A Sacred Trust
Arcturus sat, once again, within the Gringotts. The group was using a conference room which Arcturus had paid to use for this as well as leave to use Family Magic within. Arrayed before him were his two grandsons, two third cousins (his cousin's granddaughters), and his daughter-in-law.
When Bellatrix had arrived, she had attempted to curse Sirius but Arcturus had used Family Magic to stop her. As a result, she was fuming. However, the Black magic held her to the Paterfamilias' will.
Arcturus stood. "In the past, I have refrained from becoming involved in the squabbles and factions the members of my family have become involved in. This is tradition. The Blacks have a long and successful history. One reason is that in every conflict there is usually at least one family member involved with each side. And the Paterfamilias has held himself above it all."
He paused then. "However, there are limits. Limits as to what the Black family as a whole is allowed to become involved in." He addressed Walburga. "Daugher-in-law. Who was Herpo the Foul?"
"My Lord. Herpo the Foul was the Ancient Greed Dark Wizard who invented many curses and originally bred the Basilisk. He was a powerful wizard who created many of the Dark traditions later wizards followed."
Arcturus nodded. "Eldest Grandson. What happened to Herpo the Foul?"
Sirius replied, "My Lord. He was killed by a cadre of his former supporters. Many of his creations were destroyed and he was branded the 'the Foul' by those same former supporters as well as his enemies."
"Youngest Grandson. What involvement did our family have with Herpo?"
"My Lord. We had been fervent supporters but something changed the minds of our ancestors and they joined in those that caused his death. We also looted his house and stored the forbidden knowledge that he created away from all others."
"Youngest Cousin. Why did we store such information instead of allowing it to be burned?"
"My Lord. While Foul, Herpo was brilliant. He also had supporters which he taught his secrets to. The cache that we hid away offered the only chance that future uses of such knowledge could be combated, could be countered."
Arcturus nodded again. "Eldest Cousin. Why did we change our position and help his adversaries if we were some of his greatest supporters?"
"My Lord. Herpo the Foul committed crimes against Magic. While we were destined to be above all others – to wield all magic – we would not aid in the harm of Magic. Herpo's crimes were against the soul of Magic herself."
Arcturus nodded again. "Our family motto is Tojours Pur. In French this is Always Pure. French became the language of diplomacy, supplanting Latin, just as Latin had replaced Greek. But in all of these translations a portion was … edited. The Latin Praesent Justo Purus became Sempur Purus Magicis, which became Sempur Purus. Our motto should read as 'Always Pure in Magic'."
He paused and took a sip of his water. "For political reasons, we allowed our allies to believe Always Pure referred to Blood status. It was convenient. Only the Paterfamilias learns the true history of our motto. Only the Paterfamilias is taught this because 'a secret is best held by a single man.' So, you may ask yourself: Why am I telling you now?"
Each of the family members looked thoughtful until Sirius said, "My Lord. Because Magic herself is threatened?"
Arcturus nodded grimly. "Yes. In such an instance, instead of remaining neutral, the Black family is held by ancient vow to act when Magic is threatened. Family Magics require it. Family Magics require your submission. Will you submit?"
Sirius was the first to act. He moved out of his chair and fell to his knees in front of his grandfather. Regulus was only a heartbeat behind. Narcissa, currently pregnant, took care to move gently as she followed. Walburga and Bellatrix were slow to follow but soon joined the others in front of the Paterfamilias.
Arcturus looked at those before him. "Narcissa. You will take a vow which I will present. Forcing you to submit to this ritual might harm your child – and this would be a crime against Magic as well. Stand and present yourself."
Narcissa stood up and stepped forward. With their heads bowed, none saw him motion Narcissa to pull back her sleeve. She did so, becoming nervous as she finally gleaned that the current circumstances were related to her husband's master. She followed directions and Arcturus was grimly satisfied to find her arm free from the mongrel's mark.
Narcissa took the oath that Arcturus Black named. It was a Magical Vow to follow the direction of her Paterfamilias in all things unless the life and magic of her child were threatened. She also vowed to keep the substance of the meeting she was involved in secret from all others not present. Arcturus used a clause put within all marriage contracts with daughers of the House of Black to ensure that she could not be forced by her husband to inform him of the meeting. She was told that her marriage was in jeopardy should she be forced to act against the family. She was told to ensure her husband was aware of the strictures placed upon her.
When this was done Arcturus said, "Go to the room next door and send the person within to this room. You will stay there until told to rejoin us. You will remain safe from the release of Magics that this ritual may create."
Narcissa left the room and within a few short minutes Andromeda Tonks nee Black walked within the room.
Walburga and Bellatrix hissed but refrained from commenting. "Your have been called due to a threat against Magic herself. Should you submit, your banishment shall be rescinded and you will help the Black family to answer this threat. Will you submit?"
Andromeda Tonks was a proud woman, but well schooled in the ways of tradition. She had received the same education, the same training that the rest of the family had received. She dropped to her knees in the place where Narcissa had vacated. "My Lord. I will submit."
Arturus nodded grimly. He sent a spell toward the door and several goblins moved to shrink and remove the sparse furniture within the room. The goblins all left then.
Arcturus pulled a small sheet of parchment from his pocket to review it before beginning a long incantation in Ancient Greek. For most Magics, Latin or its current version was sufficient. But for this ritual, it had to be completed in the form it was originally written in.
At a certain point, each person had to affirm that they submitted of their free will. All did so, although there was still some hesitation by two of those present. With their agreement though, the magic began to swirl. Two of those before him gasped as they felt the tie to the Dark Lord being affected. Almost no other Magic would have affected that link as the current ritual did.
Soon the two had to suppress the screams they felt growing when the link was completely severed. The Cruciatus used to seal the Dark Mark was released as all ties which threatened Magic were negated.
Arcturus watched grimly as the two writhed for a full minute upon the floor. This was the length of the spell as it was originally cast for the sealing. When the two relaxed in relief, Arcturus took up the chant again and completed it.
When it was done, magic exploded and was released into the room. Gringotts shunted such releases into the wards which protected the bank and it did not affect anyone outside of the room.
When all was quiet, Arcturus walked to the other door and knocked. The goblins returned the shrunken furniture. An additional goblin stayed and placed the covered painting he was carrying onto the wall.
He then moved to sit at the newly restored table. Arcturus said, "Be seated." As those present moved to get up, Narcissa returned to the room as directed by one of the goblins who had returned the furniture. The goblin took the cover from the portrait and it was shown to be of Phineas, the former Headmaster of Hogwarts.
When all were seated Arcturus ordered Regulus to call Kreacher. The house elf appeared. He looked different than he had just days before. The release of offending magical ties had released something within him and he looked much stronger.
"Kreacher. Tell the family the tale you told me the last time you were called before me."
As Kreacher told the tale, the difference between how he was before and now became much more apparent. The elf spoke in proper English and did not revert to the traditional speech patterns most elves used.
Arcturus considered that even as he moved to order his kin. "Phineas Black. As the Black family Paterfamilias I order you to aid my grandson, Sirius, as he enters Hogwarts to retrieve an abomination against magic. I require this under your vows as a Black."
Phineas nodded from his portrait.
"Narcissa, I order you to call your house elf and have him retrieve a Diary from your home with the name Tom Marvolo Riddle. It is an abomination against Magic and it must be destroyed."
Narcissa called, "Dobby!"
Suddenly, another house elf appeared. Narcissa gasped. The changes in Dobby were much more profound than the changes in Kreacher. What she expected was a cowering creature in a dirty towel. What appeared was an elf standing straight and tall and suddenly articulate. "Yes, Mistress. How may I help you?"
"In the family home there is a Diary with the name of Tom Marvolo Riddle. I order you to find it and bring it here. Lucius is not to be told that you have done this. Do you understand?"
Dobby bowed. "Yes, Mistress." He popped out.
Arcturus turned to Bellatrix. "I am cancelling your marriage contract. It is obvious that your husband would order you to follow the Dark Wizard naming himself Lord Voldemort. Your dowry shall be recalled. As a part of this, I require you to claim Hufflepuff's Chalice which is currently listed as a part of the Lestrange assets. It shall be cleansed and then turned over to Gringotts as stolen property. A reasonable fake shall be placed to disquise this."
"Yes, My Lord." Bellatrix was far different now that the binding she had suffered under had fallen. She no longer appeared psychotic. Walburga, also, was suddenly much calmer than she had been previously.
Arcturus looked at Kreacher and said to his family, "I was not aware that the magics used to train house elves were such an offense against magic. That Kreacher is so changed means that our handling of them must change accordingly."
The Black family replied, "Yes, My Lord," in unison.
Arcturus suddenly had a thought. He looked over to the portrait in the room and said, "Phineas. Do you know why my daughter-in-law, my eldest cousin, and the house elves are so different now that the ties which threatened Magic were released?" The portrait looked very hesitant to answer that question.
Before Arcturus could force the issue, Dobby popped back in. He put the book he had been ordered to retrieve on the table and then stood back.
Narcissa said, "Thank you, Dobby."
Dobby nodded to his Mistress. Arcturus echoed the thanks and then turned back to Phineas. "I asked a question as Black Paterfamilias. Answer me!" Arcturus barked.
Slowly, Phineas told the story of the spells he had cast on the family when he had become head. He also had cast a number of spells on the house elves. When he became Headmaster, he expanded this to the Hogwarts house elves.
Kreacher had been more lightly held by these magics because he was old enough to be one of the original elves that Phineas tested these spells on. He hadn't considered that these spells would be considered offenses against magic. Apparently, his middle son Cygnus had continued the tradition and it had been passed to Pollux and his children. Only Andromeda had somehow broken away from the spells.
Arcturus was thunderous. "Grandfather Phineas Black. As the current Black Paterfamilias I order you to work with Andromeda Tonks nee Black to catalog every spell and magic that was cast upon this family or Hogwarts under your direction. You will help to uncover every spell and find every counter possible. Your actions have harmed Magic and it will take years to counter them. You have shamed us!"
The Black family accounts manager watched all of this from the background. Truly momentous changes were in the works and he would ask permission to be released from his vows enough to report this to the Gringotts Clan Council.
It would be good news that wizards were beginning to clean their own house.
Bellatrix, in a very small voice – vastly different from her former bearing – asked, "Was everything we were taught growing up wrong?"
Arcturus sighed. "It would appear so. The Black family has been knowingly or unknowingly been guilty of crimes against Magic. Perhaps this answers why our lives have been shorter and shorter in recent generations. We used to live over a century easily but we are currently blessed if we reach sixty. I am one of the eldest in recent generations at 78."
He bowed his head. "Our magical birthright was being corrupted." He raised his head and his face took on a look of vast determination. "But no more!"
He had a thought and then grinned to himself. "Phineas Black, as a portrait can you order house elves at Hogwarts?"
Phineas looked dubious. He really wanted to decry the directions his Grandson was taking the family, but Black Family Magics were supreme. "I can."
"Instead of Sirius stealing into Hogwarts, you will order an elf to find Ravenclaw's Diadem in the Room of Hidden Things at Hogwarts and to bring it here. Do this now!"
He turned to Regulus. "You will work with Gringotts to retrieve the Locket. You will control a sub-sentient creature to take the potion that you were planning on taking. It is necessary and I only hope that Magic will aid our efforts. You are forbidden from sacrificing yourself unless there is no other way."
Regulus nodded. "Yes, My Lord."
He addressed his daughter-in-law. "Do you now see that the views you grew up with were an abomination? How our magic has been corrupted?"
Walburga nodded. She didn't want to believe – but the evidence was overwhelming. "Yes, My Lord. I see it."
"Good! You will provide the coordination on our family's efforts to combat the Dark Wizard known as Voldemort." He paused. "I am hereby naming Sirius Orion Black III as official Heir to the Black Family. I am hereby naming Andromeda Tonks, nee Black, as his senior advisor. These are the only two that somehow broke away from the corruption."
He turned to Sirius. "I will be retreating back into obscurity. I charge you with ensuring that the orders I have instituted are carried out. Your mother will coordinate – but you are in charge. Do you understand?"
"Yes, My Lord." Sirius bowed his head toward his Grandfather.
"We will work from the shadows as much as possible, but that won't last long. Bellatrix, after the Chalice has been retrieved, you shall join your sisters and cousins in a trip to Ollivanders to ensure that the spells released have not affected the connections to your current wands.
"You will then arrange with Sirius to present yourself to the DMLE Director. You shall take a missive from me informing him that I have used Family Magics to break your connection to Voldemort. In the missive, I will inform him that your former acts were caused by Dark binding placed without your knowledge. As restitution, you will provide as much intelligence as possible to aid in the fight against Voldemort."
"Yes, My Lord." Bellatrix took on a new determination. She would become almost as vicious against Death Eaters and Pureblood dogma as she had been when following Voldemort. The only difference was that she would never, in her life, cast an Unforgivable again.
"Narcissa, you shall inform your husband that you have been ordered to remain neutral in all conflicts so as not to have your child threatened. If he protests, you shall order Dobby to take you to Grimmauld Place for Sanctuary. If that become necessary, I shall negate your marriage as well."
"Yes, My Lord." Narcissa would not allow her child to be brought up with dogma that she now knew to be offensive.
He turned to his accounts manager. "Gringotts will help rectify these things?"
Steelclaw grinned. "Oh, yes."
Within a few short days, the beginning of the end for Voldemort had been accomplished. All of his Horcruxes were destroyed. Bellatrix and Regulus disappeared from the scene and were assumed dead. As they no longer answered when he tried to call them, he assumed they had both been killed in firefights.
He ordered Rabastan to ensure the cup that Bellatrix had put in the Lestrange Vault was still there. He reported that it was so. He had also checked the cave and he could see the Locket was still within the basin.
Lucius Malfoy had been told that her Paterfamilias had demanded she not endanger her child. Narcissa implied that Arturus had taken a special interest in their child – and so wrongly assumed that his child would eventually become head of the Black family. As a result, Lucius obeyed the strictures placed upon him as regards his wife and her family.
However, the Death Eaters were somehow under even more fire than they had been in the last year. Somehow, several safe houses were attacked and the Death Eaters had to retreat from them. Several of his followers within the Ministry were apprehended.
The Dark Lord began interrogating his followers, looking for a spy. None were found. No one within his camp could answer why he was now failing where he had been succeeding. He paused in his attacks in order to allow his unknown or unmarked followers to gather intelligence.