Chapter 24
Cygnus waited until they returned to Hogwarts and Tom went far away in his own way for Druella and him to exchange a glance. They didn't need to say anything, barely a glance for them to convey what they wanted to each other. Which was to find an isolated place alone.
They made their way to the owlery as Cygnus got out a quill.
"Cygnus, what to do now?" Druella said, worry still heavy in her voice with a barely audible choked sob dying underneath it, Cygnus was quite sure that it was because of Eccleshall's...Eccleshall's...haha....the professor's state. Cygnus wouldn't deny that he wasn't the most unbothered by it either. Despite the bizarenness of the whole situation. However, Bellatrix didn't seem like the most stable person and seemed rather hellbent on seeking trouble. The situation with Grindelwald was testament to it. As if the time traveling wasn't trouble enough. Whether that had anything to do with Riddle seemed unclear or...so he hoped. In fact even if it didn't , Bellatrix's entanglement with Riddle wasn't something he could ignore either. But first of all, what weighed on his mind were the family tapistries that showed family members and all other sorts of family recognition artifacts that he would need to make sure didn't betray anything of the matter. He came here to write to his father about letting him have access to the family vault under some sort of excuse. He wasn't going to tell him the truth, he knew he might take advantage of the situation in some sort of way. Besides, Bellatrix killed Walburga's son. Thinking of that, another huge headache was felt pulsating from inside his head. What a troublesome matter! He didn't even have time to think or digest anything under the growing pile of nonsensical scandals this ordeal was bringing up. Anyway, the fact that nobody in the family was at least alarmed about the existence of Bellatrix showed that she had done a lot of work to remain uncovered, this brought both a chill and a sense of pride to Cyngus. Being able to meddle with Black artifacts from the inside was already difficult. From the outside? Not even the most seasoned of aurors may manage such feats. The news about her defeating accolytes wormed its way up his head along with the fact that Vilda Rosier was among them. Thinking of Rosier, Cygnus snapped out of it and looked at Druella's eyes that were ganing in worry, she probably was watching him as he made all sorts of strange faces thinking all this time. Cygnus tried to seem unbothered to not make Druella more worried, he hated to see her bothered.
"What did you say Druella?" He asked, trying to make his tone even, without betraying any of his worries. Looking at her gaze, he knew that this time her worry shifted to him. Cygnus didn't want to see that. He was just about to say something when she answered.
"I was asking about what we are to do now Cygnus?"
"Don't worry about it Druella" She still looked at him and pursed her lips. Cygnus sighed and told her about the letter he was about to write. He saw her nod her head before she looked at him a bit more seriously and gravely this time. It was an expression he rarely saw on her face.
"What do you think about...Bellatrix's relationship with..Tom Riddle?"
Cygnus sighed at that. But Druella continued
"Do you remember what the artifact showed...you know when Walburga's..son...Sirius was it? Anyway, when he was...well you know what I mean" She didn't want to bring up what Bellatrix did to him it seemed.
"I do. I do know and...I do remember" Cygnus said slowly as if the words were fighting their way out of his mouth.
"Then didn't it...didn't they look like some sort of ...." Cygnus closed his eyes. He knew what she was getting at. It looked like it was some sort of organization , a bit like accolytes, Grindelwald's followers, if not more dangerous even. Bellatrix was a strong witch and from a prominent family. So if they were to think of a leader that she ought to follow.... Seeing him close his eyes, Druella took a breath before continuing
"Doesn't Riddle spend his time with his little group. Who would have thought..."She stopped there and Cygnus opened his eyes quite fast.
"It's better not to talk about it" There was a heavy silence after that.
"How do you feel about Vinda Rosier?" Cyngus was worried about Druella's complicated feelings when it came to that subject but all he saw in her eyes was a passing glint of cruelty and anger that he barely managed to catch. It seemed that she was taking more of Bellatrix's side on this matter...well,obviously. He himself wasn't partcularly feeling bad about Sirius or whatever his name was, it wasn't like he wasn't said to be a blood traitor, was it? and besides the Black always chose their own, the definition of own is relative and changes depending on how close you were. Relationships were also hierachical , you see. Quite like the fact that while Orion and Walburga both were already getting quite a huge chunk of the inheritance each on their own, their plan or marrying each other only guaranteed them even more per family rules, which wasn't too pleasing to him. However, he cannot say that Bellatrix's behaviors weren't headache inducing to say the least. Snapping out of his thoughts once again, he focused on the letter he was about to write, Druella came to his side and advised him on his word choices. She has always been so skilled in that regard.