You guys have no idea how many times I have re-written this chapter lol. It has been the bane of my life for the last couple of weeks but, here it is. Let me know your thoughts down below, I love getting you feedback!
Stay safe everyone ~ Kiad x
In the Light of The Dark
How to Raise Wolves
Chapter Eight – The Battle of the Blacks Part One
"So, what happens now?" Sirius asked quietly, taking his seat at the dinner table where a huge breakfast had been laid out. After the events of the previous night and the early hours of the morning, the entire family, minus the Malfoys had stayed the night in the manor; Arcturus wanting to keep them all close after Bellatrix's attack.
"We continue as planned." He replied stoically, though Sirius could see the strain in his eyes. He thought back to their conversation the night previous and realised that maybe Arcturus had a point, none of the older generation were young men or women anymore, and in his duties as heir; it was his responsibility to take some of the weight from the Lord Black's shoulders. "You are to return and collect your things today, we move you into the Orrery and nothing is said of what transpired last night. As far as anyone outside of this room is concerned; Cassiopeia Black is still in France."
"But she was seen being brought to Mungo's." Remus said quietly. "People are going to talk."
"I've already handled that." Arcturus replied with a grim nod. "No one can talk of what they don't remember. And Cass has already been moved to one of our smaller estates and is being treated by some of the best healers in Britain. Most importantly, the only ones who know she is there; apart from us of course, will not remember a thing once they leave the wards. We've housed them all for the foreseeable future and once she wakes and is back on her feet, we can discuss her care in more detail. For now, she is well attended and secret." Remus could only nod at the man's admittance of what had transpired at the hospital. He knew that he shouldn't be shocked at the lengths the Black family would go to, to look after one of their own however, it had caught him off guard.
"I'm staying here." Sirius said quietly. Remus, Frank and Alice shot him a look, but Augusta was nodding her head in what looked like a mixture of acceptance and pride. "It is my duty to take some of the weight from your shoulders my Lord, and how better to learn than on the job?" Arcturus nodded once in acceptance and Remus took hold of his hand under the table; squeezing it gently to reassure him.
"I'll have Harry. Do what you need to do and we'll meet you at the manor later."
"Very well then." Melania said brightly. "If we are all in agreement perhaps it is time to start the day's proceedings. I'm coming to Oxford with you, to ensure everything goes without a hitch, and to cast an eye over the state of The Orrery and it's elves." She stood up from the table; smoothing out her pale blue robes before lifting Harry from his high chair; where she had been feeding him a bowl of sweetened porridge. "Come on then, byhan Bran (little Raven). Let's get you ready to go." On her apparent cue, the Longbottoms gave their thanks to Arcturus; before following the Black matriarch out of the dining room.
"I'll see you later." Remus said softly, standing up and squeezing his mate's shoulder affectionately.
"Don't wait up for me if I'm late in." Sirius replied with a smile. "I have a feeling we'll be busy." At Arcturus's subtle nod Remus knew that he wouldn't see his mate until the next morning.
"Thank you for your hospitality last night my Lord. And for the opportunities and security you are giving to us. We are grateful for it, and know that it isn't without conditions. Sirius and I will meet each and every one of those conditions, and I hope, in time, we will prove ourselves worthy of the Black family."
"Well said Wolf Lupin." Arcturus was smiling his approval and Sirius gave his mate a mental pat on the back for his words. "Go now and see that my Lady wife doesn't make off with the little one. I fear she may be growing far too attached to the boy to let him out of her sight for long." Remus grinned at that and placed his hand over his heart, bowing slightly and giving the Black's customary salutation of the house motto, before turning to follow the rest of the group from the room.
"Now down to business." Arcturus said once the door to the dining room had closed. "Nip!" The elf in question popped in and started to clear the breakfast dishes whilst the rest of the Blacks moved positions into seats around their Lord, at the head of what was effectively now, a conference table. Sirius stayed on Arcturus's right as Pollux took the seat to his left, his wife sitting down beside him. Cygnus and Druella sat on the other side of Sirius; and Arcturus was about to start when the door opened once more.
Narcissa looked as though she hadn't slept a wink all night, but despite the exhaustion in her eyes, she was immaculately dressed in what Sirius could only describe as battle robes (well, battle robes if the Wizengamot chamber was considered a battleground and the rest of the houses were the oncoming army. Sirius could tell you that they were silver, blue and black, her trousers looked as though they had been painted on and her boots were knee length and leather.) Her hair was tied into a warrior braid, and her posture screamed of determination as she stared down her house lord from the doorway.
"You should be sleeping child." Arcturus said softly, standing up, worry coating his posture.
"She is my sister, and I have information that you will be very interested to hear." It was clear to Sirius that she wasn't going to give in and he shot a look at his grandfather who seemed to easily wilt under Cygnus's youngest's scrutiny. "Besides." She started as she moved to sit beside Irma, ignoring the fact that Arcturus was still on his feet. "You had as little sleep as I did, and you are still here."
"Mind your cheek in front of your Lord." Pollux sneered and Arcturus shot him a reproachful look as anger flashed through Narcissa's dark silver eyes.
"So now that we are all here." He continued, choosing to move things quickly along before the young woman snapped at her grandfather. "The events of last night have had consequences far reaching and dire in nature. Pollux managed to track down Bellatrix and the LeStranges to a LeStrange Chateaux in Bardouville. The Chateaux du Corset-Rouge is a 19th century building and easily stormed. This is what I intend to do tonight. Any wand here who wishes to join me is welcome, however our only casualties are to be the brothers and the yet, unidentified fourth member of their group. I want Bellatrix alive and unharmed." He glanced towards Narcissa as he said this and Sirius couldn't help but compare the blonde's expression to a marble statue's. She nodded her acceptance though and Arcturus seemed satisfied. "The rest of our business today will be meetings with Gringotts, the ministry and with the healers charged with Cassie's care. Pollux, I want you to and Irma to head the meeting with the latter, as Sirius and I will deal with Gringotts and the ministry. Cygnus, Druella; it is your duty to be with your daughters today. Both of them." Pollux growled at this but otherwise refrained from commenting when his house lord's eyes turned icy.
"We know not of Andromeda's whereabouts." Cygnus admitted, albeit reluctantly. "She is lost to us."
"Then I suggest you look to your youngest." Arcturus's reply was biting and the couple blanched under the weight of his dark stare. "She is the only one in this room who seems to currently understand what it means to be a family. Our centuries old motto has stood for family above all else, how many of you here can say, without doubts; that you have kept to your house's teachings? How many of you are going to admit that you have failed the one daughter of our house who truly followed her heart?"
"She turned her back on us!" Pollux exploded, jumping out of his chair. "The harlot is lucky to still be alive." Narcissa had shot to her feet in response to her grandfather's outburst, and her wand was in her hand, it's tip glowing with something red and angry.
"Take that back you cantankerous old bastard." She snarled. "It was you who drove her away from our family. It is you who subjected Bellatrix to the insane teachings of Aunt Walburga. The only two people sat at this table without blame for what happened to my sisters are Sirius and Uncle Arc."
"You will keep a civil tongue in your head you ungrateful brat." Narcissa growled and fired whatever curse came to mind first; and Sirius watched in horror as the morning's meeting descended into chaos. Arcturus calmly erected a duelling shield around their end of the table and watched as the other five Blacks threw curses and hexes around like confetti.
"They'll get bored in ten minutes." he said casually. "Once the lot of them realise they're outmatched by Narcissa. The manor prevents them from doing any serious harm to each other so its oftentimes better to let them work off some steam." Sirius nodded faintly, watching the spectacle of his youngest cousin downing Pollux with a stunner before rounding on her parents who were a minute ago assisting her with her grandparents.
It turned out that Arcturus was wrong. The battle of the Blacks lasted a mere seven minutes before Narcissa was the only one left standing, her wand still gripped in her hand and sweat pouring from her forehead. She was panting heavily as she rounded on the pair of them and Sirius watched as his grandfather dropped the shield before moving to wrap his arms around the woman.
"I'm sorry Uncle Arc." She whispered, clutching him tightly.
"Its alright my flower. No harm done okay?" She nodded against his chest and he drew back to give her a comforting smile. "Now what are you doing here, instead of at home with your husband and son?" Narcissa frowned before getting down onto one knee and bowing her head.
"I bring grievous news my Lord." She all but whispered. "Abraxas Malfoy visited the manor last night and something very valuable was taken from my husband's desk. This item could be used to bring about the resurrection of the Dark Lord, and the fall of the Black family. I request your permission to confront him and take back what was gifted to Lucius by the Lord Slytherin."
"Well shit." Arcturus muttered, much to Sirius's shock. He dropped back into his chair and rubbed his temple. "As if this weekend couldn't get any worse."
"I beg your forgiveness my Lord." Narcissa replied from her position on the floor. "I have failed to keep this family safe from outside forces and will accept my punishment." Sirius grimaced at that, if his grandfather was going to punish Narcissa for Malfoy's interference then he dreaded to think what was in store for his own indiscretions.
"Get up child." Narcissa lifted her head and gave him a long look before getting to her feet. "Go home. Sleep, and come and see me in the morning. Abraxas has neither the power or the knowledge to be following through on his rash actions. It is nothing that cannot wait until everything else has been sorted. Go be with your son and give my best to Lucius and your sister." Shock flooded Sirius as he realised the implications of the morning's fight. His grandfather was still in contact with Andromeda. Narcissa clearly knew where her sister lived, and the now apparently the estranged Black sister was days away from being brought back into their fold.
"Thank you, my Lord." Narcissa said, bowing her head. "I apologise for the mess on your carpet." Arcturus laughed at that.
"Go home flower. And get some sleep." She nodded and left, the Toujours Pur falling from her lips as she slipped out of the door. Arcturus sighed and leant back into his chair. "Now you have witnessed what happens when we all get together." He muttered, rubbing his eyes.
"Mad, the lot of us." Sirius said, a wry smirk gracing his lips. "But at the minute we are all we have, so I think it might be beneficial to recast that shield before waking the 'mess on the carpet' as my dear cousin so elegantly put it."
"You're starting to get it are you?" Arcturus asked, casting him a sideways glance. "You've hit the nail on the head on both accounts."
"How are we going to do this?" Sirius asked, nodding to the four bodies on the floor. Arcturus let out another groan.
O_o_O_o_O
Remus nodded politely at the blonde woman as she practically fell through the Floo. She muttered a 'morning' before heading in the direction they had come from. He shook his head at the strangeness of the Black family before throwing in a hand of powder and calling out their address clearly. He stepped through and nodded; pleased when the Longbottoms and Melania followed, Harry in his grandmother's arms, and Neville in Augusta's.
"It isn't much." Remus said, looking around the flat before shooting a sideways glance at Melania. "But it has made a nice little bolthole for us since Samhain, and it has been thought of as home."
"It's lovely." Melania said with a smile. "It's so very Sirius." Remus laughed at that as he glanced around the living room; painted a warm red and adorned with posters of muggle rock bands. "I suggest we start to pack it all up though, before we get company."
"You think Dumbledore is on the move?" Frank asked as Melania placed Harry down on the floor; the stuffed black dog Sirius had saved from the Hollow joining him, after a quick summoning charm.
"After last night?" She asked raising an elegant eyebrow. "He is bound to be." As the last sentence left her lips Remus was suddenly aware of a Portkey crashing through the wards and Minerva landed neatly on their carpet, out of breath and clearly exhausted.
"Albus is on his way." She gasped, clutching at her side. "He left for Gringotts ten minutes ago and will be here within the next hour."
"Merlin's beard Minerva!" Augusta cried, racing to steady her friend and sit her down on one of the settees. "Did you run all the way to Hogsmeade?" At her friend's blush Augusta shook her head and ordered Frank to go and brew a pot of tea.
"We have to hurry." The Hogwarts professor said. "We don't have time to waste on tea."
"Do not concern yourself dear." Melania said softly, sitting on the other side of Minerva, seeing as Augusta had parked herself on her friend's right side and was evidently not going to move. "We have elves ready to transport us as soon as we are ready. I suggest you come with us so that you are familiar with this lot's new lodgings."
"You're moving today?" She asked Remus, who had divided his attention between her and the now two boys playing on the carpet; Neville having been placed down by Augusta the moment Minerva had appeared.
"If Dumbledore is on the move then it is the best thing for us to do." He replied softly. "Come with us and I can adjust your portkey for the manor." Minerva glanced around the room, taking in all of the furniture and squaring her shoulders.
"Only if you let me help you pack." The werewolf seemed to debate with himself before giving her a nod.
"Once boxes have been made up, the elves can easily get them away to The Orrery." The Black matriarch called for an elf and Remus's eyes widened as a small, female elf wearing a neat little dress robe appeared in the room. "This is Flip. She's the head elf for the manor and will be Sirius's personal elf when you have all settled in."
"Hi Flip." Remus greeted, squatting down to the little being's height. "I'm Remus, Sirius's mate. We need help getting some boxes to the manor, do you think some of your staff could assist?"
"Flip is being seeing to it right away Mr Wolf sir. We's been making the manor ready for you's arrival since Lord Black told us of you's comings."
"Then I guess we better make a start." Frank replied, bringing in a tea tray with several cups balanced precariously on top of one another.
O_o_O_o_O
Sirius winced under Barchoke's beady stare as the goblin worked his way through the Potter accounts. Upon arriving at Gringotts, Arcturus had insisted that they check to ensure Dumbledore could not find out about Harrison's change of status, and Barchoke's fierce look at the mere suggestion of such a thing happening had sent a shiver down Sirius's spine.
"Everything is in order." The goblin said, glancing over a thick piece of parchment. "The death of Harry Potter has been recorded and Sirius Black is the new head of the Potter estate, until he names a respective heir."
"I would like to stress that I am only taking the headship up as a stewarding role. My son will be set to inherit the Potter headship in its full capacity should he wish it. Otherwise, it will pass to another of my children, should Lady magic bless me as such."
"What of the other Potter child?" Barchoke asked, stunning both men into silence. "We have on record an older female child born to the Potter line. She was named heir apparent after Master Potter's birth. We have her birthday registered for September 19th 1979 to Lord Potter and an unknown surrogate female."
"A surrogate?" Sirius whispered, his pallor; grey.
"Do you have any further records for this child?" Arcturus asked. "Anything at all?"
"I have an heir's vault for both Potter children. One in Master Potter's name and one registered to Miss Athena Violet Potter-Black."
"Black?"
"Yes, Lord Black; the child bares the names of both Potter and Black."
"Nova." He whispered more to himself than the other two residents of the office.
Sirius frowned at the muttered name, wracking his brains in an attempt to remember where he'd heard it. When the answer eventually came to him it brought with it a whole host of memories, he hadn't known he still had.
"Andromeda had a child with James?"
"It would certainly seem that way." His grandfather replied. "I request that we visit both the Potter and Black vaults to consult the tapestries." He aimed this at Barchoke who nodded once, noting down something in the margin of his ledger. "Has the adoption of Harrison gone through?"
"It has. The ministry sent over the documents this morning, pertaining to Sirius Black's formal adoption of one Harrison Cadmus Black. The child is now registered as a son of the house of Black, and we can confirm that magic has recorded his adoption in regards to our records of his previous moniker."
"So, Harry's trust vault?" Sirius prompted.
"A mistake on my behalf." Barchoke replied, bowing his head slightly. "The trust vault set up by the late Lord and Lady Potter is now in Harrison Black's name." Sirius nodded, satisfied and asked for the entirety of the Potter estate to be locked down. At his grandfather's advice he allowed for successful investments to continue but stressed that any venture working at a loss was to be closed.
"I should not have to tell you how important your discretion on this matter is." Sirius said gravely, meeting Barchoke's eyes in a way that had the goblin either grinning or sneering (He couldn't tell which).
"All transactions made through Gringotts are confidential, and I am under oath not to reveal anything about what I discuss with my clients in this room." Sirius got the hidden message in that statement almost immediately. The ministry was not to be trusted. "Is there anything else I can assist you with, before your trip to the vaults?"
"That concludes our business for today I think." Arcturus said, getting to his feet. "Thank you for your assistance, may your gold flow, and your enemies fall at your feet Account Manager Barchoke."
"You are welcome Lord Black. May your magic prosper and your ventures succeed." The pair left the office to find a young goblin waiting just outside the door.
"You wished to visit the vaults?" The goblin asked, without introducing himself. Arcturus nodded once and they were led down to the carts; Sirius's mind reeling from the new information they had gathered. Harry had a sister. Stuff that, James had sired a child with someone other than Lily! He needed to speak to Andromeda as soon as possible, but he knew that meeting wouldn't go ahead without the permission of the man at the side of him.
"I will see to it that Andromeda joins us for dinner tomorrow night." Arcturus said quietly; as if reading his mind. "I am sure you have as many questions as I right now, but we have other business to conduct today before we worry about this child."
"I understand my Lord." Sirius replied as they climbed into the cart as gracefully as they could manage. "Immediate house business comes before anything else." Arcturus turned to give him a look as the cart set off at a sedate pace.
"I know you cared for Potter, as much as I care for Andromeda. This will be addressed Sirius, but I have to be sure that Bellatrix cannot do anymore damage before I can deal with this." Sirius bowed his head and felt guilt wash over him.
"And I do understand. Whatever the circumstances surrounding this child, you are right to take care of the more immediate problems. This child is safe wherever she is, the rest of us probably not." His grandfather nodded in acceptance and the rest of the ride was spent in silence.
The Potter vault was first on their list and Sirius pricked his thumb, smearing some of his blood on the Lion statue by the door. The vault creaked open and he and his grandfather were admitted to the cavernous space inside. Mountains of gold, silver and bronze were piled into a separate area, whilst the main body of the vault gave space to heirlooms of the potter family. Sirius stared wide eyed at the sheer volume of items, from decorative rugs to jewellery cases, wardrobes, trunks, portraits and a whole set of shelves for wands. He resolved to bring the wands of Lily and James to lay to rest amongst the others.
"It is an impressive wealth." Arcturus mentioned politely from the doorway, hesitant to step past the ward boundary; marked with a suit of armour. Sirius hummed in agreement and turned his focus away from the wands to his search for the tapestry. It didn't take him long, as it was pretty hard to miss the huge cloth; taking up a complete wall. A pedestal sat before it, the family ledger and ceremonial dagger in place and Sirius approached the area that had been cleared around the impressive sight. He picked up the golden quill and carefully make his first mark upon the ledger.
I, Sirius Orion Black, Head of the House of Potter wish to view the birth record of Athena Violet Potter-Black; heir to the house of Potter.
The words sunk into the page before black, delicate writing started to spread out over the thick parchment. He recognised it as James's hand and started to read, almost frantically.
Sirius, (Who else should I need to address this to, but you Padfoot?)
If you are reading this it is because both Lily and I are dead. I know that might sound blunt but it is the truth and you need to mourn us and move on for Harry's sake, as much as Moony's. Dumbledore cannot be trusted, and as I write this I fear Lily and I will be forced into hiding by a prophecy we are sure is fake. If we end up in hiding, know that it will NOT be of our own free will, and that Dumbledore's wand has been loose around us for that is the only way we would ever agree to hide behind some of the obscure wards the headmaster has been suggesting as of late.
I digress and repeat.
Sirius, if you are reading this then Lily and I are dead, and there are things you need to know in preparation for the coming months. I have a daughter Sirius. A beautiful, brown haired, brown eyed daughter; who my love for is matched only by my love for Harry. In November 1978, after a Death Eater raid, turned Order battle; Lily started to become unwell around her moon. (Sirius smiled at James's code name for Lily's lady troubles) After a trip to Mungo's we discovered that she had taken an unknown curse that affected her lunar constitution, and that it could be up to a year before we could try for a child.
She was desperate Sirius. We both were. I asked your grandfather for permission to visit Andromeda (at my mother's suggestion), and Andi bore us a baby girl only a couple of weeks before we found out that Lily was pregnant with Harry.
Now, Sirius. I know what is probably going through your head right now so please put your wand away, take a deep breath and try not to curse anyone.
Sirius paused and realised that his wand was in fact in his hand and he left the plinth to place it down on an ornate end table, a little distance away. He glanced at where his grandfather was hovering by the vault entrance, before taking James's advice… and a deep breath. Turning his attention back to the ledger; he steeled himself for what he was sure was going to continue to be a difficult read.
Doesn't that feel better? (Sirius snorted at his friend's cheek.)
So now you know the reason for Hermione's birth. (Hermione?) At the time of writing, she is staying with the sister of Ted Tonks, and her husband. Dan and Emma Granger are dentists (Lily says they're some kind of healer) and are living in Crawley, London. If you are imagining that Lily and I abandoned our daughter to muggles then you might want to take another deep breath.
As you well know, Lily took a large period of Confinement when she was pregnant with Harry, and she spent most of that time with Hermione, raising our baby girl until Dumbledore deemed it too dangerous for us to be still living at the manor.
Before you panic; Dumbledore doesn't know about our little girl. Her home birth was witnessed only by Lily, my mother and Emma Granger, and her name has since been changed on all of our records to Athena Violet. I know that grandmother and Andromeda blood adopted her at Lily's desperate request, once we were in hiding, so it is assuredly safe for her to stay where she is for now.
However, … I need your help. If, what my mother has Seen has really happened, and you are back within your family's fold, then that means you have Harry. He is going to need his big sister Sirius, and she is going to need him. Mother wouldn't explain exactly why, but their connection is important, as well as the connection they are going to have with the three others born into your family within the years straddling the turn of the decade. She is adamant that Harry and Hermione know each other prior to Hogwarts, and I need you to make that happen Sirius. Athena will, by this point have become a Potter-Black, and her bearing the Black name is more important than any of us can comprehend.
I know that you miss us Padfoot, and rest assured that we will have done everything in our power to help you avenge our deaths. In the main part of the vault, there is a trunk containing our family's pensive, vials of our memories and stacks of journals, information for you to use to bring about the fall of Dumbledore and the rise of the Fate's Five (mother's words, so take them with a pocket of salt).
I will always love you my brother, whichever side of the veil I am.
James.
P.S. If you haven't asked Moony out yet, then shift your lazy arse into gear. I'll set Wormtail on you if you don't.
Sirius closed the book and stepped away from the dais. He could feel his hands shaking and tears were running unashamedly down his cheeks. He looked up to see it, bold as anything and sitting at the bottom of the tapestry, underneath the names of his best friend and his cousin.
Athena Violet Black
O_o_O_o_O
The house elf deposited them all neatly onto the rug, in which Remus guessed was the entrance hall, and the group let out a collective sigh of relief. It had been an extremely close call. Alice had felt a ripple in the wards and had called for Flip immediately, instructing the little creature to get them all out of the house as fast as she could. Once they had ensured that they had all made it safely; they turned their attention to the huge hall they had been dropped into.
A large, ornate and double door was to their backs; framed in stained glass, depicting planets and stars, and a carved, sweeping staircase lay before them, hewn from what looked like mahogany and carpeted in a deep blue carpet.
"Not the grand reveal I wished for, but welcome to your new home." Melania said with a smile, trotting off through a door to their left; the group having no option but to follow. They entered what was obviously the formal sitting room, the large space lit brightly with more stained glass, four huge windows of it in fact; all along the back wall, and draped in the same blue as the carpet on the stairs. Two Black leather settees and several armchairs all occupied the space in front of the grand fireplace, and Remus marvelled at the two bookcases framing the hearth.
Melania took them all on a guided tour of the building. A second sitting room, a formal dining room, and informal dining room, a ballroom and a family kitchen all took space on the ground floor and before they had even made it upstairs Remus had been thoroughly impressed.
The second and third floor would have been almost exclusively bedrooms if it hadn't been for the enormous, two story library, stretching out the full depth of the building. Three bedrooms lined either side of it on both levels and were pointed out to be the guest rooms. Augusta claimed her room on the second floor, furthest away from the Library, on the right-hand side and with two large windows; overlooking the grounds. Alice mentioned they would wait until he and Sirius had chosen theirs, only to be informed by Melania that there were separate suits for the heads of the household, and their heirs, so she and Frank settled on a room next to the library on the third floor.
"The fourth floor holds six large suites." Melania told him, leaving the Longbottoms to settle in and leading him up the stairs, Harrison in her arms; Minerva having decided to assist Augusta in her unpacking. "The largest, for Sirius and yourself, and five others for your heirs. Sirius Black II was one of five siblings, and his father; Phineas Nigellus was one of four, so you can understand the grand number of suites."
"The Blacks never do anything by halves." Remus responded faintly. This place is extraordinary, and much too big for all of us."
"Nonsense. Black manor is almost three times the size of this, and is home only to myself and Arc. You will all be very comfortable here once you are settled in. Besides, you haven't seen the best parts of the building yet, and there are somethings better for you to discover yourself about this place."
"The famous Planetarium." Remus acknowledged with a nod. "Its reputation proceeds it." Melania let out a musical laugh at that and pushed open the first set of doors on the corridor they'd just entered. Remus's mouth dropped at the sheer size of the room in front of him. A large seating area took up centre space, divided from the bed by huge mahogany bookcases and; like the rest of the manor was bathed in the early winter sunlight from the now familiar stained-glass windows.
"These are your suits, the sleeping area is to the right with a small en-suite." Remus wondered just how small this en-suite was, given the size of the rest of the room. "And there is a larger bathroom to the left, which holds the baths." Baths as in plural? Remus's brain shouted and he resisted the urge to go exploring. "I trust this is acceptable?" Remus could only manage a nod, still feeling a little overwhelmed at the what he had seen that day. The manor was truly beautiful, and he knew that he would never get used to the amount of space gifted to Sirius and he.
"We are in your debt Lady Black. Truly, for everything you have done for us in the last week. You have given us our safety, our security, our freedom, and now this. The last month has been almost unbearable, and you and Lord Black have given us our lives back. I cannot thank you enough." Melania's soft features melted into an undiscernible expression and she led him over to one of the settees; sitting him down and placing a restless Harrison on the rug in front of them.
"You have had to carry the heavy weight of grief my dear." She said softly, reaching out to grasp one of his hands. "I imagine the wolf inside of you has been battering your emotions as of late, and I can guess how your conversation with Sirius went, in the wake of your meeting with Arcturus. But you are safe now. All of you. The little ones can grow and flourish here, under your care and our tutelage. Dumbledore can only guess at the properties our family hold, and even then, he has no idea of where they are located. In regards to the Dark Lord, Harry Potter is dead to the outside world, and Neville has left the country. You are safe here Remus, and only an elf call away if you ever need anything. Family means everything to the Blacks, and we see that we protect it, in any way we can." Remus nodded at that, his mind flitting back to what Arcturus had done in Mungo's; the previous night. "I suggest you get some rest before dinner. You have had a trying day, and byhan Bran will be ready for a nap of his own by now."
"The house magic is affecting him." Remus stated rather than asked, his tactless approach to the matter demonstrating just how worn out he was.
"It's effects should be lessened here." Melania responded, not denying what the pair of them already knew to be true. "The manor was busy last night, and the adoption wouldn't have helped. When that many of us get together the magic in the manor can get overwhelming for anyone, especially a little one." She stood and smoothed out her pale blue robes. "I should depart and leave you to rest. I shall give your excuses to the Longbottoms and the esteemed Professor and inform them that you will see them at dinner." Remus had risen from his seat by the time she had finished and he took her hand, placing a kiss upon it with a bow.
"Toujours Pur Lady Black, and thank you once again." She smiled prettily, gave him a small curtsey and departed, leaving him to lift Harrison into his arms and curl up on the huge King-sized bed.
O_o_O_o_O
They remained well hidden in the shadows as the disillusioned figures moved to surround the house. Narcissa had insisted she come, and Lucius wasn't about to let her confront her sister alone, so with the addition of Sirius, Arcturus, Cygnus, Druella and surprisingly Andromeda, their numbers were brought up to seven. Andromeda had arrived at the manor with her sister and parents and had shot him a surprised look when he made his presence known. He didn't know how strong the hold Dumbledore had on her was, but he suspected that with the continued safety of the secret Potter child; Andromeda wasn't as deep in the headmaster's camp as she had led everyone to believe.
He shook his head slightly to clear his thoughts and focus his mind on the situation at hand. Arcturus had advised a silent approach; through the front doors and with heavy anti-transportation wards surrounding the manor; a tactic which was applauded by Sirius. He had vowed to himself to keep an eye on his youngest cousin; as Narcissa had looked to be out for blood before they had left Black Manor, earlier that evening. Thistime she truly was dressed for battle, in a form-fitting black body suit, a corset made from what Sirius was almost certain; the hide of a Hebridean Black Dragon and flat soled black boots, laced up to her knees. A black cape and hood finished her ensemble and hid her platinum blonde hair from the light of the moon.
He noted his focus had once again wavered and shook the feeling off, watching as Andromeda silently opened the door and entered the house. She was dressed similarly to her sister, who had followed immediately behind her, and the pair made quite the sight; their faces blank of all expression and their eyes full of murder as they ghosted up the staircase.
They were out for blood, Sirius decided, and he wasn't sure whether his grandfather's interference was going to stop them.
This was an assassination mission.
Yes I am evil. No I have never denied it. Though this chapter is quite an impressive length seeing how long it has took me to get down. As I am in a particularly evil mood, you probably won't get an update until I return to the UK in a few weeks time. (I am currently away with work and as I go into self-isolation in preparation for my return I will lose access to half decent wifi).
Hopefully this time will give me the chance to get at least a couple of chapters written so you can be consoled by the fact you will get a half decently sized update when I return home.
Please stay safe everyone, and you'll hear from me in a few weeks.
Sending my love to all,
Kiad xxx