Review Replies:
SiriuslyPink: some good ideas :) whilst I am definitely a Haphne shipper I think it may be a bit overdone, so, for Corvus, I was considering the LeStrange OC or Slytherin!Ginny or Independent!Ginny (as there will be Weasley bashing) but you never know ;)
Bellapom: thank you so much, I'm really glad that you're enjoying my story.
McKertis: okay, that's rude. Well, if you'd like to point me in the direction of something you've written then it would be most appreciated. Maybe then I can leave an equally charming review.
WhiteEagle1985: thank you :) I really like the idea of Sofia/Fred, we'll have to see how it all plays out ;)
ChildofDreams: (equally as evil grin)
TheGirlWhoSawImagination: Hi! Glad to see that you're back I had actually wondered where you were at :) The scene with the portrait was very sweet for me to write, I enjoyed it, maybe also because I LOVE Meissa. And you'll be seeing even more on Walburga in this chapter so I'm glad that you like what I'm doing with her character :). Harry and Slytherin!Ginny is definitely a possibility as I want to do something more unususal. I quite like the idea of her with Blaise as well but I also like the idea of her with Fred so w'll have to wait and see. Thank you and you won't have to wait long cus I'm proud to be getting this out pretty quickly!
Mizzrazz72: yep, they better watch their backs
MajorChaos13: the whole light vs dark will become a lot more obvious as we approach the kids' Hogwarts years but yes, for now the Blacks and Malfoys are dark. Just Corvus will be a Parselmouth and I've got to say that I like some of your pairing ideas ;) Bash/Susan and Draco/Luna definitely could be possibilities I guess we'll be looking out for how all their characters develop first :)
Yaw6113: Interesting pairing ideas, can't say I'm a Ron fan though so that's not likely :)
Theawsomest5: thank you so much!
Geekymom: thank you I'm so glad to know that you're enjoying it!
The Black Heir
Chapter 9
13th March 1986
Cassiopeia Amalthea Black's midnight cloak billowed behind her as she stormed her way through the Ministry of Magic. Those who knew of her, of her name and her influence, parted ways to get as far away from her as possible and those few who didn't were cowering from her ice glares.
Perhaps what evoked fear into the hearts of those who saw her this day rather than any other day was for Cassiopeia was on a mission. She was set to free her great-nephew from jail.
She entered the elevator, commanding of it to take her to the floor upon which the Minister of Magic resided, and it obliged and she went up.
Minister Fudge had been walking towards the elevator hurriedly when he caught sight of the approaching Cassiopeia Black. He gulped slightly, but still attempted to walk past her.
"Going somewhere, Minister?" Cassiopeia inquired, her tone infoeming him that he was in fact now not going anywhere, "because I wish for an audience."
"Um, perhaps another day I-I'm a little preoccupied right n-now," the fearful Minister answered her.
Cassiopeia glowered and tutted, "well, I might just be a little too preoccupied to give anymore donations, how sad would that be?"
Minister Fudge's resolve soon broke, "let us talk about this matter then, Madam Black."
"Let us talk."
TBH-TBH-TBH
Minister Fudge had been most reluctant to oblige to her wishes when Cassiopeia had sighted that she wanted a trial for her great-nephew, but a few promises of donations and she had him like putty in her hands.
A job well done, she had congratulated herself.
Afterwards she had convinced the Minister to allow her to see Sirius, to inform him of his upcoming trial, and her requested had been granted.
Expectedly, the boat ride to Azkaban was less than pleasant. The cold brutally nipped at any of the older woman's exposed flesh, her pale cheeks went pink and teeth threatened to chatter, but none the less she kept her head held high and awaited arrival at the dark and gloomy island that seemed to radiate despair.
The guard offered his hand to help her out of the boat, but she declined it, climbing out and surveying the run down island with evident disgust.
Her great-nephew, it turned out, was upon the highest floor of the prison in one of the highest security cells that Azkaban had to offer. And she was furious.
Every inch of Azkaban that they climbed the feelings of devastation, depression and hopelessness grew, the dementors swarming around them, held off only by the guards' patronus'. To think, that two members of the Black family were being kept in such atrocious conditions!
Soon enough she was standing in front of said cell, the cell of Prisoner 390. Within it a man lay sprawled across the floor, seemingly lifeless. Grey eyes were shut tight, but it was if she could already imagine the haunting within them; skin was unhealthily pale and clinging like spandex to his bones; lips were bloody and chapped; and cuts – new and old – littered his body.
"Go," she commanded of the guards. They looked hesitant but with a final withering glare from the old woman they made themselves scarce.
"Sirius?" She stated, trying to gain the all but corpses' attention, "it's your Aunt Cassiopeia."
The man did not stir from the state that he was in. Finally she hissed, "Sirius."
There were but two words that fell from his mouth, words that made the old, seemingly emotionless woman want to shed a tear for the utter devastation in his voice, "she's dead."
Cassiopeia did not answer him.
"She's dead! She's gone! She's not coming back!" Sirius' voice was hysterical as he swiftly got up, pounding his fist into the wall, grey eyes wide open allowing Cassiopeia to see the overwhelming madness within, "she's dead!"
His sobs resounded around the halls of Azkaban, every prisoner – even those who had once been continuously chuckling to themselves in their madness – spoke no further.
Cassiopeia moved closer to the cell, "but he's not. Corvus lives. Yours and Ceres' son lives. Fight for him Sirius, don't disappoint her."
When he looked back the madness was still there, but it was not as prominent, looking to Cassiopeia, tears still falling from his steely grey eyes.
"I've got you a trial, Sirius, I really hope that you are indeed innocent. That boy needs you."
TBH-TBH-TBH
"You've got him a trial?" Corvus inquired in wonder, grinning wildly at the very idea of soon being able to see his dad.
Cassiopeia Black nodded, her own lips twitching at the small boy's grin, "yes, it is in a fortnight."
"Will I-,"
"Yes, Walburga," Cassiopeia answered, not even needing her niece to finish the question to know what it would be, "you will be able to attend."
Over the past few weeks Corvus and Walburga had gotten a lot closer and, while Walburga was not even close to being a perfect parent or grandmother, or even person, she would at least make an effort for Corvus.
Baby steps, Cassiopeia thought to herself, glad that her niece might at least become a more decent person to her family for Walburga, Sirius and Corvus' sake.
And also for the sake of Cassiopeia's own amusement. Imagine the look on Pollux's face when his prized daughter would actually begin to care for something other than her own ambition and well being! Oh, she wanted a picture of her brother within that moment. She'd get her house elf – Moppy – to take the photo.
"Do you reckon your dad will have loads of stories about mine?" Bash questioned eagerly, both of the twins having been taken with the portrait of their father.
"Do you reckon he'll tell us more prank ideas?" Sofia inquired with a grin.
Corvus held a far off smile, as if he were dreaming of all the things that would happen when his father came home, "I think he'll be the best Dad in the world!"
Their conversation, however was cut off by several sharp knocks to the door. Walburga muttered about 'annoying inviciles' and how it 'better not be those bloody Malfoys again' but instead the door opened to reveal a man that both Bash and Sofia recognised.
Officer Lupin.
"Hello, Mrs. Black, I'm Remus John Lupin and I'm requesting just a moment of your time," the man stated.
Corvus quickly jumped up, moving over to defend his grandmother's title, "it's Dowager Lady Black!"
The man stared at him as if he'd just seen a ghost, mouth opened slightly, looking even more taken aback when he saw the twins once more, "I'm an old friend of Sirius Black and James Potter's, Corvus, Sebastian, Sofia, and I wonder if I might be able to talk with you?"
TBH-TBH-TBH
When Walburga Black – Dowager Lady Black as Corvus insisted he called her – reluctantly allowed him to speak with the children (watched over by Walburga and Cassiopeia Black) Remus was at a loss of what to say.
The three looked at him with suspicion and – in Corvus' case – barely concealed dislike. Clearly Sirius' son liked his grandmother, even though Remus could not phantom as to why.
"Hello," Remus stated once more, ignoring Walburga's snort as his rather pathetic conversation beginning, "as I said, I was both of your father's friend," he ignored how much he hated to call Sirius, who betrayed them all, his friend because he needed Corvus to trust him, "and I am actually here by the order of Professor Dumbledore."
"That old coot thinks he has the right to interfer with my family?" Cassiopeia angrily demanded only to have Remus ignore her, trying to refrain from calling her an 'old hag' in response.
"He has kindly asked the Weasleys if they will take you in and they agreed," Remus informed them, giving them all a bright smile, "so you can all be away from the influence of the Malfoys and the Blacks and be with a light family."
If Remus thought that Corvus' glare made him quake in his boots – which it did – it was nothing next to Sofia's as she demanded, "you want me to leave my mother and my grandparents who have been nothing but kind to us since we arrived here?"
Remus swallowed, "it is all a ploy, you see-,"
"No," Corvus interrupted, way more intimidating than any young child should be, "you are in our house. You ignore my Auntie Cassie, you insult my grandmother and then you expect us to leave our parents, mine who is soon to be free from Azkaban?"
"Sirius is guilty," Remus fought back, "he was a traitor and he deserved to go to Azkaban for what he did!"
"Get out of my house," at first Walburga's voice was quite, icy anger laced underneath it before it intensified to full-blown rage, "Get out! Get out you filthy half-breed and if you ever come near my grandchild or the Potter twins again or speak of my son in such a manner then I will personally see to it that you will not be able to speak or walk or exist again! GET OUT!"
With wide eyes Remus Lupin scampered from the Black House, knowing that to stay and defy the fury that was Walburga Black would be a death wish.
But he wouldn't give up. Dumbledore wanted Corvus Black, Sebastian Potter and Sofia Potter and what Albus Dumbledore wanted Remus would get for him. His once Headmaster was the only man who would dream of letting a werewolf go to their school of magic, the only man who had given Remus a chance to prove himself. And he would forever be in his debt.
TBH-TBH-TBH-TBH
28th March 1986
"Stop fidgeting," Walburga Black commanded of her grandson as the two sat within the trial room that would soon hold her son: Sirius Orion Black. In his fear and anticipation the young boy at her side could not refrain from fidgeting and Walburga was finding it quite annoying, because it only made her more nervous.
And the Black family do not get nervous.
Soon enough chains could be heard from outside the room, heavy footsteps before the side doors burst open to reveal the man in question.
Walburga couldn't help but stare at him in horror.
Skin clings to his bones, his face gaunt and features starving; his lips are chapped and broke, dried crimson blood across them like a lip gloss; his skin had an almost yellow tinge and his hair was long and matted. He looked like a corpse, a decomposed one at that.
And Walburga Black was furious.
Soon enough he was roughly thrown into the chair, chains tightened unsympathetically tight around his arms, wild, haunted, mad grey eyes scanning the room unrelentlessly. Until he caught sight of them.
He saw his mother first watching him with horror. He near chuckled, trust his dear old mother to be bothered by how he looked. Probably thought that he was shaming their family right now, hating him even more.
But who really captured his attention was the boy at her side. In younger days, he would have said that the boy might have been him, but when he looked at him with striking sapphire blue eyes… Well, they were Ceres' eyes.
His breath caught as he watched the little boy, tears threatening to leak from his eyes before his moment was stopped by the shoving of his head up, and a liquid – vetrassium – forced down his throat.
"What is your name?"
His voice was scratchy and broken as he spoke, "Sirius Orion Black."
"When were you born?"
"3rd November 1959."
"Who are your parents?"
"Lord Orion Castor Black of the House of Black and Dowager Lady Walburga Vega Black nee Black of the House of Black."
The questioner nodded to Amelia Bones – who was heading his trial – in a way to say that the serum was indeed working, prompting the said woman to begin to question him herself.
"Were you the Potter's secret keeper?"
"No."
Whispers of shock went around the hall, all in disbelief, but Amelia Bones did not stop.
"Did you kill Peter Pettigrew and the twelve muggles on the evening of November 1st 1981?"
"No, I did not."
The murmurings increased.
"Did you orchestrate the killing of the Potters?"
"No."
"Were you ever a Death Eater or an active supporter of their cause?"
"No, I was not."
"Did you kill anyone in the name of Lord Voldemort?"
"No."
"Were you Lord Voldemort's right hand man?"
"No."
"Are you innocent of all crimes you were accused of?"
"Yes, I am."
As the last question was asked a man in the crowds closed his eyes. It was the wrong thing to do, he knew, and he would never normally dream to do something so cruel, especially as the man was innocent and had a family but he needed to think of his own family.
If he didn't do this then they'd have no money, his children wouldn't be able to go to Hogwarts, his wife would continue to live in despair.
He couldn't, he wouldn't, do that to them.
"I'm so sorry," the man whispered before he shot the spell, aimed at the man in the chair, the one that would surely kill him, blasting him into smithereens, "REDUCTO!"
And then there was chaos.