placate her distress. Hugging him as close as she could, Andromeda began sobbing quietly. Wanting to console her but not willing to do anything that could be misinterpreted, Ezekiel removed one of the hands he was using to cover himself and tried to hug her as best as he could. "I'm fine, Andi." He repeated but he could felt her shaking her head. Eventually she did released him and looked him in the eyes, something that surprised him given that she had been the one that suggested him sunglasses, before tears began flowing and she hugged him again. Ezekiel was at a loss of what to say so he went with the first thing that came to mind.
"Do you smell smoke?"
"Do I smell some...Are you kid-?OH SHIT THE OVEN!" Andromeda shouted as she jumped back to her feet and turned off the burning device with her wand before it exploded. Sighting with relief she turned to see her not-so-dead nephew and gasped. She did so not because he was covered in horrible scars, which he was, but because he was healing right in front of her. As a medi-witch, she had received extensive training in recognizing magic activity in her patients to know if the cause of their illness was internal or external. Ezekiel wasn't using any, which meant that the Black Magic, perhaps THE darkest magic in history was doing something that went completely against its nature.
"Ezekiel." She said slowly. "Please don't misunderstand but, how are you alive?"
"Magic."
"Ezekiel, I saw you die." Andromeda said with sorrow. "You didn't just die, you exploded all over the room. I washed away your blood off me. Magic can't fix death, not normal magic. Please, I need to know."
"Look, Andi." Ezekiel, said trying to come to terms with what he had just heard. "I'll tell you all I can but people are going to come here, we need to leave."
"All you can, what is that supposed to mean?"
"Andi, please!."
"Fine." Andromeda sighted as she took off the man's lab coat and handed it to Ezekiel.
"I'm going to need a little more here, Andi."
"I'm not letting this poor man get fired for something that wasn't his fault."
"Oh, come on!" Ezekiel replied as he put it on. "At least give me his shoes."
"We're not leaving through the front door, you're gonna have to wing it."
"Wing it!? Some Slytherin you turned out to be." Ezekiel said as Andromeda helped him stand.
"Keep up with the sass and I'll show you how much of a Black I still am."
The trip outside was a nightmare, plain and simple. Ezekiel lost count of how many times they ended up hiding behind a corner or taking a turn that took them away from the outside. It surprised and annoyed in equal way how little attention people were giving him. Not because he wanted the attention but because he was quite clearly naked underneath and shoe-less. That should've turned some heads but alas, nothing happened. So much stress for nothing, he thought.
"What sort of place is this?" Ezekiel asked quietly to Andromeda.
"The kind that doesn't ask too much questions." She replied as they left the building through a side door "And the kind I don't want to anger, so please hurry up."
"I'm going to need some explanations as to was all that." Ezekiel pointed to the building behind his back.
"Funny, I'm going to need explanations for all of this." Andromeda said as she gestured at him. "How about you summon your car and you start first? People might notice you here."
The car answered faster than before, Ezekiel was tempted to say it'd been anxious to receive his call. Running his hand along its body, Ezekiel nodded satisfied and quickly entered the vehicle. To his surprise Andromeda was already there with the most stern look he had ever seen.
"So..I imagine you'd have some questions." Ezekiel began.
"Do you have any idea what the family's been through?" Andromeda asked him emotionless.
"..."
"Don't." Andromeda stopped herself as she wiped a rogue tear from her cheek. "You died, Ezekiel."
"Look Andi, I'm sorry."
"You died" Andromeda interrupted him. "right in front of me. You left this world in one of the most horrible ways I've ever seen. You were in pain, you needed help and there was nothing I could do about it. I've spent entire nights without sleep. Ted and Dora even got me this sleeping potions and even then all I could dream of was you. That's how bad it got. Now you're here, right next to me, right as rain. Make no mistake." Andromeda said as she looked at him in the eyes. Again, she didn't even flinch. "once this is over and you give me all the answers I ne- deserve, I'll thank every god that I can think of, but I want answers Ezekiel."
"Look, Andi. "He replied. "I know there's a lot that you might want to know, at you think you do but there are some things I can't say. Now "Ezekiel raised his hand to stop Andi. "in all fairness, I won't lie to you as why I can't tell you this."
"Is it because you're the bloody Lord of the House of Black?" Andromeda asked frustrated.
"Well...yes, that's pretty much it really."
"Well, what can you tell me then?"
"The thing is, I can't die. At least that's what I though until Harry did his little number on me."
"What do you mean by that? Are you saying you're immortal?"
"No, nothing like that." Ezekiel shook his head. "The thing is, the Black Magic knows that once I die and if no one's there to inherit it, it'll disappear."
"You're talking about it as if it were alive." Andromeda raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
"It sort of is. Its difficult to explain, honestly I'm not sure I myself get it right."
"Okay, but what does the Black Magic has to do with the fact that you're sort of immortal?" Andromeda asked confused.
"I'm not immortal, Andi. The Black Magic needs me, it can run as wild as it likes but without my magic it can't affect the real world. So when I do die, the magic takes control and uses my magic to heal me."
"That sounds a lot like immortality to me." Andromeda replied.
"As long as I have magic." Ezekiel replied. "If I die and my core is depleted or if somebody blocks my magic like Harry did. "
"Has that ever happened to you before?"
"No that one was a surprise, but eventually I'll grow old and my magic will start failing me. Then I'll die." Ezekiel shook his head. "There's something else I need to check. There's something about Harry, he received the Black Magic twice and-"
"You did what!?" Andromeda shifted on her seat to see him. "How can you do that with a child! Ezekiel, what is wrong with you?"
"Look." Ezekiel raised his hands in surrender. "The first time I didn't even knew he was there, alright?"
"And the second one?"
"It was at my house, Harry was... distressed."
"And why might that be?" Andromeda asked curious. "Do you think it might've something to do with the WEREWOLF THAT YOU WERE KEEPING PRISONER IN THE BASEMENT?"
"You know?"
"Dora told us weeks ago, along the other things you did."
"Wait, weeks?" Ezekiel asked confused. "Andi, how long was I..."
"Gone?" Andromeda finished for him. "Months. Tomorrow is Halloween."
"HOW?"
"What, is that unusual? How long does it take for you to, you know... come back."
"Depends on the injury, I guess." Ezekiel muttered surprised as he leaned on his seat. "Harry must've done a number one."
"Didn't you hear me back then?" Andromeda asked incredulous. "You exploded, Ezekiel."
"Sorry. Look, Andi." Ezekiel hold her hand as Andromeda fought the tears. "It's me, see? I'm here, I'm fine."
"Right." Andromeda sobbed. "You're fine, sure. I'm not stupid, Ezekiel. What did this cost you?"
"Sorry?"
"Don't take me for a fool, Ezekiel Black." Andromeda replied sternly. "I was raised by liars too, I know when somebody lies to me. Specially one of my kids. Magic comes at a price, sometimes our own magic, sometimes something else. You left my house on the day of you claimed the Magic looking completely normal and returned like this." Andromeda gestured all of him. "What. Did. It. Cost?"
"I can't say." Ezekiel replied dejected.
"Well, what can you say?" Andromeda asked impatiently.
"Half." Ezekiel said after some consideration.
"Half?" Andromeda repeated confused. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"It costed me half."
Andromeda looked at him suspiciously, trying to find meaning to what he had said. Ezekiel expression turned sour as she paled, covering her face with her hand and her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Please, tell me you didn't."
"I had to." Ezekiel replied avoiding looking at her eyes.
"No, you didn't."
"Yes, I did!" Ezekiel replied angry as he turned to confront her. "Do you have any idea what would've happened if I hadn't accepted the Magic?"
"It would've disappeared, Ezekiel! The Head of the House of Black is and always has been a man!"
"You don't know that." Ezekiel replied. "I didn't know that because there was no one alive left to tell me. For all we knew back then it could've jumped to the rest of the family. Narcissa, Bellatrix, you, I did what I though was right for everyone."
"Oh, Ezekiel." Andromeda said dismayed as she hugged him again.
"It doesn't matter." Ezekiel replied bitterly. "Doubt I'd had much of a choice back then."
"Sometimes you have too much heart, son." Andromeda muttered. "When you're not being a complete prick."
"Sorry, it's like a habit too hard to quit." Ezekiel said as both of them laughed.
"Oh, don't be." Andromeda replied as they sat back on their seats. "It's one of the best parts of you."
"Ouch." Ezekiel mockingly placed his hand on his chest. "That's a harsh thing to say to a son."
"Shut it, you and Dora are ours. We raised you both -you needed a bit more than her- and we love you both. As far as me and Ted concern, you both are ours."
"Thanks." Ezekiel replied warmly.
"Don't thank me for that, we're family!"
"I'm surprised Dora didn't had a problem with that."
"Oh,no." Andromeda waved her hand. "She was the first one to call you a prick."
"Really?"
"Well, she actually used other words to describe you." Andromeda smiled. "She expanded her vocabulary quite a lot looking for a word to describe you. Too much for a child of her age, if you ask me."
"That sounds more like her." Ezekiel smiled before guilt catched up with him. "How's everyone?"
"A mess, what did you expect?" Andromeda said tired as she explained. "Ted didn't knew what to feel."
"I meant to talk to him and explain everything but Harry went haywire and well, you know the rest."
"He made Malfoy give the oath." Andromeda said. "You can't imagine how he looked when he came back from that meeting. Still, the deal was made with the details Dora gave him. As far as the world knows, Dumbledore sold the recipes to Malfoy without Harry's approval. Lucius was so mortified for the whole thing that not only he returned everything back to Harry and even offered him his stores as compensation. Harry, being the Child of the Light and all that, offered the House of Malfoy a partnership of all things. Under the condition of course that the price was accessible to all wizards and witches."
"And people actually bought it?" Ezekiel asked surprised.
"It was in the Prophet." Andromeda shrugged. "Why wouldn't they?"
"Ugh." Ezekiel moaned as he rubbed his eyes exasperated. "People are idiots."
"Yep. Ted did managed to have their Potions Masters checked, though. Had to fire almost all of them."
"Can't imagine Ted was pleased to know that the potion that failed his father was made by some incompetent buffoon,"
"It was hard." Andromeda nodded. "But at least it won't happen again."
"And Dora?"
"She didn't wanted to believe it at first. She kept saying that you'd come back, after a couple of weeks it finally sinked in. She's with us now, had to take her vacation days to fool the Ministry."
"And?"
"She's Dora."
"Eh?" Ezekiel tilted his head in confusion.
"Her abilities, they failed her. She looks just as she was born, brown hair and all that. She's completely miserable, all she does is walk around with your wand."
"Oh, good. I almost forgot where that was."
"You know she's going to do to you when she sees that you're alive?"
"I'm trying very, very hard not to." Ezekiel shuddered. "And Harry?"
"He blames himself, locked himself in your room. He only came out to use the loo and we almost have to force him to eat."
"That poor kid." Ezekiel sighted. "But why your house? I made arrangements to leave everything but the titles to you and Ted."
"That place is a wreck, its as if a bomb had exploded there. I've seen house of cards more sturdy than that."
"And the elves?"
"Won't leave the house. They keep it in place, waiting for you, they say."
"Right, I'll have to fix that first." Ezekiel sighted as he gestured at the building they had left. "What's the deal with that place?"
"Riiight." Andromeda said looking away. "The thing is, we received several summons from the Queen. Eventually Ted and I had to go and explain everything. I found her quite, I want to be polite here... special. I really feel for you, all this years having to go see her."
"Oh, that's only because you met her once." Ezekiel chuckled. "Trust me, it gets worst."
"Anyway, we explained everything to her and she was quite shocked, I tell you." Andromeda said to Ezekiel's surprise. "Still, she wanted to move Harry to another place. Luckily the Goblin King himself came and spoke for us. He said Harry would need a family and he already had us. Cynical bastard that one."
"So those two know each other...Things just keep getting better and better here." Ezekiel muttered. " Would you mind If I die again and check how things are in a couple of months?" Ezekiel's joke earned him a swatt on the back of his head. "It was just a suggestion!"
"Don't even think of joking like that."
"Okay, but what about the wolf?"
"He escaped." Andromeda replied. "Dora was entering the house when he knocked her out when he ran away. He opened the front door in a hurry and hit her right in the face."
"Okay, but what about the Queen?"
"She said that we should go as usual, the old bitch." Ezekiel looked shocked at his usually polite aunt. "That she needed to check the laws to make sure Harry could live with us. She sent a note to your superior to cover for you, that you were on a mission or something like that."
"Smart. And this place?"
"Promise me you won't be mad." Andromeda begged him.
"Why?" Ezekiel narrowed his eyes suspicious.
"We got a letter a couple days ago. The goblins thought they could tweak your will. Make it look like you had left Harry to us."
"Okay. What about me then, how did I die?"
"That's why I asked you to be calm." Andromeda said softly. "Just remember that this wasn't my idea, neither was Ted or Dora's. Their story - theirs, not ours - is that you were inspecting a field and got hit by lightning. Repeatedly."
"That was the best they could come up with?" Ezekiel asked insulted.
"Yes, you were declared dead on arrival and cremated in that building back there."
"Okay, I mean I could come up with twenty problems with that story from the top of my head, but okay. I still don't know why you asked me that."
"We said the exact same thing. The thing is, this whole farce only worked if you were away. Somewhere that didn't had lightning rods like in a city."
Ezekiel looked at Andromeda curious before he started looking around, noticing the street where they were, the buildings and business. Lastly, he rolled out the car window and stuck his head out to look at the sky. Realizing that it was covered with clouds, Ezekiel put his head back in without saying a word.
"Andi." He asked slowly. "Am I in Scotland?"
"Look, it wasn't my idea, okay?"
"I mean." He continued without hearing her. "This is a joke, right? Saying that I passed away in a field in the middle of freaking Scotland."
"Could you please not make a big deal out of it?"
"Because I wouldn't be caught passing water in this place."
"Look, it was a bad idea." Andromeda pleaded. "Besides, what's the big deal with Scotland anyway?"
"It's not London."
"Please, please don't make a scene?"
"Fine." Ezekiel sighted frustrated. "Only because I'm sitting almost naked in a car."
"Thank you."
"In the middle of fucking Scotland." He muttered in disbelief. "Right, what's the quickest route to London?"
"Actually, I used the floo to come. It was easier that way."
Ezekiel closed his eyes as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Take us home, love."
The car started on its own, much to Andromeda's surprise, and quickly ran like a blur.
"One of this days, you are gonna have to tell me what's the deal with this car of yours." Andromeda said surprised as they pulled over in front of Ezekiel's house.
"I already did, you just didn't believe me."
"Some of the things you say are rather unbelievable."
"But they are true." Ezekiel replied. "So, how bad is it? Will I be able to get in?"
"Dora said the whole thing crumbled down once she got you two out." Andromeda said examining the cracked facade of the house. "Be careful."
Ezekiel left the car, avoiding the looks other londoners gave him and quickly entered the house. Lucky the unplottability spell on the property seemed to work. As soon as he put a foot on his entrance stairway, people forgot about him. If the outside of the house was a preview of what was waiting for him inside, Ezekiel was in for a disaster. Every window was crushed, large cracks ran up and down its facade and parts of the moldings were missing. He only hoped no one was below them when they fell. Opening the door required no effort at all, in fact the hinges gave up and the door fell flat on the ground. The insides were almost completely destroyed, one of the upper floors had collapsed and the one below was barely holding on.
"Please tell me that at least I have some clothes left." Ezekiel muttered examining the damages. Four loud CRACK! noises sounded near the floor. Looking down he found his house elves looking exhausted, everyone's clothes were ragged and dusty. A few of them had some nasty looking scars and Kreacher seemed to be missing an eye.
"Massster..." Kreacher said breathless. "You've returned."
All four elves tried bowing to him but they ended up collapsing on the floor.
"You guys had it rough, eh?"
"We protected the house, Master."
"Oh, did you now?" Ezekiel deadpanned as he gestured around him. "That's great, you lads have done a spiffing job I tell you. But did I asked you to do that?"
"Master, it is the home of" Loopy explained
"Did I tell you to do that?" Ezekiel repeated angry. All four elves looked at each other before shaking their heads silently. "Because I clearly remember saying that if something happened to me, you lot were supposed to serve my aunt Andromeda and her family. I would advise you to make the explanation you are about to give... phenomenally good. Because I was out for months and my family had to deal with everything on their own. So, who's first?" He asked expectantly.
"My Lord... it's the house." Zobkey said. "The Ancestral Home of"
"Who do you serve, Zobkey?"¨Ezekiel interrupted him.
" Zobkey serves The Ancient-ahck!" Zobkey tried to reply but Ezekiel grabbed him by the neck and brought him to eye level.
"Who do you serve, Zobkey?" Ezekiel asked to the choking elf.
"We serve you, My Lord." Rinky replied with her face on the floor.
"That's right, Rinky." Ezekiel smiled as he dropped Zobkey, who banged his head on the floor. Ezekiel walked to Rinky kicked her side, turning her face up. "You don't serve a House, you serve me. So when I give you an order, I expect you to follow it. You four gave everything to me, remember? You gave your existence, your magic, your very soul to me the day you swore fealty to me. Not to my House, not to this building, ME."
"We are unworthy, Sire." Kreacher said weakly.
Ezekiel debated with himself if he should start stomping their heads into the boards of the floor when the gleeful laughter of the Black Magic distracted him. After some consideration he spoke again.
"You should consider yourself lucky that I still have use for you." Ezekiel said sternly ignoring the Black Magic's ows. "Alright, faces up. You know the drill."
"Ezekiel?" Andromeda's voice sounded from the entrance. "Is everything alright?"
"Give me a minute, I need to fix the house." Ezekiel replied without looking back. "Go wait in the car please."
"What do you mean fixing the house?" Andromeda said approaching him. "You don't have nowhere even near enough magic for something like that."
"Could you please go wait in the car?" Ezekiel pleaded.
"What are you planning here?"
"Car, pretty please?" Ezekiel begged.
"Oh, just fix this place already. It's won't be the first time I see Dark Magic."
"Suit yourself." Ezekiel muttered shaking his head.
He rolled up his left sleeve and approached his wrist to his lips. Biting until blood flowed, Ezekiel proceeded to drop several drops on the open mouths of his house elves. To Andromeda's surprise the elves started convulsing violently, steam pouring out of them. Kreacher in particular had a tougher time than the rest, holding his face were his eye used to be, hissing in pain. Shocked at the view Andromeda's gaze looked for Ezekiel, he was now in the middle of the dilapidated building, now both sleeves rolled up and bleeding from his wrists in tandem. The blood was flowing copiously to the floor, which absorbed it with the same hunger as cracked soil absorbed rain after a six month drought. Her shock only increased as the house cracked as it came to life, repairing itself before her eyes. In a matter of seconds, except for some dust left in the air, the Ancestral House of Black was as good as new. The elves finished their shared attack and much to her surprise, Andromeda saw them full with energy as they leaped from the floor. Kreacher took a bit longer but once he did she could she the missing organ replaced. All of them looked filthy, drooling and senching the room yet the gleam in their eyes was enough to send shivers down her spine.
"Alright, next time I'll wait in the car." Andromeda said as she approached her nephew, who was examining his wounds. "Let me see that."
"Told you. These four and the house are locked with my magic, my magic with the Black, the Black with my blood. Just needed to give a little infusion to bring the old girl back to life."
"How are you healing so good?" She asked looking at his mostly healed wrists. "That effort alone should've left you spent."
"It wasn't like that when I was a kid, before I took the Magic I was quite good at healing. Guess it stayed like that after I became Dark."
"You must've gotten it from your mother. She's the only one I know as Light as you before the Magic." Andromeda said before she realized what she said. "Sorry."
"It's fine." Ezekiel said abruptly walking away.
"I didn't mean to bring her up."
"I said, it's fine Andi." Ezekiel replied as he started walking upstairs. "I need to take a shower. Kreacher!"
"Master." The elve said bowing with fervor.
"If you and the rest of the little ingrats are done dirtying my floor I want you to look around for any of my clothes that might've survived. Now."
"Yes, Master!" The elves shouted, eager to make up for their mistake.
"I also want clean towels and don't think for a moment that I'll forget your transgression."
It'd be half hour later that Ezekiel would come back sporting a full black ensemble, with a quarter length black jacket, dark trousers and shirt.
"You're looking quite dashing like that." Andromeda said, hoping to leave her slip behind them.
"Meh, too much black. The style is a bit out of season too, don't you think?"
"It's not a bad colour for you." She smiled. "Look, I'm sorry."
"Don't." Ezekiel dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "Let's just go talk the others, oaky?"
"Okay." Andromeda nodded as they both left the house.
"Right, Kreacher." Ezekiel snapped his fingers and the elve appeared. "I want this house clean by the time I get back. If I can't see my reflection on this floors, I'll be quite disappointed with all of you."
"Yes, Master!" The elf said as both Ezekiel and Andromeda left the house.
"So, how do you want to do this?" Andromeda asked as they pulled over her house.
"I don't have the foggiest idea, truth be told. One at the time, maybe?"
"Suit yourself, I'm going to take a bath." She replied as she exited the vehicle.
They entered the house and Andromeda quickly went upstairs while Ezekiel closed the door.
"Mum? Is that you?" Dora's voice sounded behind him. "Mum, did you hear me?"
Ezekiel turned around slowly and found himself face to face with his cousin. Andromeda had really not made justice to the situation. Dora's hair was a brown mess, she had heavy bags under her eyes. Her eyes had a reddish color and were puffed, probably from having crying recently. Her clothes were wrinkled as if she hadn't changed in some time. It pained Ezekiel deeply knowing that he had been the cause of her grief. Dora was without words as she examined him upside down.
"Hey Dora, it's me." Ezekiel smiled. His smile didn't last for long as Dora's hair turned crimson red and she walked with heavy steps towards him, her fist raised.
In retrospective, he should've this one coming.
"You're an absolute cunt, you know that?" Dora said as she tossed a frozen bag of peas to his face. Ezekiel barely managed to catch him while keeping his head as he lean forward and placed across his face. They were sitting in the kitchen facing each other.
" 'ook, I shaid I'm shory" Ezekiel had problems speaking since Dora had knocked out quite a number of his teeth.
"You are a complete bellend, an absolute twat, fully fledged wanker, you toss... cunt."
" 'ora."
"I mean, who does that to his own family? A cunt, that is who."
"I didn' mea' tho"
"You didn't meant to? Oh, well in that case I guess it's all good then. Water under the bridge I suppose." Dora replied. "Dickhead."
"I' 'ook m'e a 'it 'ore 'han ej'ected."
"You were dead." Dora replied angry. "Mom and Dad had to meet the Queen because of you."
" 'orry."
"Harry is a mess because of you, he thinks he killed you."
" I'll 'alk'o 'im."
"You fucking bet you are, arsehole."
"Dora, who are you talking to?" Ted asked entering the room. "Ezekiel?"
" 'i 'ed" Ezekiel waved at his surprised uncle.
"Bu-how?" Ted asked as he launched himself to hug him. "What happened to you?"
" 'ora 'it 'e."
"What?" Ted asked confused.
"I hit him." Dora translated.
"Nymphadora!" Ted said shocked.
" 'ish a'igt" Ezekiel said.
"No, it's not! Dora we just got him back, you can't just hit him!"
"All evidence to the contrary." Dora replied pointing at Ezekiel.
"Did you at least give him the chance to explain himself before you hit him?"
"No.." Dora muttered crossing her arms.
"Come on, son. Let's get you fixed."
" 'ish a'igh, ji'e 'e a 'econd." Ezekiel replied getting up from the chair and passing him the frozen bag. Turning away from them, Ezekiel passed his hands over his face. The Black Magic worked quickly to fix him. Teeth that were were still broken were replaced with new ones as his nose and bones were forced back to normal. Spitting the broken teeth on his hands, Ezekiel quickly tossed them into the trash bin and washed his hands. "See, all better." He turned to see Ted and Dora's flabbergasted face.
"How long have you been able to do that?" Ted asked.
"Always?" Ezekiel replied innocently.
"And why didn't you do that before?" Dora asked angry.
"I thought you'd like to talk to me more if you let off some steam."
"Not really." Dora replied. "At least I know that I can punch you as hard as I like"
"Nymphadora, that's enough!" Ted chastised her. "Ezekiel is back, can we just be thankful for that?"
"Fine." Dora got up from her chair and hugged Ezekiel tightly. "But if you pull one more thing like this, I'll rip your cock off and feed it to you. Until I get tired of it." She muttered to his ear.
"Noted." Ezekiel muttered back. "I'm really sorry, for everything."
"It's alright, at least you're alive." She said releasing him. She reached to her belt and took out his wand. "Here, I kept it for you."
"Thanks, I thought I lost it."
"Don't get used to this. Next time you go missing on us I'm breaking it."
"Now." Ted said in a serious tone "There's something we need to discuss."
"You mean the Malfoy deal, right?" Ezekiel asked. "Look I wanted to talk about it but then Harry summoned me and."
"Not just the deal with that...man." Ted interrupted him. "It's also the matter of the werewolf that you kept in your basement."
"Right." Ezekiel nodded.
"The werewolf that escaped from your house on day previous to the full moon. You do understand how illegal that was? Not to mention, letting a man at large with such condition on a populated area such as London's. It was nothing short of a miracle that no victims were reported."
"I understand, Ted." Ezekiel sighted in relief that nobody else had been injured. "And believe it or not, I did had a plan."
"A plan that fell through the second something went wrong is hardly worth calling itself as such. You can't just go around breaking the law, Ezekiel. There are people you can talk to."
"And I fully planned to talk to them, Ted. I just had no idea everything would go the way it did. Let's be honest here, who could've seen this coming?"
"I've got to side with Zeke here." Dora said placing her hands on her waist. "I've never seen anything like that in my entire life."
"Be that as it may." Ted continued. "If things do go as bad as they did, or worse, you'll need to make plans for the future."
"I already have one." Ezekiel assured them. "It's simple, clean and legal, mostly. You'll love it. I just need Harry's blessing."
"I guess that's all I can ask for." Ted sighted.
"So, are you still my law-wizard?" Ezekiel asked hopeful.
"Yes, at least when this whole thing goes down in flames I'll get to tell you 'I told you so'."
"Oh, it won't be that bad."
"Are you going to talk to Harry?" Dora interrupted.
"Yes, I wanted to clear the air between us first." Ezekiel said. "Is he still in my old room?"
"He almost never leaves it." Ted replied. "I don't think I've heard that door open at all today. I was about to go check on him"
"I'll do it." Ezekiel replied as he exited the kitchen.
"I'm taking a bath. I think Mum just left the bathroom." Dora said following him.
"I'll check with your mother then, I imagine she must be dead tired from all this."
"Harry" Ezekiel knocked softly. "Are you awake?"
Not hearing anything Ezekiel opened the door. The room was engulfed in darkness as the blinds were closed and the light was off. The stench that came out almost make him puke, so he hurried inside to open a window and turn on the ceiling fan. Reaching upwards, he turned on the light but Harry was nowhere in sight. Frowning as he looked around, he found some meals left uneaten which he quickly vanished with a wave of his wand. Ezekiel looked confused at his room until he heard noise coming from under his bed. Crouching down to check, he found Harry in a fetal position leaning on the cold floor. He reached to him but Harry once his and graced Harry's he woke up in a dazed panic.
"Hey, It's me! It's me, okay?" Ezekiel assured him.
"Ezekiel?" Harry asked confused.
"Yes, me." He smiled. "How about we get you out of here? It smells terrible in here."
"No." Harry said softly.
"Why not?"
"I killed you." Harry whispered.
"Well, I'm here aren't I? So, you didn't kill me."
"But I hear them."
"And yet, here I am."
"No, you aren't."
"Aren't I?" Ezekiel frowned.
"This is just another dream, isn't it? You're just going to show me how I killed you again."
"What? No! Here." Ezekiel extended his hand to Harry. "Does this feels like a dream to you?"
Harry reached almost fearfully to Ezekiel's hand. His surprise when he felt it was such that he tried to get up and ended up hitting his head with the frame of the bed.
"See? Real. Now let's get you out of here."
"No!"
"Why not?"
"I'll hurt you again!"
"Don't worry, Harry." Ezekiel calmed him down. "Far more powerful people have tried that, all failed. You won't be any different, no offence."
"No, they said I was different. They said that I was a freak!"
"Who said that to you?"
"Andromeda... she said that she never saw anybody do what I did to you.
"Okay Harry, I need you to remember very carefully. Did she said different or freak?"
"It's the same. Aunt Petunia was right, I'm just a freak."
"Harry, did Andromeda Tonks said you were different or a freak."
"Different." Harry whispered.
"Now you listen here, and listen well." Ezekiel said as he got under the bed near Harry. Nobody in this house has or will ever call you a freak. Those two things aren't the same and you are certainly not a freak. You are certainly different. Got it?" Harry nodded. "Good. Now Different denotes neither bad nor good, but it certainly means not the same. Like it or not that's what you are and we will help you because we're your family and we care about you. Now let's get out of here, this isn't exactly good for my spine."
"But.."
"Are you worried? You think you could be the end of me?"
"Yes."
"Do not worry, Harry, I will not die by your hand - I know it.""How do you know? How can you be sure?"
"Because...I am Ezekiel Black. The Lord of The Ancient and Most Noble House Of Black. It doesn't matter how bad things get or what you might do, I'll always be here for you. How can I be a Lord if I fail to keep such a promise?"
"You promise?"
"I promise. Now, please let's get out of here?"
"Okay." Harry said smiling at last. He started moving backwards when Ezekiel caught him by the wrist. He looked back at him in shock but Ezekiel's eyes were glued to his forearm.
"Harry...what is this?" Ezekiel asked slowly looking at the scratches and cuts that now plagued Harry's limb.
"It's nothing." Harry quickly replied and tried to get rid of his grip.
"Harry." Ezekiel repeated. "What happened? Did you do this to yourself?"
"It's nothing! Let me go!"
"Stop struggling." Ezekiel replied increasing the strength on his grip. "Let me heal you."
"NO!" Ezekiel was surprised by the sudden scream and Harry took the opportunity to back out the bed. "YOU'LL DIE!"
"Who the hell told you that?" Ezekiel asked as he quickly came out under the bed.
"It was...it was..." Harry tried to say but started choking out. Ezekiel watched with horror as Harry's neck suddenly began showing a red line around it, almost as if Harry was being choked by a rope.
"NO!" He yelled as he launched himself at Harry, pinning him against the floor and covering his mouth. "Harry, stop! Don't say another word, you hear me? Don't even think about what happened!"
"What the hell is that noise!" Dora's voice sounded as she and her parents ran towards the room. "Zeke, What are you doing?"
"It's a Royal Command!" He explained them as he kept Harry on the floor. "Stay back!"
"Back? Get off him!" Andromeda replied shocked.
"If I let him go he dies! STAY BACK!" Ezekiel shouted at them. "Harry, please stop. Not another word, not another thought." He begged to the boy who was now red in the face.
After some time, the red line finally disappeared and he took his hand out of his mouth. Looking at Harry's crying face, Ezekiel got off him so Andromeda could examine him.
"What the hell was that, Ezekiel?" Dora asked him when things calmed down.
"It's a Royal Command." Ezekiel resting against the wall, pointed at the red line on Harry's neck. "The Queen told him not to say something, the Magic ensured it."
"How can she command a kid? It's against every law there is." Ted asked shocked.
"He isn't a child anymore." Ezekiel replied. "Harry must have chosen to be the Heir of his House and his House is a servant of the Crown. He's almost like me now."
"What do you mean?" Andromeda asked as she healed Harry.
"It means Harry choose to be a wizard and an Heir." Ezekiel shook his head. "Oh Harry, what have you done?
I don't own Harry Potter, all characters except OC belong to J. K. Rowling.