Chapter 20
Thursday, December 13
Malfoy meeting, Narcissa's reaction, and Date night
Harry is in the parlor of Black Manor with Lord Black and Heir Black (Sirius), they are waiting on the arrival of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. They have made their plans on how the meeting is to go and Sirius is to keep an eye on Narcissa as Lucius is asked questions about how he would advise House Black to move forward.
Sirius says the conversation with Lucius ought to be enlightening and Narcissa's reaction could go either way, but with her being a Black, I expect her to explode I'm just not sure which way it will be.
Arcturus says it will at least be good to have his deeds out in the open even if we can't use it against him in court.
Harry says just make sure he understands that you are inviting them into the Ancestral Home of House Black and therefore guests are under the guests' rights of magic. We want him to not be able to have any wiggle room, if he refuses to enter then I will take care of him another way. Narcissa will also have a seed of doubt thrown over Lucius as she will know he is hiding something.
They hear the floo flare and hear Narcissa's voice in the flames asking for permission to come through. That was Lord Black's queue.
Lord Black says "Welcome to the Ancestral Home of House Black, please come through and be welcome in our home!"
Narcissa is surprised and wary by the formal invitation by Lord Black but seems to be jostled aside as Lucius is anxious to get on with the meeting as his thoughts are on how he can benefit House Malfoy here and ingratiate himself more firmly into House Black.
Binks pops in and cleans the soot off of Lord and Lady Malfoy.
Lord Black does the introductions as is customary, although everyone knows everyone, he says Lord Malfoy this is my Heir Sirius Black, they shake hands, and this is Lord Peverell, a friend and ally of House Black. He then introduces Lady Malfoy to each who in turn take her offered hand and gently brush her knuckles with their lips.
Lord Peverell tells her she is as beautiful as her cousin and Aunt and Uncle say she is. She gives a demure smile.
Sirius sort of forgets propriety and says it is great to see you cousin and they embrace. This seems to take some of the tension out of Lady Malfoy, and she says for all of them to call her Narcissa.
Lord Peverell says to please address him as Harry.
Lord Black then invites everyone into his Lord Office and again this raises the eyes of Lady Malfoy, as she realizes this has just became a formal meeting, one which most wives are not allowed to attend.
Lord Black offers each of them a chair, Harry sits to Lord Black's right, which again Narcissa knows is the side of the Advisor, Marshall, or protector of the Lord. Sirius is in a chair to the left and slightly in front of the Lord as is customary for the Heir.
Lord Malfoy takes one of the very comfortable looking lounge chairs in front of the Lord's desk while Narcissa sits in the other.
Lord Black asks if they wanted a drink or any finger food items while they are talking.
Lord Malfoy asks for coffee, with one cream and sugar while Lady Malfoy asks for some Chamomile with cream and sugar.
Lord Black begins and says the last few weeks have been quite challenging and it seems that there is quite a bit of unrest among the Lords and Wizengamot. The attacks on my wife and sister leaves me to believe that some think that House Black is vulnerable. Lord Peverell put paid to that in the dueling pit, and with House Potter and House Black together with House Peverell we are stronger physically and politically as we have ever been.
Sirius leads in just the way they had planned and speaks, with the votes we now control in the Wizengamot, with the alignment of House Black, House Potter and all the votes that Lord Peverell now controls there is no law that we can't pass or overturn at our leisure.
Lord Black looks at Lord Malfoy and asks him for his thoughts and any ideas on how to best take advantage of this boon they have been given?
Lord Peverell meanwhile is watching the room like a falcon watches a hare, eyes sharp, quiet, but with a deadly air about him. The only one that seems to notice is Narcissa.
Lord Malfoy tells tell all to call him Lucius, and that while they do have voting control over the Wizengamot with their block of votes and their allies, they need to be subtle how they do things and not seem to be forcing things down the throats of others and create hard feelings until it's necessary. Lucius tells them he has connections that could strengthen House Black with new allies and make them richer than they already are. Lucius says that there is a movement within the Pure Blood ranks to raise taxes on those who are of lesser blood, and make sure the elite of Magical Britain stay in power even though their numbers are getting smaller while the half-bloods and muggle born are growing at an alarming rate. We have to secure our place while we have all the power.
No one noticed the change in Lord Peverell's eyes as they lit up with an eerie glow that one would know to be frightened of if they ever saw it aimed at them. Harry quickly got it under control and continued on watching the room.
Lord Black speaks and says it is always good to add to our vaults, and always better to have politically stronger allies. He asks Lord Malfoy who would he suggest to partner with as House Potter and House Peverell were in the Gray- Faction along with the now Gray-Factioned House Black. None of the Light-faction will leave Dumbledore's influence at the present time and Lord Peverell in our defense has culled ten families from the Dark-Faction.
Lucius says yes, it is unfortunate that some of our most noble families decided to attack House Black and House Potter, but we were fortunate that Lord Peverell was there to save all of you. It would have been a terrible loss to all of us if that had happened.
Lord Black asks who would you recommend us to work with in the future?
Lord Malfoy says he has close ties to the Travers, Parkinson, Bulstrode, Flint, Selwyn, Burke and Yaxley families and they have a strong backer who asks to remain in the background at the current time.
This was the opening, that Lord Black and Lord Peverell were looking for. Lord Black says Lord Peverell, you have been quiet this whole time, do you have anything to say in opposition or in defense of what has been said?
Lord Peverell says, it is true we can get anything we want done in the Wizengamot we want, but that is not the way forward for a better Magical Britain. I feel all magical people should have a say in how they are ruled, how their taxes are spent and the ability to prosper like all the Pure-Bloods. I myself would be considered a Half-Blood under current thinking and yet I control more votes, money and property than any five other houses in the Wizengamot. To me, blood doesn't make any one better than anyone else, we all bleed red. My mother was a muggle-born and she was the smartest witch of her age so I have been told, my father was a Pure-Blood who didn't care she wasn't.
Lord Malfoy says surely you would be considered a Pure-Blood with all you have, all you have done, and having a Pure-Blood father. I'm sure that will never be a problem, especially if you have a Pure-Blood wife when that time comes!
Lord Peverell leans forward and puts his index fingers together as he looks directly at Lord Malfoy, and says, of all the people you named as potential future allies, all of them are considered Dark Families, why is that? Why would House Peverell, House Black, and House Potter want to align ourselves with them especially after myself, Heir Black and Heir Potter just killed ten of their friends? One other thing that strikes me as odd and Lord Black please tell me if I am overstepping my bounds, why would we ever accept a working relationship with anyone we don't know or refuses to tell us who he is?
Lord Black says I was thinking the same thing. Some of those you have named are family members to those that attacked Lord and Lady Potter, Lady Black and myself, how could we ever trust them or they us? Lord Malfoy, I would like to know since each one of those killed wore the mark of the Dark Lord, do each of those you named have the mark also? Do they follow Voldemort? If I asked, would you roll up your left sleeve and show me your arm, or have you also bowed the knee to the son of a muggle and a squib?
Lucius winced at the mention of that name. Narcissa is starting to worry that this meeting is quickly becoming an interrogation! Lucius starts to speak but finds he can't actually say what he wanted to say, he starts to talk, closes his mouth but finds he has to answer. Yes, each of those families I named are followers of Lord Voldemort. We all have the same belief that blood purity puts us above everyone else and that those that oppose Lord Voldemort will either bend the knee or die by his wand.
Lord Peverell looks at Narcissa shakes his head and asks her to pull up the left sleeve of Lord Malfoy left arm. She hesitates but then Lord Black says "do it!"
Narcissa finds she can't resist the Black Family magic and pulls up the sleeve to reveal the dark mark. Narcissa knew he was marked but had hoped she could persuade him to leave the Dark Lord's service.
Harry asks Lord Black if he could ask a few questions and Lord Black says "after all you have done for me and my house you can have anything you ask."
Lord Peverell looks at Narcissa and says, Lady Malfoy what I am about to ask is going to be blunt, brutal, and your husband isn't going to be able to lie. I am asking as a gentleman do you want to hear these questions and the answers your husband is guest-right bound to answer truthfully?
Lady Malfoy is scared now, she wants to get out of here with her husband in one piece, but she would never forgive herself or lose the lingering doubts if she didn't listen. Lady Malfoy says, I will stay!
Lord Peverell nods his head in her direction and then proceeds to ask his questions. Lord Malfoy, did you willingly take the dark mark or were you forced?
Lord Malfoy sneers and says it is always willingly taken; it can't be forced.
Lord Peverell asks, what did you have to do to earn the mark?
Lord Malfoy grits his teeth but finally answers, I raped and killed a muggle woman and her daughter after killing her husband!
Narcissa gasps and starts crying and starts to get up but Sirius puts his arms around her and says, "sit for just a little longer cousin!"
Lord Peverell then asks just how many women and children have you raped and murdered for your entertainment or on your master's orders?
Lucius says they don't matter so he doesn't bother to keep count!
Lord Peverell says humor me, give me an estimate?
Lord Malfoy says over fifty but less than a hundred, I'm not as active as some are and you have killed many. The worst is MacNair, he kills for the fun of it, same as Travers, they don't enjoy the women they just kill them!
Lady Malfoy can't stand anymore and Sirius leads her out of the room.
Lord Peverell says I have one more question for you, do you know where your Lord is currently?
Malfoy answers he is out of the country recruiting but will be back soon and Peverell will pay for what he has done!
Lord Black stands and says the offer of guest-rite is over, you are to leave Black Manor, you will forget ever being here, you will never approach any member of House Black or its allies again.
Lucius stands and fingers his cane, where his wand is hidden, but knows he is no match for Lord Black much less Lord Peverell. He says I will collect my wife and we will leave but this is not over between us!
Lord Black says Narcissa is quite upset and is indisposed at the moment but when she is ready she will either come back to Malfoy Manor or stay here at her ancestral home. Lord Black then says there are things that need to be discussed between our solicitors but that is for another day. Now leave!
Before Lord Malfoy can get to the floo, Lord Peverell steps in front of him and says, while I can't bring charges against you for your crimes in the Wizengamot, I can and will make your life a living hell before I kill you, I will take everything House Malfoy has and use it to help those you deem unworthy!
Lord Malfoy steps around Lord Peverell and throws some green powder in the fire and says Malfoy Manor!
Harry looks at Lord Black and asks how do you want to proceed?
Lord Black tells Harry that before anything is done, Lord and Lady Potter along with Lady Black needs to see the memories of this meeting in the penseive! I know they will be as furious as we are and I am sure they will have ideas about Narcissa and Lucius's downfall!
It was a little while later that Narcissa had gathered herself and asked if Lucius was still there.
Sirius says no, he had left about an hour before and that Lord Black told him you would either return when you were better or you could choose to stay here in your ancestral home.
Narcissa looks at Sirius and asks, Lord Black really said it in that way?
Sirius says yes, in those exact words.
Narcissa says I don't know what to do? I didn't know he was such a monster, but I am not allowed to divorce him without his approval according to current law.
Sirius says don't worry about it right now. Rest and talk to Uncle Arcty and Aunt Mel as well as Aunt Dorea, they will know what to do and I know Harry will be able to help!
Narcissa asks is Lord Peverell really as close to everyone as he seems? Is he really as dangerous as everyone says?
Sirius looks at Narcissa and he says 'Cissy, Harry is a much family as me and you are, he loves the members of House Black and House Potter with all his heart! He has fought and killed to save our family; he would put himself in the middle of a firefight to save you as long as you never betray our family! If there was one person in the whole world, I wouldn't want to be right now it would be Lucius Malfoy!
Narcissa asks if he thinks Harry will kill Lucius and Sirius just nods and says, "yea, he is as good as dead right now, his body just doesn't know it yet!" Narcissa starts to weep again, but hugs Sirius and says how can thing go so wrong so fast?
Sirius says, for so long people have gotten away with things because no one was willing to stand up and say enough is enough. Now they have run up against an immovable object in Lord Peverell that will not allow those ways to continue.
A/N: Wow, didn't think it would take that long! Lucius's days are numbered, Lord Black now knows how deep the dark side is embedded, Harry is going to do what Harry does! Will get to the Date Night next!
