The Future of House Black
By: Ryu Katanna
Beta:
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter Eleven
Hardwin sighed once everyone had made the oath. He tried to think of the best way to explain. It was hard because it was a hard subject for him. At the same time, he wanted them to be able to understand the difficult position Snape had been placed in by Dumbledore. To understand why Hardwin would defend the man's memory even if the man had hated him. To understand the Severus Snape that Hardwin had come to know by the end.
"It will be easier to show you than to try to explain. You can't understand the ending without knowing how it began, and everything that followed. Do you have a pensive, Lucius?" Hardwin asked knowing that if he didn't he could have one of the elves retrieve the one he had seen breifly in the study at Black Manor.
"I do. Dippy, bring the pensive from my office." Lucius replied and called for one of the Malfoy elves who popped into the room with the pensive and set it gently onto the table.
"Thank you, Dippy." Hardwin said to the elf before it could pop away, and she left with a happy smile toward her Master's guest.
"Has Narcissa told you about how Voldemort came to be?" Hardwin asked as he stood and pulled his wand.
"She showed us the memory." Draco replied as they stood to follow him.
"I wanted them to know it the way you told me." She explained, and Hardwin nodded, thankful because he wouldn't need to retell it.
"I ended that by telling you that you already knew how the story ended, but it is the details in between that you will need to know now. You know the role Tom played in starting the war, but you don't know what Dumbledore did that pushed him along that path. You don't know the Puppet Master as I have come to know him to be. As Severus Snape, more than anyone else, knew him to be." Hardwin said as he placed the tip of his want to his temple and drew out a strand of memory.
"Snape was a man who had his flaws like all of us do. He made mistakes. Yes, he avoided Azkaban by acting as a spy, but he paid a heavier price. He tried to make up for them. He saved lives at great risk and cost to himself. Even still, he wasn't trusted by those of who he fought on the same side because of his position." Hardwin said as silvery strands dropped into the bowl.
Memory after memory after memory.
"Severus Snape died more of a hero in this war than anyone will ever know. Tom killed him thinking he possessed something he did not. Something that had been Draco's before I won it from him. Snape saved Draco's life by keeping that secret at the cost of his own. He died in front of me giving me the knowledge I needed to defeat Tom for good and end the war." Hardwin told them seeing the surprise in Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco's expressions at that information.
"There is a reason I lived when I should have died. There is a reason I will defend Severus Snape's memory when I didn't like the man. Even though the man hated me. Even after what he did to me." Hardwin said as he twirled the final strand of memory and placed it gently in the pensive.
"Those memories will show you everything. The truths I learned. How I was manipulated. Severus Snape as I came to know him. How I survived. Everything is connected, and there is no other way for me to explain things for you to understand the way I do." Hardwin said as he stepped back from the pensive.
"This is me trusting you as family. You'll know more about me than probably anyone else. It makes my skin crawl, in all honesty, but you will also understand why I wanted the oath." Hardwin said as he gestured toward the pensive before turning away to pick up his firewhiskey and down the rest of the glass before moving to Lucius's cabinet to refill it and wait.
He watched from the corner of his eye as the four of them vanished into the pensive. He shuddered with a feeling of violation but made himself comfortable for the wait. Luckily, time in a pensive passed more quickly than outside of it. He knew the memories they were seeing now as they had all shaped him to be as he was now.
What he remembered from the night his parents died, and how Tom had asked jis mum thrice to step aside. When Hagrid had taken him from the Dursleys, and his first trip to Diagon Alley when he met Draco. His first class with Snape. The first confrontation with Voldemort over the Philosopher's Stone, and his talk with Dumbledore in the hospital wing.
Meeting Dobby for the first time. Meeting Lucius in Diagon when he slipped the diary into Ginny's cauldron. The petrifications. His duel with Draco and everyone finding out he was a parselmouth. The memory of the confrontation with the Horcrux of the diary in the Chamber of Secrets and the events that followed as he slew the Basilisk and was saved by Fawkes. Blowing up his Uncle's sister, and running away to the Leaky Cauldron where the Weasleys showed up the next day and he learned of Sirius's escape frm Azkaban. The first time he'd met Remus, when Remus had told him he'd known his parents, the first time he'd spoken with Sirius when he learned of Pettigrew's betrayal, and how Snape had tried to protect them from the transformed werewolf.
After that were the nightmares he had before his fourth year. The night his name had come from the Goblet of Fire. Snape threatening him with Veretiserum. The night of the final task when Cedric died, Voldemort was resurrected, and the confrontation with Barty Crouch Jr shortly after.
Being cut off from information in the summer, and the dementors in Surrey. Being taken to Grimmauld Place for the first time and his reunion with Sirius and Remus. Sirius wanting to tell him what was happening only to be denied as Molly Weasley put him down. Visions of Voldemort. Talking with Sirius in the Drawing-room before leaving and then again at the train station. The first class and detention with Umbridge. More visions of Voldemort, and seeing through Nagini's eyes as she attacked Arthur Weasley. Speaking to Sirius at Christmas. His first occlumency lesson with Snape, and flashes of his declining mental stability as he yelled at Dumbledore. Snape's memories in his pensive and then being thrown from the room. His vision of Sirius and the Department of Mysteries. The confrontation with Umbridge as he tried to give Snape the message, and going to the Ministry to save Sirius. Bellatrix killing Sirius and then escaping Remus's hold to chase after her. Trying to cast crucio on Bellatrix and her escaping as he had another confrontation with Voldemort with Dumbledore, and him trying to possess Hardwin.
Hearing the prophecy for the first time and destroying Dumbledore's office in a fit of rage and magic.
Dumbledore's withered arm. Spying on Draco on the train and having his nose broken. Finding the Half-Blood Prince's potions book. Snippets of spying on Draco during the year. Sometimes alone and once with Snape. Telling his suspicions, and not being believed even as his mental state continued to decline until that day in the bathroom where he had hurt Draco. 'Lessons' with Dumbledore, and finding out that Tom made Horcruxes. Discovering there were seven of them, and that there were only five remaining. Going to the cave to retrieve the locket. Dumbledore's death, and Hardwin's confrontation with Snape when he found out he was the Half-Blood Prince.
Finding out that the locket was a fake. Discovering the truth of Regulus's fate, and his final orders to Kreacher. Getting the locket from Umbridge after breaking into the Ministry and then their escape. The story of the Hallows. The fight with Ron as they were all affected by the locket and Ron leaving. Visiting Godric Hollow, his parents' graves, seeing the house, and Nagini's attack. The appearance of the doe Patronus, finding the Sword of Gryffindor, and almost being drowned by the locket when Ron returned and saves him before destroying it. Speaking the taboo, being captured and taken to Malfoy Manor. Dobby's last brave act, and his death. Breaking into Gringotts for the cup, and then breaking back out again on the back of a dragon.
Sneaking into Hogwarts. Harry confronting Snape, and him fleeing the castle. Handing of the cup off to Hermione and Ron to destroy when they got the basilisk fang. Talking to the ghost of Rowena Ravenclaw. Being confronted by Draco in the room of requirement, their flight from the room to flames of fiendfyer, and the destruction of the diadem. Snape's death. Returning to the castle to find Remus and Nymphadora dead. Snape's memories and the final Horcrux. Telling Neville to kill the snake. Using the stone and walking to his death. Waking to hear Narcissa asking about Draco, and her lying to Voldemort's face. Voldemort's death, and then snapping the Elder Wand before tossing it into the ravine.
It was a lot of memories to go through, but each one had a purpose. Each one had affected or shaped him in some way. Each memory played a part in the story. Individually they didn't explain much, but together they explained everything.
Perhaps he could have just told them, but he didn't want to relive it through the telling. It was one thing to be told about what he had gone through and experienced. It was another to witness it through the memories. To show them his memories was to help them understand.
If they already knew then he wouldn't have to explain. They would know who he was as a person, and not as the pawn Dumbledore had played on his chess board. They would be able to understand him, and that was something he wanted. Yes, the memories were deeply personal, but in the end, he would have family that knew what he had been through.
That was probably the most Slytherin thing about it.
Using any means to achieve his ends.
123
It took about two hours by the time they reappeared from the pensieve. Evening had set in and the lights had come on in the room, but he could still see the expressions on their faces as they took their seats, and Lucius summoned a bottle from the cabinet before silently pouring them all a drink. Hardwin stood up and pulled the memories from the pensive, returning them to his mind, and then sitting back down to sip at his drink. The quiet in the room continued for several minutes as they all gathered their thoughts before it was broken.
"I was a right prat, wasn't I?" Draco asked, and Hardwin couldn't help laughing.
"That's what I thought at the time. You turned out alright though." He said through his laughter as the others chuckled.
"Well, I would say we all certainly understand things better now. By Merlin, it was no wonder he was crazy. Horcruxes! He gave that diary to my father for safekeeping before I had even taken the mark. If I had known that's what it was, I would have blasted the damned thing with fiendfyer. I only gave it to the Weasley girl thinking she would give it to her father and make a little trouble for him in the Ministry." Lucius said before downing his glass and pouring another.
"It wasn't just the one, either. Regulus didn't… Reggie died to get the locket. Why didn't he tell anyone? I know he and Sirius were on bad terms, but if he had just told him what he had found out… Sirius followed Dumbledore, but he was a Black, his brother. Surely he would have helped." Narcissa's voice was choked with emotion, and Hardwin could see that Andromeda wasn't any better as she reached over to grasp her sister's hand tightly.
"Aunt Walburga probably made him feel like he couldn't. Sirius wouldn't even speak to me until after Regulus died, and I had left the family a few years before." She said quietly, and Hardwin cleared his throat before speaking.
"I think Regulus wanted to protect the family. Kreacher would have been delirious for days, and Regulus had been ignoring Tom's calls as he tended to him. He knew he would be marked as a traitor and that was why he didn't tell anyone. He knew he would die either in the cave or by Tom's hand but he thought Tom would at least be mortal once Kreacher destroyed the locket. He just didn't know about the others." He said quietly not knowing how to comfort either one of them since he hadn't known Regulus.
"You're probably right." Narcissa admitted as she and Andromeda wept a few silent tears for their cousin while patting them away with handkerchiefs they pulled out of their sleeves.
"It had confused me that Sirius had been found guilty when he hadn't been. Dumbledore was Chief Warlock. He would have known that Sirius didn't receive a trial. He also would have been able to call for one after your third year, and yet he didn't. Dumbledore knew he was innocent from the beginning, didn't he?" Lucius asked and Hardwin nodded as his grip tightened on his glass before he set it down so as not to break it.
"I'm sure he did, but he needed me ignorant. If Sirius had been free then I would have lived with him. I would have been educated. I would have known my name wasn't even Harry. He also needed access to my vault." He almost growled as he sat back in his chair to try to relax some of the tension in his body.
"Has SilverClaw been in contact?" Andromeda asked knowing he had been waiting for the results of Gringotts investigation.
"He has. Payments were going out to four accounts other than Dumbledore's. He'd been making payments to the accounts of Molly Prewett since '83, Hermione Granger since August of '91, Ginerva Prewett since '92, and Petunia Dursley since '81. They only stopped when I froze the Potter branch vault and put its activity under investigation. I've had many letters since the most recent payment didn't go through from Hermione and Ginerva though I haven't read them." Hardwin told them what he had discovered the night before.
"That's one way to hide your money from your husband. Have it put under your maiden name. I doubt Arthur even knows about it." Narcissa said thoughtfully as she slid her handkerchief back into her sleeve now that the flow of tears had stopped for the moment.
"You're right. For all that the Weasley's have little money, Arthur Weasley is too proud to accept anything he hasn't earned. It would also explain why the girl's account is under her mother's maiden name. If it had been under Weasley, then Arthur as Lord Weasley would have been notified of its activity." Lucius said knowing the man well for all that he disgusted him with his lack of motivation to improve his income with so many children to provide for, and the old blood feud that was still active between their Houses after nine generations.
It would have been a dream come true to have had more children with Narcissa, but the curse on his family line prevented it. No matter what they had tried, Narcissa couldn't get pregnant a second time. Yes, the Weasley and Malfoy families had been feuding for generations, but that wasn't the reason Lucius hated Arthur. He disliked them as a whole because of the feud between their families, but he hated Arthur because the man had what Lucius never could. He hated him because even though the man had what Lucius could only wish for Arthur had no motivation to support them better. He worked hard every day at a job he loved and was paid a pittance of what he could make at a better job than he may not like as much.
"I'm surprised that Granger would even have accepted the money. She used to be so… uppity about following the rules and listening to the professors." Draco commented in some confusion.
"I'm not. She idolized Dumbledore before we'd even started school. She used to think everything she read in books was right, and if someone contradicted her then she would argue until you agreed with her just to shut her up. I had thought she'd gotten better over the years, but maybe she just adjusted to make it seem that way." Hardwin replied knowing what Hermione had been like those first few years.
"What do you plan to do about the theft? If the vault is a Potter Family branch vault then Lord Potter would have been notified of the investigation as well as the results." Lucius told him and Hardwin held back a groan.
"I didn't know he would be notified. As for what to do I'm not sure what I can do. Those transactions were technically legal since Dumbledore was my magical guardian, wasn't he?" Hardwin asked as he picked up his glass to sip at it some more now that he had calmed down.
"No, he wouldn't have been. Not legally, anyway. Lord Potter would have been, but even if he chose not to take you he would have had no further choice as to where else you would go. You were legally Heir Black. That means that your custody would have fallen to Arcturus, and there is no way he would have appointed Dumbledore or your squib Aunt. Even after he passed in '91 you should have gone either to Lucius and I or Andromeda as your closest living magical relatives." Narcissa informed him with a knitted brow as they all wondered how Dumbledore had managed it.
"Arcturus would have known you were the heir. Sirius couldn't have named you the heir when you were a child if he hadn't known. Did he know what was happened to Sirius? I can't see him choosing to stay in France if he had." Andromeda commented only to receive a shake of the head from her sister.
"He cut all contact. I tried writing to him a few times. The only time he replied was to tell me that the wards around Black Manor were locked down and would only open for the new Lord of the family when the rin accepted him. I was puzzled at the time as Sirius was in Azkaban and Regulus had died. Cassiopeia and Lucretia both wrote to him as well and inquired about his heir. He responded but wouldn't tell them who it was either." Narcissa responded with a sigh.
"Wait… Does grandfather Arcturus have a portrait at the Manor?" Hardwin asked having not had time yet to try to awaken any of them.
All of the portraits had been sent into dormancy when Arcturus had locked down the wards years ago, and his portrait wouldn't have activate until after his death. It should be dormant, but there if he;d had on made. Hardwin didn't even know how to awaken them yet so he could speak to them. Yet another thing to add to his list of things to do.
"He does, but what the portrait knows would depend on what Arcturus knew the last time he updated it. If he didn't update the portrait after you were named the heir then the portrait wouldn't know anything." Narcissa said knowing they may not get their answers there either.
"If you want to know then you may have to write to Lord Potter. He may have a few answers." Lucius recommended seeing Hardwin's frustration.
"I had already planned to write him when I had more information. I will need to send the letter through Gringotts though. SilverClaw was able to inform me that he had left Britain before I was born, but he couldn't tell me where he lives now since the information is confidential." Hardwin said knowing that it was something he would have to do to get answers.
The deaths of his parents and his survival had both been widely publicized. There were also the deposits from the Potter's main vault to the branch vault. The man had to have known he had been left orphaned. The question was: why had he been left to the care of non-magicals? It was a useless question that did nothing for him now, but he wanted to know.
"Any answers Lord Potter could give you now would have no bearing on you now, as you are of age, at any rate. For now, the most important thing is to ensure your health and correct any medical issues. Those will continue to affect you if you don't and could have future consequences on your health." Andromeda said; pulling the conversation back to what was important.
"Andromeda is right. I can understand that Severus was in a difficult position, but he was needlessly cruel during his so-called lessons." Narcissa said with a note of displeasure.
She may understand it now, but that didn't mean she had to like it. Narcissa may not have known Hardwin was family then, but she did now. Severus had done much to protect both her cousin and her son, and she was grateful that he had as they had both made it through the war alive. She just didn't approve of what he had done to Hardwin when it came to 'teaching' him occlumency. Severus hadn't been teaching the teen at all. No, it was more like he had taken the opportunity to take the anger and hatred he'd felt for James out on his son. Now, due to the damage that had been caused between those 'lessons' and the conection toe the Dark Lord, Hardwin would have to see a mind healer for however long it took to heal.
"It's possible some of the damage to his mind could have come from the Horcrux as well. We have no way of knowing now. Unfortunately, it may cause an issue during your marriage contract negotiations though the condition is treatable." Lucius commented while looking over the health report again.
"Normally seeing a mind healer wouldn't look good, but these are extenuating circumstances due to the war and your role in it. In your case, seeing a mind healer would be a good thing to help you after what you've been through. It shows you know you need healing and are willing to accept it." Narcissa said, waving it off as a concern.
"Truthfully, even if you hadn't been referred to a mind healer, I would have strongly suggested you see one after what we witnessed in the pensive. You've been through more stressful situations in the last few years than many experience in a lifetime. That takes a toll on both body and mind." Andromeda said, getting nods of agreement from Lucius and Narcissa.
"There's not much more to go over with your health report. You have confirmation of fertility for the marriage negotiations. We already know how basilisk venom and phoenix tears came to be in your system. The tears neutralized potency of the venom, but didn't remove it from your blood." Lucius said as he laid the report down having finished reading through it again.
"I wonder if it gives you an immunity to other snake venoms. I mean, the basilisk's venom is the strongest there is, and it's already in your blood." Draco said as he remembered what Hardwin had said over dinner about a room for venomous snakes and potentially building a space on the grounds for a sanctuary.
"Well the only way I know how to test it has to do with muggle science, and that something I only know the basics of. I will have to see about getting anti-venin made as a safety precaution though." Hardwin said thoughtfully knowing that some snakes could get testy even with a parselmouth.
"Oh, dear. It's gotten that late?" Andromeda commented suddenly as she looked out the window to see it was dark before casting a tempus to find it was after eight.
"I apologize for having to cut the conversation here. I have an infant to get home and put into his bed." She said as she stood, and Hardwin followed after finishing the rest of his drink.
"On that note, I should probably get back to the Manor as well. I have a Green Mamba waiting for me in a cage that is much too small for him." Hardwin said hoping that the snake would be sleeping with his full belly, but his luck was rarely that good.
Lucius, Draco, and Narcissa all stood as Draco and Lucius said their goodbyes while Narcissa walked them to the floo room.
"Have Kreacher bring me the files with the contracts tomorrow. I have everything else I need with the health report. I will write to you to arrange a marriage meeting where you can meet and sign the contract when I've determined the most suitable prospect after meeting with the families to see which ones show interest. Make sure to write to me to let me know when you will be getting your treatment. I would feel better knowing so one of us can come by to check on you during the day." Narcissa said as he got ready to step into the floo.
"Of course. I'll let you know once I've spoken to the healer for the home visit." Hardwin said before turning to throw the powder into the fire when she turned to speak to Andromeda.
"Black Manor, Wychwood Forest!" He called out as he stepped into the green flames and closed his eyes so as not to get dizzy.
Spinning through the floo system it didn't take long before he came to a sudden stop. Harwin tried to step out as he had seen Andromeda do but didn't manage it as he tilted forward and stumbled. He laughed when he managed to stay on his feet rather than land on his back.
"Winky. How was Teddy today? Did he give you any trouble?" Hardwin asked the elf once she'd popped into the floo room as he waved away the soot from his robes with his wand.
"Master Teddy is beings very good. Winky has no trouble caring for young Master." Winky replied with a bright smile.
"Did you enjoy taking care of him today?" He asked wanting to make sure it had been a task she enjoyed.
"Oh, yes, Master Black. Winky likes caring for the little ones!" Winky said enthusiastically, and Hardwin could help but smile.
"Then I'll make sure to call you if I need your help with him in the future, and I'll let Andromeda know to call you if she needs you as well. She should be here soon to take Teddy home with her. Would you have him ready for her with his bag, please?"
"Yes, Master Black!" Winky chirped before popping away just as the floo flared and Andromeda stepped out.
It didn't take long for Winky to return with Teddy to hand him and his bag off the Andromeda, and then for him to bid them both a good night. He watched Andromeda depart for her home after telling her to call for Winky at any time if she needed help with Teddy or even just a break before making his way to his room upstairs. He sighed tiredly as he entered and his eyes glanced over the terrarium where the snake was sleeping after its meal to fall onto the bedside table. The potions that he would need to take were resting there lined up neatly next to a glass of what looked like pumpkin juice to wash away the taste with.
He knew that Kreacher had been the one to place them there as Andromeda and the healer had both given the elf strict instructions. Kreacher would be the one to make sure he had his potions on time, and that he took them. The old elf had scolded Hardwin under his breath as he'd taken them from the healer. Hardwin knew that he would be diligent in that duty to ensure his health.
Walking across the room, Hardwin slowly got changed out of his robes into the sleep pants that had been placed there. He left the shirt that went with them there at the foot of the bed as it was a warm summer night. The thick duvet had already been pulled down and so he slipped under the black silk of the sheets after taking the organ strengtheners followed by a vision correction potion that he would have to take before bed for the next three days.
Correcting his eyesight hadn't been necessary, but Hardwin had decided it was something he wanted. His glasses had been a hindrance during the war. He was actually surprised that Tom nor his Death Eaters had never thought to summon his glasses. His eyesight was complete shite without them. It was a weakness that could have been exploited in the past, but Hardwin was ensuring that no one else would have the opportunity.
Once his potions had been taken, he settled into the pillows and dimmed the lights with a flick of his wand. It had been a very long day, and Hardwin was exhausted. He glanced over to the snake to check on him once more as his mind drifted lazily. Sleep pulled at him with one final thought.
'I need to find a name for him in the morning.'
123456
Well, that's it for his chapter. I have to say that I don't like how it came out, but I've rewritten it at least three times. This was the end result and at least had everything I needed it to have there. I would have had it posted a lot sooner, but I got caught up in playing a new game. Usually, it only takes me two days to finish, but the storyline in Tales of Arise is more extensive than I had anticipated. Almost four days I've spent on it so far and I'm still not done.
Anyway, I hope you like seeing a little of Hardwin's Slytherin side. There will be a bit of a time jump in the next chapter though I don't know when I will get that posted. I'm running on no sleep in over thirty-two hours so I'm not going to start o it until I've gotten a nap in. Oh, the joys of being an insomniac!
Until next time,
Ryu
Edited: 11/18/2022
