New Heir
“…you had to go all the way back to third cousin? From god knows where?!” Sirius could hear Teds voice before he reached the end of the stairs.
“Yes, Third Cousin once removed, My Lord” replied a smaller voice.
“Well that’s just ridiculous, what am I meant to do force a relationship with the man now?”
Ted sounded tired and it was still early morning.
Sirius had been told while he was still dressing that he was needed downstairs, and as he turned and saw Regulus and McGonagall descend the stairs he figured, by the unusual disheveled look of his clothes the same had been asked of his brother.
“What’s going on?” Sirius looked at McGonagall, she looked like every bit of sadness in the world had fallen on her shoulders and Sirius was just about ready to hurt anyone who had any role in that. “I..I’ll leave you to talk to your family” she said in the smallest voice imaginable and with that turned and walked right back to the servants quarters.
“What happened Reggie?! Who did that to her?” he asked in a clipped voice.
“No bloody idea but they better have excuses lined up for days” Regulus replied with the same tone.
Just as the words left his mouth. The man who must have been talking to Ted came scurrying out of the office. He looked taken a back to see them both there, but quickly gave a small smile and bow and was on his way.
“Boys?” came Andromeda’s voice from
the office, Sirius hadn’t realized she was there as well. “Come in would you?”.
If McGonagalls mood hadn’t worried Sirius enough, Teds definitely did. Sirius in the almost 10 years of living with him had never seen him this angry. “Good morning boys”
Andromeda said with a kiss to each of their cheeks, “let’s sit down, shall we?”
“What’s happening Andy?” Regulus asked with caution in his voice. “Who was that who just left?”
“The family lawyer” Ted said with a sigh as he sat back behind his desk. “I ought to send an apology over later, it’s not the old blokes fault I suppose.” he added.
“You suppose right Ted, it’s no one’s fault at all really, and definitely not the messengers.” Andromeda said although she had sympathy in her reply.
She looked at Sirius and Regulus with a sad smile and said “Anthony was in an accident late last night, his motor car went off the road.”
“Oh, oh is he alright?” Sirius asked although he knew, deep down he knew the answer. “No, no I…I’m afraid he didn’t make it” she said with a break in her voice.
Oh Sirius’s heart dropped, he had only met Anthony a handful of times, but he was what Sirius would call a true gentleman every one of those times. He turned to Ted “I’m so very sorry Ted”
“Yes, we were never awfully close me and him, but well he was my cousin and a good man, a kind man.” he sounded like he needed a drink and a nap “Oh and you both might want to check on McGonagall if you can, she was his housekeeper first and was closer to him then I ever was” he added with a sigh.
•••
Regulus was of course sad about Anthony’s death, no one deserved to die before his time, especially not someone with a kind heart like Anthony. But he was mainly worried, he was thinking of the lawyer who came to talk to Ted , why would he be there over the death of a cousin? he wouldn’t, it was that simple. No he was there for a different reason and Regulus knew what that was.
“Who’s the heir then?” Regulus interrupted Sirius’s rambling on sending some good wishes to Anthony’s wife. Sirius turned to look straight at him and Regulus saw the exact moment he put it together. Anthony was Teds closest Male relative making him the heir of Eastwood, and now well now that wasn’t the case. “Who?” Regulus asked again.
“Now, you see that’s the thing we don’t know him. Ted doesn’t have another male relative until, well until his third cousin.” Andromeda answered. “Once removed!” added Ted like he couldn’t believe it.
“Third cousin once removed?” Sirius murmured.
“He’s a lawyer from just outside London” Andromeda said ignoring Teds obvious sigh of disappointment. “We’ve just sent our lawyer over with a letter of explanation to him along with an invitation.”
“An invitation?!!” Regulus exclaimed “An invitation here? To stay? With us?”
“Yes with us Regulus he’s the new heir.” she stated like he wasn’t getting it.
“Yes I know! But he’s also just a random bloke form london, you just said it yourself Andy! We don’t know him.”
“A random bloke from London who will one day own this estate Regulus! Whether you and Ted like it or not it’s the law.” she exclaimed. “And so help me god, I am going to do whatever I can to make sure you and Sirius at least know the man before he gets to decide whether you can keep living here or not! I am not asking for you all to be best friends I’m just asking for you to try!”
There was a pause before she gave a small sigh and said in a much calmer voice “You know we would give it you and Sirius in a heartbeat if we could, but we can’t it has to go to Teds closest male relative. Who in this case happens to be James Potter from London.”
Regulus gave a small scoff, “James?” what a boring name he thought. “Yes Regulus, not everyone is named after the stars I’m afraid.” she replied with a small smile.