Under a little... proper motivation, the other prisoners had all been persuaded to sign over everything they owned in the most binding of contracts. Not that it would be that simple, the Ministry wouldn't exactly honour such things with convicted men, but it would make things better in the long run, and more importantly, the Goblins held nothing against criminals. So long as the clients committed no crimes against themselves, and could do business, naturally.
Bellatrix had been bedridden for two days after casting the full Imperius Curse on Sirius, even with little Harry feeding from her nearly constantly. He explained that drinking from her magic was more like taking a sip than the deep gulps it had been like before, and even when she was back to her full strength she had noticeably less power than before. Thus they discovered the full price of the highest form of Imperius. Not only did it require so much magic, it also damaged or borrowed from the caster's magical potential.
Needless to say, Bellatrix was aghast and both sisters instantly agreed such measures would not be taken lightly. By the end of the week, during which Harry had done little but drink himself to sleep, wake, and drink some more, Harry claimed Bella's power was almost back where it had been.
Sirius was sent out after a full day of questioning and testing to ensure the Imperius had taken properly. It had, so each day their newest vassal was sent out with several prisoners, one at a time, to gather any wealth or desirable objects they possessed and had squirrelled away. Their cousin was more than able to handle any of the weakened convicts, more so after they fed him restorative potions and several large meals.
When the sisters had given Sirius a brand new invisibility cloak, freshly enchanted and guaranteed to last up to eight years with care, it provoked a startling revelation. They had thought only to avoid suspicion, as the continued rate of several people signing their vaults and contents to what was easily (for goblins) confirmed to be one holder didn't exactly help hide their consolidation of wealth. The last thing they needed was for someone to notice Sirius standing there with his wand trained on them, and polyjuice potion only went so far and was expensive to brew besides. The fact that it was also very useful in all kinds of circumstances that they would order him into made it well worth its exorbitant price.
Sirius had accepted it with a bittersweet smile and reminisced about the invisibility cloak that he and his friends used all through their school years. James Potter had possessed an invisibility cloak so finely enchanted that it had not faded, nor torn or in any way tarnished over more than seven years. When they heard it had belonged to James' father, and his father before him, the sisters nearly fell over. It was happening more often than they would like to admit.
While Sirius had never been one to read for pleasure, especially children's fairy tales, as he claimed it unmanly, his cousins had no such inhibitions. The tale of Death and the Three Brothers had been a favourite for the three Black sisters to discuss and argue about. Which object would they prefer? Which brother would they prefer to marry? What would they have done with the objects? What objects would they themselves make one day?
It had long since been decided that Bella would have had the Elder Wand, Narcissa would have had the Resurrection Stone, and Andromeda would have had Death's Invisibility Cloak. Andy had put up a fight, wanting the Wand, but had agreed that Bella was her superior in a duel and thus would win the Wand anyway.
The two sisters still talking to each other had shaken off the nostalgia, guilt, hurt, and anger that the thoughts of their wayward sister had brought up, and quickly fell into a discussion about the Deathly Hallows. In their childhood they had been quite serious about inventing their own three powerful objects and having tales told of the Black Sisters Three, enough to research and discover the legends and rumours surrounding the real Hallows.
To find out one actually existed, and that their cousin had held it and been near it for so long...! Their mood had crashed when Sirius explained that Dumbledore had taken an interest in the cloak and had borrowed it, and still held possession of it to the best of his knowledge.
Hearing this, they grew absolutely certain that it was the genuine article, for what else could have captured Dumbledore's interest at the height of the war? There was nothing to be done but wait and hope he returned it to the rightful Potter Heir, or failing that, for Harry to claim it when he was old enough, he was too young to risk the conversation right now. Dumbledore would surely guard it properly in the meantime.
The knowledge that their little Harry was also the direct descendant of the third brother of the tale, the last living Peverell of the legend, diverging from the line of first born males only when no sons were born, provided exciting possibilities. But they too would have to wait, for such things were best verified upon reaching one's majority.
Now they had even more reasons to wish for time to fly.
In the meantime, life went on. Sirius encountered no problems in acquiring everything of worth the prisoners had access to, including their vaults. Narcissa managed to ride the wave of anger, frustration and fear the Azkaban escape had created to an even greater level of influence in the Ministry, particularly over her squad of Aurors and Hitwizards.
Bella and Sirius had the weaker minded prisoners under their control and forced them to attack several very public and visible locations. The less than reputable wand maker who had sold a polyjuiced Bella a dozen fairly decent, if sluggish, black market wands found himself ripped to shreds by the very objects he sold. The rest of his wares would supply their needs nicely, and more importantly, let the rest of the world know it.
Sirius was of course properly equipped with a new wand from Ollivander's shop, tested and purchased while Mr Ollivander was confunded.
So Narcissa's squad grew larger and more prominent. Though she was not technically their leader, they were answerable to, and largely funded by, her. Several prisoners were sacrificed every so often so that she could prove successful, but they had plenty of spellfodder and did not miss them.
Bella and Cissy thought it best to limit the interaction between their little Harry and Sirius until there was no danger of their cousin having too great an influence on him. So they kept Sirius away from Harry, and ordered him not to approach his godson yet. There would be time for that later, years later. At a controlled rate.
For the next few years Harry spent his days playing, learning magic and everything needed to thrive in the noble and dangerous worlds of magic, both in and out of the pensieve, and feeding from both sisters whenever possible. Life was good.
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Harry's sixth birthday was notable for the great gifts he received. Books, trinkets, toys, enchanted objects and weapons, and different creatures to play with and study for a time were nothing new to him; the sisters loved showering him with gifts. What was special was that he received a playmate. Once the gifts were opened and set aside, and proper thanks given, Bella brought in the man and explained.
"Harry, my love, do you remember this man? His name is Sirius Black, he is our cousin and first in line to be Head of our House. He was named your godfather, and has made you his heir so you will be the next Lord Black. I placed a full Imperious Curse on him several years ago and we have been using him to further our goals, as you know. Cissy and I think it is time for you to meet him properly.
"He has been ordered to obey you and protect you, and he would do that anyway. He has to lie low for the next few months, he was nearly caught and further rumours about him are not helpful right now. Just remember to be careful and clever, and please let us know before you try anything risky."
With that and a few kisses, Cissy and Bella left the two alone to get to know each other. While discreetly spying, of course. Harry stared at the man, taking in his appearance. Sirius Black was tall and well built with a handsome face and a roguish expression. His black hair reached down almost to his shoulders in elegantly wild waves, much like Bella's but far less beautiful. His clothing was mostly dark and well made, but it had faded slightly from travel and use. His stance was strong and casual, belying the anxiety building up behind his dark eyes. This was a powerful man, almost like a male Bella but lacking her darker nature.
Harry loved it. He was the perfect servant for him. He gestured a little awkwardly for the man- Sirius, to take a seat and broke the silence.
"Hello, Sirius Black. So you're my godfather?"
Sirius sat across from him, staring all the while with a faintly sad but wide smile.
"Call me Padfoot, or just Sirius, pup. Preferably Padfoot. Look at you! All grown up before you're even at Hogwarts. You'll be taller than me soon." He ended with a laugh when Harry's eyes narrowed as he scowled. Harry was patently no where near half as tall as Sirius. Mentally mature beyond his years, though not as much as he thought or wished, it was a source of constant frustration to him that his body simply wouldn't catch up. Bella and Cissy promised him that one day soon he would be tall and powerfully built, but soon just refused to hurry up and happen already.
Shaking his head to clear his frustrating thoughts, Harry pondered the nickname. "Padfoot... You don't look sneaky, what's with the nickname? Are you a ballerina?"
A loud laugh was barked at at that, before it died and strong, unreadable emotions flickered over his godfather's face, and Harry almost felt the need to apologize for something he didn't understand. Then Sirius shook his head and smiled sadly.
"Back in school your father and I were best friends, closer than brothers. We had two other friends, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew the traitor." He growled. "In first year we discovered that Remus was a werewolf and we decided to master the Animagus transformation to help him through his painful transformations. It took a few years but we managed it, transfiguration was your father's best subject though I was only barely behind him. Your dad's form was a stag, Pettigrew the traitor is a rat," Harry nodded at that, rats had gained a specially place of loathing in his heart when he heard that tale.
"...and I'm this."
It happened so fast that Harry actually missed it when he blinked. There in his godfather's place was a large black dog, grinning and panting up at him before woofing and transforming back. Sirius chortled at his godson's startled expression.
"You are so teaching me how to do that. But for now, it's my birthday, and your new lord demands a horseback ride."
Sirius laughed at that and gave a sweeping bow. "Of course, my Lord Pup. All aboard!" And he transformed into his Animagus form and bowed low to let Harry scramble on, and then they were off prancing around laughing his head off while Harry giggled.
He wasn't laughing three hours later.
That boy was a menace! Three whole hours later and Harry was still riding on his back giving orders like a general on his war-dragon. It wouldn't have been so bad if he was allowed to stay in his dog form, he had incredible stamina like that, but Harry had ordered him back and forth between forms every other minute. His human back wasn't built for this!
The next three weeks would have crippled him, but for the grace of magic. It seemed like every spare moment Harry had that wasn't dedicated to learning or feeding was focused entirely on riding Sirius like a steed and laughing as he switched between Sirius and Padfoot.
Bella and Cissy had found it cute at first, and taken no small amount of pleasure in the humiliation and pain of their cousin, but it was starting to get ridiculous. Worse, they were starting to get jealous. Harry played with them less and less as he focused on his new toy, but surely he would tire of it eventually? Why did he find it so entertaining, anyway? He already had animated toys to ride.
The answer was both stunning and pleasing.
Just three weeks later at breakfast for the sisters, as their meals were always staggered now with little Harry's unique diet, and when Sirius was resigned to constant back pain and humiliation while they looked on bemusedly, Harry decided he didn't want a ride.
"No thanks Padfoot, I don't need any more rides. I've got it now!"
The large black dog blinked in surprise and barked his confusion before transforming back into Sirius and collapsing gratefully on his back to stretch. "Oh?" Bella called, with a sudden glint of understanding in her dark eyes. "Do show us then, my clever little dark lord."
Harry smirked. He knew his Bella would figure it out, and by the look dawning on Cissy's face she had worked it out as well. "Ok then. Here goes."
He leaned forward and crouched over to walk on all fours, but by the time his hands hit the floor he had seamlessly morphed into a smaller replica of Padfoot. Thick black fur covered his new body, though it was not so shaggy or long as his godfather's. Dark green eyes shone out from his canine face and took in the surprised smiles of his little family. He barked what had to be a laugh and ran in a circle, wagging his tale.
"Well, isn't that interesting." Narcissa mused, a small yet intrigued smile crossing her full mouth as observed the transformation. Idly, she wondered if the Grim-like dog was actually Harry's Animagus form or if it was some sort of Self-Transfiguration, or even some hybrid of the two. He certainly seemed in full control of himself, and it appeared exactly the same as the Animagus transformation.
After three straight weeks, they were all quite familiar with exactly how it looked.
In any case, a full blown transformation at that age, without a wand no less, was... Intriguing. And the method he had used to learn it, constant contact with one transforming back and forth...
As these thoughts were racing through her mind, Sirius what transformed into a dog once more and was busy playing tag with his newly canine godson, who was morphing back and forth whenever advantageous in their game. "Do it again! Do it again!" Bella cheered enthusiasically, applauding and grinning madly as her mind began to echo similar possibilities to those her sister was thinking of, but with a twist.
Narcissa thought she and her sister should learn the skill themselves, no doubt at an increased rate with their little Harry's help, for its own sake and the possibility of helping him learn new forms from theirs.
Bellatrix had skipped past that and was thinking that they would soon be perusing the list of those registered with the skill, and paying some of them a visit. Or more accurately, inviting them over. For a lengthy stay or two.
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Some more skimming through the months. Things will be progressing faster soon. What do you think?