Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything what you can recognize from the books. I do however own the plot of this story but I don't have profits because of it unless you count improving my English as a profit.
Prewiev: Regulus puts Severus straight on the matter of loving Mirzam and accidentally he slips something which should be told delicately. Chaos ensues. Mirzam does something incredibly stupid. Narcissa makes an appearance and she and Mirzam get into deep troubles. McGonagall tries to run away from her prisoner.
Read, enjoy and review (because I love to read your criticism and as long as you are logged in or I have your email I'm answering to your questions).
Chapter fourteen: Pretty Women.
Severus glared at Regulus as the git managed to climb back into the chair again.
"Care to enlighten me?" Severus said through gritted teeth.
Regulus snickered once again before he quickly regained his composure and said, "I said that if you are in love with Mirzam then so am I."
"I heard that," Severus muttered and he strode back to the table. "I don't get it, that's why I'm asking for explanations," he added as he leaned over the git.
"Sit down and stop hovering over me like a bloodthirsty vampire," Black snorted.
Severus sat down but he brought the chair closer to the table so he could hit the git, just in case.
"You trust her," said Black calmly.
"We already established that," Severus muttered.
"Shut up and let me talk," Regulus rolled his eyes. "You trust her, you enjoy being in her presence, you are worried about her, you care about her."
"No I don't," Severus muttered through gritted teeth.
"Yes you do, running to her rescue when my idiot brother took of the wedding ring is enough of confirmation that you care about her," Regulus shook his head. "She makes you smile but her smile or one look from her doesn't turns you into a puddle of goo. You don't think about her sexually, so do I. She makes me laugh, she makes me smile, I enjoy being in her presence, I trust her, I'm worried about her, I care about her. But I don't melt into a puddle of goo when she looks at me nor I have naughty fantasies about her, that's Sirius's area," Black said calmly.
"So what it is?" Severus asked, he was confused by what Black was just saying.
"Love," Regulus said simply.
"I was telling you right from the be…" he started but the git raised his left hand indicating that he didn't finished.
"I said that it's love," he repeated. "But love of a different kind, Severus. I never had a sister but if I had one I know that I would feel for her the same what I feel for Mirzam. And this is it," Black said and he leaned against the back of the chair.
"This is it?" Severus mumbled.
"If you want better example I feel the same for Sirius," Regulus rolled his eyes. "He makes me laugh, he makes me smile, I'm worried sick about him, I trust him with my life, I care about this flea-ridden fur ball. But I don't melt into a puddle of goo at his sight and I certainly don't have naught fantasies about him, that would be plain sick. He is my brother, he has his flaws and he still pisses me off … but I love him. That's what family is for. They piss you off, they have their flaws but for them … you will still jump in front of Killing Curse."
"I don't have a family," Severus muttered and he looked down at his shoes. "I never really had one … and the one I actually had never cared … never cared enough to consider doing what you just said."
"You have a family," he heard Mirzam's voice from behind and he whirled around to look at her.
She was still dressed up in McGonagall's robes but otherwise she looked like herself.
"You are our family, Severus," she said as she started approaching them.
"Dragon dung," he muttered and he looked away from her, back at Black, the git had unreadable look on his face.
"Then why Sirius is barely controlling himself from hexing his father to South Pole on your behalf?" Mirzam asked and he felt her right hand on his left shoulder.
Regulus nodded and added, "Truth. Though I saw him putting a grass-snake in his robes and father unlike most Slytherin's is afraid of snakes and Sirius knows it very well," then he paused and looked pointedly at Mirzam and said. "Don't worry Mimi there wasn't another Unforgivable attempt."
"Why he is doing this?" Severus asked curiously.
"I find tad more important why Regulus agreed to cover for you today," Mirzam said simply. "Especially with his nightly owl attitude which makes almost impossible making him get up before ten o'clock."
"Why?" Severus asked curiously, clearly they knew something he didn't.
"Because that's what the family does for each other," Regulus said simply. "We freaking care. You are our brother, we had a right to help you or to be pissed off on your behalf, vide Sirius. He would come here himself if he wasn't freezing his bum somewhere near Edinburg since four o'clock in the morning."
"Your mother is still at it?" Severus asked humourlessly, it amused him first time around, but for the second time it wasn't funny.
"Before or after she called father twisted, fucked up excuse of a husband and a father and expressed her hope that all three of us will hex his sorry ass into South Pole?" Regulus replied and after a pause he added, "that was right after she called him filthy, little, selfish, cruel git and before she threatened him with making him wearing the wedding ring again."
"You asked him about it under twelve drops of Veritaserum," Severus pointed out.
"Sure I did," said Mirzam simply. "That was before we found out that he build up immunity to Veritaserum through the years and how easily he slipped when Sirius asked him about something completely unrelated to it."
"But to be really sure about it we need to perform Heritage Charm," Regulus added.
"Assuming that you will find a way to drag him into the same room with the three of you," Mirzam muttered. "I say that the way he tries to avoid final confrontation speaks for itself."
After that he completely tuned out their conversation, they talked about something, he saw Regulus replying but he didn't heard anything.
He had a father. A father, the man who was responsible for his arrival to the world. The man who abandoned him, left him with an abusive excuse of a father in his place.
Suddenly he wasn't in his office anymore. No, he was back again at 12 Grimmauld Place and in front of him was the man who abandoned him. He wasn't aware of what he was doing but for a moment he was sure that he heard a yell.
"Torustitum! Stupfy!"
Then everything around him turned black.
"Well, that answered our questions about how he was going to take it," stated Mirzam grimly when Andromeda and Sirius's mother kicked them out from the room where they put unconscious Severus Snape.
Sirius glanced at his father who was still rubbing his neck furiously before Sirius muttered grimly, "You were lucky that I came back just in time, father." Then he turned to Mirzam and asked her again, "So one moment he was listening to you and in the other he flooed himself here and broke down the connection?"
"Shock?" supplied Regulus, who albeit came back to his normal form was still wearing Snape's teaching robes.
"Possibly," Sirius agreed quietly. "Reggie go back to Hogwarts and pretend to be him, hopefully by the end of the day he will be stable enough for us to decide if we should send him back or send you more Polyjuice."
Regulus nodded and he quickly left the corridor.
"I was asking for this, didn't I?" his father asked hoarsely. "I should have confess it the same day I came back."
"We are to blame too. We should be more careful," Mirzam sighed.
"Don't blame yourself Mimi," Sirius reassured her. "We all knew that he may react not very good to it. With his past its pretty self-explanatory."
Suddenly the door to the room opened just a bit and Sirius's mother peeked her head through the gap and said, "Strict bed rest for two weeks, no situations grating on his nerves, absolutely no screaming, yelling, arguing, quarrelling, fighting etcetera, etcetera, etcetera in his room or the corridor outside it. Someone needs to be by his side day and night till he wakes up from coma and no Orion you are not getting inside for your own good. Where is Regulus?"
"At Hogwarts already, I will send Polyjuice for him with Mirzam," Sirius replied quickly.
"How long he is going to stay in coma, mum?" Mirzam asked timidly.
"Three days for sure, a week at the most," she replied. "Too big shock for typical day worth coma."
"Irony is a bitch," Regulus muttered when Mirzam put three huge vials of Polyjuice Potion in front of him.
"Tell me something I don't know about," Mirzam muttered as she fell into seat Severus occupied earlier. "I thought that impersonating one teacher will be enough of a trouble but now with Severus gone you need to be very careful Reggie."
"Don't worry, I will be careful," Regulus replied.
Five days passed quickly for Sirius. Mirzam and Regulus didn't moved even an inch away from Hogwarts grounds and they were plotting how to get into Dumbledore's office unnoticed. During their short talks Mirzam assured Sirius that they found something and as long as Dumbledore was out from Hogwarts grounds along with his phoenix they will manage switching the swords in fifteen minutes. What they decided to do, Sirius didn't knew. Tonight little Remus was supposed to get through his first werewolf transformation with help of Remus and his father and grandfather. Sirius's mother was sparing her time respectively between minding the twins and Severus. Severus's state wasn't improving, he was still comatose and everybody walked around his room like there was a sleeping dragon inside it.
Today it was Sirius's turn to mind Severus for six hours. Andromeda was sure that he should wake up sometime tomorrow, at best. Sirius curled himself into a ball on the chair and stared at the night sky through the window.
"Water," he heard hoarse voice coming from the bed and it startled him so much that he fell from the chair.
He quickly picked himself up from the floor and scrambled to Severus's bed. Even in complete darkness he quickly discovered the glass of water which always stood by the bedside.
He draped his left arm around man's shoulders and pulled him onto sitting position before he twisted his right arm to reach the glass of water. He pressed the tip to his lips and watched as Severus drunk the water greedily.
"Paralysis Curse," Severus muttered when Sirius pulled the empty glass away.
"Safety precaution," Sirius mumbled sheepishly.
"I tried to kill him," Severus mumbled. "Didn't I?"
"You tried to strangle him, you were both lucky that I came back home from duty fifteen minutes earlier than I should. If I came on time … I don't even want to think about it," Sirius admitted.
"Dumbledore?" Severus mumbled and he nodded at Sirius to let him lie down.
"Reggie is convincing actor," Sirius sighed. "Though we are running out of Polyjuice Potion and its ingredients, slowly, but we still have Polyjuice for next week."
"I will be back at Hogwarts by then," Severus mumbled.
"Yeah," Sirius muttered. "And I'm Wankymort's right hand. Andromeda ordered two weeks of bed rest and you aren't getting out of this room before next week even if we have to keep you here under Paralysis Curse all the time."
"Can't you overpower her?" Severus mumbled.
"She is Bellatrix's sister," Sirius replied. "I'm not that stupid to go against her wishes, Severus."
"But you can lift the Paralysis Curse," Severus pointed out tiredly. "I feel too weak escape. Kind of like a horde of Hippogriffs ran over me."
"Side effect of calming potions," Sirius mumbled before he lifted Paralysis Curse.
Suddenly there was a huge crack somewhere downstairs which was followed by a louder thud. In the same moment pain rippled through Sirius and he screamed.
"It's the only way," Mirzam pointed out firmly.
"You won't manage to last more than fifteen minutes in this form without exhausting yourself. I know that Metaanimagus can change into animal of their own choosing when they are really desperate but thank you very much I'm rather fond of being alive and if I bring you home comatose Sirius is going to kill me," Regulus shook his head.
Mirzam was at it again, since she managed to get a hand on the book in Restricted Section about Metaanimagi, incredible rare kind of cross between both Animagi and Metamorphomagi or more specifically and scientifically accurate Metamorphomagi with Animagi ability. Most Metamorphomagi as shape-shifters never mastered Animagi. The book suggested that if a Metamorphmagus who was also an Animagus was really driven to change into an animal of their choosing he or she would succeed in doing it but the longer Metamorphomagus remained in the form of forced animal the drastic results transformation back would inflict and that crazy girl planned to change into a phoenix. A fucking Phoenix! Who was he kidding now, even ten minutes as Phoenix will send her in coma after transforming back, fifteen minutes will probably burn her magical core and reduce her into a squib.
Sirius was going to kill him, this was official.
"Give me the sword," she demanded.
"I'm not giving you the sword Mirzam," he hissed at her.
"Dumbledore and Fawkes are leaving the castle right now and if you don't give me this fucking sword I'm going to cast Imperius Curse on you, I mean it," Mirzam huffed angrily.
"I'm not letting you get yourself killed Mirzam," he huffed and he quickly threw the precious hair they managed to nick from Dumbledore into Polyjuice Potion in front of him. "I'm taking the sword, you are transforming into a cat and in front of Dumbledore's office you can transform into that overgrown chicken."
"You are underestimating an incredible magical animal," she huffed.
"Not when incredibly magical animal happens to be my crazy sister-in-law. You are really touched on the head to think that it will work," he growled.
"Then why you are accompanying me?" she snorted.
Here it was, again. But this time they could argue about which one of them was more stupid a bit later. Dumbledore and his Phoenix were out of the castle for at least a hour and Regulus and Mirzam had only this one hour to switch the swords.
Regulus quickly downed the cup with Polyjuice Potion which contained Dumbledore's hair and waited patiently until the change was finished. Once it was done he quickly took Severus's map from the desk which allowed them to see that Dumbledore was really gone. The fake Gryffindor sword was hanging on his right side. Mirzam quickly waved her wand at him before she transformed into the cat.
The way to Dumbledore's office was never so long like tonight and he felt exactly like he felt that night he went into the cave to collect the Horcrux. They were walking for a certain death. Finally, after what felt like ages they reached the gargoyle in front of Dumbledore's office and he muttered the password. As soon as the gargoyle closed behind them Mirzam transformed back and pushed herself in front of Regulus.
By the time he reached the door to the office Mirzam had already her wand in the keyhole. Judging by the look on her face she already cast Muffliato and Confundus on the room. This way the portraits won't be hearing what they were talking about and they will think that they weren't here. Thankfully counter curses to them was something Regulus could do once they were done if Mirzam managed to collapse because of the change into Phoenix.
"Do not change until you really have to," he hissed at her.
She nodded and she cast Disillusion Charm on herself before she slowly opened the door and walked inside.
All portraits thankfully were snoring loudly and no one of them even twitched as the door opened. Regulus walked to the glass box and pretended to be looking thoughtfully at it while Mirzam was busy with removing the shields from the box. Suddenly the glass seemed to vanish and in front of them appeared Gryffindor's Sword.
Regulus examined the room cautiously looking for a wayward non sleeping former Headmaster and thankfully he found no one before he handed fake sword to Mirzam. She put it directly above the real sword by using her left hand as her right hand removed the real sword. Very gently and silently she pulled the real sword out of the box and laid fake on in its place. She passed real sword to Regulus and then she whipped her fingertips from the copy. Very calmly and methodically she restored every single charm on the box.
They made their way halfway down the stairs before she hissed at him, "Give me the sword."
He gave her the sword and watched as it blended with her Disillusion Charm. Then something weird had happened. The fire burst in the place she was supposed to be standing and he felt that something pulled him and threw him into something akin to apportation.
He landed on his back on Severus's bed not really sure what he was supposed to be doing here since just a second ago he was supposed to be halfway down the stairs to the exit of Dumbledore's Office. He didn't saw Mirzam or the sword so that meant only one thing, she changed into that damned Phoenix but he couldn't understand why. Deciding to not tamper with luck he rushed into the bathroom where the vial with Polyjuice Potion which was supposed to change him back into Severus was hidden and took a deep gulp. Hopefully Dumbledore will remain unaware of the switch and hopefully Mirzam would survive the change. Maybe he will live to see next day.
The pain was still coursing through his veins. It was one of the most horrible experiences in his entire life. Suddenly in this hazy from pain state he realised something, Mirzam. Something had happened to Mirzam. He rushed out of the room as fast as his state allowed him. Downstairs, the thump came from downstairs. He tripped on the first stair and prepared himself for a fall but it didn't came. He was frozen in the air and he couldn't move a finger.
"Wait," he heard hoarse voice from behind. "If she is in bad shape you may need my help."
The footsteps seemed painfully slow and it seemed to Sirius that an age had passed before Severus caught him by the arm and prevented his fall. Despite that they made their way to the hall on ground floor relatively quickly.
Above Mirzam's unconscious form was crouching Sirius's father.
"Unconscious," he muttered before he waved his wand at her. "But stable. Wally take the Polyjuice with McGonagall's hair and floo immediately to Regulus! We will need to take her upstairs," he said as he picked her up from the ground.
Sirius and Severus followed him to the first free room on the first floor where Sirius's father lied Mirzam down on the bed.
"She has the sword," Severus whispered.
Sirius father slowly removed the sword from her side and passed it to Sirius who clutched it tightly.
"What now?" he asked.
"We wait," his father replied. "We wait till she wakes up Sirius. There is nothing else we can do."
"There has to be something," Sirius mumbled.
"Stay with her, Sirius," his father said calmly. "Severus, I will walk you back into your room."
He wasn't in his best shape, nope, this was one of the worst shapes he ever was but he would be damned if he will let his so called father help him come back to his room, thank you very much. Not paying attention to the man Severus left the room where Mirzam was lying and slowly made his way to his room, with Mr Black following his footsteps.
Severus sat down on his bed with a heavy sigh. Whatever Mirzam had done she performed extremely powerful and dangerous magic to knock herself unconscious and he hoped that she was going to be fine. Gryffindor's Sword wasn't more important than her health. Severus lied back on the bed and pulled the covers around himself.
"Severus," he heard from the doorway.
He looked at the door and saw Mr Black standing there.
"Yes, Mr Black?" Severus asked sourly.
"It's Orion," the man said calmly. "If you can't stomach dad, or even father."
"I have no father," Severus muttered angrily. "Don't bother."
"You are still my son," the man said, his voice was still calm.
"Took you long enough to admit it," Severus snorted. "Why do you care now? You didn't cared about me earlier. How long you had knew? Why you didn't tell me sooner?"
"I always cared about you, Severus," said Mr Black. "And I knew since you were twelve."
He glared at the man. How he dared to remain in the same room as he was? Especially now. Since he was twelve. Ten years, ten fucking years. Seven of them spend with abusive man who was supposed to be his father.
"Why you didn't take me away then?" Severus asked as calmly as he could.
"It would break your mother's heart," the man sighed. "Besides Walburga would turn your life into a living hell if I took you. And Sirius…"
"What about him?" Severus snarled.
"Sirius would hate me even more," the man whispered. "Shortly before my forty-first birthday something about him had changed. Suddenly he became someone else. He hated me… and then you two meet … and you know how your relationship looked alike back then… I couldn't stand him hating me even more…"
"I was your son and you abandoned me," Severus growled.
"You were my son," the man said quietly. "So was Sirius. And Sirius… You have to understand something Severus. Sirius was, is and will always remain my firstborn son and out of the three of you only he passed the test he was subjected to. Only he used his knowledge of Dark Arts and Dark Magic for a good cause."
"It still doesn't changes the fact that you knew that you had another son and that you abandoned him. To the hell with your tests," Sirius muttered angrily, he was standing right behind Mr Black. "Sure if you told me back then I would throw a temper tantrum but you still shouldn't left him."
"Sirius," the man turned to face Black.
"Leave," Sirius whispered. "You can come back for Horcrux's Slayers Club at Wednesday and not sooner and you will also leave as soon as the meeting will end," he said calmly.
"Sirius…" the man started again.
"I'm the Head of Black family and I'm telling you to leave this house. Now," Black said dangerously. "You will come back when your sins are forgiven. By all of us."
Mr Black looked like was about to say something but Sirius's extended his hand and pointed at the corridor.
"Fine," Mr Black mumbled finally. "If it makes you happy, I will leave now," he added and he walked out from the room.
"Thank you," Severus whispered. "How is she?"
"She woke up with enormous headache. I gave her Pain Relief Potion and told her to catch a nap. Tomorrow she will have to fix McGonagall and she should be in good shape for it. And you are welcome. Now sleep before I will send Andromeda after you," Black gave him small, uncomfortable smile.
Despite the Pain Relief Potion Mirzam slept very bad that night. She felt guilt for not joining her son during the full moon. Even more for dropping Regulus of to Severus's quarters without a word. She opened her eyes slowly and surveyed the room, it seemed very early judging by how little light was coming into the room. Sirius was nowhere to be seen.
She sat up on the bed slowly. No dizziness in so far and she decided to go downstairs for a cup of tea. She quickly pulled on her dressing-gown, pocketed her wand and left the room. The house seemed strangely silent.
As soon as Mirzam reached the entrance hall she heard a noise coming from the door. It sounded like knocking. Slowly she approached the door and opened them wide enough to see who was outside.
In front of her was standing a woman, who was probably few years older than she was. Her long blonde hair were wild and her blue eyes were full of tears. In her arms was lying a bundle and a small bloodied hand was peeking out from it.
"Andromeda," she whispered. "I need Andromeda."
"What happened?" Mirzam asked quickly.
"Draco," the woman whispered. "Werewolves … last night … just found him…"
"Come in," Mirzam said and she stepped aside to let the woman in and as soon as the woman entered the room Mirzam waved at the other side of the corridor. "I will join you in a moment."
The woman quickly entered the room and Mirzam summoned the ointment Andromeda used to fix Remus's wounds. Mirzam followed the woman into the room and right when she entered the room the woman was lying the kid down on the bed.
Mirzam approached her and lied the ointment on the bedside table. She quickly cleared dried blood with one flick of her wand and examined the child. Left tight had a big bite which pierced the skin and muscles. It was obvious that the werewolf who did it wanted the child to live with the curse of lycantrophy. Abandoning that thought for a while she conjured the bandages and smeared the ointment on the wound before she bandaged it.
"That's all what we can do," Mirzam whispered and she turned around to face the woman. "Now can you sit down and tell me exactly what had happened?"
The woman twisted her slim hands together is desperate manner but she sat obediently on the couch behind her. Mirzam sat down on the bed facing the woman.
"This morning," the woman said shakily. "This morning I went to his room and saw him … covered in blood."
"The wound is deep but since there is only one I assume that the werewolf who attacked your son meant to pass the curse of lycantrophy, not kill your son. Do you have any idea why and who might have done it?" Mirzam cut the woman quickly, seeing that her explanations weren't going to help her much.
The woman nodded slowly and she whispered, "My husband, Lucius … Malfoy … knew Fernir Greyback … before Lucius went to Azkaban … he and Greyback had an argument about something … Lucius never told me … and this morning … Draco," her voice broke down and she hid her face in her hands.
"You will have to come with me, madam," Mirzam said quickly.
"But Draco…" the woman whispered pleadingly.
"I will call your sister. She will watch after him," Mirzam explained. "Okay? I need to see the room in which the attack took place, so does my husband."
"Husband?" the woman mumbled.
"Sirius," Mirzam explained as she stood up. "I will fetch him and call Andromeda. Okay?"
The woman nodded slowly and Mirzam left the room. From the corridor she went down to the kitchen and knocked on the hidden door where the werewolves were supposed to transform.
"Sirius," she said. "I'm going to need your help. There was another attack."
No answer came but she was sure that Sirius heard her, assuming that he was in the room and she quickly went to the fireplace to floo to Andromeda.
"4 Shepherdes Walk, London," she called as she threw floo powder to the fireplace. She knelt down and put her head in the fire before she called, "Andromda! I need you here."
For a moment nothing had happened. The living-room at the Tonks Place looked as normal as possible. Suddenly Mirzam heard rustle of footsteps on the stairs and Andromeda entered the room. With her dressing-gown hanging loosely on her arms and her tousled hair she looked like she just woke up.
"Mirzam," Andromeda mumbled as she crouched in front of Mirzam. "What happened?"
"There was another attack, Droma," Mirzam exhaled. "Narcissa's son was bitten. Sirius and I need to check the house but someone needs to stay with the kid."
"We were attacked too," Andromeda whispered. "I'm sorry Mirzam but Dora…" her voice broke down.
Mirzam's heart filled with dread but she quickly composed herself and whispered, "Stay with Dora. I will find someone to watch over Draco."
She pulled her head from the fire and sat on the floor in front of the fireplace. Two attacks. Two, separate attacks which happened at the same time, whose victims were young children. They weren't random attacks, they were meant to…
"Scare us," she whispered.
... and Homam was the only child in Black family who wasn't bitten by a werewolf. Remmy, werewolf. Draco, werewolf. Dora, werewolf. Those attacks were warnings. But Sirius told her that he didn't get any closer to solving that damned case since the beginning. It was weird…
Ever since she woke up Narcissa knew that something bad had happened. That numbing thought appeared as soon as she became aware of empty, too big for her, bed, and as soon as she put the dressing gown on that feeling only got stronger. Something bad happened. It took a moment for her motherly instinct to kick in. Draco … What about Draco …
Andromeda slept like a dead last night, a very unlikely thing, even for her. She was light sleeper and even a wind whistling a bit too loud could wake her up. Great when you are a Healer and need to be ready to help your patients but when it came into being a mother of overexcited Metamorphomagus it wasn't great. But still sleeping through whole night wasn't normal for Andromeda and with a feeling that something bad had happened during the night she stood up from the bed and went to check on Dora. What she saw in her daughter's room made her scream from shock.
"Severus," someone called his name.
"Go t' hel," he mumbled sleepily.
He absolutely didn't wanted to be woken up from the best sleep he got in last few months.
"Severus," the same voice called his name again. "We need your help. There was an attack…"
That woke him up and he shoot up into sitting position immediately. In front of him was standing Mirzam, she was dressed up into her Auror uniform and her face was deadly serious.
"What?" he mumbled sleepily.
"I need someone to watch over Draco," she said quickly. "He is stable but I don't want to leave him on his own and I need Narcissa to come with me and Sirius. I called Andromeda, they were attacked last night too, I'm not sure about Dora's state but if these two attacks have something in common then I hope that she is stable too."
"What attack?" he mumbled as he put his bare legs on the floor.
"Werewolves," she said grimly.
"Take Narcissa out and tell her that I will come to watch over him in a minute," he told her quickly.
She nodded and left the room.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fucking. Fuckety. Fuck. This wasn't good.
Narcissa watched every move her cousin and his Mud… Muggle-born wife were doing. Currently the duo was crouching in front of the kitchen door and were whispering something to each other furiously. She was standing too far away to hear what they were talking about.
"I'll go to the Ministry and check with Madam Bones if there wasn't more attacks, Mimi," Sirius said finally as he stood up. "You stay there and make sure that no one goes in. I'll come back as soon as I can. Cissy," he turned to Narcissa, "you can come back to Grimmauld and stay with Draco."
She was tempted to do it but whomever come to watch over Draco after she left his room was capable of taking care of him for few more minutes. Besides the pure-blood in her didn't wanted to leave the Mud… Muggle-born here on her own. She owned the Malfoy family as much.
"I will stay and we will wait for you. The two of us are more capable of handling any intruder," Narcissa replied calmly but she hoped that her tone indicate that it wasn't a matter to argue.
Sirius looked irritated but as soon as it appeared it vanished and he nodded slowly as he said, "I will use your fireplace if it won't be a problem."
The woman said nothing as he left the kitchen. She remained in her place, crouched in the doorway. Her head was turned in the direction of the gates.
"A warning," she whispered finally. "A warning of some sort."
"What do you mean?" Narcissa asked more sharply than she intended.
"Your sister's house was attacked too last night," the woman said without turning her head to Narcissa. "Her daughter was bitten."
Andromeda. They might not talk for ages but Andromeda was still her sister and the thought of someone attacking her was paralysing one for Narcissa.
"Why?" she whispered.
"I don't know," said the woman and she finally turned her head to look at Narcissa, her violet eyes were full of sympathy. "But if they were more…" she hung her voice. "We are going to have a lot of trouble."
"If they were more…" Narcissa started but didn't dared to finish.
"This means a plot of some sort," the woman whispered. "A sick twisted way for Wizarding World to admit that they have a problem with werewolves. These attacks weren't random attacks, Mrs Malfoy, they were meant to scare some people. If they were more attacks, especially on pure-blood families… and they children… people who love their children are going to push for better rights for werewolves. Smart job, if you ask me, instead of putting they own heads under the axe they will let the society fight their cause for them."
"People would never do it. Werewolves…" Narcissa started. She meant to say 'werewolves are vile creatures' but she quickly realised that her son was a werewolf now. "Smart indeed," she whispered after a long pause.
"There is a potion which will help with transformations," the woman said suddenly. "Wolfsbane Potion."
"How do you know it?" Narcissa asked curiously.
"One of my twins was bitten by a Muggle werewolf few months ago. I chose to not report it, Sirius doesn't cares if Remmy gets furry once in a month, the family is pretty supportive and loves the kid regardless," the woman replied quietly.
"You mean your own family because I can hardly picture any member of Black family being supportive towards a werewolf, member of the family or not," Narcissa said sourly.
"You will never know until you ask," said the woman. "They need to get informed," she whispered suddenly as she pulled her wand from her pocket and whispered, "Expecto Patronum."
From the tip of her wand erupted silver dog and landed in front of her on the ground.
"Go to the family. Park Road. Maida Valley. Green Street. Shepherdes Walk. Tell them to come to Grimmauld Place as soon as possible, all of them. Find Orion, we will need his help," the woman said to the Patronus and the dog bowed its head and ran away in the direction of the gates.
Orion? Wasn't he supposed to be dead? Last time she checked, he was anyway.
"You are pretty confident that they will come at your request," Narcissa said calmly. "You never know."
"On the contrary," the woman said calmly. "I know that they will come."
"Why?" Narcissa asked curiously.
"Because it affects the family," the woman said.
"And since when they consider you as the family. You are a Mudblood," Narcissa said before she managed to stop herself.
The woman grimaced before she said simply, "I'm Mirzam Black, nee Verascez, Sirius Black's wife, a known Muggle-born Auror and the mother of two heirs of the family. What affects the family will bring the family to a meeting. And what had happened affects the family. They will come on my call, unlike yours."
"Why?" Narcissa asked calmly.
"Because you kidnapped Homam," the woman, Mirzam said calmly.
Homam? Of course she heard about the kid but she never saw him. She heard from Lucius that for a moment Bellatrix brought the kid to their home but he only told her that after the kid mysteriously vanished from his cell.
"I never," Narcissa whispered. "Your son was unworthy of the name of Black family but I would never do such a thing. I wasn't aware that he was here until he was gone and I don't even know how he left the Manor."
"I kidnapped him," said Mirzam calmly.
"You kidnapped him?" Narcissa whispered. "From this house?"
"He was hidden in the basement. Thirteenth cell on the left," said Mirzam. "I don't like when people take away what is mine and Homam is mine son, Mrs Malfoy. Your husband's familiarity with Greyback lead into what happened to your son. If Draco's health is someone's fault then for sure it's your husband's, his actions lead to it. Now pardon me, I need to go to the bathroom," she said and she left the kitchen.
Narcissa only stared blankly at the floor.
She said that she went to the bathroom but while bathroom was situated next to the kitchen Mirzam chose to went upstairs. She climbed up the stairs and went to the master bedroom. Regulus told them once that the diary of Tom Riddle should be in Lucius Malfoy's possession and the opportunity was too good to pass. Lucius should hid the diary somewhere close to him and since Lucius was in Azkaban…
She entered the room and examined it slowly. There was no book around, save a tasteless romance on the bedside table.
"What you are looking for?" asked Mrs Malfoy from the doorway, she looked angry.
"The diary," Mirzam replied simply. "Your husband got a hold of a diary of Tom Marvolo Riddle."
Mrs Malfoy looked pensive for a moment before she answered slowly, "Black book covered in leather? Lucius kept it in the library. I'm certain that it was there on Christmas Day but now…"
"Take me to the library," Mirzam barked.
They couldn't afford loosing the diary from their sight, not now. They had the locket and the diadem but it wasn't enough.
Mrs Malfoy didn't moved for an inch and just stared at Mirzam with unreadable look on her face. Drastic terms need drastic measures, Mirzam decided and she strode to Mrs Malfoy and pressed the tip of her wand to her throat.
"The diary or I will have no problems with making it look like a werewolf attack. I might be a Muggle-born but I know enough of Dark Arts to kill and I was told that I'm great actress," Mirzam said through gritted teeth. "No one saw you besides me and Sirius and Sirius will remain quiet."
"You wouldn't," Mrs Malfoy whispered.
Mirzam felt fury in her raising and she growled, "Trust me, I would. The diary."
"Why you need it?" Mrs Malfoy whispered.
"To get rid of the vermin," Mirzam hissed. "And don't think that the family would hold it against me. They know that drastic terms need drastic measures and right now that diary is worth more than your life and they will see it as such. And you won't be needing this," she added as she pulled the wand from Mrs Malfoy's pocket. "The diary and I may be merciful and let you live."
Mrs Malfoy flinched but she nodded slowly and stepped away from Mirzam. She lead her down the stairs to the room on the right side from the entrance. The room was huge. The ceiling was twice as high as the one in the ballroom at Grimmauld and the ebony bookshelves were reaching the top of it.
"It's here," said Mrs Malfoy as she stopped in the middle of the room and pointed at the shelf between the two French windows on the opposite side of the room.
"Then bring it to me," Mirzam muttered.
Mrs Malfoy approached the bookshelf and started moving the books. Suddenly Mirzam heard a gasp.
"It's not here," Mrs Malfoy whispered. "But I swear that he put it here."
Suddenly the red light zoomed past Mirzam' right shoulder and she whirled around to see a man in his late forties. He looked like he was mauled by a Hippogriff but he was smiling at her lividly.
"Isn't it mommy dearest?" he asked lividly. "The one who took the one which belonged to my kind as her own."
"Ravensworth," Mrs Malfoy gasped.
"I'm here to take what is mine. Where are they?" the man asked.
Mirzam said nothing.
"Where are they and I will let you live Mudblood!" the man growled.
"I may be a Mudblood but a Mudblood is better than a filthy beast," Mirzam said through gritted teeth, "who enjoys destroying lives of little children. And that's what you are Ravensworth, a filthy beast."
"Mudblood, but a fiery one," the man snorted. "I bet that you are good in bed."
"I'm a mantis," Mirzam snorted. "I bite their heads off after I'm done with them. I'm keeping my husband for fun."
Suddenly the man lunged at her with a speed so unlike for someone who recently recovered after a full moon and knocked her to the ground. Her wand rolled away from her hand as two big hands closed around her neck. Nails scrapped on her neck. The man was sitting on the top of her and he moved a bit backwards, his groin nuzzled her womb, he was hard.
"You will bear my children, fiery," he said lividly as he nuzzled her check with his nose, his breath was hot and smelt like blood.
"Never," she grunted and she tried to hit him.
The hands tightened around her neck and even if she tried to gasp for air she didn't succeed. Everything went black.
How much time passed before she regained her strength, she didn't knew. Firstly she became distinctly aware of shrieks of utter horror, then grunts of man's … content.
"No, please," she heard Mrs Malfoy's voice, she was crying. "No!"
"Oh, no. I'm not done with you blondie," came a pant.
Then it came back. Ravensworthy and Mrs Malfoy. Oh Merlin, he was raping her.
Mirzam's instinct kicked in. She turned her head to the right where her wand rolled away and spotted it, if she extended her right hand two inches farther she would reach it.
"You will bear my spawn. The fiery one will too," grunted the man.
Hell will sooner freeze over. She grabbed her wand and rolled on her stomach, her elbows slipped on the blood which was pouring from her abused neck. On an instinct the wand was pointed straight at the man and cold fury filled her. He was a filthy beast with no morality, he was depraved, deranged son of a bitch who didn't deserved to live. The words formed on her lips and at the same time from her wand erupted green light which hit the man straight into his back and he collapsed on the top of Mrs Malfoy.
As quickly as her weakened state allowed her Mirzam crawled to Mrs Malfoy and pushed the man away from her. Then she leaned on her elbows and stared at the other woman. Mrs Malfoy like Mirzam had deep gashes on her throat. Her blue eyes were open wide and Mirzam saw traces of tears on her face.
Summoning the memory of her wedding day Mirzam whispered the incantation, "Expecto Patronum."
The silver dog appeared again and it landed gracefully in front of her.
"Go to Grimmauld. Tell them to come to Malfoy Manor and bring Andromeda. We need a healer," she whispered.
The dog nodded and flew away in the same moment her elbows gave up and she collapsed to the ground. She felt weak, very weak and she could only stare at Mrs Malfoy's terrified face.
"You saved me," Mrs Malfoy whispered hoarsely. "Thank you."
"Welcome," Mirzam mumbled and she collapsed.
Pollux was the first person who arrived to Grimmauld Place at Mirzam's request. Archie and Mel were supposed to come in next few minutes, they just needed to pick up something.
He went to the kitchen and poured himself a cup of tea before he sat down at the table. Suddenly in front of him appeared Mirzam's Patronus. It mouth opened wide and it spoke in Mirzam's voice.
"Come to Malfoy Manor and bring Andromeda. We need a healer."
His instinct kicked in and abandoning his cup of tea he ran to the fireplace. He grabbed a handful of floo powder and threw it to the fireplace as he entered it and called out, "Malfoy Manor!"
He fell out of the fireplace in the living-room at Malfoy Manor and landed on his knees. He quickly picked himself up and examined the room frantically. It looked normal. Too normal.
Mirzam needed help but where she could be? Logically she could be in one of the bedrooms but the fact that Mirzam was here meant only one thing. Regulus suggested that the diary was in possession of Lucius Malfoy and where Lucius could hide the book … in plain sight which meant library.
He rushed in the direction of the library and nearly stumbled on the carpet when she saw three bodies in the farthest corner of the room. Two belonged to Mirzam and Narcissa and the remaining one looked like a man. Mirzam's and Narcissa's hands were clutching each other tightly.
He ran to them and quickly knelt next to them. To his horror he realised that both of them were bleeding profusely from their necks, there were marks which looked suspiciously like nails on them.
He quickly cast healing charm on Mirzam but the blood didn't stopped oozing slowly from the gash.
"Werewolf," came Narcissa's hoarse voice. "She … was … first."
He quickly conjured bandages and wrapped them around Mirzam's wound carefully to not strangle her but tight enough to keep blood loss to the minimum before he did the same to Narcissa.
"The diary," Narcissa whispered. "She looked for it …" she paused to take a breath and added, "It's gone. Taken. Don't know whom."
"Calm down, Cissy," he told her quickly even if the fear squeezed his heart. The diary was gone, "Andromeda should be at Grimmauld Place. I will side-along both of you."
He grabbed their hands and concentrated at the hall at 12 Grimmauld Place firmly.
Sirius paced the office of Madam Bones. The woman herself was seated behind her desk and was reading aloud the report.
"Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Pansy Parkinson. That's dead. Now injured: Draco Malfoy, Nymphadora Tonks, Mandy Blockehurst who is still fighting for her life at St. Mungo's. Then Sara Weasley, same state as Mandy. The same with Frederick Brown. Cedric Diggory. That's these who were reported, we don't know how many weren't," she said grimly.
"Do you see the pattern?" Sirius asked impatiently. "Pure-bloods. Blockehurst and the Browns are relatively young pureblood families but still one. And Dora is still a descent of a one. I'm telling you that it wasn't just random attacks Madam Bones."
"Three dead, six injured," Madam Bones sighed and then she looked back at the parchment. "Sara Weasley and Frederick Brown just died. Five dead and four injured," she mumbled. "No. Mandy Blockehurst died too. Six dead and three injured."
"Fuck," Sirius huffed and he kicked the armchair angrily. "This is going to be a massacre."
"Certainly," Madam Bones muttered and she picked new piece of parchment which appeared on her desk. "New report for injured. Percy Weasley. Samuel McMillan. Luna Lovegood. Harry Hopkins, I'm not familiar with this name, Muggle-born probably," she paused for a moment and then she added. "I remember, Muggle-born whose parents died in a car crash when he was two, his father's second cousin adopted him, he works in Floo Network.."
"That's thirteen," Sirius muttered. "Six dead, seven injured. They are all in St Mungo's?"
"Except young Malfoy and Tonks which are supposed to be under your care, yes they are," Madam Bones answered. "It will be problematic in the future, Sirius. All seven are just kids, who are supposed to be going to Hogwarts but in present circumstances…"
"Fuck present circumstances!" Sirius bellowed. "A werewolf attended Hogwarts before. Dumbledore knows better than to argue about it. He will allow all eight to enter Hogwarts. There are safety precautions for this circumstances and they are going to be used. Just because of psychopathic band of werewolves attacked innocent children the kids shouldn't be punished for something which wasn't their fault! They will attend Hogwarts, I will see to that!"
"You are an Auror," Madam Bones pointed out.
"I have a seat in Hogwarts' Board of Governors. Actually two and I think that I have Narcissa Malfoy and the McMillans behind me, as well as the Diggorys. Crabbe senior and his wife had been killed during the ride and since then everything goes down to the closest relative, ergo my mother. To sum it up I have six seats in the Board of Governors which has twelve seats and correct me if I'm wrong that to press a matter I need seven out of twelve. Twelve votes are only required when it comes to suspending or kicking out the headmaster which I had no intend to do so. And I'm scary enough to persuade the seventh member of the Board of Governors to agree with me."
"What kind of security precautions we are talking about?" asked Madam Bones calmly.
"A shack on the outskirts of Hogsmead, connected with Hogwarts ground by a hidden tunnel behind the Whomping Willow which prevents anyone from entering. The shack was warded beyond human's capacity by my father himself and between you and me he was exceptional warder," Sirius explained. "Plus I believe that Dumbledore's Potions Master is one of the few people who are capable of preparing Wolfsbane Potion, perhaps if the school give him a raise for preparing the potion which is a very difficult and time consuming task which requires not very cheap ingredients he could be persuaded into doing it."
"You think so?" Madam Bones asked.
"Every man has his price Madam Bones. And if he doesn't want to do it for money then he will do it because Dumbledore will oblige him to do so. It's a win-win situation," Sirius said calmly.
"Bring the matter at the next meeting of Hogwarts' Board of Governors," Madam Bones said pensively. "Now allow me to kill some reporters and go to check upon your wife and cousin before they kill each other."
Sirius nodded and with a quick good-bye he left his boss's office.
Andromeda was very wary about taking barely conscious Dora to Grimmauld Place, but Mirzam probably had very good reasons to call a meeting. Ted took the cab while she flooed to the kitchen where she meet very peaky Severus Snape who looked like he was ran by a horde of Hippogriffs.
"I thought that you were supposed to rest," she said dangerously.
"I thought about it too but since Mirzam and Sirius went with Narcissa I'm the only adult in the house and Mirzam asked me to mind Draco," he answered calmly.
"Where are the others?" Andromeda asked.
"Not here, yet," he answered sourly. "Should they be here?"
"Mirzam called us to come. All of us. Don't ask me why because I don't have a faintest idea," Andromeda replied.
Suddenly she heard a crack of apportation in the hall and someone called, "I need help! Now!"
Andromeda rushed out of the kitchen up the stairs. In the hall kneeling between unconscious Mirzam and barely conscious Narcissa was kneeling her grandfather.
"What happened?" asked Snape quickly.
"Werewolf attack," Pollux breathed out. "After the full moon. The wounds can't be healed."
"I will get the dittany ointment," Snape said and he quickly left the hallway.
"Bring it to the room on the first floor," Andromeda called after him before pulled out her wand and pointed it at Narcissa.
Together with Pollux she levitated both woman into the first room on the left on first floor. As soon as they were put on the bed Andromeda cast examining charm on Mirzam. Aside from the gashes on her neck and a mild concussion she was fine. Then Andromeda cast examining charm on Narcissa and gasped, she had gashes on her neck, just like Mirzam and also had a mild concussion but unlike Mirzam, Narcissa was raped by someone quite recently.
In the same moment Snape burst into the room with the jar of dittany ointment in his hands.
"Start with Mirzam, she was worse," Pollux said quickly.
"Just her neck," Andromeda said. "Put the jar between them so I can put it on Narcissa too."
As soon as he apparated to the hall Sirius felt that someone walked into him and he quickly whirled around to see his father.
"Mirzam called a meeting. Don't know why but she told me to come here, as well as the others. They are already in the kitchen judging by the noise but she isn't here," his father said quickly before Sirius had a chance to even open his mouth.
"She is with Narcissa at the Malfoy Manor," Sirius said calmly.
"She is upstairs, with Narcissa. Injured, both. First room on the left on the first floor," he heard his grandfather's voice from behind.
He whirled around to face the man, he looked very grimly and had a blood stain on his left hand.
"What?" Sirius mumbled.
"From what Narcissa told me it was a werewolf attack. They are both unconscious but perhaps you would want to see her," he said sadly.
Sirius rushed up the stairs to the room without looking back.
Minerva McGongall glared at the door stubbornly. She was imprisoned, and wandless since whomever was keeping her here took away her wand and for the life of her she couldn't remember who the hell it was. All she remembered was following Severus Snape, a former student of hers to a brothel in London, after this her memories got a bit more messier. She thought that she caught a glimpse of Sirius Black, Mirzam Verascez and Severus Snape as well as, more surprising since they were supposed to be dead, Regulus and Orion Black.
Orion Black married Walburga Black, a former classmate of hers and together they produced Mr Devil Reincarnated also known as Sirius Black and Mr Please Professor Tell Me How to Become An Animagus also known as supposedly deceased Regulus Black. But why in the name of all things magical Severus Snape was in the same room with Sirius and he seemed quite content with being there. It stunk like some kind of a mischief and she would be damned if she won't get down to the bottom off it, damn it. She wasn't Deputy Headmistress only because she was the oldest female member of Hogwarts staff, for the love of Merlin.
She assumed that she was either at the ancestral house of Black family at 12 Grimmauld Place or either in one of the countless houses which belonged to the family. The room was warded beyond human comprehending capacity and it prevented her from transforming into her Animagi form and in the moment the door were opened and her food brought into she was going blind, presumably to not see the face of whomever was feeding her.
But why they kept her here, locked up like a criminal. What they were doing which made them lock her up here, wherever that here was? And why Albus didn't started looking for her already? Did no one realised that she was missing?
"Argh," she huffed and threw her hands in the air angrily.
It was pointless. Completely and utterly pointless. What she had discovered which made them lock her up?
Suddenly the door to her prison opened but unlike the other times she didn't went blind in the exact moment the door clicked open. Through the small hole between the door and its frame peeked out a small head of a kid which looked about two years old and bore extremely resemblance of one of Sirius's and Mirzam's sons. The kid smiled at her and slowly wobbled into the room.
For a short moment she didn't knew what she was supposed to do. Should she use the opportunity which presented herself and ran away or should she remain here assuming that it was a trick, a test of some sort…
But she wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing. A Gryffindor would seize the opportunity which presented itself to him or her and he or she will try his or hers best to get everything which was possible. In this case her freedom.
Very slowly she approached the door, not paying attention to the kid at all. Quickly he peeked through the door and saw the hallway. Yep, she was in ancestral house of Black family, indeed. Quickly she stepped out of the room and transformed into her animagi form. Deciding to be far more cautious this time than she was last time she kept walking close to the walls. Slowly she made her way through two floors and stopped on the landing before the third one because she heard hushed voices.
"Narcissa said that the diary was gone," said the voice which sounded suspiciously like Pollux Black, former member of Hogwarts' Board of Governors before Orion stepped into his place.
"Fuck," come Sirius's voice. "Not good."
"Did Mirzam managed to restore Minerva's memories from last few weeks," asked the voice which sounded like Orion.
"Not yet," came the voice of Severus Snape.
"She was supposed to do it today," Sirius added. "Obviously now we have to pray that what Reggie and Mum have will last next few days."
"Unless Andromeda clears me off and we cut Regulus from using Polyjuice. This will save us some time," said Severus sourly.
"No way," Pollux snorted. "It's Andromeda we are talking about. She won't let you get away so easily."
"No offence but currently we have the weakest links in the chain at Hogwarts. I rather doubt that your mother will resist Dumbeldore's Legilimency skills, Regulus would manage as long as he isn't supposed to use magic," Severus muttered.
"No one taken, brother," Sirius muttered.
Brother? Did this few months in Azkaban messed with Sirius's brain? Why in the name of Merlin he was calling Severus his brother.
"Perhaps if Orion switched places with Walburga …" started Pollux.
"It's good idea," Severus said quickly. "You don't want him here, your mother isn't the best Occlumens around and only Mirzam can fix McGonagall."
"Someone needs to tell Regulus that the Horcrux got away," Orion muttered. "That's the last thing we need know if what you told us is going to happen. Polly, how soon you can appoint Sirius the member of Hogwarts Board of Governors?"
"By Monday," Pollux answered. "Assuming that Mirzam will wake up by Sunday evening, that's it. It would be good if she was appointed to the Black family seat while Sirius will take the Lestranges. If Narcissa recovers quickly she will make Malfoy seat. Mel had already gone to pester her family for the seat for her. By the end of next week your mother will get the seat of the Crabbes. Since that moment all you need is persuading the Diggorys to help you, that's and kill Umbridge, Dolores I think. She will never allow a bunch of werewolves to attend Hogwarts."
"No need to worry about Umbridge," Orion muttered. "She was half-consumed by the werewolves yesterday. It's all over the Prophet."
"Who holds her seat?" asked Severus quickly.
"Distant family," Orion replied. "Her grandmother was a bastard child of Terrence Potter. Therefore whole inheritance goes to the closest male relative from the Potter family, Harry and since Harry is rather unfit to take this inheritance due to the decree that in case of extinction of Potter family blah, blah, blah. In the end it goes to you Sirius."
"Assuming that Molly won't buy her way into the Prewetts seats you have the Lestranges, the Blacks, the McMillans, the Malfoys, the Crabbes, the Umbridges and the Diggorys seats in your hands, Sirius. Seven seats quite a number, " said Pollux calmly.
"Quite a number but not enough butts to sit on them," Sirius snorted. "Mirzam and I go for the Black family and the Lestranges. Cissy will take the Malfoys. Amos will remain at the Diggorys seat. Mum will take the Crabbes. Grandma Mel will take the McMillans. Hopefully either aunt Lucy or uncle Iggy will take the Prewetts. You and grandpa Archie are at the Wizengamot. Dad and Reggie are supposedly dead. Severus teaches at Hogwarts so he can't be a part of the Board and I really don't trust uncle Ciggy to take the Umbridges seat."
"Use either Lucy or Iggy if the other was chosen as a member," Orion supplied. "Eight seats out of twelve, pretty nice."
"Don't count the seats before the day ends," Pollux muttered. "Better think how to persuade the Yaxley to hand over the seat to someone else."
"Whom?" Sirius muttered.
"Barty Crouch for example," Pollux supplied.
"Yuck," Sirius snorted.
"I prefer law abiding sociopath instead a member of the Death Eaters, thank you very much," Pollux replied. "Come to think about it what about the Longbottoms seat?"
"Unless Molly have two butts to sit on them she will have to handle over one of them to us," Orion replied. "Hopefully you will get a hand, at least for 'Werewolves at Hogwarts' case for nine seats out of twelve. Plus Crouch if you get Yaxley out of the way. That gives ten and eight will let you become the Head of the Board of Governors. You will easily overpower McLaggen and Smith, jerks."
"Sadly not related to us but smart enough to get the message," Pollux added.
"I rather doubt it," Sirius snorted. "McLaggen is a sociopath on his own. Smith is a jerk but smart jerk and he will know that something is afoot if the members of Black family will claim the seats at the Board of Governors. He will try to fuck up with every decision we will make."
"Then put aside that 'I won't use my surname to my advantages' attitude and become whom you were born to be Sirius. You are a Black through and through. Your family existed ages before the Smiths even learned the world magic. You have money, you have that wrongfully imprisoned Auror thing, whole family behind you and a respect for the family. Use it to your advantages," Pollux said fiercely. "Wisely," he added after a moment.
"Shortly after you entered the training I had a talk with Mad-Eye Moody and he told me one thing. If you don't make the Head of DMLE by the time you are forty he is going to eat his wooden leg," said Orion. "Then he added that if you used your abilities good enough then maybe someday you will become a Minister for Magic. Think about it, he taught you."
"I was never good with authorities other than my Auror team from the training," Sirius mumbled. "Remus was Prefect and James was Head Boy and the Captain…"
"Remus became a Prefect because Dumbledore thought that he will manage to keep you in line and you know that James got the Head Boy badge for being a 'noble Gryffindor'," Orion snorted. "As for the Captain, that's the only place when he was better than you."
"So that's the lesson for being a Black?" Severus asked sceptically.
"If you have power, use it to your advantages, wisely," Pollux muttered.
"The other one is that every man has its price," Severus added.
"Not every man," Pollux snickered. "Just some and this some are what we need here. Smith and McLaggen need money badly. Smith is a gambler and McLaggen is no better, if you supply them with enough money you may call them to square your debts someday."
"You know what?" said Severus. "I don't envy you being firstborn, Sirius. I'm perfectly happy with my second in the line status."
"That's what I meant when I told you that Sirius was, is and will always remain my firstborn son, Severus," said Orion, he sounded sympathetic. "With being the oldest comes certain responsibilities which neither you or Regulus won't have a touch as long as Sirius is alive."
"Indeed," Pollux added. "Being the firstborn sucks."
"Self experience speaking, huh?" asked Orion.
"Go to hell," Pollux mumbled. "Sirius you need to come back to Malfoy Manor. They weren't alone when I found them, there was someone else. Probably dead."
"Whom?" Sirius asked quickly.
"I have no idea but Andromeda found out that Narcissa was raped and their gashes were made by a werewolf so I guess it was the man who bite Draco," Pollux answered. "Good riddance. I suspect that Mirzam killed him, I found Narcissa's wand on her, that's all we know."
"I will see to that," Sirius mumbled. "Severus keep a sharp eye on them. Father go to mum and switch with her, tell Regulus what had happened. Grandpa, go feed McGonagall, because of this mess we missed her breakfast."
Minerva flinched. Now she could do two things, run away as fast as she could, without her wand or go back to her cell and act like she didn't heard anything. With running away she had no chance so it meant that she will have to come back to her cell. But before she managed to do anything someone's strong hands picked her up. She twisted her head to look at that person and saw Pollux Black's grim face.
"If you won't try to run away I will tell you what's going on," he said grimly. "But you won't leave this place until we all agree that it is safe for you to come back."
He carried her to an empty room on the second floor and set her on the bed.
"Change back," he said quietly.
She did so and stared at him curiously wondering in what in the name of Merlin she got herself into.
"Do forgive us for holding you as a prisoner Minerva, but you didn't gave us other choice," said Pollux grimly as he sat down on the couch which was standing about ten feet away from the bed. "Everything which you heard that day is a secret which less people know the better for everyone."
"Why?" she asked curiously.
"Because everything which involves Lord Voldemort should be considered very carefully before the public will become aware of it," Pollux replied. "Tell me, are you familiar with the word Horcrux?"
She shook her head.
"The term "Horcrux" is used to refer to any object in which a person has concealed a part of his or her soul. Horcruxes are indeed a matter involving very advanced, very Dark Magic. To create a Horcrux, by definition the spell-caster must have split his or her soul into fragments, so that one fragment can be implanted within the Horcrux while the other is retained in the spell-caster's own body. The act of splitting the soul is accomplished by committing murder, which rips the soul apart. The purpose of a Horcrux is to protect the given bit of soul from anything that might happen to the body of the person to whom the soul belongs. While the Horcrux is kept safe, the person will continue to exist even if his or her body is damaged or destroyed," Pollux explained grimly.
"You-Know-Who has a Horcrux?" she breathed out.
"No," Pollux shook his head. "He doesn't have just a one Horcrux, Minerva. We managed to come with several ideas for Horcruxes which means that Lord Voldemort had gone very far to ensure his immortality or the state as closest to immortality as possible. We are in possession of two his Horcruxes now, the third got away, the total number is up to six and as long as they continue existing he cannot die."
"Dumbledore…" Minerva started.
"Dumbledore will not be informed, it's too dangerous to inform him," Pollux snorted angrily.
"But he could help," Minerva said firmly.
"He would do more damage than good, Minerva," Pollux said fiercely. "His involvement will only put the family in great danger."
"Why?" Minerva demanded.
"Because he already fucked up with Harry Potter's case!" Pollux snarled. "Do you honestly think that a pair of Muggles who hate magic would protect the Boy-Who-Lived from any harm? It's bullshit and you know it! He is much more safer now than he ever was with the Dursleys."
"He is alive!" Minerva breathed out feeling relief washing over her.
"Yes, he is alive and kept safe. That's why Dumbledore doesn't need to get involved, his involvement would fuck up with his safety and Harry's safety right now is the most important, Minerva," Pollux said quickly.
"Where he is?" Minerva demanded.
"Harry and Neville are here, Minerva. Here, in this house," said Pollux firmly. "And they will remain here as long as at least one member of this family remains here to protect them. If Dumbledore wants them he will have the whole family to get through to reach them and trust me our lot is educated enough in the Dark Arts and Dark Magic to prevent it. Plus he will have to prove first that they are what he is looking for and every Heritage Spell or Potion will show that Homam Azha and Remus Francis Black are sons of Sirius and Mirzam Black. Harry Potter and Neville Longobottom don't exist anymore, the only place they exist is Hogwarts Recording Book and even there they are recorded as dead. Severus made sure that Homam and Remus are enrolled to the book as Homam and Remus Black," he added fiercely.
"Dumbledore…" Minerva started.
"Fucked up, Minerva! Live with it. If this so called blood protection worked Harry would be still at his relatives. They are ways to deceive the charm, all what was needed was not wishing any harm to the boy to take him away from there. Is this protection?" Pollux snarled. "It's not a protection! At least here are adults who are capable of defending him, plus only a number of people know that Harry Potter and Homam Black are the same person."
"I heard something about werewolves," she changed the subject. "What does it means?"
"Yesterday several attacks had happened. Out of thirteen families attacked by the werewolves seven children survived, all of them are bellow Hogwarts age. Plus Remmy, who had been bitten last month in the attack which killed his family. It gives us eight kids bitten by a werewolf which should be attending Hogwarts at some point of time. Sirius and Mirzam, as soon as she recovers from the attack will ensure that Hogwarts will admit every single one of them," Pollux replied.
"But why you kept me here?" she asked tentatively.
"Because one of Voldemort's Horcruxes was hidden at Hogwarts," Pollux replied. "Mirzam and Regulus got their hands on it yesterday evening. She was injured during the recovering it. Originally she was supposed to implant her memories from her time at Hogwarts in your mind so your sudden amnesia won't be an issue but things didn't went according to the plan because of the attacks. Severus himself was injured few days ago in completely unrelated to the Horcruxes matter. Regulus was impersonating him and he will impersonate him until Severus recovers from the attack. Walburga switched her places with Mirzam after she was injured. Without Mirzam we were unable to fix your memories."
"Oh," Minerva mumbled.
"If you can, please forgive us," Pollux sighed. "Drastic terms need drastic measures and we simply couldn't let pass the opportunity which presented itself to us," he gave her a small smile.
"You got what you needed," Minerva sighed. "I may forgive you on one condition."
"And that would be?" Pollux asked.
"You will let me help you," Minerva said firmly. "I may be old but I'm very useful and I want You-Know-Who to be gone for good."
"You are in," Pollux smiled at her. "Deceive Dumbledore on Wednesday evening and come here."
"What about my memories, from the time of my imprisonment?" she asked.
"Mirzam will take care of it after she wakes up. Till then you will remain here," Pollux said quickly.
Awaiting criticism - like always. I'm replying as long as you leave me your email or you log in while reviewing.
(hides behind the couch) The werewolves attacks had deeper meaning, I'm not writing them because I think that something should happen, nope. Read carefully Mirzam's thoughts she is on the right way to solving the case. I tried to write the rape scene as much PG13/Teen as possible though the story is rated as R/M for a reason and I apologise for writing it but the family will need Narcissa and Narcissa will need the family. Don't forget that Mirzam saved her life.
I also apologise for changing viev points in this chapter but as you saw a lot things happened in very short amount of time and a lot of people were involved. I also apologise for making Mirzam's stunt very Mary-Sue, she isn't Mary-Sue she is just house misplaced Gryffindor at heart and I solemnly swear that this chapter was the last one when you heard or seen Metaanimagus, Mirzam isn't stupid enough to do it once again. As for making her change into Phoenix, think about it, she and Regulus were in Dumbledore's Office but don't you think that if Dumbledore started suspecting something he wouldn't ask the gargoyle if someone came into his office when he wasn't there? Mirzam knew it and this way the only thing the gargoyle saw was Dumbledore coming back to his office. Dumbledore and Fawkes vanished from Dumbledore's Office.
So Sevie isn't in love with Mirzam and is aware Orion being his daddy. For some people it would seem weird that Sirius was with Severus on full moon night instead being with Moony and Remmy but the duo was in the hands of two Animagi till Sevie and Mimi woke up, then Sirius joined them.
Next chapter: A very Mirzam!chapter. The meeting of Hogwarts' Board of Governors where Mirzam acts like a pure-blood bitch to keep Molly Weasley away from her sons and on the side manages to persuade the Board (remaining members of it who don't come from Black family, that's it) into talking about the werewolf kids. After the meeting of the Board and Dumbledore younger members of the Black family plus Pollux have a picnic in the park from where everything wents to hell and Mirzam finds out something which puts her on an emotional rollercoaster. Regulus meets Mirzam's grandmother and he isn't very impresed with her.
Chapter teaser (because I feel like it and only this part of the chapter doesn't give away too much too soon):
"I'm sorry," Mirzam mumbled.
"Mirzam Mira Black from Verascez family if you don't stop apologising in an instant I will turn you into a frog," Sirius groaned and then he gave Mirzam a glare as he added, "I meant it, Mimi."
"Oh, yeah," Mirzam snickered. "You will turn me into a frog only because it would give you an excuse to kiss me."
"I don't need to change you into a frog to kiss you, Mimi," Sirius said wolfishly and he stole a quick kiss from Mirzam.
"Nuhm," Mirzam mumbled. "Come back here you tease," she giggled and she wounded her arms around Sirius's neck.
"I don't tease," Sirius grinned wolfishly. "I promise. That's different."
"Just shut up and kiss me, silly," Mirzam mumbled and she leaned to kiss him.
They kissed quite passionately even for a newlywed couple.
"Did we christened kitchen table?" Sirius asked wolfishly.
Walburga sighed before she said sternly, "I don't know if you did and frankly I don't want to know. And you would be so kind to restrain yourself in the presence of a guest."
At that the pair looked at Walburga and her guest. Upon seeing the woman Mirzam paled drastically and gripped Sirius's arm tightly and mumbled, "Of all places in the world…"