The Contract

Chapter 134

The twins weren't immediately brought to the estate directly after the meeting. Although, the process was definitely expedited. Sirius had a lot of paperwork to sign and read before they'd let him within sighting distance of those children. An oath to swear to do his best by them. Then of course, there was the visit to the manor to approve of where they'd be staying. Which Rabastan and Harry went to tend to leaving Sirius, Corvus and Rodolphus to deal with the inner office details that still need hashed out.

Luckily the dining area had been completely renovated since the blast. So, they didn't have to try and explain that one. Truthfully, they should know anyway, it had ended up in the newspaper after all much to Corvus' consternation. Such claims broadcast a weakness to him, but to Harry and the brothers it denoted a lovely strength. Warned people against attempting it themselves because they would come out superior, and when they found this person who had dared attack house Lestrange? That in itself would be the last warning ever needed.

Any and all attempts made to harm house Lestrange and its people would not be tolerated.

The twins were now considered to be under the protection and shield of the Lestrange family.

Rabastan and Harry returned to the estate, and showed one of the caseworkers around. Not everywhere, no, he only got to see the living area, sitting rooms, library. He got to see where the creatures were kept – Corvus was not under any circumstances getting rid of his sanctuary – and how enclosed it was and secure.

"Has anything ever managed to get free?" Malcom enquired, clipboard in hand, quill writing away at any questions and responses given.

"Nothing as far as I know but I've only been here five years," Harry explained, glancing at Rabastan, curious to know if something had indeed gotten free before.

"Our father takes our safety very seriously, wards aren't the only thing keeping the creatures in side, as you can see there are fences up. They were reinforced with magic, practically impenetrable. I can safely say that nothing has ever ventured further than its boundaries." Rabastan explained, "The wards are reinforced every year, despite it being usually something repeated every five years it's stated.

"How often do you get new animals in?" Malcom asked, as he stepped around to avoid whatever was on the floor.

"We never know, it varies widely, sometimes we don't have any animals here for up to six months." Harry explained, "Other times we get four or five creatures in within a month. The biggest influx happened when I was eleven, an Alicorn, five snakes, an Abraxan, even an injured hippogriff." His eyes dimmed, he missed the Abraxan, oh it had survived, beautiful so it was, it had found a home in France with people Corvus trusted to care for him – the Abraxan had been male – properly. He might be at Hogwarts but he knew nearly every detail of life in the estate. If not from Corvus then Rabastan himself.

"What's the most dangerous animal you've helped on the classification scale?" Malcom queried, looking around, testing the wards and defences. Naturally they were just as strong as Master Rabastan had indicated.

The scale being the beast classification scale, which is one X through to five X's.

The five XXXXX is a wizarding killer and unable to be domesticated and they're illegal to own unless you were an Master in creatures, a speaker and capable of controlling it or an organization, such as dragon handler.

"Helped or been brought here?" Harry asked innocently.

This caused Rabastan to grunt as he bit his tongue to stop himself laughing. It would be considerably rude to do so, especially in the company of someone he didn't know outside of this situation. Harry had helped a dragon, when he was just eleven, which should have been impossible all things considered. However, Rabastan's fiancé was well versed in anything remotely impossible. He couldn't be prouder if he tried. If it had been anyone other than his father to tell him about it, he still wouldn't believe it.

"Um…here," the wizard was almost bewildered by Harry's comment, why would he need to know about something irrelevant to this case?

"Um, a Centaur, but it was a foal at the time," Harry answered, "Not sure if that counts, then still a X four we had an adult injured griffin, luckily not it's wing." Wings didn't always heal right, even with the best of potions, such delicate things they were. Centaurs were known to be considered XXXX creatures. Harry assumed even the wizard Malcom Fawley would know that.

Malcom nodded, and waited until it was written down by the quill before they began moving again. He was more than satisfied that the care and attention that was put into place. Taking another look around, it was gorgeous, the painstaking care and attention that went into making this place perfect took time. A little nudge of envy hit him, oh, to have that kind of money and ability to live here.

"Everything looks pretty perfect," he commented, "Just one last place to inspect, the bedrooms the children will be using."

"Follow me," Rabastan stated, his voice bland, just on the side of cold. It wasn't because he didn't particularly like the wizard, it was just how he was raised to treat people that he didn't know. You might call it just on the side of 'professional' or curt perhaps might be a better term.

"How long ago did you join the department?" Harry asked Fawley as they headed back towards the manor.

"It will be a year in just under a week," Malcom admitted, surprise suffusing his voice and face, it certainly was a surprise to realise he'd been working there a year and enjoying it too. It far beat out catering to Crouch as his assistant while he was the Head of the Department of Magical co-operation. Ironic really considering Crouch Senior likely hadn't cooperated with anyone a day in his life, not even his family. Then he'd gone on to aid the Aurors, and make his way up the ranks before settling here. It was far more his pace; he hadn't been cut out for a life of chasing down bad guys.

"You used to be an Auror," Rabastan commented, his stance even now screamed it.

Malcom blinked in astonishment, "I did, seven years in service, I worked under Crouch Sr briefly before then." Wondering if Rabastan had seen him when he was arrested perhaps? Or when he'd been brought into court either the first or second time? His chest puffed out in pride, despite the fact it wasn't for him, or rather not something he'd wished to do for the rest of his life…he was proud of his time in the service. It was damn near impossible to pass to become an Auror. Ninety-nine-point nine percent of people actually failed; they weren't able to hack it.

"Evil man," Harry commented, sounding neither disgusted or angry, just matter-of-factly. As if he was commenting on the weather.

"This place is beautiful," Malcom commented, trying to ease the tension, using the same trick as he had as an Auror to put victims at ease. He could see the children being brought up here very happy.

"Thank you," Rabastan said with a genuine smile.

"It's a shame you won't see the view at night," Harry commented warmly, "Nothing beats the view and the fires, and the sound of the water, its very peaceful."

"I can imagine it," Malcom agreed, before teasingly added, "But peaceful? With two children? Magical ones that will begin showcasing their accidental magic with all the upheaval they'll have had to endure these weeks?"

"It will certainly liven things up," Rabastan commented, his amusement hidden. "Just this way," making sure they didn't let the wizard fall too far behind. The wards would react if he wasn't with one of them at the very least. The last thing they needed was the guy approving their brother/godfather's children to be getting fried by the wards. And that was all if he was lucky, if not they'd be hiding a body.

"You have no idea," Malcom commented, barely concealing his fond amusement and exasperation. He had grown up with a lot of cousins. Both younger and older than him, they'd visited the head of the family, his grandparents frequently. The estate was vastly tinier than this one, and not as well kept but no less loved for it. They had enough to run around, to play properly without being hindered.

They passed through the kitchen, and along the corridor filled with beautiful tapestries that depicted the Lestrange family at it's greatest. All the wonderful battles they'd partook, including the ones with the goblins, Malcom noticed with fascination. He tried to take in everything he could, it was endlessly captivating. Too bad he had a job to do.

It was easy to forget that he was in a veritable fortress that was Lestrange estate.

Harry would ask him how he could forget, for the feel of them was all around, ever present.

Malcom followed the two wizards, until they reached a far more…shall we say homely area. He wondered if it had been very recently done with the knowledge, they had children coming or if only the bare minimum had been done – or needed to be done – at that.

"This will be their room," Harry commented, opening the door and entering, Malcom entered and Rabastan took up the rear.

The walls were a lovely light yellow, a calming but bright and cheerful colour for them. Two heavy oak beds for the twins were situated a few feet apart. Harry gave them a look of 'what the fuck' at them, they looked to be half cribs, with a side that could be climbed out of. Very old, he wondered how many generations of Lestrange children had used them. He wasn't sure he wanted his own to use them.

There were wardrobes but not children sized like the Muggle world insisted on doing. The walk-in wardrobe was opened and filled with blankets, covers, bedding, towels, and numerous things children, no toddlers required to make every day life as simple as possible for them and everyone else. There was also a dark oak chest, and a white oak chest in either side, presumably for the children's toys but it was empty.

"Their toys were removed to a vault, they will be brought here," Rabastan added firmly, when he noticed the wizard checking them out. "We will be buying them new things, but having their old toys will be a great comfort to them." He could imagine just how crazy Sirius was going to get, luckily though they wouldn't know about any plans Sirius had for toddler brooms and such.

A toddler broomstick was actually one of the last thing pre-Azkaban Sirius had done. Unfortunately, it had never been used, Sirius didn't think. If he recalled at the time, he said it was likely still in Godric's Hollow if it hadn't been pinched. Oh, the look on Sirius' face when he heard about that, it could have sent the messenger six feet under.

"Not for a few days until they begin to acclimatise, perhaps after the funeral? Maybe take them to the seaside or the zoo?" Harry suggested.

"I somehow doubt Sirius is going to let them attend a funeral, they're much too young," Rabastan said with a thoughtful frown.

"They are, but believe me, it's better than not," Harry said, frowning darkly. "I'll always be grateful to your father for everything he's done for me." His tone a little quieter but no less firm, he didn't care that a stranger was hearing this. If anything, it would indicate that this family was a good one. Look at him, was he not a prime example?

In other words, Harry wished he'd been able to go to their grave and speak to his parents if nothing else. However, wasn't it the human condition to want what you don't have? Perhaps the children would hate Sirius and Dolphus if they were allowed. Usually there were portraits of deceased relatives to talk to, they hadn't that luxury with their mother so he understood how Harry felt. It was definitely something they'd need to discuss with the new parents since it was up to them at the end of the day.

"Hmm they seem firm enough, spells still intact, which is a miracle really," Malcom declared after using a few spells to ensure their safety. Satisfied that the toddlers were going to be well looked after.

"They were spares for family or friends that stayed over," Rabastan commented, his fingers trailing down the bed as he nodded, confirming his initial thoughts. His initials weren't there, and if he checked the other, he knew he wouldn't find Dolphus'. It made sense, the House-elves wouldn't have brought out the family ones without explicit permission from his father. Most other family items were fair game.

"Is there anywhere else you need to see?" Harry enquired, glancing at Malcom expectantly, he was soon to return to Hogwarts. He wanted to spend at least some time with Rabastan before he left again. Between studying, interruptions, and their projects it was precious little time for their own.

Malcom glanced up at Lord Potter, and gave a small smile, "No, I've seen all I need to." he reassured the young man, likely the last thing he wanted to do was waste his summer holidays showing him around the estate. Likely, he was dying to see his friends, he knew he had been at that age. "Shall I see myself out?"

"No, the wards wouldn't like that, allow me," Rabastan answered, he squeezed Harry's arm as he passed, "I wouldn't mind a cup of coffee." He added to his fiancé, before he and Malcom left him behind in the nursery. Which is where they would stay until they were seven or eight. Then they would get rooms of their own, privacy, if they'd been the same gender, it wouldn't have been as early.

All Rabastan got was a soft huff, as if to say 'I'll think about it' as he led Malcom through the manor and then the long twenty-minute trek towards the end of the wards.

It took Rabastan over half an hour to return to Harry in the sitting room. A smile slipping onto his face, as he moved towards the table, kissing Harry on the forehead in silent thanks. Sighing in gratitude as he sat and pulled the coffee towards himself, inhaling its rich aroma.

"Does your dad have a Black relative? Corvus is a star, isn't it?" Harry asked, as he slid onto the couch, sighing in relief.

"It is, and I don't know," Rabastan confessed thoughtfully.

Harry arched a brow, frowning, "What do you mean?" setting his book aside, more interested in Rabastan than any school work at the moment.

"Our families family tree is rather different, unique if you will," Rabastan commented, a thoughtful look adorned his face. "I saw it a few times upon our trip to France." Who knows…perhaps one day he'd be taking that trip with any child (and if they were extraordinary lucky children) he has in future.

"Oh?" Harry queried, definitely even more curious now.

"Our family tree only shows the male members, not even their wives are included." Rabastan commented, "Who knows whether you'll be included in it. I'm not sure if one of our family has been lucky enough to have the honour of marrying a male carrier." Although, on the contracts that had been drawn up, Harry was referred to as the wife/carrier so it's likely not something that would be done.

Harry flushed a little, giving Rabastan a shy bashful smile, "Then maybe it's time to make a new one, a new family, new tradition." What if they had a daughter? Why should she be excluded? No, he would make one for them, one that was far superior and farer. Just you wait. "What is it like? Can you show me?"

"Of course," Rabastan agreed, shifting in his seat until he was facing Harry properly, his cup set aside as he unsheathed his wand. Whirling his wand around in a circular motion, magic steadily pouring out like whisps of smoke as it began to make a shape not quite distinct to Harry yet. To Rabastan though, it was a familiar shape, despite the fact he hadn't seen in in a long time.

The clinic had been very good at helping him put all his memories to right, pre- and post-Azkaban.

Harry shuffled forward, almost falling off the couch, causing Rabastan to snigger quietly to himself. Shaking his head fondly as the magic continued to suffuse the picture forming. It steadily begun to quicken until a clear picture was there in front of Harry in black and white.

Once it was perfected, Rabastan stretched it out magically magnifying it. Harry stood up avidly looking at the Lestrange family tree. "Does each family have something like this?" unfortunately, he was a little lacking in this information where it comes to family trees.

"We all have our own style yes," Rabastan murmured, "The Black family one is rather unique."

Harry noticed that the cousin branch died off in the forties, and idly noticed that when Corvus had said he was the last of the family he meant it. Then again, if they didn't note witches of the family, well, how sure of that could they be? There may be a few of the Lestrange legacy left, but not a male heir unfortunately.

"Corvus was used a lot," Harry emphasised, eyes rather wide, bloody hell, "Well, perhaps its best not to use Corvus for any of our children." He wanted them to feel like they had their own identity, just not cut outs from a family tree…but he'd love to honour Corvus so much. He wouldn't be who he was today without him, of that everyone could have no doubts.

Rabastan laughed ruefully, "That's exactly what my mother said, she did like the name, but not as much as Rabastan and Rodolphus." A fond smile adorning his face, his father had always removed memories and put them into a pensive and let him and his brother see and observe her. So that they would never forget what she sounded like, what she looked like and how much she loved them.

He hated that his parents had been wrenched apart so soon, would do anything to change it. However, he had long ago accepted how things were. His father had found the one, he didn't want anyone else and that was it. Harry was it for him, and Rabastan wouldn't accept anyone else either. Harry was his everything.

"Has there been any girls born into the Lestrange family?" Harry asked, he couldn't see anything remotely feminine about any of the names. Not that he was expecting to, Rabastan had said they weren't on the family tree. Still, he was rather curious.

Rabastan sobered, "Technically, yes,"

Harry straightened up at Rabastan's tone, okay, there was definitely some bad history there.

"There's only been one female born of the Lestrange family, Leta Lestrange, she was born out of wedlock and the product of…a forced relationship shall we say." His stomach churning at the thought of it. "It's a stain on the Lestrange name that will never be wiped clean." It was worse than them fighting for a cause. He should have been put in prison; he'd avoided it because there had been no evidence.

"What happened after?" there was something more Rabastan wasn't saying.

"It had soured his relationship with the rest of the family, nobody wanted anything to do with him. Not even for the sake of two children, when it became clear he would not be forgiven, he fled to the Americas taking the children with him before he could be disowned."

"Was he?" Harry asked grimly.

"No, only for the sake of the children. Not that it mattered in the end." A sombre sadness to his tone, not just because it had happened to family, but because it had happened to a child. "The little boy died, it wasn't even a day later, drowned at sea. Leta died during Grindelwald's reign not that she had an easy time of it." No matter how much they'd tried to suppress what he'd done – as disgusting as it was – they hadn't succeeded. Everyone knew Leta's origins and she'd paid a very heavy price for her father's actions.

"Oh," Harry murmured, sympathy written across his face, a sadness for that little boy who hadn't had a chance to live. "I've never heard of any of this."

"And you must never ask him about it," Rabastan stated firmly, "My father feels a great deal of guilt over what happened. Despite the fact that he couldn't do a thing about it. The last person to say anything about it…died rather 'mysteriously' and word got around not to mention her, fast." She hadn't wanted for anything, monetary wise, had a place to live, but Leta's life hadn't been a kind one.

As if you could stop someone determined to all but destroy the family name.

Harry nodded, "I promise." He swore, and Rabastan relaxed back into his seat. "Hmm, you should come up with a new family tree, not just the generic one you can get at Gringotts."

"That an order?" Rabastan teased, grateful for the change of subject.

"I'd do it, but my side project is taking longer than I thought and is difficult, I'm not even sure I'll manage to complete it." Harry confessed looking gutted. "If only I had the right book."

"What kind of book?" Rabastan questioned, a sly look on his face. He'd been trying to figure out what Harry's project was, but he kept everything hidden. He respected Harry's privacy to actually not peek into it. Asking questions though wasn't the same vein as literally invading his fiancé's privacy. Plus, he knew Harry had a dozen things going at once, there was no guarantee which one he was working on at the moment. He was still working through the books he'd found in the chest upon returning from Egypt and he reaped the benefits.

"I need more knowledge about the soul," Harry replied absently.

"Harry…" Rabastan's eyes were wide, heart pounding at the thought of Harry playing around with the darkest of the dark arts. "Necromancy isn't something to be played with…" cautioning him.

Harry laughed, a soft sweet smile on his face, "Don't worry I'm not dabbling in the Dark Arts I've already had those warnings from Aurelius. He's doing it with me, but we've not found anything we could use yet."

Rabastan relaxed, it hadn't had been one tense day, he couldn't wait to bathe and go to bed. Still, he had to keep going, the house was soon to be filled with little feet. He hadn't been around anyone under the age of eleven in a long, long time. He trusted that the Dark Lord would ensure Harry didn't go too far in whatever their recent endeavours were. "You should check your vaults for all books and scrolls, and Grimmauld Place."

"Grimmauld Place?" Harry asked, "The place where Sirius grew up?"

"That's the one, it's said to have the absolute biggest library, especially for it's collection of dark art books." Rabastan answered, "Regulus was always a fountain of information, unfortunately, Orion wasn't keen on letting anyone into the library, except his heirs which fair enough, families do tend to hoard their knowledge." Brushing it of as entirely normal, and to the magical world it was. Knowledge was power after all.

"Do you think the library is still intact?" Harry mused thoughtfully, the thought of actually finding answers made him wish to take a look over there.

"Considering Sirius was in Azkaban and the last Black didn't die for years afterwards and was a Black by blood and marriage? Yeah, it's still intact, nobody would be able to get through Orion's wards, he was paranoid and powerful." And that was without the Lordship ring, which Sirius had come to find was just a copy, a replica with some magic in it to fool a wearer that didn't know any better on what it felt like. All so that Walburga could continue to poison Orion without detection. Should he have become Lord Black with the correct ring he would have been warned before he could eat or touch anything laced with any sort of poison. It was honestly the only thing Orion, Dorea, Charlus and the Lestrange's could come up with.

"I'm going to ask Aurelius if he'd like to come and see the library, would you like to come with us?" Harry asked, already on the move to gather the necessary items to write his letter.

"Nobody would be able to say no to that," Rabastan said, quite gleefully.

"Except Sirius," Harry called back to his fiancé.

"Well, yes, except him!" Rabastan followed Harry, he honestly had the desire to go right now. As he watched Harry begin to prepare to write, he knew it was going to be a few days before they'd leave. "Can't you Floo him and ask? It would be good to give Sirius and Rodolphus time to acclimatise on their own without backup."

Harry just turned and grinned at Rabastan, cocking his head, "Just want to get to see the library soon or having reservations being around kids?" it was different with your own, you had a chance to become accustomed to parenthood of sorts as the child grew. It was like being shoved into the deep end of the pool.

Rabastan just grinned roguishly at Harry, "Little bit of one, more of the other,"

Harry laughed, "Alright, go see if Aurelius is available," turning around and putting the unused items away seeing as he wouldn't need them.

Almost tripping over his bag when he got up, sighing softly, he used his foot to nudge it into the corner. It was one of his lesser used ones since he got a lovely new leather satchel from Corvus last year.

A/n – looks like I was too quick to get happy about Loki's recovery! Poor wee bugger, the infection went away for a few days before coming back again. Now he's on a fortnight's course of antibiotics (I'm haemorrhaging money ugh) with pain relief, so I have all my fingers and toes crossed that this takes care of it otherwise yeah (scans = more haemorrhaging)

soooo there we go! I hope you're still enjoying the story! will Harry have Grimmauld Place refurbished and sell it? Or keep it in the family for any potential Black children? Will Harry pass over the entire estate to the male heir now that there is one? Or will Harry keep the Lordship for longer setting a new precedent? Allowing children to be children longer? To have a career before becoming Lord? R&R please