Warning : Major jump in time (four years) I'll try to make it as smooth as possible. Let's get to the interesting parts with Harry Potter sooner than later! By the way, for those who read the name Hermione on the last chapter before I corrected it, I'm sorry. I sometimes use some phrases I read on other stories, and I forget to replace some words or names.
A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair.
Chapter 63 Deaths and Births
April 9th, 1980, Baudelaire's manor
Seth was by the unlit fireplace with an opened book, frowning as he read on protective enchantments. Over the last years he had found many vampires and he felt uneasy that they could be attacked without him knowing, and he just couldn't place so many wards everywhere without having someone to renew them every few days. None were long lasting in non-magical areas. He made a grunt of displeasure, then threw the book on a nearby sofa.
The situation was getting worser than he anticipated. Not just for the protection it required from him, but also about the violence it grew. The vampires he had encountered had not been in the wizarding world, and still kept to their muggle ways, and that meant drugs, alcohol, smokes, and many acts of violence.
Aurors and Obliviators were still going around and doing their job, and it was mostly to not create chaos in an already working world. Their goal was to prevent mass attacks from muggles, and they were advancing slowly.
But there were too many deviances.
Seth hit the wall and his fist went through it. Pieces of wood went on the floor as he removed his arm. Orion, who had passed out on the sofa, gasped loudly, startled by the noise. He had not been feeling well the last few months and had been passing out in many places around the manor. Orion blinked several times, then saw Seth grumbling and pacing around, completely ignoring him. He thought Seth must really be in his thoughts to not even glance at the noise he had made.
His shirt was soaked in his sweat, and he felt his heartbeat all out of place. He mumbled the house-elf's name for some water and a cloth, and that's when Seth's eyes went on him.
''You are getting worse.'' Said Seth, out of the blue.
Orion began to cough, trying to repress a laugh that badly ended.
''I know.'' Said Orion once he could breathe again and took a sip of water.
''You want Ruma to check you out? She's about to end her last semester with a private healer.'' Said Seth.
Ruma had studied anatomy for three years in muggle universities and also private lessons with a healer while studying ancient runes with Gellert every week. They had to give her a time-turner, Seth's time-turner, so that she could actually sleep.
''It's… not something anyone can heal. Is she even here?'' Asked Orion.
Seth snorted and passed a hand on his face, then waved his wand for a quick Tempus.
''I don't even know what day or time it is anymore.'' Said Seth, eyeing the bright numbers. ''She should be sleeping here today… tonight, hn.''
Colpy suddenly reappeared and handed a letter not to Seth, but to Orion. Something was wrong and Colpy looked nervous.
''Colpy… who is this from?'' Asked Orion after looking at the handwriting.
The house-elf rubbed his hands nervously, and Seth knew.
''Corban. Did something happen to the Blacks?'' Thought Seth as he reached towards his link.
''Yes, Regulus has been missing for two days. I don't know anything else, except I have seen Rosanne recently because I had to see my brother. She was crying… she is about to give birth.'' Thought Corban.
Seth looked at Orion who was reading the letter and becoming whiter by the second.
''My son… he's dead.'' Said Orion with a broken voice.
''Oh.'' Silence. ''Well, that does not surprise me. Many are dying, even aurors. It is very chaotic… and very hard to play my role. I just wish you were here.'' Thought Corban.
''Ni mel cin.'' Thought Seth, wishing he was with him too.
Seth looked at Black again who had his face buried in his hands. He was trembling, the letter hanging between two fingers. It was a formal letter from the ministry asking him to take his seat again on the Wizengamot or it will be given to his other son. Such a simple formal letter to announce something terrible to a parent. Seth sat beside him, placing a hand on his back. He had experienced losing someone, but he could not even imagine losing a child.
''Corban said your son had disappeared two days ago. There can be only one explanation with that letter, and no one knowing his whereabouts…'' Said Seth quietly.
''Voldemort killed him… Kreacher… KREACHER!'' Yelled Orion.
Kreacher apparated after a minute. His hands were bloodied, he had bruises on his arms with some bandages around one and you could see a bad cut on his ear, enough to almost see through his skin. Orion had a shocked face, but Seth clearly saw a flash of anger pass in his eyes before he crouched in front of his house-elf.
''What did you do? Why did you have to punish yourself like this? WHAT HAPPENED TO REGULUS, KREACHER?'' Yelled Orion again, his voice breaking as he placed hands on Kreacher's small shoulders.
''Master R-Regulus told Kreacher to flee from… the c-cave. Kreacher could not save master Regulus from… from…'' Cried the house-elf.
''The inferi.'' Said Seth, knowing what cave Regulus had gone to.
Ruma bursted through the living room's door, eyeing the situation. She had been woken up from the yells, considering she was in pyjamas and with unbrushed hair, but worry was in her eyes as she went closer to Orion. Seth apparated away in a soft popping sound. Orion breathed heavily, broken by his emotions and by his rising fever. Ruma crouched beside him, swiftly analyzing him with a swish of her wand.
''You are ill, Orion! What is happening?'' Said Ruma, alarmed.
She helped him back on the sofa, then asked Colpy for fresh cold water and cloths while she went to the potion supplies in another room. She returned to give him potions for his pain and fever. She was sitting beside him, wiping his forehead gently with a cold wet cloth. Her earlier diagnosis could not show anything, and her spell colors were off, making her wonder what it meant. She looked at Kreacher with concerned interest at his wounds, then placed her gaze back on Orion.
''Orion. I heard you talking about your son. Tell me…'' Said Ruma softly.
Orion mumbled something, then shook his head. His bottom lip trembled and Kreacher whined.
She understood, and her heart sank. She had lost a dear friend.
She held Orion's hand tightly, trying to tell him she shared his pain through this simple gesture.
''I'm so sorry.'' Sobbed Ruma, tears running down her cheeks.
OoOoO
Seth stared at the basin, kneeling, where Voldemort's horcrux should be. His magic faltered, his heartbeat accelerated, trying to compensate from the immense distance he had apparated from. He should not have done that, let alone using his crown to not only go through a long distance, but going through heavy anti-apparating wards on the cave.
He could feel the dark magic impregnating every rock of this cave, but also the hundreds of inferi surrounding him, dark in the abyss of the eerie water. It was creepy, even for him, and it gave him shivers.
The horcrux was there, or so he thought. He lightly touched Voldemort's potion, that would reappear in it's entirety every seven minutes, should the user fail to drink it enough to grab the locket. Something was off, he could not feel Voldemort's soul in the locket. Originally, it had been a fake one placed there, so doubt filled his mind. He had given back the real one to him but had not known if he had placed it back in here. Had Regulus stolen the real one, or the fake one? And if he did, where was it, and who had it?
Walburga had died two years prior, and there was no one left in the Black's house, since Bellatrix never left Voldemort's shoes or stayed by her 'husband'. Orion's health had begun to deteriorate ever since his wife's death and Seth wondered if he hid something from him, like a curse from a wedding vow.
''Where are you? You are too exhausted to apparate again!'' Thought Corban.
''Yeah… I… shouldn't have done that, going through Voldemort's wards… Can you… can you see this?'' Thought Seth as he was showing a mental image of the outside of the cave.
''Be right there.'' Thought Corban.
Seth sat cross-legged with hands on his knees, closing his eyes and slowed breathing. Meditation was a good way to lessen the exhaustion. It also drove his rising sudden hunger away. Seth followed Corban's thoughts, guiding him through the entrance of the cave, then the way to open it with blood. Corban brought out the boat, then glided through the lake. Set stood up as Corban arrived near the small island.
''It's good to see you, mel.'' Said Seth.
Corban stepped on the island and hopped the crystal floor to join Seth before kissing him madly. After a moment where their desire became greater than just kiss, Seth indulged his rising thirst on Corban briefly, then they went out of the cavern before apparating separate ways. Seth needed to speak with someone in particular.
So, he was standing in Malfoy's manor hall and his eyes landed on Dobby. He had time to hear arguing in the living room, then hearing hurried steps to the hall.
''DOBBY! I TOLD YOU ENOUGH TIMES TO NOT LET ANYONE THROUGH OUR WARDS!'' Yelled Lucius before stopping abruptly as he saw Seth.
''Do I count as being anyone, Lucius?'' Said Seth, raising an eyebrow.
Seth thought Voldemort was here since he could feel his presence.
No.
Lucius would not have acted that way in his presence. A horcrux. Lucius had gone whiter then regained composure like a true Malfoy. Power, confidence, and arrogance radiated from Lord Malfoy now. Experience of dark magic and war now shone in his eyes.
''No, I… did not expect you.'' Said Malfoy as he gave a glare to his house-elf who whimpered and disappeared in a pop.
When Lucius looked back at Seth, he flinched at the closeness Seth now was. He could see the white of his teeth.
''Five years, isn't it? Since we last saw each other. You are so beautiful.'' Whispered Seth.
Lucius's heart skipped a beat and Seth made a short quiet laugh as his eyes landed on his wife behind him.
''Narcissa. Making a little Lucius, are you?'' Said Seth, hearing the fast foetus's heartbeat.
She mindlessly placed a hand over her very pregnant belly and nodded. Seth looked again at Lucius.
''Is the Dark Lord here?'' Asked Seth.
''No, he's at Lestrange's manor.'' Answered Narcissa dryly instead of Lucius who hissed in annoyance.
''Cissy, what is wrong with you? Telling the whereabouts of the Dark Lord!'' Snapped Lucius.
Seth just wanted to confirm what he had thought about the horcrux. He clicked his tongue and shook his head as he walked towards her.
''Indeed, what is wrong with a pregnant lady only wanting to send away the bad, bad man away.'' Said Seth.
Narcissa swallowed hard, taking one step back and taking a shallow breath. Seth went so close to her and smelled her perfume. Her fast anxious heartbeat reflected on the baby's, which also accelerated.
''You have seen me only twice, isn't that right, Narcissa?'' Said Seth. ''Why are you so scared of me? Isn't your husband telling you everything? By the way, you are making the baby nervous.'' He added.
Her eyes darted to her husband for a second, reflecting her doubt, and making a small gasp as she hung unto her belly. Lucius cleared his throat.
''What can I do for you, Seth?'' Asked Lucius.
''I need to speak with you, privately.'' Said Seth, still so close to Narcissa, and not moving his eyes away from her.
He surfaced her thoughts and noticed she was blocking them. She was a very skilled Occlumens, like all Blacks.
''We can go in my study, upstairs.'' Said Lucius as he began to walk to the stairs.
Seth was feeling the horcrux in the living room.
''No. Right here.'' Said Seth before finally moving away from Narcissa, who exhaled in relief, and made his way in the living room.
Seth took the diary that was on the table, in which he felt Voldemort's soul, in the middle of the living room, then sat down in a nearby sofa, not without conjuring a quill and ink first. Lucius quickly spelled shut the doors and placed silencing spells with a few wards and protection.
''Scared even in your own home, Lucius?'' Asked Seth as he began to write in the diary after reading the name on the cover.
'Tom Marvolo Riddle?' He scribbled.
'Only one can know my name with that writing. Seth?' Wrote the diary.
Lucius was panicking and almost sprinted towards Seth.
''You are not… supposed to… do you know what this is?'' Began Lucius as he went to read over his shoulder, having not seen Seth write Voldemort first name. The ink had disappeared in the pages.
''Do you?'' Asked Seth.
'It is I.' Wrote Seth. He figured Voldemort had made his first horcrux while still at school.
Seth suddenly felt warmth creeping up both his arms and going right to his mind, then slowly retreating back to the diary. Seth made a quiet laugh for Tom Riddle had used the power of his horcrux to see in his mind, where he had been blocked, though confirming his identity and the horcrux had not searched any further.
'Where did you go after fourth year?'
Theory confirmed. Horcruxes only retained memory from the moment they were made. This was a sixteen- or seventeen-years old Voldemort.
'War.'
A pause. Lucius remembered that being mentioned in the vampire book.
''Who is T. M. Riddle?'' Asked Lucius.
''I am not going to tell you anything, Lucius. Stay quiet.'' Said Seth.
'Do you know?' Wrote Tom.
Lucius wanted to ask many questions but swallowed them instead.
'Everything.' Wrote Seth.
Another pause.
'Is it time?'
'No.'
'Farewell.'
Seth vanished the ink and quill then threw back the diary on the table.
''What did it mean by is it time?'' Asked Lucius with a worried tone.
Seth crossed his legs and indicated Lucius to sit down in front of him with a hand gesture. Lucius walked to the sofa then sat down.
''Probably what Voldemort asked of you, hmm?'' Said Seth, tapping the sofa's armrest with fingers.
Lucius stayed silent for a moment, then opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again.
''If he did not tell you what it was, I am not going to tell you, Lucius. But I can tell you this.'' Said Seth as he eyed the diary and tilted his head to the right. ''By giving you this, it tells me two things. One, the Dark Lord trusts you above everything. Two, you are a very powerful wizard, Lucius.'' Added Seth, now staring in his eyes.
Lucius's lips twitched, almost forming a faint smile.
''Yes.'' Lucius had said the word softly, almost inaudible.
Seth decided to change subject and speak to him for the reason he came in the first place.
''Tell me, Regulus Black was a deatheater, do you know anything about his death?'' Asked Seth.
That seem to surprise Lucius.
''Death? The… Dark Lord had recently asked for a house-elf for something, which Regulus offered his spontaneously, that he was honoured. That was… two days ago.'' Said Lucius.
''Do you think he went to place the real horcrux, but that Kreacher somehow escaped, then told Regulus who went back in there?'' Thought Corban.
''Then where's the horcrux? Kreacher would have it then.'' Thought Seth.
''Well, he is dead now. Orion received an automated message from the ministry so that he had to choose to sit on the Wizengamot or let his remaining son have it. The thing is, Orion had been sicker ever since Walburga died. I have a feeling he will be gone once I leave here.'' Said Seth.
Lucius eyes went down in thoughts.
''The Blacks… have cursed, barbaric weddings, only in the males direct line, with different variations. If what you say is true, then I suspect Orion and Walburga's Black wedding is condemning. Arcturus Black died of Dragon Pox, where he mysteriously caught when he had not been anywhere near that illness. Orion probably had the dead wife's curse, where it would ultimately make his end after a year or two of her own demise… Rosanne has married Regulus Black three years ago, and Rabastan Lestrange showed me the contract they had sign, even with Orion's signature approving it… if the young Regulus died while she was pregnant with his child, one of them would have to choose who lives.'' Said Lucius.
''That's why she was crying.'' Thought Corban.
''What mother would sacrifice their child? There is going to be an orphan baby, and Callum will lose his only child. This is… (…) What is going on here, Lucius?'' Said Seth, appalled from Britain's events.
''We are… being hunted. Aurors are being hard to find and kill. Recruitment is good, but we are losing a lot. Many have defied the Dark Lord's offers. He is… relentless, and unforgiving.'' Said Lucius.
Seth looked briefly at Lucius's surface thoughts. He was worried about his son's life, his future, even when he was not even born.
''Are there other children being born this year?'' Asked Seth.
''There are many, actually. A lot of pureblood families are prolific this year, like Greengrass, Zabini, Longbottoms, Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, Parkinson, Bones, and the Potters, among others, like the Weasleys just had their 6th child.'' Said Lucius with a hint of disdain at the mention of several names, but a name caught his attention.
''The Potters? Hn, Fleamont's grandchild is having one. Would you know with who?'' Asked Seth.
''Well yes, I have already tried three times to… rally them to our cause, in vain. Rather something I would have preferred not to have to do, but considering they are very skilled aurors, it was a big loss. The woman is a muggleborn, called Lily Evans.'' Said Lucius.
Seth thought about the name Lucius had given and he thought he had known them all.
''I only remember a young Arthur Weasley at the ministry… is he the father of such many children?'' Asked Seth.
''You are correct. He married another pureblood, a woman called Molly Prewett. You killed her brothers a few years ago.'' Said Lucius.
Seth's eyes widened in realisation, then made a quiet laugh. He passed a finger on his lips.
''Hn. I remember their taste, iron, thick-skinned and chewy.'' Said Seth, staring in Lucius's grey eyes.
He tilted his head, deciphering the Blonde's expressions. Maybe he thought Lucius would feel disgusted at his words, but he only saw curiosity and a hint of wonder.
''Do you know what you taste like, Lucius?'' Asked Seth before biting his thumb without breaking skin.
He heard Lucius's heartbeat accelerate, sweet music to his ears. He stood up and walked slowly towards him, reducing the already short distance to a feet between them. Lucius's breathing became heavier with desire.
''Perhaps you could describe it to me? And I could do the same for you.'' Said Lucius.
Seth smiled and placed his legs on both sides of Lucius's thighs on the sofa before placing warm lips on his. Lucius's hand swiftly crept up in Seth's back underneath his dark red shirt. One of Seth's hand was in Lucius's hair while the other held him steady on the sofa. Seth tugged on the lips, licked, and devoured the pink ones he adored, then entered his tongue of the always wine-tasting mouth of the Blonde.
Lucius moaned, an obvious bulge rising underneath Seth, and the need to take him after several years occupied his thoughts. The need to please the one vampire he ever let take his blood. His wild and woodsy smell drove him crazy, wanting to lick that skin everywhere. He began to unbutton Seth's shirt while not leaving his mouth. Lucius could feel his own heart about to break his chest. He had not felt this excited ever since that time in Seth's office and the only other thing that could have riveled with what he was actually feeling was holding a cruciatus on someone.
That vampire. That King vampire. He was powerful, wealthy, handsome, and was already in love with someone, but he could have him, in this moment, for himself. And he did not care about anything else.
His heavy, expansive, upper garments were also getting removed at his turn and he felt Seth strong burning hands on his skin, on his back, on his neck, in his hair. A cut over his chest was made, followed by a warm, wet tongue, and a sweet moaning groan. He stared at black obsidian eyes who stared back at him like a predator before he felt himself being lifted up the sofa, and being freed of his pants, but that's not his pants that he wanted off, so he proceeded into removing Seth's pants before going on his knees for him. He took his erected girth in his mouth, knowing instinctively what to do to please any man, being one himself. He looked up to see Seth with his head back, obviously trying to control himself.
''Tell me, Lucius.'' Whispered Seth, closing his eyes with his head up. ''Ah… mmm, you are coming up with a taste?''
Lucius worked him until Seth gave its all, his nose flaring as he came, pulsing in Lucius. Seth calmed down his breathing, then looked down.
''Stand.'' Said Seth.
Lucius did as told and went back to kiss him again but Seth grabbed his chin, wiping some of his own fluid with his thumb.
''Answer me.'' Ordered Seth.
A few seconds passed before he answered.
''Exquisite.'' Said Lucius, making Seth smile as he had said the same word the first time Seth had taken his blood.
Seth grabbed Lucius's hair with his left hand and pulled on them, exposing his neck where he promptly sank his teeth in him. The blood rushed in his throat, dark magic swirling in every drop.
''God, I've missed this.'' Said Lucius quietly, embracing Seth with his arms on his back shoulder blades.
The sensation was as he remembered, igniting his every cell into pleasure beyond imagination. The naked friction between them, skin on skin, was enough to make him cum all over their stomach. Seth was done drinking a moment later, holding Lucius with an arm around his waist and dropped him in the sofa softly. He waved them clean and dressed himself.
''You still keep blood replenishing potions in your supplies?'' Asked Seth.
''Of course.'' Answered Lucius, weakly putting his pants back on.
''Remember to take one, my sweet and spicy cabernet.'' Said Seth with a wink before apparating away.
Lucius tasted like his favorite red wine.
Venthyr meanings
Ni mel cin
I love you.
Mel
Love
Author's note : I hope it was smooth enough =) next chapter is snape telling the prophecy to Voldemort. It is slightly modified to fit my story with Seth!
