What If Series: The Black Prince

by Miss Mysteria

Chapter Three

It was two hours past when Sirius and Harry had arrived at Black Manor in the dead of night, two men; one orphaned and one broken. After Sirius had collected himself, he had taken Harry back off of his grandmother and she had lead him to a room in the west wing of the house, with Arcturus requesting his presence in his study once Harry was asleep. On the way, Melania had called the Black elves and asked them to set up a nursery for Harry to stay in and by the time they had arrived, the room had been set.

Dark green drapery's hung from the large bay windows, accented by the silver trimming that ran along the sides of the silk fabric. A silver canopy crib sat in the centre of the room with see-through white Gossamer curtains hanging from the poles, shielding the crib from eyes, but still transparent enough so that if someone looked directly, they could see in. The floor was a dark panelled oak, reflected by the silver ceiling which had small, black ravens flying up and down, moving their wings slowly. In the corner was a small desk and chair with ink pots, raven feather quills and parchment pressed in with the Black crest ready to go. In the opposite corner was a set of dark chestnut chest-of-drawers and accompanying wardrobe, which, when Sirius went over to inspect it, was already filled to the brim with onesies, nappies and other assortment of clothes and accessories that Harry might need. He turned to face his grandmother with a raised eyebrow. She merely tilted her nose up at him and walked forward, placing a snoring Harry into his crib. She smiled softly as he immediately settled and curled around a white owl stuffed toy that had been placed in there. She had always been maternal; she had healed countless scraped knees and snuck him snacks quickly before his dinner. Of course, in his teenage years he had stopped coming to the Manor, his parents wanting to keep his 'mudblood ways' away from the head of the family.

Melania stepped back from the crib, letting the curtain fall around it and the silencing charm that was woven into the fabric took place and they could speak. Sirius scratched the back of his neck as the silence stretched on and his grandmother just stared at him.

She broke the quiet, "You are too skinny, Sirius."

His eyes hit the floor as heat rose to his cheeks. She tutted and he heard her heels click on the floor as she walked closer. Her hand lifted to his chin and lifted his head so that he looked into her deep blue eyes. "It is nothing to be ashamed of." Her voice turned to a whisper. "Never be ashamed of your childhood," Sirius' eyes widened dramatically, and hers softened, "however unfortunate and despicable it was, it made you the strong man you are today. And while you starve yourself for whatever reason you only give his memory strength and add justification to her eyes." She let her hand drop as he stood stiff, staring at her still. She gave a tight-lipped smile and turned, throwing over her shoulder, "Punish them, not yourself. You are a Black; I was under the impression revenge was in your blood." Melania walked out, through the double doors to the nursery, "Arcturus is waiting for you in his study, do try not to dally," and left Sirius standing in shock in the silent nursery.

He sighed, shook his head exasperatedly and set off, throwing one last glance over his shoulder at the concealed crib. He stopped once along the way to the office, just outside of the nursery doors to put a locking charm on the doors. It wouldn't stop a house elf, or his grandparents, but it would make anyone else pause and wander on. He would do well to not forget that this was still main quarters for the Black family and only hours ago something big had occurred between Harry, James, Lily and Voldemort. Melania's words echoed in his mind as he walked the dark halls, passing portraits of Black's past along the walls with beady eyes that followed him. He wasn't starving himself, no. Rationing...maybe. It was war, and his last name still read Black. Most food shop owners in Diagon Alley knew he was in the Order, siding with Dumbledore, but some didn't sell to him, to Death Eaters. They denied him and with his hatred of his last name having been built up over the years, he had stopped accessing his trust vault that his Uncle Alphard had set apart for him. Anything Black was separated from him, he didn't need their money or anything that was bought with it. His only food source after a while had been James' cooking (Lily had been hopeless, sticking with breakfast foods which was just cereal as she burnt the toast) and the snacks that were put out for Order meetings. So, yes, he had lost weight. A lot of weight. Since Melania had seen him last, at least. He had been a growing boy with Hogwarts food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He had been big and strong. Sure he was still strong, just not as big. It would come back, he was sure of that. He would put his mind to it. If anyone, anyone, came after Harry, he would be big enough and brave enough to stop them and put them in the ground without breaking a sweat.

When he arrived at his grandfather's office, the man was sat in his big black leather chair and surrounded by the dark oak credenza desk that was topped with paperwork and half-written parchments. Arcturus looked up at his light knock and gestured to the one of the uncomfortable, high-backed wooden chairs in front of his desk. The man steepled his fingers and watched as Sirius sat down in the chair, waving his wand and placing a cushioning charm on it. He sunk into it, breathing a sigh of relief before frowning, squirming and then gasping like he had been shocked. He reached around for his back pocket and his fingers wrapped around the bony white wand he had forgotten was there. He brought it around and looked into his grandfathers face, which had turned a ghostly pale and began to make space on the desk for the wand. As soon as there was room, Sirius quickly put it down and Arcturus waved his hand so the door to the office closed and locked.

The older man gestured to the wand, "Is that his wand?"

Sirius nodded.

"How did you get it?"

Sirius swallowed, "It was on the ground in front of Harry's crib along with a black robe at Potter Cottage. Harry didn't have that scar before, I only noticed it after I'd stopped panicking."

Arcturus inclined his head and sank back into his chair. He released a long sigh and closed his eyes. Sirius stayed quiet, reading the situation; his grandfather had always been a good thinker. Making plans in seconds, manipulating Ministers in minutes, creating dark spells in hours. He trusted his grandfather enough to let him handle the situation, the man would have a better idea of what had happened.

Minutes pasted and soon half and hour had gone by. At this point, Arcturus had already reached for a quill and parchment and began to write, it was now full on one side and half on the other. Finally, the tense silence snapped when the man cleared his throat. "I have suspicions of what has occurred. They are not fact."

"What are they?" Sirius asked, leaning forward in his seat.

Arcturus leaned back in his chair again, but this time he seemed more tired. "Obviously the Potter's had been notified that Dark Forces were after them, Dumbledore perhaps, as they had gone into hiding in 1980. I was told of this as it was the reason given at the first Wizengamot session that Lord Potter did not attend, which was odd, because he was one of the first wizards there and the loudest in his opinions. It was not thought of as odd at the time; many light family's with no Heir's were going that way, wanting to preserve their line. But then came the news of the first Potter child, an Heir, born. Legally, according to old laws, the Lord and Lady of the House have to announce their Heir's birth and the child's health status as well as gender. And, after the news broke, the Dark Lord's attacks became more focussed on the rebel group that I am sure you are aware of called the Order of the Phoenix. Not on the Ministry, where he and his Death Eaters had been pursuing, but on individual's in the Order. James and Lily Potter and their newborn child were announced by the Dark Lord to be of uttermost importance; the child was ordered a risk to their reign and was to be killed by no other than the Dark Lord himself. Do not look at me like that, Sirius. I know this through hours of combing through every portrait in this house and demanding to know the information and waiting for them to return from their other paintings in relatives homes such as the Malfoy's and the Lestrange's. It is clear now that he somehow was able to enter the house-"

Sirius' eyes darkened, "Peter Pettigrew was their secret keeper."

Surprise flickered across Arcturus' face, "The Fidelius charm?"

He nodded, "Yes. But Peter is-was a spy for Voldemort. He gave them up."

Arcturus held eye contact with him for a moment, before nodding and noting it down on his parchment. Sirius had a feeling it was a to-do list, but he felt warmth in his chest take over the chill from when Pettigrew was mentioned at the fact that his grandfather believed him immediately. He was one of the few left who did.

"As I was saying," he continued, "he got into Potter Cottage, killed James and Lily Potter." He ignored Sirius' wince, not impolitely. He had to go over the facts he had deduced, "He, evidently had stood in front of the child's bed, we know that for certain. What we do not know is what occurred then."

Sirius cleared his throat "I thought that maybe he had fired a spell at Harry? That's how he got his scar."

Arcturus tilted his head to the side, was silent for a few minutes, before sitting up straight in his seat, eyes wide. His eyes darted down to his paper, and quickly read all of the information there. Sirius watched on with a mounting sense of foreboding. Arcturus looked back at his grandson. "Sirius, as I am sure you felt, that scar is full of Dark Magic." Sirius winced heavily. He had felt it, felt it and ignored it, like he had with anything Dark. But he nodded for his grandfather to continue. "Only one spell is that Dark, only one. And you know which I am speaking of."

"But-but there's no way he would have survived it! It's called the killing curse for a reason!" Sirius protested loudly. Arcturus grabbed Sirius' sleeve as the younger man gestured madly around and pulled him closer.

"You mean to tell me that Lady Potter was not a charms Mistress, not the brightest witch many-a-wizard had ever met? You mean to tell me that she could have not in all that is good and holy, found or perhaps even created a spell, or ritual, or shield to protect her child? Not even if she had known about the Dark Lord's intent on murdering her only son for a year or more?"

Sirius went silent. He hadn't thought of that. Lily had been a charms Mistress, having received her Mastery fairly quickly after leaving Hogwarts in their seventh year. She would have been very much capable of creating a spell with that much time on her hands, especially in the first few months of their hiding, when James had been able to come to work still. James could have even helped after those months, when he had had to go back with Lily and Harry as he was in too much danger. Working on it together, researching it together, Sirius had no doubt that the previous Head Boy and Head Girl, smartest in the school, could have come up with something to protect their son. Even from Voldemort, one of the most powerful wizards alive.

"She could have." Sirius concluded. "With James' help, she could have."

Arcturus nodded in satisfaction, "That she could have. And? What if she succeeded? Placing a spell on her son, that protected him from any spell with an intent of harm saved his life tonight, and many others, I am sure. Now, we do not know for sure, this is just speculation. We also do not know where the Dark Lord it, but, seeing as the fact that his wand is now on my desk having been brought to me by a member of the Order of the Phoenix, I am assuming that he has perished. Perhaps the killing curse rebounded off of the child and onto himself? However," Arcturus started again as light began to fill Sirius' eyes, "the Dark Lord was an accomplished wizard. I have absolutely no doubt that he dabbled in the most evil of magic, immersed himself in the wickedness of Hell itself."

The light of hope left as soon as it had entered and terrified darkness swirled around Sirius' eyes as he whispered, "You think he is immortal? Voldemort?"

Arcturus slowly nodded, "It is possible. There are many ways that I would not began to think as too far for him to go. Not him. But, for the moment, I believe him gone. And I believe that Lily Potter and your Godson the cause of his death." His eyes narrowed at Sirius' changing emotions as he had a small smile on his face, "I do not think that you understand the repercussions of this, Sirius. If I have come to this conclusion, so has, I have no doubt, Albus Dumbledore. Albus Dumbledore is the man you ran away from with Harry Potter in your arms. Albus Dumbledore no doubt believes you to be the man who reported the Potter's location to Voldemort, which means your safety is at risk as well as Harry's. Sirius."

Sirius lifted his eyes from where they had lowered in shame; he was the one looking after Harry now, he needed to have thought of all of this first. He met identical eyes with his grandfather as the man lowered his hand to open the draw beside him. He reached into it, still keeping eye contact with his grandson, and pulled out a small black velvet ring box with the House Black crest carved into it with silver. Sirius sucked in a surprised breath as he realised what this was. Arcturus opened the box, took out the object inside of it and held it out on his open palm for Sirius ot take. It was a ring. Or, more specifically, the Heir Ring to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. It would have been taken off of his father's deceased body when he had died of Dragon Pox two years prior and placed there, waiting for Arcturus to make a decision about who would be the next Heir and the next in line to his throne.

Sirius took it with shaking hands, but didn't put it on. He knew his grandfather would have something to say. Perhaps the questions of why was burning in his eyes because Arcturus laced his fingers together and stared at Sirius over them. "You are headstrong, it is true. Too stubborn, too determined. Your morals differ from my own, but not in the ways it matters. The fact that you came to me and Melania for help this evening, when your world had ended, the fact that you are not curled in a ball in a corner, lost in your own grief, and the fact that you did not chase after the man responsible for their deaths makes you my rightful Heir. You have matured, changed from your teenage years, not much it is true. But the difference I have seen tonight makes me know that I have made the right choice. I am proud of you, my boy. My Heir."

Sirius had slight tears in his eyes. It had been a long time since he had heard anyway say they were proud of him. The last time had been James when he had apologised to Snape after the incident with Moony in fifth year. And now it was his grandfather. And Sirius knew he had to put the ring on.

As he looked at it, he decided it might have been the most beautifully dangerous ring he had ever seen. A black onyx stone set into a silver band made up of several winding snakes, a moment to their history as Slytherin's, no doubt. One of the silver snake's head was rested on part of the black onyx stone, its mouth wide open showing off its fangs. Painted carefully onto the onyx was the sigil of House Black; three black ravens and a hand holding a wand above them. The three ravens represented the Heir, the Lord's Lady and his Advisor. The hand holding the wand belonged to the Head of the House. Arcturus' last Advisor had died not long ago, he knew as it had been in the papers. Big news, apparently. Sirius hadn't cared. He did now though as it meant that he as the Heir would become his grandfather's Advisor as was proper. He sucked in a deep breath and slid the ring onto his right ring finger.

The Black Family magic surged out of the snake's open mouth and surrounded him; a bright cascading stream of silver that blanketed his core, not unlike the feeling the wards had given him when he had passed through them. Perhaps they had sensed the future Heir? It transformed into sparks like when you first got matched with your wand at Ollivander's and they all fell down together to the ground.

He looked up and met his grandfather's gaze. The man looked unusually serious for someone who had just confirmed his Heir. "Now that you are protected, I think it is time we discuss the protection of your Godson."

Sirius frowned, his left hand palming the ring that was now stuck, moulded to his finger. He would not be able to take it off until he either died, lost his magic, or was renounced as the Heir by the Lord. "What do you mean?"

"Well, even if the Wizarding World believes your tale of Pettigrew being the secret keeper like I, do you think it will prevent them from taking him from you and placing him with a 'Light' family?"

Oh. He hadn't thought of that. Of course they wouldn't allow Harry to be with him, he was a Black! They had always discriminated against his name and now they were going to take his only light in his life away from him because they were prejudice pricks!

He levelled his gaze with Arcturus', "What do we do? How do we stop them from taking him?"

Arcturus smirked and pushed a piece of parchment in front of his Heir. All Sirius had to do was read the first line and immediately agreed.

Recipe for Blood Adoption Potion

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MM xx