Privet Drive
Animus was less than pleased as he arrived on Privet Drive, he would be happy to never see this place again, but he needed to be there.
The place looked almost the exact same as it had when he was forced to live there. It was like nothing ever changed. He knew that Petunia and Vernon had just moved in, buying the house with the money left to them by Petunia's parents who had been killed in a car accident a few months before. Under normal circumstances they wouldn't have been able to afford the house since it was in a higher end area and Vernon had only started at the drill company and wouldn't be making anywhere near enough for years but the inheritance had enabled it.
He hated them, but he also knew they weren't exactly to blame for their behaviour. Honestly, he hated being able to see the nuances in situations, it would be so much easier to just see the world in black and white and not see the shades of grey. Petunia and Vernon disliked magic, but it wasn't as violent as it had become in later years.
When they first took him in they had actually looked after him, obvious since he had survived and no one year old would be able to survive without at least basic care, but they just hadn't been happy about it. They hadn't liked him, but they didn't outright despise him.
It had changed when Dumbledore discovered the strength of his magic when he was 5. Amongst the wards he had placed around the house was a hate ward focused on him. The old bastard had forced their dislike of him to become outright hatred and that was when they became violent.
They were still scum in his opinion, they had blamed him for his presence in their lives even before the spells so they obviously weren't good people. What kind of person blamed a child for the actions of their parents? And he most definitely wasn't going to go out of his way to make their lives great, but he was going to help them if only to make sure he didn't have to grow up with them again.
The work day had just ended and he arrived just as Vernon was getting home and gotten himself invited in. He made sure to cast his usual secrecy spells silently as he was guided into the kitchen to have a cup of tea.
"What is it that you want?" Vernon asked in his version of politeness. It was obvious to him this man had money based off the clothing he had and Vernon and Petunia were people that respected money if nothing else.
"I want to first tell you, I am here to help you. I mean you no harm." Animus knew this was going to be rough for the first bit, neither of these two were sensible.
"Mean no harm?" Vernon blustered in irritation. This man had to be in his 90's, it wasn't like he could harm them.
"I am here about your sister Lily and what she is going to do."
"Get out!" Petunia instantly shrieked. There was a freak in her house and she wouldn't stand for it. She was going to have to destroy that tea cup she had given him, she wouldn't risk using that thing, it might be infected.
"You heard my wife, take your hogwash elsewhere." Vernon added as he hefted himself to his feet.
"Please do stop with the hysterics. I am here to help you." Animus rubbed his eyes, these two were just too predictable.
"Help us? How could the likes of you help us? We are perfectly fine with our perfectly normal lives." Petunia hissed.
"For now, but your sister is going to try and change that, I am here to stop her." Animus told them. "As you know magic is real." He didn't miss how the two overly dramatic idiots flinched at the word. "A gift that comes with magic is the ability to catch glimpses of the future, and that is why I am here.
In just over a year Lily will give birth to twins. But she won't be able to handle the responsibility of children so will decide to only keep one. On November 1st, 1981, you will wake to put out the milk bottles and find your one year old nephew fast asleep in a basket on your doorstep. There will be a note informing you to look after him until he is 11 and then they will come and collect him. You won't want to, but won't have a choice as there will be magic on the letter compelling you to do as you are told regardless of what you want.
You do not want the child, and I do not want you to have the child. He will just distract you from your own son."
"We don't have a son." Petunia whispered in horror. She couldn't decide what disgusted her more, that her sister would abandon one of her children, or that her sister would expect her to raise the little freak she didn't want.
"You will by then." Animus saw the joy in their eyes. They really had loved their son, they had spoiled him rotten and it had had a life long effect on him, but they had loved him. "On the day he is left with you, you will put on a pair of gardening gloves, pick up the basket by the handles, bring it in and put it out of the way in that corner over there." Animus waved at a random corner. "You will make sure not to make physical contact with him at all, and you will not touch the letter or the basket. The gloves touch the handles only or you won't be able to resist keeping him."
"Why would we even bring that thing in our house, especially if we have our own son? Better to leave it outside." Vernon asked in disgust.
"Because half an hour later the milk man will be by and I don't think you would like to explain to him, or the neighbours who will undoubtedly be interested in the gossip, just why it is that you have selected to leave an infant out on a cold fall morning. Much better for your reputations to just wear the gloves and bring him in than become social pariahs don't you think?" Animus saw the two flinch, they had always been so sensitive about their image even as many of the neighbours had secretly been disgusted by their attitude and behaviours. "As I was saying…
When he wakes up he will naturally be distress since he won't know you. You will give him a bottle of milk with this in it." He placed a child safe sleep potion he had collected on the table.
"And just what is that?" Petunia sneered at something that was clearly magic related. She was thinking about whether or not they should destroy the table since that thing was touching it.
"It's a sleeping tonic. Once he drinks it he will sleep for the next 8 hours. But you need to make sure it's mixed with a bottle of milk. Water will just water it down and he will be awake in a few hours and then you will have an upset child that you can not touch or quiet in any way.
After lunch you will put the gloves back on, move the basket to the car, and meet me at this address at 2." He placed a small sheet of paper with all the information he was giving them on the table with a nearby address highlighted. "I will be waiting in the underground garage and will take him once you sign custody of him over to me."
"Why should we do all this nonsense? We could just drop the little freak off at an orphanage, it's where unwanted children go." Vernon sneered.
"Because once you sign custody of him over to me I will hand each of you 5000 pounds, cash." Animus saw the instant greed enter their eyes, it was one thing that never changed with them. "And, since it is cash it will be tax free, so long as you don't tell any of your neighbours. The last thing any of us need is one of them to get jealous and report your sudden windfall to inland revenue, triggering an audit."
Vernon still didn't like the idea of allowing a freak into his home, even if temporarily. Especially if he had a son in the house. But he decided he could grudgingly tolerate it for a few hours so long as he got paid. He and Petunia shared a look and knew they wanted that money.
Animus knew he had them hooked, all it took was money. Leaving the instructions he showed himself out. The good thing was the instruction sheet and the potion vial had their own compulsions on it to make sure they remembered and followed the instructions.
Leaving the house he walked quickly to the shadowed area between the house and garage and apparated away.
The Cave
Animus arrived outside the cave where the locket horcrux was hidden just five minutes before he knew Regulus would arrive. Kreacher had been an extremely loyal elf after the Battle of Hogwarts and he had been more then willing to tell him exactly what had happened leading up to Regulus's death, including the time they had arrived.
Once again he set up his wards, he was actually getting rather sick of having to do it, but he knew he had to do it so no one he didn't approve of discovered what he was doing. It didn't take long or anything, he really had it down to an art since he had been using the same wards for years, but he was old and really just wanted to complain.
Exactly on time, not that he had doubted Kreacher for an instant, Regulus apparated in with Kreacher appearing at his side not even a second later. Regulus made to walk towards the cave before coming up short when he spotted him.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Regulus demanded as his hand slipped to his wand. He took no joy in what he must do, but he knew he had too. The Dark Lord had gone too far and although he supported many of his ideals he couldn't support this.
"I am called Lord Animus, but I'm sure Kreacher could tell you that." Animus told him, not in the least worried since he knew he could handle Regulus if he had to, he was still Lord Black even if he was in the past.
"You is future Lord Black." Kreacher muttered worriedly. He knew what they were doing was dangerous and didn't want to get in trouble. He knew just how dangerous this man could be and he would do whatever he had to to protect his Master Regulus.
"Future Lord Black?" Regulus questioned in confusion.
"Indeed." He had know that Kreacher above all would be the one to identify him, not only would he tell Regulus whatever he needed to to try and protect him, but there was also the bond that had existed between future Kreacher and himself up until his death that would provide him with even more information. "Long story short, I used a ritual to send myself back in time to try and fix things. I am Lord Black from my time."
"Why are you here?" Regulus questioned warily. "I won't let you stop me from doing this, he has gone too far."
"I am not here to stop you, I am here to help you." Animus soothed. "I agree with you, the Dark Lord has gone too far with this, especially since he hurt Kreacher. By the way, I have the antidote to the potion he was forced to drink."
"Antidote?" Regulus was confused before looking to his elf in worry. "Kreacher, are you still not feeling well?"
"The potion he was forced to drink was the drink of despair. He needs the antidote or he will never have a restful night again. I will give it to you once we are back at the castle. He needs to take it just before bed time as it will put him to sleep for 12 hours.
So, shall we do this?" Animus questioned as he moved towards the entrance of the cave.
It was relatively easy to make it over to the small island. The only time they worried even slightly was when they were in the boat as it didn't seem strong enough to hold the weight of two grown men and a house elf, but they made it.
Regulus tried to dump the potion out and realized it had to be drunk. Animus was actually impressed with how quickly he figured that out. But then he explained his plan of drinking it himself.
"You know, for a Slytherin you are behaving rather Griffindorish. You are not a fool, don't act like one. Last time you made that same decision. You drank the potion and ordered Kreacher home to destroy the locket. Which left you in a cave, delirious and in mind shattering pain. The reason I came to help you is today is the day you died.
We will not be doing that again. We will be smart about this. Yes, the potion needs to be drunk, but it does not need to be a wizard, as proved by Kreacher."
"We are not subjecting Kreacher to that again." Regulus argued instantly, pure rage showing on his face even as Kreacher offered to do it.
"No Kreacher, you have suffered more than you should have had too." Animus assured the poor elf before reaching into his bag and pulling out a flobberworm and enlarging it until it was the size of an average dog. "We'll use this. I can give it the antidote after and release it. While it is a magical creature it won't suffer the way a higher being like a wixen or house elf since it has only a limited consciousness and can't remember anything for more than about 5 minutes."
After that the swap was easy. Surprisingly the flobberworm didn't even resist having the potion poured into its mouth so he wondered if it didn't have the sentience to even be effected by the potion, but he was just relieved he wasn't subjecting a creature to undue suffering, he needed to do this, but he took no joy in harming an innocent creature.
The swap was easily done and they left the cave, leaving no trace. From there he sent Regulus home, with a warning that his grandparents would like to have a word with him about his behaviour, and left to make a few more quick stops.
The first was to slip into Hogwarts and into the room of requirement to collect the diadem. Thankfully he was wearing his invisibility cloak so no one could see him, plus Hogwarts liked him so she was willing to hide his magic so no one could feel him. Once he had the diadem he went to Gringotts and stored both in his private vault along with Voldemort's blood.
From there he went to see an old friend.
Black Castle
Animus arrived back at Black Castle with a guest, Bronwen Alyn.
Bronwen had a rather tragic tale. He had first met her a few decades before going into the past, she had been a ghost haunting her old house. When her life started it had been a happy one, she had been the only child of two loving parents. The only draw back to her life was the secrecy, no one knew that her mother was descended from the Emrys family, whose most notable member was Merlin. And although they kept it secret it didn't really cause her problems since no one knew enough to ask so she didn't have to openly lie.
She had attended Hogwarts, being sorted into Ravenclaw. It was after graduation she had tragically lost both her parents in an accident while they had been on vacation. But her husband had helped her get through it.
She and her husband had gone on to have two children, a son and a daughter. And for a time life was good. Until it wasn't.
Her husband and children had all been killed in an attack that had left the side of her face and body forever marked with burn scars. She had spent years trying to figure out who had killed her family. She would find them and make them pay. The attack had been staged to look like it had been done by a Death Eater, but she knew it wasn't.
Ultimately she discovered it was her own cousin that had hired the man that was behind the attack. And she knew why. He had always resented that her mother came from the main line and therefore was the rightful Heiress of their families title even if she never claimed it. He had been attempting to wipe out the main line so that he could claim her title and all the power and influence that went with it.
In his timeline she had never been able to get her revenge or prove to everyone what he had done. She had spent to long recovering, and she never fully did. She had ended up alone in pain and grief as she tried to gather her evidence but had passed before she had her proof. In her rage she hadn't been able to move on and join her family which had just made her spirit even more restless and volatile.
Animus had selected to add her to his plots for the power she'd bring, but at the same time he had grown close with her ghost and wished to give her peace so she could join her husband and children when her time came.
It had taken some work to get her to agree to go with him, but he had managed it by explaining the whole time travel thing and offering to assist her in arranging for her cousin to be brought to justice, eventually.
"You want us to what?" Bronwen questioned in shock from where she sat in one of the castles many sitting rooms.
Bronwen was a beautiful woman, even with the scars. Her auburn hair was kept in a short pixy cut and framed her face nicely. She had almond shaped eyes that were a lovely combination of sage green and honey. She had a slim build and was of average height. At 27 she was quite beautiful, but it was obvious that she was unwell.
"I want the two of you to get married and move to France." Animus replied casually. He took joy in the way everyone was staring at him in shock, not even Arcturus or Melania had managed to maintain their masks.
"We can't just…" Regulus was as equally shocked as the woman this man wanted him to marry. "I can't just leave the country, he would not respond well."
"You leave him to me." Animus assured. "I will be at the meeting tonight and can arrange it."
"Animus, can you explain just why it is you want them to marry and leave the country?" Melania questioned in a soft voice, almost like she was trying to soothe a startled animal. This was her grandson they were talking about after all.
"Regulus, today was the day you were set to die. It is obvious you have grown disillusioned with the Dark Lord. The last thing you need is him picking up on that, and he will, he is very perceptive. It may be for the best for you to leave the country for a while. It won't be forever, the war will end in just over 2 years, and then it will be safe for you to move back.
Bronwen, I know you want your cousin to pay for what he did. And I'm sorry, but you aren't going to live to see it happen. Your health is failing and you only have 5 or 6 years left. If you stay here your cousin will continue to try and kill you, he has too much protection in the government for you to be able to get anyone to listen to you." Animus explained before being cut off by Arcturus.
"Government protection? Is he a high ranked official?"
"No." Animus shook his head. "He's just been having an affair with Minister Bagnold for the past decade.
Either way… Bronwen, you deserve to find some happiness until you join your husband and children. If you remain here you will destroy yourself, becoming so obsessed with getting revenge you will be trapped on this plane when you pass and will never get to be with them again. Once you are gone your cousin will try and claim your title again, but this time you will have the backing of Lord Black. Arcturus can force a review of his claim on the seat, meaning he will have to take an oath of honesty, and Arcturus can get him to admit his culpability in what happened to you and your family. The Black's will be able to protect you in the years to come as well. Your cousin is not going to give up and stop his attempts to kill you, if you are out of the country and under Black wards you will be much safer."
"But why marry?" Bronwen questioned. She knew this man had offered to ensure her cousin paid for what he had done to her family, and she wanted that more than anything, but she didn't understand why she should marry the Black boy.
Animus summoned the pensieve and placed the same memories of the abuse he had shown to Dorea and moved it over to he four others. "This is why."
The memories only lasted about 10 minutes since he didn't include anything about who he was or what had happened after. He wasn't surprised when the four others came out of the memories completely outraged, both Melania and Bronwen had tears streaming down their faces.
"Who is that boy?", "Where is he?", "We need to get him away from those monsters." Was all shouted out.
"Peace." Animus told them as he held up his hand for calm. "That child hasn't even been born yet. But he is why I wish for the two of you to marry.
That boy will be born in just over a year from now. His parents will abandon him a year after that. We must protect him from that fate. Not only the abuse, but the knowledge that his parents are still alive and would willingly subject him to that.
I wish for Bronwen and Regulus to marry and move to France, telling no one where they are. In early July 1980 they should file a birth certificate for a son listing it as a home birth. On November 1st, 1981 they will secretly return here. I have already made the arrangements to collect the child and once we have him they can conduct a blood adoption. It will give the child a new name and look so his birth parents can never claim him and allow him to be harmed again."
"I'll do it." Bronwen instantly agreed. She would never allow a child to be subjected to that, not if she could protect them.
Regulus glanced over to the woman that was potentially going to be his wife and thought through things quickly and couldn't argue it. Like her he wanted to protect that child, no magical child should be subjected to muggles like that, it was one thing he still agreed with his Lord about. And he felt a little guilty about it, but he knew the marriage wouldn't be forever since she was dying. Regulus himself was actually gay and had no interest in a wife, but it would only be a temporary situation.
"If you can get permission for me to leave the country then I will as well." Regulus agreed, looking to his grandparents who were having a quiet conversation.
"We will approve of the match since both are willing." Arcturus said formally.
"Wonderful." Animus was pleased.
Death Eater Meeting
Arriving at the new headquarters for Voldemort and his Death Eaters Animus quickly added his own wards to ensure once again no one could mention seeing him. He knew Voldemort would instantly be made aware of his presence but knew it was for the best. Voldemort by this time had 5 horcruxes, surprising him was not a good idea, the man was far less than stable.
Walking in he saw the meeting was near its end. He remained at the back while he waited for Voldemort to finish his rant. Interrupting the unstable man would not be healthy for anyone.
"Lord Animus, you have returned to us." Voldemort hissed once he was finished giving his orders. He had of course sensed the man as soon as he started adding to his wards. He was mildly insulted he felt the need to add secrecy wards, none of his followers would dare to betray him like that, but he did understand paranoia. "What brings you to meet with us?"
This particular meeting was for his inner circle and elite Animus knew, not just because Regulus had told him before leaving to attend the meeting, but based on the number of people there. There were four levels to followers of Voldemort. The first, and smallest group was the elite, they were his original followers and a few that had proven themselves extremely valuable. Then there was the inner circle, those were followers from certain families or those that had shown they had value. The outer circle was made up of followers that had earned their mark but not much else. Then there were the basic followers that hadn't yet earned their mark and were just there because they supported the dark and made the numbers look more impressive.
Animus walked up the steps of the dais, putting himself at the same level as Voldemort, subtly saying they were equal. And when he nodded his greeting he only dipped his chin enough to show respect, not deference or subservience as all others did, another subtle message to all those there. "It has come to my attention that a number of couples are struggling with having children."
"Indeed." Voldemort narrowed his eyes as he looked around at his followers, the masks hid the slight flinch many had made at that comment.
From the point this man had first pointed out the importance of his followers having children so they could continue to grow their side he had given his people a standing order that they were expected to have a minimum of 2 children. But his followers were struggling with it, and he couldn't even torture them for failing since it would only reduce their chance of conception.
"I have been looking into it and found there is a reason beyond their control for it." Animus assured the man, he didn't need him taking out his anger on his followers any more than necessary, it wasn't their fault. "It would seem that nearly all Slytherin's and many of those from dark families are leaving Hogwarts with a potion in their systems.
For the most part the potion has no effects, its purpose is to stop magical fluctuations. Useful for a child who is struggling to control their magic, detrimental for adults attempting to have a child. For conception to occur there must be a surge of magic, from both parents if they are magical, but the potion stops that. Conception is possible without that surge of magic, but it is much harder." That was proven by the fact there were muggle-borns whose parents didn't have any magic so there could be no magical surge. "The simple fact that any of them have managed to have children is a testament to their magical strength as well as that of their children."
Many in the room were startled by that news. There had been a problem with fertility for decades and they were questioning if that was why.
"Now, the potion has only been detectible in the blood for the past 2 decades. Countering this potion will increase the odds of conception, but it will not solve all the problems." Animus told them, although he knew the fertility problems were a combination of lower ambient magic due to so much of it being contained under Azkaban along with the inbreeding causing genetic issues.
"Why wouldn't this be detectible on medical scans?" Voldemort hissed. All this worry about the next generation and it was because Dumbledore was drugging his followers, he was going to make that man suffer. "How dare the light fools deny the dark their children? We will have to have Dumbledore charged for this." Voldemort himself did not like children, he hadn't even liked them when he had been one, but these were his future followers they were discussing.
Animus tilted his head from side to side. "That is a little more complicated. Unfortunately the primary ingredients have been known to be used as seasoning on food in the past so he would be able to get around it by laying the blame elsewhere. He has too much plausible deniability to be worth the risk of tipping our hands right now. I have passed the information on to a few people that I know on the school board so they can address it and use it against him there.
As for getting rid of the potion it will not be overly easy. There has never been a specific antidote created. But, I am aware one of yours is rather close to becoming the youngest potions master in Britain for centuries. I would be more than willing to give him all the information I have gathered on the potion. I have no doubt he would be able to work up an antidote in a year or two."
"Prince." Voldemort called as he looked at his follows that had been watching this conversation in slight confusion. This man was talking to their Lord as if they were equals, and their Lord was allowing it. The tall follower stepped forward, taking a position before the dais. "You have 1 year to fix this."
"If I may…" Animus said softly to Voldemort and waited until he had his attention back on him. "He is going to need to give his potions his full attention. I would recommend the use of Barty Crouch and Rabastan Lestrange as gofers. They are still young and do not have any positions of power so it will give them a way to prove their worth.
I would also recommend sending Regulus Black to France. Many potions ingredients have been made illegal here in Britain but are still legal in the rest of Europe. The Blacks have estates all over the world. Black will be able to gather anything that can not be retrieved here in Britain and funnel them back. If he were to just disappear no one would question it so he will be able to move about untracked by Dumbledore and his light fools."
Voldemort thought about the suggestions. He didn't like another thinking they could tell him what to do with his followers, but this man had information about the future so he knew things he didn't. So far the man had not steered him wrong, but he was still cautious. A large part of him just wanted to torture this man, as he so often wanted to do to all those around him, but thought better of it, he couldn't risk him Turing against him.
"Severus Prince, Rabastan Lestrange, Barty Crouch, Regulus Black. For the foreseeable future you will be working on this problem and will be answerable to Lord Animus, but I am to be kept up to date with any progress you make. Am I understood?"
The four men all bowed and spoke in unison. "Yes my Lord."
"Is your meeting over?" Animus questioned Voldemort.
"Yes."
"Regulus Black, please escort the others to your house. I will meet you all there once I'm done here and give you your tasks." Animus told them before turning his attention back to Voldemort. "I also wish to have a word with Augustus Rookwood."
Voldemort raised one of his incredibly thin eyebrows in an irritated twitch. This man was getting on his nerves, but again he withheld his reaction. He knew the two had been connected in the future and assumed it was something about that. He also couldn't deny having been given the information about the man Rookwood would grow up to be had assisted him in ensuring his father gave him access to the necessary books allowing him to become very useful.
"You requested to see me Lord Animus?" The deep voice of Augustus questioned. He was confused as to why his Lord had ordered him to see this new Lord that he had never seen or heard of before.
"Pleasure to see you again Augustus." Animus smiled before quickly filling Augustus in about the time travel thing.
"What is it you think I need to know?" Augustus questioned in shock a few moments later, he adjusted better than many others since as an unspeakable he was more acclimatized to the unbelievable, and he had worked in the time chamber so he was more than aware that time travel was possible.
"It isn't anything to do with the war or anything, it's just about something you told me was your deepest regret." Animus told the man that had grown up to be his friend. "You are currently courting Mira Fenwick. She wants a quick courtship but you prefer the longer one. Listen to her and give her what she wants.
While her grandfather and the current Lord Fenwick accepts your intentions towards his granddaughter the rest of her family doesn't. When her grandfather passes next year her father will take over and will reject your suit. Instead he will agree to the marriage contract her brother suggests with one of his business friends. And when she says she will die before allowing the disgusting creep her brother selected touch her she means it."
Animus could see the dawning horror on Augustus's face. He knew it was the reason Benjy Fenwick's death had been so brutal. The man had arranged an absolutely atrocious contract with one of his business partners and Mira had taken her own life rather than being force bonded to the man. The man selected was horrible to put it simply, she would have been his third wife. He was over 50 years her senior, massively overweight, and violent. From everything Augustus had told him about the man it sounded like he was a magical version of Vernon Dursley.
Augustus all but ran from him after that, no doubt to start getting everything arranged to make his courtship as short as possible. From everything he knew Augustus had loved Mira with all his heart and had never recovered from what happened to her. He had taken great joy in what he did to her family for what they did to her.
As soon as he was alone again he was approached by Abraxas Malfoy.
"Can I help you Malfoy?"
"You could have warned me that the Black my son would fall in love with wasn't the one he was originally contracted too." Abraxas grumbled. He had been so worried when his son had first come to him about not wanting to marry Andromeda Black since he had been assured his son would love a Black. It was only when Lucius had explained he wished to marry Andromeda's younger sister who just so happened to want to become a healer, the only clue to the identity of the girl he had been given, that he calmed down.
"Where would be the fun in that?" Animus smirked.
"About that grandson you promised me..?" Abraxas questioned. He knew Lucius and Narcissa had been struggling with getting pregnant and now he had to wonder about this potion that would have been affecting them.
"Next year." Animus assured. "And don't worry overly much about the potion reducing his magic. Even without the antidote he was able to finish in the top 20 of his year each year. And I have no doubts Severus will rise to meet the occasion. We are talking about the magic of his godson after all."
Abraxas let out a slight sigh, pleased to know his line would continue, and that his future grandchild would be so impressive even with his magic being limited.
Excusing himself from the meeting Animus headed to Regulus's private residence. Like all children of the main line he had received a flat in a town of his choosing after Hogwarts.
To the Blacks the flats would only be considered a decent place, but to the average person they were extravagant. Regulus had a flat in Bath, Somerset. Although it was referred to as a flat it was actually a house, just a small one in terms of the Black's. It was a three story stone building with 3 bedrooms, 2 sitting rooms, a kitchen, staffed by his personal house elf, 2 dining rooms, one formal and the other informal, a decent sized library, a full potions lab, a sunroom, and a small greenhouse out back.
When he married he would be given access to a full manor for him, his spouse, and any children they had. Most of the family lived in properties owned by the Black Family rather than each individual. It was one thing many of the wealthier old families did.
"Thank you for meeting with me." Animus said as he entered one of the sitting rooms to find the four waiting for him.
"What is it you require from us exactly?" Severus questioned, his voice just as strident and severe as he had been when Animus was a boy.
"Regulus, you will be leaving the country." Animus told Regulus, his face didn't show any response, but he could see the understanding and relief in the mans eyes. He knew Regulus had lost his faith, and this got him out safely. "You need to go silent. Best if everyone thinks you amongst the missing. It will allow you to move unmonitored. You can collect any potions ingredients that can't be procured here in Britain and send it back through family properties since Rabastan will have access through a Black Family property thanks to his sister-in-law.
While Regulus is making supply runs out of Britain, Rabastan and Barty will remain here and make any pickups Severus needs. You two will need to just keep your head down and follow his instructions. The Dark Lord has made this assignment a priority. Ensuring that our community continues is important to him."
After giving the three younger men their orders they left the room. Barty and Rabastan left, Animus didn't miss the way the two of them were close and were exchanging looks. Regulus left the room to allow Animus to have a private conversation with Severus.
"Who are you?" Severus demanded. He knew this man was more than he claimed. "No one can behave like that around the Dark Lord and get away with it. What about you is so special?"
Animus smirked. Of course Severus would spot that. "You're a legilimens, if you truly want to know who I am, then look."
Severus hesitated for a moment, but in the end couldn't resist. He wanted to know what was really going on. When he had joined the Dark Lord it had been because he truly believed in what he had said, but as time had gone by he found they were drifting more and more off course as the Dark Lord seemed to be deteriorating. If this man could give him answers he couldn't pass up that opportunity.
Animus had mastered occlumency long ago and while he dropped his guard enough to allow Severus in he kept his shields up enough that he didn't give him free access. He moved him through certain memories.
He had long since stopped being ashamed of the abuse he had suffered as a child so had no problem with showing Severus it, just as he had already had to do repeatedly in the previous few hours. The only thing he really felt at those memories now was anger and resentment at what had been done to him and at those who had allowed it.
From there he moved him to the memories of finding out his parents were alive and just hadn't wanted to look after him. He showed him bits and pieces of what it was like growing up and the coming war. It was a little morbid letting the man see his own death but he knew he needed to show it to him if only to stop him from becoming a Dumbledore fool. He ended with showing him what James and Lily became.
As Severus was pushed out of the memories he was in shock. That just couldn't be possible. All of that couldn't be his future, or the future of any of them.
"Lily wouldn't…"
"Oh grow up Severus." Animus snapped. He knew Severus was still a bit of an idiot, but he needed to force him so he didn't spend his life desperate to see Lily as the child he had once known. "I know that she was your best friend, but that isn't true anymore. It doesn't mean your childhood friendship means any less now, it's just time you move on with your life. She grew up, and it wasn't into a good person.
I have seen the man you will become if you let your old crush destroy you. You are a dark wizard, she will never accept that, her prejudice is set too deeply. She and James Potter are equally matched, and you deserve more than someone that will never accept you completely.
I have seen what she has the potential to grow into too, and it isn't good. I have made a few changes in an effort to mitigate her worst behaviours in regards to using her daughter for fame and attention, but there is only so much that can be done. She is too old to correct everything, it's just to ingrained at this point.
You have the potential to be great, this obsession with her is only holding you back from truly being happy. Last time you were so busy trying to prove to her that you could support the light and be her version of good that you knew nothing but misery. You had no life of your own, only an attempt at a life you thought she might approve of. You died a hero, but unlamented by the very person you had been devoted too.
We have a chance to change that now. I want you to have a chance to live a life worth living. To be the man you could be rather than the one you think she would want."
"You demand me to betray her?" Severus sneered in outrage at all he had just been told. "From your own memories it was the Dark Lord that ultimately killed me. Why should I betray her and be loyal to him?" Not that he had any intention of turning against his Lord, he didn't know exactly what had happened to make his Lord betray him, that memory hadn't been shown to him, but he didn't want to repeat it.
"I am not demanding, nor even asking, you to betray her. All I am saying is you need to stop living just to try and win her favour as it will never happen and you deserve better." Animus pointed out. "You can have a great life, if you just move on from the past. And yes, I know how hypocritical that is coming from me since I have literally gone back in time because I can't let it go, but you deserve better, and with what I am doing we both can have it."
"And what of the Dark Lord?" Severus said in slight fear, he was loyal to his Lord and didn't know what had caused him to turn against him, but he didn't want to die. "The next war you showed me… That can not be allowed to happen. That thing was not my Lord, it was a monster."
"That is already being addressed." Animus assured. "The worst of the madness, that has already started to show itself, is the result of a ritual preformed when he was 16. I don't have proof, but it is my belief that he was compelled to do the ritual as a way of driving him mad. It also didn't help that he drank the blood of a unicorn for some reason which exacerbated his madness when he managed to get a body back.
Right now there is nothing that can be done. But, once he is incorporeal the ritual can be countered, hopefully restoring his sanity. It will take a decade of patience, but it will be done."
Severus thought that through for a few minutes. Restore his Lord to the man he had been, that was something he fully supported. He joined his Lord for loyalty to the dark, and he was sick and tired of those like James Potter and Albus Dumbledore abusing those in the dark while claiming all those that were light were perfect. The slipping sanity of his Lord had been of real concern for many years, and he knew he wasn't the only one that felt that way. If they followed this mans plans there was a good chance they could win, eventually.
"What is it that you need me to do?" Severus asked thoughtfully. "I'm almost done my potions mastery, but I don't see how I could be of much use besides potions.
With the limited time I have to make a counter to this potion you say is limiting birth rates I won't have much time for anything else, including my mastery. It could push me back years. And then there is the risk of not being able to find a cure for this."
"Oh, there's no need to worry about that." Animus assured. "I already have the potion to counter the fertility issue." Animus pulled out a potions book that he had brought with him, it was rather small with only 2 dozen pages. The book was one he had written out that included a number of potions and advancements Severus himself had made. "When I said there was a potion I may have been exaggerating slightly.
Truthfully, it isn't as bad as all that. As you know each year there is a get together for the students set to graduate before the ceremony and the students are given assigned seats for lunch. Someone, Dumbledore, is having the elves season the meals with goldenseal and meadowsweet. Perfect if treating someone with an unstable core with magical flares, exact worst thing for those trying to conceive. Mixing it with neem oil which is added to the drinks and it will stay in the system for a few decades.
All you really need to counter it is a concoction of mallow sweet, Jericho rose oil, and some feverfew. Take a vial of that for a week and you're fine. I just need you to delay this discovery for a bit. Certain things need to happen along a preset timeline, and for certain children to be born at the right time you can't start administering the potion until November. And, it should also be given to the children that had been conceived and born while their parents had it in their system as it will also help their own magic grow since some of it will have been passed to them from their mothers."
"I can do that." Severus agreed since it was well within the time limit he had been given by his Lord. "Anything else?"
"Just a bit more." Animus smiled, Severus was one of those he was going to be using a fair bit in the next two years. "In the book there are also a few potions you created that are needed. Including one that when combine with the potion I sent to the guild to reduce the pain in a wolves shift will give werewolves control over their shifting. Thankfully they will still only be contagious under the full moon so there shouldn't be a rise in the number being turned. Once you have your mastery you can slowly begin to introduce them according to whatever timeline you like, although you need to make sure it is believable, you can also use my name if need be since I'm already well known in the potions community despite never directly interacting with any of them.
The last potion in the book is my main priority. It can be used to hide the dark mark once things play out as they need too. I hope you understand you can't tell anyone about this." Animus waited until Severus nodded. "You will need to brew at least a dozen batches and place them in stasis in the summer of 1981."
"I can do that." Severus said morosely. That meant in only two short years they would lose their Lord and would go back to being persecuted.
"I also know that the Dark Lord wishes you to begin spying on Dumbledore and his fools. That will effectively be arranged for you." Animus told him. "Dumbledore will soon arrange for you to overhear a prophecy that you will then tell the Dark Lord. Regardless of whether it is you or not he will ensure the Dark Lord learns of it so you may as well pass on the prophecy yourself and get his praise.
He will then approach you about what you overheard in the beginning of next year and tell you he believes it to be about Lily in an effort to make you feel guilty as a way to get you to become his spy. Agree, but make sure you get his orders to become his spy in writing, signed as Chief Warlock and Supreme Mugwump so that he can not screw you over and gain control over you and the potions you create.
Last time he got himself assigned as your conservator for 10 years and used it to control you. He made you become a professor at Hogwarts with a limited income. And he controlled what you could research and what potions you could publish while claiming most of the profits for himself. Having evidence that you had been doing as he ordered will give you protection from any blowback. The light will think you support them and the dark will know it is really them you support."
Severus simply agreed to do as he was told.