Hi everyone, hope you're all doing well. Here is a chapter I never thought would be finished as quick as it has been. I have not one word of the next one wrote though so it might be a few days before an update.
I just want to give a shout out to all of my regular reviewers, you guys are the best! And a special word goes to Alix33 who points out all of my late night, coffee induced typos, you are my absolute hero! I've been going over my chapters to fix what you point out so the new readers don't have to suffer my mistakes.
Thank you for all of your support and feedback, it really means a lot, and helps me to keep on writing.
Love you all ~ Kiad
In the Light of The Dark
How to Raise Wolves
Chapter Eleven – Family Dinners are Quite Extraordinary
The following morning dawned clear and bright over the gardens of the Caddington estate. There had been a definite chill in the air over the course of November, but now the twelfth month was upon them; the turning of the seasons and the approaching solstice was being felt deep in their bones and magic. It had been an age since he'd truly celebrated the old festivals but he'd always ensured that a festive spray had found its way into his surroundings.
He'd been terrified when he'd first tied a sprig of yew to his bedframe in Hogwarts. Terrified that James would call him out for practicing that which the light saw as 'evil and forbidden magic'. Instead, his friend had simply poked fun at his meagre decorative skills before disappearing for an hour, only to turn up with arms filled with holly, ivy, yew, mistletoe and pine. The four of them had then spent the afternoon decorating their dorm with the greenery before James had looked him straight in the eye and declared that he didn't care how he celebrated the seasons; only that he should feel comfortable enough around them, to let them help.
It felt like an age since that first Yule; all of them snuggled up in huge cable knit sweaters; lounging around their dorm whilst watching the snow fall over the forbidden forest. He still remembered Remus's skittishness around them, the way that he didn't dare believe they would accept him. He still remembered James's loud proclamations at five o'clock on Yule morning, and how they'd all thrown their pillows at him in hopes of getting him to go back to sleep. He still remembered the way in which Peter had caringly shared out his Christmas chocolate, knowing that his parents didn't care enough about him to send him anything. He still remembered the love and warmth of those early days, when even though war was brewing, and his home life had turned to shit; he'd been happy.
"You're thinking too loudly." Remus mumbled, rolling over on the bed, to take up the space he'd vacated. He glanced over his shoulder at his slumbering mate with a smile before turning back to the huge stained-glass window in front of him.
"Sleep eluded me in the shape of a snoring wolf." He replied deadpan; laughing when his head was hit by a well-aimed pillow.
"You sir, are a bastard." Remus growled, setting his hilarity off again. "You should be letting me sleep." Sirius made his way over to sit on the edge of the bed and carded his fingers through his mate's sandy hair.
"It is almost eight, and the sun is up. You're getting lazy in your old age." The death glare he received for that could have killed, so he uncovered his secret weapon. "Flip!" He barked.
"What cans Flip be doings for Master Sirius and Master Moons?" She asked; her ears wiggling.
"Can we have a large pot of coffee and two breakfasts in our living area please?"
"Flip cans be doing that, but the Madame InValley wanted to remind you that you shoulds be tellings them the goings on from yesterdays." Sirius groaned at that and it was Remus's turn to laugh at his mate.
"In the kitchen then please Flip. We'll be there in twenty minutes."
"Yes, Master Sirius!" She said with a happy squeak; popping away to attend to her duties.
"Since when did Augusta become InValley?" He asked, eyeing his mate.
"The elves want to seem to call all of the Longbottoms that." Remus replied with a shrug. "I'm still working on the reason why. So far, I've narrowed down their name to a somewhere in West Yorkshire. There is a place called Longbottom in Luddended Foot, and there was an Anne Longbottom christened in Rothwell in 1559. The only other avenue would be trying to decipher what it derives from. I suspect it's Old pre 7th century English, but I haven't had the time to look into it yet."
"Where did you find the time to look into it in the first place?" Sirius asked incredulously."
"You have been gone two days Sirius." Remus replied, forcibly trying not to sound accusatory. He knew that it wasn't Sirius's fault, and he knew that old man Black would have been working his heir to the bone over the past forty-eight hours, but he couldn't help but feel a little abandoned and detached from it all when they'd practically been dumped into the manor and left without even a word.
"I'm sorry okay?" Sirius said with a sigh, his shoulders slumped. Remus felt like a right shit after that; he didn't want his mate to feel guilty. "Things have happened over the last forty-eight hours that will affect us all. The least I could have done was keep you appraised." Remus sat up and wrapped his arms around his mate's middle.
"I don't want you to feel guilty." He said apologetically. "I know how heavy things must have been for you to have come home in that state last night. It was just hard not knowing if you were alright after you went after Bellatrix. I've been worried." Sirius turned into his embrace and they sat there for a few minutes, trying to digest what had happened to their lives over the last few days. "I can't lose you as well Pads."
"You won't." His mate replied. "I promise."
Both knew that it was a promise he wouldn't necessarily be able to keep, but just for that moment, they could pretend.
O_o_O_o_O
Sirius nervously glanced around the table at his family's expectant faces and realised that this would be the first of many household meetings he would have to hold. He stood from his place at the foot of the table and made his way around to stand at its head. He'd managed to delay his address until after they'd all eaten, but now Augusta was starting to shoot him a frankly; dangerous look, and he knew he'd pushed it as far as he could.
"Okay, so I know everyone has a lot of questions, but there is something you all need to know before we start. I am still digesting this piece of news myself, and subsequently not even Remus knows what occurred two days ago."
"Is this about Harrison's adoption?" Alice asked fearfully, clutching onto the boy in question who'd been happily sitting in her lap all morning. "Did everything go through okay?"
"Everything was fine." Sirius replied, calming her fears. "The goblins withheld the announcement from the ministry until after we'd visited, so as far as anyone is concerned Harry Potter is dead, and Harrison Black was adopted by me, and is a descendant of Marius. On that front, everything has gone without a hitch, and there is no paper trail to suggest anything other than what we want the ministry to know." There was a breath of relief around the room, and he knew that it would be short lived. "There was something discovered at Gringotts though, and I want you all to take time to digest it before bombarding me with questions. On September 19th 1979, a child was born to Andromeda Tonks. This girl; Athena Violet; is a direct heir of the Potter line." He held his hand up to prevent the onslaught that news was about to receive and continued on without so much as a pause. "As Remus, and possibly Alice is aware; Lily took a curse on a failed raid some point in November of 78. A curse that started to give her troubles around her moon."
"I remember her throwing up a lot, and having pains." Alice butted in. "She was always sheet white and dropped a couple of pounds every month. She just told me that she was getting unwell from her moon, and that it was normal for her family at her age. Are you telling me that she lied?"
"She had to." Augusta replied. "If they had been trying for a child, keeping up the pretence in front of Dumbledore was a must. For the pair of them not to be trying for an heir after being married for so long, it would have caused issues, not to mention starting to try for one before giving up."
"They were unable to conceive." Sirius said, taking back over the narrative. "They sought help from Mungo's and were informed of the curse."
"They were desperate then." Frank said. "They must have been."
"James apparently approached my grandfather for permission to ask Andromeda to be a surrogate."
"Arcturus knew?" Remus growled, his eyes starting to bleed amber.
"He took a vow of silence, only to be broken when I'd discovered the truth. It was the first thing I confronted him on. I was as angry as you are, but James had made him swear not to tell me anything until I found out."
"How did you find out?" Augusta asked, already taking notes in a black book that had apparently appeared from her purse. "I'm assuming the Lord Black didn't break his vow."
"The goblins informed us. Apparently, my grandfather was unaware that Andi and James had actually conceived and birthed a daughter, the fact that Andi was blasted from the tree would have left him blind to the actual birth, beyond James asking for initial permission to approach her."
"So, this child is the heir to the house of Potter?" Alice asked.
"The house of Potter is patriarchal, Athena was made the heir apparent after Harry's birth, and as I am now head regent of the house, she is unlikely to inherit unless I decide to pass the house to her. I will state here and now that the kids should be allowed to make up their own minds on what they inherit once they come of age. If Harrison wishes to carry the Black name only, then the Potter name can be offered to his older sister or passed to one of his children, should he be fortunate to bear pups later down the line."
"So where is the girl?" Frank asked. "Forgive me for saying that it is unlikely she would have stayed with Andromeda after her birth."
"She was actually raised in most part by Lily and James." Sirius replied. "Two weeks after her birth Lily became unbelievably pregnant with Harry, and if you remember she took a long confinement within the Atelier, most of that time was spent raising Athena."
"So, this child holds both the Black and Potter names then." Remus muttered, his hand flying over his own black book as quickly as Augusta's was.
"Dorea blood adopted her at Lily's request once they went into hiding. It isn't stated but I get the idea that Lily herself, adopted the girl after her birth."
"That doesn't answer my initial question." Frank responded with a huff.
"I know. And, I want everyone's wands in the middle of the table before I tell you." The rest of the family gave him dark looks but conceded, and four wands were soon sitting in the middle of the dining table. "I want you to remember that Lily and James had as much of a hand in raising this girl as possible, and that she hasn't been abandoned by her surrogate mother either."
"Spit it out Sirius for goodness sake." Augusta grouched. "It can't be that bad." Sirius winced at that and took a breath.
"She is currently being raised by the sister of Edward Tonks and her husband."
"She's with muggles?" Augusta shrieked, flying out of her seat. "They gave her away to muggles?"
"She's only been with them since Lily and James went into hiding, they've had as much contact with her as they have been able to afford and Andromeda has been paying her regular visits. She has not been given away. I have also met with Emma and her husband, and can safely say that the Grangers are a fine couple with only Athena's wellbeing in mind. Daniel was ready to punch me when I suggested taking her away from them."
"Isn't that the best thing though?" Remus asked. "For her to be here with Harrison and Neville?"
"That is something I would like to discuss with you all. Andi, Ted, Emma and Dan are all invited for dinner here this evening and I would like to offer them all places here in the manor. There are five heir suites upstairs and another ten bedrooms still standing empty. One is to be gifted to the Grangers and one to be gifted to the Andi and Ted, with Nym getting her own rooms when she has outgrown her parents. There is enough space here for us not to get in each other's way, and I fully believe that raising these children together gives them the best of survival come time for them to leave for Hogwarts."
"There is something you're not telling us." Augusta said, her eyes narrowed. "What is it that you know Sirius?" The man in question sighed and rubbed his eyes. He cursed the fact that Longbottom matriarch was anything but unobservant and he knew it was time to come clean.
"There is another prophecy of sorts." He responded after some minutes. "But it is as vague as it can be. At least I can be sure that this one is real as it has been mentioned not just by my grandmother but also in the Potter Grimoire. Dorea apparently knew of it."
"Do you have the wording?" Remus asked, trying to keep calm more for his mate's sake than his own. He knew that he would lose it if he took time to actually digest the news, so he was deflecting.
"I do not. However, it is supposed to reference five children, all born within the Black family at roughly the same time. It is thought that Harrison and Neville are two of these children and Athena is thought to be a third."
"I can make a good guess for the fourth." Frank muttered to his wife.
"You can?" She replied. "Who is it?"
"It has to be the Malfoy boy." The man stated, turning to Sirius with an accusatory expression. "It is isn't it? Are we to play host to Deatheaters as well as muggles?"
"My grandmother believes it to be Draco yes." Sirius replied, knowing that no one would buy any lie he told. "And we knew that we would have to rub elbows with the Malfoys at some point. As it is, I have no intention of inviting them here at the minute, however my Grandfather has decreed that we are the ones to host the family dinner at Yule, so we have until then to make a firmer decision. We have more immediate problems to talk through before then."
"I believe it would not only be cruel to rip this girl away from her foster parents, but it would put them in as much danger as we've been in for the last month. If we are safe, why not offer them sanctuary? They have given us no reason to do anything but trust them with this girl's safety. If they were of magical blood, I would be an advocate for leaving the girl with them however, she needs to be around her brothers. I vote we have them here in the manor. The Tonks' too if they are agreeable." Sirius was unsurprised that his first ally was to be Augusta, but the ferociousness in which she gave her support was overwhelming."
"You know that I will follow you anywhere Pads." Remus chipped in. "This girl is going to be important to our family. I fully support the decision to bring her here. It's the least we can do for James's heir." Sirius turned his attention next to Alice, again unsurprised to find support from her corner.
"They would be a welcome addition to the household. All of them. There is enough space here to accommodate them." The unspoken but alluded to, support for the Malfoy situation was appreciated, and he had all intention of revisiting the issue before Yule. He turned to Frank. He knew that it was his support that would be most difficult to achieve, however the man confidently nodded his head.
"I said that I'd support you, and in this matter I will. I will require a much lengthier conversation in regards to the Malfoys though. I don't think any of us are ready for them to be living with us just now."
"I understand and thank you for your support. You have my word that Narcissa, Lucius and Draco will be discussed in greater length once everything has settled. I know that this isn't what we had imagined when we started out, but I fully believe that it will be beneficial to us all in the long run." With that, the discussion over Athena was closed. Augusta though was not ready to give up the conversation just yet, and began to explain Remus's meeting with Amelia, and her suggestion for the woman making the same move as the Grangers.
It was going to be another long morning.
O_o_O_o_O
Severus was pacing. The situation was spiralling out of his understanding and he was becoming increasingly frustrated. The Potter boy was dead, Dumbledore was in a rage and McGonagall was looking more and more relieved by the day. He'd pressed her for information the night they'd sat in Dumbledore's office and witnessed the falling of Privet Drive's wards. She had however, been keeping mum on the events of that night, telling him that as soon as she was able, she would explain what was going on.
"You are starting to make me dizzy." The Scot said from her place on his settee. She was in her now usual spot, drinking a glass of his Firewhiskey and watching him pace in front of the fire. "Sit down for Merlin's sake and have a drink." She poured him a glass of the amber liquid and held it out expectantly. He eyed it for a few minutes before taking it and downing it in one. She topped him up and demanded he take a seat. He didn't argue.
"I don't see how you can be so calm about the situation." He said grouchily.
"Because I have information that you do not." She replied. "And am therefore immune to the throes of panic that seem to be ailing you."
"It's frustration not panic." He muttered.
"So you keep saying." The tone of her voice was mild and tinged with something akin to amusement.
"You're enjoying this." He hissed accusingly.
"There are many things which I enjoy in this world and believe me Severus, watching you pace is not one of them. I have explained to you, numerous times that there is information which I am unable to share with you, and yet you seem determined to drive me around the bend until you get it."
"Pettigrew is your contact, isn't he?" He asked, catching her flinch. "He's been feeding information to you from the Dark Lord's side."
"I can assure you that if I ever lay eyes on the person responsible for James and Lily's deaths, I would end his life without a moment's thought." Minerva responded coldly, standing from her seat and smoothing down her robes. "I had hoped that you held me in higher regard than that Severus. It seems as though we're both wrong about something tonight. I bid you a good evening and we shall continue this when I have more information for you." Without a glance back she left his quarters, slamming the portrait hole on the way out. He swore at himself and ran his hand over his eyes. He'd really put his foot in it this time.
O_o_O_o_O
When the letter came it was not unexpected. What was unexpected was the way in which it arrived. Getting a phoenix delivered missive was always a cause for surprise, that the letter bore the seal of the house of Black, and a separate note to tell her that Eos (the bird's name apparently) would wait for her reply; only added to her bewilderment.
To the dear Lady Bones,
I apologise for my unavailability yesterday afternoon, and hope that the appearance of Mr Lupin as my proxy was not too much of an inconvenience. Times have been somewhat chaotic as of late, and I found myself inescapably indisposed.
In recompense I would like to invite you and your niece to the Black residence of Caddington Hall, this evening at eight o'clock for dinner, and a fuller explanation of the events surrounding Privet Drive and the night of the 28th of November. Should you wish to attend, please pass on a missive to Eos, along with this letter. If you are unavailable, please pass this letter back along regardless, as we wish our address to stay secure.
I hope you are able to make it, but I understand if you are unable.
Sincere regards,
Sirius Black, Heir to the House of Black, Head of House Potter.
She finished the letter with two questions on her lips; when did her Auror swallow a dictionary, and what the hell did he mean; Head of House Potter? She quickly scribbled a confirming note and stamped her ring into the pale grey wax.
"You better tell the bloody mutt to get ready for lots of questions." She muttered to the phoenix as she handed it her missive. Eos squawked at her and disappeared in a ball of flames. She poured herself a whisky from the cabinet and downed it just in time for Sirius's reply to arrive, once again; by phoenix.
Amelia,
The Heir to the House of Black can be found at The Orrery; Caddington Hall. The Floo is open and feel free to arrive early.
Regards,
Sirius.
Well at least this one was more informal. Probably to do with the colourful language she'd used in her own note. She was sure that her grandfather would have had a fit if he'd seen the scribble she'd passed off as an official letter, but she was past caring. She checked her watch and saw that it was heading for half six already. The Firewhiskey was downed and she went in search of her niece, who had been left in the care of the only nanny elf in the manor.
If the phoenix was any indication, it was going to be an interesting night.
O_o_O_o_O
Amelia would have been correct in her assumption that the evening was going to be one to remember, as Remus checked that all the preparations were going according to plan, the Tonkses and Grangers arrived early and unannounced. Andi's subsequent quip about giving him practice for Yule did nothing to calm the werewolf's nerves; but he was careful not to let them show as he greeted the two families and was rewarded with his first glimpse of Athena.
"May I welcome you to Caddington Mr and Mrs Granger. We are honoured to host you this evening, my name is Remus and I am Sirius's Mate."
"You're the werewolf then?" Dan asked, holding his hand out stiffly. Remus heard Emma's tut behind her husband and found himself internally cringing.
"That would be correct. I am dangerous only one night a month where I chain myself up in our basement until the sun comes up."
"Leave him alone Dan." The woman almost growled; pushing her husband to one side. "You were there when Lily told us how he is treated, do you want to be lumped in with the rest of the bigots?" She met his eyes head on and gave him a one-armed hug, Athena's presence on her hip preventing her from wrapping that arm around him too. "Ignore my husband." She said warmly. "We have no problems with your condition, and let me just tell you that it is an honour to meet one of Lily's best friends. She spoke very highly of you and I have no reason not to trust her judgement. She was one of my closest friends as well."
"Thank you, ma'am." He replied, a lump forming in his throat at her instant acceptance. "It means a lot to hear you say that."
"He's just a big awkward lump." She replied, jabbing her finger over her shoulder; towards her husband. "Don't pay him any mind." He nodded and called on one of the elves to take their jackets. The Grangers stared wide eyed at the little female elf who introduced herself as Aster before popping away with their coats.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to them." Remus replied with a chuckle. "They keep the household running much smoother than I could manage alone."
"You have to look after this place yourself?" Emma asked as they made their way to the informal parlour.
"Sirius is officially Head of the Household, so he would traditionally look after our finances, politics and House duties. As his Consort I would be expected to look after the Household's day to day running."
"Forgive me saying, but it all rather seems old-fashioned." Emma said, her eyebrows lifting at Remus's subsequent chuckle.
"Yes, it does rather, but we are very much a partnership here. Sirius doesn't put too much stock into the Old Ways, The Orrery is mainly run by the elves, and the rest of us talk over our family affairs. Sirius is really just the face of our merry little gathering."
"I resent that remark!" The man in question exclaimed as he rounded the corner, straight into the group. "I am more than just a handsome face, I bring the charm, the pizzazz and the glamour to this house. Without me, you would be a sorry bunch of bookworms."
"That head of yours is getting far too big again cousin." Andi said, passing the rest of the group to give Sirius a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Would you like me to remind the group of your spectacular crash and burn yesterday afternoon?"
"They don't want to hear about that." Sirius replied hastily, his cheeks pinking slightly at his cousin's gentle rib. "There are much more interesting topics to discuss."
"I second that." Remus muttered, causing Emma to burst into laughter at his side. The small girl on her hip also broke into beautiful giggles and Remus couldn't help but watch her, full of wonder.
"Would you like to hold her?" Emma asked.
"Would you mind?"
"Not at all." She promptly dumped the child into his arms and the pair stared at each other for a few seconds.
"Moon!" Athena gurgled. "Moon Moon!"
"She speaks?" Sirius asked in wonder, staring at his mate and the little girl in his arms.
"Her vocabulary is limited to Mum, Da, Dan, Em, Foo, Mink, Di and Ted. That's the first time she's ever said Moon." Emma replied gleefully. "Our little ones are growing up!" Remus looked up at Sirius before a huge shit-eating grin spread across his lips.
"She got my name before yours." He said, bursting into jubilant laughter. He started bouncing the child on his hip and spinning around in circles, much to Athena's delight. "You got my name before his, didn't you princess? Who's a clever little Hawk?"
"Moon!" The laughter that rang around Caddington was music to Sirius's ears. His mate was happy, Emma looked thrilled, Dan had an expression somewhere between constipated and chewing a wasp and Andi and Ted were in awe of how happy Athena seemed to be. Tonight, was either going to be a success or a clusterfuck. If he was honest with himself; he was betting on it being the second.
O_o_O_o_O
Amelia pinched herself for what seemed like the fiftieth time that evening. Her niece was happily gurgling away to the other three toddlers whilst Andromeda's eldest played peekaboo with them all, over the settee. The food that evening had been wonderful, the stories she had heard; unbelievable and now Sirius was asking her if she wanted to move in!
"Sirius, it's a very kind offer…"
"Just give it some thought Ami." He replied when she trailed off. "Susan would be much happier here and it will give you some much needed help if you are going to refuse the Director's job and stay head Auror. Your shifts are crazy as it is, never mind having a little one to take care of."
"Do you think she is one of the Five?" Emma asked out of curiosity.
"I am not sure." Sirius replied. "There is Black blood in the line of Bones, but it is very weak. The Five are said to be of strong Black birth. I'm sorry Ami, I can't give you a straight answer, but I'm pretty sure she isn't one of the Five."
"In all honesty I'm relieved to hear you say that." Amelia replied. "I know that it sounds awful, but I don't want that kind of thing hanging over her."
"I know exactly where you are coming from." Sirius replied, looking over to where Athena, Harrison and Neville were playing. "Believe me."
"So where could this fifth child be?" Dan asked. "You say that Athena is one, Harrison is two, Neville; three and this Malfoy kid is the fourth, do you have any ideas?"
"Not really." Sirius said with a wince. "They may not be born yet, they may be due any day, they may not be due until next year."
"But I thought their births were supposed to straddle the turn of the decade?" Emma asked with a frown.
"Prophecies are at best shaky." Augusta responded. "It is a very inaccurate branch of magic."
"I have faith that they will be discovered when the time is right." Alice said softly. "They may not need their siblings right now, but one day they will, and when that day comes, they will be brought to us."
"So, what is it that you intend to build here Sirius?" Amelia asked, concern furling in her stomach at what Sirius's actions meant.
"A family. First and foremost, and always; a family. After that, whatever the kids need. A support system, a safe space, a school. Whatever they need from us going forwards, that is what we will be. The best way for that to happen is if we can build a stable relationship between each other. This Household is in no way a dictatorship, but if one of us steps out of line, it will be the kids that suffer. I will not let that happen."
"Neither will I." Augusta replied. "Sirius is here to keep all of us in check, and we are here to play the same role for him. I have been nothing but supportive thus far, but believe be when I say that I will not hesitate to call him an idiot if his actions are detrimental to our goal."
That Frank was the first to stand was somewhat of a shock to the room's occupants and none so much as Sirius himself, who was under the impression that the other man was anything but happy with their current situation. That it was Frank to first raise his wand was an even bigger shock, and the events that followed just kept bringing those shocks to the rest of the family.
"I Francis Harfang Longbottom, pledge here and now that I will do whatever it takes to see the children of this family safe. I will love them, cherish them and shield them from harm. I pledge myself to Sirius Black, and all that he is trying to achieve." Alice was next, repeating her husband's words, and one by one the room stood up, including Amelia, cementing her decision to stay with the Household; and gave him the same pledge, until only his mate was left.
"I Remus John Lupin, pledge myself to my Mate, Sirius Black, to love him, to cherish him and to stand with him against any harm that may befall him. I pledge myself to our children and to our Household; to love them, cherish them and shield them from harm. I pledge myself to the House of Black, and to the world we are trying to build." Sirius was almost in tears as he stood to answer their pledge. He looked around the room and the seven wands that were held in the air, and his eyes fell to Emma and Dan, each with their fists over their hearts, their vows having been taken with the rest.
"I, Sirius Orion Black, pledge myself to you all. To love you, to shield you and to cherish you. I pledge to respect your opinions, to listen to your advice and to do everything in my power not to fail you. I pledge myself to our children, to love them as my own, to protect them with my life. I pledge my blood, and my magic to you all. Your father and protector; by blood, by spirit and by heart, your father and protector; by blood, by will and by oath. Toujours Pur." He had no idea how the family dagger came to be in his hand, but he slit his palm anyway and let his magic flare. He dipped his other thumb into his blood and placed its print upon the foreheads of every occupant in the room, and when he was finished, he could feel the sheer amount of magic that had built within the air.
Something had changed that evening. Something indescribable, and almost a hundred miles away, sequestered in the office of Black manor, Arcturus felt the change in the family magic; the power of the oaths taking root in the bloodline and strengthening it. The consequences of those oaths would not be fully realised for almost a decade, but when they were, the world would never be the same.
The House of Black was on the rise. Four had been found, three had been collected, and the fifth was about to make their appearance. The plans of Fate were well in motion, and Chance was on the move.