Season of The Witch
Chapter 2
The others searched the vault with Griphok looking going over the inventory, which held information on all of the priceless items in the Peverell, Gaunt, Sayre and Slytherin vaults.
"I apologies Lady Peverell Sayre Gaunt, a grave error has occurred due to the control of your guardian. Albus Dumbledore explained that you gave permission for him to give your mother's jewellery to Lady Marlene McKinnon, Lady Dorcas Meadowes and Miss Emmeline Vance," Griphok explained gravely, his expression grim as he oversaw the vault transfers.
"Was anything else taken out of the vaults, without my permission?" Theodora asked calmly, despite the fact that she was furious. She was burning with white hot rage towards Dumbledore, and the rest of his followers for stealing from her vaults.
Griphok checked the inventory, nodding gravely as she felt a deep sense of hatred directed at Dumbledore. That man had never helped her, rather he along with Professor McGonagall and the Gryffindor students had made her life a living hell during her five years at Hogwarts.
"I'm afraid so, Lady Peverell Sayre Gaunt. Necklaces were unlawfully taken from the Peverell, Sayre, Slytherin and Gaunt vaults. As well as grimoires, and substantial amounts of money that have been given to Emmeline Vance, the Potters, and members of the Order of the Phoenix," Griphok informed grimly, he would not blame the young witch if she lost her temper.
Dorea and Walburga listened in a state of horrified disbelief and shock, Dumbledore had been stealing from Theodora's vaults? They dreaded to think how much money Theodora had lost due to Dumbledore illegally had been withdrawing from the vaults.
"Did Dumbledore place any spells on me?" Theodora asked cautiously, Griphok gestured for Bill to do the spells. He did so, as Theodora stayed still as a statue.
The results were written up on a piece of parchment, as Griphok and Bill looked over the results. They both looked angry at what they were reading, Griphok was growling, and Bill looked angry as a Hungarian Horntail.
"Lady Sayre Gaunt, it appears that Albus Dumbledore placed an illegal soulmate cloaking spell on you since birth. With your permission, Lord Weasley can remove the spell from you, and we can identify who gave Dumbledore permission to do this spell on you?" Griphok offered generously, Theodora nodded and stood still.
Bill pulled out his wand, as he gave her a reassuring smile and began chanting the spell. As a Curse-Breaker, he'd been trained in different aspects of magic, which included Black, Dark and Grey magic due to the work of his job.
"Undo soulmate velandi, exponentia," he said firmly and a blue light emerged from his wand, as the cloaking spell was removed. Theodora felt a faint tingling sensation, on her back as Dorea and Walburga checked her back.
There from her left to her right shoulders appeared to be a belt of freckles. However, these did not appear to be the extreme ones of the Prewett and the Weasley families. Standing out there were several darker, heavier marks that appeared to resemble the system of Orion's Belt, Canis Major and the Leo constellation with Regulus highlighted.
On her right shoulder, we're the soulmate runes of the House of Rosier with writing in Latin. The two witches stared at each other along with Bill, and Griphok.
This would change everything.
Theodora turned to her grandmother with a frown. "What is it?" she wondered genuinely curious but worried by the looks on their faces. "We need to have a talk, Theodora." Walburga whispers.
"You're scaring me!" Theodora whispers clutching her heart.
"Your soulmate runes!" Bill whispers. Griphook and Bill leave first opting to wait in the cart.
"When we get home, we'll explain everything." Dorea promises. Theodora still looks unsure but nods. They do a last check of the vault and leave. After promising to meet soon and catch up with the Weasley's Theodora waves at Bill as she follows her grandmother down the steps. "I need to get some supplies since I'm going to be staying here for a while." Theodora frowns looking around. "What do you need?" Walburga asks.
The trio of women spend the next hour buying potions ingredients and books. Theodora rushes into the Magical Menagerie. "Sorry about that. I had to get medicine for my kittens." Theodora smiles holding up her bag of purchases. "What about food?" Walburga wonders eyeing Theodora. It wasn't like Theodora was lacking the money, but she was always working and sometimes missed a meal or two.
After a failed attempt to convince the two women she was healthy they wound up at the market. "Don't just get food for your cats." Dorea frowns. Theodora turns to her grandmother with an innocent smile. "Those cats eat better than you do girly." Walburga laughs examining the fresh produce.
"Well, they're like my babies. Besides, they mean the world to me." Theodora smiles adding some fresh fennel, artichokes, and plum vine tomatoes to her cart.
Theodora opened the door to her place letting her grandmother and cousin in first. Locking the door behind them Theodora began taking the groceries to the kitchen as Dorea and Walburga explore the house. The cats followed them curiously. When she was done, Theodora made some tea and took out some sweets.
"Can we talk about the soulmate runes now? Who is it?" Theodora asked as the two women sat down. They share a worried look. "Well, it isn't one person. It's four. Uhm... how do I word this?" Walburga bit her lip. "Theodora, you have four soulmates. Two from the Black family and two from the Rosier family."
Dorea sighs putting her cup down. Theodora gapes in disbelief. "That's not possible!" She gasps. Dorea smiled sympathetically.
A letter shoots out of the fireplace and onto Dorea's lap. "Tell me this is a mistake!" Theodora whispered close to tears.
Dear Ms Theodora Dorea Belladonna Helene Peverell Sayre Gaunt
After careful analysis, we have found your soulmates, Evan Rosier, Jacob Rosier, Sirius Black and Regulus Black. You will both meet on All Hallow's Eve. Enclosed you will find a file on their history and magical abilities
Yours sincerely,
Henri Lestrange, Head of the Arithmancy Department.
Theodora was in shock as she took the letter from Dorea and read the letter twice, still feeling like a prank had been pulled on her. The faces of her soulmates stared at her from the files, which had been sent with the letter.
A questionnaire had been sent as well, to write down her hobbies and other personal questions. She felt like she was in a dream, but knew she wasn't dreaming in the slightest as she turned to look at her grandmother and future mother-in-law.
"What are Sirius and Regulus like?" She asked bravely, relieved that her voice wasn't shaking. Dorea and Walburga smiled at her reassuringly, but she didn't miss that Walburga's brow was furrowed as she talked about her sons.
"Sirius is the eldest of my two sons and works as an Auror in the Department of Law Enforcement. Regulus, my youngest works as a lawyer, he is close friends with Lord Evan Rosier and his cousin, Jacob Rosier," Walburga explained patiently, not phased in the slightest by her question.
Theodora nodded in understanding, but her blood ran cold when Walburga mentioned Sirius. She hadn't heard that name, since the night her mother was murdered.
"Go to Sirius! Run, Theodora!" Her mother had screamed pleadingly, at her that night. Not matter how many years slipped by, she could never forget the image of her mother being violated and murdered in front of her.
"I see, thank you for telling me. I'm profoundly grateful for the help you've both given me." She said sincerely, Dorea and Walburga nodded in understanding as they walked her to the Floo and watched as she left with their hearts heavy.
Sirius wanted to do nothing more than crash out and fall asleep, but unfortunately his grandfather had called a family meeting. He was the last to arrive, as he saw everyone was sitting in the living room and was stunned to see Andromeda and her daughter, Nymphadora there as well.
"You're late, Sirius," Walburga said disapprovingly, wishing that her son would stop hanging around with James Potter. She couldn't stand the man, especially after what his father had done to Dorea during their marriage.
Dorea privately agreed with her niece, she had regretted marrying Charlus so quickly after leaving Hogwarts. Her friends and family had tried to warn her that Charles was not a good man, rather he was a twisted fanatic of Dumbledore.
Charlus had become a bit of a recluse after it had come out that he was a wife beater. Her family, the House of Black, completely ruined his reputation and demanded reparations for her suffering under his hands. He was forced to step down as Lord Potter, letting Dorea not only continue to hold the title of Lady Potter, but also be the proxy for the Potter seat on the Wizengamot until James had come of age to take over. It had been a huge scandal and now Charlus could barely show his face in public, and everyone realized that you do not cross a Black.
Dorea had raised James and though he had shown many of the same personality traits as her ex-husband, she had thought that she had taught him restraint and morals. Where had she gone wrong?
"What's the family meeting about, mother?" Sirius asked wearily, sitting down in a chair next to Regulus. It didn't escape his notice that Lucius Malfoy along with Draco were in the room next to Narcissa or the fact Uncle Marius was present.
"You are aware that James and Lily supposedly suffered the stillbirth of a daughter on 31st October 1978?" Walburga asked calmly, her face giving nothing away as she stared at her son.
Sirius winced, James hadn't even grieved for the loss of his firstborn daughter and neither had Lily. Then James had been required to marry Marlene McKinnon, after he got her pregnant and her family demanded that James take responsibility for her and the baby.
"I know mum, I was there at the funeral when they consecrated her to be with the ancestors. Why are you mentioning this now of all times?" He asked wearily, not liking where this was going.
"The young woman is alive, Sirius and not only that but she has the soulmate runes that match yours, Regulus and two other wizards," Arcturus announced firmly, not beating around the bush.
A stunned silence followed his explanation.
Theodora stared blankly at the Ministry letter and questionnaire. She didn't want to write down anything about herself. She didn't want to get married. She wanted to be free in the countryside. She wanted to be back in France. Twirling her wand, she thought long and hard about what to do.
She put some random stereotypical answers down and honestly most of them were on the opposite end of the spectrum from what her true answers would be, but they didn't need to know that. She sent the questionnaire back and kept rereading the letter. With a sigh she put the letter down and went to take a relaxing bath.
When not even that could help, she went to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of firewhiskey and nursed it until she fell asleep. She woke to a pounding headache and an owl pecking angrily at her window. Sitting up with a groan she sits up and makes her way to the window. Untying the letter, she gives the owl a treat and some water.
It was another Ministry letter. This one notifying her of the dates at which she was to meet her soulmates. She tossed the letter aside and flopped back onto her bed. She had to report to St. Morgana's for work in a few hours and wanted to be well rested.
It had been a week since Dorea had seen her granddaughter. They had agreed to meet for lunch, and she was anxious to see her. She arrived at the restaurant thinking she was early but smiled when she saw Theodora already there and waving her over. She hurried over and hugged the young woman.
"How've you been?" Dorea asks as they sit down. "Good. All of my files and projects from France have been sent over and I got a room to work on my project. In a few days I'll be having lunch with my friends and after that I'm meeting my soulmates. I'm completely nervous." Theodora confesses. Dorea smiles and places a hand over Theodora's.
"It'll be fine. They're all nice young men. Well Sirius can be a bit of a handful at times and extremely mischievous." Dorea laughs. Theodora relaxes slightly. "Regulus is on the quiet side and one can never tell what he's thinking." Dorea tuts.
Theodora smiles as she listens to Dorea talk about the four men, who would be her future husbands. She sipped her hot chocolate contently, as she and her grandmother spoke about the upcoming soulmate ritual taking place.
"Is it dangerous, the ritual?" She asked quietly, Dorea shook her head reassuringly. She reached over the table to give Theodora's hands a reassuring squeeze, she couldn't blame her for being frightened.
"The Witching Soulmate Ritual is an incredibly old, and ancient marital ritual that has been done for thousands of years. The last time it was performed, was after the war with Gellert Grindelwald to fulfill family feud against each other," Dorea explained softly, and she nodded in understanding as her grandmother explained the ritual.
"The witches are to eat pomegranates, depending on how many soulmates they have. The male wizards have to chase their witch soulmate to fuel the adrenaline and claim them," she explained gently, seeing the look of wiry on her granddaughter's face.
Bloody Morgana, her husbands were going to chase her in a forest to claim her? Theodora felt her face flush dark red at the thought of four wizards claiming her, although they wouldn't have sex with her immediately.
"I see, will I meet them before the ritual?" Theodora asked finally, Dorea shook her head. Witches didn't meet their chosen soulmate that magic had bonded them to until the ritual.
"No, you'll meet them at the ritual but they're good men. Evan is Druella Rosier's nephew, and Jacob Rosier is their cousin. They're the last two surviving males of the main Rosier branch, since Felix Rosier is from the cadet branch and already had children." Dorea explained softly and decided to ask her granddaughter a question.
"Would you want to join the Black Coven, my dear?" She asked quietly, seeing Theodora look surprised at her question. The raven-haired young woman was silent for a few minutes, before she spoke and voiced a question.
"If I join the coven, will you all stay out of my blood feud against the ones who made my life a living hell?" Theodora asked seriously, Dorea was surprised at her question.
Dorea was aware that her granddaughter did not like muggles, she despised them and the same went for the Tonks family. Anytime Edward Tonks or his sister was brought up, a dangerous look appeared in her green eyes.
"I promise Theodora, that as High Witch of the Black Coven that none of us will stand in your way. We'd help you if you ever need assistance." Dorea promised reassuringly, Theodora gave her a small, grateful smile.
At least she wouldn't have to fight her grandmother or other relatives, when it came to the blood feud. She would alert Amelia Bones to the abusive orphanages that Dumbledore and his followers were running.
Amelia Bones had been working in her office when a silvery Horned Serpent patronus entered her office. The woman looked up sharply, as a female voice began to speak.
"Wool's Orphanage and Saint Mary's Children's Orphanage are abusing magical children. You need to send as many emergency healers and aurors, as you can!" The female voice said urgently, before the patronus disappeared in a faint mist. She quickly called for Kingsley Shacklebolt, Nymphadora Tonks, John Dawlish and Alastor Moody. She then called for Sirius Black and James Potter to accompany them, as they apparated to the area.
Amelia could already sense that that something horrific had happened at the orphanage. Children as young as five were being led out of the building, crying, and looking frightened.
"Healer Fawley, what we have go so far?" She asked the healer, Leanne Fawley was a beautiful dark brown-haired person with brown eyes. She was half Fey through her father, Aramis Fawley, and part Veela through her mother, Melissa Delacour.
The young woman grimaced as she looked at the crime scene, the forensic team led by Oksana Dolohov were finding human remains in the garden.
"We've found seventy children so far, Madame Bones. Twenty of them attend Hogwarts and are being sent to St Mungo's and Saint Morgana's for emergency treatment. The Curse-Breaker team led by Lord Bill Weasley and Lord Antonin Dolohov have found something in the basement," Leanne explained grimly, as Nymphadora approached with a look of horror on her face.
"We found the office, Madame Bones. They didn't destroy the paperwork." She informed disturbed, as Mary Tonks arrived with Ted Tonks and to everyone's shock, Dumbledore.
"What on an earth, are you doing in my home?! Get out!" The middle-aged woman screamed outraged, shoving Sirius as she tried to enter the orphanage.
"Mary Tonks, you are under arrest for abusing children under your care as Matron of Wool's Orphanage and St Mary's Orphanage. You do not have to say anything, anything you do say will be held against you!" Amelia declared firmly, as Nymphadora took her aunt to the ministry cells.
Everyone turned their attention to Ted and Dumbledore then, Sirius stared at Ted in worry. What the hell had he done? Kingsley answered his unspoken question, as he announced in a calm voice, which held nothing but contempt his rights.
"Edward Tonks, you are under arrest for line theft and the murder of Lady Isolt Morrigan Sayre. You are also charged with the murder of Enzo Zabini and Pandora Lovegood!" Kingsley said coldly, gripping him tightly as the blonde-haired man shouted in anger.
Ignoring the now fuming men Amelia stepped past them to make her way inside. It was horrid. She felt like the life was being squeezed out of her in a way she thought only possible when visiting Azkaban.
Kingsley followed close behind. "They're bringing the Crups in an hour," He whispered as they walked examining every room.
"There are so many children. Look through every file carefully and extended the search area. I have a terrible feeling that our search may have to extended much farther than the space around the property." Amelia murmured.
Nodding Kingsley went to inform Moody. Upon his return he found Amelia searching through Mary and Edward's offices. "I want every employee thoroughly questioned. Also, find out if any of the children can name previous orphans that made it out, were adopted, or aged out. The more information the better. I want Dumbledore to come in for questioning too. I would like to know why he came when we only just sent out the search notice. Check both homes for signs of any recording devices or paintings that may have let them in on what we were doing before they were notified." Amelia ordered.
Again, Kingsley went out to inform the Aurors present. Backup was called in because of the scale of the search. There, just wasn't enough people present being split between two crime scenes. Moody and Kingsley found Amelia not in the offices but in the basement when they entered the home. Symbols were etched into the walls, and it looked like there were faint traces of blood on the floor.
"Black. Sirius Black!" Amelia called. As if he'd been summoned, the man appeared. "You have keen senses; would it be too much to ask you what you sense from this room?" She asked arms folded her presence exuding authority.
AN: We hope you're enjoying the story, so far :)