The Man in Black?

19

Sunday, June 22, 1986

The Black Estate

Arcturus and his 'grandson' Hydrae were sitting in his office, and it was clear that Arcturus was not happy.

"I know it has only been two days, but I presume you have a plan for what to do next," stated Arcturus, his voice stern and his countenance showing his displeasure.

"About what happened to Cassandra and myself?" asked Dru. "I have been focusing on Cassandra and her recovery."

"You are a Black!" Arcturus almost shouted at his heir. "The actions of Yaxley cannot be ignored. We do not forgive and we most definitely do not forget. We do not just sit back and wait for the DMLE or any other authority to take proper action."

Dru ran his hand through his hair and shifted uneasily in his chair.

"This is not a time to be squeamish. You were attacked, as was your woman. And she was then further attacked and maimed, apparently by a second individual, unless the one that attacked her at St. Mungo's was the same one who cast the imperius on her in the first place." Arcturus' demeanour was not softening. "And from what you have told me, you know who did that to her, the attack at the hospital that is."

"Nott. The curse used on her is a Nott family curse," stated Dru. His anger was rising to the surface now as he was forced to think about this once more. "Theodore Nott, who is now a five or six year old child, used it on Daphne Greengrass when we were students because she rebuffed him when his family was trying to force her family into a betrothal."

Dru closed his eyes tightly and then looked back at his 'grandfather' before speaking again. "However, from what I was able to determine from speaking with Cassandra, I do not think that the senior Nott is the one who used the imperius on her in the first place. Although I am convinced that somehow he managed to slip in and out of St. Mungo's."

"Cantakerus Nott had made some vague threats to myself recently," said Arcturus. "His actions cannot stand without a response."

Dru shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"Your Gryffindor heritage is preventing you from seeing what must be done," observed Arcturus. "The headmaster would admonish you to give these people a second chance. Cassandra does not get that luxury. A true Gryffindor would look at what they could do to bring justice in this situation, and not be worried about the consequences."

Dru looked up and seemed to have an idea. "I could go back in time once again, and prevent this all from happening. I still have the hallows."

Arcturus scoffed. "Really? Is that going to be your answer to everything? Who knows if you could even be successful? You didn't even arrive here last year at the time you were shooting for."

"I was close," countered Dru.

Arcturus scoffed at Dru's comment. "You have learned that Dumbledore's passivity cost you many friends and hurt many people because he was not willing to make a clear stand for what was right in your past," continued Arcturus. "Don't be a fool and follow his ways."

"So, I am supposed to become some sort of vigilante? Does that not make me any better than them? Than the Death Eaters?" questioned Dru.

Arcturus scoffed again. "Death Eaters? They never had honour! They have no idea what honour and courage even mean. They attacked those who they perceived as weak and unable to defend themselves. They used threats and intimidation and hid in the shadows and then lied about their activities. 'Oh, I was imperiused! I couldn't help it! It wasn't my fault!' That sort of line of defence just shows how pathetic they are and were. No, this isn't at all like a Death Eater. This is defending your family. This is drawing a line in the sand. They crossed it. There will be repercussions. You want to make the family name Black great again? Then do what must be done."

"I'm not sure exactly what to do," admitted Dru.

"You don't need to create a plan tonight," reassured Arcturus. "But if you plan to truly redeem the Black family and rebuild the Potter family, you must make a stand."

There was an odd quiet in the office for a minute, then Arcturus spoke more softly. "So, how is Cassandra doing?"

"I am really not so sure," said Dru. "She is sad, she is angry, she blames herself and she is mourning her injuries. She doesn't know what to do now. She is clearly not quite herself."

Arcturus nodded slightly. "That is understandable."

There was a knock on the door of the office and before anyone could say anything, Sirius opened the door and stepped into the room.

"Hey, if you weren't okay with my coming in I'm sure the door would have been locked," he said with a large grin on his face.

Before either Dru or Arcturus could respond, Sirius dropped his smile and walked over to Dru, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Look, I know its not easy for you at this time. I don't even want to think how I would have reacted, but, I thought I should at least give you an update about the kids. They're getting along fine, playing little Quidditch games almost every day. You should come out and watch them tomorrow. It might actually help cheer you up. Or maybe even bring a slight smile to your face."

Dru stood up and clasped Sirius on his shoulder. "Thanks, cousin, that would be a good idea. Thanks for continuing to keep an eye on them. All of them."

Sirius smiled again. "Hey, this old dog can learn some things. I messed up years ago by running after Pettigrew when my focus should have been on little Harry. I have a chance to prove to James and Lily that I can be the godfather they asked me to be, even if they aren't here physically to see me do it. So, I can learn how to watch after the younglings."

"And you have Andromeda and Narcissa keeping you in line as well," added Arcturus.

Sirius almost flinched at the comment. "I'm doing okay, despite what my cousins might be saying about me."

****Mib****

Tuesday, June 24, 1986

Dru and Cassandra were enjoying the beautiful weather and walking down Diagon Alley. Cassandra took Dru by the hand and looked him in the eyes.

"Come with me, to Knockturn Alley," she said. "I really need to see the building, or the remains of what happened."

Dru furrowed his brow. "Really? Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Maybe it's not the best idea," she said, her eyes hopeful, "but I think I need to at least go and take a look. And I would rather do it with you with me."

Dru smiled slightly, "Okay, I'll take you there." He kissed her on her forehead and took her by the hand towards the entrance to Knockturn Alley.

As they were passing by Gringotts Bank, Dru noticed that Cantakerus Nott and Corbin Yaxley were making their way out of the bank. The two older wizards noticed the young couple and both hesitated. Dru was sure he detected a sneer on Nott's face and a look of surprise on Yaxley. Dru just gave them both an overly friendly smile and directed Cassandra away from the two, using his body as a type of shield between her and them as Dru sped that she did not take note of the two men.

A minute later, Cassandra stopped and squeezed Dru's hand. "Thank you for acting like a wall between me and those two back there."

Dru could hear her voice quiver with anger. "I just don't know what to do about them, about what they did to us, to me."

Dru reached up and gently caressed the side of her face, "That's okay, they will be dealt with, and soon. Don't you worry about it."

They continued towards Knockturn Alley and stood away from the construction area that was preparing to build a new store where Smithson's Magic Emporium had previously been located. Dru was surprised with how quickly the changes could be made, but then again, he already knew that magic could enable people to do some pretty amazing things.

Cassandra squeezed his hand once more. "I've seen enough," she whispered. "Take me home."

Dru took them to an apparation point and brought her back to her home. As they stepped inside her flat, he noticed that she was shedding a slight tear.

Dru gave her a little hug and spoke to her softly. "Things will get better, you'll get through this."

Cassandra smiled at him and then nodded slightly. "I think I just want to rest, go to bed early today. If that's okay with you?"

"Sure," responded Dru. "Can I get you anything? Make you something to eat first?"

She smiled at him and shook her head. "No, I'm going to be fine. I just need to rest. Why don't you go check on little Harry and all of his friends? That will keep you busy and be more entertaining than sitting around with me."

Dru narrowed his eyes slightly. "Are you sure? I don't mind even if it is just sitting here with you."

Cassandra reassured him that she would be fine. Dru reluctantly left and went back to the Black Estate.

He arrived at the estate and was able to watch the youngsters having a game of Quidditch, or a modified version of the game where their brooms couldn't go over 6 feet in the air and there were special protection wards cast all around the yard. Dru stood and watched as the children squealed and screamed, clearly having a lot of fun with their game. Dru was surprised to see Neville flying around on a broom with a fair amount of skill. He smiled to himself, realising that things would be different for this group of youngsters once they reached Hogwarts.

Dru felt the presence of someone standing next to him. He glanced to his side to see Narcissa had walked up beside him.

The two young adults continued to watch the youth Quidditch game in front of them.

"You haven't been around here with the children that much lately," commented Narcissa.

"I have been a little busy recently," replied Dru.

"Fair enough," said Narcissa. After a short pause, she continued, "For someone who has no children of their own, you do seem quite interested in this little group. This little group that you helped put together."

Dru took a slight breath before he replied. "I grew up alone, without any real friends until I started to learn magic. I dealt with bullies when I was a child. When I learned about Harry, and his being raised by hateful muggles and without friends, I felt I had to do something. He is a Black, after all."

Narcissa smirked slightly at the comment, and did not realise that Dru noted her response.

"Being a parent does have its rewards," she said. "Even Sirius is learning the benefits of being involved with his godson."

Dru snorted at her comment. "Anything beats being locked away in Azkaban. Particularly if you were sent there wrongly, without a trial."

Narcissa did not react to Dru's comments immediately. Then she let out a slow breath. "In case you are asking if I knew if Sirius was innocent, I did not. My late husband did not discuss matters pertaining to his service to He Who Must Not Be Named nor did he discuss who also served as Death Eaters. When the news came out that Sirius had supposedly betrayed the Potters, I thought that would have been a terribly Black thing to do, so I had no reason to question if it was really what happened."

"Guilty by association to the family name," stated Dru.

Narcissa nodded slightly, "Not at all a far fetched conclusion, and a reputation that you are working on changing."

"That I am," said Dru, who then winced as Neville and Draco collided on their brooms.

Dru went to run forward to check on the two boys, but Narcissa grabbed his arm slightly. "No need, they'll be fine, just you wait and see."

The two young boys jumped off the ground and wiped themselves off from the dirt they collided with.

"Sorry about that, Draco," said Neville.

"It's all right," said Draco calmly. "We're all having fun though, which is why we're playing!"

The two boys were all smiles as they mounted their brooms and kicked up into the air.

Dru watched as the boys and girls picked up their game as though nothing had happened.

Narcissa quietly added, "See, they are all learning to get along so well." Then a minute later she added, "This play group, as you called it, has been quite good for Draco. Thank you for arranging this for him, for all of them."

Dru turned to say something to Narcissa and noted that she was avoiding eye contact with him and was just staring out at the children as they flew around on their brooms.

***MiB****

Cassandra was laying down at home, having been stressed more than she realised she would have been, with having seen the site of where she used to work right after she saw her father and his associate, Nott. She knew Dru tried to block her view of the two men, but she did see them.

She considered that it was probably those two men who had attacked her. First her father when she was at the store, and then later Lord Nott when she was at St. Mungo's.

She felt alone, and then started to have a panic attack. She felt her heart racing and her breathing was hard.

Her anger towards the man who was her father, and Lord Nott started to grow. She recalled her fear that she felt when she saw her father and Lord Nott earlier in the day. She knew that what was done to her was done by those two men, and that by attacking her in the ways that they had, they in turn made Dru look weak.

Her breathing started to slow down. Dru was not weak, that she knew. She could be strong. She knew she had to be strong. She came up with a plan.

Cassandra then apparated to the street in front of her old family home. Cautiously she walked towards the house, and she was surprised that the wards let her enter the property. She walked steadfastly up to the main entrance. She did not bother knocking on the door, she just let herself in through the front door, and was quickly greeted by a family house elf.

"Miss Cassandra is not supposed to be here, Master Corbin has made that clear," proclaimed the elf, who had a slight look of fear on his face.

"Oh, Fidget, you can just go tell him that I am here and I am not leaving until I speak with him," said Cassandra.

Fidget disappeared and Cassandra quickly got to work. She conjured multiple urns and filled them with a liquid and placed them around the entryway to the old house. Then she cast a disillusionment charm on the urns and she waited.

There was the pop of apparition and Corbin Yaxley appeared in front of her. He almost growled at his daughter as he began to speak.

"You have the audacity to show yourself here, in the family home of the family you rejected? How dare you show up here, you're nothing more than a blood traitor. A traitor to the family that raised you!"

"Yes, I dare," she snapped back. "I dare, because the man who sired me had the audacity to attack me and had planned to have me kill the man I love. Because the man who sired me had his friend, who is perhaps even more despicable of a person than even he is, attacked me and made me barren. So, yes I dare show up here."

Corbin scoffed at her comments. "You don't deserve to bring any children into this world and further tarnish the name Yaxley!"

Cassandra laughed at him. "And my dimwitted brother is going to provide the Yaxley family with heirs?"

As she said this, her brother arrived at the house with a pop. "What the hell is going on here?"

Corbin sneered as he responded to his son. "Your former sister is trying to make demands of us. And she is crying because I took action against her and the sorry excuse for a wizard she has been consorting with. He is destroying the once great Black family and he will just continue to destroy our world!"

Cassandra shook her head, understanding that her father had actually just confessed to everything she had accused both him and Nott of having done. "You won't have to worry about that, as the Yaxley family will be destroyed."

"By who?" sneered her father. "Your pathetic excuse for a wizard boyfriend?"

"No, by me!" exclaimed Cassandra.

Before her father or her brother could react, she cast an explosive curse, one that was a Yaxley family secret. She directed it at the corner of the room which caused the many urns to explode. The entire house was engulfed with an explosion of flames in a matter of moments.