Setting the Daily Prophet down, Thorfinn Rowle looked up at Sirius Black from across the dusty table in the run-down Hogshead tavern.
"You've managed to acquire Rita Skeeter's support. I'm not sure if I'm more impressed by that or how you consistently pushed Lucius Malfoy into publicly supporting you and Lupin,"Thorfinn said before glancing around, "Are you sure Dumbledore won't find out we're meeting in Hogsmeade?"
Sirius had been studying him, appearing almost bored, until a flicker of a smirk appeared and disappeared at the mention of Malfoy. The newly reinstated Head of House shrugged, leaning back lazily in his chair.
"The proprietor hates Albus," Sirius answered. "Probably the only tavern in the British Enclave we wouldn't be ratted out to the Headmaster."
"What about the bartender?"
"Barkeep is the owner," Sirius answered, before cutting straight to the point, "Why are we here Rowle? I didn't question your motives, when I accepted your help in order to remove my godson from Dumbledore's grasp since I had no other option, but we both know the Rowle family leanings are at odds with mine. I find it difficult to believe you honestly are interested in allying with me."
"You'd be a fool not to be skeptical," Thorfinn answered, taking a sip from the tumbler in front of him. "I haven't spoken about this publicly or privately."
Sirius nodded, sipping from his own whiskey glass, and gestured for Thorfinn to continue.
"My father's actions left an irredeemable blight on our family's name, and utterly ruined our reputation, even amongst the families who practice dark magic," Rowle said, his anger spilling into his voice as he swallowed a large gulp of whiskey.
"The only thing Torstan Rowle did right was earning a lifetime sentence in Azkaban," Thorfinn spit out. "He essentially ensured the end of our family's line."
"You're right. No family in the Sacred 28 will risk one of their daughters, even if you've proven yourself different from your father," Sirius agreed. "What exactly is your plan? Are you even willing to step outside pureblood lineage?"
"I already have a witch in mind," Rowle answered. "However, my priority is to ensure she is protected by one of the Sacred-28 families."
"Muggleborn?" Sirius asked surprised. "I figured you'd be looking at half-bloods or a witch from the continent."
"I don't remember my birth mother," Thorfinn told Sirius, as the older wizard refilled both whiskey tumblers.
"Wish I couldn't remember mine," Sirius muttered with a grimace.
"I was too little when she died," Thorfinn explained, ignoring the comment about Walburga Black. "I know my father remarried shortly after to a halfblood. She never had much to do with me, and honestly, I don't even remember her name. Aunt Evie, however, his third wife, took over raising me from the house elves.
"Aunt Evie took over my education, and added muggle literature, math and sciences without ever speaking to my father about it. When he accidentally found one of my math text books, Aunt Evie convinced him it was foundational knowledge for Ancient Runes. She started citing Master Arithmancers on the spot to prove how integral understanding basic mathematics and formulas were to the art. Honestly, I think she just overloaded him on information that he wanted to escape."
Thorfinn paused, "She was clever. All of my peers' parents looked down on her, sneered behind her back over her blood status, but she'd constantly out maneuver them all. Pureblood witches couldn't keep up with her intellect or wit. More than once she'd endure a poorly phrased insult and cut them down in an instant."
"The house elves loved her, and even let her take over the kitchen at times. Once my father found us cooking, and without missing a beat, Aunt Evie explained that learning how ingredients reacted to one another would ensure that I was a potions prodigy. He asked her who told her this was true, and she told him to go ask Severus Snape. By the end of Fall Termof my first year at Hogwarts, my I significantly outscored every pureblood scion in my year. She even told him to confirm the fact with Professor Snape. Her lessons put me far ahead of every scion in my year when I finally started Hogwarts."
"What happened?"
"I arrived home during my third-year solstice break," Rowle said, his tone darkening. "There wasn't a trace of her in the manor. It was as though she'd never existed. My father ordered the house elves to destroy everything that indicated her presence."
"Did they?"
Rowle shook his head, with a grim smile. "No. Their loyalty had long ago shifted to Aunt Evie and me. The elves had hidden all of her belongings in the farthest corner of our attic for me to go through. My father never reported her death. So, when he was arrested, the Ministry presumed I still had a guardian."
"How did the ministry arrest him for Death Eater activities?" Sirius asked curiously. "His arrest was nearly a decade after the war ended."
"My birth mother apparently became sick of him hitting her, and ordered her nanny elf to follow him with a camera. Elf magic is powerful, and most wizards dismiss it. They don't think to ward against it, much less know how to detect it. Apparently, the elves used that corner of the attic to hide everything they never wanted my father to discover. I found hundreds of photographs of him torturing muggles, attending revels, and much worse depictions, while I was sorting through Evie's belongings."
"Does he know you're responsible for his incarceration?"
Rowle shrugged, "Hell if I know. I haven't seen him since the day the Aurors arrested him. He'll rot there if I have anything to say about it. He took the one family member I loved most. So, I took his freedom."
Sirius watched Rowle as he refilled their glasses again. "Aunt Evie proved more clever and powerful than any pureblooded witch or wizard. Even if I could contract with a member of the Sacred – 28, why would I want a mediocre witch, unable to think for herself?"
Rowle looked forlornly at the table before admitting, "She used to sneak me to amusement parks for my birthday."
"Lily, Harry's mum, took James and I once," Sirius said fondly, before focusing on the young wizard in front of him. "Pretty sure she immediately regretted it. Imagine two grown wizards running around and goggling at each ride, game, and muggle."
Rowle smirked at the image before Sirius turned serious.
"You do realize that a witch who falls under the protection of one of the old families will be more difficult to court," Sirius asked, watching as Rowle started shaking his head.
"I'm not concerned about that," Rowle answered dismissively. "It's about her safety. Right now, she's without any protection should someone target her."
"Are you worried she'll be used against you?" Sirius asked.
"She gets into enough trouble on her own," Rowle muttered, shaking his head. "Every time I turn around, she's in the Hospital Wing or picking fights with some pureblood scion. Leaving her unprotected isn't an option."
"Several families within the Sacred 28 are in favor of muggleborn immersion, why not go to them with this request?" Sirius asked.
"Publicly supporting the rights of muggleborns is a far cry from magically adopting one," Rowle answered. "Besides, most of those families believe Dumbledore is Merlin incarnate. The Weasley's may preach that muggleborns should be embraced, but they fail to follow their own advice. Not to mention they won't have the political clout to protect her."
"So, shackling her with the baggage of my house is a better bet?" Sirius asked him. "We haven't even addressed the fact that I've been incarcerated for the last twelve years. What makes you confident your witch will agree to this arrangement?"
"Because she already trusts you," Thorfinn answered as Sirius suddenly sat upright, suddenly the very image of house patriarch.
"Listen very carefully, and if you lie to me, I will show you why my family's reputation is accurate," Sirius said as Rowle nodded. "Exactly how are you acquainted with Hermione?"
"I've been teaching her to how to properly duel since her second year," Thorfinn answered. "How to subconsciously tune in to her surroundings, react instantaneously, cast without someone noticing, hit your target while moving amongst crowds, that sort of thing."
"Dueling," Sirius repeated, "You convinced Hermione Grangerto have illegal duels, not only in public, but that could get herexpelled if caught."
"She's extremely competitive," Rowle answered. "It's not like I ever told her what my intentions were."
"You goaded her into it," Sirius said starting to laugh uproariously. "Kitten hates to lose. She's probably been reading every book she can get her hands on."
"Witch is clever. She only needs to see me cast a spell once before she's perfected it. She'll also toss obscure medical spells, used for opening a surgical incision," Rowle said.
"Certainly, explains why you're interested in courting her," Sirius said. "You do understand that muggles don't betroth their children anymore, right?" Sirius asked.
"Yes. Aunt Evie covered that lesson," Rowle said sounding slightly exasperated. "Listen, I'm not trying to set up a betrothal contract with her. At least not until she's of age and has agreed to one. She'd hex both of our bollocks if she ever learned that we'd even discussed doing so. Your godson drags her head first into every dangerous situation he finds. I'm worried about her safety, particularly since she testified against Dumbledore. I don't want to leave her open to manipulation."
"I'll speak to her about it," Sirius agreed. "You will, however, treat her as daughter of the House of Black."