Arcturus entered Gringotts bank for the second time that day, striding through the nearly empty lobby with a steadfast purpose. He had something important to take care of with little time to do so before the children would catch on that he was not at the Manor as they thought he was. Once it was his turn, he stepped up to the teller goblin.
"I request to have an audience with Muknax at her earliest convenience. It is of utmost importance." Arcturus demanded firmly. He had little time to dally around, not when it came to Azalea's future.
"She can meet with you, it will be twenty galleons to rent a private room. I believe office twelve will be available in fifteen minutes. Will that be sufficient?" The goblin asked.
"That will have to do, this is an urgent matter after all." Arcturus sighed. He didn't want to have to do this, but he absolutely had to. It was for Azalea's sake that he needed to cut Sirius off before he could get anywhere in laying a claim to her to be her guardian.
Fifteen minutes later, a goblin came over to where Arcturus was waiting to escort him to the reserved office. Muknax was already inside, waiting for him.
"Good afternoon, Lord Black. I must say, I am not surprised at the request for an audience if my information is correct. You inquired into the trial and court documents for one Sirius Orion Black who was arrested on November 1st, 1981, after the discovery of Sirius Black's potential innocence due to the reading of the will and testament of the late James and Lily Potter Née Evans-Rosier, correct?"
"Correct. It is of great concern that if and when Sirius Black is proven innocent, he will attempt to lay claim to the title of guardianship of one Azalea Dorea Potter. I am concerned about his current and future mental state and maturity level as well as any potential lasting physical and mental damage that will be residual left over from the after effects of being both insufficiently fed as well the mental torture and agony he has endured in the past eight approximate years."
Muknax sat with her claw-like hands steepled, "I see. As the Lord and Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, and seeing as you are by blood, Sirius Black's oldest living family member, you will have some leeway in the matter of his affairs. As it stands, Azalea Dorea Potter-Black-Rosier-Peverell was blood adopted and bonded to one Cassiopeia Lyra Black and with your consent, she was marked as your heiress. That would make Azalea the rightful heiress, and Sirius Black would no longer be in line to claim the lordship ring if and when you should pass on. All of this already has been done, and it would take a great deal to even attempt to reverse that magic performed at the blood adoption ritual event."
"I consented to the blood adoption, and it is not my intention to change that at any time soon. I am merely stating my concerns. What can I do to prevent the stripment of guardianship from Cassiopeia Black as to Azalea Potter-Black-Rosier-Peverell?"
"Legally speaking, as of yet there is not much that can be done. At least not until if and when Sirius Black is released from Azkaban prison. But at the very least, conditionally of course, I can put in a request for a mandatory complete and full physical and psychological evaluation to be done before Sirius Black can claim access to any property and or vaults. It would prevent him from accessing virtually anything within the wizarding or muggle world without first being tested to be of sound mind and body. As head of house, you would be informed of the results of the testing and conditionally, would be the decider of if and when Sirius Black would receive access to his rightful vaults designated to him by his late parents Orion Black and Walburga Black. If deemed as a suitable and fit match and to be compatible with one Azalea Dorea Potter-Black-Rosier-Peverell, then and only then would the topic of being deemed fit for a parental figure be approached with both parties at a suitable time." Muknax informed Arcturus with a very serious tone of voice. This was not a laughing matter. They were discussing the future of an up and coming prominent witch and the already screwed up remains of the life of an Auror.
"That is agreeable. Should anything change, I request for this agreement to be amendable as needed per momentary situation."
"Agreed. It was a pleasure to see you again Lord Black, even if it was under these rather unpleasant circumstances for this particular meeting." Muknax exclaimed, as the short but very pertinent meeting came to a close.
"It was, but I must be going; I must return back to the Manor before I am noticed to be missing by Azalea and her friends. They are very intuitive and observant, that lot." Arcturus remarked as he made to stand up and leave the office, and Gringotts bank itself. He really did have to get back. He checked his pocket watch and nodded. The wait time had taken longer than the actual meeting itself. Muknax was good like that, he thought to himself. She was blunt and direct and to the point of the matter at hand. It came in handy often, as she usually got you in and out within a short time frame; you never knew when you would need to request an audience with your personal head of vault goblin after all. Arcturus knew Muknax would not dilly-dally on writing up the agreement they had decided on and filing the relevant paperwork and forms he would need.
As his head of vault goblin, Muknax had leeway and allowances of what she could and would do for Arcturus, and to an extent even Cassiopeia. As Lord Black, he had given her verbal and written consent to file all paperwork and motions within her rights as her duty to her job dictated. She would be able to access the contents of any Gringotts bank vault that he or his entirety of his lineage could or would access as long as it was of Black ancestry of origin. It was well within her rights, and he had actually designated a Most Ancient and Noble House of Black family crest ring, to use for official paperwork to be filed, as a suitable signature in the ever happenstance that he should not be available or on premise of the bank.
He made it back just in time for lunch to be over, with Azalea none the wiser. Theo merely looked up from where he was drinking his cup of afternoon tea, this time a nice aged Darjeeling by the color of it. Azalea and Neville were bickering lightheartedly about something or another and his dear sister Cassiopeia was reading the afternoon edition of the Daily Prophet.
"Is there anything good in there?" He asked as he gracefully ensconced into the dining room chair.
"No, just common rabble and help wanted ads as usual. Post came for you though. I believe it is from Miss Kaiser; I left it on your office desk in the drawer. I did give Ares a rather nice looking piece of bacon as a reward. I know how that blasted bird likes its rewards after all." Cassiopeia replied.
"Aww come now, don't be like that Cia. Just because the bird can nip-"
"If that's what you call nipping-"
"Shh, it's completely fine. You know Ares would never actually draw blood... At least not often enough for it to be an issue." Arcturus said with a fond smile.
Theo watched the siblings banter on with a pang of longing. Of course, he had Azalea and Neville, but today, he just decidedly felt lonely on that particular. His father, if you could call that waste of a wizard, had never remarried after his mother's untimely death when he was a toddler. Instead, he became a reclusive alcoholic of a wizard. He became outright neglectful, but when he did pay attention to Theo, he rather wished he wouldn't. Thorros Nott, was absent on a good day, and on a bad day he was outright violent, especially when Thorros decided to partake in the spirits. Theo wished that he could stay here forever. He wished his father would disappear. If only that could ever happen. The panging feeling inside his chest became sharper as his thoughts got darker. Anger twisted in his gut and simmered under his skin. Unnoticed by everyone but Azalea, the glass goblet in front of him began to rattle, the liquid inside of it quickly beginning to bubble as if it was boiling.
"Theo?" Azalea called out, reaching over to him in silent question and concern. She laid out a gentle hand on the back of his neck, softly rubbing the tension out. She slid closer to the boy to press their legs together as if to ground him. The scent of warm lavender seeping off of her hair and into his face. He was mistaken. Thorros Nott might have not given him a younger sibling, but Azalea was enough. She would always be enough.
Lunch ended, and they made their way to their awaiting classroom where Lady Andromeda was waiting for them, the classroom already set up with their textbooks out. While the lesson was called Practical Magic, it was and would remain only in theory until they all received their wands. Even then, it would be practicing the basic wand movements of spells. There would not be any actual magic casting in her lessons, as they would be underage still in the Ministry's eyes. It was a foolish thing really, to stunt such wizards and witches from practicing magic outside of school grounds unless they were of age. Really, someone ought to do something about that one of these days.
Arcturus made his way to his office, the one attached to his rooms within his sister's Manor. More often than not, he was here, between searching for Peter Pettigrew, trying to free his grandson and locating the body of his other grandson, and teaching his great niece and her two friends. He did have a home, Black Castle, but he much preferred being closer to Cassiopeia and Azalea. He would have to stop home eventually and collect his correspondences, if he had any. He really should just have an elf do it. They were there to help; it was basically their pleasure to. Though he knew if he abused that privilege then Cassiopeia would hex him for days. She was surprisingly attached to hers.
He opened the compartment that his sister told him she put the letter in and withdrew the crisp, off-white envelope addressed to him. He had an idea of whom this could be, and he was both excited and hesitant to proceed with opening it. The envelope felt heavy in his hands, smooth and cool. He knew he had to open it and get it over with, so he picked up his faithful pen knife letter opener and flipped the letter over, slipping the thin silver blade of it between the opening folds of the envelope paper. There was no name on the return area of the letter, and it was simply addressed to Arcturus Black, Black Manor, Scotland. He slipped out a short piece of parchment with neat scrawling handwriting in black glittering ink. It was not someone's handwriting that he immediately recognized.
Arcturus Black
Black Manor
Scotland
Lord Arcturus Black, I do sincerely hope this letter is finding you in good spirits and good health. I will not reveal who I am, but I felt the duty to inform you of a plot against your heiress and ward, Azalea Dorea Potter-Black-Rosier-Perevell by one Albus Dumbledore. He is a dangerous man and is not to be trusted by even an inch. He has schemed a plot against your ward to lure her away from your safety and protections. Heed this warning, do not trust others lightly, especially his staff members at Hogwarts and those surrounding him. You have been warned.
Sincerely,
XX
Arcturus froze completely as he read and reread the letter over and over. He cast a compulsory magical scan of the letter, but it came up empty-handed. Whoever had sent this letter had made it untraceable. Arcturus did not take threats lightly even if he did not completely trust the validity of the information at hand. He would have to contact one of his connections at the Ministry of Magic's magical law enforcement division. In the meantime he would keep an eye on the children, and inform the other adults. It seems there would have to be another meeting between him, Andromeda, Narcissa, Aquilla and Augusta. He would stop at nothing to keep his family safe from out of harm's reach. He decided then and there that he would add occulomancy to their curriculum. He didn't want to overload the children so much, as these were their final and few years before they turned eleven, before they became full time students at a castle far away from home where he couldn't protect them at a moment's notice. The only available day was on Saturdays where he would replace the second hour of homework study period with lessons on beginning of mind magic. He would have to devise a plan on how to approach the three children without alerting them to any of the possibility of very real danger that they could be facing.
It was at that evening's dinner that he announced the change in curriculum to the three children.
"I wanted to talk to you three about something very important. It was already brought up to Azalea, and I am sure you have been wondering Theodore why I have had Azalea doing a morning routine before breakfast every morning rain or shine. I thought I might explain that subject further tonight and let you guys in on the little known secret. Neville, do not worry, I already approached Augusta on this do you have nothing to worry about." He became, reassuring the boys in question while Azalea just sat there soaking in all of the information, observing her grandpa's facial features and body posture. He was giving off the casual air of nothing being wrong, but she could read him well enough that she saw the tenseness of his shoulders. His posture screamed that something was off, but Azalea was unsure as to what. Maybe it had to do with the visit they took to Gringotts bank this morning. She was distracted from her musings again as he continued to talk.
"There comes a time when every witch or wizard becomes aware of themselves and their surroundings. Magic is flowing within us and around us at all times, like water trickling through the weathered rocks of a stream, yes?" He paused to look at their faces to make sure they were following along with his gentle metaphors.
"When you use your magic, even and especially with the cases of accidental magic, it comes from your magical core. Your core isn't a physical thing per se, but more of a, and sorry for the expression, magical place inside of you, between where your solar plexus and your heart chakra are located. It's where your magic is centered in your body, and it is one of the most sensitive, magically speaking, locations on the witch or wizard's body. I already have had Azalea practicing on focusing on the feeling of that ball of magic inside of all of you, every morning. It's easiest when the mind and body are at peace. It's usually something introduced to you after your tenth birthday but I feel since Azalea already knows and Theo is about to turn ten, and he would be finding out so shortly after, that you three might best benefit from practicing together." Again Arcturus paused to make sure the three children were following along. Theo looked deep in thought and Neville just looked a bit pale around the edges of his complexion. He would have to take note to check up on the boy after their little meeting was over and done with, to make sure as to the wellbeing of the boy in question.
"Every day, I have Azalea do a series of stretches and exercises that help tire out the body and center and calm your mind and magic. It helps later on when you are meditating if your magic is calm and free flowing. I want you two to join in on Azalea's morning routine and report back to me within a month of your progress."
"But what's so special about our magical core?" Neville asked, a bit confused still.
"Ahh I was just getting to that. Inside of your core, once you can visualize it, are threads of different thicknesses and colors, shades of red being the most common color as that is the familius bond. The darker and thicker the chord, the stronger and healthier the relationship. This will also help you focus on finding your other half. You see, every witch and wizard has another half; they have a soulmate. A fully trained witch or wizard will be able to connect with their core and locate the gentle pulling sensation of the other's core. It can help you locate them. The stronger the pull, the closer that you are to the other half. Also, the stronger the bond, the more effects that you might have."
"Can you have effects with the soul bond? What does that even mean?" This time it was Theo who asked.
"For example, if you wish it hard enough, and they do too, you might feel each other's emotions if they are strong enough. There are others who can send each other thoughts in the most dire of circumstances. It all depends on the closeness of the bonded pair and the strength of the bonds. Not everyone meets their soulmate either, it's all chance and happenstance usually."
All three children looked thoughtful at that information. Azalea wondered at the idea of someone out there made to match her own magic, to compliment it in all of the best ways. It was beyond anything she had ever imagined before, and she was still adjusting to the idea of someone else influencing her own thoughts and emotions, without her consent or control.
A few days later found Theo and Azalea both outside on the Manor grounds, in the chili frosted early fall morning. They were both covered in a light sheen of sweat, having just finished their morning run around the outside of the Manor and the warm-up and cool down exercises. They were now sitting in a lotus position with their eyes closed, palms on their knees. It was their new customary routine. Either Azalea or Theo would wake up first, usually Theo as he woke up with the sun. One would wake the other and they would go out and do their new morning ritual of running a lap or two around Black Manor before they began their meditation for the morning.
Azalea and Theo were making steady progress as well. Azalea was able to view her magical core more often than not, and was getting to the point where she could make out the different colors and thicknesses without being too strained. Theo was coming along nicely too. He was determined to keep up with Azalea and Neville, and was able to identify and differentiate between some of the separate bonds. He recognized one, which slightly shocked him, as a dull shade of red which was very thin and frail looking. At first, he assumed it was his mother's bond seeing as she had died when he was still incoherent to the world around him but no. It turned out to be his father's bond. It went to show just how little a connection there was actually between Theo and his father Thorros. When Theo remarked this to Azalea and Neville that morning as their first lesson of the day, Azalea pulled her older brother in all but blood into a bear hug, not letting go even after he moved to pull away.
When Theo casually mentioned to Arcturus and Cassiopeia a few days later in passing at dinner, both of them froze for a complete second and looked over at each other before continuing on with the flow of conversation like nothing ever happened. It wasn't brought up again that evening, but the next day Cassiopeia took the boy aside as they were heading to the dining room for lunch. She sent Azalea to go on ahead with Neville and Arcturus, giving him a meaningful look in the process.
She gently ushered the boy into the Green Parlor, and sat them down on two of the plush leather chairs.
"Daemon." Cassiopeia summoned her own personal house elf. He popped into the room and bowed at Cassiopeia and Theo.
"Mistress has summoned Daemon?" He asked curiously.
"Yes. We will be having lunch in here today. What are you serving in the dining hall this afternoon?" She asked.
"We will be serving a butternut squash soup with toasted fresh french baguette and individual apple tartlets with clotted cream."
"We'll have enough for two in here, with tea service for me and some pumpkin juice for Theodore please." Cassiopeia requested to Daemon before he nodded in understanding and popped off to do as she asked.
It was only a few moments later that he returned with a silver serving tray hovering in the air next to him, loaded with two bowls of steaming hot soup in bowls enchanted to stay warm until touched, and small plates with sliced baguette toast with fresh butter. Theo's personal favorite of course was the small apple tartlets with the sweet and delicious clotted cream.
It was well into their lunch before the real conversation began. Theo was both dreading and looking forward to this particular conversation. He understood that it had to be done, but it did not make discussing the situation with his father any easier.
"Theo, you know we need to have this conversation eventually. Even more so now that you have informed me of the situation with your bond with your father. What do you want to do?" Cassiopeia gently asked.
"I honestly don't know what to do. I don't know what I want or what options I have." Theodore said after some careful thought.
"There are a few options we can go from, but first I want you to answer a few questions I am going to ask you, and answer truthfully. Can you do that for me Theo?"
"Yes ma'am I can." He nodded in agreement.
"I am aware that he abused you. Do not defend him and do not say that he did not, because I have first-hand memories of how you were, what state your face was in, in the beginning of the summer when you arrived at the Manor. I am more than aware of the kind of man Thorros Nott is; you need not defend a man with no honor as it is."
Theo all but deflated at exactly what she had said. The careful facade that the near ten-year-old had crafted after years of being alone was crumbling before his very eyes at the gentle and kind but truthful words of one Cassiopeia Black.
"I..." He trailed off, looking ever the lost little boy he really was. "The truth is... father was... and is never there. And when he was there... He paid a little too much attention to me. Father likes to drink... a little too much. He gets heavy-handed when doling out what he deemed as fair punishments. It wasn't always so bad. When I was really little, sometimes he would read stories to me. It wasn't always the house elves that put me to bed and took care of me. But one day... Father came home drunk. I understand the matter now that it was not my fault, but he came home, and he was in the worst mood I've ever seen him in. That's where I got the scar on my lower back..." Theo trailed off, eyes glazed over. He was clearly right back in the hellscape of his early childhood, and Cassiopeia hated to be the one to put him back there.
"Theo... I need to ask this. Did your father hold you under his wand?" She asked with bated breath. She was praying that her hunch was wrong. He looked up at her and looked down again, unsure on how to answer.
"Not that I can remember, no. He only ever hit me a few times." Cassiopeia had never been so relieved to be so wrong about a hunch.
"What do you want to do about your father? You don't ever have to go back if you do not want to." She said gently.
"Really, do you mean it?" He looked up suddenly, hope glimmering along with the unshed tears in his eyes.
"I really mean it. When you became a Ward of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, Arcturus looked into what we could do. One of the possibilities was the outcome of Thorros Nott being stripped of his parental rights. All I would need to do is contact Madam Bones at the department of magical law enforcement in the Ministry of Magic about a closed trial on the grounds of general child abuse and a case of child neglect. But do not worry. You wouldn't even have to testify. A vial of your childhood memories and a copy of this conversation's memory would suffice, I'm sure of it."
"I... I'd like that but I don't know. It wasn't always bad..."
"Theo, no child should ever have to deal with such a horrible thing as abuse or neglect. Let me do right by you, for your mother's sake."
"Thank you Auntie Cia. I'd like that."
And just like that the heavy moment was over, and he had never felt so relieved in his lifetime. It would finally be over, the beginning of the end of his old life. Here at the Manor he was never lonely. There was always someone here or there to comfort him if and when he needed it. He would never be alone again. They finished up the touching moment with a hug and all was well. Soon enough they finished up eating and Cassiopeia walked Theodore to the awaiting classroom where his friends would be waiting for his return.
It was the next morning, when the owl post arrived and Arcturus's bird had returned from her long flight, a feather-weight charmed letter tied to the bird's outstretched ankle. He gently untied the letter and put it aside to read after he consumed his morning coffee. Arcturus was not a morning person by any means, and he had a feeling that he would need his brain cells firing at full capacity for this letter. It was addressed to him in green swirly lettering.
Lord Arcturus Black
Black Manor
Scotland
I would first like to thank you for your patronage. I accept the case of Sirius Arcturus Black and will henceforth start my case. If it is possible I would like for us to schedule a meeting, so I can note down everything that you have found and start an inquisition in the ministry. Furthermore, I will need any possible information you have on both Peter Pettegrew and Sirius Black. If you could write back at your earliest convenience.
Isold Kaiser
Lady of the stoic and proud house of Kaiser
He nodded and pocketed the letter to reply to it later. He would have to show it to Cassiopeia before he replied to her, to figure out what the goal in mind would be. In this case, they would need to discuss what their next move would be. Obviously, they would have to have a face to face meeting with this Isold Kaiser. If she was nearly as thorough as Narcissa insisted that she was, Sirius Black would be getting his fair trial sooner than you could draw your wand and cast an aguamenti charm.
After showing Cassiopeia the letter, they agreed that he should write a return correspondence as soon as possible so that's what he did. He went to his office and sat down at his desk, and summoned the needed supplies. Quickly he jotted down what he wanted to say in his neat cursive handwriting and cast a quick drying charm on it as to not smudge the lettering of the ink.
Isold Kaiser
Wizard's Allegiance Corp.
87 Knister Straße
Saarbrücken, Germany
I have attached in unbreakable vials, copies of three separate memories. One of the readings of the will and testament of the late James and Lily Potter née Evans-Rosier, one of the sum of all of my knowledge of the information I have on Sirius Back, and one on the information I have been able to gather on Peter Pettigrew. I am available at any time past Yule to schedule an official meeting, and I would prefer that the sooner, the better. Any legal fees will be paid in full in advance from vault 107 in Gringotts Bank, Diagon Alley, London England, United Kingdom. Please send any invoice to Muknax at Gringotts bank, and they will supply the appropriate amount requested.
Sincerely,
Lord Arcturus Black
Lord of the house of Black
Order of Merlin First Class
He sealed the letter and sent it off immediately. It was done. The motion to free his grandson was set into motion and there was nothing that could stop him now come hell or high water. One grandson down, one to go. He just had to find Regulus. Speaking of which, it was time to go to the goblins to find out what they had to offer in the ways of a missing person when the Ministry of Magic would not be willing to help. He just prayed that he could get the answer he so desperately wanted. He wanted his family whole again, as whole again as possible.