While Madeline was pondering on how to proceed - calculating the fact that the ward would not allow her to harm the lord of the house in it, Orion Black had recovered from his shock and arched his brow.
"That is certainly not a subject one might expect to come from Barty Crouch Senior's daughter," the man drawled, making both the siblings stiffened. "All dark art are forbidden, he said, unless it's for his aurors to use. After all, did he not legitimize the use of the unforgivables for his aurors?"
There was some mocking in Orion Black's tone, and Madeline couldn't help but defend her father's decision out of impulse, "He legitimize the killing curse only. And only during raids against dark wizards who resist capture."
The man arched his brow some more.
Primly, though hastily, she added, "And to be honest, unlike my father, I am personally a firm believer that there is no harm in learning the dark arts. As long as one does not delve too deep into it."
That brought her some curious glances, but Orion Black was not that easy, "And rituals that involve the mind and the blood are not delving too deep in the dark?"
Please stop talking about that particular ritual.
"It is not, as long as one can still find the light."
"Light?" Walburga Black scoffed. "And what light are you speaking of?"
A chance to change the subject had appeared.
"Oh, it's just the interesting theory that grandmother Charis had proven. In her research on the nature of dark magic specifically. Have you heard of it?"
The married couple froze briefly.
"I am aware of Aunt Charis's experiments," Walburga Black said, eyes sharpened at her, "And you have access to her research?
Could they not access it? "Well. It was in her study and I inherited it.."
The couple exchanged a glance at her words, while both Barty and Regulus looked at her curiously.
"Do share some of her findings," Orion Black said after a beat.
She fought the urge to smile.
"As you may have known," she started, "many call the dark art 'the old way'. That is because unlike modern spells, the dark art and the old way have a similarity, which is the emotional component in its casting."
Orion Black nodded. "Today's magic are more methodological and cerebral, and involve less magical power. Meanwhile, the dark art and the old way needs sheer power, power control, and emotion. We know this. It is why they old way practioneers are considered stronger in our circle."
"Right, but unlike the old way, the dark art focuses more on negative emotions, correct? Emotions like anger, hatred, jealousy, fear, shame, misery, disgust.."
Orion Black frowned.
"That is because it is highly difficult to tap into the other spectrum of emotions such as happiness and love. Love even has its own research chamber in the department of mystery. And the only known spell who has happiness as a part of its casting is the patronus charm."
"But you still believe that those emotions have power?" Madeline pushed.
A pause
"..Of course. The Blacks are an ardent believer of the old way."
Right, right, so why did you hesitate?
"Do you also know that when delving too deep into dark magic, you might lose faith in the other spectrum of emotions such as happiness and love? And you lose the ability to feel them altogether."
Walburga scoffed. "We already know that delving too deeply can cause someone insanity. Losing the ability to love and be happy - that's just a theory."
Madeline tilted her head, "But many dark wizards do not believe in love, yes?"
They stiffened.
"Grandmother Charis had proven it," Madeline continued. "And she also figured out the reason behind it. Have you ever cried after feeling sad?"
An awkward pause followed her question as the Blacks put on their blank expression. She glanced at Barty, who smirked, knowing she needed his help.
"I have," he easily answered.
Madeline beamed at him. "I have too. It's cathartic, isn't it?" She turned to the Blacks, "And what about feeling angry? Have you lashed out after feeling angry?"
This time, Orion Black cleared his throat, "Perhaps once or twice," he glanced at his wife with a hint of a smirk, "a day."
Regulus fell into a bout of coughs as Walburga glared at her husband.
Madeline smiled. "I see. Doesn't it feel catharsis? Don't you feel relieved when you express your emotions?"
"Of course."
"Well - the same happened when we cast with emotions. We feel relieved. An instant gratification. - And that gratification can lead to addiction."
That quickly alerted the family, tea and biscuits long forgotten.
"Many are cautioned that the dark art is seductive in nature, tempting people with its power," she continued despite their defensive posture, "but those who are stubborn asked themselves 'why should we fight against the temptation when we are offered power? Power is power, and those who stop their pursuit are just too weak to seek it'"
She shrugged, "but those who practice the dark art too much will find themselves getting angry more often and casting dark spells easier. They didn't know that an addiction had settled in their brain, changing them as a whole. And once you're in too deep, you'll find it hard to go back up to the surface. You'll find it hard to feel the emotions on the other spectrum as well. Emotions like happiness, love."
"But what if a dark wizard has an outstanding mental discipline?" Orion Black refuted.
A good attempt, if only grandmother had not accounted for it.
"That is one of her research questions, actually. But no, once a wizard delves too deeply, it will still be difficult to feel happy and the anger will always be there. He can hide it better, but isn't the rage just bubbling inside him? Wanting to be let out? Besides, when some dark wizards got a taste of power, wouldn't they want to experience the power again, no matter how strong their mental discipline is? Maybe they will even try to rationalize their actions." She paused. "But it's a different case if he balances it with positive emotions such as love and happiness before he goes too deep. Which is why,"
She pointed her wand high in the air and casted, "expecto patronum."
A burst of light poured out of her wand, forming the figure of a ragdoll cat, much to the shock of everyone in the room.
She smiled in satisfaction.
"As long as one can still find the light, they'll be safe from delving too deeply into dark magic."
The cat ran around, skipping, and rubbed her head on each person's face. Her affectionate nature made the Blacks stare, while Barty's eyes lit up in joy.
"How did you learn the patronus charm?" Orion Black almost demanded, eyes moving away from the cat to pierce her.
"I practiced," she answered easily, though not really answering. "After reading Grandmother Charis's research, I figured it is important when one is studying the dark arts." She paused in a frown, "I thought her research was published. Is it not?"
"I heard she almost burned her research after she finished it to apologize to her research subject," Walburga answered with a hint of dismay, though her eyes were still locked on the cat who circled her with its tail rubbing at her. "Uncle Arcturus discouraged her. Though she decided to bury her research and forbade us from ever mentioning it."
Madeline hummed. Was it like that?
Grandmother's research was not groundbreaking, in her opinion. Anyone with commonsense would have known the implications when they learned how the dark art worked. But it's the matter of who conducted the research.
Charis Crouch nee Black was a known dark witch. If someone from a light family or even muggleborns conducted it, others could just assume it was propaganda - because of politics. Not to mention that they might refrain from going too far into dark magic in their experiment. But Charis Crouch? She did not hold back, making her test subjects perform one atrocious dark spell after another. Perhaps it was no surprise that the test subjects in question resented her, though now she wondered why they consented to the experiment in the first place..
"I thought the patronus charm is useful only against dementors and lethifold," mused Regulus Black out loud, breaking her from her thoughts. The boy was curiously watching the patronus cat who was giving Barty the view of her belly as her brother teased it with a teaspoon.
"Everyone thought so," said Orion Black, also still watching the cat. "It is why it's not in Hogwarts's curriculum. Officially, they reasoned that it was because it's too difficult to master, what with the sheer power one needed to cast it, as it was an old magic. But it was more because it has limited use. Lethifolds only live in tropical places while the ministry has tight control over the dementors. No need to be able to defend against dementors unless you're locked up in azkaban."
"And when you do face a dementor," Regulus quipped, "that means you're a criminal, and preventing a criminal from being able to fight against a dementor seems advantageous for the ministry."
Orion Black tilted his head at his son, eyes calculating. "Good point, Regulus." He turned to her, "So for dark art practitioners, it is imperative for them to be able to cast the patronus charm to prevent this addiction to the instant gratification the dark art gives them?"
She nodded.
"That's right. If you remember those light feelings, like happiness, you won't be trapped in the dark. The patronus charm is the definite proof that you can still feel true happiness."
"But what about the wizard Raczidian?" Walburga Black challenged, tone sharp. "Dark arts practitioners are cautioned against casting the charm because of his story."
That's right. Madeline stared at her tea, lost in her memories. After discovering that her soul was fragmented because of the murders she committed during the war, and that she was an entirely new person made from a dark ritual, at first she thought it was impossible for her to cast the patronus charm. For the longest time, she was afraid to cast it. What if she casted it, and instead of light, it was maggots who came out of her wand?
But her fear was just that. Fear.
"The patronus is the guardian of one's soul," she answered softly. "And even if one kills another and has their soul tainted, if they still have genuine happiness and hope in their heart, the patronus will still guard their caster's soul. It is only when one does not feel such emotions that the patronus charm may fail."
"But dark wizards feel happy all the time," Regulus refuted with furrowed brows. "Even when they're cursing others, they can still feel happiness."
She arched an eyebrow at him. "Is it true happiness though? Or is it mere superficial amusement? Perhaps, from the satisfaction of having someone beneath them, powerless, while they're in control?"
Orion Black noticeably winced, "You know the psyche of a dark wizard well."
Yes, she wanted to say. Unfortunately, she knew them all too well.
"I learned it from grandmother's research," is what she said out loud. "She also hypothesized that Raczidian probably used a memory that was not true happiness, but a feeling of elation that was twisted in nature. Probably the memory of him torturing people, and that was why the charm showed just how rotten he was."
A silent pause, and in this brief pause, a musing came upon her mind that made her smile.
"Didn't it give you a new perspective on human nature? Our genuine happiness - more often than not, it would involve other people being happy as well. And that no matter what we did, if we could still remember to be happy with those around us, then all would not be lost?"
Everyone, she noticed, was still watching her patronus while contemplating her words. It seemed that she was right to maintain the charm. For one, it completely snatched everyone's attention and made them pay attention to her less. Second - well, it lifted everyone's mood from this serious talk, didn't it? She could even see how Walburga Black's hawk-like gaze softened.
"You should come here often, miss Madeline," Orion Black said after a while, taking a sip from his tea. "I would like to discuss this matter more.
"I'll be honored to come," she replied demurely.
"But what is true happiness?" Walburga Black asked suddenly, apparently still thinking deeply from her explanation.
Madeline smiled. If someone told her that she would, at some point in her life, make the shrieking, muggle hater Walburga Black question such sentimental things like 'true happiness', she would have thought they had gone bonkers.
"I think it can be varying for each person, Ma'am. My happiness.. is being loved by my family."
It was quite a shock when instead of her otter, a ragdoll cat like her animagus form appeared as she casted the charm. But she supposed it couldn't be helped - Hermione Granger's happiest memory was about making friends and finally having fun with her friends - probably why her otter appeared so playful.
The memory she used now... it was all about Barty, Mother, and Winky. Being loved by them, being taken care of in her moments of weakness…
"So that's why she stays with me and keeps asking to be pet," Barty said, laughing with his eyes as he watched the cat made of light on his lap. "Who's a good kitty? Yes, you are."
She flushed.
"Stop it, Barty."
"But apparently you love it when we do it. You love it, don't you?" He cooed at the cat, and Madeline made the decision that the cat had definitely outlived its use.
It disappeared in an instance, much to Barty's disappointment.
"Aww."
"Do you think you can teach me how to cast it?" Regulus Black turned to her, eagerness bare. It quickly lifted Barty's spirit.
"Me too!"
"The mechanism is actually very easy," she caved in. "You just speak the incantation 'expecto patronum' while thinking of the happiest memory you have as you pour out as much power as you can use. The memory doesn't even have to be real. It's just.. a mental representation of what would make you the happiest and hopeful for the future."
"Expecto patronum!" Barty casted without delay, resulting in a small burst of shapeless light.
The boy frowned, and Madeline smiled.
"Put more power into it," she encouraged. "And maybe pick a happier memory."
This time he paused for a couple of seconds, before casting for the second time, "Expecto patronum!"
More light than before appeared, denser and beginning to take shape. But still not corporeal.
Barty clicked his tongue, "Almost got it."
Regulus, who had been watching in silence, finally made an attempt.
"Expecto patronum!"
Nothing.
Madeline frowned at the air and turned to the boy. "What memory did you use?"
The boy, though embarrassed, still answered her.
"My first quidditch game."
She hummed. "It's not enough. Something that makes you happy and hopeful that is tied to your sense of self. Think on it."
This time he pondered for quite a long time, not paying any mind to the curious and expectant gaze of his parents. Madeline took a biscuit and bit it. Did they think if Regulus could do it then they had hope to be able to do it too?
When a huge burst of light appeared on his second casting, Regulus let out a joyful, "Ha!", while Barty cheered, "That's how you do it!"
Madeline giggled at their antics, before turning to Regulus, "What memory did you use?"
The boy glanced at the proud looking couple and looked away, rubbing the back of his hair shyly, "Just my family and some other people. Gathered together peacefully."
She softened. What a simple happiness.
Orion Black, now amused and spirit lifted, smirked at them as he took another sip of his tea, "I see that you youngsters are bold enough to use underage magic so blatantly."
Madeline froze.
"The underage magic law is just a precaution so children don't try any dangerous magic by themselves," Barty waved away the man's words easily. "With adult supervision it should be alright. And the trace can't determine who cast the spells anyway!"
"You figured it out?" She couldn't help but blurt out at her brother.
Barty puffed his chest proudly, "I read your research, duh."
Of course - But no! Not the time to be proud! Was that something the children of the current head of DMLE should say?! Madeline glanced cautiously at the adult couple, only to meet their eyes, grey and amused.
A relieved breath escaped her. She supposed it should be alright, then?
Fortunately, the tea time was over soon after that. Regulus finally led them to the library, though not without giving them a quick tour of his house, and Madeline eventually managed to find more books on ritual magic.
"You know, somehow I can't see father approve a project that involves rituals that have both mind and blood magic in it," Barty said, deep inside the Black's library, just as Regulus went out to give Sirius some books.
Madeline avoided his eyes.
"It's for a private project."
A pause.
"Alright, I won't pry."
Her shoulders relaxed.
"Thanks.."
It was, in the end, a fruitful endeavor.
.
For one whole week, she visited the Blacks at Grimmauld place, taking advantage of their open invitation to resume her research on the rituals. Regulus's parents didn't greet her everyday like they did in her first visit, though Walburga Black sometimes invited her to tea, which she dreaded at first. But contrary to her expectation, the woman was not so.. unpleasant in her company. She was a bit of a grouch, and often too sharp with her mouth, yes. Yet, she was just.. a lady. Madeline could deal with a lady.
It helped that her questions sometimes just nudged her bleeding heart.
"If one has delved too deep into dark magic," the lady asked once, still prickly and cold, "and they lost their ability and belief in happiness, what did aunt Charis suggest them to do?"
Madeline put on her blank expression as she answered, "Refrain from the dark art for a long time. It should stop the addiction and enable them to touch other emotions. But I admit that it's difficult in practice. Once they delve too deep, it's easier for them to be angry and use the dark art. I suppose it's just their own determination that can help them. Maybe their loved ones can also help them by always reminding them and stopping them from doing dark arts again?"
Such questions could suddenly appear out of nowhere, throwing her for the loop. She tried her best to answer them, hoping it would help the lady. And wouldn't it be better if by helping her, she could, somehow, help Regulus and Sirius? Perhaps making the family situation better?
Though perhaps she should focus on her own family situation first, she thought as she faced an angry looking Barty Crouch Senior, standing on her doorway after slamming her door like he owns the place one afternoon.
- well he did own the place, but that was mere technicality.
"You have been visiting the Blacks everyday."
His face, red with blood vessels almost popping out of his skin, made her want to look away. The contrasting color of peach and blue on her room's wall was especially tempting.
But she refused. Meeting his eyes challengingly was the way to go, and she did just that.
Madeline folded her arms, leaning back on her sofa's backrest as she let her book fall on her side.
"Yes."
"Do you have no idea how dangerous they are? They're dark wizards!"
"If you care so much about whom I spend my time with, then why only mention this now? After a week of visit, no less." She paused and smiled her sweet smile, "Oh right - you're not home for the past week. Perhaps that should tell you that I can handle myself just fine."
"No you can't!" The man spat, getting redder by the second with each step he took, "You thought you could handle it but you can't!" He started pacing in her room, "I should have known this since I first knew about your research and those - those experiments!"
She frowned as his furious gaze turned at her, "You - ! You'e just like her!"
Her?
"I won't allow it. My own daughter - !"
The man suddenly pulled out his wand and started casting at the room, which quickly alerted her. She stood up, "What are you doing?"
"If you even make one step outside this room, then there will be no meeting with the minister next month."
A cold feeling took over her.
"You -"
"No dark magic," the man cut her, his body towering over her as he said his last piece "No experiments. No visiting those vile Blacks!"
Just like that, the man left, leaving Madeline dumbfounded.
Did he just - ?
He did, it turned out. One check was all it took. A ward that would give him a notice if Madeline ever left the room, Barty senior had casted it so quickly that Madeline could not react at all. Everything happened so fast.
At first, a belated indignant shock took over her. The man dared to do this to her. Again! Locking her up in her room as if she was - some kind of pest that needed to be controlled!
After that though, she found herself confused. Wasn't he blowing this out of proportion? The man might be infamous for hating all things dark, yes, but to forbid her from visiting the Blacks? Father might not approve of the Rosiers, but he never forbade Barty outright from visiting them. And he also did nothing when he found out Barty visited Grimmauld Place last year.
So why only her?
She froze when she remembered a particular thing the man had said.
'You're just like her'.
Her.
Dark magic, experiments, the Blacks. Who did he see in her?
The answer was clear in her mind.
A horrible thought then came when she finally connected that one name. Experiments. Barty Crouch's resentment. Aversion to dark magic...
The fact that grandmother chose to bury her research to apologize to her test subject.
Grandmother wouldn't... Would she?
Madeline staggered and sat on the sofa again, her throat suddenly dried. In truth, she didn't know the woman that well. She only knew her through letters for just some months.
But to her own child - no one would do that.
Right?
The rest of the day got her investigating the matter. Grandmother's letters, her research, she read everything that could give her any insight on the truth. Grandmother insisted that she had apologized for something, and she called her son a coward -
Was he afraid someone would find out that he had once delved too deep into dark magic?
In her research, the subjects were named subject 'A', subject 'B', subject 'C1', subject 'C2', and subject 'C3'.
Grandfather's name was Caspar. Grandmother's was Charis. Father's was Bartemius. His sisters were each named Adriana and Charlene.
It could be a mere coincidence. It could be.
But Grandmother mentioned it in her letters - how she once delved too deeply into dark magic and couldn't cast the patronus for the longest time.
And subject C1 experienced the same thing.
Late at night, Barty finally visited her. He said he was sorry. He had just come out of Sebiorn Frikks's book, after spending hours exploring the snowy plane.
Madeline let the words enter one ear and exit the other, too busy staring at the ceiling as she laid lifelessly on her bed.
"Can't you just break the ward?" Barty asked, mistaking the ward as the reason behind her lack of spirit.
Should she tell him?
"He will be alerted if I tamper with it."
Her brother huffed and dropped his body next to her, "Unbelievable. He's never home but when he is, this is what he does."
"Just tell Regulus and the Blacks that I can't come again because I'm too busy with my research."
Barty lifted his body halfway with his elbows, frowning at her flat tone. "Aren't you mad?"
She sighed and closed her eyes.
Was she mad?
Probably not. She was just mentally exhausted.
"It's not that bad, Barty. I can still work on my projects quietly.
"Why are you taking this so easily?"
Perhaps because Father might have reasons to behave like he did?
She opened her eyes, meeting Barty's concerned blue.
"Has it ever crossed your mind that father.. might hate the dark art and grandma Charis for a reason?"
Her brother frowned. "What brought this on?"
Maybe it was the mental exhaustion. Or maybe she just wanted to talk about it with someone. Madeline found herself telling Barty everything she had just discovered about Charis Crouch and their father. Barty listened to her quietly, his face devoid of any expression. At some point, his jaw ticked and he sat up, which made Madeline follow him and sit beside him.
"It explains everything," she concluded, arms hugging herself and knees up to her chest.
There was an emptiness that seemed to be chewing her chest, inside out. Madeline honestly didn't know what to think. What to feel. Knowing about his past..
"No, it still won't explain everything."
She blinked at the harsh tone. Barty stood, a sneer settled on his face. Her brother's breathing was ragged, his hands clenched as stormy eyes bore a hole through the floor.
"It's been years since this research happened. Any lingering effect should have been gone. You said so, refraining from the dark art for some time can bring back positive emotions. So why is he still like this? The reason - he's just a bad person. And the worst father!"
She bit her lips. "Maybe he's traumatized..."
Her brother glared at her.
"So it's okay to treat us like this?"
She flinched, "Of course not. But..."
"I hate him," Barty cut her, "I will always hate him. And you should also hate him. He made us miserable."
Madeline felt like she had been slapped. Why is Barty like this? "Don't you think you're being too harsh?"
"I'm harsh?"
Barty eyes, she realized, were already swimming in tears. Angry tears. The one that was accompanied by a face full of loathing.
"Maybe you never cared for him and that's why you forgave him that easily." She stiffened. " - But I did. I wanted his attention too much for too long - and he never once looked at me! Why do you think he forbids you from going to the blacks while letting me do as I like? He just forgets about me! That's what he does best! So what if he has reasons to hate the dark art? It wasn't any reason to ignore us for years! What, traumatized from dark magic? What kind of measly excuse is that!"
Madeline slumped. Her brother was mostly right, though she still thought he was being too harsh.
Or maybe he wasn't? He was his real son, so perhaps his anger was more valid than her understanding.
Her face closed off as she looked down at her bare knees. Right. They weren't even her family originally. Her feelings about this matter.. were not relevant. She was not in any place to lecture Barty to be more understanding to father.
She hugged her knees tighter. "You're right. I'm sorry."
Barty huffed.
"Just don't mention him again. I.. he - we don't need him."
Right. They didn't need him. Hadn't this been established from the start?
She sighed.
"Of course. Any help we get from him for our project - that's just him being the investor. But we don't need him. Not as a father."
Barty nodded, stiff but resolute.
.
Mother came the next day, bringing her newest edition of Challenges in Charms.
Something to read. That was how Mother did it back then too, long before she went to Hogwarts.
Before she even met Barty.
"I'm sorry," Mother said, sitting on the corner of her bed.
She shrugged, taking the journal offered to her.
"It's alright, Mother. This is nothing new. I can still study and do my projects here - Winky will just bring the things I need. Perhaps I'll even do some redecorating in my room."
Mother smiled weakly.
"I'll bring you some catalogs for furniture."
She smiled back, "that'd be lovely."
It was something she spoke of without thinking, but now that she thought about it, redecorating her room didn't sound like a bad idea at all.
Her current room... It was Madeline Crouch's childhood room. Peach and blue wall, same colors for the furniture. The reading desk was too small for her now, and she could no longer curl up comfortably on all the armchairs in her room. The vanity definitely had to go - it was too pretentious.
She never dared to touch or change anything - not one furniture had been moved even by an inch. It was her way of respecting their daughter.
But wasn't she their daughter now?
Wasn't this her life?
She might have no rights to dictate Barty on how he should feel about his father, but this was her life too. She had the right to do this. This had always been her room.
"Do you hate your father?" Mother said, breaking the silence. She looked up, finally noticing Mother's observant look, "Barty told me he hates him."
"I don't care about him that much."
That's right. She never cared much about him.
She moved her gaze to her room. Thinking on how she would redecorate her room would be a better use of her time than thinking about Barty Crouch Senior. What color should she pick? Maybe white and blue? Or perhaps just simply white with wood accent?
"When we got married," Mother started, knowing she would listen still, "he told me not to expect anything from him."
A huff of disbelief escaped her.
"Truly the husband of the year."
Mother let out a hum, "He claimed to be an unfeeling man. But still, he took care of me. He might not be the best in showing his emotions, but sometimes, his actions show that he cares."
The gift she received last year came to mind.
She sighed, "I know. I won't hate father, mother. So please don't worry, okay?"
"Thank you."
Madeline returned her mother's grateful smile with a sad smile. Perhaps just like her, this family was all Mother had. Maybe that's why she tried so hard to keep this family together.
A thought suddenly crossed her mind and she tilted her head curiously, "Do you love father?"
Mother let out a small cough.
"I am... fond of him."
Madeline scrunched her nose. Honestly, she didn't see any appeal.
Mother smiled, the kind that was soft and warm with a hint of amusement, a knowing look on her eyes. "You will feel it one day, Madeline. One day, you will meet someone who you can rely on. Someone who can make you feel peaceful and safe."
She put aside the journal and approached mother, giving her a tight hug. "I already have you and Barty."
She felt Mother's thin arms, circling her, and Madeline sunk deeper into the hug.
"I don't think you truly rely on us, though. But that's alright."
Madeline gripped her mother tighter. So she knew. Of course she knew. "Is that what it means to love someone? To rely on them?"
Mother's chest reverbated as she hummed.
"That may be the case for us. When one feels guarded all their life and never at ease, having someone you can rely on can be everything."
"I see."
It would never happen, then.
After all, her mission came first. She would sooner kiss father in the cheeks before she ever tolerate any risk coming closer to her plans.
.
Regulus Black came to the black castle that day in August with light steps and a quiet, scowling Sirius Black in tow. Sirius - who had refused to move from his room when he was told that Grandfather Arcturus had called for both of them, had finally relented after Regulus reminded him of the typical weather in the north sea: a weather full of lightning storms.
Ever since Regulus started to give him books, Sirius had sometimes asked for the weather prediction for the next day. Through his reactions, Regulus managed to figure out that he was waiting for a lightning storm.
For whatever reason he waited for a lightning storm, Regulus bet he would also figure that part out soon.
"Just use a sticking charm while you're here," grandfather had grunted once he took one glance at Sirius when they came to greet him. At his words, Regulus frowned in confusion while Sirius widened his eyes.
Come dinner time, Sirius had suddenly decided to return to his chattering self.
"Man, I'm beat," Sirius whined as he took his fork on the table, eyes eyeing the meat in the feast.
"Eat." Grandfather ordered. "You'll need it."
"Damn right I will! No more of those tasteless soup! But are we still going to continue after this?"
"Undoubtedly. Your progress left much to be desired."
Regulus smirked as he ate his soup. Of course Sirius would find it hard to master occlumency.
As if he had known that Regulus had thought of him poorly, Sirius narrowed his eyes at him and said, "What about him then?"
"He's progressing enough."
Thank you, grandfather.
A smug smirk sat on Regulus face as Sirius scowled at him
" - Though I suppose we need to address your duelling skill," Grandfather suddenly added, "No half blood should be able to defeat a Black."
His smirk dropped as Sirius snickered.
"Oh? Which half blood did that?"
Regulus maintained his grace and posture, pointedly not minding what Sirius had said.
Sirius's eyes widened.
"Wait a minute - don't tell me..?"
Regulus chose to focus on his meal, not meeting anyone's eyes as he fought to keep the urge to scowl at bay. Did Sirius stop being so obtuse only to mock him?
Sirius's apparent glee easily pushed him to fail in his attempt at reigning down his scowl.
"Snivellus? You lost to Snivellus? Merlin's ball, Reg, what a disgrace!"
A tight smile stretched his face. "A disgrace? Isn't that your nickname?"
Sirius sneered, "At least I never lost to Snivellus."
Regulus glared at him, which Sirius viciously returned with the addition of his tongue sticking out.
The situation was quickly escalating into a discreet couple of stinging hex, exchanged under the table, and Regulus would have escalated it even more with another hex if not for Grandfather's timely intervention of accio-ing both wands.
"No wands on or under the dining table."
Regulus clenched his fist as he focused back on his meal. One day. One day, he would win against Sirius. And by beating Sirius, he would definitely beat Snape easily.
The meal time resumed in silence for a while. But they had Sirius and his mouth, so of course the silence didn't last long.
"So what's your deal with father?" Sirius said as he cut his meat. "He's totally peeved when you called us."
Grandfather took his time to answer, and Regulus had almost thought that the man had decided to ignore Sirius's brash question altogether. Sirius's chewing had become more audible as he waited - and perhaps it was to stop his annoying chewing sound that Grandfather Arcturus had answered.
"I told him to marry your mother."
Sirius snorted. "No wonder the man's peeved."
Was that the reason? Regulus took a sip on his water as he pondered. Marrying someone the family decided was just the way of their family. He found it hard to believe that Father would resent grandfather because of an obligation like that. While marriage was a huge deal indeed, Father must have known that he would have to marry mother for the longest time. And that meant a long time to accept his situation.
But Regulus supposed he would hold a grudge too if his family decided to betroth him to someone he didn't like.
Regulus frowned. Did Father dislike Mother? He didn't think so..
"So did you choose to display your order of Merlin in our house to rub it in father's face, then? More show of power?" Sirius asked again, and this time the answer came much sooner.
"No, I just got it when I still lived there."
Sirius frowned. "Wait so you were -"
"Twenty six when I was awarded it."
Regulus stared at his grandfather in a daze, pausing in his meal. Twenty years old and a recipient of the order of Merlin first class?
"What the hell did you do to get it?" Sirius blurted out, lacking any filter that he was. "Did you bribe the ministry?"
Grandfather's features sharpened as a slightly predatory reminiscent smile graced his face while his hand cut the meat on his plate without stopping, "My father had just acquired a second class order of Merlin because of 'ancient knowledge preservation' then. Poppycock, I say. All he did was register a number of ancient book titles to the ministry. It became my ambition to surpass the man."
It seemed that resentment against fathers was a pervasive issue throughout generations in their family, Regulus couldn't help but note.
"At that time, my own grandfather, Phineas Nigellus, had recently passed away. A grim showed itself to me just before I heard of his passing, and that inspired me to conduct some research. Two years later, I found some evidence that the grims are not just omens. They're a real, breathing magical creature that has ties with death magic. And I tied some with me."
If Regulus had less grace, his jaw would have dropped right there and then.
Just like Sirius's.
"The grims?" Sirius gaped, flabbergasted . "Wait, so your dogs..? You didn't just name them the grims? They're actually the grims?"
Grandfather took a bite on his well-cut meat. "Do I look whimsical enough to name mere dogs with such menacing name without reason?"
Well no - but still. The grims were real?
"The knowledge about the grims is hidden from the public," Grandfather continued, eyes glinting dangerously. "Only the unspeakables in the death chamber had access to this research. You shall speak none of this to anyone."
Regulus nodded numbly. "Even now paranoia against the grims is high. If they know it actually exists..."
Sirius, meanwhile, was slightly creeped out. After all, he had grown up with those dogs.
"Death magic. Those grims.. they can sniff it or something?"
"More or less," Grandfather revealed, and Sirius gulped. Those dogs had been sniffing him since he was a mere toddler! He thought they liked him the best, but it turned out they were the grims? What did that say about him?
He cleared his throat and asked again. "Really? How did you test it? Did you bring them to some dying people or something?"
"Do you really want to know?"
On second thought, no, not really.
"Never mind then," Sirius muttered as he munched on his meal. Perhaps he should check himself out on Saint Mungo or something. "I thought you bribed the ministry."
Grandfather hummed.
"Well - they intended to award me with the second-class order of Merlin at first. Some galleons were exchanged, and they quickly changed their stance. Such is the way of life."
Sirius huffed, tense shoulder slightly relaxed, "So it was a bribe after all."
In the midst of this, Regulus was busy contemplating on how Grandfather had proven the existence of the grims. He couldn't have had an endless supply of dying people to test the grims, so the only thing he could do was -
Make the supply by himself.
Regulus cleared his throat, "Grandfather, can you use the patronus charm?"
Arcturus Black tilted his head at the curious question. Though promptly, he decided to just answer with his action. A burst of light came out of his wand, forming the shape of a huge dog.
It was the grim.
While Sirius's eyes bulged at the display, Regulus watched the light as it dispersed with contemplating eyes. Madeline said it before - no matter what one did, if they could still feel genuine happiness, then one would be able to cast the charm. Thid also means thar Grandfather was not just a dark wizard but a true old way practitioner, with his ease in performing the charm that used happiness in its casting, and he voiced this observation to the man.
Grandfather narrowed his eyes as he heard it, "What made you say that?"
Regulus stiffened at the sharp gaze. Should he not bring this up? Still, it was too late to rescind his statement. "It's just a term Madeline Crouch uses when one can cast magic with both spectrums of emotions."
Grandfather stilled for a brief moment, before he eventually tilted his head and leaned back to his chair, "Madeline Crouch. Charis's granddaughter?"
Of course Grandfather recognized the name. "That is correct."
Grandfather hummed. "Invite her here."
Regulus perked up as Sirius widened his eyes. For the past fifty years, Grandfather had never allowed anyone who was not a Black by birth to the castle - except for Grandmother, of course. Aunt Druella was still fuming over this.
For him to invite Madeline..
Regulus sighed. Unfortunately, as much as he wanted to invite Madeline here, the current situation made it impossible for the moment.
Barty had told him that Madeline couldn't leave her room, something about their father being the asshole he was. That's why she had not visited Grimmauld again after that heavenly week. But of course, as it was an internal conflict, Barty only told his parents the made up reason Madeline had provided, and that's the reason he revealed to grandfather.
"I'm afraid she's unavailable at the moment," Regulus said with a wince, "she's cooped in her room, doing research."
Luckily, instead of being offended, grandfather had snorted.
"Just like her grandmother, then."
Sirius's drink had missed his mouth and wet his shirt.
"That's it?" He asked, almost shouting. "You're not offended that Regulus won't even extend your invitation to her?"
Grandfather waved his concern away. "The invitation was mere curiosity. She could visit anytime when her research is finished."
"No, isn't that just weirder?"
Regulus kept his silence as he too was a bit flabbergasted. But one silver lining had cheered him up that made him have to bite the inside of his cheeks to stop himself from smiling: from Sirius, Narcissa, Mother, Father, to Grandfather. It seemed that they thought of Madeline positively.
If things continued like this, wouldn't it be possible to push for a betrothal?