Friend Since Birth

“What do you mean, seven?” Sirius asked in horror, staring at Ragnok and unconsciously slipping into Gobblygook.

“I mean, Lord Black,” the goblin explained patiently in English, for the others in the room. “That this locket is one of what we can determine was seven horcruxes. Arianna’s concerns were accurate and it is only sheer dumb luck that a number have already been addressed.”

“I’m sorry, but what’s a horcrux?” Tonks demanded. Sirius could tell she still wasn’t sure why she was in this meeting, but she understood this seemed very serious. If her own cousin looked seconds from fainting, the man who’d survived twelve years with dementors and faced You-Know-Who a couple of times, then it was bad.

“A soul container,” Moody grumbled, a bit shocked himself.

Sirius knew Voldemort was insane, but he’d never figured he was this insane. Actually, though, it might explain a lot.

“They’re a black magic meant to give the user a back-up, if you will, of their very life. This would explain how he partially survived his encounter with Harry when he was a baby and was around for that rat to resurrect,” Sirius went on, thinking back to his readings as a child. The Black library was dark, yes, but he’d only found this information in the restricted section of it. He’d found it a bit odd that his parents actually cared enough to have a restricted section and he’d been curious what was dark enough to have them protective. But when he’d read the book, he’d understood. And it was the only beating he felt was justified. There was dark and then there were horcruxes. “Lily’s love and sacrifice sparked blood protection. We know that from the remanants of the wards that were around that wretched house. And we know when Voldemort tried to kill Harry, his spell rebounded. Though, now that I think about it, I’m not sure how we know that. The only people there still alive were a baby and an insane murderer. I highly doubt he would have admitted to anything that would give Harry any sort of impression of being better than him, like a mother’s love. The horcruxes would have kept him alive as a soul piece until someone created him a new body.”

“But history only has record of one known user,” Moody expanded. “He was the inventor of the ritual and even he said it was not worth it, as it requires such black magic and the death of an innocent. Taken with no remorse.”

“But to make seven? I knew he was a cold-hearted bastard, but this is beyond even my lowest opinion of him,” Sirius said. “A horcrux is a piece of the user’s very soul. He’s split his soul eight times. I’m not sure he meant to have 8 as he’s paranoid enough to want a magical number like 7, but there’s more soul in the earlier horcruxes then in him.”

“And two have already been destroyed,” Ragnok explained.

“Two?” Tonks asked.

“The diary young Lord Potter destroyed his second year and the young Lord Potter himself,” the goblin explained, staring at Sirius with a serious expression.

“How do we know that?” Moody demanded.

“When I first brought him here,” Sirius said calmly, staring right back at the goblin and ignored the others. “Eir asked for a detection potion for one. It showed on his inheritance test.”

“And was removed,” Ragnok agreed. “By old, powerful magic. Which is good, because there are very few ways to theoretically remove such black magic from a living container and none would have been comfortable for the young Lord. Nor would any of them have guaranteed no side effects.”

Sirius stiffened at the reminder that if Adaya hadn’t cleaned her brother with her dragon magic, even unconsciously, Harry would have suffered in the goblin healing halls much longer. If they could even remove the thing without killing Harry in the process.

“And the destroyed diary was placed in a vault by one of our clients after it had been stabbed by a basilisk fang,” Ragnok explained. “While normally I would be unable to violate the confidentiality of such a transaction, the diary rightfully belongs to the holder of the Gaunt title and as his secondary proxy, Lord Black is allowed the information.”

“So, how do we know there are or were seven now that you have this one?” Moody asked, pointing at the locket with his cane and almost daring anyone to contradict him with his piercing eye.

“Wizards may have buried the knowledge of horcruxes deep in their histories and books, allowing only the one to be known, but goblins remember,” Ragnok said, seeming amused by the grizzled wizard. “And know that far more than the one known user exist. How else would we have potions to detect one built into the inheritance tests we provide? We are able to use this one to determine how many have been created off the original, even if they have been disposed of. However, we are unable to detect where they are.”

“Any chance we can pinpoint a general area?” Tonks asked, having shaken herself out of her shock and launching into her Auror training almost as if in desperate need to think of something else. Sirius could sympathize as it was much easier to focus on the new challenge of hunting the things down than still dwelling on how they’d been created. “Even knowing they’re all in Britain would help.”

“We can try,” Ragnok agreed.

A frantic knock on the door startled them all, but Sirius noticed Ragnok looked particularly startled. The goblin waved a hand and allowed the door to be banged open by a familiar face.
“Artair?” Sirius questioned, standing and turning to face the head of his goddaughter’s guard.

“She’s been taken,” the knight panted, staring at him in terror.

*****
Fenrir growled softly while he sulked in the entrance to Knockturn Alley. He’d managed to track Black down enough to watch him enter Gringotts, but the bastard hadn’t come out since. That it had taken weeks to track the elusive lord did not improve his mood. The bastard was tricky, and he again wished they’d managed to sway the man to their side back when he was young and impressionable. If he was this efficient when he was serious but not in obvious danger, they could have used him.

Instead of losing many a wizard to the man’s talented wand.

At this point, he was still tracking the bastard out of spite.

The Dark Lord wasn’t patient enough to wait for him to track Black down anymore.

He perked up slightly when a somewhat familiar hulk of a man practically ran down the Alley, liberally coated in an older version of Notice Me Nots, but not enough to fool Fenrir’s nose. Minutes later, Black emerged from the white marble monstrosity and apparated away as soon as he stepped foot away from the bank’s impressive new wards, followed by the hulking man. Fenrir could even spot a few goblins standing just inside the bank, glaring into the sun and weapons drawn, as if they’d like to follow but been told not to.

Interesting.

And annoying. He’d have to pick up the trail again later….

*****
Charlie knew the moment something was wrong. The castle practically vibrated with anger and he instantly found himself on the edge of the wards, his brothers frozen in his headlocks and just as stunned as him at the sudden change in location. But the abandoned bag was enough to tell him what was going on. He quickly released the twins and made his way carefully to the bag, wand out and eyes roaming the forest on the other side of the wards. The bag lay just inside the wards, strap broken and scrunched together, as if the person who tossed it had to make sure every piece was across the wards.

“Get Sirius,” Charlie ordered as he cast a few detections spells. He was hesitant to cross the wards and possibly step into an ambush, as it was becoming increasingly obvious Arianna had, but he needed to be sure. And he needed his brothers to listen to him. “Stay inside the wards, but get Sirius,” he ordered again.

The magical signatures confirmed his fears. Arianna’s protective magics and the remnants of a few dark spells on the leather of the bag. As if she’d used it as a shield a few times before tossing it.

“Charlie?” Harry called, startling the three red heads and causing Charlie to look at the twins pointedly. It was perhaps the worst time for the teen to walk past this part of the forest on his wanderings.

He was glad to see they understood and were quick to pull Harry away before he could see how worried Charlie was becoming. That taken care of, he took a deep breath and stepped across, wand ready and backup knife in reach. While he was often busy with the dragons, his fellow handlers had notoriously short attention spans and often spent off hours teaching each other new skills. Hand-to-hand combat had been his favorite and he now never went anywhere without a knife on his person, in the event he was without his wand.

The forest was wrecked, and Charlie took a small amount of pleasure in the knowledge the woman he was growing to love hadn’t been taken easily. There were a few broken branches and more than a few spatterings of blood. But a quick detection spell showed that none were hers. He figured she’d resorted to her own knives quickly, a holdover from being raised by Graves, apparently. He never should have left her alone to go home.

He had no doubt Artair would hand him his arse when he heard. And Charlie couldn’t even argue.

Then he noticed the body shaped indents in the moss of the forest floor and about had a panic attack as he quickly cast the needed spells to disperse the concealment charms. But each body that slowly appeared from the grass and leaf debris was male, and significantly larger than his Arianna.

“What happened?!” Sirius demanded, causing Charlie to startle and throw a hex at the Lord Black before he realized who it was coming from the direction of Hogsmeade.

Charlie saw Sirius at the head of a group of warriors, the Guard mixed with a few goblins and even a few who he realized were Aurors. Sirius had just deflected his hex and was marching forward again, fury and fear on his aristocratic features.

“I don’t know,” he answered honestly before briefly summarizing what he’d found.

The one named Moody seemed impressed with what he’d discovered but took over with a gruff nudge. Charlie stood with Sirius, shock starting to take over as the group spread out over the site.

“No one go through the wards,” Sirius ordered after a few minutes. “We don’t need any attention on this just yet and with the old goat, I’m sure he’s got more than the wards to alert him to this many people crossing onto school grounds.”

The group nodded and Charlie could see Artair taking position by the wards just to make sure no one even got within reach.

“We’ll get her back,” Sirius growled.

Charlie really wanted to believe the man, but he also knew it would depend entirely on who took her whether she’d be the same when that happened.

*****
“Come awake, little lady,” a slightly mad voice cheered, breaking into Arianna’s dream about Charlie and her plans for him. “Ooh, little lady has plans for the bloodtraitor!” the voice crowed again, sounding delighted and eager.

That woke Arianna in an instant and she slammed her occlumency shields down tight, taking a moment to recall what had happened before she’d woken. She was suddenly very grateful she’d taken the time to reapply her hair dye in preparation for her departure. Then she pushed herself up, grasping for her wand, only to discover she was laid out on a plush couch, surrounded by Death Eaters. Her muscles locked and she had to pull hard on her magic to prevent herself from reacting to the threat wandlessly. There was no reason to give up that advantage before they’d attacked again. She was just glad she’d finally gotten into the habit of using her cedar wand.

Then she turned and stared right into the face of Bellatrix Lestrange. She startled back, pressing herself to the back of the couch in surprise.

“Aren’t you supposed to be going madder in Azkaban?” she asked before she even thought about it.

“My Lord desired me at his side,” she said with a mad cackle, twirling her wand in her fingers idly. But Arianna understood the threat. Didn’t mean she’d abide by it, of course…

“Why on earth would he do that? You’re madder than a box of wet kittens,” she said, then promptly dodged the Cruciatus the woman shot at her. She did not miss the snickers that were quickly stifled around her.

“Pet, leave her,” a cold voice ordered, seeping into the room and stilling all laughter instantly.

Arianna pushed herself into a sitting position, leaning heavily against the couch to play up her exhaustion. She was surprisingly well rested, but she knew she couldn’t let them see that. It was somewhat unconventional that she was unbound, but it would take some masterful misdirection if she wanted to get out of here alive. And she would. As much as she’d like to finish what her family had started, she had a little brother to get back to. She would not let the red eyed bastard approaching her take away more of Harry’s family. Bellatrix backed away, a pout firmly on her gaunt features.

“Lord Voldemort,” she greeted, blue eyes locked on red in subtle defiance mixed with some respect. Having viewed Harry’s memories, she was not shocked by the snakelike face and red eyes.
As much as she hated his methods, as much as she hated him on principle for what he’d done to her parents and brother, she did respect some of his ideals. And it might just be enough to bargain for a safe return. After all, she had no idea why he’d ordered her taken. She had some thoughts, but until she could confirm them, she would not play on them. Besides, on the list of people she hated, he was second. She could work with that.

“Lady Aiaia,” he greeted back, keeping her gaze and then casually waving his followers back.

“I didn’t realize you’d broken your pets out of Azkaban,” she said.

“I didn’t need to break some out,” he said with a smirk. “It would seem a certain group of Aurors, working at the urging of a certain Lady, pushed for an audit of the place and a number had resided there without trial.” Arianna felt her breath want to catch, but she didn’t allow it, taking measured breaths to hide her reactions. She’d been afraid of that, but, guilty or not, everyone deserved a trial. Even Death Eaters… “It would seem all prisoners were moved to the cells in the Ministry until their records were verified. All it took was reaching out to some of my other followers to get the cages opened and the needed persons secreted away. I would have you to thank for that, no?”

“Not the intended outcome of that idea,” she admitted, giving up confirmation of her involvement. If he had spies that connected the Aurors to her, then there was no way to deny it and have him believe.

“No, I’m sure it had more to do with that bloodtraitor Black gaining his freedom finally,” Voldemort said with a sneer.

Arianna had to fight her urge to snap at him for that. Yet Bellatrix caught the anger in her eyes, she was sure.

“Ooh, little Lady likes my sorry excuse for a cousin?” she crowed, dancing a little in place and caressing her wand. “What will she say when she sees what I have planned for the little lion?”

“That if you lay one finger or spell on his person, you won’t like the consequences,” she said bluntly, taking her eyes off Voldemort to stare at the mad woman who dared claim relation to Sirius. “And if I’m not mistaken, you’ve been disowned from the House of Black, so you have no right to claim him as blood.”

That seemed to snap whatever hold she had on her sanity and she lunged for Arianna, only to crumple when Voldemort shot a Cruciatus at her casually. He held her there, staring at Arianna pointedly, but Arianna just met his gaze calmly. She was not some typical light witch, unwilling to do what was necessary. And seeing the mad woman writhe in pain was probably the least she deserved for her crimes.

“Interesting,” Voldemort said, finally releasing the curse and allowing Bellatrix to be helped to her feet by one of the others. Arianna took a moment to wonder if it was her husband.

“Was there a reason you kidnapped me?” she asked.

“It was not meant to be a kidnapping,” Voldemort admitted, taking that opening to glare around the room. Arianna noted the ones that flinched and figured they were part of the group that had fought her. “However, I am impressed that it took so many to take you down when my minions didn’t follow orders. Three died in the effort and many will probably envy their fate when I show my true displeasure.”

Arianna tried not to smirk at the news but didn’t quite manage it. A decade in a coffin, a few months free and training, and she was able to take down three Death Eaters when exhausted. They were a sad bunch if that was all it took. Then again, Voldemort seemed of the same opinion as he returned her smirk before conjuring a chair to sit across from her.

“Yet, as to why you are here, I would meet with the woman who took up the oldest vault in Gringotts. It is not easy to fulfill the requirements for that vault,” he said, his voice smooth and cultured. It was hard to imagine he’d been muggle raised. Or that he was only a half-blood. But she believed Harry when he explained his second year and even now, they were looking into Tom Riddle’s history.

“And how exactly did you discover the requirements?” she asked, wary. As far as she knew, only the goblins knew the requirements anymore.

“Mage sight, Animagus, female, respectful of Goblins and all magical creatures,” he listed. “Not difficult to discover if you know who to ask.”

“Is the goblin still alive?” she asked instantly. Ragnok would not be pleased. Either the creature was a traitor or had given up Nation secrets. Even torture was not an excuse as far as she understood it. But he’d want to know.

“Now why would I tell you that?”

“Why would you offer the conditions otherwise? I know them,” she snapped back. “The only thing you could gain is confirmation of this goblin’s information. So, you don’t trust their word, so they don’t follow you. Which means you tortured it out of them. So, are they alive?”

“Oh, I like you,” Voldemort purred. Arianna tried not to shudder. “Much more bite to you than my usual prospects. And you don’t seem phased by who I am.”

“I know who you are, Riddle,” she snapped. She didn’t even flinch when his smile melted away and his eyes lost the little warmth they’d gained. “I know you ordered the deaths of more people than the magical world knows, many of them muggles of no threat. I know magicals don’t care about those deaths, but I do. I know you’ve cast more black magic than any other. I know I wouldn’t have cared if it was dark magic, but I draw the line at black. And I know you’d like nothing more than to Crucio me right now for my gall to speak this way to you. But none of that will change my answer if this is your attempt to recruit me.”

“And what would?” he asked.

“Stop murdering innocents,” she answered promptly. Even if she’d never join him, she might be able to get some concessions. She’d never work with Dumbledore, but she might be able to work with Riddle if he was serious and willing to change. As much as it would grate against her sensibilities, what with him having murdered her parents, but they hadn’t suffered. Harry had. She held little hope of that, but any time she could buy was time for her family to find her. “Stop your followers murdering innocents. Leave children alone. Don’t kidnap purebloods for breeding stock. Treat all magicals equally, regardless of their core leaning or ‘creature’ status. Stop killing muggles. They’re not all bad and you might just piss them off enough to take notice of us. Trust me when I tell you, we are not prepared for that. Stop trying to kill everyone that disagrees with you.”

“Thought about this a lot, have you?” he asked, back to amused at her words.

“Nope,” she answered. “All off the top of my head. But not about to change.”

“You dare dictate to our Lord?” Bellatrix shrieked. Only the arms of one of the others held her back from trying to attack again and Arianna just looked at her.

“Did I?” she simply asked. She knew Voldemort was watching her to see how she’d react, testing her by allowing Bellatrix to rant and rave. “I do believe I answered a question. It’s up to him whether or not he goes through with them. Dictating would be demanding his compliance and threatening violence if he doesn’t comply. Honestly, woman, didn’t you go to school? Or was that too strenuous for you?”

She knew the moment she said it what the reaction would be. Bellatrix snarled, broke free of the man restraining her, and had the spell shooting at her before she could blink. Yet Arianna didn’t move, trusting the generations of protective layers she still wore to work. She could also feel the curious eyes of the room on her as she sat, waiting for the red light to hit her. It struck her straight in the chest and she hunched her shoulders at the force of the spell, but then straightened after the sting abated. She knew the others in the room were staring in confusion, but she only had eyes for Bellatrix. Who was staring at her chest in total shock. A quick glance down showed the dragon hide and runes doing their job. The runes glowed lightly as they dissipated the magic of the spell back into the wild without allowing it to hurt her. The dragon hide would have stopped the spell if the runes had failed.

“If you think for one second I’d willingly enrage one known to favor that curse without some way to protect myself, you’re even crazier than I took you for,” she snarled, glaring at the woman. “The fact that all of you are surprised by this is even more infuriating. You all claim to want a return of the old ways, but none of you seem to remember what those ways involve. If you did, you would have realized how stupid it was to attack me.”

“I am finding myself more and more fascinated by you, milady,” Voldemort said with a smirk. “Perhaps we would do well to discuss your ideas over some light lunch.”

Arianna wanted to refuse outright and demand to be released, but she was not suicidal. And if Voldemort saw her as more fascinating than as a victim, then she could at least listen to avoid more curses. And buy more time for the others to find her. That was what she had to focus on now; time. She was playing a deadly game here and she doubted she’d be able to talk her way free, even given decades. Voldemort was barmy and she couldn’t let him know she knew about the horcruxes. Or that she had one stashed in her pocket, spelled so only she could open it. So she would have to allow him to try and sway her, even if she had no intention of ever letting him succeed.