Arcturus Black prided himself on being always up to date.
He held tabs on almost all the players on the field. Grindlwald? Roped tight at nurmengard. Dumbledore? Playing with his chess pieces of people high up in his office in Hogwarts. Minister? Somewhere with Malfoy senior being bribed about one thing or another.
Now
This new dark lord, He was not sure. Yes, Walburga went on excrusiatiting long lectures about his greatness and whatnot, but Arcturus wasn't someone to be fooled by appearances.most poisonous flowers held the utmost beauty.
When Regulus first called up kreacher to go to Hogwarts to send a letter, the elf dutifuly informed him and asked for his permission. Yes, orion was handling the misinstry side of things now, but the true lord was Arcturus, up untill the day he died.
Curious to what mischiefthis grandson was upto, he gave the permission ( and the order to inform him of other occurances) and thought nothing of it. It was not that long ago Orion sent letters to his older brother Cygnas via Kreacher. Mayhap this Black was worrying over his stupid older brother? It seemed such a tradition now, with himself and Arasmus, Orion and Cygnas and now Regulus and Sirius.
How wrong he was!
When the elf came back to tell him of the newest development and the boy's foolery, his heart costricted with grief.
This was what happened to Evelyn line?
The boy, Severus, had her exact obsidin eyes. But he screamed of poverty and suffering. He recalled the grace which Evelyn held, her unparalled beauty which made so many duel to death over her attention…
Oh Eve.
His long lost love.
How he wished he had ran with her, and let all this empire be ruined by his idiot of a brother…
But no. he let her go, he let her down and that emotionless basterd Prince wed her. He chose to save the Black name by becoming the heir and dethroning Arasmus via a lade plan. He sometimes thought if the girl she gave birth was in fact, his and not Agustus daughter. Not that he cared about that weakling stupid thing, no. because she went and ran away with a muggle of all things. A clear sign of the madness curse of Blacks. She held no sign of her mothers natural grace and calm, she was an unhappy erattic little banshee, Eileen.
He never thought about that wertched thing who ran from home and broke Evelyn's heart.
Yes, he had pushed orion to a courtship with her, so that he himself could have a chance at a relationship, even friendship, with Evelyn. But of course orion would break her heart by cheating on her. Because Arcturus damn well knew Eileen liked him, and Orion liked her back.
Fuck that bitch Walburga and her whorish tendencies. If Arcturus disliked Eileen, he truly abhored Walburga. A beauty face with nothing of virtue to back it up. At least Eileen was damn stubborn and once she made her mind, never turned from it, come heaven or hell.
Was it a trait of Blacks to love Princes and betray them anyway? If it was, and he was considering it by the revelation of Regulus and Severus, it only solidifieded more.
Was the brat already in love with him? Arcturus suspected yes. Oh indeed he was too young to know it, but by 15 or so, he would become perfectly aware. He wondered if this Black could turn his love to a more platonic one, because he couldn't see a Black marrying a half and mostly a boy. He had a duty to the family, second son or not.
Love, what a shitty concept it was!
Eve, Evelyn, his Evelyn!
A heart he had shattered by leaving her all those years ago. A heart which had no strength left in it to deal with her only child wedding to a muggle and her subsequent disowning.
A heart which gave in completely after those two betrayals.
When Eve died, Arcturus knew for sure he would never give a damn if world tore itself apart. His sons had no love lost for him and he for them. He had washed his hands of Arasmus, and the whole family bussiness after that. Let this vampiric succesors of his kill each other for all he cared. Then Regulus came.
The boy was soft and kind, even in his infancy, if sirius shouted and cryed for a toy of his, he would let him. He liked reading books and was a shy quite child. Arcturus often found himself babysitting him while orion and walburga dealt with their eldest newest stupidity and cleaned his messes for him.
It wasn't that Arcturus hated his grandson, it was that he reminded him too much of Arasmus, and the was he was trapped in becoming lord Black instead of his older brother which cost him Evelyn .
So he and Reg, had a kind of connection, you could say. He watched him constantly, and gave him lessons in heirship that his parents didn't . Arcturus just knew Regulus had to become the future lord, whatever his parents thought of siruis, he was no lordship material.
He had better hold over his magic, more powerful and talented, yes. But he lacked finness, and patience. He lost his head over the smallest things and was rushed, decided on the fall of a hat, without thinking about consequences.
His Regulus, was weaker, eager to please his elders. But he had a good head on his shoulders and thought about his movements. He learned from his failures and never made a mistake twice, even if correcting himself and admitting to it ruined him.
So now.
What was he doing talking with a halfblood who happened to be Evelyn grandson?
And now, what was this wrtched elf spewing about he, Severus leaving Hogwarts to meet with Rita bloody Skitter? Had he possesed so little functioning brain cells?
He heard he had perception, owned a phonix and managed to get two pure families to back him up, all in one term. Yes he was said to be a genius, and played Quidich this young. But playing Quidich was only that, playing. It would bring fame and fortune, for a short while anyway. There would be new generation for people to gush over in 20 years or less. Then those retired players would doom themselves by alchohol and gambling, seeking to bury their desire for glory which was denied by their retirement.
And he had seen to many a genius curse themselves by thinking their brain meant they were superior to mere mortals.
They were wrong. There was always another one smarter present.
But those other traits of his…. And now he, leaving the school and meeting with the one reporter who had single handedly made his grandmother die of grief by spreading the news of that accursed engagement?
Prepostrous!
Oh, how Arcturus wanted to give him a piece of his mind!
Wait a min, why the hell not! So that was what he exactly did.
Minerva was thorughly pissed at the Hufflepuff boy, he was becoming the bane of her existance and bothering her constantly. There was not a week passed without him pulling one stunt or another. He had one job and that was being a student and study his damned lessons!
And what did he do?
Getting into fights with Potter and Black.
Becoming the youngest bloody seeker.
Saving the lives of two fellow students at his expanse.
Getting a pet phonix.
Not to metion how many times he had visited the hospital wing already and it was only the second term, of first year.
She remerberd many first years, none was this much of a trouble! And to think he was a little puff…Minerva shuddered to think what would have happened , what mischief he would get into if he was, say Gryffindore or Slytherin!
And now… boy had a death wish didn't he?
It was half an hour ago the news hit them. While she, poppy and Filius were having a nice chat.
She had a glass of wine in one hand, while Poppy told them of the last foolish act of students.
" this one slytherin today, had splashed himself with coloring potion. You wont belive me! He had pink hair with forest green skin and orange eyes, while his body hair had turned blue! "
Filius snickered.
" this isnt anything! This Gryffindore yesterday, oh I can not even tell. We had a class about bubble head charm, and the poor thing casted it on his oh I can not say that… on his manhood instead of head…I can not fatom what in the world he was thinking! It took me a good 15 minutes to dissovle it and the boys face was as red as his uniform!"
They were all laughing their heads off.
Well except poppy.
Poppy was still bothered by onething or another and it showed. She was about to ask her when Longbottom ran towards them, along Pomona.
It worried her, and how right she was!
" please please pleas! You gatta help him, you see , he was sleepin at our dorm and I went to see our head of house cause we had a kinda meeting and then I came back and he was upset and Professor brought him to infirmary and now he isnt there!"
The what, the who, the how?
" Severus Snape is not in the hospital, nor his dorm. I am afraid I have no idea of his whereabout"
Said Pomona in a grave voice.
There went their good time.
Now after searching the grounds, asking miss Evans, and his yearmates, checking everywhere of this stupid castle and too many point me spells, Minerva was afraid.
Where the hell was the boy?
Sod Albus for not being in the castle when you needed him!
Severus as feeling lightheaded and nauses. What was in that thing he ate? He tried to stand and he was not able to.
"no no no, mister. We don't want anyone to find you , do we? After all you are drugged with a version of truth serum mixed with sleeping drought. Don't worry good boy! You wont even remember what happened when I am done with you!"
Severus was cursing his arrogance and foolishness. What the hell he was thinking taking on a fully grown witch like Rita? He had memories, he was not an actual grown up for merlins sack! And he was panicking.
What good will panicking do in this mess?
"now tell me, what is your relationship with Blacks? How did you get in not one, but two pureblood family good graces and is Orion having an affair with your mother, Eileen?"
What the fuck? Affair? His what with Blacks? He was resisting answering the questions, but he couldn't for much longer.
" silencio.I suggest that you consider yourself lucky young man, where I not wary of my granson shenanigans, tommorow daily prophit wouldn't be to your liking much boy."
Who the hell was this guy? What the fuck he was doing? How he was here? He knew why he had silenciod him but..
Oh.
Grandson.
He take a closer look at him. Tall, grey hair and eyes, smug and arrogant and too full of himself, walking like he owned the place.
A sodding Black.
Arcto something?
" I see you recognised me already boy. So the rumors may have some base at least. Although it took you quite a time"
He stared at him. The nerve of the man!Quite atime? Was this guy for real? Severus had not the misfortune of meeting the guy even in his memories. That son of…
" oh no boy. What would your mother say if she knew you had such a dirty mouth?"
He quickly averted his eyes.Was this shit of a guy a legilemens too? Why the hell everybody he encountered was one? The dark lord, dumbledore, that bloody Huma…
The man chuckled.
" so she had not neglected your education that much if you know about the mind arts. No boy. I am not a mind arts practioner. You are as easy to read as a book"
Severus glared at him again.
Rita was slowly moving away while they chatted.
" no missy. You made a mess , you face the consequences."
"please my Lord! I had no idea.."
" you had no idea of what? That the boy is Eileens? That he has been seen with my youngest grandson leaving a lavatory at Bones-Prewat ball? That you were stupid enough to think you could have one on me, on Arcturus Black after all you had to endure because of your stupidity? Do you learn from your lessons at all?"
" please I am begging you, I am…"
" get out of my sight. You owe me and the child one. I will get barnabas to hire you. But remember this, from now on you work for me, and me alone"
Rita said nothing when apparted out.
" now, what do we have here? A noughty child of the highest level?"
Severus wanted to say sod off.
Which he did, as Arcturus had canceled the spell. He smirked at him.
" is that all you have to offer to your saviour? You do understand you are in much trouble when you go back? Becauce trust me, I will not hold back on your sheer stupidity. If you are in detension only until you graduate, you will be lucky"
Severus worried. He had escaped hospital, hogwarts, and went to interview without permission from either his parents or head or deputy. He had been drugged and was in more trouble had Arcturus not intervined.
"why were you here in the first place, I wonder?"
Severus felt the potion weakening, but it was enough for him to answer his question, to his horror.
" I was here since I wanted to get dirt on Sylwan, He is a pathetic murderor who even does not take responsibilty for his deeds."
Arcturus raised an eyebrow.
" do go on, inform me of all those gossip nonsence for all the good it will do."
Which Severus did, unwillingly.
At the end, Severus had left nothing. Sylwan murdering his fiancee and his brother and father. His meeting with Regulus and even his brilliant plan to marry Andromeda to Ted.
" do you belive me a fool boy? Why in Morganas grace I will do that? A half blood was something but a mud.. muggleborn?"
Interesting. Either he refrained the term since he was in public ( bella used it all the time, so no), he was a minor ( narcissa used it in front of draco) or he did not believe in it much.
" for one, even if he is not a murderor which he is,his father was gambler and all children follow their forefathers oneway or another. I do not believe one such as yourself would like a part of family fortune to go to waste like that. For another you know how she is, she will runaway with Ted, and trust me she finds a way. My mother did and she was much less of headstrong witch than her. Last but not the least what if I told you I have evidence their union will provide your family a metamorphmagus? Your family…"
Arcturus eyes widened and he sat at the eadge of his seat.
" this a bold claim boy, watch it or.."
Severus interupted him.
"yes I have. We checked with artimancy, with a blood sample too. And what is the ration of pureblood marriage pregancies? If there is one at all and the result is not a squib or half wit ? I am certain Ted can be convinced to take Black name too. You know having a metamorph , carrying black family magic , will do to the reputation of Blacks?"
Arcturus eyed him suspiciosly. He had to reveal more, didn't he?
" if you still doubt it, I can tell you that I myself carry the upttude of Prince family. Mind arts. And before you ask, no. I have not tried it as I have a unsteady core still. But I can talk with my phonix and she confirmed it."
" what there is for you? Even as a phonix owner, I doubt you are as sincere. You are something…else. Not a fluffy puff at all.what is your ambition ?"
Severus had to say something, true enough for Arcturus to believe him, and far enough from his goal of defeting the dark lord and saving people .
"isnt the Black allignance to me enough? "
"you tread dangerous waters boy. What will be next? Minister for magic?"
" why not? "
Then Arcturus laughed a good minute or so. The heavy air between them cleaned.
" if you manage to get actual proof of Sylwan wrongdoing, I am all ears. Mayhap I consider having you around more. You are fun to watch."
Then he took his hand an apparated them to the gates, where an angry committee were waiting for him.
Poppy?
Check.
Minerva?
Check.
Pomona?
Check.
Filius, Horace and filch and about half the staff?
Check.
Boy was he in trouble!
Arcturus smirked.
" I warned them of our arrivel, good luck lad"
Good fucking luck his bum!