Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter in any war or form.
AN-1: Sorry for delay, but health has been down these past two months, and time is something I find rare and rarer these days. Still, working on creating a schedule , which will go into implementation next month. So we might be back to five updates a month from March.
AN-2: I have a P*T*E*N, where you can read the NEXT FOUR CHAPTERS RIGHT NOW!—well, the 22 one will take a few more minutes or hours.
AN-3: A big thanks to Lordlexx and Rezurex for being my editors and beta readers!
"Daphne told me that you are friends with Heir Longbottom, Harry," Aurelia Greengrass, a beautiful woman with silvery-blonde hair and vivid blue eyes smiled, her eyes flicking over to her younger daughter for a moment as she babbled to Persephone, "I must say, I hadn't expected that when the Daily Prophet announced your presence at Hogwarts, and that in itself was a big surprise."
"We are not friends exactly," he answered, wondering if every adult he met was going to ask him the same question as he looked into Aurelia's eyes, "But we talk without any…enmity."
"That certainly speaks well of you as well as him," she nodded, and Harry wondered if he was just imagining the pleased note in her voice, "How are you finding Hogwarts and the magical world? Daphne told me you both grew up with your muggle relatives until the letters came."
"Fascinating," Persephone responded, running a hand through her now silky, lush hair, "It is filled with wonders and endless possibilities. From animagus transformations to the various charms and enchantments one can learn…there is just so much!"
"I am surprised," Artemis commented, raising an eyebrow as he snapped his fingers, and the glasses in front of the children were filled with butterbeer. "Most of the times, muggle-borns and those raised amidst muggles find our world too antique, old-fashioned, and outdated. Even barbaric and stupid at times, I have heard. Daphne told me about a few in your own batch that is like that, complaining and comparing constantly—and I wonder why you aren't amongst their numbers."
"Because we took time to learn about the world around us," he said back, earning an approving glance from both of them, "While Granger and Thomas whined about outdated quills and parchments, we learned that they are created specifically to prevent smudges, decay and allow a total recovery of the writing if the caster is proficient enough. And that they are not affected like muggle paper is in the presence of potion fumes. While they complained about the robes, we read how the magically grown fiber and animal hides are more resistant to external magic once finished, making them safer to wear than muggle clothes when practicing magic. And of course, it is a centuries-old tradition to wear them in professional lives, though, maybe something could be done about styling them differently?"
"You are as inquisitive and smart as your mother was," Aurelia laughed, and the Potters smiled uncertainly, not knowing whether it was a good thing or not. Sensing their thoughts, Artemis shook his head and smiled softly. "It is not something to be ashamed about Harry, Persephone. Whatever else may have happened, Lily Evans was amongst the brightest witches of our generation, mayhaps even the brightest when it came to Charms and Potions. She was different from other muggleborns, much like you both are, and it is certainly something to be proud of. Though I will ask you to refrain from the topic of fashion and clothes for the sake of my sanity and gold."
"Enough talk about serious subjects," Aurelia chimed in, rolling her eyes for the added effect as she looked at her husband, before her eyes turned towards them. "Now, tell me about your favorite things in the magical world so far."
"Daphne and Tracey," both of them answered at the same time, making the two girls blush slightly, although Tracey did it with a happy laugh as she hugged Harry tightly. Grinning slightly at the perpetually happy girl, Persephone nodded in her blonde friend's direction. "Though, Daphne is slightly ahead because she doesn't make our ribs ache constantly, and she also doesn't make our eardrums hurt."
"I wonder why that is," Artemis smiled, leveling an amused gaze at the pouting brunette, "Thankfully, we love the girl too much to use the silencing charm on her, and on this one too. Tracey has corrupted Astoria into being a menace."
"I did not," the accused girl defended herself, her eyes wide and so full of disbelief, that Harry almost burst out laughing at the unfamiliar expression, "she was born that way! Ask Daphne what she did to that little pony you had gifted me."
"It was not my fault she liked me better than you," Astoria giggled in response, cutting a piece of the steak and sticking out her tongue at Tracey, "By the way Mother, do you know Harry scored an O+ in Transfiguration and Charms both, while Persephone got one in Potions too."
"That…is impressive," Artemis blinked, looking at the children in a new light. He had known from Daphne that the twins were intelligent as well as talented in wanded magic, but to hear that they were scoring O+ in multiple fields? That was shocking to say the least, especially since his own daughter, a prodigy in Potions and a rather talented witch had scored only one, "It seems the tales of your prowess weren't exaggerated at all. Must have been decades since a first year got a better grade than Outstanding in more than one subject in their first year itself."
It seemed that his daughter had gained herself and House Greengrass a massive boon by befriending the Potters. Sure, Augusta's faction and some of the ones in Lucius' or Selwyn's pocket might try to intimidate him and his allies, and their children and heirs might do the same at Hogwarts…but Artemis knew it would all be for naught. Just from the letters, Daphne sent home, the few minutes he had talked with the twins, and in the guardianship of Arcturus along with the legacy behind Harry and Persephone, he saw the giants they were going to be. And what Slytherin would he be, hell what father he would be if he didn't support such a friendship?
As the lunch progressed after that, they made small talk about various subjects. Harry and Persephone seemed fascinated with Aurelia once they learned of her Mastery in Potions, while Astoria seemed as amazed with them both once they mentioned how they could bake cookies. He told them about the Wizengamot's current state, in basics of course, but enough to insinuate that which of their peers at Hogwarts was going to be a problem should they put even one step out of line. In return, he heard their tales of how their days usually were in the famed, unseen, Kástro Mávros.
Astoria especially seemed to be taken with Harry, chatting with him non-stop about this and that. Understandable, he supposed, given that the Potter heir was a handsome lad, even at the age of eleven. The hints of gauntness remaining from what he assumed to be their time in the muggle world, along with the pale complexion and striking, gemlike emerald eyes certainly made him an eye-catcher.
Persephone was also looking to be nothing less than a completely beautiful, regal witch once she grew up. Even now, looking at her face reminded him of the eleven-year-old Lily Evans, when she had first entered the magical world, and bumped into him in Diagon Alley. But she had also taken after her paternal grandmother's side of the family, quite heavily if he was being honest—her expressions…and those guarded eyes when she looked at him and Aurelia reminding him of Bellatrix and Andromeda both.
Seeing the children engrossed in each other, Aurelia and him silently left the table, moving back hand in hand to his office. Swiping a finger over the seal of the Blacks on the envelope Persephone had given him, he sat down on his chair, Aurelia conjuring her own beside him. A moment later, the parchment dissolved into a dark smoke, which rose up into the air to form a face he had not seen in many years.
Cassiopeia Black.
"Greetings, Lord Greengrass," her voice echoed in the chamber, as clear and amused as it was the time his father had shown him a memory of her—decimating the forces of the ICF and wearing the colors of Grindelwald, "My grandnieces told me that you were an intelligent, cautious, and quite pragmatic man back in Hogwarts. Assuming that has not changed in the decades since, I believe you are quite supportive of the friendship that has bloomed between your daughters and my grandnephew and niece. In the light of this fact, I want to propose something with the full authority of my brother behind it."
"For Merlin's sake, what is the ruckus around here?!" Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic for Wizarding Britain and three-times winner of the Order of Merlin First Class blustered, pushing aside other ministry workers as he walked forwards. "Clear the way you buffoons, I am the Minister!"
Behind him, his gaggle of underlings walked forwards, each one trying to push through the crowd and see for themselves what the holdup was about. However, when Fudge and his Undersecretary finally found themselves free from the whispering, shocked onlookers around them, they were greeted by a sight both of them had been dreading since the first week of Hogwarts.
Arcturus Black. Standing in the Ministry of Magic.
And currently, the Lord of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black was staring at the statue that had been erected after the Dark Lord had been defeated. Or rather, what was a collection of statues shaming and humiliating the supporters of the Dark Lord by placing them under the heel of the likeness of Barty Crouch, the Longbottoms, Peter Pettigrew and the other valued members of their society.
"Dumbledore," the man whispered after a few moments, and silenced the whole atrium in an instant. Even Fudge, with his inflated sense of self-importance and ego, knew better than to walk forward and look the aged wizard in his eyes—such was the sheer presence and terror the Black Lord was exuding with simply his voice and stance. "In your capacity as the Chief Warlock, and the Supreme Mugwump…I humbly request you to remove this junk from the Ministry right now. I won't have some overgrown insolent rats insult the memory of my sister and her husband—and place their faces beneath the heels of people that are not even a thousandth of what they were."
"Arc-"
"They are in their rightful place, Lord Black," a sweet, but venomous voice spoke from beside him, and it took Fudge a moment to realise that it was his own Undersecretary. Dolores Jane Umbridge. A whimper left his throat as he saw the older wizard's hands tighten upon his cane, and out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Dumbledore sigh audibly while backing off. Before he could run any type of damage control, the stupid, suicidal woman besides him continued, "That is what exactly the traitors like the Potters deserve. Birthing children like James Potter and supporting the Dark Lord while allowing a…thing like Lily Evans into her home."
Fudge cringed beside her, wondering if someone had put some firewhiskey in the woman's tea, because as far as he knew…no one disrespected Arcturus Black and got away with it. Hell, he had blasted Augusta Longbottom several feet, despite the auror escort and hundreds of kids around him—on his first day in the wider world in several years!
"You are lucky I don't consider you worth even an iota of my magic, you fucking toad," Arcturus spoke softly, and Umbridge gasped besides him, her face turning as red as her handbag. However, before she could really drive the man mad enough to kill her and him both, Fudge silenced her with a wave of his wand and snatched her own—wringing his hands together nervously as Dumbledore did nothing to stop the happenings. Honestly, why was the meddlesome fool not doing his goddamn routine now?! However, his attention was brought back to Arcturus as the man raised his cane, pointing it at the monument that was warded against every destructive spell, transfiguration, and charm by the very best warders money could hire. Fudge breathed a sigh of relief as he realized the intentions of the clearly insane Lord. There was no way the old man could even scratch the metal, despite how much more powerful he may have been in his prime. He was going to make a fool of himself, and Fudge would run damage control by taking the then-tired man in for questioning in front of the Wizengamot. Lucius would back him of cou- "Besides, this statue angers me far more than your childish attempts at superiority do, you bloated cunt."
And then Fudge saw it. The wizard who had destroyed Francis Longbottom when Fudge had been nothing but a boy hanging on the sleeves of his father's robes. Dolores hadn't even seen that fight, only heard about it, and therefore, wasn't taking the man seriously. She was probably believing him to be another pureblood Lord satisfied by flattery and praises, aligned with the promises of restoring their traditions of the Old…but she couldn't have been more wrong.
A beam of power blasted out of his cane, and slammed against the wards around the monument. They shone brightly, becoming visible as Arcturus' magic battled against the wards set up by the best curse breakers and warders. Fudge grinned, happy to see the Lord of Black make a fool of himself after humiliating him at Hogwarts. Now if only the senile old man could stop and they could get on wi-Holy Circe!
Fudge almost cussed out loud as he saw a crack develop in the wards, and all around him, whispers once again quieted down as they saw Arcturus' display of power. With a splintering sound that made him wince, the cracks spread out, arcing through the ward slowly but surely. However before he could fully break through the protections and destroy the statue, his savior once again came forwards.
"That is enough Arcturus," the powerful, wizened wizard quietly said, his hands in his robes and his posture as relaxed as it could be. "If you even scratch that monument, it will be a crime against the Ministry and public both. And I assure you, the laws have only gotten stricter in the time you have been away. Lower your wand, and I promise you, I will open an investigation into the reasons why Dorea Potter née Black and Charlus Potter were placed there."
Arcturus stopped his attack instantly, the glowing wards once again fading into invisibility as the man lowered his hand and turned around. Walking forwards to the older wizard, the Lord of Black looked Dumbledore right in his eyes, both of them not blinking even once as they stared at each other. He turned away first, walking away towards the lifts while Dumbledore kept standing in his place, a small, peaceful smile on his features.
"Director Bones, Minister Fudge," he called out, turning around to look at them both, his smile evaporating to reveal the stern face beneath, "In my capacity as the Supreme Mugwump of the ICW, I command you to open an investigation in the defamation and, wrongful depiction of ICW Hit-Wizard Charlus Fleamont Potter, as well as the Britain Division's Healer, Dorea Potter née Black. I want the reports sent to my office in Athens by tomorrow night. And no, this is perfectly within my right as the Supreme Mugwump when two of its finest are concerned, even if they are dead."
Seated in the chair of the Chief Warlock a few hours later, Dumbledore sighed as Diggory demanded the transfer of the few Cyclops that were living in the higher lands nearby the sea. Honestly, it wasn't that his request wasn't a legitimate one. He was just not in the mindset to deal with the logistics and ecological issues Amos was throwing out. No, his mind was currently set on the man sitting two seats and a row above him…Arcturus Sirius Black III.
He was currently an unknown for most of the people in the room, and those beyond it. While everyone expected him to side with Lucius and Selwyn's faction on everything given their shared familial relation and ideologies, the Lord of Black was a wild card, present in the Wizengamot chambers after more than a decade of absence. Everyone other than Selwyn or him would have expected Arcturus to destroy the statue in the Atrium, despite whatever chaos it may bring upon his head. However, he was anything but a fool.
That had just been to remind everyone that he was still the same wizard who had killed his friend in a Duel to Death. He was still the Scourge of Brittany. It was a show of power, a shock to the wizards around him, who had grown comfortable in their power and positions. Arcturus wasn't stupid enough to destroy a ministry property, at least not without making half a dozen different plans to avoid the lashback and action that would be taken against him. His magical power may be the same as it was a decade ago, but his political influence was in tatters. Some was destroyed due to the foolish actions of Orion, Pollux, Cygnus, and Walburga. Some taken away by the Houses that scrambled to gnaw at the dying House of Black, and the last vestiges of it were destroyed by the rising Progressive faction, or the 'Light' faction as some called it.
Vineyards, properties, manors, lands, businesses…all of which were held under the names of the various Blacks that were trialed and incarcerated or killed in the Blood War were taken by the Ministry—or those who nabbed their hands on them. The only properties and vaults that Arcturus currently owned were those directly under his name, or the likes of Castle Black and their family vault in Gringotts.
And he was building it back up. By using his own fearsome, mythical reputation as a base. Humiliating Augusta Longbottom and the Ministry in Hogwarts, in front of the future of the country, while today he showed how spineless Fudge was in front of the nation's administration. He sighed once more, wondering what changes the Lord of Black will bring to their world with his re-emergence.
-"nd I request access to Auror Force, Obliviators and the ICW's officials to safely transport those Cyclops out of our lands. Let Greece and Central European countries take them in, we have our hands full with the beasts and creatures native to our lands," Amos continued, looking up at them as graphs and spectral figures showing the damage caused the Cyclops faded away, "Consider this an important matter, for if those cyclops move even a mile south, they will be in the Dragon Reserve, and if they move a mile eastwards, then they would be encroaching muggle settlements. I don't need to stress how dangerous that would be, especially since these are not giants, who are only capable of physical attacks."
"While I agree with your demands Mr. Diggory, I simply don't have the manpower to assist you," Amelia Bones, holding the votes for both the House of Bones, as well as the DMLE spoke, sending a glance at the Minister and the Undersecretary, "and we can't just encroach into Cyclops territory like that, where a very real risk of death awaits for everyone. Even I know that where Cyclops dwell, Acromantulas and Giants are not far."
"Perhaps an on-site survey of the situation from the ICW, as well as the Ministry officials to where Mr. Diggory wants the Cyclops to be taken should be done first," he spoke up, finally taking an interest in the matter right as he noticed Lucius perk up—the conniving man no doubt about to propose shifting them to his personal enclosures, "I will contact Bjorn Luther, the Head of ICW's Creature Division, and request his presence in Britain over this matter."
Nodding gratefully in his direction, Amos returned to the seat of the House of Diggory, his aides sending a series of files to the Minister as well as him. Taking a glance at the seal of the British Ministry of magic on the folder, he waved his wand and sent it to the Chief Warlock's office in the building, from where it would be automatically portrayed to his office in Hogwarts.
"Now," he began, looking up at the Lords around him, "Is there anyone amongst you that wants to bring something to our attention? We have concluded the Ministry's various department's businesses for the day, so if you have something to request or share with this body, this is the time."
"I have a request to make, Chief Warlock," the voice everyone had been waiting to hear spoke up, as Arcturus Black stood up and walked down the steps to the floor, the tapping of his cane against the black marble echoing in the silent chambers. Stopping in the center of the room, he turned and looked at them all, his hands once again on his cane, "Ten years ago, on the arrest of Bellatrix Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange, and Rabastan Lestrange, all the properties of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Lestrange were seized by the Ministry. Today, I, Arcturus Black demand them to be returned to their rightful owner, the House of Black."
Pandemonium issued at those words as everyone shouted at once. Taking note of how everyone from Augusta's block to Lucius', Selwyn's and even Artemis' were vehemently refusing the very idea of entertaining that notion, Dumbledore turned back to Arcturus, raising his wand to let out loud bangs. The various factions quietened down eventually, disgruntled and furious Lords returning to their seats as they all glared as one towards Arcturus—and for a moment, Dumbledore almost laughed that the Lord of Black had managed to unite the Wizengamot, albeit against himself.
"I am not asking this foolishly, as Lord Abbot put so crudely," Arcturus spoke, sending a side-eye at the Lord in question, "and neither have I gone senile, as our dear Undersecretary thinks. No, the reason behind it is surprisingly simple. In the marriage stipulations and agreements that were agreed upon between the House of Black and the House of Lestrange, it was agreed that should Bellatrix Lestrange neé Black provide an Heir to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Lestrange, the House of Lestrange would become a vassal to the Lord of House Black."
"And yet," Lucius interrupted, a barely there smile on his face as he nodded at the empty Lestrange seat beside him, "Bellatrix Lestrange didn't provide an Heir to the House of Lestrange, otherwise, we wouldn't have the seat empty now, would we?"
"You would know all about seats won't you Lord Malfoy?" Came the response from the amused Arcturus, as he waved his wand and parchment came out of his robe pocket, which then floated over to the scribe sitting beneath the Minister. "She did birth a son in the fall of 1975. That is the letter from Rodolphus Lestrange to me, urging me to recognize Reginald Lestrange II as the heir to the House of Black. Accompanying it is the detailed report of the child's health from the Healer they had brought to the Lestrange manor for the birth. Unfortunately, the child died due to a venomous bite from the familiar of Lord Voldemort. The birth was known only to Bellatrix's and Rodolphus' immediate family, and therefore, to prove it, I also have the memory of Reginald Lestrange in my arms."
"He speaks true," the scribe, a young wizard by the name of Jonathan Abbot, a distant relative of Lord Abbot said, reading the letter and the reports, "This was written in 1970's, and the seal is authentic. The reports are also true, and they check with the archive we have of Healers that went missing in 1975. The clause is also there in the marriage contract, stipulating the vassalage of House Lestrange to House Black in case Bellatrix provides an Heir to Lestranges. However, it doesn't specify that the child should be alive for that clause to take effect."
"Are you sure?" Fudge asked, looking down at the young scribe as if daring him to say yes, "Check again. Those assets have been liquified and given to several houses in return for the atrocities the Lestranges committed. Even their vaults were taken as recompense by the affected Houses."
"I am Minister," Jonathan agreed, not even looking up from the papers as his fingers ghosted over several runes set into his table, "Lord Black is speaking the truth, and these papers hold up according to the Acquisition Laws of 1985, Section-A, and Property and Monetary recompensation laws of 1985, Section-B."
"Very well," Fudge gritted out, knowing that there was no way of stopping it. Well, he could have called for a vote to refuse Arcturus' request, but it wasn't like the reimbursement galleons were going to go out of his own pocket. Most of those properties and vaults were under the control of various Light Houses, and as far as he was concerned, any hit to Augusta's and Dumbledore's faction was a favor for him. If they wanted to contest this decision, then it was a matter they would have to take up with Arcturus, not the Wizengamot, "Proceed as the law dictates, and commence the validation as well as the transfer of those properties."
Down on the floor, Arcturus grinned as he eyed the various Lords sitting on his right. He knew that more than half of the Lestrange money and properties had gone to the Light, and the part that was taken by the Ministry, it all went into repairs and infrastructure, which the laws didn't cover. And to be honest, he didn't even care about that money. No, the only thing which mattered to him was how the dozens of Lords were going to come to him, pleading and begging him to not take their properties, businesses and hundreds of thousands of galleons away. It felt good to be back in the world, Arcturus chuckled quietly at the thought, walking back to his seat as clamor and shouting started anew, this time all from the right side of the Wizengamot.