Sacred

Minerva McGonagall landed in the atrium of the Ministry for Magic and was immediately met with a cacophony of voices. She pulled out her wand and immediately swept her long, black hair into its trademark bun with a quick flick and surveyed her surroundings.

Nearly everyone was dressed in some form of nightwear, herself included. She clutched her housecoat tighter around her middle – apparently everyone had been given the same urgent message to get here immediately, although it seemed that no one had yet been made aware of why.

A sliver of dread sluiced through her. Urgent messages from the Ministry were few and far between, and usually consisted of some sort of emergency. To have sent out what was clearly a mass message in the middle of the night indicated something far darker and more sinister.

“Oh, Minnie! Have you heard anything yet?” Minerva turned to see Euphemia Potter, a knit shawl clutched tightly around her.

“Nothing yet, Effie.” She said. “How is Sirius doing?” Euphemia sighed, her face drawn and tight .

“As good as can be expected,” She said. “His healing is coming along quite well, physically at least. The wounds are for the most part healed, and the tremors have mostly stopped.”

“Oh, good, good.” Minerva said. It had been quite an ordeal when Sirius Black had landed in the fireplace of the Potter’s home, bloodied and beaten nearly to death. Euphemia had wanted to go straight to the aurors, had wanted to see Walburga and Orion Black arrested for attempted murder, but as Albus had gently reminded her, without Sirius’s testimony and cooperation, there was very little they could do. And Sirius, in spite of his hatred of his family, in spite of the horrific abuse he had suffered, had staunchly refused.

A door opened above them, and the crowd silenced as the Minister for Magic Elphias Fletchling came down the stairs.

“Good evening everyone, thank you for your patience and for coming out. I am terribly sorry for the late hour, but as stated in my message, it is an emergency and we are calling upon all of you, all of you reputable families, to help in this crisis.

“Earlier this week our auror’s office was made aware of an allegation of abuse. The child in question was forthcoming about abuse suffered in not just their home, but in the homes of many families within the Sacred 28.” A horrified rumble swept through the crowd and Minerva clutched her chest. The minister lifted a hand, silencing the crowd.

“Our office investigated the claim made by the child, and found it to be accurate. More than that, the child procured memories of witnessed abuse in no less than eight families of the Sacred 28. This is excluding separate households within the same family name.”

“Oh my gods,” Minerva heard someone whisper.

“As such,” The minister continued. “We conducted an emergency investigation of all the accused families. Through the use of Veritaserum, memory extraction, and personal testimony, the Ministry has taken emergency custody of over two dozen children.”

Minerva felt her heart leap out of her chest as the room exploded into chaos.

Over two dozen children. Two dozen rich, pureblood, abused children were now homeless. Minerva’s eyes swept over the crowd again, over each horrified face as the Minister’s reason for calling them all here become crystal clear.

“They’re looking for homes,” She said, more to herself than anyone else. “They need a place to house these children.”

As if on cue, the Minister silenced the crowd once more and confirmed her suspicions.

“We are looking for families willing to take on the responsibility of housing and raising these children. I understand many of you will have questions, and I will resolve to answer as many of those as I can now. However, please understand that we are operating in an emergency situation and may not have the answers to all your questions right away.”

“How long is this for?” A voice yelled out. The Minister, who looked extraordinarily weary sighed.

“It is difficult to say,” He said. “The trial is expected to be expedited, but I would expect for at least some of the families that this could be a permanent arrangement.”

A few more questions were shouted out, mostly about compensation, about safety against retaliation, and about keeping families together. The Minister, unsurprisingly to Minerva, had very little information to offer.

“If anyone is unwilling or unable to take in a child,” He said after what felt like an eternity. “You are more than welcome to leave and know that we harbour no ill will towards you.” Minerva watched as a few families apparated away, mostly those with young children. She understood. These children were likely troubled, they were likely angry, and they likely had families who would stop at virtually nothing to get their children back.

But still, she didn’t go.

She was unsurprised to see Euphemia Potter still standing there, clutching her husband’s hand tightly. The Minister flicked his wand and a length of parchment unfurled itself, and he began listing names of children. She watched as families were escorted away to collect the child they volunteered to take, her heart twisting painfully at each broken family she recognized.

How many of these children had walked through her halls through the years? How many of them suffered behind closed doors, suffered curses and hexes and abuse that no child should ever have to suffer? How could she have been so blind?

“Black family.” The Minister’s voice rang out. “Bellatrix, Andromeda and Narcissa.” Minerva looked around. Unsurprisingly, nobody volunteered. The Black family was notorious, one of the biggest names of the Sacred 28, certainly the most wealthy, and the most vindictive. Not to mention that Bellatrix Black had a reputation that preceded her. Minerva’s heart sank. No one was likely to take in Bellatrix alone, let alone all three girls together.

“I’ll take them!” She said suddenly, surprising even herself. Euphemia clutched her hand.

“Minnie!” She gasped. “Are you quite sure?” Minerva steeled herself.

“I’m quite familiar with those three,” She said in a voice far more confident than she felt. “I’m sure they will be quite manageable.” The Minister stared at her for a moment, as if he himself were unsure that this had actually happened.

“Right,” He said slowly. “The Black sisters will go with you then, Minerva.” An aide next to him scribbled something down on a piece of parchment, and Minerva followed the unnamed auror that had appeared next to her down a small hallway. She paused as the next name was called out.

“Regulus Black.”

She didn’t need to stay to know it was Euphemia who claimed him.

Minerva heard the screaming and crashes before the door opened. The auror winced as he took out his wand.

“Sorry,” He whispered as he unlocked the door. Minerva smiled thinly as she pushed open the door.

And immediately ducked.

A vase exploded on the wall next to her head.

“Take me BACK!”

Bellatrix’s eyes were wild, her face twisted in fury. Her untamable black curls were somehow even wilder than usual, seeming to crackle with furious energy. Behind her, Andromeda sat on the floor against the wall, her face completely blank as she stroked Narcissa’s blonde hair.

“Take me back,” Bellatrix hissed again.

“Miss Black, we’ve already explained –“

“I don’t care what you’ve explained!” Bellatrix roared. “I’ve already told you I’m not going anywhere with you, and if you dare try I’ll.. I’ll, I’ll fucking kill you!” Minerva flinched as the words flew out her mouth, venom lacing every syllable. She could maybe chalk it up to trauma if it had been any other child, but coming from Bellatrix, she wasn’t one hundred percent sure she wouldn’t do it.

The auror looked helplessly at Minerva. Minerva smiled again, attempting to look reassuring.

“I’ll be quite alright,” She said. “You go on now, I’m sure there’s lots to get done.” The auror didn’t look particularly pleased about leaving her, glancing hesitantly between her and the hysterical child who had taken to pulling portraits off the walls and flinging them, but Minerva gave him a gentle push.

“Go on,” She said again. The auror left, slipping out the door, and Minerva did not miss the look of relief that passed over his face before the door slammed shut behind her.

“Right then,” She said, turning to address Bellatrix. “If you’re quite finished, I’d like to go.”

“Then go.” Bellatrix spat. “No one is keeping you here, and if you think you can talk me into going to some ratty foster home –“

“There’s no ratty foster home,” Minerva interrupted. “It is my home.” The news seemed to unsettle Bellatrix, if just for a moment, but it was enough to disrupt the flow of her destruction.

“What do you mean your home?” She demanded. Minerva squared her shoulders, adopting the steely, stern demeanor she used when teaching.

“You know very well I am not in the habit of repeating myself, Miss Black,” She said firmly. “But to clarify, I have decided that I shall take you and your sisters in for the time being.” Bellatrix narrowed her eyes.

“You’re taking us in.” She said flatly.

“As I have already said, twice now.” Bellatrix folded her arms.

“I’m not going.” She said impetuously. “I’m seventeen now, and you can’t make me.” Minerva was not surprised. She expected nothing less from the formidable eldest Black. But she was prepared.

“Very well, then,” She said. “Andromeda, Narcissa, you may say your goodbyes now then, and we’ll be off.” She watched in relative amusement as Bellatrix’s eyes widened. Andromeda stood up, Narcissa tumbling off her lap.

“What?” The girl exclaimed.

“You’re not taking them!” Bellatrix snapped, turning a rage-filled face towards Minerva, who shrugged.

“As you said, Miss Black, you are seventeen now, legally an adult by the Ministry’s standards, and I cannot make you come if you don’t want. However, your sisters remain underage, and have been placed in my custody. Therefore they will be coming with me, and you are free to do whatever you please.” Bellatrix’s hands curled dangerously, her face shifting between frozen fury and something akin to panic.

“It is your choice,” Minerva added a little more gently. “You are more than welcome to come along with your sisters, but you are also welcome to make your own way if you choose.”

She watched Bellatrix, watched the internal struggle she was having between letting Minerva win and caring for her sisters. But in the end, the Black loyalty won.

“Get up!” She snapped at her sisters. “We’re leaving. I presume our things are already at your hovel?” Minerva ignored the barbed words, opting for silence as she navigated the halls of the Ministry until she reached the atrium again, the only apparition point in the building.

“I’m not going with you.”

Minerva rounded the corner as she heard Euphemia’s pleading voice.

“Regulus, darling, please. Your brother is there –“

“I’m not going anywhere he is!” Minerva watched as the youngest Black boy folded his arms, staring at Euphemia with that sullen, blank look she was so familiar with and she sighed.

“Monty can you..?” Her voice trailed off as she looked desperately at her husband. Fleamont sighed.

“Reg, I hear what you’re saying, mate. We can sort it out in the morning, alright? Let’s just –“

“I said I’m not –“

“He can come with me.” Minerva heard herself say. Euphemia whipped around, her eyes wide.

“Minnie!” She exclaimed. She glanced past Minerva, looking at what Minerva knew was a venomous glare from Bellatrix. “You’ve got your hands quite full, I think.” She added. Minerva waved a hand flippantly.

“It’s quite alright, Effie. I’d be happy to have him.” Regulus turned his dull stare towards Minerva.

“I’ll go with you,” He said in that same, flat voice she knew so well. “I’ll go with Professor McGonagall.” He addressed the Minister. The Minister looked helplessly between Effie and Minerva.

“Minerva, you’re quite…” His voice trailed off.

“It’s fine,” She said. “I’ve got space for everyone, it won’t be a bit of trouble. You,” She said, turning to Effie. “You focus on what you’ve got happening at home.” Effie nodded, biting her lip. Fleamont wrapped an arm around his wife.

“Let’s get home to the boys, then, yeah?” Effie’s worried face was the last thing Minerva saw as she and Fleamont apparated out of the Ministry.

“I’ll have the boy’s things sent right over,” The Minister said, his voice sounding far more weary than it had earlier.

“Thank you,” Minerva said. She held out her hands, and Regulus took one limply. Bellatrix grabbed hers and held it tight enough to hurt, but Minerva steeled herself, refusing to give the girl the satisfaction as she whirled them out of sight.