A/N: Shortest. Chapter. Ever. Sorry, but honestly this one just didn't want to keep going. But, now there's a lot to plan for when the teens return to Hogwarts, but we do still have some more holiday fun to have, so I'll probably make the next one an extra long chapter to chronicle that. Thanks everyone for your continued support!
Chapter Fifteen
Gifts and Warnings
Christmas Day, Negron Household, East End, London..
Nick woke up to Bellatrix literally hopping on his bed. "Come on, come on. It's Christmas!" She said, more cheerful than he'd heard her before.
Nick chuckled as he sat up. "Yes, judging by your enthusiasm, I believe it is. Good morning, Bella."
"Hehehe morning! Now let's go, Angie and your mother are already starting without you." Bellatrix had been turned around as she said it, smirking as she turned around to see Nick's door still swinging open. "Works every year."
Downstairs, Angelina laughed as she heard Nick's rushed footfalls coming down the stairs. "Finally! Get enough sleep there, Nick?"
Nick gave his little sister the finger, an action that rewarded him twice over, once with a hit from Bellatrix to the back of his head and another from his mother. Bellatrix also handed him a small potion vial. "Here, love. You were going a bit hard last night in the basement."
Nick nodded, downing the pepperup potion. "It's that Solaris guy's fault. He was drinking just as much as I was."
"While that may be true, Solaris is also a Metamorphmagus, so he probably changed his body around to work through it quicker."
"Ugh, lucky bastard. You think that's gonna be Draco's father in this timeline?"
"Maybe," Bellatrix shrugged. "It would make sense, with how he and Lucina were acting together. I've never seen her like that with a guy before."
"That says a lot. And she didn't even scowl at me once last night. It was kind of weird, actually."
"Oh, shut it and open your gift." She smiled, handing Nick a box that said it was from Angelina.
Opening it, he found a framed picture of his friends from Ilvermorny, all posing and laughing as they waved to him from the magical picture. "Wow, Jared, Zack, Kim, Emberlynn.. Fuck I miss Ilvermorny."
"You have a lot more going for you over here, it seems, big brother. But that's not all. There's another gift on the back." Angelina said with a mischievous smile as Nick flipped the frame over.
On the backside was another picture, this one of Nick and a dark-skinned girl both smiling before the girl kissed his cheek. "Really, Angie? A picture of me and Sameera?"
"She asked me to give it to you. I don't know why she misses you so much, anyway. Vain bitch."
"Language, Angelina!" Neela said, handing Nick another package. "I think it's cute she misses him, even if I don't like her. And that was one of the better days, for my opinion of her, at least. But it's still pushing the issue that Nick is in fact over Sameera Sehkmet."
"Oh, it's harmless, Neela. He's all about me anyway," Giggled Bellatrix. "Besides, it's nice to know Nick has a type."
"Eh?"
"Come on, Nick, it's obvious! You absolutely adore redheads. I've known that since you told me you were crushing on Tamara in our Transfiguration class the first week of school. Seeing this Sameera just confirms it." Tamara had in fact been a girl from their time in the future, but Angelina knew nothing of her big brother's previous time travel shenanigans so Bellatrix covered that fact up.
"You're ridiculous. Angie, that big one in the green and silver wrapping is yours from me and Bellatrix." Nick said, pointing to the large box in question.
Angelina absolutely tore into the package and squealed as she pulled out a Puffskein, purple in color with three yellow stripes on its back fur. "Oh Merlin, yes! Thank you, thank you! Alright, Bellatrix is officially the coolest girl you know, let alone that you dated.
"Told you she'd love it. She's been asking for one for almost three years now." Nick said to Bellatrix, chuckling as they opened their gifts.
As they were finishing up with opening the gifts, the fireplace lit and became emerald green in color as a huge black dog passed through the flames, almost giving Angelina a heart attack as she screamed. Merula, however, just laughed at Angelina's reaction.
"Sirius Orion Black, you transform back right now!" Bellatrix admonished the dog, who seemed to grin before transforming into Sirius.
"Come now, sister, you're no fun."
"You scared the shit out of my little sister, you prick." Nick said, arms crossed. "What are you doing here, Sirius?"
Sirius looked between Nick and Angelina several times before gasping. "Merlin's beard, there's another one!"
"Hey! What the hell is that supposed to mean, huh?" Angelina said, getting over her shock due to Sirius' insulting statement.
"What it means, Angie, is that my dear twin brother is leaving. If this is about our sisters and Regulus wanting to open their gifts you can all start. I'll be along in a bit."
"Our luck, you won't show up back at home for another two hours."
Neela smacked Sirius in the back of the head. "No sex talk in front of the minors." She admonished, Angelina and little Merula giggling.
Sirius rubbed the back of his head. "Ay. Yes, ma'am. So are you two coming?"
"We'll be along in a bit, Sirius. I still have one last gift to give Bella. And, while it is private, it isn't anything to do with the bedroom, so get your mind out of the gutter and just go ahead back to Grimmauld. Give us ten minutes."
"Fifteen, but if it takes any longer I'll use the damned tracking spell."
"Go ahead. You won't find us anyway." Nick said, narrowing his eyes at Sirius with a knowing smirk.
Sirius huffed with a shake of his head and went back through the fireplace. Nick then got up, taking Bellatrix's hand to lift her to her feet. "Best not keep him waiting long, then. Come on, Merula, get your coat."
"Isn't this supposed to be my gift?" Trixie asked slyly, giggling as Merula ran to grab her coat from the hall closet.
"It is, but it's technically going to be for all three of us in the long run. Ah, here we go. I'll be home later, mom."
"Have fun, kids." Neela smiled as the three waved farewell before Nick apparated all three of them away.
"Where are they going?" Angelina asked curiously.
"Oh, you'll see eventually, I'm sure. That is, if you decide you want to come back home to your mother after you graduate. Neither me or your Nick will judge you differently if you don't."
Angelina tilted her head. "What about Leon?"
Neela's head snapped toward her youngest child. "Leon who?!"
*AWaH*
Newport, Wales, United Kingdom..
The first thing Bellatrix saw was the beach stretching in both directions as far as she could see. "Where are we?"
"Newport." Nick replied simply as she looked at him, surprised.
"We're in Wales? What are we doing.. here.." She trailed off as she looked around, spotting the moderately-sized house just inland of the shore, on top of a large hill. There was a set of steps that led from what Bellatrix determined was the back of the house- complete with a nice cherry wood deck- to the beachfront itself. "No. You didn't?"
Nick nodded. "I asked the goblins at Gringotts to get it built for today's unveiling to you and Merula. I haven't even been inside yet, myself."
"When did you even have the time to talk to them?"
"While we were out shopping for gifts. I did it while you were getting fitted for your dress from the party."
"You sneaky little devil, you. It's beautiful."
"The view is beautiful, yeah. I can only imagine the inside, but you are still much prettier than any old house or beach scenery."
"Keep that up and your mom is gonna be pissed at us, Nick." Bellatrix said, biting her lip before she grinned wildly. "Let's go see inside!" She said gleefully as her and Merula ran to the stairs, Nick following behind with a smile.
After fifteen minutes and the girls having explored most of the house, Nick insisted they make their way back to Nick's to drop Merula off before heading to Grimmauld Place. "If Sirius really does come looking, he'll end up somewhere in Yorkshire. I think."
"This house is under the Fidelius Charm?"
Nick made the gesture for so-so. "Not entirely. You both came with me onto the property, so it's visible to you already but if we step outside of the wards me and the goblins designed for the property, then you'll be unable to see it. Merula has the address written down somewhere in her room. Little scavenger hunt for her. But I'll tell you, Trixie, when we're finished at Grimmauld."
"What about Sirius and our siblings? I doubt you'd be barring them from coming to visit once we move in after graduation."
"Oh, we won't be living here fully until the summer after next. I don't want us risking our safety like that, just in case this mission of mine to kill Voldemort goes sideways by graduation. But, we can spend the summer here, if you want."
Bellatrix just hugged Nick tightly. "Thabk you, Nick. You really didn't have to build us a house, you know. Anywhere you are is home for me." She leaned up on her toes to kiss him, Trixie hating that her future self was technically tall enough not to need to go on her toes to kiss Nick. It was evident seeing as Donna was the exact right height for it, as Trixie had been in the future.
"Ew!" Merula said, sticking her tongue out at the two seventeen year olds, who both laughed at the little girl's attitude.
Grimmauld Place, Shortly After..
Sirius was soaked when Nick and Bellatrix entered the Black Manor fireplace, prompting Nick to laugh. "Couldn't resist finding out what sort of booby trap I had laid for you, huh Siri?"
"Sod off, you tosser. Merlin's beard, Nick, really though? The Channel?"
"Shit. I guess I overshot my spells again. You were supposed to end up buried in the sand up to your neck, or worst case stuck in Ireland."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Try me, Sirius. It's fun messing with you."
"Nicky, be nice." Bellatrix said, smiling and shaking her head. "Happy Christmas, everybody."
The Black siblings also had company, namely James, Remus, Ted, Lily, Marlene, Lucina, Solaris unsurprisingly and Severus who all greeted Bellatrix back as her and Nick took their seats, Bellatrix charming Sirius dry.
"No Merula?" Andromeda asked, already enamored with the little girl.
"No, she decided to stay at home with my mom. They've really bonded, thank Merlin. Bella told me you'd been asking about her."
"Well, she's technically going to be my niece, isn't she? I figure I can practice with her so that maybe I can have a better handle at it once this one comes."
Bellatrix giggled. "How do you figure that one, exactly, Andi?"
"The way she smiled at you both when we all left King's Cross. It was that of a child looking at her parents, not just two older wizards who saved her from a life of possible rejection."
"And that attitude is why I know you'll be an amazing solicitor." Nick said, laughing as the group chatted about while now handing the now-arrived couple their presents.
Later, everyone had been handed a steaming cup of whipped cream-topped hot cocoa and were now lounging about, enjoying their time together. Nick had wandered off, Bellatrix not worried even as she conversed with Lucina, who seemed to finally be warming up towards the former's boyfriend. Solaris got up from his place next to Lucina. "I'm going to go find Nick. I have.. something to speak to him about."
"Don't start some shite with him." Bellatrix warned as Solaris held his arms up in surrender.
"No ill will here, promise. He just may want to know what I do, is all."
"Is this about your father?" Lucina asked, her expression concerned like Solaris had told her something about this talk earlier.
Solaris nodded. "It wouldn't look good if he didn't know. It may only be precautionary, but he needs to know." Lucina nodded without another word as Solaris went looking for Nick.
"I'm surprised Nick isn't still here with us. Where do you think he went, Bella?" Lucina asked her best friend, who frowned.
"I'm not sure. But I know he's probably just got a lot on his mind. Probably missing his friends back in America."
"That's true.."
A Few Minutes Later..
Nick was standing on the porch of the backyard of Grimmauld Place, a sight he hadn't expected as he had begun wandering Bellatrix's house. He sipped at his cocoa as he felt a magical presence behind him. He looked back slightly. "Solaris."
"There you are. You know, this place has a lot of rooms for a small housing unit."
"Well, that's probably from generations of extension charms put in place all over the house. But I doubt you came out here just to comment on how much a wizarding household can resemble a TARDIS."
"No, no I should say not.. What's a TARDIS? Nevermind. No, I wanted to speak with you about a couple things, being the Lord of such an Ancient House."
Nick pursed his lips. "Is this about wanting to marry my adopted sister?"
Solaris froze. "How could you possibly have guessed that so quickly? We've only just met, really."
Nick smirked. "It was obvious by how you two were at the party, at least what I saw. Was that seriously all you came searching through my fiancé's house for me?"
Solaris shook his head. "No, not entirely. While that was a main reason, it had to do with something else as well. You see, I wasn't expecting much of anything for the holidays when I came home from Durmstrang, but the morning after I arrived home I found a most curious package on my bedside table. Inside was a scarf, one I hadn't seen in almost ten years. There was a note attached. Here." He handed Nick a piece of parchment, the Slytherin boy's eyes widening as he recognized Bellatrix's handwriting:
Solaris,
You don't know me personally, but I would like to invite you to this year's Black Christmas Bash here at Black Manor on the evening of the 23rd of December. My best friend may not know you're coming, but I'm sure you'll be a welcome surprise for her. Lucina has been all too grouchy lately and could use a good shaggy, best case scenario. But that's not my tea to sip on. Hope to see you there. Signed, B.B.N.
"Wow, this is.. interesting. I'm sorry if this came as more of a burden on you, not knowing the context of such a letter. Such things can be deathly confusing, after all."
Solaris nodded with a chuckle. "Indeed. However, it is no burden. As I told the others last night, I was hoping dear Lucy would want my company, even after all these years. Just that night was the happiest time I've had since we were all children. I wanted to thank whoever it was in your House who could have possibly dug out this old scarf." He tugged at one end of the multicolored scarf he had draped across his shoulders.
"My House? What made you think that?"
"Well, by what I know from the last few days being back in contact with Lucina, I would have thought it was Bellatrix who had sent such a letter. The handwriting matches hers as well, I believe."
Nick shrugged. "Honestly? Maybe it was Bella, but I doubt it. She's always with me, and I've seen no letter-writing in order to set her best friend up for a date otherwise. But, I'll run the idea by her, anyway. Bellatrix may have been the one to find the scarf. For what it's worth, though? You're welcome for bringing you both back together. And thank you for getting her off my back with the hostility of a hunting lioness."
"No problem. One thing you learn when your family are longtime allies of the Malfoys is that they all have quite a chilly temper."
"Who's talking about me?" Lucina said as she entered the room, Nick folding the letter Solaris had handed him and slipping it into his pocket as the blonde turned to her close friend. "Come, Solaris. I believe you promised me a proper date this evening."
Solaris nodded, chuckling. "That I did. Nick, I'll be in touch." The boy with blue hair waved at Nick as Lucina dragged him off.
Moments later, Bellatrix appeared next to him. "There you are, love. Everything alright? Solaris found you, didn't he?"
Nick nodded with a smile. "He did. It seems your mother is still altering things here." He took the now folded note out of his pocket and handed it to her.
Bellatrix frowned as she read the letter. "Ugh. Well, at least this alteration isn't such a bad thing, right? Solaris will stand by Lucina, I know that much."
Nick hummed. "Seems like it.. Adria?" He questioned as his pet falcon flew up to the couple, a letter from Neela in her beak. "Something from mom?"
*AWaH*
Meanwhile, Three Broomsticks Private Room, Hogsmeade..
Dumbledore sat alongside the rest of his fighting force, the Order of the Phoenix. Moody currently was speaking. "I'm sorry again, Albus, for thrusting the boy on you so suddenly. I wasn't expecting them to send a kid as a war refugee." He said, referring to Kazuya.
Dumbledore chuckled. "It is alright, Alastor. Have you or the Chinese Ministry figured out anything about what Voldemort must have been after in the Wu Shien Long archives?"
Amelia Bones shook her head in the negative. "Unfortunately, the Chinese do not regulate what knowledge their wizarding families possess. But, whatever Voldemort took from them was important enough to activate the Wu Shien Long security measures. According to their officials, that means it was powerful magic made forbidden to the public. They theorize it was some sort of conjuring spell, or perhaps something more like an alchemical marvel, such as the Flamels with the Philosopher's Stone."
That caught Dumbledore's attention. "Tom is no alchemist, I assure you all. Even if it was something along those lines, most techniques of the ancient alchemists- magics of such power and inherent darkness- were forbidden, physical copies only. All destroyed centuries ago. But.."
"What else do you know, Albus? Your attachment to how Voldemort rose to power in the first place is high suspect to get all of your titles and authority revoked, but we keep you in office so to say so that you can help defend the good nature of our world. All your planning has done is postpone any damage done to Voldemort and his regime." Bones stated, crossing her arms. Known only to Moody at the moment, Amelia had been promoted to Deputy of the Department for Magical Law Enforcement just the week before, and it wouldn't be long before she replaced her mother, since Edgar didn't want to be part of the Aurors and instead became a doctor, an equally gratifying job, their mother had told him.
Dumbledore shook his head. "If it wasn't for my efforts these past few years-" Amelia stood up, slamming her hands into the table between them all.
"Your actions have done nothing. It has all been the work of one Nicholas Negron, Seventh year Slytherin as well as Heir and Lord to Houses Gaunt, Slytherin and others from the American side of the family the Gaunts took once that one daughter ran away to the New World. That young man, who has managed to not only stop Voldemort's advancing effort to demoralize our nation and culture as a whole but weaken it to the point where he only has so many people truly following his cause. There have been several witnesses as of late confessing to both being accomplices in Voldemort's many, many crimes. He came out of nowhere, let's be honest, but that does not excuse what he has done to ensure what he claims to be- and proven so far by his efforts- a better future for all of wizardkind, maybe humanity as well. It seems the biy gas been able to teach even some of the older dogs some new tricks." She chuckled, looking at Moody who rolled his eyes. "By all means, we should be meeting with him for this Voldemort talk in my opinion, because you haven't done enough to help the cause you claim to be a hundred percent behind. Now tell us what you think may have been taken."
"I don't know what was pilfered from those archives, but whatever it was, we must be ready for when he strikes next..
Location Unknown..
Voldemort was breathing hard as he felt the magic he needed to use for the ritual leave him, his body now dangerously close to breaking itself down. He looked at the altar he had performed the ritual on, smiling deviously as the blood of what looked like clay began moving, undulating and growing as it began taking shape into something else. "Yes.. Soon, not even that twerp will be able to stop me!" He declared as the only sounds other than his echoing laughter was the undulating blob of material as it continued forming itself into whatever Voldemort had crafted.