Chapter 15 - The Man in Black
June 12, 1986
That afternoon Dru arrived back at the Black Estate and sat down with Arcturus to review the interview, if that is what one would call it, with Albus Dumbledore.
"You do realise that Riddle most likely cursed the position," commented Arcturus. "You did mention previously that he had applied for the position but Dumbledore refused to offer it to him and ever since then the professors have never lasted more than one school year."
Dru nodded, "Yes, I am sure that the positions cursed. And the headmaster either has been unable to remove the curse or for some odd reason has not felt it important enough to remove the curse."
"Oh, I am sure he does want the curse removed," replied Arcturus with a slight laugh. "Hiring out that position every year would be tedious at best, and can only be getting increasingly difficult."
"That would easily explain that lack of qualified teachers during my time at Hogwarts, other than Remus Lupin," said Dru.
"The very same werewolf whom Sirius has not heard back from as of yet," said Arcturus with a slight frown.
Dru, "Albus did agree to help us track him down."
"Of course he did," said Arcturus. "He couldn't bloody likely turn down such a simple request from his prospective new professor who has been gaining fame around the magical world, now could he. Do you have any thoughts about this curse? Or do you plan to only just work there for one year?"
Dru scratched the side of his head before responding. "I really would like to remove the curse. With my luck, if I don't remove the curse something dreadful could happen to me and prevent me from finishing my goals for returning here, or is it returning now?"
Sirius walked in on their conversation and had a confused look on his face. "What do you mean about returning here or now? We're all here aren't we?"
"Hello Sirius," said Arcturus stiffly. "Aren't you supposed to be watching those younglings?"
Sirius laughed slightly as he answered, "Oh, Cissy and Andromeda sent all of them home after their last game of Quidditch. I think they didn't want me giving them any more ice cream. They'll all probably be bouncing off the walls all evening with how much I gave them!"
Arcturus shook his head.
Dru sighed before commenting, "You do know that you're supposed to be taking care of them and not just act like a big brother to them and spoil them all of the time."
"I am not their big brother," snapped Sirius, with a tone of resentment at what Dru implied. After a brief pause he added, "I may be their favourite uncle, much to the chagrin of their parents."
Dru rubbed his forehead. "You are supposed to be learning to be responsible for once in your life."
Sirius ran a hand through his long hair, "But where is the fun in that?"
Arcturus shook his head. "I would have thought that you, of all people, would have learned the importance of being serious after your time in Azkaban. You were supposed to be the one responsible for Harry. You messed that up by running after the traitor the night James and Lily were killed. Don't mess up your second change at this."
Arcturus' tone was stern enough that even Sirius didn't dare to make a pun about his name with the words his grandfather spoke.
Sirius swallowed hard. "Okay, okay, I get the point grandfather. But what was this about being here or now?"
Dru took a deep breath before he responded. "We are just trying to sort everything out. There have been many changes in the Black family recently, which includes my being reunited with my lost family and your being released from unlawful imprisonment."
Sirius nodded in acceptance but still felt as though something was being left out. "Any news about Remus?"
Dru's eyes opened wide, glad for the change in subject. "Actually, Albus Dumbledore stated he would try to get a message to Lupin via his phoenix. So hopefully we will have an answer soon."
Sirius smiled at the news. "Well, then, I should probably go check on young Harry then, and leave you to all the seriousness of sorting out the Black family and all that."
Sirius left Arcturus' office and Arcturus let out a sigh of relief. He looked at Dru pointedly. "I suppose at some point you may have to tell him the truth about who you are."
"Perhaps," said Dru, "but not before we get more of this sorted out and behind us. We have the remaining should anchors to deal with, and the curse on the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"You said that Riddle placed the curse on the position when Dumbledore denied him the teaching position years ago," said Arcturus. "And the headmaster was not able to remove the curse, or he simply never really tried."
Dru raised an eyebrow at that comment. "While it might be possible he didn't try, I think he actually did, and the curse must have been made using Parseltongue, so he wouldn't have much hope of removing it."
"So, in all of your spare time this coming year as a professor at Hogwarts, maybe you could find a way to remove the curse," said Arcturus with a grin.
"At least obtaining Ravenclaw's diadem should be relatively easy, in comparison," said Dru.
MiB
Knockturn Alley, McNair's Pub
In a dimly lit backroom, Walden McNair welcomed several people as they came one at a time through a secure floo connection. Everyone who entered the room had a dark hood casting shadows over their faces.
Six men sat down around a table, faces still obscured by their hoods and the dim lighting. The man seated at the head of the table began to speak in a quiet but deep voice.
"You all know why we are gathered," he began. "Something needs to be done about this upstart. First he killed Lucius, and somehow he has taken over the Black family. He needs to be dealt with, he needs to be taught a lesson. A less that can and will serve as a warning to others who might try to act like him."
"So, we're reforming the Death Eaters to attack him?" asked a man on the left.
"There is no point in reviving that group," said the man at the head of the table. "Lucius sure was not acting like the Dark Lord was going to return, and if anyone would have known what was happening, it would have been Lucius. No, we will resurrect the Knights of Walpurgis. Yes, there is a difference, at least in the perception of the sheep of this world."
"But you know what he did at the tournaments, he is the best dueller in Europe now," complained a man on the right of the table.
"You fool, that was a one on one scenario, with rules that everyone had to follow," snapped the leader. "We make an example of this supposed Black, thus usurper of that once honoured name. Get a group of you, take him down, in public. Show everyone that he can and will be defeated."
"So, we just attack him and leave him?" asked a third man.
"What if we kill him?" asked a fourth man.
"So much the better," said the leader. "That would be a much stronger and clearer message."
There were murmurs of agreement from everyone seated at the table.
"Now," continued the leader, "our host for tonight will contact you all, and make sure you know when this will take place, and where. Now, we should all return to our respective homes. And no discussion about this outside of this room."
MiB
The Black Estate
The mood was pleasant as the new family was finishing breakfast.
Dru looked across the table at his younger self. "Did you have fun yesterday?"
Harry's eyes lit up as he looked at his "uncle" who had spoken to him.
"Oh, yeah, it was a great day!" said Harry excitedly. "Uncle Padfoot got us all to play Quidditch, even if the brooms didn't let us fly very fast. And then he got us ice cream. And then Draco was rude, and then he cried and then everyone was friends again."
Dru raised an eyebrow. "Wait a minute, what made Draco get upset?"
Harry frowned at first. "Well, it all started when he tried to claim that Daphne was to be his. This got Daphne upset and so I pulled her away from him. Then he said something about being able to take who and what he wants, but the other kids told him he couldn't. So then he got upset and started to cry. And then Neville told him not to cry because we are all friends and we need to be nice to each other. And everyone agreed with Neville. And then we had the ice cream and everyone was fine."
Harry looked to Dru and then to Arcturus. "Can I go an play now? Neville and Daphne are coming over soon, and we want to fly our brooms out back."
Arcturus smiled at the young boy, "Absolutely, go have fun, and do not cause any trouble for Sirius."
Harry nodded excitedly and jumped off and ran out of the room.
"I suppose I need to go keep an eye on them," said Sirius as he got up from the table and walked after his godson.
Dru and Arcturus watched the two leave the room, then turned towards each other.
"Wow, that was not something I really thought about," said Dru.
Arcturus raised an eyebrow as he replied, "And what exactly is it that you had not thought about?"
Dru rubbed the back of his neck slightly before answering. "Everything about bringing Harry up in a different situation, with actual friends, who can use magic. And then adding Draco Malfoy of all people to the group. This will definitely change the dynamic among students when they all start at Hogwarts."
"Particularly if there is absolutely no risk for Riddle to return," said Arcturus as he nodded. "Definitely this will change things from what you experienced."
"Things will definitely be interesting to watch as these young ones grow up," agreed Dru.
Before Dru could say anything further a gong sounded, indicating that someone or something had tried to break through the wards. A moment later, there was a slight flash as a disheveled man holding a piece of parchment in his hand appeared and nearly lost his balance and stumbled forward.
"Bloody hell!" he called out.
Arcturus simply raised an eyebrow at the man who had suddenly appeared. Dru forced back a smile as he recognised the man who had been his third year DADA professor.
"Remus Lupin, I presume," said Dru.
Remus looked at the young man I front of him, "Do I know you? You do look familiar."
"Hydrae, or Dru Black, long lost distant cousin to your friend Sirius," said Dru. "Sirius will be glad to see you again. He sent his owl to you several days ago."
Arcturus had quietly called for a house elf to tell Sirius to return to the office.
Sirius came running into the room a moment later. "Moony! You made it! It's about damn time!" Then Sirius embraced his friend in a hug.
Remus tried to shake off the hug, which took a few moments. "Easy, Padfoot, let me breathe."
Sirius let go and took a step back. "Okay, okay," he said, "and you sure smell like you can use a bath."
"Well, I'm finally here, and you're not in Azkaban," said Remus. "I only just heard from Dumbledore that you were released from Azkaban and that Peter, Wormtail, that he was really the secret keeper. After Fawkes found me, your owl showed up, and I got your letter, and the port-key."
"If you used the port-key, then why did someone or something bounce off of the wards?" asked Dru.
"Oh, yeah," said Remus, rubbing his side, "Fawkes tried to bring me here, and that failed. Painfully, I might add. Then I read the letter you sent me once again, and activated the port-key. Somehow I don't think Fawkes is happy about what happened."
Dru shook his head, "I would think not. That blasted phoenix is not allowed here and keeps trying again and again to get past the wards."
Remus had a confused look on his face. "Why block the headmaster's phoenix? Just what is going on here?"
Sirius shook his head slightly, "As I said in the letter, I would explain, but there is so much, let me sum up. We made Peter the secret keeper, figuring every one of the Death Eaters would think it was me. But the traitor Wormtail all along, and Dru here, and Arcturus, well, they found him, hiding as an animagus, and they brought him to justice. I finally received the trial I never had in the first place. Then Dru and Arcturus, they retrieved Harry from his relatives, from Lily's relatives."
Remus' jaw dropped. "Those magic hating muggles? But James and Lily were clear they should never have anything to do with Harry! And why won't you let Albus Dumbledore come here?"
Sirius muttered a few words as he tried to answer Remus, but Dru stepped forward.
"I know that this may be hard for you to hear, but there is evidence that Headmaster Dumbledore knew Sirius was innocent, that he did nothing to get a fair trial for Sirius, and just allowed him to sit in Azkaban," said Dru. He held a hand up to stop Remus from protesting and responding and then he continued. "We were able to have James and Lily's will read, which the headmaster had sealed inappropriately. That helped with Sirius getting exonerated, getting his trial even and gaining legal custody of young Harry."
"But Dumbledore has been helping me, supporting me, as I've been n the muggle world for these past years, trying to keep my affliction hidden from those around me," said Remus who collapsed onto a chair as he listened to what they were told.
"And have you been getting that financial support from Dumbledore recently?" asked Dru.
"Well, no, not recently," admitted Remus who had a puzzled look on his face.
"When did the money stop coming?" asked Dru.
"About six months ago," stated Remus.
Dru closed his eyes briefly before speaking again. "That would be about the time that Dumbledore's illegal access to the Potter family vault was cut off."
Remus' jaw dropped once again.
Dru sat down in a chair opposite from Remus. "Now you are beginning to understand some of the reasons why we here do not trust the headmaster. He is the head of a school, not the head of child welfare or an appointed guardian for Harry, nor an authorised agent to represent the Potter family and have access to the Potter family vault and holdings."
"Well, now what do I do?" asked a confused and upset Remus.
Sirius spoke up again, "You can stay here with us, with young Harry. He was all alone, and being kept in a cupboard under the stairs with Lily's sister's family. Here he has this whole estate, he has people who love him, we even have a play group for him with other magical kids."
Remus' eyes lit up momentarily. "But what about my little problem? I will be a risk to Harry and his friends."
"Nonsense!" snapped Sirius. "We can arrange for you to have wolfsbane potion, and if necessary, we can prepare a place in one of the basement rooms that will be secure."
Remus wiped away some tears that were forming under his eyes. "But I can't easily work, I can't pay you for all of this."
Arcturus spoke up. "You are a friend of the House of Black. There is nothing to work for, nothing to be paid for. We take care of our own."
MiB
Monday, June 16, 1986
Dru was planning to meet up with Cassandra for lunch and he was on his way to Diagon Alley, to meet her at a cafe that they had frequented. His attention was drawn to a commotion coming from one of the potion shops as he made his way down the street. A window shattered and there was evidence of spells being fired within the shop, and a stray blasting hex shot out of a broken window, hitting the roof of a nearby building causing the roof to partially explode. People in the street started to scream.
Dru quickly had his wand in his hand as he ran towards the potions shop. Several men with dark masks came out of the shop, and Dru dropped the first one with a stunning spell. Three more men came out of the potions shop casting spells as they did so. Dru crouched behind a wall and noted that two of the men had their faces covered by dark masks. The third man had no mask on, but he immediately recognised him as Scabior, one of the infamous snatchers who was involved with capturing Hermione, Ron and himself.
Scabior then called out, "Come on, Black, no need to hide from us! We'll make this quick and easy on you!"
At that same time several other men stepped out from behind the building, all with their faces covered with dark masks.
Dru swallowed hard. "Well, they are not using Death Eater masks," he said to himself. "Six on one, this should be interesting."
**** MiB****
AN: A short chapter
And a cliff hanger
I hate cliff hangers
But the next chapter is already being worked on
Thanks for the reviews. Well, thanks for all but one of the reviews - the one from someone who made it clear this is a stupid story and I am a horrible writer. That one I can do without.
