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All The Stars In The Sky	By : lemonsqueeze13 Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 5433 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
Voldemort glided his hand over the surface of the gilded banister as he made his way up the final steps to the second floor of the Lestrange Manor. He snaked his head away from the luxuriously decorated hallway and turned his gaze to Randolph Lestrange trailing behind him, allowing the Lestrange head to move ahead and guide him to the meeting room organized for the night.
Voldemort impassively eyed the aging man who flicked his wand and abruptly tossed the entrance to the room aside. The tension in his shoulders, the stiffness of his wrist, and his clenched jaw gave away his thoughts to Voldemort. His mind had clearly wandered over to his injured son Rabastan currently in the care of St. Mungo's, and the lack of news concerning the boy's condition despite his wife following to look after him. It seemed that Randolph's composure lasted only till the last guest left his mansion at the conclusion of the gala.
The room simmered in light conversation, Voldemort uninterestedly strolled to the vacant seat at the head of the long table, on which Randolph has taken his seat on the opposite end. The remaining men idling by themselves at the bar quickly fell into step and resumed their specified seats at the table.
Finally perched on his throne-like chair, Voldemort rested his hands on the beautifully carved, redwood table, a true luxury afforded only to those from privilege –how far he'd come from his humble beginnings. Every person on the table gave him their undivided attention - save young Mr. Rodolphus Lestrange who had his arm slung lazily across the top of his seat. Randolph quickly remedied that with a painful hex, while the younger seats at the table failed to mask their cruel amusement.
Voldemort took a moment and surveyed all before him. Directly to his right was his classmate and closest supporter Vulcan Mulciber. They'd been together since their days in Hogwarts. He was the very first to see the potential in the young Tom Riddle, and was instrumental in entrenching him within the pureblood and magical world.
To Voldemort's left was Alfred Avery, another longtime supporter from their Slytherin dorm days. Voldemort considered him his lead advisor. Joining him was his son Frederick Avery, who similarly to the older Lestrange son and Lucius Malfoy, had very recently graduated Hogwarts. All these young men, including a few others like Antonin Dolohov, Voldemort had personally taken under wing to train and indoctrinate.
Beside them was Dominic Nott, another Hogwarts alumnus from his tenure as a student, as well as the person often left in charge of the 'public relations' side of things. In other words, the professional socialite and racketeer.
Sat opposite Nott was the severe and disdainful Abraxas Malfoy. The bald wizard had a light coloured, villainous looking goatee stretching down from his chin, which tickled his gloved knuckles that rested on the ram-head ornament of his cane. His son, Lucius, was attempting to imitate his father's demeanour as closely as possible from his other side.
The remaining seats were filled by the Andreas and Evan Rosier, father and son respectively. And finally the Lestranges took up the end. A single chair was left vacant for the currently admitted Rabastan.
Unnerved by the stretching silence, Andreas Rosier felt compelled to get conversation started. "Tonight was a resounding success! Do you not think so, my Lords?" This kicked off a lengthy, smug, self-congratulatory dialogue.
Alfred Avery swirled the last sip of his drink in his mouth and swallowed. "As far as I can tell, we've all but conquered the traditionalist faction. The more… worthy ones anyway." he drawled to the rest of the room.
"And the rest will fall in line or suffer the consequences." Stated Vulcan Mulciber imperiously, slapping his hand down hard on the table.
Abraxas Malfoy disinterestedly fiddled with the ornament on his cane. "I couldn't help but notice however, Slughorn was rather shifty this evening." Malfoy threw accusingly at Dominic Nott.
Nott simply brushed off Abraxas with a loose wave of his hand. "He wanted to hold out. I impressed upon him why that would be a terrible idea."
"Slughorn is of no consequence." Voldemort gained everyone's attention. "No. What drew my attention were the Blacks. They left extremely abruptly. Tell me Andreas, did your sister's family not find me worth their time?" His eyes narrowed and focused in on the pair of Rosiers. The eerie red tint of his gaze shining in the relative darkness of the room.
The younger Evan Rosier shivered at the violence those eyes promised, being more than familiar with Voldemort's tells from his time training under him. The elder Andreas Rosier cursed his sister, Druella, in his mind. "Something must have come up. They would not have left otherwise." Andreas offered as an excuse.
"I'm aware." Voldemort replied instantly, clearly unimpressed.
Andreas gulped at his unsatisfactory response. "I wouldn't worry Voldemort; they're Blacks after all. No chance they don't agree with us...with you. Walburga and Orion especially, they'll handle the rest of the family if need be."
"Do you doubt yourself Andreas? I certainly do." Voldemort threatened menacingly. The Rosiers sunk deeper into their seats. Evan held his shaking hands together under the table, he was not looking forward to his next training session.
"Lucius!" Voldemort suddenly announced causing the young Malfoy to jump. His lapse in decorum earned him a stern glare from his father.
"Yes my Lord?" Lucius managed to keep his voice even-keeled, but the sweat collecting on the top his lip and the back of his neck betrayed him.
"Tell me about him. The young Ara Black."
Lucius felt his fear melt slightly, as the heat of humiliation and rage fled over his skin at the name of the scoundrel who tarnished his reputation the past year. "He is a nothing! A swine!" Lucius roared.
Voldemort felt the last, and only, fetter of patience snap at the young Malfoy's heated rant. Rising slowly from his seat, he made his way down the table to Lucius.
Lucius knew he'd erred the moment he found himself pinned by Voldemort's malevolent stare. The entire room felt themselves out of breath as Tom strode towards Malfoy. "Why does everyone feel the need to test me today?"
Gripping the back of Lucius' trembling, moist neck in his strong hands. He twisted him painfully and forced the young man to meet his eyes. "You absolutely reek of it you know? The fear. Fear of me. Yet you somehow scrounge up the audacity to lie! Right to my face!"
"I-I'm sorry my Lord! I'll do better -" Lucius pleaded.
"Quiet! No more of your lies - I'll find out myself! Legillimens!" Voldemort cut off any argument, jabbed his wand in between Malfoy's eyes and cast the spell. He savagely ripped through Lucius' mind, upheaving any semblance of order in his scavenge for any memory of Ara Black.
Lucius' anguished scream rent the air. The others stared on in either unconcern or sick glee as the young man was forced under the mental torture. All too quickly for some, the uproar ended. Immediately Lucius sagged in his chair – his spine and legs losing all strength, his head lolled, eyes remained unfocused,bloodshot and in a daze. Dark red blood trickled out of his nostrils, staining his pearly teeth crimson.
"Most intriguing…" Voldemort straightened his back and ceased looming over Malfoy. Giving one last dark look at Lucius, he turned his attention away from the seated group. "Leave us. Except you Andreas."
Immediately, Abraxas irritably fisted the lapel of his son's robe and apparated them both out of the manor right from their chairs. Subsequent hurried exits were made by the remaining members, sensing the extremely tense atmosphere radiating off both Randolph Lestrange and Voldemort.
Andreas nodded to his son Evan to make his way out as well right behind Rodolphus. Voldemort rounded on the still seated Andreas Rosier. Randolph Lestrange merely looked on.
"It's time the Black family made their position clear. Impress upon them the severity of the situation Rosier, if their response is unsatisfactory, both you and them will face my… displeasure. Randolph, make sure Renata is also aware. I will no longer ignore their ambivalence; Lucius' memories have shown that the Black children can be excellent assets. I want them – get it done!" Voldemort's demeanor grew increasingly heated as he spoke his demands – his magic flaring with his emotions. Andreas shuddered at the heavy presence. Both men breathed in relief as Voldemort suddenly vanished – satisfied that his command had been registered.

Sirius, Narcissa, Regulus, and Kreacher were startled out of their rooms by a sudden loud 'crack' followed by an even louder screech. Only a moment after confirming with each other, wands in hand they all rushed down towards the disturbance. Another series of cracks sounded soon after.
Sirius gulped nervously, wary of the unusual situation. Purposefully he jostled himself into the front of the party, holding his wand ahead as he carefully crept to their destination - only to find everyone back from the party flittering around the entrance to the main parlour. He sighed in relief. Then snorted in annoyance.
"OI! What are you hens clucking about?" He shouted from the back. The startled adults didn't have an opportunity to answer the approaching children before the commotion commenced anew.
"SCOUNDREL! How dare you!" Came the incensed scream from Walburga. Finding herself unceremoniously hurled on to the floor. She scuttled back away as fast as she could from Ara - gone clearly insane. Her retreat halted as her back met the frame of the fireplace.
Ara shook in barely restrained apoplexy "How dare I? How dare you!" He shouted right back at Walburga. Responding to his fury, his magic erupted the hearth in an orange pyre. Walburga howled and tossed herself away from the inferno.
Still excitable from the first confrontation, Orion rushed over to Arcturus, grabbed a wand out of his hand and bodied his father to the ground. Sending the older man and the rest of the wands clattering on the floor.
He could almost taste the frothing rage Ara was in, and was feeling deathly afraid for his wife. She might be doing her level best to feign ignorance, but Orion was becoming increasingly aware that his and his wife's life hung in the balance. He'd found out about the Lestrange contract. Wasting no more time deliberating his course of action – he levelled his wand and fired off the first curse on his lips.
"Stupefy!" The red jet of energy sailed true, the stunner was mere inches from his target. That's where it remained.
The stupefy had been caught on the tip of Ara's wand. Not shielded, not deflected – caught! And the boy wasn't even looking at it – he just continued to turn Walburga's hair white with his stare. Orion felt cold fear race up his spine, the nervous sweat tickling the back of his neck and hairline.
Walburga felt the trembles start, she clenched her teeth and curled her fingers to stop it from showing, but her shaking shoulders and swimming eyes betrayed her.
Ara channeled more magic into the spell caught on his wand; bathing the world in its crimson brilliance. The sweltering heat from the unrelenting fire, the deep red glow of the spell drowning out all colour but itself, and Ara's hateful scowl. To Walburga it felt as if she had been plunged into sulphur and brimstone, and was facing the very devil himself.
"It'd be so easy, so bloody easy to just lay the blame entirely on you. But we both know that it wasn't just you behind this." Ara hissed out. He turned his eyes on the rest and the world exploded, the overpowered stunner flashed, momentarily blinding everyone. Orion painfully covered his stinging eyes and yelled in distress with the others. Another pulse of magic and he found himself without wand as well.
"Captivatus" a single spell found Orion, Walburga, Cygnus, and Druella bound tightly in shackles and chains. Ara yanked hard on the captives, dragging them roughly and lay them prostrate before him.
Dorea, still not entirely recovered from the blinding flash, finally snapped out "Ara that's enough! Stop this right now!" Blinking out the last colourful dots swimming through her vision away, she started hurriedly towards her enraged son. She had to stop him before he managed to do something he would really regret.
Ara spared his mother a sidelong glance, refusing to take his full attention off the four adults beneath him. He might have relented under his mother's distress, had he not caught another glimpse of Andromeda – still looking so vulnerable, so betrayed. He turned away completely from Dorea and barked out a command. "Bellatrix!"
Before her mind even registered her name, her body had moved on instinct. Scooping up a random wand from the floor she shot a petrification curse at Dorea, halting her in her tracks. She turned around, her back shunning her downed parents and her wand daring the rest of the family in front of her.
Bellatrix felt the shudder of excitement crawl up her spine from the almost pavlovian response she had to Ara. First the lord from earlier tonight, and now a thoroughly boiling Ara; this was turning out to be an exceedingly great night for her and she failed to keep the sick smirk from twisting her lips at the fact. Nervously, everyone shifted under Bellatrix's suspicious smile.
"I want them to hear it from you. I want you, to tell them yourselves, exactly what you've done to them." Ara stared down at the four and absorbed their reactions. Druella was confused, her head shaking erratically trying to decipher what he wanted from her. Cygnus was tugging defiantly at the uncomfortable metal shackles keeping him tethered to the floor on his knees in increasingly angry grunts, his long blonde hair frayed from the rough treatment he'd been put under. Orion sat there defeated – almost ashamed that his discretions were about to come to light.
Walburga was catatonic in fright, unable to tear her eyes away from the man standing above her, wand ready to cut her down at a moment's notice – it seems she'd finally pushed Dorea's son too far and the true extent of his Black madness was readying itself to finally, finally unleash.
Getting no answer after waiting a moment, Ara snarled out again "I'm not going to ask a second time! Someone start talking!"
Cygnus ceased his tugging "What the bloody hell are you on about?" he spat.
"Lestrange, you fucking scum ! Does that ring any bells for you?" Ara spat right back. Immediately, the colour drained from Cygnus' face, he restarted his tugging with renewed ferocity.
Realizing that Cygnus was going to be completely useless, Ara lost the last thread of his patience. "I said tell them what you did!" with that he snapped off a curse and shattered the shackles on Cygnus's wrists. Cygnus tried to make his escape as soon as he was released, but found his feet meeting only air before he could take even a second step towards the exit.
Cygnus found himself slowly rising towards the ceiling, gravity having abandoned him. And suddenly it came back – with a vengeance. He was slammed hard into the floor. Splayed the ground with the burden of rage being brought down on him, his bones protested before they gave way in loud pops. Cygnus screamed as his joints were squeezed out, his muscles cramping and burning under the increasing pressure.
Druella was screaming, the sounds of her husband's protesting flesh and bones grating on her ears and wearing away her sanity. She could only babble away, pleading in hysteric desperation that she had no clue why any of this was happening.
"Stop! Stop! I'll tell you! We- us and the Lestrange's – the-there's a contract. Stop already! Please!" Orion desperately screamed out, trying to leap forward but his bonds keeping him leashed and on his knees. Watching his own brother being steadily turned to paste broke his mute spell.
With a final squelch, Cygnus was left on the floor between his wife and brother. Orion took a second to steady his breath "Cygnus – he came to us a while back – he said he'd been approached." He started to try and explain himself to Ara.
"Don't look at me. I told you to tell them." Ara instructed again, forcefully pointing towards the children and the others. Orion didn't have the courage to keep his eyes on the three young girls he'd been attempting to trade – instead he chose the petrified Dorea, whose eyes swiveled to meet his.
"They told him that he was being excluded from these private parties, with all these important people – each one more prestigious than the next. That they were pledging to this new powerful pureblood lord. They made it sound like this new world revolution – and anyone not a part of it were going to be left in the gutters." Orion began haltingly. He chanced another look at Ara, hoping more than anything for any sympathy at all. He found none.
Quickly turning his eyes back and keeping them fixed on Dorea. His tongue darted out to try and wet his parched lips as he continued. "It would be preposterous if the Blacks were left behind, so after a little digging we found out that the Lestranges were a major player. Walburga got in touch with Renata to get our foot in – they're close so we thought that it would've just been the formality of an introduction. We were wrong. We were told that a certain level of commitment was required, that we had to pay our way in flesh and blood before we were allowed into anything. We met him then – Lord Voldemort. Our duty – he called it – our duty to our peers, ourselves, and the rest of the magical world was to join his movement. But it is needed for us to show our faith was necessary." Orion dragged out his story, half in attempt to stall from saying what he needed to and half in attempt to sway the rest to his side.
"R-Renata chimed in here. She and Walburga convinced each other that the best possible way to ensure our allegiance was to join hands as family. It was a win-win situation! We would be welcomed with open arms, and the families would remain pure going forward! So we agreed on a contract. The two Lestrange boys with Bellatrix and Andromeda." Orion finally rushed out, to be met only with pin-drop silence and incredulous stares.
Orion's sense of guilt seemed to resurface at the negative response. "We-we were planning on doing so again to gain further favour… another contract… between Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy…" he admitted reluctantly. Causing the youngest girl to jump and hide further behind Sirius. Even Bellatrix speared him with a look of shock over her shoulder.
Another quiet sob escaped Andromeda as she was cradled further into her Grandmother's bosom, Melania gently stroked her hair as she shushed her tenderly. Melania turned away from her groveling children, finding it unbearable to look at their foreign faces any longer.
Arcturus finally returning to his senses, rose from the floor – drawing support from Kreacher to pick himself up. "Enough…that's enough…" he said tiredly. He tried moving forward but was once more reminded to hold his place when Bellatrix trained her wand on him. Halting his steps, he lifted his hands, palm outwards. "Bellatrix." She made no indication of moving, her face set harder than granite.
Arcturus looked behind her, he saw Ara cradling his shattered arm to his chest; the blood drenching his clothes, and the stark white of his bones jutting out from beneath his skin. "Ara's hurt Bellatrix, we need to get him help. Put down your wand - I promise you nobody's going to sell you or your sisters off." He tried placating; his expression and voice pronouncing his age.
"Nobody has the right." Ara stated as fact. As a warning.
"See? I agree with Ara. I'm not going to allow any of this to happen. They'd need my blessing – something they don't have. Now put your wand away and help get the boy looked at. I'll deal with everything. I promise. I don't want anymore bloodshed in my home Bellatrix." Arcturus beseeched the determined young girl in front of him.
The adrenaline was wearing off, and with it the numbness from the pain; Ara's throbbing anger felt ready to ebb in the face of reason. But the notion shattered alongside Walburga's last remaining shard of control.
"How can you listen to this – this final smear of filth that sprang from that dead bloodtraitor father of his!? The Blacks used to stand for something! Pure! Magic! And now you allow him to tarnish everything! Those girls should be proud to serve this house! To finally be of some worth to the Black name beyond the waste they produce!" Walburga exploded, braying with force at Arcturus.
"The greatest curse the Blacks have known in centuries is the day you and your mother failed to die with that bloodtraitor scum Potter!" She rounded on Ara, her fear and sanity accompanying each other in flight. Both were returned to her with a flash of the Cruciatus.
Dorea had broken the hold of the petrification. Walburga's frame convulsed in agony as Dorea's wand stabbed at her. Walburga succumbed to unconsciousness, the pain too much to bear.
"No more. We're done for tonight." Dorea commanded, teeth clenched tight, biting down on the anger she dare not let escape. Saner heads needed to prevail, and hers seemed to be the last – Cruciatus curse notwithstanding.
"Kreacher, take the children upstairs. Arcturus, floo the healer would you?" Kreacher shuffled quietly and took hold of Regulus by the hand – drawing him away from the carnage and back to his bed. The other children, Bellatrix, and Melania with Andromeda dutifully followed. Arcturus too obeyed the request to call on a private healer; the need for discretion disqualifying St. Mungo's as an option.
Two wordless stunners claimed Orion and Druella, leaving only two conscious people in the room.
Dorea and Ara stood alone together. Defiance met determination in contest.
She looked into her son's eyes, steadfastly refusing to look down at his injury to temporarily halt her maternal instincts clawing at her chest. "I cannot believe you've done this." Ara felt anger bubble up at her accusation.
"And what exactly can't you believe? That I'd protect them from being sold off?"
Dorea's temper responded in kind to Ara's "You know good and well that that is not what I am implying! I didn't raise you to be like this! Look what you've done to Cygnus!" She pointed at his mangled form.
"Oh! My apologies then! Since you're the best example, next time I'll use Crucio shall I?" he said savagely, gesturing with his good hand to Walburga.
"Do not dare take that tone with me. What they did is reprehensible and we will address it, I promise you that they have no foot to stand on and they never will – but that does not excuse your behaviour. You jumped immediately to violence, and I won't stand for it." She scolded.
"Got the job done though didn't it? None of you had any clue what they were up to. But I get it, next time I'll just wait till its too late and lament that there's nothing to be done." Ara continued to work himself up. Dorea shut her eyes and took a deep calming breath. Her son was livid and being purposely difficult because of it.
"There's no talking to you right now. Get upstairs and for once please listen to me and wait for the healer in your room. Don't show me your face until you have decided to fix it." Dorea may have sounded like she was calm, but Ara understood that she was on the last tether of her patience.
Being reminded of his injury brought the pain back to the forefront of his mind, and so he acquiesced, but not before leaving a last parting shot. "I did what had to be done, mum. You don't like how I've gone about it, but you, I, and everyone else now know, that the next person to try a stunt like this is going to lose their head. I'm prepared to do that; I'd like it if you were as well." His voice trailed off as he searched for reprieve in a vial of pain potion.
All Dorea could do, was begin cleaning up.

As with the last three nights, Andromeda found it impossible to sleep. Alone in the dark, she unfailingly found Rabastan, Walburga, and her own father, all tugging on a leash around her neck. Normally, she would have sought her mother for comfort, but Andromeda found she could no longer place her faith there anymore.
Ideally she would have made her way towards Ara instead. But he'd disappeared almost immediately after the healer visited three whole nights back. So that's why she found herself inside Bellatrix's room, if anyone would be able to find him – it'd be her.
"I thought you would've broken sooner." Was Bellatrix's blasé response to her query. She grabbed Andromeda's arm and apparated without warning.
With a rather manly 'Oof!' Andromeda landed hard on her hands and knees, while Bellatrix looked completely unflustered. "Funny isn't it? Out of everybody back home I would have put my galleons on you alone knowing where Ara's hidey hole is." Bellatrix said with honest curiosity.
Andromeda narrowed her eyes as she carefully dusted herself off. "I find it funnier that he told you and not me." Bellatrix started on her way as soon as Andromeda was back on two feet.
"He does tell you everything, doesn't he? But to answer your cheek, he hasn't told me either."
"Then how in the World do you know? Where even are we for that matter?" confusion reared in Andromeda, she peered around to try and find any known landmarks, but visibility was low given the early hour of their arrival.
"Edinburgh. And it's my job to know, whether he likes it or not I've decided that Ara is too important to us – and therefore has lost all right to privacy. So, I take great pains in knowing where he is and what he's doing at all times… also a friend of mine told me." Bellatrix responded, trying to purposely be cryptic and irritating.
"What? How does Ellie Stafford know about this?" Andromeda deduced immediately, unconcerned with the well established fanaticism Bellatrix had for Ara.
Bellatrix stopped in her tracks, and found herself exceptionally startled by her sister's astuteness. "How in the blazes do you know about Staffie?"
Andromeda too was astounded by her sister's stupidity. "Bella… you said a friend told you. You literally only have the one."
"Oh. Well… hmph! See if I ever help you stalk Ara again."
"You still haven't answered me though. How does Ellie Stafford know about Ara's – whatever it is."
"Why don't you just ask him yourself? We're here. Reducto!" Bellatrix marched up the walkway to an unassuming dark wood door, and in true fashion, proceeded to blow it to bits with a blasting hex.
What followed was a startled cry of "Crikey!" as Ara rushed out from within one of the darkened rooms to find Andromeda and Bellatrix both waiting outside his, now destroyed, entrance in the early hours of what barely counted as morning.
Ara blinked rapidly, scratching his head at their less than expected appearance at his doorstep. This was apparently an everyday situation for Bellatrix, she sidestepped Ara and continued on into the house. "Where's the kitchen? It's close enough to the morning for some tea."
"Huh? Oh… er right, in-in the back." Came Ara's eloquent answer, as Bellatrix casually made herself very much at home.
Andromeda was hell-bent to get some answers out of him, and there were many questions rolling around her head, but her most immediate concern was simply "How come Ellie Stafford knows about this place but we didn't?".
"Well, I guess that answers my question. You might as well get inside; I'll tell you the story." Ara bent and took Andromeda's hand in his and ushered her in, who with a flick of her wand cast a Reparo to fix the door.
A few cups of tea later, Ara had disclosed his dealing with Ellie Stafford's father to purchase the house, and its status as his now go to place during the April escapes. Contrary to what Bellatrix initially believed, this house wasn't some den of debauchery.
Andromeda had scooted her chair over to Ara's side, drawing warmth, and much needed solidarity from his comforting presence. "Why did you leave?" Andromeda asked from his shoulder, her voice thin and anxious. The underlying 'because I needed you' needn't be said.
Ara pulled her in a little tighter. "Because I was angry, and so was mum. I thought it'd better to put some space between us and allow the both of us to cool off. Then like every normal dysfunctional family we'll sweep it under the rug and pretend we didn't have a serious argument until the next time we have a fight and it's used as another point of contention."
"So the usual. You will be coming home with us now then." Andromeda supplied imperiously.
"Well, not quite yet. I've a meeting very soon." He said as he checked the Tempus spell to confirm the time.
"Aha! I knew there was hanky panky going on here!" Bellatrix crowed triumphantly.
"No, you pervert. An actual meeting, this is serious. We were all at the Lestrange's, you saw him as clearly as I did. Voldemort he calls himself, now with a cult and everything. He's got a lot of people troubled – and with good reason. There's people out there being hurt, and I know he's behind it." Ara relayed his concerns regarding him, the danger his views pose, and more importantly he shared Voldemort's origins.
"You're scared of him." Bellatrix accused with a sneer, this uncharacteristic show of weakness from Ara sitting uncomfortably in her stomach.
He shook his head. "I am scared; but not of him. I'm scared of what he represents. Hypocritical it may be of a half-blood, but he's got his mob convinced. I even saw it on your face Bellatrix, Walburga had it on hers as well." Bellatrix reeled at that, being compared to the woman who tried to barter her off was distinctly unpleasant. "There are others who can be of immense help against him and his racist ideologies. That's pretty much what I've been doing the last couple days - spending every waking moment trying to persuade a few old codgers that alienating and killing a large portion of our magical population probably isn't a good idea." He finished facetiously.
"Down boy! I'm not disagreeing with you. Not only is Andi playing 'stir the cauldron' with a mudblood, as she's rightly pointed out, my solitary friend is one as well."
"Lovely." Was Andromeda's disgusted drawl, whether it was from the charming epithet, or the unnecessary euphemism, was unclear. Probably both.
Ara chuckled. Then he outright laughed. He'd been tensed and coiled in angst, that he'd been useless and ineffectual all this time in rebirth. Yet here it was – the accomplishment he'd searched so hard for smacking him right in the face. He'd already denied Voldemort one of his most devout. Bellatrix Black casually admitting being best friends with a muggleborn; would wonders never cease? Either way, a fair amount of his worry did. For the first time he felt that he just may be able to do this.
"Sorry-sorry, got carried away there. Thanks girls." He smiled brightly, scooping them both up in a crushing embrace. Bellatrix happily latched on like a limpet, pressing her cheek hard against his.
"For what?" Andromeda asked from her position on his other side.
"More than I can say. Okay hold tight, you guys are joining me for the meeting." One apparition later, they stood together at the end of a pier on an empty beach. As the disorientation of the sudden travel retreated, they were greeted with a crisp breeze, the scent of the ocean tickling their noses. Gulls noisily danced above them, in contrast to the complete silence of the early morning.
Thrown once more into the unknown, Andromeda questioned her surroundings. "Where are we now?" She saw the small town in the distance, but all she saw immediately around her was the vast space of sand, sea, and the tiny, lone bridge - coming from and leading to nowhere – on which they stood.
"Belhaven beach. Come along we're getting late." Ara took five quick steps down the bridge to the edge of the shallow water.
"Come along where? There's nothing here." Bellatrix quipped from beside him. Ara tapped his nose and brought their attentions to the mirrored surface of the calm water underfoot. He began reciting what was clearly a password of some kind. "The secrets we keep are often a reflection of ourselves. Therefore, only our reflections can reveal the secret we wish to know!" The girls stared transfixed at their slowly rippling mirror images, a sudden burst of effervescence exploded from the water and swallowed all three whole. The beach was empty again.
Their vision was drowned in a deluge of bubbles, only the nauseating tilting allowed them to feel any motion. The sudden, soft yellow sand between their toes signaled the end of the trip. Wait. Where had their shoes gone?
"Don't worry, we'll get them back on the way out. But forget that! Look around you and take it all in. Welcome to the Sea Crate! The world's best hidden, and only private underwater lounge; accessible through only seven portals kept religiously under Fidelius. A true marvel of Magic!" The admiration was clear to hear in Ara's voice.
And with good reason. Andromeda and Bellatrix stared in wonder. A giant bubble dome under the bluest ocean they'd ever seen. Schools of ocean life streaming overhead. Dense sand flooring, structures made from sea-life and coral gracefully sculpted to construct elaborate furniture.
The eerie, green skinned, ocean dwelling Qalupalik served as the attendants for the establishment, while the sirens above in the water, caught and delivered the freshest seafood for the visitors. They were awed, it was as if Atlantis had been found and somebody turned it into a restaurant.
"Mr. Black! We are all gathered here." Marlon McKinnon stood from his table and waved the Black children over. "Oh, hello! Who might your guests be?" McKinnon asked, he was wary of strangers given the tacit discretion of the gatherings.
Sever Selwyn's eyes gleamed as he recognized the intruders. "That dear boy, I believe are Bellatrix and Andromeda Black. I've been waiting for Ara to finally introduce you, Bellatrix." Selwyn's address was a little to keen, making Bellatrix recoil.
"Who's scary jerry over here?" Bellatrix asked Ara about Sever Selwyn. Ara and Sever both were properly embarrassed.
"Right, of course, introductions. Let's start with scary Jerry shall we?" Marlon McKinnon teased. "Sever Selwyn, better known, or rather unknown as Chief Unspeakable at the Ministry. I believe you know his daughter, hence the uncomfortable attention on you my dear."
"I'm sorry sir, I have no idea who your daughter is." Bellatrix rebuked the claim.
"I think he's talking about the first year who you manhandled the first few weeks back at Hogwart's, and now for whatever reason won't leave you alone. You know? Selena Selwyn." Andromeda chimed in.
"My little stalker you mean?" Bellatrix eyed Sever, who continued to awkwardly analyse her. "I see the family resemblance at least."
"Moving on, moving on! We have here also, Gaston Gamp – head of the DMLE, and next to him our resident head Auror Edgar Bones." Marlon identified the bear-like Gamp, and the square-jawed young man next to him.
"Joining us with them is-"
"Scheherazade Shafiq! The director of St. Mungo's and the premier magical medic on the hemisphere!" Andromeda's eager outburst left no question about the identity of the olive skinned woman at the table.
Scheherazade lifted her defined, delicate eyebrows "My my! It seems we needn't have bothered with any preamble. Everyone already knows everyone here apparently. Come Ara dear, I'd like for you to sit beside me, you too child, I want know my admirer better." Shafiq spoke in her rich Mediterranean accent and throaty voice.
"And well, lastly, I suppose, is me. Marlon McKinnon." He finished as the rest took their chosen seats. Gamp scoffed at McKinnon's self introduction.
Edgar Bones smiled and decided to pick up the torch "What Marlon isn't telling you, is that he owns every single magical textile manufacturer in Europe. We'd literally be naked without him."
"That's all pish anyway." Gaston gave a rough rejoinder concerning the pleasantries. "Boy! You trust the birds?"
"With my life Gamp." Ara confirmed with full confidence.
Gamp nodded once. "Good, because that's what's at stake. Welcome ladies, to The Disorder! Let's get on with it."

Ara returned to Grimmauld place that night. Neither Bellatrix nor Andromeda allowed any leniency. He entered his room to find his mother sat down on his bed, already waiting for him. Her visage of calm ruined only by the nervous stroking of her ever present brooch.
"I'm still upset with you." Dorea finally said, breaking the silent truce. Ara looked at his mother, she was containing herself – but only just. Her chest was heavy and she'd long since lost the patience to carry the weight.
With a deep sigh he said "I know."
"They were wrong, and they've been punished. Walburga and Orion have been sequestered to their wing, they are not allowed anywhere else for the moment. The same goes for Cygnus, but that is less choice and more necessity – you have rendered him unable to leave the bed for at least another two weeks."
"Good." Came his harsh opinion.
Dorea's face contorted in annoyance at his ruthlessness. "Do not interrupt me. You may feel that they're deserving of their predicament, but what of Druella? She was innocent in all this and you treated her like the worst sort of criminal." Chided Dorea.
Ara visibly calmed himself again, trying his hardest to not be callous with this obviously sensitive topic. The Hogwart's motto sounded like a fair warning for the situation. "And I'm sorry about that, I'll do my best to make nice with her again – she didn't warrant the treatment I gave her. But mum, I'll be honest, I'm not apologizing that I did what I did. Let's skip the theatrics, I know that you saw the necessity of my actions; you just don't approve of how I went about it."
"Fine. Promise me you will show restraint from here on out, and I'll bury the hatchet." Dorea rose swiftly from her perch and strode up to her son.
"Deal." Ara opened his arms, and beckoned her closer.
Dorea drew her arms close around him, resting her head to listen to his heart beat. "You will also apologize to Druella."
"Done. Now can I please have my mother back and not whatever dangerous magical creature I'm hugging?" Dorea hummed in agreement, and gave him a pinch for his insolence.

Druella stared in frustration at the flames. Her brother Andreas was relentless with his pestering. What business was it of his anyways? Any discussions with the Lestranges had been discarded, and Cygnus no longer had any say in the matter.
The confrontation was terrifying sure, but Ara, the sweet boy, had made amends for that terrible evening, profuse in his regret. He had however, made it abundantly clear that nobody had any right to dictate her daughters' lives – and she wholeheartedly agreed.
Where Cygnus got it in his head that anyone would have been in agreement with him – discounting Walburga of course – she didn't know. And what was even more annoying, was Andreas' incessant nattering. These were Black family matters, not Rosier.
"That's about enough Andreas. For the last time, none of my daughters are going to be betrothed to any of your friends' children. Cygnus never should have spoken about this; and he wouldn't have had the nerve, had I had any inkling. That's final!" With her piece said she stood up and walked out. Andreas Rosier was left cursing in the magical fire of the floo call.
Confident that she wouldn't be witnessed, Walburga rushed to the fireplace before Andreas could disconnect. "Walburga? I thought you were under house arrest?" Andreas startled at her sudden appearance.
"Quiet down! I don't have much time. Listen to me carefully, the only way you're getting Black support is if you get rid of that filthy mongrel Ara! Tell my Lord I said that." Just as quickly as she came Walburga left, not willing to risk the repercussions of getting caught disobeying her very strict orders. But her Lord needed to know, and that bastard Ara needed to die. She would make the Blacks great once more!

"And then we visited the MACUSA headquarters, inside they have this disused execution chamber, which was rather horrifying. But, part of it was absolutely fascinating! They'd somehow managed to isolate the pensive memory projection principle in a single spell, and fed it into this tar - enchanted with a devouring curse. It was extraordinary! The implications of crafting that spell boggles the mind!" Pandora exuberantly recounted a few highlights from her trip to the United States.
Ara wasn't paying much attention to the content, much more focused on the passion in her eyes, the soft caress of her skin on his fingers, and her intoxicating scent.
Pandora pouted and tugged on their joined hands "Are you even paying attention to me right now?"
Ara leaned in even closer, nuzzling his nose into her hair just behind her temple. Pandora squealed delightedly at the ticklish sensation. "When you're with me Pandora, there's nothing that can take my mind away from you." His husky whisper fondled her ears. Adventure, romance, escape, Pandora was all of this to Ara.
"Stop it!" Pandora admonished playfully. "We're almost at Hagrid's hut, I'd very much like to avoid my grandparents seeing me being intimate with a boy! Think of the scandal!" she affected faux horror.
"Remind me why they're at Hogwarts again? I thought they lived in America." Ara dragged her back as she tried to spin away from him and his wandering hands.
"I knew you weren't listening! Fine I'll repeat myself, I don't know why a brilliant Ravenclaw like myself bother to bring herself down to your pedestrian intellectual levels." She said, while attempting to keep dodging Ara. "They're here to help get our new magical creatures professor settled – he's their brother-in-law after all-" Pandora pealed in laughter as Ara managed to prod her in her underarm.
"Don't keep me in suspense, who is it?" He chased after her once she managed to wriggle free of his grasp.
Pandora hurried over to the hut and away from Ara "Newt Scamander!"
- 6
- 7
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