Black Mansion in Germany.
Having finally been allowed to rise off the bed by Aunt Cassiopeia, Harry didn't waste his time, dressing up in black robes, which covered his now sufficiently healed and restored body, allowing him to move around the mansion. Such quick process of healing was made possible because of Cassiopeia's constant vigilance, dosing him with her most potent potions and even Tears of Phoenix, all the while keeping him in a medically-induced coma, which sped up the healing. While he may've preferred to be awake for his healing in any other situation, he wasn't complaining, as this was the best sleep he had in over two years, literally. Now that he was looking more like a man, with more weight and meat put on his bones, with paleness of skin now less pronounced. While his muscles and traumas were still very much in poor condition, Aunt Cassie had assured him that he will be in top physical shape in no time with her healing him. The only things that were irreparable were his hair and eyes, now stuck as they were now.
Yesterday he had spent the rest of the day in bed, with Regulus deciding instead of talking to him about business and letting him be with his sister. He spent the rest of the day talking to Rose, finally able to see and talk to her at last. He didn't waste another moment, with both Cassiopeia and Regulus understanding them, with the latter leaving them alone. Rose had told Harry about her life with Aunt Cassiopeia, being both her apprentice and living with her here. He was pleased to know that their Auntie had took great care of Rose and made sure that she was provided both in material needs, as well as spiritual ones too. Rose had grown over these two years into an already impressive young witch, and he couldn't be more proud of her.
However, along with joy, came rage and anger, as he had learned what Potters have done to her after he was sent to Azkaban. The very next day after the trial, James Potter announced a betrothal between her and Ronald Weasley, as well as the betrothal between his golden boy and Ginny Weasley. Harry had always suspected that James was an idiot, but this was not just idiotic, but a near catastrophic move for House of Potters to make. Having spent countless hours studying history and traditions of Ancient and Noble Houses, Henry understood that for House of Potters' prosperity and stability, it had to unite itself with Houses of equal or stronger position, and there were enough Houses to choose from: Bones, Abbott, Greengrass, Patil, etc. Even Parkinson and Malfoy would've been good matches for children of House Potter, worthy of their position, if you don't take into account their allegiances to Voldemort.
But to unite with House of Weasley, and not through one, but two marriages… It was an utter madness. House of Weasley had once been a strong and prominent Ancient and Noble House in Britain. That all changed when Edmund Weasley, uncle to Arthur Weasley and Head of the House before his father Septimus Weasley, had utterly ruined their House by attempting to force himself upon Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth's younger sister, using the combination of Amortentia and compulsion charms. Ironically, the one who had solved this entire crisis were the Royal Court's Sorceress and Sorcerer, Dorea Black and Charlus Potter, who together had saved Princess Margaret from the unwanted marriage.
This was not just a great shame, but one of the most devastating breaches of Statute of Secrecy in all three and a half centuries since it was implemented. Entire Houses were literally eradicated for lesser breaches, and it was expected that Weasleys were doomed, had it not been for Dumbledore and his 'forgiveness of those that did wrong' speeches. And so, instead of destruction of the House, Weasleys lost practically all of their lands, properties and fortunes, forcing them into a Burrow. To marry into a House with such stigma would mean to share it, and to have all of your children connected with it would be essentially dooming your House into an isolation from everyone in magical world who didn't know of the Breach of 1949, as it was known.
And besides that, Harry clearly saw that Weasleys, especially Ronald, cared and craved for the fortunes of Potters. In fact, James and Ronald actually seemed utterly akin to one another in Harry's eyes: short-sighted, jealous and envious of others, following the orders and wishes of those they worshipped, bigoted and unable to take a no for an answer. Rose also understood it, and when she had protested and tried to plead her parents to spare her from this, James, angered by the insubordination of his daughter, decided to teach her a lesson of respect, as he saw it, via using a new curse he had learned from Sirius a long time ago.
Caro Mortui, the Dead Flesh curse and one of the most dangerous Dark Arts spells known to wizarding kind. This curse is designed to destroy and decay the flesh and organs of a person, literally decomposing it before the very eyes of a victim. In untested and untrained hands, this spell could have disastrous effects, since the result of Caro Mortui is extremely hard to reverse. Even Tears of Phoenix aren't able to fully heal the damage, since they can't work on what is dead. Only someone utterly devoid of humanity, like Voldemort, or arrogant and stupid enough, like James Potter, would ever even dare to use this curse.
Rose had been subjected to that spell for a whole week, losing bit by bit the ability to use her left arm, as her nerves and muscles deteriorated into a blackened and rotting meat. By the time James was, Rose wasn't able to use her left arm, and what's worse, the rotting and dead flesh had brought with it infections into her organism, which wrecked and devastated her even more. Rose had told him of being half-delusional, burning all up inside when August came, with her parents not even calling for a medic, since it would expose their crimes brought upon the girl. She would've died before the first snows fell, had it not been for Cassiopeia and her knowledge of Dark Curses and ways of countering them, as well as healing charms and potions. Unfortunately, the cost for Rose was that she no longer had any feeling of her left arm and couldn't even sense with it, as it was effectively just dead flesh. The movement of it was achieved through a complex reanimation rune set that Cassiopeia had placed on Rose, allowing her the usage of it.
If Henry had wanted to destroy the Potters before, then now he would see it burn and turned into ashes, alongside with Weasleys, who had the gall to hit and berate his sister for truth. He will personally see to it, that the names of James, Lily and William Potters were remembered as the reminders to every wizard, witch and magical creature alive of what it means, to burn in fires of Hell. The Weasleys, Dumbledore and the rest of them will also pay for their parts in his and Rose's torment. He had two years in Azkaban to think of ways on how to punish them.
Now he had to think of something even more fulfilling.
He slowly came to the wooden door into his grandfather's study, before quietly opening it and stepping inside slowly. Though he was able to move around, he was still adjusting quite a bit to his limbs' newfound mobility and strength. Henry stepped inside, to see three persons sitting on the sofas around a low table. Chief among them was a tall man, with short grey hair and darker shade of grey eyes, high cheekbones and thick nose, dressed in traditional black and golden robes of House Black. He looked nearly as old as Dumbledore, but instead of weakness, Henry saw power, strength and determination coming from the eyes and face of Arcturus Black, Head and Patriarch of House of Black and his Great Grandfather. He, along with the other two persons, rose up from their seats to greet Henry.
To his left stood a tall man with similar grey eyes, with short black hair. His cheekbones were about as high as Arcturus', but his chin was thinner and a bit more angular, along with his jaw being not as wide, added by a more a narrow and slightly longer nose. He was dressed in more of muggle-styled clothing, with his black jacket, white shirt underneath it, black pants and shoes. He bore some resemblance to Sirius, but in Henry's eyes, Regulus looked like a more dignified and stronger man than his older brother, along with being admittedly better on the eyes instead of his roguishly looking brother and his unkempt hair and looks. It was as if Regulus was actually an older brother to Sirius, though looking younger than the dog animagus.
The third person, however, was someone that had forced Henry to almost take a step back. It was a woman, and a witch, seeing as she was dressed in tight black and crimson robes, showing her quite appealing figure, with large and developed chest, wide hips and a waist, that while couldn't be classified as hourglass, but definitely looked most appealing and slim. And while all this was enough to draw interest from most, what startled Henry and froze him up, was the face of the woman, with her eyes and hair.
Greenish bright eyes, with luscious red hair… And a face of one Lily Potter.
Shaking slightly, he began to take steps away from them, causing those the three to get worried. With a bit of shaking voice, Henry spoke.
"Wh-who i-is this?" He spoke, with his voice dripping with both fear and anger, with Regulus and Arcturus taking place in front of now slightly frightened woman. "Wh-what game are you pl-playing with me?! What is Lily fucking Potter doing in here?!"
"Harry, please, you need to calm down." Arcturus spoke to him, with his tone being that of placation, but to no avail.
"I should've k-known… I-It's just another one of those n-nightmares…" He said in a somewhat delusional way, now scaring those near him. "I'm in my cell in Azkaban, with dementors deciding to torment me again… H-how very clever of th-them, but foolish… I-I now know what th-that this is all th-their work, and i-it won't work on me anymore!" He cried out, when he suddenly reached behind him and took an iron rod, used for the fire place.
Arcturus, Regulus and the red-haired woman immediately reached out to their wands and were even ready to fire disarming and stunning spells, when he began to march upon them with a crazed look. Just as he was just a couple of meters away from them, Cassiopeia and Rose barged into the room, looking worried. When they saw Henry going towards the Blacks, Cassiopeia reacted immediately, getting her wand out and sending a spell.
"Confundus Reversio!" The next second, Henry blinked a couple of times, before dropping the rod and nearly slumping onto the floor, only to be caught by Regulus.
"Wh-What… What happened…" He said, as the conscience had returned to him. "I was just opening the door, and then…"
"I feared that this might happen." Cassiopeia motioned Regulus to sat Henry onto a sofa, before she handed him a calming draught, which he drank. "Former prisoners of Azkaban, especially those that have been placed in the most dementors-infested areas for a very long time, have been known to lapse into a demented state when confronted with something that could agitate extremely negative emotions. In that state, they believe that they are still in prison, and all they see is just another bad memory. It's something akin to being confounded to the extreme level."
"In other words, he had such reaction because of her." Arcturus looked at the red-head, who looked a little bit ashamed at the moment. "Do not take it personally, and don't feel any shame, as you are not to blame. You do bear an uncanny resemblance to the woman that has made his childhood and life miserable. Cassiopeia, is it curable?"
"It's more in the lines of mind and psychology, a muggle science for soul and mind trouble. Best I can prescribe are rest, recovery and, once I can see that he is well enough, restoration of his Occlumency shields. After that, there won't be any relapses, and for now, Henry will be fine, but just in case, we'll be keeping you company." Cassiopeia said, with her and Rose taking seats on right and left of Henry respectably.
Once he had calmed down and his head had cleared up, Henry looked up at the woman again, now taking in on her appearance and features with greater detail. It was now that he could see the definite differences between this woman and Lily Potter. Her hair were not like that of Weasley red, but instead were of a deep red, close to crimson and scarlet color, flowing down past her neck. Her facial features were softer and more refined in a way, but not diminishing her beauty. Her eyes, however, were actually not green, but more along the lines of blue, with lighting showing them in a more greenish way. She looked at him with a concerned look, before Henry spoke directly to her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean or want to harm you in any way, and I apologize for scaring you." He said with a bow to her. "And… I am sorry to have mistaken you for… For my mother." Henry nearly spat that word out, though none seemed all that concerned about it.
"It is alright, dear. I was only worried about you there." She smiled to him softly, as they all sat down. "And I am not offended by this. Regulus did say that you might do so, and I'm sorry to have startled you. Now, I am sure that introductions are in order now. Regulus, do you mind doing the honors?"
"Of course, dear." He nodded to her, turning to Henry. "Henry James, I would like to introduce you to my wife and mother of my children, Faye Rosemary Black, nee Stewart. Faye, this is Henry James, formerly Potter, and son of Lily."
"Yes, as I've gathered already." She said turning to look at Henry, who had a somewhat surprised look to himself. "Why the surprised look, dear? Or are you that surprised to finally see your first relative on mother's side?" She gave him a slightly sly smile.
"Mother's… What are you talking about? She is a muggleborn witch, with no ties to the wizarding world before." Henry objected, with Arcturus almost snorting at this one.
"And yet she struts around like she is one of us… As much as I would like to admit this to be falsehood, Freya speaks the truth, boy." Arcturus admitted to him. "Lillian Potter, or as she was once known by her birth name, Freya Lillian Stewart, was actually born to William James Stewart and Maria Guinevere Stewart, nee Prewett, our Faye's older sister, and a fully pureblooded Witch, with her being a descendant of founders of Illvermony Magical Academy and even Godrik Gryffindor, if rumors are to be true."
"How come she still claims to be a muggleborn, if she has such a strong line? And how come this is the first time I ever heard of this?" Henry asked of them, with Faye answering to him.
"Because she really was raised by the Muggles, and our family had refused to take her back." She told him. "When Lily was 5 years old, I was around 3 years old at the time, our parents have taken her to visit our mother's family, Prewetts. Sadly, their trip ended in a tragedy. They had been killed by the supporters of Voldemort, for their refusal to become part of his then forming group. Lily managed to somehow survive, and was placed into an orphanage and later adopted into an Evans family, though we had believed her to be also dead. I was raised by the provisional Head of my House, my father's younger brother, as I was now recognized as the Heiress of House Stewart, and he was my Regent. As the last will of my mother, I went to Hogwarts instead of Illvermony, where I had found my sister Freya, or as she now called herself, Lily."
"Initially, I was elated and happy to have met my older sister and had even written home about her. Lily seemed so delighted and happy, especially when I told her of our status as Heiresses." Faye continued. "When my uncle had found out from me about Lily, he had come to Hogwarts. She had always remembered of her magical origins, but she didn't know of us being Heiresses, but when she had learned, it changed her, for the worse. Our uncle had recognized her as Freya Stewart, but he didn't hurry to recognize her as the Heiress instead of me. He told me later that he felt her to be not well suited for that role, and had opted to wait until her graduation from Hogwarts 'till making the decision. Unfortunately for her, one thing had destroyed any and all possibilities of her being taken back into family: you, Henry."
"You mean…" Then it came to him. "She got knocked up by James Potter in her 6th year, out of wedlock. I became the reason she was exiled from the family, am I correct."
"Yes." Faye confirmed to him. "She was stripped of the names of Stewart and Prewett, and after that, we fell out, very badly. I've already been in bad relations with Potter and his friends, despite being sorted into Gryffindor, but after that, it had gotten really bad, to the point that I had nearly ended up in hospital because of a Grim attacking me. Had it not been for Regulus here, I don't even know what would've happened to me."
"Sounds just about right about Marauders, wouldn't surprise if she used them to take revenge on you." Henry sighed, before turning his eye to Regulus. "I'll take a wild guess and say that you two have been together since then, am I right?"
"Earlier, actually. We've been in the same year, and though we got sorted into different Houses, Faye was my first real friend in Hogwarts. Someone, who saw not a younger brother of Sirius Black, or a true Heir of Black, or a snake, but Regulus Black, a shy, scared and overly pressured kid with too much on his mind. She always stood up for me before others, often going against her own House, and… Well it wasn't long until we fell for each other. That incident with Sirius attacking had been the catalyst for us to confess to each other." He looked with a loving gaze at his wife, until his façade had saddened and he let out a sigh. "But, as one would expect with the family like mine, it wasn't all sunshine and flowers for us."
"You mean your family didn't support your choice?" He glanced at Arcturus, who had a scowl upon his visage.
"My idiot of a son, Orion, and that demented hag, Walburga, had somehow gotten in their heads that the best for Regulus, was to become bootlicker for Voldemort." He angrily spat out the name, disgust and rage coming out him. "Fools… It was bad enough that Sirius had turned his back on our name and traditions, and then those two had the gall to practically sell their last son to that half-blooded bastard as a minion! No Black has ever kneeled or bowed to any self-styled Lord or Lady, neither Dark, nor Light. Our House has always stood apart from it all, yet those two imbeciles had forced our last male Heir to be branded as a slave." Arcturus' rant had cleared something up for Henry, though he still had some questions, which Regulus decided to answer.
"Back then, I was… A different man, not like what I am now. I won't deny it, Henry. I did take the Dark Mark upon my flesh and was proud of it." He rolled up his sleeve on the left arm, showing a nasty looking burn, right where his Mark had been. "Before I had burnt it off myself, I did it out of my freewill, to please my parents and to hopefully get their approval for my and Faye's marriage. I honestly thought that it would for the best to us all…"
"And I did tell you that you shouldn't have done it, Reg." Faye said to him in a sad tone, with him nodding to her, while she continued. "After we've finished Hogwarts, our relationship, with Regulus' parents' obsession with Voldemort and Regulus taking the Dark Mark, it nearly had fallen apart, especially when I learned of what Death Eaters were actually doing. It was too much and I pleaded and begged Regulus to give it all up and run away with me, but sadly…"
"Sadly, I was a damn dumb git to listen to the woman I loved. Only after I actually went on my first mission did I realize just what I now was a part of." He closed his eyes, seeing the scene happening before his eyes once again, before continuing. "My parents had always told me about the purity of blood and how muggles were vermin, and while I didn't enjoy them, I didn't wish any harm to them. I simply didn't give a damn about them, but that night, when I saw what my cousin Bellatrix and her husband were doing to those kids… It was then that I understood that I need to get out of them."
"And so you escaped, faking your death?" Henry asked of him, with Regulus shaking his head.
"Not quite. About a week after, Voldemort had ordered me to lend him my house elf, Kreacher, for whatever reason. I didn't know what it was for, but something told me, that I shouldn't have done so, and when I called him back, I learned something that I shouldn't have." Regulus said to Henry. "Kreacher told me about a cave with a black lake, infested by inferi inside of it, and a rock in the middle of it with a basin, filled with poison. And on the bottom of that poisonous basin, was hidden a locket. A locket that once belonged to Salazar Slytherin and has been turned by Voldemort into something that was against the very nature of things. You know what I am talking, Henry."
"A Horcrux." Henry said with a mortified voice, with Regulus nodding to him. "That's why Amelia said it was you who would help me with Horcruxes. You were the one who found out about them first, didn't you?"
"Yes, and to make up for my mistake of taking that damned Mark, went to that cave. Kreacher had guided me there, and I've managed to get around the traps, thanks to what he told me of them. However, after I emptied the basin and switched the locket with a fake one, I didn't account for Voldemort taking into consideration that someone would actually get this far." Regulus told Henry. "Before I knew it, inferi had surrounded me and began to drag me to the bottom of the lake. I had ordered Kreacher to take the locket and apparate out of there, but… It turned out that my house elf had some additional orders in regards to me." He sent a look to Arcturus, with Henry understanding what he meant.
"You ordered Kreacher to transport Regulus to you, should his life be in danger?" Henry asked of him, with Arcturus nodding to it.
"I would've been a poor Head of the House if I let one of the last relatively sensible Blacks to die on my watch." Arcturus stated as a matter of a fact. "After Kreacher informed me about this entire business with Horcrux, I've made preparations, contacting Dorea and Charlus, knowing that they would be the best to deal with Horcrux. When Regulus appeared with the locket, all was ready, and your grandparents have done their part excellently. And now it was the time for me to deal with my prodigal grandson."
"He told me that after this entire debacle with Voldemort and Death Eaters, I could no longer stay in England." Regulus continued. "I had a choice to make: either I leave Britain, and start a separate branch of House Black in different country, or I stay and die. Since I knew that if I stayed, either Voldemort or my own parents would kill me after they found out about my treachery. And so I chose to leave it all behind, with Faye. It took a great deal of apologies, but we finally were happy and out of country, together."
"And the fact that I was with our first child had helped to stir this idiot in the right direction." Faye giggled a little, before deciding to finish their tale. "We moved to Salem, with Regulus and me marrying right after we arrived. Members of my House didn't take lightly the choice of my groom, but I made a compromise: I gave up my right as Heiress to my Uncle, as he had quite a few children and grandchildred already, while allowing me and our children to remain as part of House Stewart through me. He agreed to it, and after that, we've enjoyed near 16 years of peace and happiness. I became a happy mother of 5, two sons and three daughters, while Regulus here has made a splendid career first as an Auror in MACUSA, and after 10 years of distinguished service, he became a Teacher of Defense against the Dark Arts in Illvermony. He was even awarded Order of Merlin Third Class for his service good service, as well as saving his entire class from dementors when they were on their trip to Britain a couple years ago." Regulus didn't look shy or ashamed at all, simply chuckling to it.
"Don't bloody know why the hell Ministry sent those damn things out to catch Pettigrew, but long story short, a big chunk of them picked up on my students and tried to snack on them. A Patronus and a diplomatic crisis later, and I got me a whole new medal." Regulus simply stated, with Henry chuckling to it. "Anyway, I wish it was the last time I actually had to visit Britain. But… It would seem that there is no rest for the wicked. While I may've burnt off my Mark and was no longer connected to Him, I somehow knew that something was wrong and there was a storm coming. And it came, when two weeks ago, Grandfather here had appeared in our home and told me and Faye just two words: He is back."
"As much I may loath Pollux and his spawn Cygnus, I do have a semblance of tolerance for his youngest daughter, Narcissa, as she is a Black, though a failed one at that. I do keep in touch with her, mostly out of curtecy. Nothing like our relations with Andromeda, but still…" Arcturus spoken up in his authoritative voice. "We sometimes exchange letters, with her being interested in her sister Andromeda's life and other things. A day after that tournament had ended; I've received a letter, in which she had suddenly decided to ask me for sanctuary for her and her son Draco. Her reasoning was enough for me to realize that the job Regulus and you've done separately was not enough. If he has returned, than that could only mean one thing: he has more than two Horcruxes."
"And until all of them are found and destroyed, the half-blooded bastard won't finally die." Henry concluded, before letting out a sigh. "You want me to find them and destroy them, just like Amelia does. But what I would like to understand is why you are so interested in this, Grandfather. Call it a lapse of stupidity, but do enlighten me. Same goes for you too, Regulus."
"As you wish, but I expect that lapse to be the only one I see from you, Henry." Arcturus sternly told him. "Apart from the fact that I have no desire to kneel and throttle before anyone, there is also the fact that he has become an enemy to House Black with what he has done. He made Bellatrix into a rabid dog that deserves only to be put down for good. Because of him, I saw an entire generation of House Black destroy our pride and smirch our honor with mud. He had the gall to make members of my House into his slaves with that mark of his. But worst of all, he dared to spill my blood! First, with my grandsons Michael and Gabriel, then with my son Marius, and he finished it with my dear daughter Dorea. I've fought and killed Wizards and Witches that have done me less, but this coward has certainly made himself an enemy of House Black. And until I see his broken, bleeding heap of a body lying before my feet, begging for mercy, I will not rest. And as for Dumbledore, that man is just as guilty for my House's misfortunes, as is his creation, so he deserves my ire and wrath. Is that a reason good enough for you, boy?"
"Quiet." Henry nodded, turning to Regulus, who spoke up.
"Apart from what he said already, there is more for me to lose this time if he wins. If he is allowed to win, then he won't stop at Britain, or Europe. He won't rest until everyone has submitted to him, both the Magical and Mundane Worlds would bow to him, or burn for him. And make no mistake, Henry, he doesn't give a damn about Purebloods, Half-Bloods or Muggleborns. He only wants one thing: power. And he'll either subjugate, or destroy anyone who might pose even the slightest threat." Regulus said to Henry. "I thought I had finished him off with his Horcrux and I had thought it was the end. But, after what Rose here has shown me, I understood that… That I had to see this through, to the end. And this is not just because of a notion of guilt over what I did, and believe me, I regret it every single day of my life."
"No, it's about making sure that this son of an inbred squib and some never had to haunt the lives of my children. It's about putting a stop to the monster that Albus Dumbledore had made and is incapable of putting down." Regulus said with determination and strength. "While Gryffindors may be too afraid of even saying his name, and those so-called snakes are ready to kiss his arse, I for one would like to remove him once and for all, him and Dumbledore, along with his posy of phoenix loving idiots. A true Slytherin doesn't bow and fear in front of a threat, but eliminates it through guile, cunning and determination to achieve his ambitions. I say it's time to put them to good use here. Does that satisfy your curiosity, nephew?"
"It does." Henry agreed with him. "Alright, I was already sold on having to deal with them both. I just needed to know why you all want it so badly, can't work with those that aren't in 'till the bitter end." Arcturus actually chuckled at this one.
"Finally, it would seem the grandson I was hoping to get out of Azkaban is showing himself at last." Arcturus commented, before changing the subject back to business. "We have less than two months before the next year in Hogwarts starts, so we best make most of that time. Cassiopeia and Rose will oversee your full recovery, while Regulus and I will finish whatever education you've started out in Hogwarts. As for our lovely Faye here, she will do whatever she wishes to do with you in whatever capacity she sees fit. And in the meantime, boy, I expect you to put that mind of yours to good use."
"Will do, but what is this about the deadline? Is Regulus will be going back to Illvermony?" Regulus let out a frustrated sigh, before answering that one.
"I wish, but fate decided to deny me that pleasure…" He stated with strained voice. "Remember Faye told you about the incident with dementors? Dumbledore has caught a whiff of it and my continued existence on the other side of the globe. When he found out about me being a Professor of DADA with near 6 years' worth of experience and 10 years as an American Auror, he decided to add me into his staff as the next Professor of DADA."
"Can't you decline? You are a member of the American Magical Society, not British one, not to mention you've been in Illvermony for such a long time." Rose asked of him, with Regulus shaking his head.
"Had this been purely up to me, I would've sent him to him to kiss his phoenix's bottom, but… Current President of MACUSA wishes to strengthen relations between our communities, and as a part of this diplomacy, there is an exchange of teaching experience, added at the suggestion of his respected friend Albus Dumbledore. And so I, as a born Brit, former student of Hogwarts and one of the best DADA Professors, was asked to represent America and its education program in Hogwarts." Regulus stated to them. "To make the matters even worse, I am to also move back to Britain with my whole family, and three out four of our kids will be in Hogwarts this year, being invited there as exchange students. Under normal circumstances, I would've portested to this assignment, but... The President and Headmaster of Illvermony have made it clear to me, that this was not something to be discussed or disputed. I suspect that Dumbledore had used some kind of a leverage on them both, which is something quite in his style."
"As much as it may seem to be a detriment to us, this is actually something we will be able to use to our advantage." Arcturus said in a thoughtful manner. "With Regulus so close to Dumbledore, we will have an additional source of information about his actions and schemes, plus a channel to Voldemort's cohorts through Snape and their children. In addition to that, we will have all of Death Eaters' children well within targeting range."
"You are not suggesting using innocent children as hostages and leverages, Lord Black, are you?" Faye looked utterly appalled and horrified at the idea. "If you do this, then how are you better than Voldemort and Dumbledore?"
"There is no need to actually make them into ones, Faye." Henry spoke up, getting her attention. "Just a hint or a notion of it will be enough for any Death Eater with an Heir or Heiress in Hogwarts to think twice about their actions. Though, you might want to get rid of the curse placed on that posting, just for your own health."
"It's actually a curse?" Regulus blinked a couple of times. "Shit and I thought it was just a very unlucky post to be in. Anything about the curse I might need to know of, and how did you figure it out?"
"Read 'Dark Lasting Curses' by Corvinus Lestrange and you'll get the gist of it. As for how, just seemed to be the only sensible and logical thing possible with it." Henry explained to everyone, and would've continued, had they not heard the Floo lit up, and a loud thud with loud cursing followed after that.
As everyone stood up and walked towards the source of the vulgar language and noise, none were all too surprise to see who the progenitor of it all was. Right outside of the Floo place was plastered on the floor Nymphadora Tonks, who was now rising up on her feet and muttering to herself, caring naught that she might be heard.
"I swear it's like every fucking Floo is out there to get me." She said as she dusted herself off, before seeing everyone. "Oh, wotcher everyone! What, never seen a Metamorphomagus plastered up on the floor with her bum up in the air?"
"Only every other day with you. The rest of time it's seeing you on your bum and your braless knockers out in the open from your blouses." Henry replied, with Faye and Rose giving him scandalized looks, while Nymphadora openly laughed at that one.
"Blimey, Harry, that's a good one." She looked at him with a smile on her face. "Now you are starting look like a man again, though you could do with some more meat and coloring, but it's definitely a great improvement over what I saw in Azkaban. Also, did my knockers keep you awake at nights, or did they warm you in to sleep~?" She asked in a bit of sultry tone.
"I'll neither deny, nor admit that one." Harry simply stated to her. "But I will admit that I did think of you far more than of any other girl of my year or close one from Hogwarts."
"Oh really, I must've left quite the impression on you, if you couldn't get me out of your thoughts." Nym practically winked at him.
"Well, it is hard to get the girl out of your mind, especially since she had landed with her soft bum on top of me in her last year, after slipping on a wet floor." Henry gave her a small smirk. "And the fact that your girls smothered me like there was no tomorrow didn't help the matter."
"Are they always... that way to each other, or is this something like a special occasion for them?" Faye asked of Rose, who shrugged her shoulders at that one.
"Honestly, I don't even know with these two." Rose honestly admitted. "I thought at first they were a thing, but then they didn't turn out as such, but then they always would get all sultry and open about it all. Personally, I think that these two kids need to finally grow up and ask each other out, or in extreme case, just find a free room and get all the tension worked out of their system."
"That's… Not a very healthy way for a 14 year old to think." Regulus admitted out loud, while Harry and Nym continued their chatting/flirting. "Lyra is the same age, and all I hear her talk and think about are the cute boys, new fashionable clothing and other normal stuff. You on the other hand…"
"I've lived in a house where aside from my big brother, the most affectionate person towards me was a house elf. I've learned pretty early on that I didn't mean much to my parents and that all I was for them was just someone to sell off like cattle." Rose bitterly told him. "Like Harry, if I didn't grow up fast, I wouldn't be able to live past what they had done to me." She rubbed her left arm.
"And… It doesn't concern you that they are, well, related?" Faye asked of Rose, who shook her head.
"What really bothers me is that my brother a walking girls' magnet, at least he was. I don't want him to catch himself some empty-headed bimbo with just long legs and big bust to show. With Nym, she's got both the body, and the mind, and I know that she'd take really good care of him. So nope, doesn't really concern me." Rose stated in an unnaturally adult way, with Cassiopeia casting the stunned Faye a slight smirk.
"I see that Aunt Cassiopeia has been having a very profound effect upon you." Regulus commented.
"You will have all the time in the world to chat and flirt with each other later." Arcturus stopped the two, getting their universal attention. "Nymphadora, what news do you bring about the Order? Did they believe that Henry is dead?"
"Oh they believed that one alright, Old Man. So much so, in fact, that I had to restrain myself from strangling them when they all had those happy grins on their faces." Nymphadora said with disgust. "Nobody had questioned anything, although McGonagall seemed really upset about your death, while Moody was outright livid and furious. Apparently, you were one of Minnie's favorite students, even considered as her replacement in the future, Harry."
"Fat chance of that ever happening. As much as I may respect Minerva for her teaching skills and experience, she had allowed her entire House to run amok with bullying, pranks and debauchery in some cases." Harry crossed his arms on his chest. "She's got her head so deep in Dumbledore's arse that she didn't even give a shit about me being abused and harassed not just Gryffindor, but also Slytherin and even my own Head of the House, no matter how many times I had tried pleading to her for help. Her response was always the same: inform Snape, and have him deal with Slytherin, while Gryffindors get away with a slap on the wrist. And that man has always hated my guts just because I was a bloody Potter and the reason, in his twisted mind, he lost Lily Potter. It was so bad, that I had to pass my Potions' OWL and NEWT with Horace Slughorn on my Christmas holidays in my 5th and 7th year."
"Yeah, I get you." Nym agreed with him. "I did almost lose it when Potters began to badmouth Auntie Dorea, though…"
"What did that imbecile, his whore, and their spawn had to say about her?" Arcturus asked in a cold and dangerous tone of voice.
"That she was prideful, spiteful and a generally a bad person. Even accused her of making Henry making a Dark Wizard." Nym told them, with Harry snorting at this one. "Alastor didn't listen to that for long, and had slapped Lily and punched James before dressing them both down for what they said about her and you. By the way, care to tell me why you've never mentioned that Moody has been training you, hm?"
"Because it's Moody, and you know how he is." Harry simply said to her, with Nym nodding to him.
"Yeah, sounds about right." She let out a sigh. "He also told me that he knows about Rose and her being with House Black. Think we might have to thank him for cleaning up any tracks we might've left. From what I gathered, he's not too happy with the Order, Dumbledore, and most of all, with Potters, so I've decided to try and get him on our side. Think he might be with us, Harry?"
"Honestly, I would've been surprised if he wasn't with us sooner or later. The man often told me about my grandparents and how James with Lily utterly disgraced what they had built." Harry simply stated to Nym, with her pulling out her jacket a prolonged clothed object, before giving it to Harry. "Did you buy me a wand in the Knockturn Alley?"
"Nope, this one's from Moody. Open up." She smiled to him, as Harry opened it up, only to see his good old wand, with a look of surprise written on his face. "He managed to get before it was snapped from someone in charge of it. I've checked, and there's nothing of any sort of trace or tracking charm on it, Ministry put or otherwise. For all intense and purposes, this wand has been long snapped and burned in the boiling rooms."
"Hm, 14 inches, Red Oak, really good wood, best used in duels and fights." Faye commented in a knowledgeable way. "Usually it's used with Unicorn Hair, making the spells more consisted, but I heard Dragon Heartstring is actually a better match, since it increases the power of spells, with Red Oak already being very good at stabilizing the spells."
"Ollivander told me the same thing when I got me this wand in his shop." Harry said in a bit of nostalgic way, holding his wand and watching it, before lowering it. "Thank you, Nym. When you see, Moody, tell him that I owe him a big one."
"Hey, you are a family to me and my folks so don't mention it." Nym smiled softly to him. "Black Family always together, in best of times and through the worst of them, as Mom likes to tell me."
"It is actually comforting that at least one of Cygnus' daughters remembers what being a Black actually means, unlike her older and younger sisters." Arcturus commented out loud. "One is nothing more than a loyal attack dog, who married into our historically rivaling family, while the other has chosen a Malfoy for her husband and has birthed a weak-willed, gullible buffoon, who doesn't even understand what being a true Slytherin means. And she had the mordacity to call him Draco, a name reserved for the powerful and strong-willed member of our family, not a cowering, throttling, arse-kissing Malfoy." Arcturus practically spit that name out of his mouth.
"Never quite understood what your problem with the Malfoy family is. They are an old family, almost as old as us Blacks, and they are purebloods. And yet, when it comes down to respect, I saw you treat 'Dromeda's husband like he is a pureblood himself, while Lucius is like the lowest mudblood in your eyes." Regulus commented out loud.
"Yeah, what gives, Grandpa? Not that I'm complaining, but it's just kinda bonkers that you and my Dad actually get along, since, well, he's a muggleborn." Nym asked of him, Arcturus with curiosity.
"As much as I may've preferred Andromeda's husband to be someone from a strong Ancient and Noble House, this one is an exception. Your mother may not have told you, but that idiot Cygnus had tried to marry her off to the younger of Lestranges, therefore squandering a very good possibility for future alliances, since it would doing us no favors to have both of Black daughters in married into one family." Arcturus spoke up. "I've always disliked the Lestrange family, especially those two brothers. Obviously, your mother had been against it, as she was already seeing your father, which soon became public knowledge. In any other circumstances, I would've long made sure Edward had disappeared for good, but then, something had occurred that had changed my opinion of him. Rabastan, if that's his name, after having a good bit of drinks, decided to claim Andromeda's honor and innocence for himself, and was close to doing so, had it not been for Edward and his vicious spell casting. Lestranges were livid, with Rabastan even going to as far as to duel Edward in public for Andromeda. The look on that mutt's face when he was soundly beaten and defeated by Edward still brings a smile to my face."
"Wow, I knew that my dad had been a Hit Wizard for long time after Hogwarts and even thought to become an Auror, but to go so far for Mom…" Nym sounded amazed, with Regulus looking impressed as well. "Guess I now understand where I go my badass side from…"
"Rabastan may've not been in the same leagues as Dolohov, Snape, Bella, or even his older brother Rodolphus, but he was no pushover either. I saw him once duel a pair of Aurors and he made it look almost easy, and those Aurors were not greenies, but definitely with a few years and bodies behind their ears." Regulus commented, before turning to Arcturus. "You always did admire and like those that stood up for our family members, didn't you? Even if they are not of noble descent."
"Why else would do you think I'd ever give Andromeda my blessing to marry him, as well as bless your and Faye's marriage?" Arcturus asked of him. "Being ready to stand and fight for what you care and love, as well as not backing down is a mark of a strong character, something Lucius Malfoy, nor his father Abraxas could never do. Edward may not have been the most suitable candidate for Andromeda's hand at the beginning, but I've grown to respect him, as him being a husband to Andromeda has brought in strong blood and magic in form of you, Nymphadora."
"Always one to care about the strength of our blood, eh Gramps?" Nym chuckled, before she felt one of her pockets getting warm, making her reach out for it and pull out a folded parchment. "Hold up a sec, I'm getting a message from Bones. Give me a few sec to read and reply to her." She also took out a small self-inked quill and read the message
"What is it, some kind of two-way connected communication parchment?" Henry asked no one in general, with Regulus answering to this one.
"It's called Instant Message Parchment, or Imp for short, and it works a bit more complex than that. These Parchments are connected with each and every other parchment of same kind, so you can send a message to various people, including in multiple numbers, if they have this kind of Parchment. The way it works is that each wizard that has it fills the role of a receiver to parchment by writing his or her name next to the term Receiver. If it wants to send a message one or more people, he writes first to whom the message is sent next to Send to Whom, and then the message itself. After that you say 'Message delivered' and it disappears once you read it, or you say 'Message ready' and it gets sent." Regulus explained the entire concept. "It's a really popular thing in the Americas and lots of other countries, and it has been around since the late 1930s. MACUSA, Illvermony and many other magical establishments use them as an effective alternative to owls, since they are easy to make, get the message within a second's time and cost just a few Knuts more than a normal parchment. Most, if not all, of my students in Illvermony use them to write home to their parents."
"The why the hell doesn't Britain have something like that already? This sound like something Ministry would die for to have, not to mention all the Hogwarts kids." Henry asked in bewilderment after hearing of such a useful and practically dirt cheap thing.
"No offence, Henry, but when it comes to technological and social developments, Magical Britain is seen by most other countries as a backwater and even antiquated country, a stubborn old man, that refuses to get on with the times." Regulus admitted to Henry. "Most of the magical communities around the globe are making sure to keep up with the times, adapting and accepting more of Mundane World's traditions, technologies and concepts. Even this Parchment is a response to the mass-production of radio and telephones by Non-Magicals, which relay information at far greater speeds. And that's only the small part of the advancements, both in technologies and in societies. Right now, most of the worlds' Wizards enjoy equal rights, be they Mundane-born, or Half-Bloods, or Purebloods, and it is absolutely okay with everyone, not to mention that the entire concept of hating Non-Magicals for who they are has long become really unpopular. Only Britain persists and refuses to get on with the times. To be quite honest with you, the Ministry, British Wizards and Witches, and Hogwarts are now seen by most as jokes. The only reason why no one openly states that is a semblance of respect to Britain, for it's place in history of Magic."
"Somehow, I am not even surprised to hear that." Henry commented to him, turning his attention to Tonks, who had finished reading the message and wrote the response back.
"Message ready." And after that she looked up and spoke up. "Okay, I've got us some good news and some bad news. Don't ask me to start with bad, I'll start with good first. Harry, did you know that your grandparents had actually made you Lord Potter instead of James, and that you are actually the rightful Head of House Potter and all their assets, including all their money and stuff?"
"Of course not. Had I known about that, I would've long kicked James, Lily and Will out of the House and Family." Henry stated to her. "I always assumed that Charlus and Dorea left no last will, so James was the inheritor of it all, and there was no reason to doubt. I mean the man had spent 2500 Galleons once just to have a broom be made for him. He knows nothing about earning them, only how to spend them in outrageous amounts. If he wasn't the Lord Potter, then where did he get the money?"
"He was probably spending the money from House Fleamont's vault, to which he was entitled to after Charlus' death as per his last will." Cassiopeia spoke up. "Dorea told me that he had wanted to have all of his sons well off after their passing, so he decided to revive both the Peverell and Fleamont Houses, through Gabriel and James respectably, but we all know how it ended up now."
"And while Wizengamot may've recognized James as Lord Potter, the Family Magic and Goblins do not see him as one." Arcturus looked at Henry. "I should've known that Charlus and Dorea wouldn't leave you without the inheritance. It is, however, strange that the accountant of Potters in Gringotts didn't inform you about your status, nor did you receive any monthly updates on your assets and wealth. I suspect the hand of Dumbledore and Potters in this."
"Yeah, and while this is good, here's the bad bit of news." Nym spoke up again. "Now that they believe you are dead, they are planning to take a trip to Gringotts in a few days and get William recognized as next Head of House Potter, with his parents as Regents. If they go there, they'll know that Henry is alive and kicking."
"Damn it, and that's not something that we need at this moment." Henry cursed under his breath, before turning to Cassiopeia. "Aunt Cassie, am I good enough in your book for travels outside of mansion?"
"Well, normally I wouldn't permit it, but since we are having an emergency, I'll give you a strengthening potion, along with few of my own making, so you'll be good to go." Cassiopeia received a nod from Henry. "I'm assuming that you have some sort of plan in your head already forming? Do I need to remind you, that whatever grievances and grudges you have with the Potters are insignificant in the face of preserving your status as a legally dead man?"
"I know." Henry growled out a little, but calmed down a little bit quickly enough. "Could you get them here so we can depart as soon as possible, along with robes for outside walk, if you may?"
"I will, dear. But, make a habit out of that, Harry, and I'll make sure that next time I have to treat you, you'll have no painkillers. I am Europe's finest mediwitch and Potions Mistress, not a house elf." She reminded him in Black's usual manner, accompanied by pride and strength, before leaving with Rose to get it all.
"Grandfather, I might need some assistance there, so if you could…"
"I have my own matters to attend to in the Ministry." Arcturus cut him immediately at that one, before speaking up again. "Regulus and Faye will accompany you to Gringotts. They will be sufficient enough in filling in any gaps in banking matters that you may have. However, while I do believe that you'll be able to reign your emotions and feelings when dealing with this matter, tell us, what exactly are you planning on doing?"
Henry took a long breath, formulating his plan of actions. As much as he was elated and glad that he was Lord Potter and the true Head of the House, right now it would really do well that he wasn't. He had to truly put aside his own personal hatred for Potters, or he would risk everything before the game even started. No, he couldn't let his emotions take hold, as this was not a Slytherin way. A snake doesn't d strike a warned prey, only the one that is completely unaware of the looming danger. And for this reason, it doesn't hiss or make its presence known in other ways, until it's time for the strike.
He would have to do so as well.
Did promise that it would be soon enough and here you have it. I know that some of you may not like so much exposition, but that is essential for my story here, so bear with me. Plus, we've finally gotten us the backstory of Regulus and even met his wife, who is (much to everyone's shock), a true sister of Lily Potter. Another one of those tropes done to death, I believe, but… I am a sucker for them.
Now, on to some of the possible questions.
1. Royal Sorcerer and Sorceress. I think it would not only be plausible, but actually in the realm of possibility that England's Monarchs would employ Wizards and Witches in matters of magical nature. So, in here, they do so since the days of King Arthur, and they are of the most respectable positions in Wizarding World, which are only given at the recommendation of the previous Sorcerer and Sorceress. They serve for a period of time, for the duration of their service, and they uphold a magical oath, to serve in the interests of the Crown and England first. Charlus and Dorea had served as Royal Sorcerer and Sorceress from 1943 till 1952, having received praise and honors as Sir and Dame respectably for their actions.
2. House Stewart. If you know the history of Illvermony, Isolde Sayer and her husband, muggle James Stewart, you'll know to whom this House is connected to. As for Lily being exiled from it, the reasoning for it was her giving birth out of wedlock, which is a capital offence and shame in magical community and is a reason enough to be kicked out of the House. Plus, Faye had been raised, trained and molded with the mentality of a good future Head of the House, so it was not only an acceptable loss for House Stewart, but even a favorable one. And while Faye may've also gotten pregnant while being unwed, she did wed the father of child, and given up her position of Heiress and Head. While regrettable, not all that tragic, since House Stewart has plenty members to not feel threatened. Oh, and that Prewett part… Yeah, guess for yourself what that means ;)
3. Regulus Black. Now, I was debating on what to make of Regulus, until I've settled on him being someone who has moved on with his life and became a fully grown person. You'll find out that, unlike Sirius, James, even Remus and others, he actually has grown past his teenage enmities and dislikes, and has made a good life. Him being an Auror was because of him having wanted to make up for his past mistakes by serving the people as their defender, and as for his change in career from a law enforcer to teacher, this one came because of him wishing to be closer to his family and not trouble Faye anymore. He may be more down to the ground and even somewhat easy-going, but underneath his calm and content demeanor, there is a powerful and deadly wizard, ready to do anything for his family. So expect him to clash with Hogwarts's staff regularly. Oh, and don't worry, Umbridge will still be featured…
4. Magical World's advancements and 'evolution'. Honestly, I believe that it is quite possible, if not even probable, that the Magical World wouldn't just stay stagnant and will be making advancements in both technology and in matters of society. And those advancements were actually sped up by Grindelwald and his war, just like the Second World War had practically given a kick to our civilizations' advancements. So, in the rest of the magical world, things are actually quite good for Muggleborns, magical races and half-bloods, with the societies being far more democratic, tolerant and acceptable. To give you, someone like Fleur Delacour, a quarter-Veela, would have far more options for work in France, USA, Italy and so forth, while in Britain, she wouldn't be very lucky.
As for why Britain is so backwaters and refuses to advance, here are list of reasons: ineffective government, corruption, extremely high corruption, great power of the higher class (Pureblooded Families), lack of impact of Grindewald's war, general refusal to change status quo. So, in other words, Grindelwald, in his own way, has served the Greater Good of the Magical World and actually made it better (through bloodshed, terror and deaths).
Now, I think that answers most questions, but if you have any, feel free to ask them. I would really appreciate you questioning, reviewing, suggesting and simply giving me your opinion on the story, as it helps me make it better.
Oh, and just to give you something more. I picture Arcturus Black as looking like Sir Ian McKellen, and Regulus Black, in my own opinion, looks like Bruce Wayne by Christian Bale. If you have your variants as how they should look, let me know.
Until later, See ya!