Familiar Magic
“But I still don't get it,” groans were heard around the room as Sirius tried his best to understand what was said. “Why does Death need a master? It's Death! Does he have nothing else going on? There has to be something for him to do other than watch over you. Or is he like a submissive entity? Cos there is no way I would just follow a random bloke — Sorry there, Hedwyn — if I was not the most bored creature in existence. Does Death like to be commanded by you? It has to be sexual, right?”
Hedwyn had to stop himself from bursting out laughing as Death started to curse Sirius repeatedly. It was one of the few moments he wished they could all hear the deity as well.
“You are so crude, Sirius Black,” said Dorea as she closed her book and used it to hit Sirius in the back of the head. “Enough with this language in the presence of my poor son.”
Charlus, who was gently rocking the baby back and forth, smiled and tried to stifle his laughter.
“He can't understand me yet!”
“Merlin, help us all,” a tired Fleamont said while rubbing his forehead. Harry chuckled at his grandfather's words and shifted in his seat, getting closer to Regulus. The boy in question was having a conversation with Euphemia about a new potion that was, apparently, a cure for Dragon Pox.
No doubt it's Snape's doing, he thought. As the, now, former Death Eater had all the free time in the world, it wasn't a far-off assumption that he was the one responsible for the cure.
Hedwyn was still not aware of what Regulus told Snape a few days ago when his fiancé went to Snape's house to inform him of the changes happening in the shadows, but he was sure — by the annoyed expression on Regulus' face when he came back — that Severus Snape would not appear in public any time soon. A “ridiculous recluse” was what his lover called the Potions Master when Hedwyn asked him how their conversation went.
One thing Harry was sure he would never understand was how Severus Snape saw no problem in living as a hermit, only caring about potions and nothing else. The exception to that rule was his mother Lily — that thought made him shudder. No wonder his mother wouldn't want to be in a relationship with Snape if the man's only interests were her and potions.
He listened with a smile on his face as his great-aunt argued with Sirius about how to properly behave in the presence of a child, which was an issue Dorea seemed quite passionate about. It certainly did not help that Sirius looked amused with how easily he was able to annoy Dorea, causing her to promise to teach him a lesson in the future.
Away from everyone else, Charlus was still with Castor in his arms, nursing the baby. Hedwyn smiled when he saw his great-uncle with the new addition to the family. With the amount of things to be done during October and early November, the visits to see the baby were few are far between, something that he and Regulus did not enjoy. Now, however, with fewer problems to address, perhaps they would have more time to be with family.
The only concern in Hedwyn's mind was Dumbledore. With Voldemort no longer being an issue, he expected the former headmaster to come out of his hiding and try to regain his lost glory, but there was no news of Dumbledore's whereabouts. He knew the old man would not stay quiet for too long, as his ego would never allow the once beloved Albus Dumbledore to die in the shadows.
When he comes out of hiding I'll be there to crush him, Hedwyn grinned as he thought of finally putting an end to the man responsible for so much manipulation and abuse.
‘You know there are other ways to find him, yes?’ Death said in his head.
He rolled his eyes. Of course I do. But where is the fun in destroying him where no one can see? I want his reputation to be destroyed forever. I'll make sure his story will be told in the worst light possible. Albus Dumbledore will be remembered as a monster and nothing else. A ghost of an uncaring past.
‘Will you use the former lord to your advantage as Regulus advised?' he felt a wave of joy coming from the deity.
I will. Regulus is very sharp when it comes to destroying someone's reputation. He's brilliant.
Hedwyn could feel Death rolling his eyes, even though he didn't have any. He couldn't help but smile at his companion's antics. Those who feared Death may tremble at the thought of having the entity inside the walls of their minds, but Harry found his friend's presence incredibly comforting.
“Sirius, do stop speaking,” said Euphemia, momentarily bringing Harry's attention back to the scene of his godfather bothering his Aunt Dorea. His grandmother apparently was tired of Sirius' antics, as she stopped her conversation with Lily to make Sirius go quiet.
He smirked when Sirius started to argue that everyone was against him and how unfair it was, but it just resulted in Euphemia looking unimpressed and annoyed.
“Why don't you go outside and play catch with Sirius?” he asked his father, who was pretending to read a book so Fleamont wouldn't drag him into another conversation about potions.
James laughed at his comment and shook his head. “What do you think, Padfoot? D'you wanna play in the snow?”
“I'm not actually a dog, James, and you know that!” Sirius said trying to sound angry but a smile betrayed him.
The two bickered for a few minutes, with James talking to Sirius as if the man was a puppy and Sirius claiming no one respected him. When the two friends started to wrestle on the floor, after James called Sirius a “grimy ugly mutt”, Fleamont and Dorea threw the two men outside. Harry laughed out loud and Death felt vindicated.
Harry snuggled closer to Regulus as the hours passed and the morning turned into evening. He watched calmly as the others talked, laughed and enjoyed their time together. At some point Castor was given to Regulus and his fiancé smiled sweetly while looking down at the baby in his arms. A smile adorned Hedwyn's lips as he watched his future husband with the baby. The talk of children was not one they often had, but he was confident they would become more frequent after their wedding. It was obvious by the way they couldn't speak about the subject without smiling that having a family was something both of them wanted, which warmed his heart every time he thought about it.
It was also clear that their family would not be a small one, since both Black and Peverell families needed heirs, and neither he nor Regulus wished to put the pressure of being the head of more than one noble house on one child. The Potters were in a similar situation, as James was the heir to the House of Potter and Lily the heiress to the House of Gaunt, therefore they also needed more than one child — if they hoped to keep things balanced. Hedwyn had to admit that finding out that his mother was the new head of the Gaunts after the death of Voldemort had been a shock, but not an unwelcome fact.
Sirius was the one lucky one in this situation, as he was no longer the heir to the Blacks, but, if James' taunts were to be believed, he would not remain a Black in name for long. Apparently, a redhead from a well-known noble family and Sirius were often seen together after their period in hiding ended. Hedwyn could only hope Gideon was nothing like his sister because he wanted nothing more than to be as far away from Molly Weasley as was humanly possible.
The thought of the nex generation of magical children came often to him, as the next generation of witches and wizards was soon to be born. He knew Narcissa was pregnant with Draco, though it seemed the woman was not divulging the information to anyone but those closest to her. The Lestrange would also welcome a new member to their family, if Cygnus were to be believed. Regulus thought his uncle was telling the truth when he visited the man a few days ago, but Harry was not so quick to believe the three Black sisters' father.
Many things seemed different from his former life, especially concerning who was and who was not pregnant, so Hedwyn found it hard to understand what was happening. The most simple explanation was that Voldemort was somehow responsible for Bellatrix losing her child in his first life.
The Notts would also have another child that didn't exist in his past life, as Lord Theodore Nott would no longer die childless, but pass the heirship to his son instead of his nephew. He did not remember a lot about Theodore from his past life, but he hoped the boy would not grow up resentful about losing the heirship to the House of Nott.
Castor was also a new addition, as Charlus and Dorea had died before the boy was born. That was a change he was immensely thankful for. The House of Potter would no longer be one marked by grief and loneliness. Now his parents would watch their children grow, and Charlus and Dorea would have an opportunity to live.
Many of the children from the new generation would only be born due to Regulus and Hedwyn's intervention, of course, since their blessing was the reason so many of the dark witches and wizards were now expecting. The feeling of accomplishment that came with the knowledge of their plans going well was enough to bring him an immense sense of joy.
He closed his eyes and relaxed in his seat, resting his head on Regulus' shoulder. If there was one thing Hedwyn would never regret he would decide to allow Death to bring him to the past. Never again he would suffer the loneliness and abandonment as when he was Harry Potter. Hedwyn Peverell would only know love and togetherness.
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He watched as Regulus rose from his seat with all the grace that his ancestry demanded from an heir. Not even the gaudy purple robes every member of the Wizengamot was required to wear veiled the poise and sangfroid the Lord Bearer of the House of Black showed to those around him.
Marginal noises of discussions or conversations stopped, Regulus' presence demanding their full attention. No factioneer, no matter how antagonist to the heir, dared to disrespect such an important member of magical society.
Next to him, a long folded parchment floated. Without a word spoken, Regulus did a swift motion with his wand and the parchment copied and distributed itself — all others in the chamber watching it silently. Hedwyn smirked, his fiancé's antics bringing him a kind of sadistic satisfaction.
“The proposal I bring forward today pertains to the utter disrespect, disregard and humiliation of those who make use of the darker ways of magic to further our society,” people listened to Regulus' words with the written proposal in hand, waiting for the Lord Bearer to finish his speech. “Not many decades ago Wizarding Britain was united with the rest of the continent in the matters of our people's abilities to utilise, virtually, all types of magic to improve the lives of witches and wizards everywhere. However, after the fall of the Dark Lord Grindelwald, a man with too many blameworthy ideas decided to plunge our country into a swamp of stagnation. I, of course, am talking about the disgraced Albus Dumbledore. For decades, law after law restricting all forms of Dark Magic transfigured our world from a fountain of innovation into a contaminated puddle of water where only mediocrity festered. All because one man decided the despicable ideas of his former lover reflected the immensely diverse field of Dark Magic. With that in mind, I chose to put forward a proposal that will rid our country of the prejudice transmitted by a man with a dangerous ability to convince people that all he viewed as lesser should be eradicated.”
By the time Regulus' speech was over Hedwyn's eyes were glowing, his desire to bend the knee and worship his lover was all he could think of. He ignored the parchment in his hand, finding it useless to read something he would vote in favour of. Nothing mattered more in that moment than to admire that man he was going to have by his side for the rest of his life. He's perfect, he thought and subtly licked his lips.
Regulus sat down when the Chief Warlock allowed the Wizengamot members to read the bill and Hedwyn saw him putting his left hand inside his pocket.
Around him, he saw the other wixen from the Dark Faction shift in the seats, with some cautiously touching their forearms.
He grinned, enjoying their discomfort.
Several minutes passed and Chief Warlock Black opened the chamber to the period of discussion. Firstly, some people talked only with the people around them, particularly those from their own factions. Only after a few more minutes, the more confident one started to ask questions.
“I found it odd that this is your first piece of legislation, Lord Bearer Black,” Elphias Doge's tone of mockery was not lost on Hedwyn's ear. “For decades now our country has dealt with dark wizards swiftly and rightfully. Why change it now? This-” Doge pointed at the parchment on his lap and looked at it with disdain. “-is nothing if not a wish to bring old dangers back to our coun-.”
“Do you have any questions about my proposal, Lord Doge? I believe the period of discussion has passed,” asked Regulus, unwilling to allow the man to keep going.
Doge seemed startled by the interruption but said nothing about it. The man's face was red, but if it was from rage or embarrassment Hedwyn wasn't sure.
“Here you say the restrictions could be those of the laws before many of these types of magic were banned,” Lord Gabriel Ollivander spoke and Hedwyn was thankful for not having to continue to pay attention to Elphias Doge. “However, Blood Magic and, well, Necromancy have not been legal for generations, so new safeguards must be added to the law to prevent those who wish to harm others from feeling that there will be no repercussions if they do so.”
“You're correct, Lord Ollivander,” Regulus nodded to the man while saying. “Our old laws regarding darker types of magic are outdated, so we will have to bring laws by the modern world. I would suggest then, if agreed by you all, a change in my proposal. I believe it could be beneficial to our country that we become signatories of the Treaty of Copenhagen, made by the ICW after the fall of Grindelwald. The Treaty is responsible for limiting the more harmful forms of the Dark Arts, ensuring nothing too dangerous remains regal. There we find perfect and modern limitations to the use of Dark Magic, not the prejudice and antiquated one we have in our country today.”
“We would need the approval of the Minister, as well as their presence to sign the document,” said the young lord, Pallas Carrow. “It would be an advantage, however. The talks that preceded the signing of the Treaty lasted a few years because there were too many fields in the Dark Arts to create regulations about. The text is incredibly comprehensive. My late father always said how unfortunate it was that we never signed it, for the laws were incredibly thoughtful and fair.”
“If the proposal is passed then the Minister will sign it regardless of personal opinions,” Chief Warlock Black said. “If this body decides to move forward with this then the Minister will uphold your decision, as it's required of them.”
“Indeed,” said Hedwyn with a smirk on his face, the pinched expressions on some of the Light Faction members being a delight in his eyes. “Britain must be a part of the modern age, and not a pariah like some would wish us to be.”
“This is preposterous!” a red-faced Harvey Longbottom rose from his chair. “Is it not enough that our children will have to learn Dark Magic at Hogwarts? Do you wish for our country to descend into madness as more and more of our people fall victim to curse-casting and sacrifice-making? You should be ashamed!”
“The children of this country don't have to learn Dark Magic, Lord Longbottom. They are free to choose if they wish to learn the Dark Arts or not. And do you believe the people in our country are imbeciles? You cannot envision how more power the liberation from Dumbledorian constrictions will turn the people of this country into respectful witches and wizards, and not the ordinary type your lord forced them to become.”
Regulus' voice was so filled with disdain that Hedwyn almost felt bad for Longbottom. Almost.
“Gentlemen, do remind yourselves of your positions and place in society. Such a crude kind of behaviour is undignified of lords of the Wizengamot,” the Chief Warlock's words made the two men close their mouths and look away from each other.
“Correct me if I am mistaken, Lord Bearer,” the calm voice of Lady Florence Burke called Regulus' attention to her. “Your proposal will only turn all Dark Magic legal, but not legislated on them, yes? I see... Well, then I believe we should not make this matter into law, yet. If we do it before the signing of the Treaty of Copenhagen, I fear many people will use the lack of laws dictating what can and cannot be done to cause harm to others.”
“It's a fair point, Lady Burke,” said Regulus, nodding to the woman.
Hedwyn rested his back against his seat while Regulus continued to explain the intricacies of his proposal, as well as the advantages of the ICW's Treaty of Copenhagen. He was quite bored with all the discussions and questions people brought to his fiancé.
I thought the time for discussions was over, he thought while rolling his eyes.
“May the voting begin!” he almost jumped in his seat when the Chief Warlock's voice called for the end of the questioning period and the beginning of the voting one. He was so lost in his own boredom he failed to realise the questions had all been answered. Not a twinge of remorse was felt by him.
He lifted his wand lazily, wishing he could just force everyone to do what his lover wanted and be done with it. Maybe Voldie was right. All this pandering is making me want to sleep for a thousand years. Maybe we should have become dictators... Is it too late to go back on our decision? Shit, it's over. Focus, Hedwyn!
There was mumbling and groans of disagreement after the proposal was passed, though it would only become law when the Treaty was to be signed. He cared very little about what the few that went against them thought, especially those who were nothing more than Dumbledore's puppets.
“Do you think they'll run to Dumbledore to tell the old coot the news?” asked Regulus, his grey eyes focused on an angry-looking Harvey Longbottom, who was leaving the chamber with Elphias Doge trailing behind him.
“I don't know, but if they think the old man will be able to do anything about it they're insane,” answered Hedwyn. “Anyway,” he took Regulus' hand while speaking. “let's go home, we have a victory to commemorate, Mr I-Just-Passed-My-First-Law.”
Regulus grinned and got closer to him. “What a lengthy name, darling. Dumbledore will be jealous,” he laughed at Hedwyn's face when the ex-headmasters name was mentioned during their flirting. “Do be like that, love. Do tell what do you have in mind” he whispered in Hedwyn's ear, making the man suppress a groan.
He put Regulus' arm around his waist and kissed him. “Let's say you will be quite tired by the end of it.”