her eyes as sharp as serpent's gaze
The screen shows a meeting hall, on the head seat sits Alkaid Black with her chin resting on her joined fingers, her demeanor a no-nonsense one.
Perseus Black hovers behind her like a guard, his expression meant to intimidate.
"Why can't you be like that?" Adrienne complained to her brother.
"Ask me that when you become Lord Greengrass." Cyrus replied.
"But you are the heir!" Adrienne said confused.
"Exactly."
Barty Jr. snorted.
The camera screen turns to the other unknown people sitting in the hall, a lady who is twirling her knife stops and leans forward, her Asian features looking stunning as the lighting focuses on her. Her expression is positively wicked.
Sirius whistles, "Maybe I should join the meetings next time too."
Alphard leans forward in interest, recognizing his ex-paramour, they had parted on relatively good terms. Well, she gave him a black eye and burned down his cottage, but still! There was no malice on either side.
UNKNOWN WOMAN: Blackheart, Is the pirate uncle of yours coming back too?
Alkaid hums.
Alphard smiles thinking she misses him.
UNKNOWN WOMAN (claps her hand in joy): How Marvellous! I can finally burn that atrocious hat of his.
Alphard pales clutching his pirate hat that appears out of nowhere in his hands desperately while Narcissa beams, happy that she is not the only one who cannot stand her Uncle's taste in fashion.
ALKAID(sharply): Now is not the time for petty revenge, Corvina.
CORVINA(pouts): Blackheart please---
"Could you be even more uncreative? BlackHeart seriously?" A student from Ravenclaw asked with exasperation.
Sirius side-eyes him. It was a perfectly creative code name! He gave it after all.
ALKAID(interrupts): No, we have more important business to discuss.
She gestures to Perseus who nods and waves his wand, distributing the files to the occupants in the room.
ALKAID: Read it.
A bespectacled man in the seat next to Marcella frowns, his expression displeased.
UNKNOWN MAN: Blackheart, this is impossible! Even Ms. Devereux will lose this case. Dumbledore has too much power---
Sirius deflates at the news. Bellatrix looks resigned.
"Marcella Devereux? The infamous solicitor known for tearing into her opposition, sometimes literally?" A Slytherin asked shuddering.
"Wait! That is Caelum Verlac!" A Hufflepuff cried out in surprise.
"So what?"
"He is a prodigy!"
Barty turns towards his crush with excitement evident in his eyes, "Your siblings know Solicitor Devereux and Verlac and you didn't tell me!"
"Well, you didn't know I had siblings except Sirius until today."
Corvina smirks and trails the knife in her hand down his cheeks, just far enough to prevent injury.
CORVINA: Ah Ah Ah, Mr. Verlac careful with your words you wouldn't want to offend the wrong person would you?
"Why is she so hot while threatening injury?" Marlene asks rhetorically.
She stands up abruptly in fury and shakes him by the collar making him disoriented.
CORVINA: DO YOU THINK DUMBLEDORE SCARES ME, LEVI? DO YOU?
"Why are they even against Dumbledore?" Romano, a fifth-year Ravenclaw asks.
"Hello~ They are like the super darkest, evil family ever of course they will be against the Headmaster." George Rivers, a first-year Gryffindor replies as if it should be obvious.
Melania tsks, "Careful, darling. The super darkest evil family can hear you."
The boy turns an interesting shade of red.
Bellatrix palms her wand. "Clearly."
LEVI(shakes his head desperately): No! Yes--I mean no.
Perseus purses his lips in displeasure and interrupts them from devolving into further violence.
PERSEUS: You should be scared, Corvina---
ALKAID: ---You would be a fool to not be.
"Twin speak! They are---" Gideon starts.
"---just like us, brother!" Fabian finishes
Corvina frowns and drops a smug Levi on the ground.
LEVI: Madam Blackheart, Sir Ashura, are you sure you want to go ahead with this? It will be difficult to make the ministry give a Veritaserum trial, as the stock has been running low and the ministry would not be able to afford it. Giving it to one accused will mean giving it to everyone. Unless you have a verified confession of Lily Evans or James Potter stashed up somewhere, I cannot imagine any other witnesses who could appeal.
Sirius sighs in relief at that.
ALKAID AND PERSEUS(smirks): We have something better.
James whoops, "They have me, of course!"
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The screen changes to an eerie lake in the middle which resides the nightmare-inducing tower of AZKABAN.
The camera moves to a rickety boat that has three men sitting on it, one with his hand bound clearly a prisoner.
The angle changes to reveal SIRIUS BLACK.
Sirius stares mournfully at his stringy hair.
SIRIUS BLACK: Come on! Do you truly think these measly ropes can keep me if I really really wanted to flee?
"Sirius, my son. We. do. not. rile. up. someone. who. could. push. us. and. let. us. drown!" Orion reprimands his son, hoping against hope that Sirius did not provoke the man further.
Sirius pouts.
Regulus sinks further into his seat as he tries and fails to disappear, He would die drowning. Maybe he should invest in swimming classes?
MAN: Shut up!
SIRIUS BLACK: But seriously? What do the rumors call me these days?
He pretends to think and then snaps his finger.
SIRIUS BLACK: Ahh Yes! Am I not the right-hand man of Voldemort---
"SIRIUS ORION BLACK!"
"What the fuck, Sirius? You're making yourself look more guilty!" Remus reprimands Padfoot, who mutters a 'Yes Mom'.
Remus turns red. Peter snorts.
"Dude, your brother's initials are literally S.O.B. ---son of a bitch." Rabastan bursts out laughing with Barty and Evans following his lead.
Regulus just stares at them, "You are one to talk Rab. ass. tan"
Rabastan lets out a strangled cry.
Evans chokes. Barty wipes a proud tear.
MAN flinches and punches Sirius across the face.
Regulus stands up, "How dare they!"
Walburga gasps, her hand covering her mouth.
James Potter really wants to kill someone.
MAN: I said shut up!
SIRIUS BLACK(shakes his head in feigned disappointment): Temper, Temper. Careful Birch you wouldn't want to end up dead would you?
"Öh, he does. No doubt about it" Remus growls, trying to keep his wolf at bay.
BIRCH(red in the face): It would be you who will be dead, Death Eater.
"Does he not have better insult?" Rodolphus yawns bored.
SIRIUS BLACK: How tacky, do you not have better insults?
BIRCH punches him again. This time Sirius spits out blood.
"He is dead." Orion seethes, "Sirius was not even given a trial, yet! How dare this lowlife slap him?"
SIRIUS BLACK: Ouch, your days are numbered, Birch.
BIRCH(smirks smugly): There is no one left to avenge you, Black. You will be joining your cousin in captivity soon.
The Blacks smile. He has no bloody idea what is coming.
Sirius tries to speak but finds himself unable to as the other man who was quiet until now uses a quick 'Silencio' on him. He pouts and turns to observe their destination.
Sirius is escorted to the cell and thrown inside. He can feel the chill in the air, the eerie feeling of despair.
"Is the ministry out of their bloody minds? Azkaban without trial?" A fifth-year Ravenclaw yells.
Barty Crouch Sr. glares at her.
BIRCH: Get ready to spend your whole life in here scum! Your lord will not save you.
But she will, Sirius laughs.
Spit from Birch's mouth flies on Sirius' face and he grimaces in disgust.
"Eww."
Narcissa and Sirius grimace in disgust.
SIRIUS BLACK(mutters): Oh they will, Prongs is alive after all and then Kaidy will kill you while Percy laughs at your misfortune.
Birch leaves him there.
Everything is quiet before the cackling starts and then a voice echoes yelling in frustration.
VOICE: CEASE YOUR CACKLING BELLA!
"Why me?" Rodolphus asks the heavens.
Bellatrix smiles at him sharply.
He shudders, "You know I love you, Bells."
"Do you, Dolly?" Bellatrix asks daring him to give the wrong answer.
Regulus choked on his spit at the nickname, 'Here lies Regulus Black, who died laughing', he imagines a grave with him still laughing as they lay him to rest.
"Of course he does sister-in-law! Why else write those poems?" Rabastan jumps in, anything to embarrass his brother.
Rodolphos glares at his brother daring him to say something further.
Rabastan ignores him, naturally. "What was it? Ah yes---
Her eyes are as sharp as a serpent's gaze,
Her hair as black as the darkest of days.--"
Rodolphus lunges at him and tries to cover his mouth, but Barty is faster as he tackles the older Lestrange to the ground, making him unable to stop Rabastan.
"---In your arms, I feel safe and strong,
Your love for me, it's where I belong."
The audience laughs, and Sirius holds his stomach in a vain effort to lessen the pain.
Bellatrix coos at a flustered Rodolphus, extending her arms towards him, "Come my love. Let me take you in my arms."
Oh, how Rodolphus wishes he could disappear.
SIRIUS BLACK: Looks like Trixie and Rody are here too.
Sirius joins in the cackles as he feels a surge of magic, BLACK MAGICK surrounding him.
"All of them are crazy!" A third-year Gryffindor shouts.'
Andromeda raises an eyebrow, "What an astute deduction."
:::::::::::::::::::
The scene shows Perseus and Alphard Black standing in front of a reception desk.
Alphard is wearing a fedora.
ALPHARD(amused): Go on nephew show me the skills you keep bragging about.
PERSEUS(smirks looking self-assured): Watch and learn, old man.
Alphard huffs, offended at being called old, he is not old, okay! Ladies still love him.
He moves forward with determination and stops in front of the desk lady. He smiles charmingly at the blonde.
PERSEUS: Ma'am, you wouldn't happen to be Ms. Button, would you?
"I would have swooned." Fredda Jones said dreamily, with the previously known SFB nodding in agreement.
The lady just raises an eyebrow unimpressed and eyes the name card in front of her pointedly, MAGNOLIA BUTTON.
Sirius facepalms and swears to himself to teach his brother his ways.
Alphard snorts.
PERSEUS(clears his throat awkwardly): Forgive me, I could not see it when all my attention was taken by your charms, Madame.
MAGNOLIA BUTTON: Wear glasses then, sir.
PERSEUS: Ah yes, thank you.
"He is so awkward and adorable." Druella coos.
Mrs. Button just looks at him impatiently.
He tries to up his charms and leans forward, and smiles again.
PERSEUS: I am Perseus Dunoir, I need to meet Ms. Skeeter.
"Why Dunoir? Isn't he a Black?" A Gryffindor asks.
"That's French for of the Black, you dolt--- they were originally from France!" A Ravenclaw replies.
"Well excuse me, if I am not a walking-talking genealogy book like you." the Gryffindor retorts sarcastically.
"You are excused." the witch donned blue and bronze says, haughtily raising her nose up in the air.
Ms. Button adjusts her glasses a little and smiles at him politely.
MS. BUTTON: Do you have an appointment?
PERSEUS(hesitantly): No?
"Are you asking or telling her?" Regulus facepalms.
Barty looks fascinated at the myriad of emotions and expressions Regulus showed in a day. This has to be some kind of record!
MS. BUTTON: I am sorry sir, you can not meet her. She is busy.
PERSEUS: I really have to meet her It's important.
MS. BUTTON: Everyone here has important work, sir.
Perseus starts to turn disappointed before Alphard wraps an arm around his shoulder and smiles at Ms. Button.
"Fear not, I am finally there!" Alphard says with an extravagant bow.
Remus takes a doubletake at his antics, a mirror of Padfoot's.
"That is exactly what I feared," Cygnus mutters.
ALPHARD: Excuse my nephew, love. He is a nuisance.
Ms. Button blushes and Perseus looks between them in disbelief.
"She blushed?!" Emmeline Vance bursts out.
"Of course, she did love."
Vance blushed too.
Ms. Button tucks a hair in behind her ear and looks at him shyly.
MS. BUTTON: Oh no, Mr. Black your nephew is a delight!
Now that is the power of a name.
ALPHARD(tipping his fedora): Not as much as you, madame.
"Smooth." Gideon whistles.
MS BUTTON: Surely not, sir! I am but a Button, and he is your nephew!
ALPHARD(leans forward): But I have heard the rumors, you see. You are just as witty and beautiful as they say.
"And she is gone." Dorea sighs, looking amused.
MS BUTTON(blushes): You flatter me. Truly. What is it you need sir, anything I can help you with?
ALPHARD: Nothing serious, love. Only a meeting with Ms. Skeeter.
MS BUTTON: I am sorry sir---
Alphard reaches and puts her palms in his in a gentle grip.
"Oh lord, I would have fainted." A 7th-year Ravenclaw says unable to stop herself.
Alphard winks at her playfully, with no hint of flirtation in it.
She faints.
She almost swoons
ALHARD(smiles): Please.
MS BUTTON: I--I okay. Yes sure. I suppose I could but only for you sir.
ALPHARD: Thank you very much, darling.
He brings her hand to his lips and presses a lingering kiss on her knuckles all the while looking at her.
She shivers.
Alphard bows and turns, dragging a flabbergasted Perseus with him towards the door with the place of RITA SKEETER.
Perseus: How? Why? How did you do that?
Alphard(winks slyly): Ladies like older gentlemen more these days.
The hall bursts out laughing at Perseus' dumbstruck face.
ALPHARD: Let's get going shall we?
Perseus nods snapping out of his daze and apparates out of the place. And Alphard puts on his best smile and enters the office of the reporter with a determined gaze.
::::::::::::
The screen changes to Rita Skeeter looking up, she is wearing a blonde wig and green robes. Her golden spectacles sit on the far end of her nose and her eyes gleam with greed as she sees just who entered the room.
"Now that kids are exactly what hippogriff's vomit looks like," Sirius says nodding wisely.
Fashion enthusiasts nod in agreement.
Remus whacks him on the head, making the Black pout.
RITA SKEETER: My My Alphard Black in the flesh, isn't it surprising? Welcome, Mr. Black.
ALPHARD(nods): In the flesh indeed, my dear. You know I was enjoying my vacation very much, being a pirate has its very special charm you see.
"Interesting way to start a conversation, Mr. Black." A Ravenclaws says faintly.
Alphard smirks.
Rita's eyes gleam as the quill next to her greedily writes any piece of information it can about the elusive Black who was rarely seen in the country.
RITA SKEETER: A pirate, how... adventurous. Tell me more.
ALPHARD: Ah yes, a pirate. Very giving profession it is I assure you. You wouldn't believe how many slitted throats you get to see every day!
The audience gasps, and Sirius' smirk turns positively wicked.
Alphard leans in and stares at her intensely.
RITA SKEETER: Slitted throats?
ALPHARD: Oh yes, the unruly crew members were simply too greedy, you see. They spread rumors about me! All false of course.
"Are you trying to scare her?" A 1st-year Gryffindor asks shyly.
Alphard hums.
RITA SKEETER(thinks): Perfect headline for tomorrow. ALPHARD BLACK-- A PIRATE AND A LOOTER? HOW LOW WILL THE HOUSE OF BLACK FALL FROM GRACE? I can hear the sound of clinking galleons.
Pollux glares at his son, "Pray to god this does not end up in the headlines or else...."
Alphard pales.
Sirius snorts, happy he is not the one getting scolded for once.
Alphard leans back and crosses his legs.
ALPHARD: So I naturally relieved them of their Larynx. No voice, no lies. And then I squished them like the bugs they were.
He mimes the squishing with his hands.
Bellatrix cackles in approval.
Many of the audience feel a shiver down their spine.
Rita stares at the hand unblinkingly with growing dread and pales.
RITA SKEETER(faintly): Squished them?
Remus and Regulus meet eyes as it clicks simultaneously in their brains, is she some type of bug an animagus?
ALPHARD: Merlin, You are looking quite pale, love. Silly me looks like I scared you.
RITA SKEETER: No--no. Of course not.
ALPHARD: But why would you be scared? You are such an upstanding witch of the community. You would not spread false rumors, would you?
Those who know her snort in disbelief.
RITA SKEETER stands up abruptly. Her face was devoid of any color.
RITA SKEETER: No---
ALPHARD(interrupts): Good. Now that you are reassured. Have a seat darling, please. You must be exhausted.
With great effort, she takes her seat again.
RITA SKEETER: I am...fine.
She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.
ALPHARD: Enough chit-chat. Now let's discuss some business shall we?
ALPHARD produces a file.
RITA SKEETER: What is it?
ALPHARD: A mutually beneficial one, of course! So here is the deal, we give you juicy gossip to write and in return, you would not write anything we don't want you to.
"What? They can't do that! It would make media biased, this is not right!" A Ravenclaw 5th-year yells in frustration.
His friend sitting next to him smiles bitterly, "The media never was unbiased, Cynthia."
Cassiopeia nods in approval, controlling the flow of news will give them the advantage of controlling public opinion.
RITA SKEETER: This is outrageous, sir! I am the voice of the public, I cannot---
ALPHARD(drops his smile): I was not asking, Miss Skeeter. I know I can ruin you, you know I can ruin you.
"Merlin, he is so hot!"
RITA SKEETER(pale): Are you threatening me?
ALPHARD: Oh no, I am simply telling you. You would not want anyone to know about your buggy little secret, would you?
Rita breathes in sharply. Her lips trembling.
RITA SKEETER: No. I will do it.
Alphard smirks smugly.
Peter looks at him with stars in his eyes, "I want to be him when I grow up."
The rest of the Marauders stare at him with growing dread, imagining an older Peter in a suit and a fedora charming ladies left and right and then going off to an adventure god knows where.
The image in their minds changes to a scene where a lady swoons in Wormtail's arms while Prongs and Padfoot sob in the corner in despair. Then it turns into a Peter dressed like a pirate making them do all the chores, 'Ahoy, me hearties! Quit yer lazin' about and swab them decks proper-like, lest one o' ye find yerself takin' an unexpected dip in the briny deep! Get to work, or it'll be the plank for the lot of ye!'
Sirius shudders and feels Prongs do the same.
their sweet innocent Peter has been corrupted.
ALPHARD claps his hands in delight.
ALPHARD: I knew you would see sense! Wonderful, I must ask for leave now, Ms. Skeeter. I am quite busy, just the usual---threatening, slitting throats, and squishing those who stand against me. I hope you, my lovely Ms. Skeeter are not one of them.
He inclines his fedora to her and strides out of the room. Leaving a shaking woman who looks at the door with hate-filled eyes.
RITA SKEETER: You better have good gossip because if my career suffers, you will make me---Rita Skeeter your greatest enemy.
Severus Snape sneers at his arrogance, wishing for his fall from grace.
:::::::::::::::::::