A/N : As always everything belongs to JK Rowlings. This is an another idea that I have which will be updated with time. I hope you like it.
The Evident Truth
- Prologue -
An old man was tending to the fodder for the creatures outside a small barn house. He was ready to pick up the bucket of water before his knees gave away and he sat.He sighed. He was tired from the day's work. He turned around as if to find something or someone in particular. Suddenly, he called.
"Boy?!" Old man called in a withered but strong voice." Time to feed 'em creatures before the sun sets. Be on your way then." His voice could be heard all across the fields of the BlackLands.
The boy scrunched his nose and sniffled. He rubbed his nose with back of his sleeve.
Beside him sat Mr. Buttons on his butt. His wings enclosing his sideview. He had some grass and branches of some tree which he was eating with immense pleasure.
He was some kind of hybrid between a red raccon and an owl. But he had panda like ears. He had fluffly feathers like an owl while his whole body resembled a red racoon but only black and white with latten colour covering most of his coat.
When Mr. Buttons heard the old man's call he nudged the boy with his small paw and pointed towards the direction where the voice was coming from.
"I heard him too ol' boy. Let me just... Yeah. That's right. Turn around. Your belt is ready. It's handy...innit? Yeah. I know. " The boy said while coughing at the same time.
Mr. Buttons turned around while chewing. The boy wrapped the belt around Buttons' waist which had many small pockets . Once done, the boy took a good look at his work. He felt proud of himself for making a belt for his companion. He looked at the horizon and saw the red sky.
Dusk was nigh.
He put on his flat cap and gestured Mr. Buttons to follow him. They came out from the shade of the trees and moved towards the barn house across the fields.
They could see a man working outside the small house tending to a small calf.
Not far away from the BlackLands stood The Black Castle. There was a time when it inhabited many of the branches of the Black Family. But as the time passed, the House Black fought in many wars. Their pride couldn't let themselves rest while others fought for their lives. But the price that the House Black payed was too high for their participation in the Wars of the Wizarding Britain. See, the Black Family had a system of hierarchy in their House.
The Main Branch of the family lead the House. The Branches close to the Main Branch were the Defenders of the House Black. Whether it be Blackstones, Blackwoods, Blackclaws, Blackmoors, Blackthorns etc. Their heirs were destined to be the Infamous Black Knights.
And yes there were exceptions if the heirs of the distant branches were more suitable for the role of Black Knight. Such branches of the Black family tended to the other tasks of the family which were looked upon by the other branches as inferior. But you won't. Because they had Black Blood and you didn't. But with time the Branches of the Black family perished as they fought in many wars of the respective age.
And now...only the Main Branch lived in the Old Castle of House Black which was situated in the village of IIkley , Yorkshire. Not many members of the Black Family lived there. Only the Lord and his Lady wife with some watchers of the House and ... a boy. The others lived in London. They relished in themodernworld as Lord of the Family put it while spouted about following the Old ways.
Winter, 1993
Black Castle
The Black Castle was the tower of rock amid the white fields which would have been green if it was the time of spring. It had four tower like the corners of a square field. The front of the Black Castle had two large oak doors with two armoured sentries at each side. If it was old time, the sentries would have been alive. Now, they were made to follow the commands of the Lord Black only.
In dire circumstances, wards of the family triggered their response to intrusion. Inside there was a big hall and then there were respective rooms to their respective functions.
Inside the Lord's Study, facing the window sat the Lord of the House Black. While his one arm rested on the old arm chair carrying a Grimm headed cane, the hand of the other graced his right cheek. His silver grey eyes witnessing what was far beyond the horizon.
Just few feets away from him sat his Lady Black on a small couch. Both of them were in deep thoughts. While the Black Lord's frown described a grim visage, the Lady Black's blank expression described nothing...but her fiddling with the House Ring she wore, said otherwise.
On the walls hung the banners of the House Black. House Crest showed a shield with greyhounds rampant charged with a chevron, 2 five-pointed stars and a short sword while the whole room was dominated by silver serpents whether it be door handles, oulining of tables and couches or the chandelier above. It showed their heritage... their legacy of the old. Others were some books, small trinkets, mails etc.
"You think it is time." said the Lady of the House. It was more of a question than statement. Her gaze outside the window, watching the arrival of dusk but her heart was not in it. Her mind miles away the current situation.
There was a pause. As if the Lord was mulling over some words but his expression remained grim. Blank.
"Yes." He said in a raspy but firm tone."Yes. It's time." But there was tiredness to it. Only his Lady wife was able to pick it from his voice. Otherwise you wouldn't know what were the reasons behind his response.
" I am afraid for him. I want him to branch out. I really do. Merlin knows that. But there is too much risk in sending him alone out there. I have never been frightened about anything. Not even about my own children but this situation is scaring me."She proclaimed her nervousness about his decision.
"We can't keep him here. Not always. He has some duties to his own life. Yes, he has progressed in such small duration if you compare him to a third year but he is alone here. He needs company of young wizards of his own age. Doing otherwise won't do anything good for him." He said in resignation. He shood his head as if he was getting rid of some unpleasant thought.
" I never thought that one day I might need him. That one day he might become something which will decide the future of House Black. But there is no other way to it now. He must succeed against the variables he will face ahead of him. That is the only way to his survival. Otherwise there are too many vultures out there ready to pounce on him if any mistep was made. He must prove himself." He said in a firm but proud tone.
" If you are saying what you are trying to say then it will do nothing but put a target on his back. He is a child while there are others older than him. More experienced than him. There will be hell itself in the House Black if you proceed with that certain thought." said Melania Black with surety.
"Who said there will no resistance. But my word is Merlin's word in House Black. That is all he needs." He said in with a smirk. "But before that he must prove himself worthy. He must learn to protect himself only then he will be able gain respect for himself. I can't do more than that. He must explore the world outside the walls of this castle."
Lady Black took another approach."And what will you do when they ask who sired him? The question is not about his ability but his legitimacy of being the heir. If you can't answer that, it will lead to rumours. Rumours do no good. It will only ostracize him from others." Again the Lady Black had the Lord of the Blacks in corner.
The Lord Black smiled. Really smiled at his wife. "You think I have not prepared for that? Yes, he is not in the direct line of succession which can be done otherwise by Lord of the Blacks which I am."He explained further.
" See, there was time when the main Branch had many capable leaders of the family but only the heirs were made the Lords. The others made the sub-branches who were assigned different but worthy tasks. And right now no one is worthy or in the direct line of succession. And please don't talk about Malfoys. If they think that them albinos will have anything to do with The Blacks then Iwill put them out of their delusions." stated the smug Lord Black.
"What about Pollux? Cygnus? Or Sirius especially? How are you going to answer them? Pollux set his eyes on the Seat the day Walburga married Orion. Since Sirius's abandonment of the family, they are more eager than I have ever seen them. One way or other Pollux has you cornered. Let it be by Walburga, Cygnus or by Draco, Narcissa's son.Even if you say Malfoys won't have any say in House Black's business, the boy is still born from the Black Blood. Thus, makes everyone under Pollux's grasp. And If Sirius has his way, he will give everything to the Potters and Dumbledore." said Lady Black in a subdued voice with uneasiness. Her eyes already witnessing the scenarios.
But Arcturus Black smirked again.
"I have a solution to every problem. Right inside this very home of Blacks.Don't worry about anyone. I am awaiting my time. To play my card. And when I put my card down, everything will be in my corner. The corner where you think I am cornered." proclaimed Lord Black.
" But how-
"All in time, my Lady Black." smirked Lord Black. Melania made a face. "That is a discussion for another day. Right now, it is high time to prepare the Leaf of Blacks for Hogwarts." He smiled again which was rare. Extremely rare.
"Yes." said the Lady Black as she reached for her husband's hand and returned his smile.
"Linsy, prepare the dinning room. And bring Harry." Lord Black ordered. "It's dark outside. He should be inside by now." He said to himself as an afterthought.
" As Master Black wishes." Answered a distant squeaky voice.
Endnote: Yes, that's it. More to come in mean time. Answers to some doubts.
1) Old man is Marius Black in the beginning who was a squib. Yes, I know he was kicked out but here he works as a watcher of House Black. Looks after the cattle and some creatures which we will dive into later.
2) Arcturus is Pollux's very close cousin.Cygnus and Walburga are his children which is canon. Orion is married to Walburga who is under his wife's control.
3) Dorea's and Cassiopeia's existence is unknown because I have not written about them yet. hehehe!
4) Most Important Doubts- Why Harry is with Melania and Arcturus if Potters are alive? Is this anothers ansty WBWL story? NO!
Scratch that feck no!!
Because isn't this the mistery? Who sired Harry? Why is he called the Leaf of the Blacks? Why Arcturus has too much faith in him?
Is he a Potter?! If not then why are we reading a Harry Potter centered story if Harry is not in it? Are we reading an O.C.story? What?!
Answer is No! We are reading a Potter story with some different twist to it but based on Harry himself who resides with Lord and Lady Black. Why? That's what we are gonna find out.
P. S- If I gave away too much into Arcturus reasons behind his decisions as he is hinting then plot will be guessed already so what may seem like plotholes or making no-sense answers is deflection on Arcturus part to keep things close to himself. sigh
Bye. For now.