A Marauder's Cub

by Starian NightZz

Dumbledore should have learnt that you can't keep a wolf's cub away from him. An angry Remus Lupin learned about the manipulations that have almost destroyed his life and his best friends, and decided that enough is enough. He soon became what he had been all along. A wolf. A guardian. A protector. A Marauder.

16. Aria and Ominis

Chapter Sixteen: Aria and Ominis

"Are…you mad?"

Crow Armbrust asked his silent mate carefully. Rean is normally very easy-going and hardly ever gets angry. Crow could count on one hand and still have fingers left over—the number of times he'd seen Rean really angry. Sure, he'd upset Rean a number of times even when they were courting, but Rean was never really furious with him.

Right now however, even as they sat on their bed in their room at Castle Armbrust, Crow can't help feeling like he'd done something wrong.

Did I do anything recently to piss Rean off? Crow wondered, racking his brains to think of any occasion when he'd upset his mate.

His grandfather will have him by the balls if he made Rean upset. The old man had loved Rean since the moment that Crow had first brought him home back when Rean was still in Third Year, and Crow was in Fifth Year. The old man had always taken Rean's side in an argument, no matter what. Oh well, they do say that wives rule the household. If Crow's parents are still alive, he is sure that they would be the same way as well.

Rean gave him a deadpan glare over the book that he is reading on his side of the bed.

"Gee, what do you think?"

Crow winced. Right. Rean is using that voice whenever he is upset or annoyed with Crow.

"Come on, sweetheart, what did I do this time? I won't know if you won't tell me." Crow complained, mock pouting, even as he pulled Rean into his lap, causing the smaller omega to squeak and drop the book that he is reading.

"Crow!"

Crow grinned at the look on Rean's face. Despite how the omega is trying to control his facial expressions, Crow knew his mate well enough to know that Rean is trying to fight a smile. The alpha pressed his lips against his mate's, stealing a kiss.

"I don't like it when you're mad at me." The alpha vampire murmured against Rean's lips, leaning their foreheads against each other, with Rean in Crow's lap.

"You act like I want to be mad at you." Rean grumbled. Crow grinned impishly, his hands slowly sliding under Rean's shirt and caressing bare skin. "You're just so— WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE TOUCHING?!" Rean let out a sound that is a cross between a moan and a whimper. Despite the omega's complaints, he didn't move to stop Crow even as the alpha slowly unbuttoned his shirt. "Crow, I'm being serious here."

"I am too." Crow gave a grin, pushing Rean's shirt off his shoulders. "I'm always serious whenever we have sex."

"NOT THAT!" Rean sighed. "Crow, we could have handled things better with Remus. It's true that it's a good thing for us all that Lyall Lupin died. But we didn't think how it would impact Remus. We didn't see things from his point of view. All these years, we only spent time trying to stuff Downworld laws and how we see things down his throat. Yet, we didn't bother to see things from his scope. And no matter how terrible a person, or even a father that Lyall Lupin is, he is still Remus' father."

Crow's actions stilled. "Well, on that, I do agree with you," he said reluctantly. He would never admit it, but he does feel guilty with how harsh he was with Remus, and even how despondent that the werewolf had looked when they have sent him back home. If Sirius had been at Grim Manor when Remus had reached home, Crow wouldn't be surprised if the other man would be fire-calling him on his communication mirror within moments. "We could have handled things better. We didn't bother to see things from his point of view."

"I was formerly human, so I can see things from Remus' point of view better." Rean pointed out reluctantly, trying to swallow a moan even as Crow undid his pants, and cupped his ass. Crow only grinned impishly at Rean as the omega tried to glare at the alpha. "The treatment towards the Downworld isn't as bad during our time, but there are those who are prejudiced against the Downworlders. Lots of people protested when I agreed to be turned after our bonding. Heck, there are people against it when we first bonded and then mated." Crow definitely remembered the fight that they had, not against his own people, but against certain groups of humans when Crow had first gotten together with Rean. "Maybe I should talk to Remus."

"Yes, I agree, but that time is not today." Rean gave a squeak, even as he was pushed down onto the bed, with Crow hovering above him. "Tonight, I want your entire attention on me, sweetheart." Lust was visible in Crow's red eyes, even as he undid the buttons on his clothes and tossed it to the ground. "And I won't let you think of anything but me tonight."

The servants of House Armbrust all knew better than to go near their Lord and Consort's room for the rest of the night. And if some of the servants were finding it difficult to keep their faces straight come morning, especially with the lecherous grin visible on the previous Lord Armbrust's face when his grandson and his wife finally decided to come down for breakfast, no one said anything at all.

XXXXXX

With the fiasco that is the Downworlder meeting, Remus Lupin was honestly surprised the next morning when Rean had turned up on their front doorstep—surprisingly without Lord Crow with him. Remus had yet to see the omega vampire without his alpha mate, though he is sure that there are things that Rean did without his mate.

"…Rean?" Remus finally managed to find his voice.

He is alone in Grim Manor that day, with Sirius having some kind of appointment, whereas Narcissa had invited Liese out for tea. And with both Draco and Hadrian off to Durmstrang just yesterday, the house is feeling particularly quiet and lonely, especially since Remus had the day off from the Ministry today.

"Hey Remus." Rean gave a small smile. "Can we talk for a bit?"

XXXXXX

"I will offer you tea or coffee, but…"

"It's fine." Rean waved off Remus' offers, even as both of them sat in the living room area. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Crookshanks snoozing on the windowsill whilst bathing in the rays of the sun. "How are you doing after yesterday?" He asked the werewolf sincerely. Remus looked pale and looked as if he hadn't slept all night.

Remus flinched. "…All right," he murmured, though Rean could tell that he's lying. "…I didn't realise just how much the Downworld hated my father. I know that to them…to us, he's more of a monster than anything. Even still, he is still my father."

"Remus." Rean cut Remus off, causing the werewolf to look at him. "First of all, we owe you an apology." Remus blinked. "All these years, we never bothered to look at things from your point of view, merely forcing you to see things from our side instead. I know that we told you about Fenrir's past. But you hated him for years. And the stories that your…father told you probably didn't help matters."

Remus was silent. "…I know he's not a good man. My father, that is." Remus admitted at last, staring at his hands. Scars—old and new, covered his exposed arms that is a result of his werewolf transformation once a month. Over the past years since they'd moved to Bulgaria, and with Rean and Lord Crow helping him to control his transformation, the pain had lessened, and he had managed to keep his mind even without the potion or poison as Lord Crow calls it. Even still, it didn't erase years of damage done on Remus' body. "Thinking back on it, he was a good father when I was very young. My first memory is when I was three, and just spending the day at the wizarding beach with my parents. He used to always hug me and tuck me into bed, and read me stories on the nights when he was home. But when I was turned, he changed. He became cold towards me. Barely touched me unless it's on the days of the full moon—and that is only because he chained me down in the basement—"

"I beg your pardon?" Rean's sharp voice almost caused Remus to jump. "He chained you down in the basement like some kind of rabid dog?" Rean looked ready to go dig up Lyall's bones and resurrect him before killing him again. "When you were still a child?!" Rean's eyes flashed red before it turned back to it's usual lilac. "It seems I was being entirely too kind to your father, it seems. No, he doesn't even deserve that name."

Remus winced. When he had reached home yesterday, his mind still reeling over what Fenrir and Crow have said, his first instinct is to be furious. To deny everything that they have said about his father. But Remus had forced himself to look through his memories, and even through his childhood photo album that is one of his few cherished possessions that his mother had made for him up until the point when she had passed away sometime in his Fifth Year.

Lyall Lupin is a good father to Remus when he was a toddler. But after he was turned into a werewolf, his father changed completely. Oh, he's still a loving husband to Hope Lupin—that, Remus can agree at least. He had never once recalled his father even laying a hand or his wand on his wife. And with Hope's status as an omega and being so much smaller than his father, Remus knew that if his father ever was violent towards her, there isn't much that Hope can really do.

But when Remus was bitten and then turned into a werewolf, Remus never recalled a single instance of his father holding him or hugging him or even doing normal father-son activities the way they did when he was much younger. Whenever his father looked at him, his eyes were cold—like he's seeing…a monster.

The Lupin family fortune was practically drained by his father seeking a 'cure' over the years. Hence, by the time both parents have passed away—with Lyall Lupin having passed away sometime in Remus' Sixth Year, he only had enough fortune left to him by the time he finished school to get a small cottage. Hope Lupin had invested whatever money that she had, and left it to her son. If not for that, Remus honestly doubts that he would have any money left to him at all, despite the fact that the Lupin family had quite the sizeable fortune when he was a child; most likely due to his father's talents as a hunter.

With the abuse done to Hadrian, and the amount of reading that Remus had done over the years to help Sirius and Narcissa with Hadrian and even Draco, Remus is entirely well versed with child psychology and abuse, and knew how to help an abused child. It is one of many reasons why the Wizarding Child Services department in the Ministry often asked him for his assistance, as children simply loves Remus.

Hence, Remus knew how to spot the signs of abuse.

And now as an adult, if he is being honest with himself, he could admit that what his father did is a form of abuse in itself. Never physical; as Lyall Lupin had never laid a hand or even a wand on him. But he might as well be a ghost or part of the wall, for all the attention that Lyall had paid to him even as he grew. It got even worse after the death of his mother.

"…He was a good father to me." Remus protested weakly. "…Before I was bitten, that is." Rean eyed him knowingly. And then Remus recalled something that Anastasia had mentioned before about Rean and Lord Crow being the ones to assist fledglings or even newly turned vampires to transit to the change. Rean for instance will know better than anyone on how to help them, considering that he was originally human.

"Say no more, I get the picture." Rean sighed. He really does. "And Hogwarts? You mentioned before you didn't even know if you could enroll, despite the fact that both Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic in Britain can't legally stop you."

Remus nodded grimly. Knowing now what he does from Jonas at Moon's Dew and even from Lord Crow and Rean over the years, he got angry now, realising so much of his heartache back when he was a child is over nothing at all, since by their own bylaws, the Ministry and Hogwarts couldn't forbid any Downworlder to enroll. Most just never do these days, thanks to the prejudice, and also the fact that most Downworlders simply detest Dumbledore.

"By the time I was old enough to attend Hogwarts, we barely had any money left, thanks to Dad spending most of it over the years on a 'cure'. If not for my mother investing whatever money she had left, I doubt I would have anything at all by the time I came of age." Remus admitted. "Then Dumbledore visited us to deliver my letter and offered to waive my tuition—"

"Wait a moment!" For the second time that day, Remus almost jumped with Rean's sharp voice. The smaller vampire's gaze was sharp and calculating, and eyeing Remus carefully. "What do you mean by that?" Remus was confused. "What do you mean that Dumbledore 'offered' to waive your tuition?" If at all possible, Remus got even more confused. "I know for a fact that Fenrir actually had quite the fortune to his name – though his vaults were located at the Romania branch of Gringotts, and he had made lots of careful investments over the years to make his fortune grow. There is a reason why he's one of the most influential alphas in werewolf society. Fenrir opened up trust funds and vaults for young werewolves that he either bit or brought into his pack so that they could make their own way without relying entirely on the Greyborne pack or feel like charity cases. Even though he couldn't bring you into his pack officially, he did the same for you." Remus' eyes were as wide as saucers. "He opened a trust fund in your name the moment you were bitten. Even if your family didn't have a sickle to their name, he made sure you are able to attend Hogwarts or do whatever you want to do. Your entire seven years of education at Hogwarts was paid for by Fenrir the moment he knew you were down on the list. He even had money set aside for you if you want to pursue a Mastery, the same way he did for so many of the pups in his pack."

Remus' eyes looked close to popping out of his head with this revelation. What in the name of Hecate is going on? Dumbledore said that he waived the tuition for Remus. That is wholly the reason why Remus felt so indebted to him over the years. At least until he found out what Dumbledore had subjected his pup to, and his loyalty to the old headmaster had then died a quick death. Even his Hogwarts supplies were provided and paid for by the old headmaster, Dumbledore had claimed.

That…was all a lie?

"We had a liaison within Britain's Wizarding Child Services that made sure any Downworld child who is down for Hogwarts and actually wanted to go would be able to." Rean said grimly. "Even if Fenrir hadn't paid for you, you would still be able to, as we have funding set aside for orphaned Downworld children to get an education—whether through private tutors or a Hogwarts education. There are several Downworld clans that donated generously to that fund every year. Crow is amongst them."

Remus' eyes closed briefly. He knew immediately what had happened instantly without Rean having to spell it out for him. What a fool he is.

Fenrir Greyback was never the monster that his father and even Dumbledore have made him out to be, even if it's true that the man was the one who had turned Remus. All these years… All his life, Fenrir had been looking out for him without his knowledge—probably to alleviate his guilt in biting Remus, even. Even paid for him to attend Hogwarts, with Dumbledore taking the credit.

"Letters would have been sent out to you the moment you got your Hogwarts letter." Rean was puzzled. "Did you not receive it? That's part of the reason why the werewolf packs were so furious at you, Remus. They thought that you're an ingrate; and after receiving Fenrir's help and money, spat back into his face."

"…I never received a single letter apart from my Hogwarts letter since the time I was a kid." Remus croaked, tears already starting to streak down his face. He knew what is going on now. His father… He never loved him at all, did he? He did everything he could to break down Remus' self-esteem and confidence, and kept everything from him. And for what? Because he was turned into a werewolf? His mother never changed her attitude towards him even after he was turned.

So why?

Why couldn't his father love him?

"…Lyall Lupin. And Dumbledore." Rean gave out a loud sigh, burying his face into his hands. "Those two… Their atrocities know no bounds, do they?" He peeked a glance at Remus through the gaps in between his fingers. "And Remus, do you also know that you're still alive now despite parlaying for Dumbledore during the war with the werewolf packs because of Fenrir? He ordered them to leave you alone."

Remus gave a guilty nod. "…Jonas told me that years ago," he croaked. Back then, he didn't want to believe it. But with everything that he knew now, it only fits with what Remus knew about Fenrir.

Rean eyed Remus. "And do you also know that Fenrir had an investment vault opened in your name that you can access once you came of age? You shouldn't lack for anything at all when you've graduated. Lyall Lupin might not have left anything for you. But Fenrir definitely did make sure you would be looked after even after you came of age." Remus' eyes were wide, but he shook his head. "…Figures."

Dumbledore must have seized it somehow—the same way he did with everything that Fenrir had done for Remus to make the latter think that he owed Dumbledore. That means Dumbledore must have someone in the liaison office or even the Wizarding Child Services office in Britain.

Rean made a mental note to drop a message off with Towa to have her look into things. It wouldn't do if Dumbledore is effectively stealing from the Downworld children within Britain.

"…He's…helped and protected me all my life, didn't he?" Remus said in a small voice. So low that even Rean had to strain to hear him, even with his vampire hearing. "Fenrir Greyback, that is. He paid for my education. Even had money that I could access after graduation. And yet… And yet…"

Dumbledore and Lyall stole those from him, were the words that went unsaid.

Rean was silent.

All he wanted to do today is to talk to Remus and find out where he's coming from. He definitely didn't anticipate this. Albus Dumbledore… Does his atrocities have no limits? He even stooped as low as stealing from a child?!

And then again, he did the same to Hadrian the moment that old man had sent the child off to abusive relatives. If not for the fact that James Potter had secured and locked down everything to ensure that nothing could be stolen, Rean would wager that even the massive Potter fortune would be long gone by now.

Sirius had to send goblins out after Dumbledore right after they've moved to Bulgaria to reclaim Potter heirlooms when he found out that several items belonging to the Potter family were missing, and according to the Gringotts records, were taken out by Dumbledore who does have the permission to do that.

James gave Dumbledore permission to access the heirlooms vault during the war. Just not the money and even the Potter grimoire. Those, James had guarded it with his life. It is part of the olde laws that only the Lord and the Heir could access those vaults. Even Lily couldn't read the Potter grimoire, even after marrying James. Only those with Potter blood could read it and write in it.

And from what Rean had heard from some of his contacts within Britain, Dumbledore was hopping mad and was protesting every step of the way even as Gringotts warriors and goblins have stormed Hogwarts and took back everything belonging to the Potter family that Dumbledore got his sticky hands on.

A valuable Pensieve that had been in the Potter family for generations. Several ritual daggers and staves. Well over a hundred books belonging to the Potter family. And even the Potter family's famed invisibility cloak.

All of those, the goblins have retrieved and stored it back in the vault so that Hadrian could access those once he's old enough. And once they've done that, Sirius was quick to cancel the permission that James had given Dumbledore to access the Potter vaults, acting in his steed as Hadrian's magical guardian and the Potter proxy.

If Dumbledore could do that to a one-year-old baby who had just lost his entire family, Rean had no problems imagining the old man stealing from an eleven-year-old.

"So? What do you want to do, Remus?" Rean asked.

The other man was silent for several long moments, before he finally looked up and at Rean. Remus' gaze was uncertain, but determined.

"…Can you set up a meeting for me with Fenrir Greyback? I…would like to talk to him."

XXXXXX

"Welcome to our home, Lord Crow, Lord Black."

Sirius Black gave a smile in return even as Lord Emil Michaelis greeted them at the front gates of the Michaelis residence. Unlike most noble families, the Michaelis residence was modest looking—resembling a cottage more than anything. Yet, it is obviously loved and well looked after.

"Well, we got some information when we visited Sebastian Sallow awhile back." Crow admitted, exchanging looks with Sirius. The latter was the one to hire the Shadowcloaks to finish Regulus Black's work after all. And as the leader of the team, Crow had been giving Sirius constant updates on their progress.

"Never in a million years did I think that there is still a branch of the Gaunt family surviving." Sirius admitted. In a way, the Michaelis family could be said to be distant relatives of Hadrian's, considering that both the Potters and the Gaunts were descended from the Peverells.

"We don't use that name for a reason." Emil Michaelis admitted.

When his side of the family first set down roots in Bulgaria and took the maiden name of Aria Michaelis, it was due to several factors—the most prominent being that Ominis Gaunt was trying to avoid the radar of his insane family and so that said insane family wouldn't hunt him down as well as his wife and kill them both for marrying. After that, when the Dark Lord Voldemort started his reign of terror, it was also to avoid that man and his followers.

"Former Hogwarts headmistress, Niamh Fitzgerald had a second portrait in our home." Emil revealed, and Sirius blinked. "She had been entertaining us with talks about the encounter you had with Dumbledore when you turned down Heir Potter's place at Hogwarts."

"Niamh Fitzgerald?" Sirius murmured, even as both Crow and Sirius entered the Michaelis residence. "I didn't know that she was an ancestor of yours?"

"She isn't." Emil shook his head, even as he lead the way towards the second level. The house was quiet. And from what Sirius knew, Emil's wife too is a Healer and co-owned the practice that Emil owns. She is most likely at work at the moment. Whereas Emil's two children are also at Durmstrang. "From what I know from my ancestors' journals and their portraits, Headmistress Fitzgerald hit it off quite well with them. When they've moved here, they had a second portrait commissioned for her, and she came to visit quite often."

Emil Michaelis then opened a door, stepping into the room, and inviting the two behind him to enter. Upon entering, Sirius then realised that it must be some kind of study. There were actually two portraits hanging on the wall above the fireplace. One of them was blank, but the background is that of some kind of library. The other portrait however had two people currently residing in the frame, wearing robes that Sirius recognised to be the height of fashion during the late 18th century. The pair seemed to be in their early to mid-twenties at best. The background is that of some kind of study with even a fireplace. And the two in the portrait seemed to be asleep.

"They are?"

"Aria and Ominis Michaelis." Crow said at once, much to Sirius' surprise. The vampire had a wistful look on his face. "I met them both a few times when they were students. It brings back memories, seeing them like this." He looked at the confused Sirius. "Ominis' original name was Gaunt, Sirius. If there's anyone who can tell you about the Gaunts' history, it would be him. He isn't just a Potions Master. He's also a historian."

"Wish that Remus could be here then." Sirius murmured. Remus would love to pick at Ominis' brains, for sure.

Emil only smiled, rapping gently at the sides of the frame that contained the two. "Grandfather? Grandmother? It is time to wake. You have visitors."

It only took several moments, but the pair in the portrait start to stir and wake.

The lady in the portrait was much smaller and petite than her husband—wearing her sleek black hair up in a bun, with almond-shaped blue eyes. Her husband on the other hand, whom Sirius now knew is really Ominis Gaunt, is much bigger than her, with broad shoulders. His dark eyes have some swirls of white within it.

"Huh? Do we have visitors, Emil?" The lady's voice was melodious. "That's a surprise."

"Yes." Emil bowed politely to them before turning his attention back to Sirius and Crow. "Let me introduce them. These are Aria and Ominis Michaelis. Grandfather. Grandmother. You would know Lord Crow, I bet." Crow gave a cheery wave at the portrait. "This is Lord Sirius Black."

In the portrait, Ominis blinked slowly, squinting at Sirius like he had difficulty seeing him. Sirius then recalled Crow telling him something about Ominis being born blind. And it's only the breakthrough of the Rejuvenation Potion when he was in Seventh Year as part of a NEWT project by his schoolmates that had restored some of his sight to him. Not fully. But enough that he was able to make it as a Potions Master and historian until his death.

Leander Prewett and Natsai Onai, and even Poppy Sweetling were over the moon when they found out that the potion had actually worked. The trio have actually danced like loons all over the Hospital Wing, much to Nurse Blainey's annoyance. Not that Ominis actually noticed at that time. He was too busy cuddling Aria close to him, content to be able to actually look upon her face for the first time in his life.

Anne too, while close to her death at that time, was so happy when she found out that Ominis had regained some of his sight. In fact, she was one of the few that have attended their secret wedding, and was also the one to encourage both Ominis and Aria to leave Britain and never come back when the pressure from the Ministry of Magic at that time started getting to Aria. The Gaunts weren't the only reason why the couple have left Britain.

"A Black? Well, you do have the features of a Black." Ominis remarked. "You do look a lot like Headmaster Black."

"Well, most of us Blacks look a lot like each other." Sirius coughed politely. It is true, after all. The Black genes are strong, and most of the Blacks look a lot like each other. Put all the Blacks in a room together with each other, and you'll be hard-pressed to tell them all apart. The exception is Narcissa and Draco who took after the Malfoy side of the family. Whereas Narcissa took after her mother's side of the family.

"Headmistress Fitzgerald came to visit us a few days ago." Aria Michaelis' voice was melodious.

Seeing the protective way that Ominis held his wife even in the portrait, Sirius felt wistful. He would never admit it to his cousin who seems to be on a bit of a matchmaking spree for him lately, but he does wish that he had someone to spend his life with. Someone whom he loved and who love him just for being him, instead of Lord Black. Someone who would also put Hadrian first.

Sirius would never put his godson behind anything ever again. He's learned that lesson.

And from what Lord Crow and Emil Michaelis have told Sirius about the history of Ominis and Aria Michaelis, he knew that their love had stood through the trials that life had thrown at them. And despite everything, and knowing that his family would kill him for marrying a girl with an unknown lineage, Ominis Gaunt had gone ahead and married the girl whom he loved instead of proceeding with the arranged marriage that his family wanted to arrange for him.

It seems like he's the smart one of the family.

The main branch is dying, or about to, considering that Voldemort is the last one left of the main branch. But Ominis' side of the family is thriving strong, and with powerful magic, even if they do not carry the name.

"She told us what's going on." Ominis smiled, looking extremely amused. "It seems like you really riled up that Dumbledore brat." Seeing Sirius' confused look, Ominis' expression darkened. "Albus Dumbledore was at school with us when we were students. Though we were in Sixth Year when he started his First Year. And even as a brat, he had some kind of thing for Aria, especially after the newspapers reported about her—especially after Aria took down Victor Rookwood's band of poachers and Rookwood himself, and single-handedly ended the goblin rebellion, and he practically stalked her throughout the school! I give thanks to the Goddess that Aria is in Ravenclaw, with that brat being in Gryffindor, or she'll never get a moment of peace."

"Come on, Ominis, don't start now." Aria sighed. Even during their time as students, the mere mention of one Albus Dumbledore is enough to set Ominis off. "I married you, not him."

"And thank Hecate for that." Ominis muttered. "I always felt something was wrong with that brat. Heck, with that entire family as a whole. The only exception is that brother of his. Aberforth or something, I think. My father obviously felt the same way, or he would never have ensured that life sentence for Percival Dumbledore."

Emil gave a loud and obvious cough to remind the portrait that they are still present before turning back to his very amused guests. "Well, as you can see, they aren't fans of Britain and Dumbledore. And neither is my family, to be honest," he added. "Over the centuries ever since our family had set down roots in Bulgaria, we do keep a particularly close eye on the Gaunts over in Britain. They are a historical family for a reason. So when that Dark Lord in Britain started mucking around, we honestly aren't surprised."

"Historically, those of the Slytherin and Gaunt lines have always been magically powerful." Ominis added. "The Potters who descended from the Peverells, just like us, as well as the Gryffindor line, have been the same way. But by the time I was born, our magical prowess is slipping."

"Natsai did research for her NEWT project during our Magical Theory class." Aria put in from next to her husband. "A class, from what I heard, is long gone from Hogwarts' curriculum by the time that Dumbledore became the Headmaster." Sirius nodded grimly. "Natty's research proved that the inbreeding done by the pureblood houses is actually linked to what is causing the slip in magical power, and also the high birth rate of squibs. It was actually published in the Daily Prophet and several medical journals at that time, and caused lots of panic amongst the pureblood houses. And when it comes to inbreeding, the Gaunts are one of those that overdid it." She looked apologetically at her husband who only shook his head.

"I told you: what you say about the Gaunts won't affect me anymore, Aria." He said patiently. "It's the truth, anyway." Ominis turned back to their audience. "You see, I have no idea when it begun. It had always been the Gaunt tradition to 'keep it within the bloodline', so members of the family often intermarry with our cousins. But by the time of my great-grandparents' era, the number of family members we have are so low that it came to such a point when the Gaunts started marrying siblings with each other. My parents are actually siblings too. I was lucky that I came out relatively sane, if not born blind. My brother and sister aren't exactly right in the head even when we were children. And from what I heard after we fled to Bulgaria, my older brother married my younger sister. And it's through that union that birthed my nephew Morfin and my niece Merope—the latter of which became the mother of your Dark Lord."

Sirius looked ready to be sick. He had heard rumours of the Gaunts' tradition in marrying siblings with each other. And here he thought that his own family's practices were bad enough.

Is that why Voldemort is insane? Because his mother was the product of incest?

"It's a Michaelis tradition for the Lord and Heir to keep journals." Emil added. "My father, may Lady Hecate keep his soul, kept very detailed journals, especially during the rise of the Dark Lord and the war over in Britain. He kept a particularly close eye on the Dark Lord, even before he became one. So I'll say that we know more about the Dark Lord than anyone else, despite what Dumbledore believes."

"Will you tell me?" Sirius asked.

He received three nods, and a wave of Emil's hand before three comfortable looking chairs were summoned towards them.

"In a way, I guess that Dumbledore brat is also to blame for the rise of Voldemort." Ominis growled.

"Now that's going too far." Sirius frowned. "I have no love left for Dumbledore myself, but to blame him for Voldemort—"

"He isn't technically wrong, Sirius." Crow interrupted. The vampire lord looked unusually serious. "As Ominis said, Voldemort's mother is Merope Gaunt. His father is a Muggle that owns much of the land in the village that the Gaunts lived in at that time. From what we could find out, apparently, Merope was in love with Tom Riddle Senior, and dosed him with a love potion after the arrests of her father and brother for attacking the Muggles in their village. They both eloped, and she got pregnant. But at some point, she stopped dosing Tom Riddle Senior with a love potion and he abandoned her, returning to his family."

"And as much as I feel for Merope Gaunt's unfortunate circumstances, I honestly cannot blame Tom Riddle Senior." Emil sighed. "Bulgaria have lots of problems with love potions decades ago until the Wizengamot banned them from our shores, and implemented harsh punishments for anyone caught brewing one or using one. Love potions are only used for rape. Plain and simple."

"We lost track of Merope and the son that she died giving birth to for awhile, after that." Ominis admitted. "And then, Tom Riddle Junior enrolled in Hogwarts. The man who would later become the Dark Lord Voldemort. From what we could find out, Dumbledore, as the Deputy Headmaster at that time, was the one to deliver Tom's Hogwarts letter. Those of us who lived in the wizarding world knew the intolerance of the muggles towards anything unexplained. So needless to say that someone with Tom Riddle's power would have caused lots of accidental magic since he was a baby. And in return, he was abused and bullied heavily. Though at some point, he learned to fight back with his magic. Not that I can blame him." Ominis added. "Dumbledore knew this. And from what we found out, he was the one to convince Headmaster Dippet to reject Tom's request to remain at Hogwarts and to continue sending him back to his orphanage."

"That will just do nothing but create resentment and hatred for the muggles!" Sirius groaned. He found himself making several parallels with his life with Tom Riddle's. Though in his case, he had a place with the Potters whenever he felt the need to leave his home. At least until he was sixteen when he ran away from home.

"Tom Riddle was sorted into Slytherin, and I'll guess that he had lots of problems within that House, as it was mainly those from the pureblood houses who were sorted in there even from the time when we were students." Aria added. "Obviously, he soon won them over. If it's one thing that the Slytherin and Ravenclaw Houses have in common, it is that both Houses recognised and respected power and knowledge. And Tom Riddle had that in spades. When he discovered his Slytherin heritage, I'll only guess it only brought him more influence and power within Slytherin."

"Dumbledore however did nothing but make things as difficult for Tom as possible in Hogwarts." Ominis admitted. "When my side of the family found out about him, we did try to reach out and adopt him, even though we're in Bulgaria. But we kept getting blocked at every turn. I have no idea if Tom even received the letters that I sent to him, as I never received a reply."

"You have to look at this from Tom Riddle's point of view, Lord Black." Aria commented from next to her husband, seeing the calculating look on Sirius' face. "He was born and raised during a time of war. Adolf Hitler was on the rise at that time, and bombs were constantly raining down. He lived in a time of fear and strife. His emotions are stretched thin, especially with the treatment that he was given at the orphanage. Then he got to Hogwarts. For the first time, he thought he finally had a place where he could call home and be truly safe. But Dumbledore happened. He turned Tom's paradise into a time of hell. Convince everyone and even himself that Tom is the spawn of the devil just because of his Slytherin heritage and because he can speak to snakes – a gift common to those of the Slytherin line."

"Even from our time in school, Albus Dumbledore was always prejudiced against those from Slytherin." Ominis added. "I have no idea how many times I've put him in detention just because he was picking on those from Slytherin. Even as a brat, he had a silver tongue, and somehow always managed to worm out of those detentions. The only one whom his silver tongue didn't work on is just Professor Sharp." Ominis scowled, recalling the telling-off he'd received one time from a professor about 'picking on a first year'. "And from what we know, that attitude of his didn't change even as he became an adult, and then a teacher, and now, the headmaster."

"My guess is that Tom Riddle got terrified." Crow admitted. "Chances are Dumbledore might have hinted at harming him or something. That's probably what drove Tom Riddle into creating Horcruxes. The thing is that creating Horcruxes will mess with the person's sanity. With the lack of knowledge about the Dark and Black Arts and even rituals in Britain, I'll bet that Tom Riddle didn't know that, considering he didn't come from a wizarding family. That is what caused his downfall."

"Initially, Tom Riddle tried to go the politics route for the changes he wanted made." Ominis added, much to Sirius' surprise. "He was an orphan. He wanted to build a wizarding orphanage for magical children who didn't have wizarding relatives and have to remain in the muggle world. He wanted to ensure that children would be taken care of. That wizarding children can remain in the wizarding world if they wanted to. But Dumbledore blocked him at every turn."

Sirius can agree that those are for good causes, and it will also be something he will support.

"I'm guessing that the moment Dumbledore saw his name on those bills, he rejected it immediately." Sirius growled. It isn't hard to figure out what happened next.

"And then at some point, he found out about Sebastian Sallow and seek tutelage from him. That's probably when he became the feared Dark Lord when he split his soul so many times that it eroded his sanity and his sense of self." Crow concluded. He chuckled darkly and shook his head. "Dumbledore again. Just how long does he want to continue harming this world? His very existence itself is a blight upon the world."

"So when it comes down to it, we basically have Albus Dumbledore to thank for the last war." Sirius said grimly. He rubbed at his temples before looking at Crow. "We need to hunt down and destroy those Horcruxes as soon as we can."

"We're already on it. My team is in the midst of securing some of those that we already managed to locate." Crow promised. "Even with a detector, sometimes, it can be hard to pinpoint the exact locations. We're however having trouble with two. One is in the general location of Hogwarts, apparently. And the other seems to be behind the wards of a protected property." He met with Sirius' eyes. "Malfoy Manor to be exact."

Sirius paled.

"…Excuse me?"

XXXXXX

Needless to say that Hadrian was awfully shaken for nearly a week after the unwarranted 'attack' on him by Valko Kovarev. But he had tried to put it behind him as he concentrated on settling in Durmstrang and his lessons.

First and Second Years only have the core lessons to worry about, along with classes like Magical Theory and Cultural Studies, as well as the choice of electives like Art and Music. Despite the rather…memorable first day they have, Hadrian was relieved to find that the rest of his year mates weren't afraid of him or even taken by his fame. While they would have heard about the 'Boy-Who-Lived' even in Bulgaria, unlike Britain, they weren't as impacted during the war, apart from the flux of immigrants from Britain at that time.

While Draco had taken Music as an elective, considering that he's been taking piano and violin lessons at Narcissa's behest for years, Hadrian had taken Art instead. Their Art professor was pretty easy-going and generally allowed the students free reign at what they wish to draw or paint in her classes, as long as it's not something obscene.

With Art being an elective, there are really no long essays or projects that Hadrian has to do weekly, unlike his other core classes. All that he need to do in order to pass that elective is to select a subject to draw or paint and to show the processes that he had done to achieve his final project that will take the entire year.

Hadrian had already been attending the magical primary school alongside Draco and Viviane since he was seven, and the primary school had prepared them for Durmstrang by ensuring that they knew how to write proper and structured essays and papers and even how to research properly and even organise their time. The understanding of Potions ingredients and even the whys and hows were taught to them in primary school. So Hadrian didn't find the lessons as difficult as he had feared, though it's indeed still challenging; especially the Magical Theory class.

Come Third Year, they would then have more electives to pick from; something that Hadrian knew Draco is looking forward to, as the Magical Law class is only available in Third Year.

Hence, this is why Viviane Krum found herself on a Saturday afternoon nearly a month after school had started, seated on a chair in front of Hadrian in one of the art studios, trying not to move too much, even as Hadrian was busy drawing her behind his artist easel, being dressed in a white summer dress and with a flower crown set upon her raven locks.

Knowing Hadrian and from what she'd seen of his artworks over the years, Viviane knew that whatever that Hadrian had drawn, she would love it. She pondered on the idea of asking Hadrian to make a copy of whatever it is he is working on for his final Art project as 'payment' for being his model that day instead of going out flying with her friends.

Though now that she think about it, why didn't Hadrian ask her brother to be his model instead? Viviane did honestly thought that Hadrian would approach Viktor instead of her, especially when he'd told Professor Kristina Ileva, their Art professor, that he wanted to do a human subject instead of a landscape or even an object which so many of their classmates picked. Even Viviane who had also taken Art alongside Hadrian had opted to draw a landscape, finding it more interesting.

Honestly, just when would those two morons get their heads out of their ass and kiss already?

It is so obvious to Viviane since the time from when she was about nine, and knew that Hadrian had a huge crush on Viktor and vice versa. She still remembered when they were still little, and Hadrian had first moved to Bulgaria. Her brother was so protective over Hadrian. He still is even now, as is apparent from the first day of school.

Viviane gave a small sigh, trying not to move too much as she looked at Hadrian out of the corner of her eye. "Honestly, I don't even know why you both even bother pretending," she grumbled, shifting slightly in the chair that she's sitting to make herself more comfortable.

"Pretend what?" Hadrian questioned absently, "Viviane, for Hecate's sake, stop moving."

"Honestly, Hade, if you aren't my best friend, and Viktor is my brother, I would shut you both in a closet before we even left for Durmstrang." Viviane grumbled. Hadrian made a sound in his throat to show that he's listening, but Viviane knew him well enough to know that only half his attention is on her. "Why don't you admit to yourself that you're in love with my brother already?"

CRACK!

Viviane only gave a wince as the pencil that Hadrian is using broke in his grasp – likely messing up his sketch as well.

"What gives you that idea?!"

Hadrian was blushing red enough that Viviane wouldn't be surprised to see steam coming out of his ears, even as he reached down to his bag to take out one of his spare pencils, even waving a hand to erase the mistake that he'd likely done when his pencil had broken in his hand.

"Your reaction for one." Viviane deadpanned, though she is cackling like a hyena internally. "Why didn't you approach my brother to be your model for the project instead of me? Viktor would love to help you, I'm sure."

Viviane isn't sure if there is anything that Viktor can say no to Hadrian. Whenever Viviane or even Draco asks her brother to do something for them or even a favour, he comes up with every excuse under the sun to say no. Yet when it's Hadrian, he says yes even before hearing what the favour is.

Hadrian groaned, dropping his blushing face into his hands, and Viviane giggled over at her spot. She knows Hadrian well enough to know that several scenarios must be running wild in his head.

"Viviane, what kind of lunatic would I be if I go up to Viktor and ask him to be my model?"

Viviane understood what Hadrian meant. For all that Viktor is only in Third Year, he is one of the more popular boys in the school, and fast becoming the school's Quidditch star, having gotten onto one of the four school teams just the year before. For being an athlete, Viktor is surprisingly intelligent too, and is one of the top students in his year. As far as Viviane knew, Viktor is one of the few to even take on Alchemy as one of his electives, alongside Spellcrafting, Dark Arts and even Warding.

Alchemy is never a popular choice as an elective, as it's one of the most difficult choices of study. Hence, the Alchemy class each year never had a lot of students.

Anastasia had made sure to instil good study habits in both her children, and while Viktor wanted to play Quidditch professionally, he still knew enough that he at least needs a backup plan for when he can't play anymore.

"It's not like my brother had eyes for anyone but you." Viviane deadpanned. "He barely pays attention to anyone else outside of his Quidditch teammates and his friends. And us." She added as an afterthought. "Besides, if you ask, I'm sure that he'll actually say yes to you."

Heck, Viktor would find the time to be Hadrian's model even if has to work through the night on his assignments, Viviane is sure.

Hadrian only groaned.

"Viviane, can you please stop distracting me with talks about Viktor and me when it's impossible?" The omega groaned, blushing. "I need to get this sketch done by today at least, or I'll never make it in time to finish the project!"

"Fine. Fine." Viviane grinned, deciding to give Hadrian a break from her constant teasing. "But you should think about it at least." Viviane had seen the ways how betas, alphas and even some of the omegas in the school are constantly throwing themselves at her brother, given how he is the Krum heir. And even possibly inheriting the Schwarzer heirship from their mother. Both those lines are some of the more prominent ones in Bulgaria high society, and comes from old money and old titles. They're likely the equivalent of the Black and Potter lines over at Britain. "I'll rather it be you than any of those bimbos constantly throwing themselves at my brother that I will eventually call an in-law."

CRACK!

For the second time that day, Hadrian broke his pencil.

"VIVIANE!"