On an old wooden bench, overlooking the misty hills of Britain, Cygnus patiently awaited his soon to be alliance partner.
The hill with a dark mysterious forest on him wasn’t far known and rarely visited except some person decided to use his knowledge of this hidden spot for a meeting of two persons who shouldn’t be seen in public to often together.
The rumours would spread an make things… more difficult. Not less archievable but harder to contain a secret.
He felt something touching his mental barries, not just touching even trying to find a way around them or a weak spot, so his new partner was legilmens like him. He didn’t even try to return the efforts of sneaking behind his partner’s mental barries, if he tried to bring down his he definitely was a good legilmens and would have at least the same strong barries around his thoughts - power Cygnus could use differently no sense in powering himself out.
He waited that his soon to be partner stepped out of the woods beside him.
„You look like a mudblood, not like a useful follower.“ the arriver scowled while sitting down beside Cygnus.
„Watch what you say.“ Cygnus growled „I ain’t a mudblood.“
„How do you explain the blond hair and pale green eyes then, mudblood?“ the man lifted one eyebrow but didn’t show any other emotions.
„Runs in the family,“ said the blond a little piqued, „or do you wanna say Malfoys ain’t purebloods because they’re blond?“
„The difference between Malfoys and you is that Malfoys have a history of pure blooded family members. I don’t think you have that luxury, blondie.“ the brown haired man said emotionless.
„You never heard of the name Carrow?“ the young Carrow heir asks, with a calm voice.
„I've heard it before, but I just don't know how many purebloods you have in your family tree.“ was the answer of the late arriver.
„Everyone in my family is from pureblood not once has anyone disgusted our name. Do your research on family name before you insult them.“ the blond scoffs.
They continue their bickering about blood status a bit while both men asked questions about the other to reveal traits of the other without asking. They didn’t really realise that they both played with nearly the same weapons. Both intelligent, good looking and charming but also manipulative.
They brought each other on edge, pissed the other on off and talked about seemingly random stuff.
The brunette learned that the young Carrow was a playder, loved by many girls, hated by the ones with already a broken heart. He also analysed that Carrow hated being caged or held in one place, he was literally obsessed with his own freedom. One girlfriend just needed to start talking about maybe moving in together and it was to much for him, even committing to something like a relationship seemed to be an obstacle for the blond one. But despite his hatred for love he was brutally loyal friend, would go over his own death to protect the ones he considered friends or allies.
So the mysterious brunette decided to share some of his plan with the other boy, they talked about the future - in this conversation Cygnus became his unofficial number two. He would protect his belongings and creations beyond his creators death. That he swore on this day, in this magical forest.
Because what the dark lord needs the most are loyal followers.
The brunette realised how much witted intelligence was behind those green eyes and realised it would be hard to find someone as loyal as this man.
He gave the blonde access to his *creations* while telling him where to find them and how to protect them, that would be Cygnus task till death. Protect them.
„I will keep all your secrets and I accept your offer.
I will protect your *creations* with my life.“ the blond said and looked the other man deeply into his eyes who returns the look with the first smile of the evening.
„Good. I'm glad to hear that. I knew that you were a person I could put my trust in. I just want our conversation to remain between you and me. It's a very serious assignment. No one should know where the *creations* are and we certainly don't want anyone to find out you're protecting them. So please keep this between you and me.“ the smiling stopped, the speaker returned to seriousness.
„This will stay private. You have my word.“ earnest said word where the reply, behind them a promise.
„That is much appreciated. Just know that you are one of the few people that know my true secret and if anyone finds out... well I don't think I have to explain. I trust you, so I'm glad we reached an understanding“ the brunette said while looking eyes with the man sitting beside him.
„I understand what you say. Your enemies are now my enemies.“ another promise spoken.
„That is how it should be. You're now my top henchman and I trust you more than most of my other followers. If I fall in the war, keep my legacy alive. Protect the*creations* so no one can find them and destroy them. I'm trusting you with this because you're loyal and trustworthy. Don’t disappoint me Carrow.“ seriousness laid in the words of the brunette.
After that the conversation shifted the brunette asked more about Cygnus and his latest girlfriend, trying to understand how the other male ticks. And he had to say he was suprised and a bit shocked, the blond had a cold heart nearly fucking everything with pretty eyes and a pureblood status but never loving any. And he admitted that without shame, he admitted to breaking hearts just because they loved him or wanted to change him to a better self.
But that wasn’t his pure interest behind his questions, he needed the conversation flowing to get the young male to talk about his secrets. They talked about before shifting the conversation to secret. In the beginning the brunette just wanted to hear the ones of his new second but the blond tricked him into a deal. He would only tell secrets in exchange for a secret of the brunette.
Trust for trust.
So none of the to boys would run to the aurors so both had a knife on the others throat.
They started talking, Cygnus tested the warters with talking about the use of unforgivable curses and deaths by his magic. His reputation already spoke for doing things like that.
After some „lighter“ secrets he started to smile as it was his turn again.
„I killed my mother.“ he stated and watched the others reaction. The brunette stared at the blond for a few seconds. „You're... you're joking. You killed your mother?“
„Yes, let’s say… it’s like a family tradition.“ the blond smirked. „Why … why would you kill your mother?“ asks the other one shocked.
„One secret of my for one secret of yours, pay up before I explain.“
The brunette nodded and told Cygnus about his younger years as a student, that he was bullied as a child, because of his halfblood status. A new conversation broke out about blood status and how some purebloods have superiority complexes, to which Cygnus only could he was one of those with that complex.
They talked about how muggleborns shouldn’t be allowed to be students at Hogwarts and happy they were as some left Hogwarts early.
„Now it is your turn to continue, after I told you one of my tight kept secrets, Carrow.“
„You wanted to know why I killed my mother?“
The brunette looks at the other one serious „yes, why would someone ever want to kill their mother?“
The blonde turns his body to the other man sitting on the wooden bench and starts talking.
„I start from the beginning.
Earlier in our conversation we talked about that you don’t know much about my family.
That is on purpose, only chosen wizards have access to libraries that contain books with information about us.
We are a very secluded family, only with male heirs.
As a woman you need to fulfil many aspects to get married into the Carrow family. Once you are you have to serve your man a wonderful and perfect life.
Also you need to give the Carrow family a new heir so the family tree can continue living.
The woman is only allowed to give birth to males, females will be killed before birth.
After bringing a new healthy heir into this world the woman is obligated to teach him anything he will need to know and helping him to reach specific milestones in his life.
After reaching all milestones the heir doesn’t need his mother anymore and she gets just a burden for the family.
As a last test if he is a compatible Carrow the heir has to kill her, there are rules how he is allowed to kill her. It has to be a cruel face to face duel, she has to know who killed her.
After the successful duel it is the heirs task to bury the body on a specific graveyard and disguise her death.
Now you know why I killed my mother.“
There was a pause after Cygnus stopped talking and the brunette looked shocked.
„ that's such a twisted tradition. That you have to kill your mother the instant you have no use for her anymore is just cruel. That your mother has always lived her life only to serve your family and raise another heir for you just so that you can kill her on a duel afterwards...
And I thought my secrets were dark.“
„You wanted to know my secrets.“ he laughs at the reaction.
The brunette chuckles „yes... but this is way darker than I expected. I didn't realize that your family was so cruel. The more I hear from your family, the more I realize why you have a different belief system from mine.“
„I am glad everything starts to make sense for you.“
They continued talking about the Carrow traditions, the brunette having many questions on it. And even if it sounded cruel he was interested in learning every detail.
The two boys continued to talk for hours, even tho night has fallen and a full moon shone into the night sky, the two of them were still in deep conversations about their lives. Soon new questions emerged and new secrets were told but this time the brunette was the first one to ask, instead of the blonde. „Can I know if you are really, truly happy?“