Hi!

Multiple people have writen me, asking if I was on any other platform to talk more easily. Unfortunately, I was not on any social media, and I'm not very savvy about which one is best. Thanks to Mckenze Allen who suggested me Discord, I now have an account on this platform, and you can find me there under eligraindefolie_94629. I replied to all pm send to me on ff, but I'm not sure the site worked as intended and you got them. For those who wants to have a conversation with me, Discord is probably better than pm on ff.

I'll be happy to talk to those who seek me.

This chapter is a long one. As usual, I'm French and have no beta, so any mistake is my own. If you spot one, feel free to tell me!

Enjoy!

Silver ring

Merlin, why was he here again? Oh yeah, because he had to.

He never wished for his parents to die, after all.

Who was he kidding, he did. Many, many times. He wasn't an ungrateful son, he was a realistic one. They made their bed, and now were resting in it. He hoped they weren't resting, actually, but experiencing the tender mercy of Hell.

Why though?

Well, he was Sirius Black. And they were murderers and child abusers. Earth was better without them.

Finally, his time came. After interminable moments where people spoke about the greatness of his family, it was, at last, his turn to rise. The funeral was grand, lots of important peoples gathered today to honour the right bastards that sired him, who's tender care nearly killed him, forcing him to run away at sixteen. They didn't dread any assault from Voldemort, because most of them were Voldemort's partisans. Affecting his best Pureblood Lord poise during the ceremony, acknowledging his peers with all the standing his position required, had been pure torture.

Still, now came the reaping from all his efforts of the last month. He'd nearly thrown the letter from his grandfather when he saw it twenty-five days ago. Remus, always in his corner, persuaded him to read it. Genius. Arcturus was dying, and dying rapidly. Someone was poisoning him, and there was no cure. He wanted to see the culprits punished, and make them taste the vengeance of the Blacks. Sirius had been more than happy to collaborate with the old man to see it done, adding his own pound of ruthlessness to the plans.

So here he was, standing at the foot of the newly dug grave, next to his grandfather who was barely alive. Arcturus took his lordship ring and deposited it in his grandson's hand.

"I, Arcturus Alioth Black, Lord of House Black, do hereby pass on the lordship of House Black and all it entails to Sirius Orion Black. So mote it be."

Sirius took what was loosely called a ring, a gaudy piece of silver jewellery engraved with thousands of microscopic runes that gave it an unpolished finish. Three diamond shaped onyx stones adorned it. The second it settled on his left major, it resized to cover the whole phalanx. It was impractical, a show of wealth and status. Therefore, it was the perfect ring for House Black.

The crowd gaped when Sirius said the standard acceptance speech. In truth, the family magic ritual had been performed the day before, so Sirius was already the Head of House. A very public ceremony, though, would cement his position and quell any dispute. The best was yet to come. Sirius wanted to grin at the fools in front of him. He kept his cultured face, but couldn't extinguish the fire in his eyes.

As his grandfather painstakingly sat down, he turned to the grave and opened his trouser. No sound was heard but the gurgle of piss hitting the marble. Just for that, taking the lordship and all the responsibilities associated was worth it. Arcturus frowned as his irreverent gesture, while his great-uncle Alphard gave him a thumbs up. His affair finished, he faced the gathered asshats.

Then, he retrieved a parchment carefully stored in his pocket. The roll was long, so long that he used magic to keep it in place and unroll it at the right pace to keep up with his reading.

"I, Sirius Orion Black, sound of mind and body, Lord of House Black, hereby declare Bellatrix Artemis Lestrange née Black banished from House Black in retaliation for her crimes against her House. Those will be published tomorrow, available to public inquiry, as most of the procedures announced today. House Black dissolves her marriage to Rodolphus Lestrange, reclaim her dowry in full, plus the penalties owed for breach of contract, effective immediately."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Bellatrix screamed in the crowd, clutching at her heart. The magical backlash of banishment was a bitch. Rodolphus and Rabastan, seated next to her, shot up and began firing at the new Lord Black.

Sirius hadn't anticipated a public attack. His brother was the one to save him, properly severing their heads while they were focused on the former Gryffindor. Everyone always underestimated Regulus. That moment made them realise, as clearly as the sun was shining in the sky, that House Black had two sons, and none should be discarded.

Sirius nodded at his brother, and continued as if nothing happened. No one moved to collect the bodies. He was disgusted at his Auror colleagues who didn't bat an eye at the display.

"I, Sirius Orion…" he spoke. "Hereby banish Cyrus Altair Black and Druella Amanda Black née Rosier from House Black in retaliation from their crime against the House. The House Black reclaims…" Here, they were reduced to paupers, their link to the family magic severed. Sirius watched dispassionately as two more people went down in the crowd. They deserved everything coming their way.

He kept going.

"…hereby dissolve Narcissa Lily Black's marriage to Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, reclaim her dowry in full, plus the penalties…" He watched with jubilation as Lucius paled. "…House Black claims her unborn child as hers, and pledge to raise him as a scion of House Black…"

Too bad the ponce didn't raise to the bait. He would have taken great pleasure to put him down. He saw his cousin put a protective hand on her belly, as she left her seat to place herself next to Arcturus. Sirius didn't want to cast her away before the baby was born, as it could be fatal to him. She was due in three months, enough time to show him where her loyalty lied.

"… effecting immediately."

Seeing Regulus' name on the scroll, Sirius paused for a second. Evidently, he wasn't as lost as he initially thought. He would give him a chance. He went to the next topic.

"I, Sirius…" His voice was clear, his tone showing the right amount of cold detachment and boredom "…call all debts due to House Black, in full, from House Malfoy, House Jugson, House Lestrange, House Avery, House…" The litany was long, and more or less the exhaustive list of Houses that housed Death Eaters, or at least individuals suspected of being Death Eaters to a reasonable level. More and more people in attendance shuffled uncomfortably. Sirius noted the ones who didn't budge, those were the dangerous ones, the ones who would sneak up on him at the least expected moment. He knew his grandfather was watching too, carefully cataloguing everyone's reactions.

"The collection and settlement of debts will be handled by Gringotts, under contract with House Black, effective immediately." At those words, the scroll glowed blue, showing everyone that a magical contract had been signed and was now active. Magic itself would ensure that they couldn't bribe their way out of the oncoming troubles. More so, the Goblins were thorough, cunning, and ruthless. A very bad combination to go against.

Most were rooted to their seats, dread oozing from the ones who understood the scope of what was happening.

One last strike, and he was done. He flared his aura, power radiating with his family magic, eyes ablaze, Sirius took the time to make eye contact with half the crowd before he read the last lines, at last allowing himself to show a condescending smile.

"I Sirius Orion Black…" It was getting tiresome to repeat his title every time, alas, he couldn't cut it out. "… declare a blood feud against Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort."

Shock froze the gaggle of upstanding citizen. He seized the moment, continuing his piece before the ruckus that was sure to come.

"… his servants have 24 hours to renounce allegiance, or suffer the wrath of House Black." He finally finished, barely heard over the mob. He immediately apparated out, not a moment too soon as a green spell struck right where he was. The remaining Blacks followed his example and fled the scene. Regulus took the time to aim at several of his neighbours though, while they were still under the shock of his brother proclamations.

Fourteen, he got fourteen of them before he had to retreat. That, would be the last time they underestimated him.

The next day, as Sirius was stuck in meetings after meetings, talking to ministry officials trying to convince him to rescind his blood feud, arguing with Dumbledore about forgiveness, dealing with slimy bastards trying to wiggle out of their debts, and strategizing ways to actually win this war, Sirius had to remind himself why he took the ring.

Reforming House Black was worth it. Ending Voldemort was worth it. His unborn godson's future was worth it.

Fuck yeah!