Chapter 13
Four months of peace and quiet, with an undercurrent of deep unease. The massacre of the Tremblays had set everyone on edge since the moment the news broke. People kept their heads down in Diagon Alley, very few willing to hang about in the open. It painted a familiar, yet grim, picture of the past- it was just like when the Daily Prophet printed stories during the war that depicted the Death Eaters in a horrifying light.
Today was a particularly warm Saturday afternoon in June, one that Regulus was spending in Black Castle with the core of the former Inner Circle and their children. It was a beautiful day, the children were playing in the garden, and the adults were lounging on the patio talking about insignificant matters. Yet, Regulus had this truly awful feeling that something distinctly bad was going to happen.
Unfortunately, as he heard the unmistakable sound of the nearest doors being thrown open with a burst of pure magic, it appeared he was correct.
He was on his feet in seconds, much like Sirius.
"Grandfather?" he asked, looking at the man in concern, "Are you alright?"
"Pollux," his grandfather stated, "We need to go to the Crow's Nest. Something is deeply wrong, I can't feel him."
Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa leapt up at that, eyes wide in horror.
"My apologies," Marvolo began, "May I ask what you are referring to?"
"It's one of the final powers held by all Lords Black that grandfather has yet to pass on to me," Sirius explained, pacing, "The power to feel the life force of all blood relatives."
"If grandfather Arcturus cannot feel the life force of grandfather Pollux, then it means he's gone," Regulus continued.
"Which he bloody well shouldn't be," Sirius added, "Seeing as he hasn't been remotely unwell since he caught Dragon Pox, and survived, back when we were all still in Hogwarts. I saw him four days ago, he was the picture of health!"
"We are going to the Crow's Nest," grandfather cut in, "Now. Apparate to the edge of the wards at the back, we will go in through the sunroom. Bellatrix and Sirius, you shall go in first. Regulus and Narcissa will take up the back. You four are the best duellers. Myself and Andromeda will be in the middle. We shall remain in formation, no matter what."
"Of course, grandfather," Sirius replied, nodding, "I shall see you there."
He spun on his heel, apparating with a loud crack. Sharing a hopefully reassuring look with Severus, Regulus did the same.
______
The Crow's Nest, as the family had affectionately named the home of grandfather Pollux, had always been one of Regulus' favourite Black properties. It was smaller than most of them, bar Noir Cottage, but was located in the middle of one of England's few remaining magical forests. It was situated just beside a lake, and was usually warm and inviting. Now, though, the magic of the wards felt cold, angry. Something had happened here, something far more sinister than a natural death. The wards wouldn't be so violent otherwise.
Frowning, Sirius stepped forwards and inspected the wards, "We shall have safe passage through the wards solely because of our blood, but they would kill anyone else. I'll need to come back with the Warding Grimoire to soothe them."
"So long as we can cross them without backlash, it doesn't matter. Get into formation, and stay vigilant," grandfather muttered.
Regulus shared an uneasy glance with Narcissa as they took up the rear, neither of them getting a good feeling about this at all.
Sirius and Bellatrix were slow, cautious, as they entered the doors of the sunroom. Nothing was out of place just yet, everything was placed just as it always had been. It felt wrong, somehow, to see grandfather Pollux's glasses neatly folded on top of this morning's edition of the Daily Prophet.
As they made their way into the entrance hall, Regulus realised why.
Grandfather Pollux had certainly not died a natural death.
His torso was bare, suspended in midair in a brutal blood eagle. His head was placed neatly on top of his robes just below his torso, facing the hallway they had just emerged from, with his limbs spread around them in some sort of twisted artistic display. Regulus felt sick to his stomach, and Andromeda screamed.
Turning away from the sight, Regulus noticed something almost as horrifying burned into one of the tapestries on the wall.
HEED THE WARNINGS FROM THE ANGEL OF DEATH,
OR WATCH OVER YOUR SHOULDER UNTIL YOUR LAST BREATH.
GAZE UPON THE FATE OF THOSE WHO STOOD IN OUR WAY,
AND PERHAPS YOU SHALL AVOID A SIMILAR END ONE DAY.
"Uh..." Regulus hesitated, clearing his throat, "You may want to look at this..."
There was a tense silence, every single one of them speechless. Of course, Bellatrix was the one to break it.
"This has MacNair all over it," she spat, "I don't give a fuck what Marvolo said, I will have his head."
"No," Sirius said calmly, "You will not, not yet."
"Look at what he's done to our bloody grandfather! You expect us to let this slide? Are you out of your mind, Sirius?"
"He's right, Bella," Narcissa said, softly, "We don't know why this has happened, and we have children to protect now. We cannot risk them."
"The family properties go on lockdown starting today," Sirius announced, his voice cold, "We increase the wards, make all properties unplottable, and go under Fidelius. I shall order mother and father to return from France immediately. No one goes out alone, no one strays too far from family."
"Exactly what I would suggest," grandfather Arcturus said, slowly trailing his eyes away from the dismembered remains of his younger cousin, "Remain in your pairs, we must search the house. Have a house elf fetch the Warding Grimoire, Sirius, you shall be fixing them before we leave. Someone is going to have to alert the Aurors."
"I'll do it," Regulus volunteered.
"I'll recall all the family artefacts to one of the dungeon rooms of the Castle," Sirius muttered, "A few of us will need to go through them to make sure nothing has been tampered with, but grandfather Pollux would not have wanted them confiscated by the Ministry."
Andromeda knelt down gently beside the remains of their grandfather, blood seeping into her robes, "Que la mort accorde pitié à votre âme et que la magie de dame nous accorde notre vengeance."
May Death grant mercy upon your soul, and Lady Magic grant us our vengeance.
The traditional family words of honouring those who met an unnatural end.
They all remained silent, a moment of respect for a much beloved grandfather and cousin. Leaning forward slightly, Andromeda closed his eyes.
They searched the house, each pair finding nothing out of place. Everything, bar the entryway, looked exactly as it always did.
"I'm going to head to the Ministry. I'm not taking no for an answer from anyone in the DMLE. I can probably give you three hours at the most. Hold off on informing Hydrus," Regulus said, softly.
"I will tell Atlas tonight, and I shall write Dora a letter informing her of what has occurred," Andromeda sighed.
"Hydrus, Alphard, Draco, and Corvus are old enough to know," Sirius added, "Reggie, can you tell them? I don't- I don't think I'm able to. I need to tell mother and father, and that's going to be a bloody nightmare as it is."
"Tonight or tomorrow morning, then," Regulus agreed.
"Bella and I will tell Lyra and Aquila together," Narcissa suggested, which was met with a nod of agreement from Bellatrix.
"And I shall deal with my siblings and cousins,” Grandfather Arcturus finished, sighing wearily.
Bellatrix's eyes glimmered darkly, "Oh, Aunt Cass is going to be livid."
______
After an excessive use of cleaning charms, desperate to feel clean even if no blood had touched him, Regulus marched his way through the Ministry, heading straight for the DMLE. The clerk at the desk eyed him with distaste. Regulus glanced at the name on the desk. Henry Smyth. Not a name familiar to him, but that didn't matter.
"I request an immediate audience with Madam Bones and Head Auror Potter," Regulus announced.
The man scoffed, "You're a Black, aren't ya? Make an appointment an' come back, just like the common folk have to do."
Regulus stood over the man, his voice icy, "I don't think you understand. I require an immediate audience with them."
"Make an appointment, or I'll have ya escorted out."
"I believe that the Tremblay situation has happened again," he hissed, "Do you want the consequences of magical evidence fading away on your head? I can assure you, you will not have a job after it."
The man's eyes went wide, and he slammed his hands onto two runes on the desk, "My- my apologies, Mr Black. Someone should be with you shortly."
"That's what I thought," he muttered, turning to sit on one of the uncomfortable chairs facing the desk.
For the next five minutes, Regulus entertained himself by twirling his wand between two fingers as he stared the now visibly-sweating man out. Maybe he would report him. Maybe he wouldn't. As he saw the witch he believed was Madam Bones' personal secretary turn the corner towards the reception, Regulus stood.
"Henry Smyth, yes?" he asked, and the nervous man nodded in response, "I'll be sure to pass on how wonderful your help was was today."
He followed the secretary through the hallways of the DMLE, and thanked her before he entered Madam Bones' office. The woman sat there, as intimidating as always, with James beside her.
"Mr Black," she greeted, "It was implied that you came here under very dire circumstance. I hope I have not been misinformed."
"Madam Bones, Head Auror Potter. Thank you for meeting with me so quickly. As much as I wish the implications you received were exaggerations, I am not that fortunate."
James looked worried, and Madam Bones was frowning.
"Well, then," she said, "Please, explain."
"I come here on behalf of the House of Black. We are a paranoid bunch, as I am sure you're both aware, and we have safeguards in our family magic. One of these allows the Lord, or former Lord as it is at the moment, to feel the life force of the members of our House. When someone is greatly injured or meets their demise, the person with this power knows," he began, pausing to gather himself, "Today, we found my grandfather, Pollux Black, murdered and highly mutilated. His limbs and head have been severed, his torso blood-eagled. We have reason to believe that this was carried out by the same individuals that murdered the Tremblays, based on the manner. We wish for the Aurors to investigate. My brother should be sorting the property's wards out as we speak."
"Bloody buggering fuck," James burst out, his flushed face in the immediate aftermath implying that he hadn't quite meant the exclamation.
"I find myself in agreement with Auror Potter," Madam Bones whispered, her hands gripping the desk so hard that her knuckles were white, "Any sign of forced entry? Breaches in the wards?"
"No, nothing as far as we could see. We searched the property ourselves, and Sirius inspected the wards before we entered. Nothing was amiss."
"House elves," James prompted, "Can we interview them?"
Regulus had forgot about them, "...Shit. We didn't see any of the elves the whole time we were there. Sirius and I shall accompany the Aurors investigating and attempt to summon them, then."
"Mr Black, would you be amenable to making a statement or providing memories whilst we brief and gather a team?"
"Of course, Madam Bones, but I must inform you of the warning first."
"The warning?" she asked.
"Yes, 'Heed the warnings from the Angel of Death, or watch over your shoulder until your last breath. Gaze upon the fate of those who stood in our way, and perhaps you shall avoid a similar fate one day.' It was burnt into one of the tapestries."
"There was a similar one in Tremblay Manor. I believe you and your family have been correct in your assumptions, Mr Black," Madam Bones sighed, looking incredibly weary, "I understand that your family have… many enemies, and run in Darker circles. Are there any suspicions you may have?"
Regulus huffed a noise that could almost be considered amused, "Whilst you are correct that we have many enemies, grandfather Pollux was very much the exception to that rule. I cannot think of him having any enemies at all, but I shall speak to my mother when she returns from France and pass on any names she mentions. As for suspicions... I believe one name comes to mind, for both this and the Tremblay case. My Hogwarts years overlapped with Walden MacNair. He is one of very few people that I believe could be capable of this sort of cruelty. The thought crossed my mind with the Tremblay massacre as well. He is known to frequent Knockturn."
"He is already a person of interest, yet, you know as well as I do, Mr Black, that it is fiercely unwise for Aurors to enter Knockturn."
"If I may suggest, then, it would be beneficial to involve the Hit Wizards," Regulus replied.
"The Hit Wizards that are headed by your own cousin?"
"With all due respect, Madam Bones, you attended Hogwarts at the same time as Bellatrix. I believe you would much rather have Bellatrix heading her team on DMLE orders, as opposed to dealing with the fallout if she takes matters into her own hands."
"... Merlin," Madam Bones sighed, "I'll consider it. Are there any final things you wish to pass on before Auror Potter takes you off to make your statement?"
"Though I am bound by my vows as an Unspeakable, I can inform you that the Department of Mysteries has developed some fascinating investigative methods that I am positive you would be interested in. I would recommend having a word with Head Unspeakable Croaker."
"Yes, okay. Fine. My sincerest condolences to yourself and your family, Mr Black."
______
Hydrus knew something bad had happened. All his blood relatives had hurried off, and they didn't return together. His Aunties came back first, speaking to the other adults within an impenetrable silencing ward. Great-grandfather Arcturus and Uncle Sirius came back over an hour later, but Uncle Sirius went inside and then left again a while later. When he came back, all but the Blacks and their partners had left, but at least Papa was with him. Papa looked very stressed.
He was sitting with his cousins in Alphard's bedroom when his Papa came up, looking solemn.
"Boys," Papa began, "I'm afraid I bring terrible news, and we have all agreed that you are old enough to know the truth."
"What happened, Uncle Reg?" Corvus asked, frowning.
"We found your great-grandfather Pollux murdered in a most brutal way today. And, well... it looks like the same killers who killed the Tremblays."
There was a shocked silence from all the boys, looking between themselves and Hydrus' Papa in horror.
"You... you're serious, aren't you?" Draco whispered.
"Unfortunately, I am. I am so, so sorry, boys. Things will be changing for us now. The family estates are going on lockdown, and we must be very careful in public. None of you will be leaving the wards without at least one adult any time soon."
Hydrus' eyes widened, an idea popping into his head.
"Papa," he began, "I can talk to grandfather! His spirit! I can summon it now! I summoned grandmother Melania and grandmother Irma, remember? I can use the Resurrection Stone!"
A light slowly came back into his Papa's eyes, and a small smile graced his face, "Tu es magnifique, mon soleil. You know that, yes? I will speak to your Aunts and Uncle about it."
Hydrus beamed at him.
He was upset that grandfather Pollux was gone, yes. But probably not to the extent he should be. No one was ever truly gone for a Necromancer, after all. He would speak to his grandfather again soon.
______
"Master," Walden greeted, kneeling in submission, "Pollux Black has been eliminated and is no longer a threat."
"Good. Very good. Yet, Walden, you do not appear joyous, hmm? Why is that?" his Master crooned.
"It is just... Master, I fear the consequences of making an enemy out of the House of Black."
"You believe we cannot match the might of the Blacks?" his master laughed, "That is a foolish notion, Walden. Look how they have fallen! Hiding in the shadows, abiding the useless Light Ministry's laws! Surely, such cowardice is not to be feared?"
"Bellatrix and Sirius, Master..."
"The only two Blacks with a spine. If Bellatrix Lestrange and Sirius Black had so much as an inkling of your involvement, you would already be dead. No, they have lost their touch. Following the false Lord Voldemort could have cost them their standing, they shall not take any risks."
"What about the rumours of Hydrus Black, Master? The Peverell Heir? If it's true that he's a Necromancer, he could reveal the truth of what happened to Pollux Black... surely, he must be exterminated as soon as possible?"
"You are truly idiotic today, Walden. You think the world will fall at our feet in mere months? We are playing the long game, and everything will happen in good time. The boy will attend Hogwarts in a mere couple of years, and he will be monitored closely. Along with the rest of those traitors' spawn."
"Traitors, Master?"
"Too many of the so-called elite, the Sacred Twenty-Eight, have feigned ignorance at our call to arms. They are traitors, to blood and to magic. They will all pay, in time. They will regret their decision to ignore the will of Lady Magic."
"Of course, Master. I understand."
"Take Peter to the safe house and lay low for a while. When I give the order, you shall lead your team in spilling the blood of the impure. We have gotten their attention, but we cannot strike at another Pureblood House so soon. We must be strategic, we cannot spill too much noble blood, after all."
"Yes, Master. As you will it, it shall be done."