Hey everyone,
Wow, you can't imagine how it feels to have this weight off my shoulders now that the last chapter is finally finished. I've been debating on how to write that chapter for weeks. At one point I wanted Lucius to be part of the chapter, but then decided to use Albus instead as I didn't want to continue harping on their bad blood. Then I wanted the whole attack on Harry to take place while Harry was diving for the Snitch, but that just didn't feel right. And I did want to write more about the team fighting the Snakes, but didn't think I'd be able to pull it off.
So many ideas,

Venquine1990


Chapter 23
Sirius, Lucius And Pepper

11th of November 1995
Malfoy Manor, England
Lucius Malfoy's POV

Ever since I held up my end of the deal with Black to make sure he would get his innocence proven and took another step to earn his trust by reinstating his friend as the DADA teacher, have I been keeping my ear closely attached to the grapevine, both that of the Purebloods who are parents with kids at Hogwarts and the Hogwarts grapevine itself. Narcissa mostly helped me with the last one, yet the news that came from the school had often been contradicting itself.
This, I knew, is because part of my news came from Severus, who I know has always seen the world in his own unique way and the other news came from either Draco, Blaise Zabini or a few kids from families who have business deals with my own. Yet through all these sources, I have learned plenty of what has been going on at the school over the months.
I learned about the incredible close bond growing between Potter and his apparent soul mate and the father of his child, learned about an attack that had actually been attempted against Potter and his unborn child on Halloween a few weeks ago and of Pomfrey and Dumbledore working together to show the school how the young Diggory Heir met his end. This had concerned me, but I had later learned about how the memory had been adapted.
I had been shocked to learn that Pomfrey had altered the memory so that the Death Eaters were invisible and hidden from view through Pensive mist, yet I had also learned that it was something Pomfrey did to thank me for keeping to my side of the innocence deal. By now I am anxiously waiting to hear more as earlier this morning the first match of the season took place between my son and the Heir to the Black line.

I also heard about Damian Black-McKinnon and this made me wonder what the boy's role in Black's life would mean for both Potter's role in the man's life as well as the inheritance cycle. Because of this do I hope to hear more about the outcome of the match today as well as anything else that the students might have to tell me. And because of that do I feel pleasantly surprised when, while my wife and I are rereading today's Daily Prophet, the Floo grate turns green.
We turn our faces to the fireplace and see Severus' head appear there. And the look on the man's face is one of clear annoyance, proving that he either has bad news to share with us or news that he would rather, for his own sense of pride, not share at all. Instantly my wife and I know that Gryffindor has won another match, yet I feign surprise as I ask:

"Severus, what a pleasant surprise. How was the match today?" The man sighs and mutters: "It was an event. Which is why I'm here. Black is on his way to your home, Lucius. He feels like talking with you about an – incident – that took place during the match today. I just felt the need to warn you as the man – well, you know how he is." And instantly, just by the way the man speaks and chooses his words, do I feel set on edge as I think:
"Black wouldn't want to visit us just for an incident. Severus is hiding information again because it will paint either him or Draco in a negative light." And while I have a strong sense that it will probably be both, do I nod and Narcissa thanks the man. The head disappears and my wife and I share a look that proves we both think the same before an elf appears before us and says:
"Master, Mistress, Lord Black be at the door waiting for entrance." At which I tell it to send Sirius here and we both fold our copies of the newspaper, putting them on the side tables next to each of our respective seats. And the fact that Sirius walks in with the Black crest on his lapel and a look of resigned acceptance on his face instantly concerns me.
"Greetings, Lord Malfoy, Daughter Narcissa." The man speaks, inclining his head to us both and we share another, short look before returning the greetings. "If I may ask, have either of you heard anything of what happened at today's match?" The man begins the conversation and I answer: "Severus was just here through the Floo to inform us that an incident occurred. Though I do suppose that it was more than just an incident, correct?"

The man's lips turn thin and he nods before he says: "That is indeed correct. First of all, it was more than one event that took place during the match today. Though I will say, our entire family only plays a slight role in the first as Draco was the one to initiate the first event, nothing more." I nod, wishing that Pureblood etiquettes wouldn't allow for either party to beat around the bush and Sirius seems just as annoyed with this as he sighs and says:
"I know you may not think much of this, considering the fact that the target of this was young Ronald Weasley, but – Draco led the Snakes in the stands to sing a song of which the lyrics were meant to work on Ronald's self-confidence and purposely make him fail in his role as Keeper for Gryffindor." Yet instantly I feel enraged and furious and snarl: "You are quite wrong, Lord Black. I do take this quite personal and feel beyond slighted."
Black looks at me with a confused and intrigued look and I mutter: "You're talking about Quidditch school rule #556, correct? That Rule was previously broken by my grandfather, in such a way it actually brought great disgrace to the House of Malfoy. I have been teaching Draco each and every summer about this rule and telling him never to break it." Sirius winces at this and mutters: "Well, like I said, he only initiated it.
It was Snape and the other Snakes that did the singing. Though I did hear rumors that Draco had been the one to write the lyrics." And while this makes me feel like I just got personally punched in the gut by my own son, do I take a deep breath, trying to stem my rage by the curiosity I feel over the rest of this story. "What happened after this? I take it Draco was caught and punished?" Narcissa asks, Sirius nods and says:

"Indeed. He was offered the chance to choose between a 2 minute time out and leaving the field. He chose the time out, only – when his time out was over, he instantly made his second violation, which is the whole reason I am here. Lucius, Narcissa, your son made a direct attack on my godson, flying at him at the full speed of his Nimbus 2001 and even aimed exactly for my son's side and stomach. This wasn't just an attack on my godson, but on his unborn child."
And instantly several things happen. Narcissa gasps and yelps in horror and disgust, holding both hands to her chest, I feel like hitting myself on the head for my son's horrible decision and feel furious at Severus for not telling me this himself as I have no doubt that the man has been egging my son on to do something like this, just for the sake of his own need to get revenge on James Potter. I take a deep breath and calmly whisper as I breath out:

"Did he succeed?" Sirius shakes his head and retorts: "No, Lea and his friends, as you know, are from another world and used their magic to stop time, allowing for Lea to get to Harry and for Sora, Riku and Kairi to create a wind current under Harry. This made it so that Harry's fall was broken before he even landed in Lea's arms. One of their other friends, Roxas, also made sure that your son couldn't make an escape and Isa kept Snape from turning this whole thing on its head.
After this another friend of Lea's named Xion used her own magic to quickly transport Poppy from the stands to where Harry and Lea were so she could check on the baby, but one of the Beaters, I do believe it was Goyle, attempted another attack on the three of them at the same time. This one was foiled by Axel, the man that looked like Lea's twin. Though he did destroy the Bludger that was shot at the trio, neither Rolanda or Albus hold this against him.
Albus forced both the Beater and your son off the field and desired to extract further punishment on them both, but I told him that, because Draco attacked Harry directly, I would make this a family case and leave the punishment to the family. Hence my reason for coming here. Well, one of them, at least." And instantly, while I feel furious at my son and a ridiculous amount of embarrassment over Severus' foolishness, do I also feel intrigued.

Yet Sirius turns his head to look behind him and asks: "Pepper, you there?" And a woman with an unexpected yet to me quite familiar robe, familiar because I have been studying her, her Department and her colleagues for the past few months now, walks from the shadow next to the door, a pleasant and comfortable smile on her face. And while she doesn't have her wand in hand, do I just know that she is ready to start casting.
"Right here, Sirius. Lord Malfoy, Lady Malfoy, my apologies, but in order to convey the second reason for Sirius wanting to come here today, I'm going to need to put you both under a Secrecy Oath. There is certain information that has been passed down to certain people on Sirius' side of the line that, because you are family and shown a great deal of being willing to be cooperative, you deserve to hear this as well. Though there is also a secondary reason."
This actually startles and astounds me as I already feel sure that, if it wouldn't be for this Secrecy oath that the woman is demanding, I would be able to garner all of the honor and respect from the Dark Lord with the intel that she seems willing to share with me. But while I know that I am the Lord of this House, do I not feel like being stupid enough to insinuate that my said role would give me due rights in demanding the woman – the Unspeakable – to tell me her information.

Instead of that do I give her a single nod, Narcissa following my example. The woman sends me a proud smile that makes me wonder if she had perhaps been reading my mind without my Occlumency shields picking up on it and then moves around the room, not drawing her wand, but obviously using some kind of arcane and ancient magic to weave her spell into the room. I even feel it enter my form as she passes behind me and feel it taking hold of my mind, heart and even my vocal cords. This sensation astounds me as I have never felt magic like this.
The woman finishes by retaking her stance beside Sirius and says: "Alright, my spell is in place. From now on, anything we tell you two that is only known to those on Sirius' side can only be shared by you guys once. And only to someone who has a clear and direct link to either Sirius, his family, friends or Albus. And the link needs to be positive in nature. Though, just for your sake of mind, because he saved Harry once, Snape counts."
And while the name is still very sensitive as the idea of the man enticing my son to reenact the event that brought shame to our family just last century, in the late nineteen hundreds, is still feeling like a sore burn on my heart, do I still feel grateful for both the chance and the explanation. The woman snaps her fingers and two chairs appear behind the two. This makes me grimace as I feel like I failed in my role as a host by not doing this myself sooner.

"Okay, allow me to tell you a bit of a story. First of all, there are very extreme rules that, normally, forbid me from even mentioning my desire to share any of this. However, there are exceptions to this rule and one of them, which normally is only a 1 in 1234 chance of happening, came to be when my sister decided to become Harry Potter's regent after it became news that he was pregnant of his child. And as you probably already guessed, the prophesy plays a role in all this."
The fact that the woman would so openly speak of this, not just of the ways of the Unspeakable, but of the prophesy that has been the Dark Lord's goal of acquisition for the past several months, really intrigues me and makes me all the more grateful for the magic she cast upon the room before she started. The woman smirks and says: "Allow me to explain the rule exception. It actually really is quite a funny one.
Ahem, if the target of any prophesy becomes negatively affected by the one who has heard said prophesy and then gets saved by anyone related to those working with prophesies, the Unspeakable that works with prophesies and is related to the savior is allowed to share whatever information he or she desires as long as it fulfills said prophesy in benefit of the saved target." This recital has my mouth slightly agape as I can barely believe how incredulous it sounds.
"Like I said, the chance for this happening is beyond minor. Also yes, my friends and I have noticed both your little acts against my hall and the whole guarding being done by London over the past couple of months. However, it's London that we consider the enemy in this case. Or better said, its leader. I'm going to assume that you've heard the rumors about the falling out between Harry and Dumbledore a few months back."

I nod as this had been quite the returning point of conversation between me and my closest companions, all of us constantly trying to listen in on the grapevine for newly guessed reasons and then discussing these mentioned reasons. "Yeah, here's the actual reason. On the day it was discovered that Harry was pregnant, Dumbledore decided, yet again, to make Harry's life go the way he wanted. And that plan of his – did not include Harry being pregnant."
This news shocks me and astounds Narcissa, my mind unable to understand why Albus Dumbledore of all people would be against Potter getting a new family of his own and wondering if his belief that Potter will play a role in the war could be behind this. The Unspeakable nods and says: "Yeah, it gets better. While Harry was unconscious and growing his womb and baby, Dumbledore started to contact various women who he thought should be the baby's mother.
And only after contacting them, two of which Harry himself never even met, did he decide he should be the one to tell Harry the news. Only when he did, he tried to not just inform Harry of his pregnancy, but actually convince him to give up the baby in the same conversation. In fact, if I have to believe Harry and my sister, which I do, he almost even tried doing both in one or two sentences." And Sirius instantly after voices my thoughts as he says: "Needless to say, Harry didn't take that well."

"And because Dumbledore was the one who heard the prophesy and everyone believes the prophesy to be about Harry, you got to play a part in his life after that, when your sister got accepted as his Regent, correct?" Narcissa asks and the woman nods as she says: "Yep, I followed the kid into his new rooms, revealed myself and told him what I'm about to tell you. And trust me, when you hear this, you're going to categorize your Lord and Dumbledore under the same title; idiot."
I share a look with Narcissa at this, not sure if I could ever come to think of the Dark Lord under that title and the Unspeakable continues. "Now, allow me to give you more or less the same lesson I gave Harry and later Dumbledore. Prophesies fall under the subject of Divinations. Divinations is a subject dedicated to arcane and obstruct magic. Therefore, prophesies, even if they are a form of worded magic that is spoken in a clear, understandable language, are never clear cut, nor do their wordings ever have only a single outcome.
However, because Divinations has been around almost since the Ancient Greek, have more and more books come out about them over the centuries and thus, over the centuries, very famous lines that appear in multiple – and I mean mul-ti-ple – prophesies that have become part of various history books. In fact, that has happened so often, you can sometimes actually find an entire prophesy, of which the orb is in our hall, by just pulling a couple of prophesy books together."

Instantly I remember one of the missions the Dark Lord has given me and various other Pureblood Death Eaters and while my mind wants to wonder, does Pomfrey give me the answer to my curious thoughts before they can run away with me. "Yeah, one of the lines that your Lord doesn't know, that the spy never conveyed to him, is in basically every book about Chosen one Prophesies. And its meaning can be interpreted in over 1200 different ways."
Narcissa has clasped my hand by this point and I give it a squeeze as I can barely believe I am being told all of this, all this news that the Dark Lord would basically kill his entire legion of Death Eaters and use the Darkest of Dark magic to obtain. And while I sincerely hope that the man won't be able to detect the Unspeakables magic upon his next summoning, do I decide to return this act.
I turn from the Unspeakable to Black and state: "The Dark Lord plans to send his snake to scour the Department of Mysteries somewhere around Christmas. He has constantly ordered us to keep a low profile and not engage with anyone of the Order, but the snake has been given other orders. She is to attack and bite anyone who she considers a threat, be they Order member or Unspeakable."

Sirius looks at this shocked, yet the Unspeakable remains unfazed and says: "Thanks for the intel. Now onto the rest of my story." And while I feel shocked that the woman just waves my information away like this, does the look in her eyes keep me from feeling insulted. And her next words shock me so much, any rage I could have felt would have been instantly vaporized. "This line states Either must die by the hand of the other.
Now, this line is indeed the reason that Dumbledore doesn't want Voldemort to get his hands on that orb or learn that kind of info, but – like precious little Voldemort all those years ago – he is taking that line as serious as the knowledge that magic is powerful and the sky is blue. He believes in it in the most literal sense of the way and thus, believed that Harry was to either outright strangle Voldemort or kill him in a Wizard's Duel or something of the sort. He couldn't be further from the truth if he tried. Those are only two in hundreds of other variables.
I told Harry this and got aided in it by one of his friends who apparently has an interest in prophetic dreams and read up on this topic quite a bit. I then gave the young lad an example and he, being the genius little pregnant guy that he was, instantly took me up on that suggestion. He took my hand and magically ordered myself and my fellow Unspeakables – to end Riddle once and for all. To reverse his path of immortality and then end his mortal existence on this plain of existence.

And just for your information, that snake of yours is the whole reason we did not succeed in our 89% chance of ending Voldemort on Halloween. Though we do now have a 123% chance of ending him on Christmas and plan to do so on the Thursday before the Christmas Hogsmeade weekend. And that snake? Trust me, she's not going to get anywhere near our Department, let alone our Hall of Prophesies. Not alive, at least, that is."
All this news, combined with what I have learned about today's Quidditch match makes me feel like my head is just reeling and I shake my head to get rid of the light-headed feeling. I look up and notice that the Unspeakable has adapted a professionally serious look on her face as she looks straight at me and says: "I won't lie to you. We have been studying you and your little mark and we discovered something most concerning and nefarious.
The minute – maybe even the second – that we make Riddle leave this world, the magic in your mark will make it so that you will suffer the same fate – as the Longbottoms suffered at your sister in law's hands." Instantly, out of a horrified reflex, I pull my hand free and clasp it over the mark on my lower left arm, terrified and disgusted by the fact that the Dark Lord basically marked me for life like this and even enchanted me to be, as he would probably see it, punished if he were to fall. Narcissa also shrieks in fright and wants to start weeping.

Yet then we both notice the Unspeakable gently smiling at us both and she says: "Now, while I do not have the magical ability to erase your mark – I mean, it is a tattoo, after all – did I manage to find the point of your mark where this spell is based and studied it enough to come up with a counter enchantment. Which is the main reason I wanted to talk with you, you and other Death Eaters who are parents to children at Hogwarts."
And while my heart had been going a mile a second, while my breathing had gotten labored and while I had, shortly felt like I was already losing my mind the way the Longbottoms had, do I feel more relieved now than I felt when I managed to escape a sentence to Azkaban prison all those years ago. Yet Narcissa seems to have managed to regain herself faster and she curiously asks: "Why meet those specific Death Eaters?" And I too feel curious.
The woman's smile turns into a smirk and she loftily says: "You know, I've really grown a liking to that youngest Weasley son. He's smarter than he lets on, he has a lot of hidden talents, when something catches his interest he studies it with a vigor you rarely see in someone his age and he's also a chess master and brilliant strategist. And those were the traits that got me my job as an Unspeakable, though I doubt he'll want the job after hearing of that one prophesy."

This both intrigues and confuses Narcissa, but I have managed to regain myself and realize that the woman is speaking while hiding a message between her words. And after a few minutes of repeating her words and Cissa's question in my mind, do I have my answer. "You're making sure that Death Eater kids don't have a reason to go after Potter." Narcissa and Sirius both turn to me and I explain to them while keeping my eyes on Pomfrey:
"If it becomes public knowledge that the Dark Lord met his end at the hands of Unspeakables, the kids, who will probably feel vengeful over this also affecting their own families, will feel incapable of answering that need for vengeance. So instead, they will turn to the previous one who conquered the Dark Lord and who is also an easier target to them; Potter. So by making sure that the parents can't be negatively affected by the Dark Lord's end, you protect Potter."

"Exactly. Like I said, I'm a chess master like the Weasley kid and like to think three steps ahead of the game." Sirius then coughs and says: "Speaking of Harry, I suppose that you have been having some questions about him. Especially in regards to Damian having become part of our lives. Well, we spoke about it and made the upcoming deal. There is now a contract between Harry and Damian stating that, upon my death, Harry will share all he inherits with Damian 50/50 and that his half, upon his death, will go to his own child.
So basically, Harry is my Heir by will and Damian by blood, though they are both my sons by heart." At this I nod and then, because all of this almost feels like it has been too much and because I know I still have quite a bit of business to handle tonight before bed, do I stand up. Narcissa and the others follow and I give both my guests a grateful bow before I say: "Thank you both very much. Your information has been plentiful and very intriguing. Rest assured that I will take appropriate actions regarding everything you have shared with me tonight."
The two nod and Sirius actually drops his Lordship persona as he stretches himself out widely before he says: "Well, I got to say, this was definitely more interesting and fun than I had expected. Now if you'll all excuse me, I have a celebration party to get to. Oh, and Lucius, there is one other thing. I adapted my will a little." This intrigues me and then the man leaves with words that are more astounding than anything I've heard all night.
"Whenever I am residing in the world of my godson's mate, Radiant Garden, you are – by default – considered Lord Black. However, there is still the restriction that, if you take one action that will, long or short-term, work detrimentally for either me, my son or godson, you will lose that privilege until my next journey. Oh, and Harry and the others and I are leaving tomorrow. After Draco's direct and public attack, we are done waiting for the next idiot to try and make Harry lose his baby." And with that the man walks out the door, leaving me astounded.


Well, that happened,
And from here, I am going to focus on a new more things and a few more people. And one of them only played a minor role in this chapter. I actually wanted him to have a larger role at the end of this chapter, but the whole conversation between the three main characters took way longer and way more pages than I had expected. So I decided to cut that part out and leave it for next chapter. Oh, and I'm going to bash on Snape a little next chapter, though that will only be the start of his defamation.
Sorry not sorry,

Venquine1990