Chapter Five: Unfit Guardian
"He's doing what?" Artorius demanded sharply of Silnok, their family account manager.
The goblin sighed, looking none too pleased with his own report. "Drinking himself to death," he replied flatly. "The stress of working murders drove your cousin to drink, thus driving his family away – literally. Between the most recent murder he worked and the loss of his family, he has decided to commit suicide by alcohol poisoning."
Artorius hissed in dismay.
"Regardless, Lord Calvin…I would not consider such a one as a fit guardian for your children should anything…unforeseen occur."
Artorius sighed heavily and nodded agreement. "It's not quite as critical anymore," he mused to himself. "You finished the genealogy study?" At Silnok's nod, he asked, "Who else is available?"
Silence hung. Slowly, very slowly, Artorius turned to look at Silnok, both brows raised. "No one," Silnok admitted. "Gregory Parker is the last adult candidate…all the other cadet lines have died out. His son would not be eligible until he reaches his majority in the Muggle world…far too late to be of any use to your children. If Parker dies, you are left with the Lestranges, at best."
"They aren't an option," Artorius growled, pacing back and forth.
"Then you must render them unfit," Silnok announced, watching the upset lord pace. "If, perhaps, you pressed Lord Longbottom to lay claim against their House for the attack on his parents, you would then give him the leverage to claim your children by right of the Lestrange blood in their veins."
Artorius frowned. "What of any Lestranges outside of Britain, slim as that chance would be? How would they be affected?" And could they take the children? hung between the two.
The goblin sighed. "They would lose their rights to the House of Lestrange, Lord Calvin. The House of Lestrange would surrender, in perpetuity, to the Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom. Even if you sought them out, there is no guarantee that such exist or that they hold differing views to the Lestranges of Britain. Nor would they necessarily be in a position to claim your children. A Squib, for example, could not lay claim; the magical Lestranges would hold precedence."
"My cousin is a Muggle," Artorius pointed out grimly.
"Yes," Silnok agreed. "In his case, however, there are no claimants with the standing to challenge as he is related to you through your father in a direct paternal line; thus, Parker wins guardianship by default. Any other options and," Silnok spread his hands, "Such would be forced to contend with the Lestranges as the family with the closest blood relation to your children."
Artorius swore to himself; to deny any unknown possible Lestranges their heritage smacked of injustice, it felt wrong. At the same time, his cousin was much occupied in drinking himself to death, leaving his children with no other options.
"If he dies, I'll speak with Lord Longbottom," Artorius decided. "But for now, he stays in the will as their guardian. I'll not risk them going to the House of Malfoy as the House of Lestrange's proxies." There was a pause as Artorius debated with himself. "If, if Parker pulls through…see about helping him, discreetly."
"Arthur, are you sure?" 'Toria questioned anxiously. "If he's drinking…"
"It feels wrong, 'Toria," Artorius admitted. "I don't know why, but I feel like, if I try to get the Lestranges declared ineligible, I'm cutting off something…I don't even know what, just that it's important, 'Toria." The wizard was silent for several moments. "I wish I could explain it, 'Toria, but I can't."
"Is it your magic?" 'Toria asked. At his nod, she blew out a breath, considering her response. After several minutes, she finally announced, "We've trusted in Him so far; as foolish as this sounds to me, I will trust His Will."
"I'll keep an eye on things, 'Toria," Artorius promised. "Trusting and being stupid are two different things." He laughed, a trifle bitter. "Who knows, maybe he'll turn himself around and become one of the best Muggle please men in his city."
"I know you will, Arthur, and stranger things have happened," Victoria replied, resting a hand on his arm. "Now, I believe you need to have a discussion with your daughter and explain why Mommy does not want to find a violet colored phoenix chick in the house again anytime soon."
Artorius' eyes went wide. "A phoenix?" he whispered. "I did wonder…Dad mentioned once that Calvin females have a different Animagus form, but I wasn't sure…neither was he."
'Toria crossed her arms, uninterested in the reasons behind her daughter's specific form. "Just see that it doesn't happen again, Arthur."
"Yes, ma'am," Artorius replied with a deep bow to his wife. Then he hurried upstairs to have a quiet word with his daughter…and lock her Animagus form down like he had his son's.