Chapter 47
Chapter 47
*Arrival at Malfoy Manor by Arthur and Sirius.*
‘Thank you for meeting me with such short notice, Lord Black. Oh, and Lord Weasley as well. Quite the surprise, what can I do for you?’
‘I have some questions, if you have the time. I can wait until after you and SIrius discuss the reason for us being here.’
‘Lovely. I actually think it is a matter for the both of you. I didn’t know where to reach you… No matter you are both here now. Come with me and I will show you both why I owled.’
Arthur and Sirius followed Lucius through the various hallways.
‘This may be a surprise for you.’
The men enter the room and see the Prewett twins laying next to each other.
‘Is that?’
‘Yes, they said their names were Gideon and Fabian Prewett.’
‘How?’
‘Arthur, do we need to contact your wife? Or other inlaws?’
‘My wi-’ cough, ‘no she is incarcerated. I will see Muriel after I leave. Are they well?’
‘No, they are in a magical depletion coma.’
‘They were trapped too, weren't they?’
‘You know?’
‘Regulus is the same. i - uh- dropped him…’
‘We did the same.’
‘We?’
‘Severus has the remaining figures, we are unsure if we should break them all…’
‘Can it be broken?’
‘That is unclear at this time, but we will keep looking into it.’
‘You may want to contact Andromeda, she has been caring for Regulus.’
‘I will reach out to her. Thank you.’
‘Arthur?’
‘I need to get Charlie.’ Lord Weasley whispers, looking as if his emotions are overwhelming him.
Clearing his throat Sirius catches his friends eye, ‘if you don't mind i can get him and return.’
‘Thank you.’ Arthur says and nods firmly.
‘Lucius, I will return shortly. If I see Andy, I will tell her to expect your owl.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Lucius. Thank you for caring for them, Charlie will be happy to know his father and uncle are alive.
‘Father? I thought that you were his father…
‘I raised him. We took him in after the twins went missing. We presumed they were dead…’
‘They were not the only ones presumed dead.’
‘True. Your son recommended I seek your legal counsel.’
‘Really? What prompted that? I presumed he was at school…’
‘I was visiting my daughter after some troubling news was discovered, he mentioned you might be able to help me get a divorce.’
‘Are you finally free from that horrid woman?’
‘Free is one way to put it…. Arthur begins his tale once more. As he finishes, Charlie arrives with Sirius.
‘Dad? What is so urgent?’
‘Charlie, this is your father and his twin.’
‘They are alive?’ Charlie falls to his knees as tears begin to fall.
‘Take all the time you need. We will be in the next room.’ Sirius and Lucius leave to give the Weasleys some privacy.
*.*
Upon entering the room, Sirius learns they are not alone. Lord Voldemort stands near the window gazing out at the snow covered lawn.
‘Lord Black. So nice to finally meet you.’
‘Is it?’
‘Perhaps, do you have a moment? I would like to discuss a matter of importance with you.’
‘You are a murderer. I cannot believe we are in the same room.’
‘Lord Black. He has questions about your brother, we all felt the loss of him these long years.’
‘Not important. I won't excuse violence for the sake of compassion.’
‘No? Are you still aligned with Albus? His IS a very different kind of violence.’
‘I will never again follow him and his greater good.’
‘What about self and familial defense? Is that fine?’
‘Anything for family.’ Sirius growles.
‘I would argue that my organization only seeks to protect their families, that the violence you speak of was in retaliation of attacks on families. We stand together as brothers against Albus’ greater good. We only sought the truth about our missing loved ones. you have to see the truth in this…’
‘I can agree to think on this matter. nothing more.’
‘That is all I ask. Thank you for your time. Good day. Lord Voldemort leaves the room. Before Sirius can express his thoughts another enters the room.
‘Bella?’
‘Hello Siri. Tea?’
‘N-no not right now…’
‘Firewhiskey then? Lucius asks.
‘Please.’
‘Sit Siri, we have much to discuss.’
‘We do?’
‘Thank you for caring for my daughter all these years, she had much to say of you.’
‘Course she did.’ he mutters.
‘Siri snap out of it, we need to talk about some things that are important.’
Sirius downs his shot followed by another.
‘Alright, what can I do for you?’
‘Was he really that bad? He didn't even hex you.’ Lucius murmurs.
‘Luc stop. Sirius?’
‘I just wasn't ready after Reg and the twins and everything in the Weasley family…. nevermind on to the next problem. How can I help you, cousin?’
‘Lyra tells me you have communication mirrors…’
‘You know, I thought that witch could keep a better secret than this.’
‘Siri, she needs access to the missions for a research project, who made them? Where did you get them?’
‘We made them…. She can ask Moony.’
‘Good I will tell her. Thank you.’
‘Does she need help?’
‘I'm sure she will ask when she has time. How is Regulus? We heard he has returned from being missing.’
‘He is … recovering. Slowly.’
‘His twins are devastated that he is in a coma.’
‘His twins?’
‘Yeah, twin boys, kidnapped and rehomed at a young age.’
‘Who?’
‘Fred and George Weasley.’
‘From the joke shop? Lyra grew up with her cousins?’ That is wonderful news.’
Bella pulls Siri into a hug.
‘When can I meet them?’
‘Um I’m not sure… I will ask them…’
‘Thank you, Siri.’
‘How did you survive Azkaban sane? I barely managed as an animagus.’
‘Your father came to visit me years ago… you didn't know?’
‘I had no idea.’
‘Uncle Orion visited and cast a charm for everyone loyal to the Dark Lord to have their current state of mind preserved and planned to be returned once we left the island.
‘That must have taken a lot of magic to perform.’
‘I don’t know how he managed it; but i am thankful he helped a lot of us.’
*.*
Lead on Lost Letters
The investigation into the missing letters continues. There was a lead provided by the Board of Governors. All redirections were sent to the same address. Shockingly there were stacks of evidence sitting around waiting for the Aurors to arrive. You may be asking yourself who could possibly be behind this? The culprit was apprehended and identified as none other than Mad-eye Moody. He swears he had nothing to do with the missing letters. What else will we learn? Who else is behind this? When will this web of lies unravel? We shall see what the Wizengamot has to say on this matter in court in a matter of days.
*.*