Chapter 11: Merlin and the Four Founders Revealed
After speaking with his family, Merlin, and the Founders, Archie decided to tell Albus and Minerva about Merlin's Keep and that Merlin, the Four Founders, and his family were still alive. He sat down on the couch and scratched his chin. He wasn't sure how to tell them, but he'd figure something out.
When Archie returned to his office, he pulled out two pieces of parchment. He penned three letters: one to Dumbledore and McGonagall, one to magical historian Bathilda Bagshot, and one to Ragnok.
To Ragnok, he wrote:
Ragnok,
As my account keeper and most trusted advisor, I request your help on a necessary but not urgent matter. Recently, I found Merlin's Keep and discovered that Merlin, the Four Founders of Hogwarts, and my entire family were still alive. If you can, I need you to research what you can on Merlin's Keep and the magic that allowed them to stay alive even though they passed away at your earliest convenience.
Let me know what you find out.
Hoping you are well,
Lord Archibald Andrews-Black
Duke of Gryffinsmore
Earl of Avalon
Earl of Hogsmeade
Earl of Perthshire
Earl of Rochester
Count of Glenmore
Count of Aberdeen
Baron of Black Isle
Queen's Wizard for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other realms and territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith,
King of Avalon and all British Witches and Wizards
Owner of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Archie wrote a similar letter to Bagshot, asking her to research Merlin's Keep and the magic that allowed Merlin, the Four Founders, and his family to return long after they passed, and then wrote letters to Albus and Minerva asking them for a meeting at their earliest convenience. He then looked at Merlin. "Merlin, should I tell my sister about this?" Archie asked, wondering if he should tell Bonnie their parents, grandparents, and ancestors were still alive.
Merlin thought for a moment. "If you want to, if I were you, I would tell her, but it is up to you," he said before sitting down. Archie nodded; he knew Bonnie deserved to know about it. She had been extremely close to Gemini growing up and knew that out of all the family members, Bonnie was most devastated by her mother's death.
"I'll talk to Bonnie when I get the chance, but it may not be for a while; I have to find a way to recapture all of the Death Eaters that were brought back by Salazar's necromancy journals, and I have to challenge Peter Anderson to an honor duel," Archie said.
Balderich looked at his grandson concerned. "An honor duel? Why would you need to challenge Peter Anderson to an honor duel?" He asked. Archie looked at his grandfather. "Because he stole precious family magic and according to Noble House Counsel Ordinance 273949 passed in 1925, theft of family magic can be considered an attack on the honor of the house that was stolen from, I consider what Peter Anderson did to be an attack on the honor of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Slytherin, hence why I plan to challenge him to an honor duel," he said.
Balderich nodded. "Well, it wouldn't be the first time the Most Noble and Ancient House of Slytherin has challenged anyone to an honor duel, am I right, Salazar?" he asked. Salazar nodded. Yes, you're correct, Balderich. In 1920, your father challenged Marco Alverez, an upstart from Spain, to an honor duel after he insulted your mother's honor and the honor of the House of Slytherin by insinuating that the Slytherin family were nothing but a bunch of inbred snake charmers," he said.
Archie winced; he remembered reading about what his great-grandfather did to Marco in the Andrews Family grimoire. It wasn't pretty at all. Vicktor Andrews could be a vicious bastard when he wanted to be, and he knew that protecting the honor of all of his houses was important.
"Damn, I forgot how vicious great-grandpa Viktor could be when protecting the honor of our family," Archie said. "Yes, my father was very protective of our family when he was Duke of Gryffinsmore. He didn't hesitate to get bloody when he needed to; I believe that's why Grindlewald had him killed in 1941; he knew that if he were challenged to an honor duel, he would lose. There were only two more powerful people than Gellert Grindelwald, my father, and Albus Dumbledore. Grindelwald wouldn't have stood a chance against my father," Balderich said.
Archie nodded and smiled. Before anything else could be said, there was a knock on the door of Merlin's Keep. "Enter," Archie called out. Albus and Minerva walked in and gasped. "Merlin's Beard!" Minerva said. "How is this possible? Merlin and the Founders have been gone for over a thousand years! And it hasn't been that long since the deaths of your family members, Archie," Dumbledore said.
"Well, I'm hopeful that Bathilda Bagshot and Ragnok can find that out for us, Albus, because nothing is known about Merlin's Keep other than what's written in the Arthurian legends," Archie said.
"I am sure Madam Bagshot and King Ragnok can piece together something," Merlin said before smiling at Minerva and Albus. Welcome to my keep, Minerva and Albus. I hope you can find sanctuary here," he said.
While Merlin spoke to McGonagall and Dumbledore, Archie sat down to pen a letter to the editor of the Daily Prophet stating his intent to challenge Peter Anderson to an honor duel and take everything he owned, including any titles by right of conquest.
To: Barnabus Cuffe Editor in Chief of The Daily Prophet
From: Lord Archibald Emmanuel Andrews-Black-Gryffindor-Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff-Slytherin-LeFey-Emrys-Peverell Duke of Gryffinsmore
Regarding: Peter Anderson and the honor of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Slytherin
Mr Cuffe,
I am writing to inform you of my intention to challenge Peter Anderson of the Minor House of Anderson to an honor duel per Noble House Counsel Ordinance 273949 passed by the Noble House Council in 1925. It was recently brought to my attention by Madam Amelia Bones, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, that Mr Anderson stole Salazar Slytherin's necromancy journals from the Slytherin Family Grimoire and used them to bring back the Death Eaters executed over the summer.
I consider this action an insult against the honor of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Slytherin. Once Aurors have captured Mr Anderson, I intend to challenge him as it is my right as Head of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Slytherin.
However, that same Noble House Counsel ordinance also gives me the right to show mercy towards the family and allies of the challenged house. So, I am writing you to let you know that should Mr. Anderson turn himself in no later than the beginning of the summer equinox, I will show mercy and only take a twelfth of the wealth of the Anderson Family and spare them a gruesome fate.
But, should Mr Anderson not turn himself in, I will be forced to challenge him to an honor duel. And I'm sure you know that when the head of a Most Noble and Ancient House calls for an honor duel, it is a duel to the death. Once Mr. Anderson is deceased, I will claim everything that belongs to the Minor House of Anderson. This includes all titles, wealth, and holdings that belong to the Minor House of Anderson. Should that happen, I will also call for the eradication of the house,
I hope that Mr. Anderson will see this and do the right thing so I am not forced to defend my family's honor with such a gruesome act. Please publish this letter in the next edition of the Daily Prophet as soon as possible.
Hoping you are well,
Lord Archibald Andrews-Black
Duke of Gryffinsmore
Earl of Avalon, Hogsmeade, Perthshire, and Rochester
Count of Glenmore and Aberdeen
Baron of Black Isle
Queen's Wizard for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Owner and Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Archie sent the letter with Xerxes, then sighed. He truly hoped that Anderson would do the right thing. The thought of having to kill a man who probably had a family with pre-Hogwarts-aged children didn't sit right with him, but he had to protect the honor of his family. No matter the cost