Chapter 3
“You’re late, dear Knight,” Narcissa smiled, as the familiar figure approached her under the oak she was sitting against, at the borders of the clearing. Narcissa was sure it was the knight from a few days earlier, she could recognise that confident walk instantly. A variation of that proud stride all Red Knights had, but less cocky and more humble.
Narcissa also recognised the vizard obscuring the knight’s face, which still drove her insane.
The armour clinked when they sat down, a small, relieved sigh escaping them.
“I know technically we hadn’t agreed on a precise time,” Narcissa continued, “But I was so restless I came sooner than last time.”
She took the book she had hidden beside her and held it in front of the knight’s face, hoping for a reaction.
The knight lowered their head, reading the title, then raised a hand to skim the loopy letters impressed into the leather.
Lancelot.
It was Narcissa’s favourite, her own private copy, and she wondered if the knight had ever heard of it.
Did knights read? What did a Godric’s Knight read about? She didn’t even know what books were most popular in the Gryffindor Kingdom.
“I want to read to you. To pass the time,” Narcissa smiled, and when the knight nodded, she unexpectedly plopped her head on their lap.
The voices in her ears tutting and scolding her for such obscene behaviour were left unheard, since Narcissa’s attention was caught by the way the knight stiffened, embarrassed, and seemed to not know where to put their hands. Adorable.
Narcissa began reading aloud, the way her mother liked: she was of frail constitution, falling ill pretty frequently, but Narcissa’s reading would always make her feel better.
This was her charming, infuriatingly secretive knight, though, not her sick mother, so after a few chapters Narcissa decided to change things up a bit.
She started butchering words, reading too fast, in a ridiculously high pitch for the male characters’ dialogue and a low one for the female ones, swaying the book up and down.
She was being irritating, she was aware of it, but that was the plan.
In fact, the knight was quickly annoyed, and when the chance came they stole the book from Narcissa’s grasp, lifting it high above their heads.
“Oi!” Narcissa got up from their lap reaching for the book, but they were both kneeling down on the grass and the knight was (slightly) taller than her, keeping her down with a hand on the shoulder.
“How dare you!” Narcissa complained, “I was giving you an excellent, emotional reading of this tale of forbidden love-”
“You’re doing this on purpose, my lady,” the knight replied, leaving Narcissa speechless. Giddy. Ecstatic. How good things were when they went as planned.
“Perhaps,” she managed, a smile making its way on her lips.
“Maybe I shall read for the both of us, then.”
Yes. Speak, let me hear your voice again.
“You shall,” Narcissa conceded, then she sat between the knight’s legs, head against the cold breastplate, and they began reading.
She really liked their voice. It was a bit high to be a man’s, somehow confirming Narcissa’s suspicions, yet she found out she didn’t really care that the mysterious knight she had been meeting was a woman. She was even more intrigued.
Pages were turned, chapters were finished, but to Narcissa it felt like listening to a completely different book. As if since it was the knight reading, since those words were being spoken with their voice, the story had changed- and Narcissa was never going to open that book again, if it weren’t with her knight.
Maybe it was because of the forbidden love shared between Lancelot and Queen Guenevere, maybe it was because she was between her knight’s arms, or perhaps her impeding future was starting to look too grim, but Narcissa, for once, felt like taking a risk.
She turned around, eye to eye with the knight who stopped reading, discarding book on the grass.
“Take off your helmet for me, my knight,” Narcissa ordered, or pleaded, or whispered. “I figured it out.”
The knight stilled for a second, considering it like they’d done a few days earlier when Narcissa had asked to show her a hand, but ultimately they gave in. The gloved hands went up to the helmet, and with a slowness that was driving Narcissa insane, the knight removed the armour.
“Oh,” Narcissa let out, breathless.
The first thing she noticed, of course, were the eyes. Round and bright, pools of dark honey Narcissa wanted to admire for days to come.
Then the freckles. The freckles she’d already traces on the back of their hand and that also sprinkled the knight’s nose and cheeks. Then the hair, dark curls cut short that framed a round, soft face.
Then the lips, the lips behind that voice that had just spent hours narrating to Narcissa a tale of forbidden love, a love so real that it went against the rules, and didn’t Narcissa deserve it? A brush of those lips and all her chains would become breakable.
A brush of those lips, and she’d know love.
Narcissa’s fingers had somehow ended up on the knight’s cheeks, their faces so close she could feel their breath. Short, irregular.
“Tell me your name, my knight,” Narcissa requested, stern.
“Alice. Alice Fortescue,” the knight replied, powerless.
“You’re a woman.”
“Indeed I am.”
Narcissa hummed, eyes still locked on the other woman’s mouth.
So close.
Just a brush.
Then, her mind decided it was the right time to conjure up her cousin, Regulus.
Her little cousin.
And just like that, she couldn’t break the chains anymore, she couldn’t leave her prison: she couldn’t leave Regulus behind, like Sirius and Andromeda before him had done with them.
Narcissa got herself together and pulled away from the knight, who furrowed their eyebrows, confused.
“…Did I do something wrong, my lady?”
“Not at all, dear knight, not at all,” Narcissa sighed, caressing Alice’s cheeks. “But I cannot. I mustn’t.”
“Why?” she asked, wrapping a hand around Narcissa’a wrist. “Is it because I’m not a man?”
“It’s absolutely not that,” Narcissa answered, and then let the silence stretch between them, uncomfortable.
She could reveal her identity, say she was Narcissa Black, future Queen of Salazar. Then, she’d lose this promise of a love that went beyond politics and blood purity, heirs and nobility.
She had no doubt Alice Fortescue was a cautious woman, she’d be the first to agree to stop meeting up, for the safety of both of their positions.
It was the safest outcome, but God, how Narcissa despised it. What had happened to her? One woman entered her life, and Narcissa was falling prey to the same thoughts that had taken Andromeda away from her, thoughts she’d sworn to repel.
“What is it, then?”
Narcissa wasn’t ready to let go yet.
“Let’s meet again,” she replied, getting up, leaving the problems to future Narcissa.
Alice looked up at her, like she could tell she was hiding something.
“Soon. Ah, and since you’re a woman, what do you want me to call you? My knight, my lord, my lady…?”
Alice got up, then took Narcissa’s hand to plant a kiss on its back, making her heart skip a beat-which was absurd, plenty of people had kissed her hand before, she’s literally royalty, for Salazar’s sake.
“If it’s just the two of us, you can call me Alice,” then she added, smirking, “Or my lord. I quite like it when you’re the one saying it, my lady.”
Narcissa flushed. If only she’d been any common damsel, she wouldn’t have had any shame in acting upon those thoughts that roamed restless in her mind.
“Good. Sure. I’ll take note of it,” she replied, lamely, retreating quickly in the woods. “I’ll see you.”
“I can still give you a ride home, if you need it,” Alice called, but Narcissa had already fled.
~
“They must be here somewhere. The barber’s wife said the butcher’s sister saw Cherry stealing fruit from the market-“
“But Bertha Jerkins said she saw Wormtail roaming near Zonko’s, which is across the City. And you know Bertha Jerkins: if she sees it, she says it.”
“That’s the catchphrase she uses to excuse her gossiping, Potter, but of course you wouldn’t know that-“
“Because you’re the one who’s friends with the City’s loose-lipped, Black, not me.” Sirius threw James a look, the other boy grinning back.
“Whatever. My reasoning is completely logical-“
“Not at all!” James laughed, “Cherry and Wormtail have been spotted at the North and at the South of the City, so we’re roaming at the Gate on the West? What for?”
“You don’t know them like I do,” Sirius looked away, pouting, while James rolled his eyes.
In Sirius’ head, everything made complete sense. If Cherry and Wormtail were distractions, following them would’ve been a waste of time: Sirius’ top priority was catching Moony, the leader of their small gang, who still hadn’t shown up.
The other two had made their presence too blatantly known, they’re usually way sneakier than that, so they wanted the Knights to chase after them. And with the Knights at the North and South, the road to the Castle was open from the West, and Moony could simply walk through the city. If getting to the Castle even was their plan, although Sirius thought it improbable.
As soon as the two criminals had been spotted, Sirius had ran to the City, James following suit, and had spent the last few hours patrolling the streets in hopes to finally catch them once and for all, but Cherry and Wormtail alone weren’t enough: Moony was the sneaky bastard, the one with the plans, and he’d find a way to help his partners escape.
So, he was the priority.
“Listen, Sirius,” James sighed, “It’s been hours. It’s getting dark. If Moony wanted to get to the Castle, we would’ve known by now. Godric, maybe they just wanted to fuck with us and they’ve already left.”
“I don’t buy it, they wouldn’t come here under our noses just for the sake of it-“ Sirius interrupted himself, because such display of irritating boldness was actually the gang’s style. Cherry’s, especially.
“Let’s go home, mate.” James looked at him, eyebrows raised. He was still wearing the glasses that random girl had given him in the Forest.
“Don’t you have to take them off, sometimes?” Sirius pointed at his face.
“If I take them off, I can’t see,” James replied, sounding somewhat excited about it: he was always eager to talk about his new possession, and Sirius was also intrigued by how it worked.
“Let me try them.”
“No.”
“Come onnn, just for a second!”
“Get off of me, Black-“
“Pleasee-“
“Ugh,” James sighed, Sirius’ hands all over his face. He was poking his cheek.
“Fine.”
“Yay,” Sirius smiled, taking the glasses off his friend’s nose. The moment he put them on, his head began to hurt, his vision blurry.
“I can’t see shit, mate!” he exclaimed, taking off the glasses and handing them out to James.
“Are you sure they don’t actually make things worse?”
“They work for me,” James commented, cleaning the lenses with the fabric of his shirt. “Once you’re done with these thieves I’ll take you on one of my visits to Dora’s house, I promise.”
“They’re letting you outside of the Kingdom?” Sirius asked, surprised. They didn’t talk about it, but James had always been treated with an unusual care by their superiors, ever since his performance in combat had dropped a few years prior. The special treatment didn’t go unnoticed, and although James never pointed it out, Sirius knew it was a blow to his ego.
“If I tell you these glasses are amazing, mate, there’s a reason,” James smirked, his eyes brightening up. “I don’t have any issues in duels anymore. It wasn’t my body that had become weaker, or less responsive. It’s because I couldn’t see.”
“So, if you ever become a Grand Master, you’ll have to thank that random girl in the woods,” Sirius commented with a smile. “However, you’d have to beat me in a duel, first, so I think that’s unlikely.”
“Be careful, pretty boy. I won’t go easy on you,” James retorted.
“Please, like I’d let you. I’ll bury you in those glasses, if you wish so,” Sirius replied, snobbish.
“I’ll make sure to not slash your face, so you’ll still look pretty in your casket.” James replied.
They looked at each other for a second, then burst out laughing.
When they resumed their patrolling, Sirius realised how natural being beside James felt: their silences (albeit rare) weren’t awkward, and they even matched each other’s pace subconsciously, like they were only one entity.
And now that James had found that mysterious accessory, he could really shine as a knight, showing his full potential, and Sirius was strangely proud.
Sirius was so glad for James Potter.
James Potter, Sirius’ best friend.
His better half.
“You can go, James,” Sirius broke the silence after a while.
“I’m not leaving you alone,” James said decidedly.
The thing about James Potter was that no matter how hotheaded Sirius behaved, he was always by his side. And the feeling was mutual, of course: Sirius indulged (and encouraged) all of James’ reckless ideas.
“I won’t stay out for long. You were right, we’re wasting time. I’ll be back soon,” Sirius explained himself, in hopes to get James not to worry.
“Sure?”
“Sure.” James looked at him, suspicious, but eventually he nodded and turned to walk away. “Stay safe.”
“Okay, Mum.”
“Do not,” James turned around abruptly, “Insult me like that.”
Sirius laughed, and his friend smiled before walking away.
Sirius went back to roaming around, although it had gotten dark, so it was pretty useless.
Now that he was by himself, Sirius had some time to reflect on conjectures.
Maybe he really was wasting his time, and Cherry and Wormtail just wanted to cause some havoc around town, but he doubted it was just that, so simple and innocent. It was impossible.
Maybe he was obsessed.
Well, he probably was.
But catching those three was his only way to finally prove himself, to show that he was useful and responsible, to prove to Dumbledore that he wasn’t like his family.
That he was good.
He had arrived at the Knight’s Headquarters with the support of the Potter’s and a request: to become a new man under the protection the Red Knight status could offer, free from the title of Heir and with a chance at a new life.
He was so sure he was going to be rejected and sent back to the Slytherin Castle, given how the Assembly had reacted, but Albus Dumbledore had intervened, vouching for him. He was by far the most influential man in the Assembly, so in the end Sirius had gotten what he’d wanted, but he still felt a sense of obligation towards him.
He was going to do whatever Dumbledore needed him to.
“So, Potter finally left,” a male voice came from behind Sirius, interrupting his thoughts.
“Took him a while, but it’s finally just us, pretty boy,” another voice commented, and when Sirius turned around, he was faced with none other than Moony and Cherry, blocking the way.
“Cherry. Moony,” Sirius greeted, standing up straighter and bringing his hand to the hilt of his sword. “I believe someone is missing, right?”
“That would be me, Sir,” Wormtail replied, coming up behind him.
Sirius was surrounded. Fabulous.
“Are you finally turning yourselves in?” Sirius commented.
The three criminals didn’t seem armed: Cherry wasn’t carrying her infamous bow, and Sirius was sure she could take her down easily in a physical fight, since she was way smaller than him.
Wormtail nonchalantly had his hands behind his head, and he was alone blocking his way-Wormtail wasn’t much of a fighter, he usually talked his way out of problems.
Moony only had a stick, and he was keeping it on his side. He was taller than Sirius, but he looked a bit sickly.
If he wanted to attack, Sirius was going to be faster. And a sword, well, it cut through wood like butter.
“Turning ourselves in? Why?” Cherry asked, eyes wide in feign surprise. Moony sighed next to her.
“We didn’t do anything wrong, Sir,” Wormtail backed her up, raising his hands.
“You’ve entered private hunting territories,” Sirius began listing, “Stolen food and beverages from multiple residences in the forest-“
“Please, they were all rich land owners. It’s not like they’ll miss a boar or two.” Moony commented under his breath.
“We have to eat to survive, Sir,” Cherry replied, more clearly, putting a subtle amount of mockery in that ‘Sir’.
“We have also a report from Sir Slughorn, you stole his liquor, along with other alcoholic beverages and special tobacco exported from the Hufflepuff Kingdom,” Sirius resumed, raising an eyebrow at the blonde girl because those didn’t really seem like goods of first necessity.
And in fact, Cherry bit back a guilty grin.
“That was not tobacco, dear Sir,” huffed Wormtail, and Sirius had the impression he was also trying not to laugh.
“As I’ve already said, Sir,” Moony started, “The people reporting these crimes have enough money to get their goods backs. It was probably someone working for them who realized a sack of flour was missing, or a couple of hens from the barnyard. The ‘WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE’ posters with our faces feel a bit overdramatic, don’t they?”
“Don’t make me laugh,” Sirius replied, “You know why the Godric’s Knights want your heads. Do you need me to remind you?”
Cherry got a step closer, a dark look in her eye. “Please, do.”
All smugness and humour had disappeared from all of their faces, and Sirius suddenly felt cold, realizing he was in a disadvantageous position, a three versus one with no way out. The danger didn’t scare him, though. If anything, it sent a thrill down his spine, an excitement he felt only when he was really, actually risking his life.
So his words weren’t quiet, or wavering, when he spoke.
“The Kingdom condemns you for the murder of Grand Officer Fenrir Greyback, occurred five months ago. But you know this already, don’t you?”
Sirius couldn’t see Wormtail’s expression from behind his back, but he could see in Cherry’s brown eyes an evil spark of pride. Not an ounce of regret on her face.
Moony’s expression was blank as he walked up to Sirius, getting close enough he instinctively tightened the grip on the hilt of his sword.
“We do know. We killed Fenrir Greyback, and if anyone says they did it,” he whispered, the words dropping like stones in Sirius’ stomach. “They’re lying. The credit is ours.”
“He was a high-ranking knight. A brilliant general and valorous warrior,” Sirius debated.
“Good fucking riddance,” Moony bit back.
Sirius had never spoken so much with them, and he had never seen Moony show this much emotion. The reason they killed Greyback and left his corpse in the Forest was definitely personal, for Moony in particular. The whole Order had been shocked when the patrol brought back the body, and the whole City participated at the funerals. Sirius never talked to the Grand Officer, obviously, but he was unconditionally respected for his dedication, loyalty, and ability in combat.
“You’re not taking us to your prisons tonight, pretty boy,” Moony’s tone shifted, settling back to a patronising calm.
The sparks of danger hanging in the air died down, but Sirius was still holding his breath.
“You need to come with us and help with an escape plan. We’re infiltrating the Slytherin Castle in a week and we need you.”
Sirius blinked twice. He must’ve misheard-the Slyhterin Castle? That Slytherin Castle?
“Excuse me, what?”
“You heard us,” Cherry rolled her eyes, annoyed.
“Okay, and why would I do that?” Sirius replied, eyebrows furrowed.
“Because we know who you really are, unnamed knight,” Wormtail answered, and this time Sirius felt actual panic run in his veins, fear punching him in the guts.
“…How?”
“Two years ago, the Heir of the House of Black, future King of Slyhterin, disappeared from the Castle,” Moony began explaining a story all too familiar to Sirius. “To the public, they said he died during a hunt accident. His younger brother, Regulus Black, became heir. It is said his parents fell ill because of the loss, and his Mother died after a year.”
Now this detail, Sirius didn’t know. Walburga had died. He didn’t know how to feel about it, but he surely wasn’t going to think about it now.
“It all played out smoothly, in the end. But truth is, the Heir didn’t die.”
Moony was looking down on him, so proud of himself. So cunning and infuriating.
“After six months, a young orphan joins the Order of Godric, but his name can’t be found anywhere in the official papers. It is said people refer to him as ‘Black’ because of his raven hair, but honestly, you should’ve put more effort into hiding your identity, Sirius Black.”
Sirius wanted to punch his face so badly his fists trembled at his sides, knuckles white.
“Good job. What do you want from me, exactly?”
“We need info about the Castle. Number and disposition of the guards, the internal structure of the building. None of us has ever been there, so we need someone who can guide us,” Moony replied, diplomatic.
“And if I don’t come with you?”
“You will ask for a week-long permit, say you’ve found a new lead, and you’ll meet us here tomorrow night,” Moony explained. “If you’re not here by then, we’ll send an anonymous letter to the Castle to let them know of your location. If they don’t care about it and intend on keeping up with the dead heir narrative, we have someone who would love a scoop so big it would get them famous across all Kingdoms. Everyone will find out about the real story of Sirius Black, the runaway Heir. And we really don’t want that, do we?”
Moony smiled at him, the grin of someone who knows they’ve won.
Sirius was at a loss of words. More or less. He only had insults on the tip of his mouth that he couldn’t fight back.
“You’re despicable. Deceitful. I’ll find a way to ruin your plan, Moony, and you’ll regret ever involving me in your suicide mission-Actually, I hope this stupid plan of yours leads to the death of both of us, because never in my life have I been disrespected like this. This was a low blow, even for a criminal like you.”
Sirius paused to catch his breath, cheeks hot from anger. Moony’s expression could only be described as mischievous and amused. Infuriating.
Sirius felt Wormtail’s hands on his shoulders, as if he was trying to calm him down, and even Cherry gave him a playful shove.
“See you tomorrow?”