The Calling of the Ancient and Noble House
Narcissa gasped as she bolted upright in her bed, her heart gave a terrible leap. Lucius, who had always been a light sleeper, woke almost as instantly, and cradled his wife’s form until she could control the foreign feeling herself. Down the hall, they heard a loud crash and knew that Draco must’ve felt the same thing. Moments later, Dobby appeared in their bed chambers with Draco in tow-blonde hair damp and face paled.
Carefully, Dobby levitated Draco onto the bed before disappearing with a soundless pop. Lucius knew that a tray of tea laced with calming draught would appear soon. Draco moaned, blindly reaching for his parents. Lucius slipped his arm underneath his son’s prone body and dragged him forwards, almost cursing his own weakness. The past few weeks had not been easy for either of them.
Narcissa and Draco slept restlessly, moaning and groaning at random intervals. Narcissa had broken out in a fever almost half an hour ago. The fever refused to break, despite the potions she’d had spelled into her. Draco had yet to break into a fever, but he was in pain.
Lucius watched his wife and son struggle for a moment and suddenly-he knew. He knew what was wrong with them.
The calling.
All ancient and noble houses had a calling; it was the connection between generations. His own father had used it once, long ago when his mother was dying. Lucius had remembered the pain all too well, the insistent tugging on his very heart strings. Lucius had tumbled out of the floo and raced to be near his mother. She’d passed almost minutes later and the tugging had never truly left. Even now, years later, the pain had lessened somewhat with the birth of Draco, but it had never truly gone away.
He could only hope that Sirius would stop soon enough, to give a reprieve for his son and wife. He could hope, but for now, he could be their anchor. He would not leave them.
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Bellatrix had been under Crutacious curse more times than she could be bothered to remember. She had been stabbed and poisoned and burned and all manner of torture, but absolutely nothing measured up to the pain she felt now.
The bloody calling.
She growled, and tossed her braid behind her shoulder. She would not remain in bed like some withered old muggle. She was a witch- a powerful one and she would refuse to be taken down like one. She stomped down the stairs of the old house, and sat cross legged in front of the fireplace and closed her eyes.
She would not be incompacitated like a muggle. She refused to bend to Sirius's will. She was stronger than the calling of the Black Family. She was a sisters three, a witch who had excelled in the Dark Arts, had made her family proud-more than proud. She’d married into a respectable family and her husband had been wonderful. He’d never resented her inability to have children. When she’d discovered that she had inherited her family’s curse; her husband had held her, consoled her, and swore that she was all he needed.
He would not let her believe that she was not enough.
She extended her magick outwards, she was not just a Black, she was a Lestrange. She had a new family, she had her mission and her life. She was free and she would ignore the calling. She would block this.
She was Bellatrix Lestrange.
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Andromeda woke slowly, the tugging at her very soul was pained, but it was nothing she couldn’t handle. She breathed slowly, focusing her own shields and bringing them back to full strength. Beside her, Ted rolled over, face scrunching in confusion as his hands came around to nothing. Andromeda chuckled, before settling back against the cushions, encouraging Ted to wrap his arms more fully around her.
“S’okay,” Ted murmured, still caught in the net of sleep.
“All is well, dear,” Andromeda whispered, her hand patting his arm. Ted grunted, satisfied for the moment and promptly began snoring again. Andromeda laughed softly-Ted was still the same sleepy Hufflepuff who’d won her heart and hadn’t cared about the consequences which followed.
They’d found themselves homeless, cut off from her family and his family, as well. She’d been nothing more than a nasty Slytherin who’d ruined all his Light Family prospects. Still, Ted’s Hufflepuff loyalty had proven stubborn and resourceful.
If the ministry wouldn’t give him a position, because of his wife and her bloodline, then he worked hard to make a name for himself. He became a healer at St. Mungo’s and a doctor for muggles. He more than provided and she was highly thankful he was a healer-Nymphadora proved herself to be her father’s number one patient as soon as she could crawl. Andromeda herself worked hard and became a private solicitor-she would not rely on her husband. She was not a pampered princess in any way shape or form.
Narcissa certainly was a princess in every right, Bellatrix was rough but she loved fiercely and oftentime, dangerously.
Andromeda was the one who left, the one who survived and for that, she had more than earned her surname of Black.
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Harry tossed and turned, sweating furiously and determined to keep his eyes open. It was agony, the edges of his sight fading to darkness, before flooding with a bright light. He tried to move away from the source of light, but he was held in place. His skin burned horribly and his heart ached with each beat it took.
MiM, was he dying? Grimmsby was coming?
Harry did not want to die-Da still needed him and he needed his Da. Jack would be lonely and then, his family would break apart once more. Harry wanted to keep his eyes open, despite the light. There was a soft murmur and voices floated all around him.
What in the world was going on?!
Distinctly, Harry heard the whoosh of something opening and he was floating once more, cradled in softness. Droplets fell onto his face and somehow they were cooling and painful at the same time.
‘’Harry, kit…’’
There was an overly cool hand on his forehead and Harry felt bliss before the fever spiked once more. ‘’He needs ice!’’
‘’...its too dangerous…’’
Harry heard a resounding thud against the wall, followed by a shrill cry of ‘’Marcus!’’ Harry wanted to laugh, but everything hurt. His chest hurt and all he wanted to do was curl up and hope it stopped.
“…needs a bonding to..”
“He’s too young!”
“….magot won’t care too much..”
Harry felt his body tighten before releasing some of the pressure. He knew his Da had hugged him.
Aster took a deep breath, it was late or early depending on what your stance was. He wanted to run away with Harry and Jack. He stared down at his kit, his face was pale and pained. He groaned and twisted his body before settling down, panting harshly.
“Jackie, take ‘im,” He spoke as he passed their kit between them, and relaxed his body, shaking himself to wake himself up a bit more. He’d declined the offer of coffee as it did not agree with his system. He winced when Jack drank down his cup and then took Aster’s as well. He knew that the next few storms would be intense and highly focused wherever Sirius was.
Somehow Aster didn’t feel too bad for the man.
“Severus, ah need yer help. Aye won’ lose ‘im.”
Severus nodded and beckoned the guardian to follow him down into the basement.
“Let’s get our dear Harrykins to bed…”
“Right you are, dearest!”
Jack didn’t even bother to question the twins' strange speech; he simply followed them upstairs to Harry’s room.
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Aster leaned against one of the large sturdy bookcases which lined the basement and sighed. Normally, he would’ve at least browsed through the shelves-he didn’t get a chance to read Wizarding books very often. From the looks of it, Severus had an impressive collection.
“You may borrow any you wish,” the man spoke softly. Aster nodded once, but made no move to claim the chair Severus offered him. Severus, a man used to silence, knew that Aster would speak when he was ready. He did not wait long.
The large guardian of hope pushed himself away from the bookcase and began perusing the alcove of books on the opposite end of the basement. He watched as Aster wistfully walked by some of his more impressive titles, finally settling on a slim red book, nearly hidden by the larger collections around it. Aster plucked it from the shelf, leafing through it, mindful of his claws.
Severus knew the exact book he’d chosen-it was one of the few previous childhood gifts he had from his mother. It was a rare collection of wizarding poems which came alive when read aloud. Eileen had always laughed when Severus hid under his covers at the exaggerated pixies and their antics and mischief.
It was during Severus’ lapse in his surroundings that Aster spoke, almost so softly that Severus asked him to repeat himself.
“Can ye bond with my kit?”
Severus dropped the phial of crushed dragons claw, he barely hears the delicate glass shatter, never mind the scattering of the dragon claws across the wood floor. Severus pivoted on the spot, mouth opening and closing unable to form proper words. His body shook.
“Y-y-you wan..me t-t-t-“
“Bond with Harry, yes.”
Severus collapsed on the wooden floor, uncaring that his potion was beyond ruined. He heard Aster move about, turning off the burner and suddenly, the room was cleared of all the burned smells, replaced by a sweet floral fragrance, not unlike the Warren. Severus felt much calmer after that. Aster hunched down next to him.
“I have no prospects, no wealth aside from a teaching stipend. This house is not fit for one let alone two! How do you propose I bond with him?!”
“Ye take yer title as Lord Prince. Yer the last of the line as I recall,” Aster spoke with certainty, leaving no room for argument.
Severus sighed; he knew Aster was correct. His mother had been passed over for the title due to her marriage to Tobias. His grandfather however had offered the title to Severus upon his arrival at Hogwarts-“once he graduated and obtained a mastery of some sort”. His grandfather would not give up the title to any half nitwit of a wizard. The Prince title was his officially at twenty one.
He was the youngest in his entire family to earn the title of Prince. He had done absolutely nothing with it.
His grandfather had passed not too long ago, almost four summers had passed. Severus had been the official head of the Prince Family for four years. Severus had a family manor, a small army of house elves ready for work, sprawling gardens and stables which housed award winning abraxans. The mare was due soon, he recalled the missive he received almost eight days ago.
“Harry will not want his life run by someone else, least of all me. I am not Dumbledore.”
Aster sighed heavily, he knew this would be the answer. He’d searched his entire library and then when that proved to be a fruitless endeavor, he’d ransacked Tooth’s. North and Sandys’ had been next and neither had produced much good. Jack didn’t have a library of his own, but he had offered his rather ingenious skill of pilfering books from the Hogwarts library. Aster had allowed him to do so with the intention that everything he returned. At first Jack had brought back several harmless books, until the fourth book decided to take a chunk of his fur out in an attempt to bite him. Jack returned everything that very evening.
“I know, he wouldn’t forgive me. I don’ want ta lose ‘im. Yer ministry won’ see me as anythin’ other than a creature.”
Severus swallowed, choosing to remain silent. Aster sat next to him, claws clicking together in rhythm.
For a long time neither of them said anything, each one too conflicted with their own thoughts. Although neither of them wanted to bind Harry in any way shape or form, it seemed this was the only way. Aster had promised to give his kit the freedom he never got with the Dursley’s and so far, he had. He swore to protect his kit and he knew this would allow him to fulfill his promise, but at what cost?
Severus knew the young teen was interested in him. He felt the bond click into place from the first moment he’d walked into Hogwarts. It was obvious the teenager reciprocated those feelings, but now to bond with him, especially after what Lockheart had done? It was an impossible task. The bonding itself would require sexual intercourse to solidify it. Severus was many things in his life, but would not pressure Harry for that.
He considered a long term courting, but it would not offer the same protection as a bonding would. If Sirius won custody, then he could easily dissolve the courting and honor the previous contract to Ginny Weasley. Furthermore, Sirius could ban Severus from any contact with Harry. Few knew the true reasons why Black had named Harry his heir. It gave him power-Harry was for all purposes, a pureblood.
And he didn’t know.
Severus’ mind was moving quickly, despite the conundrum they faced, there was always a solution. Even the most complex potions had ways to make them better. There was always a loophole.
Despite his status as a Lord, his blood status would never be enough to fully secure Harry to him, but if it were the other way around? If Harry chose him, if Harry initiated the bond first, they might be able to protect him. It would be almost perfect if Harry agreed to it.
“I think I have found a way, Aster,”
Aster’s eyes widened, almost tripping over himself to get closer to Severus. He gripped the man’s upper arms, his entire being tight and shaking. His eyes were wild and frantic, begging for Severus to continue. “If Harry courted me, Black would not be able to dissolve the intended union-“
“NO!”
The new voice cussed both man and rabbit to jump away from each other, both whirled around to find Harry clutching the door frame, holding himself upright, sweat still beading down his face.
MiM he looked awful.
Harry took several deep breaths, he wouldn’t let whatever Sirius was doing affect him any longer. He had made it to the basement, he could make it a few more steps forwards. Gathering himself, he hobbled over to the duo, who had the decency to look guilty. Once he’d made it over to them, he allowed his body to drop to the floor, joining the two.
It was several moments before Harry spoke again. When he did, Severus was reminded of Lily’s headstrong nature and he could not find it in himself to argue against Harry. At thirteen, he was proving to be a force to be reckoned with-far more stubborn than Lily could have ever hoped to be.
“Yer not bondin’ with me, Severus. I won’ let you tie herself ta me! Da! Don’ look glum! We can still beat ‘im! Sev, I care too much ta make ye do anythin’ o the sort!”
Both Aster and Severus looked down, ashamed at themselves. Harry had said very little, but each word was delivered with such finality that they had no choice but to feel shame. Severus knew Harry would not let him bind himself to him now, not while he still carried the physical guilt and mark of Voldemort. Harry had told him that until they could remove the mark, he would not move forward past his initial gift.
Severus had understood; Harry did not want his relationship sullied by a previous mark. They would make one together, after the dark mark was removed one way or the other.
“….shoulda stayed with the Dursley’s.”
Severus had heard but Aster was faster, scooping up his kit, who had tears streaming down his cheeks. Severus watched and silently offered his own awkward hug. He was still getting used to receiving and giving affection. Tobias had made sure affection was a foreign concept to him. Aster, sending his hesitation, wrapped his arm around the other man, pulling him in.
For a long time, neither of them let go. It wOuld be hours before they resurfaced from the basement.
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Sirius Black blinked his eyes rapidly, allowing them to adjust to the soft candlelight throughout the room. It had been ages since he’d had to use the calling, longer still since it was taught to him. He almost immediately felt the exhaustion and opted to remain where he was. He’d been cross legged on the floor for what seemed like hours and could feel the pins and needles from it.
“Sirius, are you alright?”
Amelia Bones came forward, a tray of hot spiced tea and a sizable portion of Honeydukes finest chocolate floating in a tray behind her. Sirius could have wept with joy. It had been so long since he’d had a taste of real chocolate! He was still recovering, but between the healer and Molly’s generous portions, he was steadily gaining his lost weight. At some point in the coming weeks, he would begin physical therapy to regain his lost strength.
Amelia allowed the tray to hover in front of the man, who graciously stretched his long limbs out before breaking off a piece of the bar and nearly swallowing it whole.
Three more morsels of chocolate followed suit, before he leaned back content. Grasping the tea in one hand, he simply tipped it back and swallowed it one two gulps. Sirius was pleased when he heard more tea being poured into his former empty cup.
He drank twice more before he was able to get up from the floor. Now that he was on steadier feet, he confidently followed Amelia out of the ritual room and into her office, discreetly trying to clean his fingers of the melted chocolate before he got into the office.
Sirius would have to get his hands on more of the chocolate and more of that tea. It had been so long since he’d had either and it was delicious.
Amelia shut the door behind him with a flick of her wand, and produced a damp napkin for the man to clean his hands. Sirius looked mildly amused, for all her rough nature, Amelia was proficient at household charms. He took the napkin and cleaned his hands before vanishing it altogether. Amelia took her seat and laced her fingers together, ready to listen to the man before her.
“Where is Mr. Bunnymund?”
Sirius leaned forward, eyes meeting and suddenly, Sirius felt his mind settle and the dog clear, mind locking together with Amelia’s.
Oftentimes, Sirius could just blurt out where Harry was, but in this case, he needed to use his legimans skills. Harry was under a strong fidelous charm, but the calling superseded that. Blood called more than a fidelous charm and he could find Harry anywhere. Sirius felt Amelia gently prod his mental barrier and allowed her in.
Harry James Potter is at Spinner’s End in Surrey.
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