Great Hall, 14th November 1936, Hogwarts, 08:35 a.m.
Cepheus looked around and frowned when he was unable to see most of the professors in the great hall. It wasn't a regular occurrence when none of the head of houses along with the deputy headmaster and headmaster himself were missing. His eyes scanned the hall and observed everyone looked with confusion and were whispering to each other. His eyes darted back to his sister who nudged him.
"Brother," Lucretia whispered, "What happened? Why are you frowning? Is everything okay?"
Cepheus looked at Lucretia and his eyes darted back to the table where he watched as the professors were discussing something seriously.
Cepheus had a feeling that something was going on but he just gave his rare smile to his sister, who soon relaxed and concentrated on her food talking with Irma Pince about something, he rather wouldn't want to listen. Suddenly the owls entered the great hall in large numbers and Cepheus frown cemented, it was Saturday while the owls only came to give mail on Friday. Cepheus prepared himself for the worst, he wasn't sure what he was expecting maybe Grindelwald officially starting the war? But it sure wasn't Dumbledore's picture at the front page and the headlines which gave him chill.
The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore
Dumbledore's Dark Secrets Revealed
Dumbledore: Daft Or Dangerous?
Gellert Grindelwald – Famous Historian Bathilda Bagshot's Nephew?
Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald lovers?
Cepheus took a sharp breath, it was….. unexpected and….. there wasn't any words to say. This was a turning point for everyone. Dumbledore had already influenced Dippet and most of the students and also was a step down to become headmaster, meant he could influence most of the future of wizarding Britain and after this his seat in Wizengamot will also be gone. It was a rule of Wizengamot that no member of the wizen shall have any criminal record nor any of their immediate family and if there were criminal record then their seat will be given to another family who are in next line of becoming wizengamot member. Not only this, but after the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with Nicolas Flamel, Dumbledore had become popular. And this? It will change people's view on Dumbledore and Cepheus was sure the most distressed will be the Gryffindors.
Cepheus watched the Gryffindors watching the paper's in pure horror. Ravenclaws were reading and discussing with their peers, to describe the Hufflepuff students it would be better to say they were aghast not understanding what was happening.
"Brother", the gasp of Lucretia was enough to divert his attention towards his sister. "Lucretia", Cepheus voice was void of any emotions "Behave like a Black. What is the matter that you're unable to behave like a proper pureblood?" Lucretia kept her head down. "Nothing important brother, it was just the newspaper was saying about Deputy Headmaster and I was shocked to core. He seems a nice man and – "Enough Lucretia, whatever happened is none of our concern. As a professor, he's biased towards us, that's all I know. I don't know him in a personal level and I can't say anything about his character and we are just eleven year old. If he's innocent, then nothing will happen and if he's guilty of something, then he'll pay for it. I don't care what happens in the world. I have my whole life for it. Thank Merlin, that Grandfather is still alive and I'm spared from the heir duties, otherwise I had to be dragged in this nonsense and nothing else. If something happens we'll then notified by the newspaper or our family."
"But he's our relative." Lucretia pointed out. "He's just our maternal grandmother's nephew and nothing else, and we're too young to think about all this things." Cepheus glared at his sister. Sometimes he really thinks that his sister needs a reality check. Her behaviour was not acceptable in any of their circles. He shook his head and continued their breakfast when Professor Marrythought announced their classes were cancelled till further notice.
Entering the common room, Cepheus took out his parchment and penned a letter to his father.
Father,
If you're receiving this letter, then you may know that I got today's prophet. It was a really shocking news and I was appalled after reading. Do you know, if the matter has any truth or not? Deputy Headmaster maybe a biased person or a muggle-loving fool but it is very difficult to believe that the person who always preach about how muggle and wizards are alike can be a friend of the Dark Lord? That too lover? And Bathilda Bagshot's nephew is the Dark Lord? Father, it is not at all believable, but has become a big issue in Hogwarts. Our classes had also suspended to an unseen future.
Please inform grandfather that I have kept my promise and cousin Charis, Dorea, Walburga and Araminta are fine. Sister Lucretia is also doing good but she's not behaving like a girl of her station. Lucretia never leaves a chance of showing her emotions and I along with my cousins had scolded her and trying to prevent her from doing something foolish. Please make her understand.
Hope Orion is taking his lessons properly. Studies here are going well and we are doing here fine. Do inform mother and Orion that I miss them and will soon write them letters.
Your son
Cepheus Phineas Black
Member of the most ancient and noble house of Black
Black Manor
It was Yule and the children were back to home. Their celebration turned into grief when Sirius Black I's grandson Perseus Black and Cygnus II's daughter Cassiopeia disappeared from the Black Manor.
"It is enough, they shall be disowned for their this . I cannot believe that Cassie ran away like that and with whom Perseus?" Cygnus raged at his daughter.
"No doubt to aid Grindelwald. I have caught discussing them and also informed the family but none listened to me. Now see what happened?" Arcturus III fumed.
"We will wait for them they'll come soon, don't do something foolish." Sirius Black II declared and Arcturus rolled his eyes.
"It is not our war, let the Americans deal with it." Cygnus II pointed out.
He was really ashamed of his children, his eldest Pollux was caught in a relationship with a muggle-born, his youngest son was a squib, his youngest daughter went against them and anyhow saved herself from getting disowned just because of a relationship with Potter family and his eldest daughter, first by remaining single and now running away to help Grindelwald.
"Perseus and Cassiopeia had gone against our values, we don't want any association with anyone who supports mudbloods." Arcturus II nodded.
"Just like your daughter Arcturus, who married a blood-traitor, whose family always preach about how the muggles are equal to us." Violetta Black neè Bulstrode glared at her brother in law.
"Well at least he's a pureblood." Arcturus II retorted back.
"Enough." Sirius Black II glared at his family, trust them to have a topic to fight.
"We are here to celebrate the Yule, not fight like common hooligans. What Perseus and Cassiopeia had done will be dealt with, when or if they return. Their names shall not be discussed in the family till the unforeseen future. But Perseus and Cassiopeia's disappearance proved that we cannot trust the children with their decisions. Therefore, we are to make sure to keep an eye on the children and all the marriage contracts shall be make magical." Sirius declared and everyone nodded.
"Great, it was the only thing which remained." Cepheus rolled his eyes.
1938
Cepheus looked at his cousin who was too excited to start his first year at Hogwarts. He was starting his third year along with Lucretia, Walburga and Araminta while Alphard was starting this year. The soon to be twelve year old was unable to mask his emotions and the trio girls were excited at the prospect of spending their weekend in Hogsmead. Last year Alphard had thrown a fit when he didn't receive the Hogwarts letter only to be informed that the school accepted any child born from 1st January – 31st August of the year in the same year they turned eleven but as Alphard was born at the month of October, he would be accepted when he will be nearly twelve. Alphard had grumbled about how the rules were unfair though he was delighted at the prospect of staying in home for another year as he was soon going to become elder brother.
Cepheus sat along with another snakes when he saw William Thomson the new deputy headmaster of Hogwarts bringing the first years of sorting. After the fiasco of Grindelwald and Dumbledore's relationship. Albus Dumbledore was no more a deputy headmaster or a teacher. Transfiguration was now taught by the now deputy headmaster only and Merrythought became the defence teacher.
His name was tarnished and it had been difficult for him to remain a teacher anymore. His forbidden relationship with Grindelwald and his father's imprisonment for killing three muggles were enough for the parents to send him howler personally and demand the school to throw him out.
Cepheus concentrated as the sorting started
A thousand years or more ago,
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose names are still well known:
Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,
They hatched a daring plan
To educate young sorcerers
Thus Hogwarts School began.
Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones they had to teach.
By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When they were dead and gone?
'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!
The students clapped and Professor Thomson stepped forward holding the roll of parchment.
"Avery, Acius"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Avery, Julie"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Black, Alphard"
"SLYTHERIN!"
Cepheus clapped as he sat with the Avery twins. And diverted his attention to Umbridge who was talking about his summer in Russia. It was when he saw the entire hall silenced, did he turn his head to notice a boy coming in the snake pit and all the Slytherins were looking at him in disgust.
"Did I miss something?" Cepheus raised his brow and Lucretia explained "He's some Riddle there's no pureblood or a wizard raised half-blood with that surname. Looks like he's a muggle-born" Walburga scoffed "A half-blood is worse than a mud-blood, Lucy." Araminta nodded in agreement with Walburga.
"Well until and unless he doesn't preach pro-muggle ideas, let him stay as he likes. I don't want any Black to associate with him but nor anyone to do something to point a finger at us." Cepheus stated pointedly which clearly meant he was a fair game until and unless the name Black is dragged in-between.
Tom Marvolo Riddle was a mystery to him, he concluded. His name was something Cepheus had always heard in his nightmares. This time his nightmares took a new turn, the green eyed boy facing the Dementors. It was something Cepheus never thought a thirteen year boy should face and channeling through his nightmares Cepheus looked as he found the memory of that same boy facing a basilisk and a boy named Tom Marvolo Riddle. Confused by the ongoing similarity of this riddle boy forced Cepheus to watch him closely.
One thing Cepheus was sure that this boy was going to be a big problem for the Wizarding world but also for his family.
Days turned into months and Cepheus found Tom to be a greater problem then he had first thought. The boy had a twisted mind which further complicated things. Cepheus was sure that Tom was creating his base and no matter what he was upto no good.
Cepheus was thinking about the ways to keep an eye on Tom for every time he go somewhere when Lucretia came running in his dorm.
"Brother" and the tears of Lucretia along with a letter with their family's seal told him everything.
"Grandfather, fixed your betrothal?" Cepheus asked sighing as Lucretia nodded.
"With whom?" "Some Ignatius Prewett" Cepheus sighed, really? Of all the wizards in wizarding world, his grandfather found a Gryffindor? Cepheus shook his head. His grandfather had aged to soon, it seems.
"Don't worry I will do something about it, Lucy." Lucretia nodded and left the room. Cepheus was mad at his grandfather the only person whom he had betrothed correctly was Walburga, she soon would be the worry of Lestrange family.
After Leta Lestrange and her half-brother died, the Lestrange Lordship went to Leta and Corvus father's brother Fedoras Lestrange and now the heir Randolph Lestrange was betrothed to cousin Walburga. A relief Cepheus had never felt, thanks to Cassie and Perseus running away all the marriage contract now was to be magical therefore Cepheus had a relief that cousin Walburga won't found a way to remain in the Black Family.
Araminta was lucky, the girl was betrothed with Alveus Thomson, the boy was doing his mastery in dark arts in Durmstrang much to the happiness of his family and also the Blacks. Alveus Thomson will now soon teach in the said school, which was enough for the Blacks to approve the marriage contract. The marriage contract had given Araminta much freedom than a pureblood witch could expect and she couldn't help but gush every time her contract was mentioned.
The problem was with his sister, Lucretia was never a bright lumos especially when proper etiquette was to count and Cepheus was really worried about her. He never knew the Prewett boy except that he was the spare and his elder brother was going to have the Prewett Lordship once the current Lord Prewett decided to retire. The boy Ignatius was currently a fifth year prefect of Gryffindor and his family were one of the Dumbledore's yes man.
Cepheus couldn't help but think that his grandfather was punishing him for sending Walburga away from the family. If so, then he will take this punishment happily until and unless Lucretia was harmed and he had vowed it, a golden glow emitting for a second to confirm that his vow was accepted by lady magic herself.
That following Yule saw the wedding of Charlus Potter and Dorea Black. His cousin marrying the boy she loved and the glow on her face was visible which was absent when the others married of course except Cousin Cedrella. Cedrella had given birth to a boy Castor Arcturus Black, the name Cepheus actually approved of he didn't fancy a child's name resembling one of the already living or dead family member. The ginger haired boy was three months old, Castor's ginger hair was something not approved by the family but his grey eyes and the presence of the black family magic was enough for Sirius Black II to give blessings to the youngest member of the family.
Arcturus II, his grandfather's brother and cousin Cedrella's father was happy to become a grandfather especially when Charis was yet to deliver her baby and Callidora having birth a girl named Evelyn Longbottom. His line will continue through little Castor and his side of branch will flourish was enough for the old man.
Cepheus was happy how his family was happy and flourishing and was content with it. The soon to be fourteen year old wanted nothing at all.
Days were turning into weeks then months and so Cepheus nightmares. The emerald eyes of the boy was a Potter, a future Potter? Cepheus was thankful that atleast cousin Dorea's son won't be marrying a muggle-born and he was content with it. The loss of a friend in the graveyard was hard for the boy and the supposed god-father of his, a Black? Who was this Black? Was this boy his son? No, he wasn't, then who he was. The only thing stopped Cepheus from taking any drastic step was his occlumency lessons. But this nightmare had to mean something. Was something warning him about the future? Was his family in the brink of becoming extinct? No, that wasn't possible. He would not allow anyone to harm his family and for the sake of his own sanity, he will stop Riddle before he does something extreme.
The next morning in the Black Manor was eventful, the Hogwarts letter was coming for their fifth year, Alphard's third and Orion and Cygnus III's acceptance letter. The whole family was engrossed today in thinking about who will get the prefect badges and especially the girls, three cousins in the same year, same house was a bit competition to the family. Lucretia knew she was not going to get the badge but just to keep up appearance to appease her parents and grandparents, the girl was acting as to how she was the most deserving.
"Little masters and little mistresses be getting letter from Hogywarts" Kreacher the new elf of the black family provided them their letters.
The letter more weighed then before and Cepheus looked at his grandfather for his approval the nod of his grandfather enough for Cepheus to open the letter and smile as he got the prefect badge. The congratulations to him was proof that the whole family had seen it. His parents and grandparents looked too proud of him. The girls congratulated him too, and now the girls started opening their letters, Araminta's was a normal letter and so was Walburga's both the girls were shocked and when Lucretia revealed that she was the one to get the prefect badge, they were dumbfounded. Arcturus and Melania Black couldn't be happier than anything both of their children had received the prefect badges. Sirius Black II looked at Lucretia and nodded appreciatively. It was the first time Lucretia had done something which he was proud of, he had beginning to think that Lucretia was a shame for their family and Walburga would be the one to cover her shame, thus he wanted Walburga to marry Cepheus or Orion but now it looks like he had underestimated the girl.
The train ride was a bliss for the Black cousins after getting tired of two different 'Prefect Badge' party and two 'Hogwarts Acceptance' parties were held. Each in the honor of each of the children. Araminta and Walburga's shock had still not ended, not even in their nightmares they thought Lucretia to get the prefect badge. The train ride was quiet except Orion and Cygnus who were too engrossed in playing exploding snap. Cepheus thought it was hard for him to think he had left only two years to enjoy his childhood especially when his father has left to support the country and ICW against the war with Grindelwald. His cousin Perseus was dead courtesy of a cutting curse from Lord William Potter who was killed by Grindelwald. Charlus Potter had fought with his elder brother Fleamont for his cowardice and left with his father to fight Grindelwald.
His cousin Dorea has dedicated herself as a healer to heal the warriors something she was proud of. And he was proud of not only Dorea and his father but also Charlus for fighting for what he felt right.
He was pulled out from his thoughts as the train halted at the station.
Watching the sorting hat started singing the song, he mused as he had heard the similar one in his nightmares.
In times of old when I was new
And Hogwarts barely started
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted:
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning,
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach!"
The four good friends decided
And never did they dream that they
Might someday be divided,
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry is purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot,
And treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light,
For each of the four founders had
A House in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him,
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
And taught them all she knew,
Thus the Houses and their founders
Retained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,
But then discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four,
Had once held up our school,
Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end,
What with dueling and with fighting
And the clash of friend on friend
And at last there came a morning
When old Slytherin departed
And though the fighting then died out
He left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
Were whittled down to three
Have the Houses been united
As they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
And you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
Because that is what I'm for,
But this year I'll go further,
Listen closely to my song:
Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether Sorting
May not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within.
I have told you, I have warned you...
Let the Sorting now begin.
"Black, Cygnus!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Black, Orion!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
.
.
.
"Hagrid, Rubeus!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
.
.
.
.
"Prince, Eileen!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
Cepheus attention turned on the Prince heiress.
'So she was the one mother was talking about.'
He thought remembering the conversation with his mother about how beneficial Eileen could prove for Orion and the family. They both were even of same age also.
"Cepheus, hello" Cepheus sighed hearing the voice. He have really had to do something with this girl. "Anesthesia", the said girl had frozen at the cool voice. "I apologies but right now I have to guide the first years to the common room. We may talk maybe tomorrow morning or in evening after classes. Yes?" the girl nodded and shied away.
If the family wasn't getting profit by the alliance with Greengrass family, he would have been the happiest man in the world. His cold face turned into a cruel smile as he glanced at the Gryffindor female prefect. Minerva McGonagall looked at him with utter hatred, if she hated something in this world then it was the Slytherin male prefect who was giving her the cruelest smile.
"Ms. McGonagall I heard you're following on your mother's footsteps. Who's the lucky muggle by the way?" Cepheus asked smiling at the fuming Gryffindor.
"Looks like the black heir has nothing to do right now or suddenly the black heir is interested in muggles. Are you going to rebel?" Minerva asked.
"None of the black family had dared to rebel and low themselves to interacting with muggles." Cepheus sniffed proudly.
"I heard Iola black was disowned for marrying a muggle. Wasn't she your great-aunt?" Minerva gleefully retorted.
"She will be dealt with." Cepheus whispered to himself.
Cepheus felt proud as he led his brother and cousin Cygnus III along with the other first year Slytherins.
The green badge tugged in his uniform shining as he led the first years behind him and saw his sister doing the same. He felt proud of himself when he reminded Slughorn, subtly of course, how he could be benefited if both children of heir Black were to become prefects. And Cepheus was glad that Slughorn had actually worked at the hint.
It was the last resort he could pull, knowing very well he cannot go to Headmaster Dippet to make his sister the head girl. Lucretia now has to make her own way. She wasn't a little girl now who would just apologise and be forgiven, she'll be punished or even disowned from the family. She was just too innocent for being a member of the black family. And Cepheus will be always there to protect her but not every time he could protect her. Cepheus had shown her a way now it was Lucretia's call to take the hint.
Tom Marvolo Riddle couldn't understand what to do with the black heir. Cepheus Black had made sure to make his life hell. It seems he was better in orphanage at least he knew he was special, better than the rest of them. It just feel so that here Cepheus Black was better than everyone and everything. He had tried to dominate Cepheus in the common room last year with his ability.
Flashback
"How dare you Black to come in my way?" hissed Tom from the corner of his eyes saw as how awed and terrified some of the Slytherin's were.
"Do you really think that it's only you who could speak in the languages of snake, Riddle? Guess you're too wrong" the hissing sound of Black had surprised him and Tom noticed that every Slytherin looked at Black as a hero.
"Now understood why the Blacks are always sorted into Slytherin." "Merlin! A live parseltongue." "No doubt, the Blacks are treated as royals." Whispering started in the common room and Tom's ability died in the favour of Cepheus'.
Flashback Ends
Black's cousin was with him everywhere even in the dorm room and now two more had joined this year. Tom couldn't help but grit his teeth in anger.
Tom understood one thing, he had to wait till Cepheus graduated from Hogwarts. Till Cepheus was here, he will be living under that Black's watch. It will completely jeopardize his plans because in two years he would have to make his power base and gather followers which was impossible in such a short time but then he didn't have other options as of now.
Minerva McGonagall looked at the third year with narrowed eyes, even if the Slytherins unsettled her, the raven haired boy woke such uneasiness in her which she could never decipher. The boy was looking at everything with those mistrustful eyes and those anger looking at the Black heir was completely different.
Her face become red when she looked at the Black heir. Why was he looking at her like that? Was something written on her face?
"Ms. McGonagall I heard you're following on your mother's footsteps. Who's the lucky muggle by the way?" Cepheus asked smiling at the fuming Gryffindor. How did Black knew about Dougal?
"Looks like the black heir has nothing to do right now or suddenly the black heir is interested in muggles. Are you going to rebel?" Minerva asked, patting herself for her steadiness.
"None of the black family had dared to rebel and low themselves to interacting with muggles." Cepheus sniffed proudly. Of course her mother had informed her and it was a known fact that previous Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black's young sister ran away with a muggle and was disowned from the family.
"I heard Iola black was disowned for marrying a muggle. Wasn't she your great-aunt?" Minerva gleefully retorted cherishing the anger on Black's face as it is not everyday you got even with the Black Heir.
"Do you think it was good to antagonize him?" Pomona Pringle a fellow Hufflepuff asked.
"Yes, it was. What he can do to me? Inside the castle he cannot do anything while I'm in muggle world when it is summer. Do you think Cepheus Black will low himself to come behind me in the muggle world?" Minerva snorted
"I just hope you know what you're doing Minnie." Pomona sighed looking at her stubborn friend.
"Why are you so scared about Cepheus Black? You treat him like he's not human but a devil incarnated." Minerva asked annoyed.
"You're a muggle raised half-blood Minnie, you don't know what the black family is capable of." Pomona pointed out.
"Muggle raised half-blood, where did that come from?" Minerva asked shocked at her best friend's annoyed face.
"You know nothing about them. Day by day the family is getting stronger. Last Yule Dorea Black married Charlus Potter, the current Lord Potter's younger brother. Cepheus' one cousin Araminta is betrothed to our deputy headmaster's heir, Walburga Black to the heir Lestrange and Cepheus own sister with your senior Ignatius Prewett" "the sixth year prefect?" "yes, him. I heard this year Cepheus is also betrothed with his junior Anastasia Greengrass. Currently, the Blacks have alliances with all the light, neutral and dark families. They are going stronger everyday and don't take me wrong Minnie but you don't any alliances as of now. My marriage is already fixed with Arthur Sprout and neither the Pringle nor the Sprout family are in any position of going against the Black Family. He's practically a prince of the wizarding Britain's, you cannot just say anything and get out of it unscathed. You don't know but Dippet succeeded over his great-grandfather who was the most hated Headmaster Hogwarts have ever seen and it has nothing to do with him being a Black. Blacks are already too cruel to be messed up with and publicly humiliating him is just doing suicide. I just don't want to think what he would be able to do and what not." Pomona shuddered thinking about it.
"So you want me to, what? To go and apologies to him. Well, the answer is clearly no." Minerva sniffed.
"Just stay away from him as long as you can. Could you?" Pomona sighed.
"This year already I'll be busy with my prefect duties and OWLS, and my dream of joining the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Don't worry girl." Minerva waved off.
Slytherin Common Room
"How could that bitch humiliate us, THE BLACK FAMILY infront of whole school?" Walburga fumed angrily.
"Calm down, cousin. It's not her fault if some of our family members had stooped so low to mix themselves with muggles." Cepheus waved off, his anger for someone else.
"Great-aunt Iola is already dead, she died in 1914. She had two children with her muggle husband Alice and Robert. Her daughter Alice Hitchens married Credence Seymour, an ambitious politician. Her granddaughter Elsie is currently studying in second year of Ravenclaw, two others too young to join Hogwarts and Robert has just married some girl named Petunia Shaw." Alphard looked at his cousin who was deep in thoughts.
"Well looks like cousin Alice and her husband are about to face some problems and Seymour will understand why you shouldn't marry a disowned Black." Cepheus smirked evilly his cousins mirroring his thoughts.
"What about Elsie Seymour?" demanded Walburga.
"I don't attack defenseless people. Just make sure she couldn't make any allies in the near future especially you two Orion and Cygnus." The said Blacks nodded.
"That's not right brother. What – " Cepheus glare was enough for Lucretia to keep her mouth shut.
"I don't allow traitor's to run freely especially those who try to drag our family's name in mud. Minerva will pay in her due time but not inside the Hogwarts hall. I don't want to see you doing something the family won't approve of." Cepheus warned her and Lucretia nodded somberly.
The death of Cygnus Black II was a blow to everyone especially Sirius Black II. Losing one brother to disownment and now the sudden death of his another brother had taken a big blow at him. Arcturus II and Belvina had also grieved for their brother. Pollux and Dorea were too present to grieve for their father and to everyone's surprise Cassiopeia too arrived even though for a short time, though none were too keen on talking with the estranged member of the family. Cygnus II had been ill since the death of his wife Violetta and now after her death Cygnus followed her. The usual loud Walburga was quiet too being the only granddaughter, her grandfather often pampered her. Alphard and Cygnus III too grieved at the strict grandfather of theirs.
Cepheus looked on as his great-uncle was buried. Walburga looked too fragile and for the first time he felt bad for his second cousin. Cepheus knew no matter how mad his cousin was, her only comfort was her grandfather who treated her like a princess and with his death something broke within her.
He looked as he received the owl, he became the head boy of Hogwarts. It was a moment of celebration but Great-uncle Cygnus II death and his proper burial was more important to him than celebrating something which doesn't include his family's happiness.
It was twenty-five days since Cygnus II was buried. The Black Family could have never appear so gloomier. No matter what the other houses thought of them but for the Blacks family was first and foremost. The train ride was quiet. Cepheus had just entered the compartment usually reserved for them after concluding the meeting, Alphard the new fifth year prefect tagging with his cousin.
Cepheus wasn't shocked when he saw Minerva McGonagall as the head girl. He knew the girl was sharp and capable of being the head girl.
Cepheus looked at the map of Hogwarts he had created, following riddle wherever he could. According to his dreams or nightmares, Riddle had made horcruxes, the first in the coming year. He had observed the Warren girl who was regularly teased by Hornby. No surprise there, Cepheus snorted. Hornby was the spoilt daughter of her parents and pampered baby sister of her brother. If he had to choose between marrying a muggle or Hornby, he would gladly marry a muggle, Hornby was just too difficult to bear. He really hated people who bully those weaker to them. Cepheus never bullied anyone, he just ignored them because they were not worth of his time at all. His concentration again went to Riddle, these days he was spending too much time in library. It was night when he followed the fifth year. It was then he was confirmed that his nightmares just wasn't his nightmare only. As he followed Riddle through disillusionment charm, he looked at the sink opening and a doorway appeared. Following Riddle then and there didn't settle with him and he left from there. Riddle was much worse than he could even find any Black or even any Dark Lord to be except Herpo the foul no one dared to meddle with that part of Dark Arts. There was a reason that only a few people had divulge themselves to this part of magic, even the Blacks had secured any and every book even remotely related to Horcrux in the privacy of their vault which only can be passed only to the lord and heir of the family, no one except Lord or Heir Black were informed about this, that too before taken an oath not to seek those books unless it's too necessary or the house of black is in danger.
He had to do something to stop Tom Marvolo Riddle within a year.