Guardians of the Chosen
Hecate peered into her orb before letting out a sigh. It seemed that these past few days this was most what she was doing. Between that and keeping an eye on Dumbledore, most of her free time was being taken up by her fixing the English enclave. She probably should have done this after the fall of Grinewald.
She would regret making more work for herself at another date, she needed to check on Perseus’s mother to she had the mother noticed. She hadn’t known the woman was alive until Poseidon had come to her asking about his son. She still felt terrible that he would one day discover that she had lied to him. But it was necessary, at least she hoped it was. She didn’t want to be punished because she kept Poseidon from his son.
Peering into the apartment of one Sally Jackson, Hecate was shocked at what she saw. The young woman looked like death warmed over. She was wringing her hands together as a police officer talked to her. It was most obviously about her son considering he was missing.
Grief seemed to be her main emotion after the officer shook his head. Sally nodded before closing the door to her apartment. After which she slid to the floor and began sobbing into her hands.
Guilt shook Hecate as she took in the grieving mother. Maybe, she could do something. The woman could see through the Mist, which meant that Hecate could give the woman magic and she would be a perfect guardian of the children. Making a decision, Hecate teleported to the woman’s apartment.
“Sally Jackson.” Hecate addressed the crying mother softly
Sally looked up to see a young woman with hazel brown eyes and jet-black hair. By her aura alone, the woman was a god. Sally stood up and made an attempt to clean her face. The woman held her hand up and Sally paused.
“First I must apologize of the grief I have caused you. It was not my intention to do so and had I known you were young Perseus’s mother I would have taken you as well.” Hecate started
Hope filled Sally’s eyes and Hecate launched into her spiel about the children of prophecy.
“So I can see Perseus?” was the first question Sally asked after Hecate explained her piece
A ghost of a smile appeared on Hecate’s face. This was truly a mother that cared for their child. She had seen many cases where parents of demigod children would simply abandon them or drop them off at an orphanage.
“Of course, I simply have to give you some magic, would you mind if I changed your bloodline around a bit? You would not lose your current heritage but would gain a new ancestor.” Hecate explained
At Sally’s nod, Hecate waved her hand around a bit before giving Sally the magic of a Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. The current heirs would lose their position due to her deeming them unfit. She would have to remember to give Perseus the same changes so that he would gain magic as well.
“Do you need anything?” Hecate asked
Sally looked around the room before she nodded.
“I’ll need Perseus’s stuff; he loves his seal and the blue crib.”
“Okay I will drop it off shortly.”
Hecate waved her hand once again before Sally disappeared. She then gathered up all of the stuff that seemed remotely infant based and made sure it landed in an empty room. Her work done; Hecate returned back to her temple to work on locating one of her chosen guardians.
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It had been a few days since Harry and the other child, which he had taken to calling Lugh, were dropped off. And Remus could genuinely say that raising a child was hard, even with magic. Remus fluttered about his house as he looked for Lugh. The young child always seemed to get into trouble such as when he had discovered the child climbing up one of the kitchen cabinets. How the toddler had enough strength to get up there in the first place was still beyond him.
“Harry have you seen Lugh?” Remus jokingly asked the other child
Harry looked up at him before pointing to the bathroom. Remus stared in disbelief before running to the bathroom. He felt his heart jump out of his chest when he found Lugh balancing on the edge of the bathtub. Letting out a strangled noise, Remus plucked Lugh from the edge before he fell.
“Lugh you can’t keep doing this.” Remus scolded the child who giggled at his words
“His name is Perseus. Perseus Jackson.” a voice told him
Remus whirled around and found himself face to face with a tired woman. She gave him a soft smile before holding her hand out to introduce herself.
“I’m Sally Jackson, Percy’s mother.” the woman said
Remus’s eyes widened as he thought of what that meant. Hecate had taken a child from his own mother. Remus adjusted Percy in his arms and shook Sally’s hand.
“Ma!” Percy exclaimed before struggling to reach him
Remus handed Percy to Sally after catching a look of longing in her eyes.
“I apologize ma’am had I known Lu- er, Perseus still had family I would have contacted you.” Remus apologized
Sally waved him off before offering him a small smile.
“It’s alright Mr. Lupin, had I known it was a god’s interference that caused Percy to disappear I wouldn’t have been as worried. Plus, it’s better than the alternative.” Sally told him a distant look going into her eyes
Remus coughed awkwardly before walking around her and going to Harry. He had taken to playing with some of the toys that Remus had transfigured for him.
“Paddy?” Harry asked when he caught sight of Remus
“No that was Sally, Percy’s mom.” Remus replied
“Ma?” Harry asked hopefully and Remus felt a sharp sting of grief run through him
“No, Lily’s not here right now Harry. She and James are not here.” Remus whispered
Harry looked up at him in confusion before returning to his toys. Remus walked past Harry and went to the kitchen to make some food. His thoughts turned to Sally and he assumed that she was one of the chosen that Hecate had told him about.
Remus fixed a small meal for himself and Sally before he set to grabbing food for Percy and Harry. He was prepared to call out for everyone to eat when he heard a knock on the door. Remus grabbed his wand before he crept towards the door and threw it open, a spell on his lips. He froze when the scent of the person hit him, and tears came to his eyes.
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Sirius had finally managed to track down Peter and had the little rat cornered in a Muggle alleyway.
“Peter!” Sirius called out to the little rat, grief and the Black madness running rampant in his mind
“Sirius.” the rat squeaked when he realized he was cornered
“Why?” Sirius grit out as he stalked toward the rat
“Because…” Peter trailed off as he noticed the Aurors creeping up behind Black. This was his chance to get rid of Black and hide until his master returned
“Voldemort was going to win eventually!” Peter shouted causing shock to everyone, including him
“What?” Sirius asked in disbelief
“The Light was never going to win; you couldn’t trust anyone. They came to me in the night Siri, intent on killing me. It was me or them Siri what would you have done?” Peter said his tone becoming hysterical
“I would have died like the loyal man I am!” Sirius replied his anger flaring up again
“Peter Pettigrew you are under arrest for the murder of James and Lily Potter.” One of the Aurors called out before Black could act on his anger
Sirius looked back to see a squad of Aurors with their wands aimed at Peter. Seeing Mad-Eye, Sirius stood back. He knew Moody wouldn’t let the rat escape.
Several stunners hit the rat when he made an attempt to escape. One of the Aurors used a portkey to transport the rat into a holding cell in the Ministry along with himself.
“How are you feeling Black?” Moody asked as Sirius hadn't moved since he stood back to let the Aurors work
“It still hasn’t hit me yet if I’m being honest Moody. Maybe it will really hit me when Peter gets a trial.”
Moody nodded before going to instruct, the Obliviator Squad who had just appeared. Their confrontation with Peter needed to be modified for the muggles.
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Dumbledore frowned minutely as he was called into an emergency trial for Peter Pettigrew. He hadn’t expected the man to be caught and was confused on how the Aurors he had sent out arrested that man instead of Black.
He hadn’t wanted to put Black in prison but it was the only way Harry could stay safe. Black would have paraded the young boy around carelessly.
Sitting in his seat, Dumbledore waited for everyone to trickle in Millicent Bagnold took his seat next to Barty Crouch Snr. Crouch banged his gavel after seeing everyone was here.
“We are all here to overseer the remaining Death Eaters’ trials. First up is one Peter Pettigrew, who was recently arrested for constructing the deaths of Lily and James Potter.” Crouch spoke and immediately the Wizengamot descended into chaos.
Many began screaming for Peter to receive the Kiss while others wanted him to hang publicly in the center of Diagon Alley. Crouch let off a few sparks of his wand while banging his gavel to regain control of the courtroom. After a few minutes, everyone began to settle down. Crouch motioned for the Aurors to bring in Peter.
The sniveling rat stumbled into the courtroom and looked fearfully at the courtroom. He spotted Sirius glaring down at him and froze. Unfortunately for him that was not an option, one of the Aurors pushed Peter forward until he was sitting inside the cage that sat in the center of the courtroom.
“Peter Pettigrew,” Crouch boomed causing Peter to start shivering uncontrollably, “You are here because of your hand in the deaths of one James and Lily Potter. How do you plead?” Crouch asked
“G-Guilty.” Peter stuttered out
Crouch raised an eyebrow. This might be one of the simplest cases he had to do today.
“Very well. I sentence you-” Crouch began
“Wait!” Peter screamed out dragging attention back to himself
“Yes Mr. Pettigrew?” Crouch answered
“If I were to p-provide you with other names…” Peter trailed off
“You would want a lighter sentence?” Minister Bagnold finished for him
Peter vigorously nodded at the Minister’s words.
“ABSOLUTELY NOT!” A voice boomed throughout the courtroom
Everyone turned to see Sirius seething in anger, his face red.
“Is there something you’d like to add Mr. Black?” Crouch asked looking at the man in distaste
Black was from one of the Darkest families. When he heard that the Potters had been killed, Crouch’s immediate suspect was Sirius. The man was as dark as they came it was only a matter of time before he embraced his true nature.
“That rat doesn’t deserve to live. I’d kill him myself and serve my time if you even think of allowing that man a lighter sentence than what he deserves!”
Crouch frowned when he noticed others in the crowd begin to nod. Although they’d gain a few names it would never be worth the two people who had managed to turn part of the war for the Light.
“Well then that’s decided. Peter Pettigrew you are sentenced life in Azkaban in the highest criminal cell.” Crouch stated before banging his gavel down one last time, deciding the fate of one Peter Pettigrew.
Peter wailed in misery as he was dragged out by a group of Aurors.
Sirius began to leave so that he could now gain custody for his godson. He was pushing his emotions down that he hadn’t seen Remus at all. He hoped the man was taking care of Harry right now.
“Sirius my boy, could we talk for a moment, it’s about Harry.” Albus stated getting Sirius’s attention
Sirius nodded and the two headed out together before Albus apparated to Hogsmeade.
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Hecate glared at her orb as she watched the meeting between Albus and Black proceed. It seems she would have to intervene once again. Albus was discreetly pulling out his wand and had it aimed at Sirius, who took no notice.
She would need to talk to Thanatos about his “magical” items. They always seemed to pop up at the worst times and cause this enclave to descend into chaos.
Waving her hand, Hecate removed the compulsion Albus had tried to place on Black, telling the man that Harry was safe where he was.
Sirius's expression turned from angry to livid after realizing that Albus had tried to compulse him to leave Harry where he was. Hecate watched Sirius storm off and out of the castle before she made her move.
“Sirius Black, I presume.” Hecate stated while hiding her face behind a cloak she had wrapped herself in.
Sirius turned to the hidden figure before grunting in acknowledgement.
“Here.” she said before handing Sirius a piece of parchment
Sirius cautiously took it before reading what was written in it.
Your family resides in the Selene Manor
Sirius looked up to question the figure before he found himself looking at an oak door. Sirius tentatively knocked on the door. He threw his hands up when the door was thrown open and he found himself staring down a wand.
“Sirius?” came a hesitant voice
Sirius looked from the wand to its owner. Remus stood at the door, looking as he had when they were in school.
“Hey Remus, you’re looking good.” Sirius teased prompting Remus to lower his wand
“Did Hecate send you as well?” Remus asked while putting his wand away
“Who?” Sirius asked in confusion
“I was going to wait until he was inside before I explained everything to him Lupin.” A woman’s voice came from behind Remus
Remus for his part, looked embarrassed before he pulled Sirius inside. Sirius was greeted with the sight of two women. Harry was being held by the woman with hazel eyes and was babbling away to her. The other woman held a child that looked like a darker version of Harry, with his sea green eyes and black almost blue hair.
Hecate motioned for the men to sit, Sirius with a little more caution. Hecate rolled her eyes before she got up and handed him Harry.
“Paddy!” Harry exclaimed causing Sirius to grin
“Hey pup. I missed you.” Sirius told his godson
Hecate coughed lightly to gain Sirius’s attention. After making sure he was focused on her, Hecate launched into her usual explanation.
Sirius was gob smacked by the idea before he remembered a conversation he had with James. The man had asked Sirius to take care of Harry if anything were to happen to Lily and him. Sirius had promised but he now had a sneaking suspicion that the man knew he was going to die when he asked Sirius to make that promise.
It took a while for Sirius to get used to the idea of protecting two children, but Perseus was so similar to Harry so it wasn’t that hard.
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Hecate smiled as she took a much-deserved break. She had put the English enclave on a right path. Hopefully everything would go right. As she lay down to rest, she could not feel as if she had forgotten something. Something important.
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“NEVILLE!” Alice exclaimed while she ran towards her son’s nursery after hearing the demented cackling of an all too familiar witch.
“Crucio!” Bellatrix shouted after Alice entered the nursery
Alice screamed in agony as her nerves felt as if they were lit on fire.
“Bella, we need to finish the job.” came the voice of her brother-in-law, Rabastan Lestrange
Bella pouted as she kept the witch under the spell, pushing her to the brink of insanity. A child slept in one of her arms, oblivious to his family being torn apart right under him.
“But Rabby, I’m not done.” Bella whined
Rabastan rolled his eyes at his sister-in-law’s antics before he relented. They had a young rookie keeping watch, he’d alert them if anyone came.
Bella watched Rabastan leave before she giggled. He was most likely going to join Rodolphus in torturing the Longbottom Lord. She kissed the forehead of the baby that slept on.
“You’ve got a new mama little Neville. Bella will take good care of you. My Lord will be so pleased when the weapon that was supposed to destroy him will be his.” Bella rattled on, unaware of the Aurors sneaking into the house.
While Alice’s screams rang through the air, Bella did not hear an Auror enter until she had been hit with a stunner.
Young Neville fell with Bella, disturbing his peaceful sleep and the silencing spell Bella had applied to him, causing the child to begin crying.