AN1: Thanks to Miette and Ayonne for betaing this chapter :)
Marvolo got up from his luxurious armchair and finally allowed himself to pace in frustration as he Sensed Dìleas close the front door of the manor behind his guests.
The last poll had confirmed the results from the two previous ones. After an impressive rise following the patent of Severus' Lupacem and the various conferences led by the major members of their group presenting their project all over Great Britain, the numbers of vote intentions had been stalling all January. If the vote were to happen today, he and Birkins would be elected Co-Minister of Magic. Nothing had changed between the previous election and this one. The Wizarding population of Great Britain was still separated into two factions and no amount of arguments or demonstrations of the superiority of his program seemed to change that.
Damn Dumbledore for his indoctrination of the Muggle-borns and the so-called "light houses", blinding them with his aura of greatness, his carefully crafted heroic reputation and his benign grandfatherly act. Damn Birkins and his propaganda, keeping the Muggle-borns and even some Wizards ignorant of Magic's way. Damn Baxter for being Birkins' most honest Councillor and Dumbledore's shining knight arguing for a Muggle brand of justice and equality, fully believing the lies of the old coot. Damn the man for not listening when someone tried to explain the differences between Muggles and Wizards, instead accusing him of being prejudiced and racist.
Marvolo took a deep breath, calming down his magic. It would not do to break another precious vase in a fit of uncontrolled magic, as if he was no better than a child having a tantrum. Dìleas had been very disappointed the last time it had happened. Who knew silence could shame you far better than thousands of reproaches?
"The sycophants have left, Master."
Marvolo left out a small laugh.
"Really, Dìleas. They are our allies, and they belong to some of the oldest houses."
"The old bloods have forgotten much, though they presume much more," answered his House Elf with his usual equanimity.
Dìleas was unlike most House Elves Marvolo had ever met. In truth, he reminded him far more of the knowledgeable and powerful Vampires he had met during his youth than any other House Elves. Not all of the latter were the happy-to-serve and always-bright-and-bubbly-towards-you kind; some were of the subservient and adoring but slightly unhinged type. Others behaved more like their Wizard counterparts, but always with a kindness showing through their actions.
Dìleas did not like people; he did not trust people either. He also did not speak much, but when he did, it was always with great calm and cynicism. Marvolo could not have wished for a better Intendant for Nather Manor.
"Sadly, few Wizards can pretend to have the same greatness as you and I possess, my dear Dìleas," said Marvolo with a small upturn of his lips. "I have learnt to accept it."
Yaxley Junior and Dolohov were among those he could rely on, no matter what Dìleas thought of them. Their deference certainly was welcomed compared to the Carrows' simpering or to the complete imbecility of Crabb and Goyle.
They were not the first to come visit him to offer proposals about change in strategy, ever since the polls' stagnation. They would not be the last either.
Sadly, his Death Eaters had yet to propose actions which were innovative or fructuous, and they were quite repetitive in their suggestions.
The last useful proposal had come from Severus, during his only visit to Nather Manor almost two months ago. However, while finding key political people not associated with Slytherin and sympathetic to their cause was not a problem, rallying them to their group was. No matter how much they agreed about the need to reinforce Wizards' links with Magic and to protect children, they would not support Marvolo's candidature, most of them were still too wary of the reputation of Slytherins. Even when shown that his supporters' ranks were not entirely composed of Slytherins, the non-Slytherin members were not of enough importance on the political scale to sway them.
The decrease of the amount of raids had seemed to help establish contact with those not completely enamoured with Dumbledore, but nothing more. In the meantime, the Death Eaters had also lost a very visual way to remind the public of the aim of their fight.
"The young lord has not been back," said Dìleas, managing to convey his disapproval through a perfectly bland tone.
"Severus is quite busy between being the lord of a new house, his duty to our cause and his own projects," replied Marvolo.
He had thought that Severus' visit would be followed by many others when he saw that Marvolo had listened to him, but instead, the young man seemed content to make himself heard only during the group's meetings. It was frustrating when he was certainly the only one of his Death Eaters who possessed a mind and a magical proficiency almost as good as Marvolo's despite his young age. His Christmas gift had certainly been remarkable and an undeniable proof of his loyalty.
"You could invite him."
People were the ones who came to him. They had come for him when they needed a leader to speak for them and to unite them.
"Or you could visit him. I hear it's not unbecoming to give advice to a young lord," added Dìleas, as if reading his thoughts. "Salazar certainly visited his pupils in his time to advise them about wards, protections and alliances."
"Going to him is not better than having him come to me," hissed Marvolo.
To lower himself to beg for a visit. He had considered it two months ago, a pretext of speaking to Severus one-on-one once he had gotten his feet under him half-formed in his mind, but Severus had pre-empted him, as it should be. To do so now would be like a child begging for attention.
"If the Master says so," replied Dìleas calmly. "Dinner should be ready in an hour," he added before disappearing with a crack.
Marvolo did not let himself get riled up by his House Elf's displeasure. It was not the first time they disagreed, though Dìleas usually felt less stubborn when losing the argument.
Severus was already too powerful in his own right, and his role too crucial for the group. To give him more power by showing that Marvolo needed him was not acceptable.
Marvolo sighed as he sat back in his armchair, absently stroking the green velvet of its arm. At times like this, he longed for a Familiar who would understand him completely, yet also be complementary and able to advise him without fear of the power balance between them. He could already picture it, a beautiful snake lounging around his neck, ready to strike at any threats, but also hissing sound advice in his ear.
Marvolo stood as an idea hit him.
Severus was the only Wizard he knew who possessed a Familiar. Considering his Christmas gift and their common interest in Magic, it would almost be expected for Marvolo to want to discuss it with Severus in private. It might even have been the aim of the gift. A subtle way for Severus to give them a private subject of conversation, a hint that he wanted them to speak more often together but did not dare to impose on Marvolo's time for something so frivolous considering the coming election. Severus had no way to know how much Marvolo wanted, even needed a Familiar.
Yes, that was a thought. And if upon receiving his request to visit, Severus responded immediately and agreeably, it would confirm that he was only waiting for Marvolo to show his interest. If he did not… Well, nobody knew how to crush a rival better than him.
Nodding to himself, Marvolo went up to his desk, Accioed a parchment, took his favourite quill and began to write.
Or tried to.
When the time for dinner came, he had already shredded three drafts and was contemplating setting the fourth one on fire.
Marvolo stood up, feeling his magic roil under his skin. Was it actually worth it, wasting his time to write a letter to a young man who should already be knocking at his door?
He hesitated, staring at the parchment. Was he not overestimating Severus' capacities? Could Severus really give him suggestions he had not already thought of himself?
"It's not like you to be so indecisive," hissed Marvolo to himself. "Send it or not, but don't dither like a drooling fool."
After one more moment of frozen hesitation, Marvolo reached for his seal and violently stamped the letter. Then, he called for Dìleas before he could change his mind again.
"This is a letter for Lord Caspian. Make sure it reaches him in a timely manner. I'll wait for your return to have dinner."
Dìleas bowed, tilting his head slightly in the way he always did when Marvolo's action had pleased him, then disappeared in a crack.
To Marvolo's great satisfaction, Severus' answer was swift: Marvolo was welcome to come for tea as soon as the next day.
Thus, at ten past five the next day, Marvolo was sitting in front of Severus in a dark blue leather armchair, watching quietly as Tuei brought various sugary delicacies and tea. She reminded him of Dìleas, acting more like Severus' equal than a servant, though she possessed motherly manners his House Elf definitely lacked. Nothing like the Blacks' pathetic creature. A relief, for it would have pained him to sacrifice a true House Elf.
Yet, from what Dìleas had revealed about his kind—and how ignorant Marvolo had been of the delicate balance between Master and House Elf before the day Dìleas had decided to truly trust and respect him—the behaviour of the Black's House Elf had been a reflection of his Masters'. Considering what he had seen in Bellatrix's mind as well as the behaviour of the young Potter né Black, the Blacks were far from the Masters of the Dark Arts they proclaimed to be for their younger members were already lost in the Dark. He might need to take action. His followers could not be allowed to slip into corruption, he deserved the best and no twisted core could allow for a sane mind.
Marvolo only kept his frown to himself thanks to his masterful control of himself. Hadn't he had that thought before? About the Blacks, but also about the Mulcibers and the distasteful McDonald scandal. His control over his followers had not been as strong back then, but now, what was preventing him from acting in the interest of the group and forcing them to respect the Dark? Or at least, to ensure that the heads of houses among his followers were not twisted? It would require the lords to submit to an examination of their core, which would hurt their pride, but they would not be able to refuse without raising suspicions.
To be controlled by the Dark was a recipe for disaster. He did not remember making a point about it lately. He did not remember teaching his Death Eaters about the Dark and its dangers as he should have.
"Thank you for coming to visit, Marvolo," said Severus, interrupting Marvolo's disturbing thoughts. "I'm honoured, you are my first visitor in Caspian Manor."
"Really?" answered Marvolo, surprised. "I thought Lucius would have come barging in the moment the wards were cast."
Severus smiled, amused at his words.
"He would have, except the wards took seven days to settle. This is the eighth day. He and his family are due to come have lunch tomorrow."
Intrigued, Marvolo took this remark as a permission to lightly examine the wards. They felt steady, though he had the faint Sense of old and new merging together still. He brushed against them lightly, getting back a gentle push as his inquiry was met with a gentle reproach to stop poking yet still exuding a feeling of protectiveness that embraced him.
The wards were not as welcoming as those of Nather Manor's, which was a given as he was not the Lord of Caspian Manor, but they felt like the safest he had Sensed for a long time. Since Hogwarts.
"Truly impressive wards, Severus," he admitted, the young lord watching him with interest. "But really, you should have told me to come another day, after Lucius and his family's visit."
"As I said, Marvolo, I am honoured to receive you first," stated Severus firmly, handing him a cup of tea as well as a plate full of petits fours.
Marvolo noticed several tartes aux citrons, his favourite, and felt a small warmth spread through him. Of course Severus remembered his preference.
It was easy to forget that the young man considered him as an example and, dared he think it, a mentor. Bellatrix and Oliver certainly liked to imply that the young but powerful and independent newly named Lord Caspian did not deserve Marvolo's esteem. They were jealous, of course, but jealousy sometimes could discern well-hidden perfidy. But while Severus said less than most, his actions had always spoken of loyalty to Marvolo and his ideals.
Once more, Marvolo hid a frown. How could he have once nearly been convinced by Oliver's argument about Severus still being emotionally compromised with Lily Potter and willing to betray them for a chance to earn back her respect? Like Severus had attested during his visit to Nather Manor, it made no sense considering Severus' past and current actions.
At least, he had always dismissed Bellatrix's accusations of Severus' cowardice and timidity.
Pushing the thought aside for now, he focused back on Severus before the young man could suspect Marvolo felt unsettled.
"Your home is quite impressive, though it's not really on par with what is expected from someone both Lucius Malfoy and his wife consider as a brother."
This earned him a rueful look.
"I did not implement all of their suggestions. If I had listened to Narcissa, it would be twice as big and almost the equivalent of Malfoy Manor even though we are only three in House Caspian."
"Only three for now," replied Marvolo with a pointed look. "You have the time to build a bigger house, but a Slytherin must always plan ahead."
He could not help feeling proud when Severus held his gaze respectfully, but without any hint of subservience.
"I did. Even though I don't imagine House Caspian will gain new members anytime soon, I have enough room to accommodate at least ten people, which will likely be more than enough. Can you imagine me leading a house with more people in it than that?"
Severus' confidence in himself had grown immensely since his Hogwarts days, yet Marvolo knew Abraxas would have scolded him for still thinking too low of his capacities.
Marvolo raised his chin, challenging Severus in his late mentor's stead.
"And why not? You're certainly brilliant and powerful enough."
Severus looked taken aback at his words, even flushing lightly.
"Marvolo, you know I can't stand most people. And I don't want the duties of a lord; I want to explore Magic."
That was the true reason Severus did not want a bigger house. That showed a true consideration for the future, contrary to some youngsters who thought that leading a house was only about politics and privileges.
Marvolo certainly had not wholly understood how many constraints it would put him under, how much time his political goals would steal from him. Power had to be earned and then maintained, whether it was magical or political.
Marvolo sighed wistfully.
"You never know what the future will require of you. I admit, I knew politics would eat up much of my time and energy, but these days, I feel like I'm living and breathing it."
Severus nodded in understanding.
"It's easier to be aware of the work behind the words when you have role models and mentors to teach you. But all is not lost for you; a minister's mandate only lasts seven years, you can still go back to Magic afterwards once you find a worthy successor."
Marvolo felt his mind come to a halt. To train a successor who could bear the burden once their project was launched and the hardest part was done… Much could be done in seven years to build a solid foundation and ensure that enough results would be reached to convince their electors to vote for their side once more. Then, he would only need to remain available as a counsellor; an official position might not even be required. He would have earned recognition and respectability, and demonstrated he had his place on the Wizarding scene without the need to keep flaunting it everyday.
Why had he never thought of it before?
Centring himself, Marvolo ran a quick check over himself. His mind was clear, his magic felt more like a river than a torrent, his temper was cooler than it usually was nowadays and he was aware of it.
Feeling uneasy, he focused on the manor's wards. They still exuded safety and protectiveness.
Yet, something was wrong.
When he was younger, he had assumed he would need to watch over his subordinates to ensure their compliance and avoid the failures coming from their stupidity. However, now that he had experience with the group, he knew that once people were convinced of the right course of action and pointed in one direction, a competent follower was more than enough to reach the desired result. He knew he did not need to hold their hand; he only needed to nudge them when there were difficult decisions to make. And those would decrease the more they implemented his vision for the Wizarding world.
He was the most brilliant Wizard of his generation, why had he not realised he would be able to delegate the boring parts of politics one day before Severus—an intelligent but mere twenty-year-old man—had pointed it out?
Realising he was taking too long to speak and that Severus was definitely going to notice that something was amiss, Marvolo said the first thing that came to his mind to deflect the attention away from himself.
"So, would you sacrifice yourself for me and dive into politics so that I may go back to my magical research?"
Severus' reaction was better than he could have hoped, the young man almost spilling his cup of tea.
"My Lord! I'm certain several of our members would be better suited to this role than me. Lucius or Jonathan would certainly fare better than I would!"
A rare, genuine laugh escaped Marvolo. Severus truly had no wish to deal with the headaches brought by politics.
"I am teasing you, Severus. But you have a point, if a reliable successor could be trained… It's a possibility to keep in mind."
He smiled slightly as the younger man settled back in his own armchair. Severus could become a worthy successor in time.
"Now Severus, I'm sure you know that I have not visited you without an important reason, though I always enjoy our conversations."
Severus nodded, letting him speak.
"I don't have much time for Magic, but there is still one project I hold dear, and I feel I must see it through sooner rather than later. Your Christmas gift should bring me a step closer to success, but I wanted to discuss with you some questions I had after reading it."
As expected, Severus was delighted to delve into the complexity of the Ritual, eager to discuss the alarming mortality rate of those attempting to pass the Ritual. Severus shared some very interesting theories issued from his own research about why the death toll was so high: Wizards taking the Ritual too young or before they were ready because it was expected of them; a lack of comprehension about the link between one's wand and their core; and the incertitude of the potions used to show if a Wizard and their wand were bonded or not.
"According to the book you gifted me—and truly, Severus, you have spoiled me—there are records of about a hundred potions being created to test the bond readiness for the Ritual. As time passed, a list of the ten most viable was created, but only criteria for a potion to make the list was that the number of Wizards having a positive result with it and then passing the Ritual should be higher than for most of the other potions. That criteria seems a bit random and insufficient."
Severus nodded in agreement, his eyes alight with passion.
"Exactly! I chose this book for you because it's very detailed about all the potions that were tried and how they were put aside or judged effective. However, it lacks any true criticism of how they were sorted, which is surprising as the author is far more discerning on other topics."
"He might not have been as personally involved in this topic as the others," mused Marvolo. "Those are quite interesting too, Severus. I actually devoured the book in two days, but I'll pick your brain about it another time. I'm more interested in how you would have chosen the potions and which ones would make it on your list. I know I would begin with Sensing the bond between several Wizards and their wands and correlate it with the results of all the potions."
"Are you able to Sense the bond between a Wizard and his wand?" asked Severus, looking intrigued.
Marvolo smirked.
"Of course, I am. As can you, if I judge you on your Sensing shields and your ability to manipulate magical flows against Edward. However, I must admit that I would need practice to estimate whether a bond is truly complete or not."
Severus nodded in confirmation.
"It can be complicated to Sense the harmony of the bond, especially if the Wizard possesses Sensing shields."
Severus looked at him with an assessing gaze.
"Though we both know we are talking about extremely advanced uses of Magic."
"As I told you several times before, we both are magical geniuses."
Severus looked pleased by the compliment. It was easy to give when it was the truth, and did not cost him anything while feeding the young lord's loyalty.
Severus' demeanour suddenly turned serious.
"I must caution you against trusting your judgement on the strength of the bond between yourself and your wand. Sensing oneself so precisely is the hardest feat to achieve, and even then, you are never certain to Sense everything."
Marvolo studied him intently before nodding slowly.
"I agree. Which is why I'm here speaking with you."
Severus looked relieved. Had he feared Marvolo would just attempt the Ritual without taking any precautions? Only an utter imbecile would do this. Or someone desperate. He was neither of those.
Unaware of Marvolo's thoughts, the young man launched into the explanation of which potions worked best according to his research and the various books and articles he had consulted that were published by various masters.
"To summarise, while I've never had the opportunity to experiment with those potions, I trust that if the Anima quaesitor, the Armonia revelata, the Visio cordis and the Huídá rate your bond as harmonious, you're as ready as you'll ever be to take the Ritual."
Severus paused, looking at him thoughtfully.
"I have them in my lab if you'd like to try them."
He cleverly did not propose to Sense Marvolo's bond with his wand.
"I did not expect you to have them on hand," remarked Marvolo.
"At first, I thought Lucius might be interested. And then, after speaking with Regulus and you, I realised there might be several others among our group who could be interested," answered the young man.
It was quite selfless of him. Marvolo raised an interrogatory eyebrow at him.
"Of course, it might be more costly for anyone other than you," added Severus.
"You won't ask anything from me?" asked Marvolo, curious and suddenly feeling cautious.
"I am curious to admire your Familiar. And you could say I have a vested interest in you remaining alive," answered Severus without any trace of guile.
Marvolo felt himself relax and smiled genuinely.
"Alright, Severus, bring the potions."
The young man left to fetch the potions from his laboratory, leaving Marvolo on his own. He did not bother getting up from his seat; he was quite comfortable. To think he had almost not come to visit his most clever follower because of his pride. How foolish and unlike him.
He did not like the picture that was forming in his mind. Could he have been cursed unbeknownst to himself?
The idea was ludicrous, and yet…
He did not have the time to ponder this unsettling thought as Severus was back in no time.
"Alright, this is the Anima quaesitor," began Severus, showing him a vial of light blue potion that he slowly poured into a wooden cup. "You need to project a small ball of Fiendfyre into the cup. The potion will turn a dark blue if the bond is completely disharmonious, but translucent with golden reflections if you are in full harmony with your wand."
Severus had no doubt that he knew how to cast and control cursed fire. His most clever follower indeed.
Marvolo nodded determinedly, tamping down his excitement at doing more than speeches and strategy meetings, and easily cast the spell at the potion. It required great control and certainly a close bond with one's wand.
They both watched with bated breath as the potion slowly brightened until it was clear as glass, and then took on a slightly golden hue.
"Well, that's an auspicious beginning," said Severus.
To Marvolo's surprise, he did not look as enthusiastic as expected.
"Now, the Armonia revelata," continued Severus, this time pouring a translucent potion into a crystal bowl. "You need to put the bowl between your wand and yourself."
What a strange way to proceed, thought Marvolo as he followed Severus' instructions. Was it testing the flow of magic linking his wand and himself?
"This is also called the rainbow test," commented Severus as they watched a yellow ribbon appear at the centre of the bowl. Seconds later, an orange one appeared on its left side, then a green one on its right side. Another twenty seconds and another ribbon appeared on each side. The first colour was expected, red next to the orange one. However, on the right side, it was indigo. One minute later, a violet ribbon appeared on the right side.
They waited for another two minutes, but the blue ribbon failed to appear.
Marvolo's eyes darkened. While Severus had told him it was complicated to Sense your own bond with your wand, he could Sense the bond between them, and it was strong!
"Let's do the last two tests before reaching any conclusions," said Severus, remaining impassive.
This time, Marvolo was grateful for the young man's neutral tone.
"The third potion is the Viscordis," explained Severus, giving him a vial full of a light red liquid. "You must put a drop of your blood in it. It will become translucent if the bond is not strong, but darken to a deep red and become viscous if the bond is fully formed."
It was refreshing to work with a Potion Master who understood that your blood was too dangerous to be entrusted to anyone other than yourself, no matter the oath he might have taken.
Marvolo cast a quick Diffindo and let one drop of blood fall into the vial before healing the cut. The potion quickly turned a dark red, its consistency thickening as it stuck to the glass of the vial.
Severus did not comment on the result. He handed Marvolo the last vial, which was thinner but with a longer neck than the others.
"You must put your wand into the Huídá potion. It will remain a translucent white if the bond doesn't exist, and turn shades of grey of various densities depending on the consistency of the bond. Opaque silver means the bond is strong and stable."
Marvolo nodded. With sure hands, he opened the vial and put half of his wand into it.
When he dared to look at it an eternity later, he was surprised to see the potion was silvery but still translucid.
Severus was frowning at it, deep in thoughts.
"I take it the result is unexpected."
The young man startled.
"Indeed. Two potions out of four already are an indicator that your bond with your wand is strong. Missing colours in the Armenia revelata means you're not ready to take the Ritual. To have only one missing would be consistent with the previous results because it means you're almost there, except that the missing colour is in the middle of the rainbow, not on its edge. And the Huídá results… I read about translucent dark grey, yes, but translucent silver? Something doesn't add up."
Had he had the right idea earlier? Was he under an unknown curse, as impossible as it should be?
It would be powerful to interfere with both his mind and his magic despite his protections.
But there was a far more likely reason for the potions' results. What if his first wand, the poisonous gift from Dumbledore's Phoenix, was interfering with his true wand's bond? Could he currently be bonded to the two wands, and thus truly be bonded with neither of them?
Marvolo considered Severus who was writing down notes, peering closely at one potion before putting his observations on paper then examining the next one. He seemed completely involved in solving the problem, but he was missing crucial information. Information which could not really be used to hurt Marvolo.
"Tell me, Severus, from what I understand, passing the Ritual means the culmination of your bond with your wand and the alignment of your goals."
"Indeed."
"What if you possessed two wands?"
Severus froze. He looked up from his notes, looking straight at Marvolo who held his gaze calmly.
"That would be inadvisable and… unexpected. But—"
He frowned looking back at his notes.
"Yes, it would make more sense."
Severus met his gaze again, almost hesitantly this time.
"Why would you take that risk?"
Marvolo sighed.
"I was young and ignorant. My first wand was an Ollivander's; my current wand was a gift from Slytherin. I did not think I had truly bonded with the first one."
"When did you get your second one?"
"Just before leaving Hogwarts, after I graduated."
Marvolo grimaced.
"I see what you mean. I spent my formative years with my first wand."
Severus nodded.
"Yes, that's not ideal. Even if nobody has ever heard of a Familiar coming from an Ollivander's wand, it doesn't mean you cannot bond with his wands at least partially."
He paused.
"You can't take the Ritual like this."
Yes, he was becoming aware of that.
"What do you recommend?"
Severus shook his head.
"This is far outside of my field of expertise. You need a specialist, either a Wandmaker or the Goblin equivalent as they are the species closest to us in terms of magical core functioning."
"Really? I had not realised Goblins were closer to us than Vampires or Werewolves. I mainly spent time with Vampires and Dwarves during my travels. Did you meet Goblins during your apprenticeship?"
It was not a big revelation. For Severus to be able to create House Caspian, he had needed a strong link with at least one magical species and at least a business partnership with a Goblin clan. No doubt they had been very interested in the inventor of the Lupacem and the future potions he would create, already hearing galleons ringing in their ears.
"Yes, I was lucky to meet many representatives of several magical races when I visited Kyirong Sanctuary to work on the Lupacem," explained Severus.
"That must have been quite the experience, different magical races cohabiting together," mused Marvolo.
Severus had just handed him the perfect occasion to broach the true subject of his visit. While he needed to know how to one day take the Ritual safely despite being partially bonded to two wands, it could wait. The elections would not.
Marvolo spoke again.
"You know the polls are stalling. Do you think your experience in the sanctuary could help us? How do they manage to bring together so many different magical races? I find it hard to believe all the sanctuary's inhabitants are law-abiding citizens; how do they deal with that despite the differences between all their cultures and traditions?"
Severus looked a bit put out by the change of subject, but he answered all the same.
"I did not have much experience with the political side of the sanctuary. There were rules, and those rules were applied no matter the perpetrator."
Marvolo waved his hand dismissively.
"We are already proposing to renegotiate the agreements between Muggles and us, and between the other magical races and us to make them fairer to all. It's still not enough."
"Only because most people don't understand how those agreements will affect their day-to-day lives," replied Severus.
"Even then, many figure they will never be in a situation when these agreements are needed," countered Marvolo.
They fell silent, each lost in thought until Severus suddenly straightened up in his chair.
"From the beginning, we have been focusing on what we want to change in our world. But people usually are wary of change, and it's easy for Birkins and Dumbledore to twist what we mean in their propaganda. What if we explained what won't change when you're elected?"
Marvolo looked at him dubiously.
"You want me to reassure them that not everything will change when a big part of our program is about preserving our traditions and our magical knowledge? Isn't that taking them for fools?"
Severus shook his head.
"It's not the same. For example, we have spent a lot of time explaining why we must change the law concerning the care of Muggle-born children and the responsibilities between Muggles and Wizards. We have focused our speeches on how the Muggle-born kids with families who hate Magic will be taken from them and given to a magical family. But we have not really said that the Muggle-borns who belong to loving Muggle families will remain with them."
Marvolo nodded slowly.
"It's true that Birkins and Dumbledore have implied we would take all Muggle-borns and put them with pureblood families, but I didn't think anyone really believed them."
"Many believed them seeing you did say that during the first election," refuted Severus pointedly.
Had he? Searching in his mind, Marvolo recalled an interview after his defeat against that cheating Birkins and Dumbledore's refusal to open an inquiry about the fraud suspicion.
"It was a provocation! I would never take children from their families except in dire circumstances," protested Marvolo.
Like abuse or prophecies.
"But not everyone knows that, and Dumbledore and Birkins are taking advantage of it," stated Severus, unflinching.
Marvolo nodded reluctantly. In truth, he had forgotten about the interview he had given almost ten years ago. That was unlike him. The existence of a curse was seeming more and more likely. But if he admitted this, how long had he been under that curse without him noticing?
Hiding a frown, he focused back on the conversation.
"Alright, but it's only a small part of our program. It won't be enough to sway voters."
"Unless we do it for all the subjects we are fighting for," countered Severus. "We have spent a lot of time explaining that the mentorship program must be implemented as soon as possible for every Muggle-born and every other child who may benefit from it. We have criticised Dumbledore and his administration of Hogwarts, and how it was detrimental to most students, and that it had to change, but we have never really explained why those were crucial points. We know that Magic and its oaths are the foundation of our world, and that forgetting about our traditions would mean forgetting about a part of Magic's functioning, but many are not aware of it! In the same vein, it is not taught why those sitting on the Wizengamot are required to make oaths to Magic. Currently, the only chance Muggle-borns have to learn this is through the mentorship program, which has only been active for a few years. So, because only the old houses know about the importance of these oaths, the law is that they are the only ones who can sit on the Wizengamot, which looks like favouritism towards purebloods. Baxter uses this to convince some of the populace that the Wizengamot's structure is obsolete and needs to change to accommodate Muggle-borns without addressing the core issue of a lack of education about Magic and oaths!" said Severus in a rush.
Severus was kindly omitting that the oldest and most prejudiced houses, like the Blacks, were reluctant to share what they considered as their hard-earned knowledge with those they considered lesser than them.
Marvolo frowned.
"Isn't that the purpose of the conferences?"
Even as he asked the question, he realised that Severus was right. The conferences were about sharing their program and convincing people of the rightness of it. They were aimed at explaining the changes they proposed and highlighting their differences with Birkins' politics while showcasing their most popular supporters like Severus or Edward. They were about putting catchy slogans and strong ideas in the heads of the public.
"Right, don't answer that. So, if I follow your reasoning, we should be clearer about the scope of the changes we are proposing, and why these policies are necessary to preserving our culture?" asked Marvolo, beginning to understand what Severus was proposing.
"Yes! And we must explain that you will not be calling all the shots on your own because, while the Minister of Magic possesses a lot of power, so does the Wizengamot," explained Severus, growing more and more passionate. "For example, you and I know that when we're proposing to stop the censorship of magic by those who would only allow us to learn Expelliarmus. This means you would ask masters of all specialities, especially healers, to determine the benefits and risks ratio of each spell you want to authorise to the core of a Wizard and to present their conclusions to the Wizengamot for a vote. The only difference with the current minister is that you would not consult only biassed Muggle-borns and Light purists."
"You mean the main difference is that I would ask true masters to explain that understanding the Dark Arts is the best way to be able to protect us from its potential corruption instead of ignoring it and saying 'forbidden, nothing to see here'," said Marvolo, eyes faraway as the strategy took form in his mind.
There certainly were many subjects to be used which could be adapted depending on the location of the conference.
"Let me give you another example," Severus continued enthusiastically, not giving Marvolo the time to stop him before launching into another passionate demonstration. "We have spoken of reforming the magical schools because we know our proficiency with magic is decreasing. It is partially because Muggle-borns are not aware of our culture, but we have not explained concretely how we want to teach them, so it's easy for Dumbledore and Birkins to push ahead false ideas of us controlling the children. We are so focused on the greatness of our project that we are forgetting that it's how it will impact people's daily lives that will really sell it! And let's not forget—"
"I get your point, Severus," interrupted Marvolo, trying to keep his voice gentle.
The young lord might profess not to like politics, but he was good at it, if a bit unrefined.
Severus looked embarrassed, but it was hard to be sure as he quickly schooled his face.
"Your idea has merits," acknowledged Marvolo. "If I take it further, you're saying that right now, we're lacking a form of coherence. We must show how the changes we propose will improve their lives while not changing the core of it. And I suppose we must show them I will not be able to become a bloody tyrant as soon as I am elected because our institutions are strong," added Marvolo ruefully.
It was a fine line to walk between showing the incompetence of the current ministry by overpowering their Aurors during the raids without inflicting irremediable damage, and having people think he would rule through violence and fear.
History knew that last option seldom lasted long unless one was willing to unleash sheer terror on their population. It really would not be practical when he wanted to increase the number of magical children and the global magical knowledge of the population. Very impractical if he wanted to be able to step down after seven years as Minister of Magic to resume his magical research.
He had punished Bellatrix severely when she had engaged in unnecessary torture. The first time at least. Had he become more lenient on that front lately? That could not be right.
Severus smirked.
"They really did not take well our proposal to organise the ministry differently for better efficiency. We haven't said enough that the Auror department and the Justice department will remain independent as they are today."
He paused, meeting Marvolo's gaze directly.
"People are not blind. The mentorship is working. The decrease in the raids is working. Not as quickly as I hoped, but it is working. We just need to put the voters' focus on the right subjects and be clear about what they can expect from us."
He could only agree with Severus. Hearing his arguments, building the strategy in his head, he was much less inclined to follow Rodolphus' suggestion about a grand gesture to remind the population of their goal, even knowing at least Yaxley and Doholov were of the same mind. They had suggested putting some fear and humiliation into Baxter to show their fellow citizens that Dumbledore and Birkins' pet was not able to defend himself because he was ignorant of Magic.
He had thought Yaxley more intelligent than his father, but now that he thought about it rationally, he was not so sure. Their proposal would more likely strengthen the division between their world's two factions and prevent any of the neutral voters from choosing him.
Why had he entertained the idea only two days ago? It certainly was not practical.
Damn this curse.
Who could have cursed him without his knowledge? It had to be a ritual, something which could be cast from afar, complicated and ancient. Anything else would not have made it past his defences without him noticing. So, it must have been someone powerful with a deep knowledge of Magic, the likes of Dumbledore or a master from the old houses. A master who had travelled the world as he had done himself and been taught by other species.
But when had they been able to cast this curse without him noticing?
Could it be the Gaunt's curse? No, he had taken the appropriate steps to protect himself from it. His Horcruxes and the magic from the marks were keeping it at bay. It could only be an external attack.
He might need help, seeing how much it was already influencing his mind and his magic. Could he ask Augustus or Eleanor? They were his first supporters; they belonged to some of the oldest houses, ones rumoured to have an ancient partnership with another magical species. And yet. He felt they had been withdrawn in their support ever since he has spoken of the Prophecy.
The Blacks were not an option, chances were they were even more corrupt than he was, and by their own choices.
He had been so careful to pay his sacrifices to the Dark; he knew when to stop pushing at its limits.
Could Severus help him? The young lord had once more proven that his mastery of Magic as well as his strategic mind was on par with his. They understood each other, and Severus had never been afraid to speak his mind. When he thought back to the various meetings the young lord had attended, Marvolo now realised that Severus had always tried to steer them towards reasonable actions.
And the evidence was clear: Caspian Manors' wards were affecting him, and they were helping him.
But could this be a trap? Luring him to visit Caspian Manor only so Marvolo could realise he had been cursed and ask Severus for his help?
No, Severus could not have known he would ask to visit so soon.
He had long known risks paid.
Betting on his assessment of the young man, Marvolo asked:
"Would you say your manor's wards are powerful and unusual, Severus?"
Severus blinked, clearly taken aback by another sudden change of subject.
"Well, they were cast by a specialised and highly recommended team. Dhaal and I also made some alterations. Why do you ask?"
"Do you know of a ritual which could have been cast on me by Dumbledore to make me… less sensible to rationality and more prone to acting rashly, and which would be attenuated by your wards?"
Severus blinked again. Surprise mixed with another feeling Marvolo could not interpret flashed in his eyes.
"A curse that neither Nather Manor nor your Intendant were able to detect if not counter? It seems unlikely."
Severus had a point. And yet, he knew without a doubt that the wards of Caspian Manor were blocking the curse he was under. Why would Dìleas not say anything if he had felt the curse? He would have listened to his Intendant; Dìleas had to know that.
Marvolo stared at Severus, trying to convey the importance of the matter.
"I must insist, Severus. I know I have been cursed."
Something flickered in the young man's gaze, hesitancy and understanding.
"What do you know?" demanded Marvolo coldly, suddenly wondering if he had completely misjudged Severus.
Would he try to lie or evade? He could not take on Severus in his own home. Not without preparations. Don't be stupid, Severus. Don't lie to me.
"It's a delicate subject," began Severus, clearly choosing his words carefully. "Like I told you, I can't think of a curse cast by Dumbledore or another of your enemies which would affect you the way you've described. However…"
He paused, taking a fortifying breath, then looked dead-on at Marvolo.
Marvolo was stricken by the determination in the young man's gaze.
He felt it in his bones. Severus was going to tell him the truth, and it was going to be unpleasant.
"I was told a story during my Apprenticeship, related to the Ritual. It said that a way to forcefully bond with your wand was found, using a dark ritual. The process uses the energy provided by death to tear your magical core in two. One part remains in you while the other is put into an object. This causes an increase of magic and an instability in your core that your wand must process to protect you, which strengthens the bond automatically. You wait for a few days for the bond to stabilise and then you reunite your core together. This improves the chance of passing the Ritual by as much as thirty percent."
Severus knew about Horcruxes. Even if he did not call them by their names. Even if their use was different. He knew. His hesitation made a lot more sense.
The young lord was still meeting his gaze, keeping him captive to his tale.
"One day, it was discovered that the object containing part of the magical core also is an anchor into this world that could prevent death. However, the longer it is not reunited, the more your core stretches, leaks magic and becomes unstable. Your core is not meant to be divided. It will try to become complete again, either by manipulating beings to bring it in contact with its missing part, or by using external magic to fill the empty part of it. In both cases, the core will become corrupt and even twisted. To keep your magical core divided for a long time and remain sane is almost impossible."
Silence fell between the two of them.
He wanted to protest. Say that he had managed the impossible and kept himself sane. Vakten Romanova had told him so once. A long time ago. When he had possessed one Horcrux instead of four.
But making more Horcruxes had made him powerful. And free from the Gaunt's curse.
And sometimes prone to uncontrolled magic. And to irrational behaviour, according to Severus.
Marvolo was not in the habit of lying to himself. He closed his eyes and focused on his core.
As usual, he could Sense his core and the seven pulsing nodes composing it easily. The four in the middle were split in half, an ethereal flow of his magic steadily flowing outwards from them and linking each to one of his Horcruxes.
The first of his four split nodes also was linked to tiny flows of magic coming from the marks of his faithful Death Eaters.
Everything looked to be in order.
Breathing calmly, he forced himself to look more closely at each of his nodes.
First the ones which were not split. Then the others. One by one.
Severus was right.
He had been so used to only checking his split nodes that he had not realised when they had changed from the non-split ones. Comparing them, he could Sense they were different. Agitated. Conflicted. Wrong. Twisted. The worst was the one linked to his Death Eaters.
What had he done to himself?
He was a Pahuu. The thing he had swore to never become.
Salazar! He had killed a Vampire for telling him that exact truth; he was not a Dark Lord.
He was lucky that Vampire had not belonged to Family Volkoswski. But could he still count on them when he had failed to control the Dark?
And if he was not the Dark Lord of the Prophecy, who was? And were they a bigger threat than Dumbledore?
He made himself calm down, putting his unbecoming and useless alarm behind his Occlumency shield. He needed to know what was wrong with his core in detail. Once more, he Sensed his nodes carefully.
Dread coiled in his gut. A foreign and unwelcome feeling.
While the first of his four split nodes was receiving magic from the marks of his Death Eaters, he could spot tiny flows of magic leaving the second one to feed his Death Eaters' magic.
Salazar help them. They were twisting each other. Was it his Horcruxes or the marks which were the origin of his insanity? Or the mix of both? Why had none of his Death Eaters noticed it?
Because most were marked too. Because they were not as proficient in magic as he was. As Severus was.
Marvolo opened his eyes and met Severus' impassive gaze.
"When did you realise I had twisted my core?"
He had not truly appreciated how good Severus' poker face was until this moment.
"When I came back from my apprenticeship."
That easily. The main reason why he had refused his mark then.
"When did you know I had made a Horcrux?"
"I first had suspicions during my apprenticeship, but I knew for sure you had made four Horcruxes a few weeks after I came back," admitted Severus.
He was thorough. And as good as expected. Perhaps even better.
To his surprise, Severus kept speaking.
"Marvolo, you asked me once to learn as much as I could during my apprenticeship so that I could help you succeed in promoting Slytherin's ideals. I did as you asked."
If he could trust Severus… And why should he not? The young lord had no reason to reveal his knowledge to him now. If he could trust Severus…
"Then, what was your plan?"
"To reunite you with your Horcruxes," answered Severus, not pretending to misunderstand the question.
To take away his insurance of remaining alive against Dumbledore's machinations.
To cure his folly.
"Against my will?"
"I planned to obtain your consent. But to save you from yourself? I would have done what was needed," replied Severus coolly.
A true Slytherin. With bits of Hufflepuff. Those badgers were far more ferocious than any Gryffindor.
Severus' ruthless admission comforted him in the idea that the young man truly was on his side.
"Do you think it can be that simple?" asked Marvolo, curious to know if Severus had realised that the marks were a problem. "You know I am linked to most of our members by the marks. Don't you fear reunification with my Horcruxes would affect them as well?"
For the first time since the beginning of their talk, Severus looked grave.
"This is one of the points for which I don't have a solution yet. I don't know how much the marks influence the magical flows inside their bearer's body, nor if it would be easy to remove them. I would need to study the marks closely, and learn more about healing as well. But you created the marks, so you must know how they will react."
He really did not want to admit his failure, but he would not have been aware of it without Severus' wards.
"The marks have evolved from what I intended. I don't know if it's because of my Horcruxes or because I did not make my intent clear enough when I cast the ritual, but the fact is they are not what they were supposed to be," confessed Marvolo. "Loathe as I am to admit it, I believe I cannot solve this on my own. Will you help me, Severus?"
The young lord held his gaze for an impossibly long time before nodding decisively.
"Of course I will. But I warn you, I don't think I can do it on my own either. I need people who know more about Horcruxes, cores and inside magical patterns. I'd recommend asking for the help of a Wandmaker as well as Goblin specialists."
Had he misjudged Severus? Why did he want to involve other people when both of them were geniuses?
"I'm afraid I don't understand, Severus," said Marvolo coldly. "You figured out I had made Horcruxes and that the marks were endangering their bearers only weeks after coming back from your apprenticeship. I figured out how to create Horcruxes and the marks on my own. Why should we need anyone else's help?"
Severus looked away. In uncertainty, sudden fright or in search of a good lie, Marvolo couldn't tell.
"Marvolo, I suspect there is one more problem we must solve to untwist your core," finally admitted Severus.
What was Severus hinting at? The ways to twist one's core were: to absorb foreign magic inside it, which was the marks—and the Hufflepuff cleansing ritual, but that was something he was going to keep to himself because there was no need to embarrass Severus with those moral considerations, and because it was a cleansing ritual so it could not have twisted his core—to split your core for too long, which was the Horcruxes; and to not pay the Dark its true sacrifices. But he had always done the latter.
Unless… Did Magic not recognise the magic from his followers as his own, despite the precaution he had taken during the ritual he had created for the marks? Or—what had Severus said?—a core split for too long would leak magic. Had he lost too much magic from splitting his core four times, and now did not possess enough magic to give back to Magic?
In both cases, it would mean that, while he had gone through the process of paying his sacrifices, feeling the pain or whatever else was one part of the price of the Dark Arts, he had not produced magic of his own and given it to the Dark as the second part of the price.
"Are you suggesting I have not paid the Dark its true sacrifices without realising it?"
Severus nodded, looking relieved to not have to spell it out.
He had never used outside sacrifices, it was not because of a lack of willingness on his side that he had not paid the Dark. So the payment had to just be pending, waiting for him to have enough magic to pay back all his sacrifices.
Salazar help him.
"You fear that Magic will pay itself back as soon as it's able to, meaning…"
"As soon as your core is whole," finished Severus. "I've been hitting a wall ever since I thought of this problem. I figure we need to isolate you from outside magic flows, and find a way to have you pay back your sacrifices gradually, but how to achieve that is beyond me. That's why we need other people who are specialised in this field. We can't take the risk of you dying."
This was clearly not a risk he could take.
Obviously, Severus had people in mind he wanted to ask for help. Goblins he must have met during his apprenticeship. How closely had he worked with them during his apprenticeship for him to suggest they would help with such a sensitive topic?
"You seem quite certain the Goblins you're thinking of will agree to help us. Won't they find it easier to simply eliminate the problem?"
Most magical races' stances on Pahuus were clear: kill the threat before they could wreak havoc and burn the whole world in a fit of madness.
"I have a close relationship with the Goblin specialist I have in mind," answered Severus. He hesitated, then added, "He's the father of my blood brother."
Only decades of training prevented Marvolo from gaping at Severus like a fool.
A close relationship indeed. Blood bonds between Wizards and Goblins were unheard of in the past three hundred years. It was no wonder Severus had been able to create his house so quickly and without the need of a sponsor.
"That sounds like another reason to not help me," said Marvolo dryly, raising an unimpressed eyebrow at the young man.
If this Goblin was so skilled, did Severus consider him a mentor? Would the Goblin try to take Severus from him and ruin their privileged relationship?
Severus sighed.
"I would not suggest it if he was anyone else. He already knows that someone close to me is tainted; he agreed to let me choose how to solve the problem. He will help. He knows it would end our relationship if anything happened to you because of him."
The Goblin was a master to be able to Sense his wrongness on Severus. From what Severus said, he had to suspect already that Marvolo was the one twisted. He could have already taken the matter in his own hands with Severus being none the wiser.
"His clan is interested in your program," added Severus. "I believe they are cautiously optimistic about a possible improvement in the relationship between British Wizards and the Goblin Nation if you're elected."
That might explain why they had let Severus try to deal with the situation on his own. It was not enough to trust that this Goblin would agree to help, but it was good enough to at least meet him.
"Very well, I will meet with him if he agrees to swear not to harm me."
Severus nodded.
"I'd expect nothing less. When do you want me to arrange the meeting? And where?"
"The sooner the better. Now, if he's available."
And he had better be. Another test to check if the Goblin's bond with Severus was as strong and trusting as the young man thought.
"Sadly, I don't think we can take risks with my insanity," continued Marvolo wryly. "I don't trust myself to leave your wards and not be overcome by paranoia."
He wasn't surprised when a look of relief crossed Severus' face. The young man was not stupid. He appreciated that Severus had trusted him to make the right decision.
"Alright" said Severus. "We must agree on the oath he'll need to take, then I'll call him to ask for his help without giving him too much detail. If he agrees to help, I'll go see him and have him take the oath, then we'll come back here."
He paused, looking at Marvolo.
"Do you want your Intendant to come witness the oath?"
"There is no one else I would trust with this task," agreed Marvolo.
They defined the wording of the oath Severus' Goblin mentor would be required to swear together. Then, Severus left for his office, wasting no time in contacting the Goblin—no doubt afraid that Marvolo would change his mind if given too much time to mull the problem over.
He came back mere minutes later to announce that the Goblin would swear the oath.
Between the moment Marvolo called for Dìleas and the moment he was face-to-face with a stony-faced Goblin master, less than fifteen minutes had passed.
There had not been time to do more than give his Intendant a brief summary of the situation and his instructions. As he had suspected, Dìleas had been aware of his core corruption, but had been certain that Marvolo would listen to no one on this matter except Severus. They would need to have words later, once he had convinced the menacing Goblin to help him.
Severus made awkward introductions, then they all sat down in their respective seats, Master Drunek's piercing eyes examining Marvolo with unhidden hostility.
"Let's be clear," said Master Drunek, speaking with a faint, rumbling accent, "I only agreed to swear this oath because I trust Severus and I want to protect him from his own loyalty if necessary. Without this oath, you would already be locked in a blank room or dead considering the level of your corruption."
The Goblin glared at him, all but daring him to prove he was not weak and insane.
He knew he should not antagonise the being who was supposed to help cure him, but he could not help but fix him with his most haughty look. The Goblin presumed much about his capacity to beat Marvolo without knowing him. Or he trusted his clan to back him up completely and without hesitation.
There would be no second chance to get this right. Marvolo refrained from speaking his mind to the arrogant Goblin and kept silent.
"Master Drunek—"
"No, Severus," interrupted the Goblin without looking at the young lord. "Our relationship can only get your leader so far. One's mistakes are one's to pay for."
Master Drunek stared at Marvolo silently before asking:
"Why should I help you?"
He needed to play this right. Helping him was the best choice for all three of them, the Goblin just needed to understand and accept that.
"Helping me heal from my twisted core and its effects will improve my chances of winning against Minister Birkins, the current minister, who has no respect for Magic and whose Muggle-born followers are afraid of those who look like the monsters of their fairy tales."
"Wouldn't your party's chances improve even more if you were not their candidate?" replied Master Drunek without missing a beat.
"I am their chosen leader. They were unable to unite themselves and push for their ideals before I arrived," shot back Marvolo.
He knew how to play that game, Goblin or not.
"You could die, and another candidate would be chosen regardless," answered Master Drunek coolly.
They would need to find his Horcruxes first. But from the way the Goblin said it, he had the feeling that Master Drunek was confident in his ability to find those Horcruxes.
Marvolo smiled humourlessly, keeping his gaze fixed on the Goblin.
"You could make me disappear and hide your involvement to preserve your relationship with Severus. However, two problems would remain. First, my disappearance would only ensure Birkins and Dumbledore's victory. As I told you, our faction is too fractured and lacks another neutral representative they could all stand behind for the election."
"What about Severus?"
Marvolo nodded.
"Severus possesses many of the qualities required to be a good leader. However, too many are jealous of him. It could work if the elections were in two years and he had the time to prove himself to all the heads of houses, but that isn't possible in less than four months. If Severus proposed to take my place, it would only bring him assassination attempts or demands for duels of honour."
"You have brought up compelling arguments so far," admitted Master Drunek.
He smiled toothily, a scarier sight than Marvolo would have thought.
"If I were a Wizard. But I'm not. Who says I care about Wizard politics?"
"You do because Severus does and he's your son's blood brother," countered Marvolo easily, calling out the Goblin's bluff. "But even if he did not belong to your family, you don't have the luxury of not caring about Wizards' politics. Baxter is already pushing for more restrictions on the magical races living in the Wizarding world. You must know how hard it was to get Hogwarts to allow Weverolves in, not to speak of other non-Wizards. I'm the only candidate who cares about relations with the other magical races. I admit, even some of my followers don't think it's a priority, and they are aware of how houses are built. Decades of the Ministry's propaganda and Dumbledore's arrogance have hurt us badly. Birkins is already pushing for the renegotiation of the Vampires' Agreement. Before long, his followers will wonder if they truly need a Goblin bank."
The Goblin scoffed at his last statement.
"Gringotts holds the key to the house system and the protection of the country. They will never take the risk of questioning it."
This was the weakness common to all living beings. Blind confidence in their past and current power.
"Are you truly a gifted master like Severus told me, to be so set in your certitudes?" challenged Marvolo. "Yes, Gringotts holds the contracts for now. But oaths to Magic can be changed if the price paid is high enough to satisfy her. I can already think of several ways to build a system equivalent to the houses and transfer the country's protection away from Gringotts. Gringotts is used by tradition and because Goblins are trusted to be neutral for now, but the wind can change with the right propaganda."
"Is that a threat?" asked Master Drunek, his face and voice cold as ice.
It was. But now was not the time to be aggressive.
Marvolo shook his head.
"I told you, I want to support relations between the magical races. I'm just being realistic. And you should never underestimate Dumbledore."
The Goblin stared at him, tilting his head minutely.
"When did you last set foot in Gringotts?"
The master deserved Severus' respect.
"I would say sometime during my apprenticeship under Lord Rowles. It's easy enough to see to any Gringotts business with letters."
Especially since most of his assets were in a Russian bank administered by Family Volkonsky. The family had agreements with Gringotts and handled most of the necessary transactions.
"A shame. We may have been able to help you before you lost your path if we had noticed you earlier," said Master Drunek, his face unreadable.
Or they would have dealt with him quietly without regard for the consequences to the Wizarding world, unable to see how it would also affect their nation.
"What was the second problem?" asked the Goblin, letting the subject go.
He was still listening. Severus and him had to be very close. His second argument just might be the winning one.
Marvolo glanced at Severus, who was watching him intently.
"The link between me and the bearers of my mark went beyond what I expected, exchanging magic between us. If it's not solved, Severus could lose the Wizards he considers as his friends and family."
"We could help them without helping you," replied Drunek frostily.
Marvolo wanted to scoff at the idea, but settled for crossing his arms before answering.
"Without my help? I highly doubt it. You would need to keep me under control and alive long enough to find a solution. I don't doubt that Severus might succeed if given a year or two, but you wouldn't hold me captive for so long. And you can't take the risk of just killing me and seeing what happens next."
He held the Goblin's eyes proudly. He might be twisted, but he was still Slytherin's heir and a magical genius.
Their silent duel was broken by Severus' exaggerated sigh.
He looked at the young man who might have rolled his eyes if Slytherin had not instilled decorum in him.
"There is another argument in Marvolo's favour."
There was?
Severus sighed again when Marvolo remained silent to hide his puzzlement.
Turning to the Goblin, Severus explained:
"Marvolo asked for my help as soon as he realised he was twisted. He abhors the thought of being a Pahuu."
Obviously, as would anyone possessing even two brain cells.
He disliked showing any weakness, but Severus seemed to think it was the key to Drunek's help. He'd better not be wrong.
"Being a Pahuu is the best way to fail to bring Salazar's ideals to life," confirmed Marvolo. "Even if I won the election, the irrationality, the bouts of temper and the reduced intellectual abilities brought by a twisted core would prevent us from succeeding. Not being in control of oneself is distasteful, so I have always paid my sacrifices to the Dark. I thought I had it under control."
"They always say that," said the Goblin quietly, looking almost sympathetic for the first time since meeting Marvolo. "It doesn't change the way we deal with them."
What more could he bring forth to convince him? Another gamble?
"I trusted my Vampire mentor; he said I was in control of the Dark."
Master Drunek looked at him sharply, his curiosity piqued.
"Who was he?"
"Vakten Romanova."
Master Drunek's surprised gasp was almost comical.
"How did you manage to get the Romanovas to teach you? They belong to the most closed-off family."
Did they? And was Master Drunek's clan allied, or at least in business with one of the other Vampire families? If they were, could they be enemies of the Romanovas? He may not have thought this through. But it was too late to take back his words.
"I had already been mentored by one member of Family Volkonsky before. I believe it was because of their prophecy," revealed Marvolo.
Neither Severus nor Drunek looked surprised at his revelation; clearly they both knew the Vampires had gotten their prophecy. Which family were they allied with? Severus had not been kidding when he said he had met with various races. How many contracts did he make to build his house?
Another interesting fact was that, for the first time, Master Drunek had relaxed his stance. Being vetted by the Romanovas seemed to be a good omen.
"What did Vakten Romanova tell you exactly?" asked the Goblin.
Marvolo tilted his head, using Occlumency to recall his memory vividly.
"I asked Vakten Romanova how to increase my mastery of Magic. He told me that it was a strange question to ask when I had already used the way to do so. I had lived with my Horcrux for twenty-three years by then, and I deduced he was telling me that Horcruxes were the way to increase my magical power, as I had already inferred in my youth."
Master Drunek nodded thoughtfully.
"Vakten Romanova is renowned for being an ancient Dark Lord. You must not have been twisted then, which is a remarkable feat. How old were you when you created your first Horcrux, and why did you?"
"I was seventeen," recalled Marvollo, noting an impressed look on Drunek's face while Severus fleetingly looked appalled. "It was during the second Muggle world war. I could not risk not fulfilling my destiny."
"There are other ways to protect yourself from Muggle weapons," disagreed Drunek.
"But not from powerful magical enemies," countered Marvolo. "Ever since I met him, Dumbledore has sworn to eliminate me. He sent Fae assassins when I was in Albania. I would not have survived without my Horcrux."
Severus looked both horrified and vengeful. Master Drunek looked as if he finally understood that Marvolo wasn't overestimating the threats to his person.
"How many Horcruxes do you possess? Severus was unclear on the exact number," asked the Goblin, looking curious.
Another confirmation that he was right to trust the young lord.
"I have four Horcruxes."
"Four?" repeated Master Drunek, looking alarmed for the first time. "How are you even functioning? It's a miracle you're not raving mad! The level of corruption of your core is relatively modest considering it's already split in more than half!"
"I may have made mistakes, Master Drunek, but I'm not an ignorant fool who only craves power and will do any foolish thing to get it without any preparation or forethought," answered Marvolo, looking him dead in the eyes.
The Goblin nodded, still visibly ruffled.
"Why did you create another Horcrux? You already were unkillable with one, and you knew it."
He hesitated briefly.
"It was about ten years after the attempt on my life. I am the last member of the Gaunt House, and I needed to find a way to free myself from the curse of my line. Then, one year later, Abraxas died. I needed to be certain I would live even if Dumbledore found one of my Horcruxes so I made a third. I felt such a rush of power… It was difficult to control at first, but I managed. I thought I had found a way to increase my magical power to win against Dumbledore. I theorised that there were seven magics and seven nodes in a core, so making seven Horcruxes could be the key to being the next Merlin. I made a fourth one one year later. But that time, it… hurt, and it took me longer to regain control of my magic. I decided I needed to wait before creating a fifth one."
Marvolo smiled humourlessly.
"I realise now that I was arrogant to believe it could be so easy and that it was a trick of the Dark."
Quite the oversight on his part really. He had been played like a Gryffindor.
Silence fell between them, Master Drunek visibly needing time to digest all the information he had received.
Marvolo met Severus' eyes briefly, and he was reassured to see that the young man looked confident. It was an uncomfortable feeling to depend on someone else so heavily.
Watching the Goblin master silently debate with himself, Marvolo hoped his instincts had not led him astray this time.