7. House of Black

As soon as the news of the guilty Peter Pettigrew spread in the wizarding world and that the condemned Sirius Black got a trial, a real one and not one that was claimed to be held, the magical community went into uproar.

Worse of all? Pettigrew was apprehended at Hogwarts, where the savior of the world was attending at the moment. And since the supposed dead man was not, it only meant that he was the death eater and not the last Black male, meaning that those scummy followers were still plotting for the return of their master. But that was a story for the department of law enforcement. 

For the wizengamot, the trial held by the minister of magic Cornelius Fudge himself was a matter that settled quickly (they first extracted, without consent, his last sane memories, then interrogate him under Veritas serum, figuring he couldn't fight it off after being so tormented by the dementors). It resulted with the ministry compensating the Black family, but Sirius Black particularly (because he still share their name, unfortunately) of some measly sum as apology.

Peter Pettigrew would be forever concealed in his rat form and sent to Azkaban in his personal jail with an opening for foods only by the exterior. And easily reachable for the dementors, being the jailors and the ones that brought foods. 

However, as the Black family was known to be prestigious and ruthless, Arcturus Black the third sued the ministry to scrub even more money. Not that he was stingy (their vaults, in plurals, were still filled of galleons, thank you very much), but the ministry was full of a bunch of incompetants wizards to the point of needing an eleven years old boy to help them do their job (obviously, it was signed Harry Potter's job, the savior did defeat the dark mage, why not his followers too, dixit Rita Skeeter) and it needed to be robbed of their last dime. By mid-September 1991, the Ministry of Magic lost more founds than during the first wizard war.

Cassiopeia Black, who never legally married to anyone so still a Black who had her share in the Black vaults, eventually stopped her eldest cousin so they could deal with more important matter.

"Which is?" The most aged Black sneered with such elegance his cousin was holding herself not to hex him right then and there.

Instead, she breathed a long breath. 

"Your heir. Sirius got cleaned, he had no wand and probably nowhere to stay, are you really going to do nothing?"

"He got disinherited by his own mother, didn't he?" Lucretia Prewitt noted.

Though not officially a Black anymore, being married into the Prewitt family through Ignatius Prewitt (an uncle of Molly Weasley née Prewitt), Lucretia was the only remaining heir of Arcturus Black III. She's totally the best choice to receive all the inheritance and she didn't have any heir.

"I'm aware, but you can't possibly let the Black name go in oblivion just because of some pride. And let's be honest, you don't have long to live, so have a change of heart and bring Sirius back to the family. Maybe after a decade in Azkaban he matured."

"You're too optimistic. Maybe you're the one who don't have long to live."

"Lucretia, with all due respect-"

"Alright, ladies, no quarell, you're all beautiful."

"See, you're going mad. You never complimented me."

"I usually did, just in my head. Besides, there's still Cygnus."

Both women huffed at that.

Being a distant cousin and marrying quite early into the Prewitt family, Lucretia didn't have to interact much with Cygnus Black III but she heard enough of his daughters. Being his aunt, Cassiopeia had much more interaction and she did not have great relationship with his wife and daughters. With either of them, Bellatrix was already an unsufferable child back in the day and she didn't have much hope for Andromeda and Narcissa, though the latter did get out quickly enough by marrying into the Malfoy family. She did not have much memory of Andromeda, but having been blasted for marrying for love and not to increase the risk of inbreeding, Cassiopeia couldn't exactly fault her. The madness of the family didn't get too much into her, it seemed.

"I think grief can do a lot of thing to a man," Lucretia said politely.

Cassiopeia scoffed at that. "I'm not sure if Cygnus and Druella were even in good relationship. He was mostly overwhelmed of paperworks and to take care of three daughters by himself."

"Anyway, father, you're not going to tell me you're considering giving all your inheritance to this Malfoy heir. I rather let all the galleons and the Black name to Sirius."

"Thank you, I knew you would come into your senses."

"I am not saying that Cygnus will give it to Lucius Malfoy's heir," Arcturus raised his voice to speak over them. "And no, I am neither implying that he let everything to this metamorphomagus, though her ability isn't negligible. But Cygnus still carrying the name of Black doesn't suit well to me."

"You're ruthless. What about Sirius, then?"

"Aunt Cassie, you're oddly focused on him. Are you supporting a blood-traitor just because we share the same blood?"

"I think time's changing and that we're all getting old. Sirius may be dauntless and reckless, he was still raised as a heir. After Regulus, certainly, but he was an acceptable heir."

"I disagree," the other two answered at the same time.

Arcturus rusumed: "I'll see what to do with this heir matter, but you're right that I don't want to see my blood roaming aimlessly in the street like a homeless after being unfairly condemned just because of our name. Hm, another reason to sue the ministry. Let's have him live in the Grimmauld Place, the place must be going stale after Walburga passed away."

Six years wasn't a small period of time. Almost a full time at Hogwarts. And for being all graduated from Slytherin house, they would know. 

"I'm sure their house elf is doing his job," Cassiopeia tried to be optimistic. 

"If he didn't leave," Lucretia muttered.

With that, they retrieved a scruffy looking Sirius who looked at them with distrust but allowed them to bring him back to his childhood house by apparition. 

"Well, Kreacher did such a good job maintening the place," was the first thing Sirius said.

More like grumble and Lucretia conjured him a glass of water with a distaste look. Cassiopeia then cast a cleaning charm to him and conjured a comb and a potion for hair before charming them both to do the job because she wasn't going to touch him in this state. Arcturus only tapped his cane on the flour, waiting in a poised and proud stance. 

When nothing happened, he shouted the elf's name who immediately poped in.

Recognizing them, it bowed lowly before glaring at Sirius when the latter scoffed meanly.

"What's the meaning, elf? Where were you and not tending of your work?"

"Kreacher apologizes! Kreacher didn't know the masters would be coming! Kreacher tended to the house every two days and dust mistress Walburga's portrait everytime!"

"You can't forgive her from time to time, if you want my pieces."

"We don't, Sirius, keep quiet for awhile, would you?" Lucretia glowered at him.

Sirius gave her back just as much.

"So, the place is taken care," Arcturus send a look to his daughter before looking down again on the elf who didn't move an inch from the floor. "Well, this is good enough. Sirius is allowed to live here for the time being till he could find his own place. Kreacher will be working for him starting today but no need to consider part of the family. Yet."

Not daring to say anything, Kreacher's back could only tremble of such fate. Even Sirius, who was now more presentable thanks to Cassiopeia's magic tending, winced. He ran away from this place fifteen years ago but he had to unfortunately be back because he didn't have anything anymore. 

"What about the heirship? We're still not done, Arcturus."

"If you mind so much go find us a heir."

"If I may suggest, how about we tour the place? Maybe we could find something."

"You want to check the elf's work? Very trusting, aren't you?"

Lucretia ignored her nephew, though only biological unfortunately enough because she sure didn't considere him in name, to wait for her father's opinion. The man exchanged a look with his cousin, arching a brow as if challenging her to speak about the heir once again, who only sighed before following the group. They got out of the dinning room and stepped into the grand entryway where all the gas lamps lighted up despite still being mid-afternoon. Facing the door, the wall of the grand staircase leading upstair was still decorated of beheaded house elfs.

Lucretia sniffed distastefully. "I forgot how much the decoration was disheartening. We should get rid of that."

"Kreacher, you take care of that," Arcturus commended.

"Yes, master Arcturus."

With a snap of fingers, the heads vanished, probably stored in the attic for the moment. The four of them progressed in the long hallway, watching uninterestedly the portraits ornating the walls, until the new addition framed with velvety curtains.

"Well, if this isn't new. Walburga, dear cousin, how are you doing?"

Curiously enough, unlike most portraits, the portraits of Walburga Black was mostly frozen where the subject could only move her head and her mouth notably.

"Cousin Lucretia, a pleasure to have you here, with father Arcturus! I see that aunt Cassiopeia did the trip too to visit our fathers house, please do help yourself, or just seek for Kreacher," the portrait greeted the three members of Black family.

A figure stood out and the look of the portrait twisted immediately and shout with virulence at its former son, blast-off of the family tree by the subject non later than fifteen years ago. After much slurs under Sirius cheeky grin with manic eyes, the three other Black pushed Sirius out of the way with Kreacher glaring madly at the former convict. With a flick of hand, Arcturus closed off the curtains on the portrait, finding them very convenient.

"Alright, I think Walburga's portrait made her point, I'd like to see the painter and give him a piece of mind to portray her so precisely. When was it made anyway?"

"A year after master Orion's death. Mistress Walburga was feeling quite alone and thought about talking with another voice."

"And she chose herself, what a vain woman," Sirius nodded to himself like appreciating a private joke.

"You would know best, you lived with her for sixteen year, didn't you?"

"Exactly. And that's also why I left as soon I could. And I know you don't appreciate me, which is mutual, but do I really have to bear with that?"

"Well, you're certainly not welcome to my cottage if that's what you're asking. Besides, if you really don't want to stay, you better find a place for yourself quickly."

Arcturus' words being final, no one spoke again while climbing to the first floor. Lucretia lead them to the drawing room, just to show them the family tapestry and who could still be a choice of heir. Cassiopeia had to bite her tongue to not say anything while stepping into the room. Arcturus got distracted while admiring his Order of Merlin, first class, then moved to the family photos in silver frame and thought about changing them in gold since he had so much now. Sirius silently approached the tapestry and looked for a particular name but got diverted by the elf's frenzied behavior.

"Kreacher?" Lucretia called him out, attracting everyone else.

"Yes! Masters?"

He was fiddling with his dirty cloth, trying to hide something while playing off his disturbing demeanor.

"What you got there? Taking the family's possession? Maybe aunt Lucretia was right to be suspicious."

"So now I'm aunt Lucretia?"

"I can't really just call you by your name, now can I?"

"Kreacher," Arcturus' voice rumbled and waited for the elf.

The creature hold out a locket with an intricate S on it. No one moved. From the end of the stretched out and trembling arm, the locket in hand was emitting strong dark magic and even for the four Black who were born and grew up into a family known for practicing dark arts, the artefact was an affront.

"Explain." Again, Arcturus's tone didn't leave any choice. Especially accompanied with the clack of his cane.

"It's an artefact left by master Regulus! He told Kreacher to destroy it to beyond a point of repair, but Kreacher failed! Kreacher failed master Regulus!"

"Wait, before you punish yourself, tell us how and when Regulus got this," Cassiopeia demanded.

"It was in 1979, master Regulus just joined the dark mage that was ascending in power! But the dark mage asked Kreacher to do something and it didn't please master Regulus, so master-..."

"Well, what did Regulus did?"

Kreacher didn't get the chance nor was he actually going to answer that Lucretia exclaimed telling them to look at the tapestry.

"Would you look at that! There's no death date for Regulus!"

"What? That's not possible I just saw it! It was in 1979-"

"Didn't Kreacher said Regulus got this dark artefact in the same year? Does that mean the locket modified his deathdate on the family tapestry with its dark magic and that Regulus was, is actually..."

No one dared finish Cassiopeia's thought, not wanting to hope for too much but also having the hope almost choking them to silence. Abruptly, Arcturus' eyes zeroed on his daughter, who was acting quite suspicously for awhile now, and he shouted.

"Lucretia! You know something!"

She tensed. "Maybe, but only the end of the story, why don't you question the elf?"

Once again, all attention returned to Kreacher who shrunk under the crazy look of its masters.

"Master Regulus was thinking of defecting the dark side after what the dark mage did to Kreacher! Master Regulus saw Kreacher suffering and asked Kreacher to tell him what happened. The dark mage had borrowed Kreacher to apparate into a cave infested of inferi and forced Kreacher to drink a potion that the drinker see terrible things so he could hide the locket inside to protect it from being taken by anyone! The cave had a spell that prevented wizard from disapparating and the opposite, but it doesn't work on house elves, so Kreacher escaped the inferi. But master asked Kreacher to go back so he could retrieve the locket and insisted to drink the potion himself because he didn't want Kreacher to suffer again, then he swapped a fake locket to the one real one. But the potion made master thirsty so he tried to quell it by drinking the water of the lake, but the inferi emerged and tried to pull down master!"

"Regulus!" Cassiopeia gasped along Lucretia.

"Kreacher was going to save master, of course! But master ordered Kreacher to get out and destroy the locket immediately and Kreacher couldn't disobey so Kreacher disapparate out of the cave-"

"You did not!" Sirius howled.

"Kreacher did! Kreacher apparated back to Black house and hide the locket in the drawing room before apparating back in the cave. The inferi had pulled down master Regulus, Kreacher thought it was too late but Kreacher still tried to save master Regulus and burnt down all the clingy inferi. But even after pulling master out of the water and out of danger, master's body suddenly shrunk to the size of a baby! Kreacher didn't have time, the inferi were coming again so Kreacher apparated to mistress Walburga who told Kreacher to give the baby to mistress Lucretia who didn't have any heir when Kreacher said the baby was a young master Black."

A long silence hang between them when the tale came to an end.

Sirius sank to his knees, feeling lifeless. And both women had to find a seat too, due the adrenaline. Only Arcturus stood, tall and proud, despite his old age of 90. His eyes were still pinned on the locket.

"So Regulus defected from his master after learning him creating horcrux."

Sirius had to frown at that, never hearing about this term, while Cassiopeia let out a gasp again et Lucretia blanched.

"Even for a supremacist, this kind of art is too much," Lucretia muttered, voice meek.

"Not really surprising, you have to admit. The kid did have quite the body count with him."

"Pff, kid? Was it how you refere to you-know-who?"

"Better than what you call him."

"Well, not that his name matters. Lucretia, now, tell us your part in this."

Lucretia had to cross her arms around her, showing her pride of being a Black and not regretting deceiving them.

"I, for one, was taken by surprise too. Kreacher showed up out of nowhere in the Prewett manor and told me the baby in his arms was Regulus. After a blood ritual to confirm it, I had to believe it however incredible it was. I don't know if it's the elf magic who did something while thinking of saving Regulus, or Regulus himself whose magic act in defence, but he was your regular baby of months old. I took care of him for two years before I had to find him another caretaker because I have to take care of Ignatus who was too grief striken for loosing his twin nephew to the war. So as soon as the bully got vanquished, I left young Regulus to one of your cousin, Sirius."

"Who?! It can't be Bella, because that skank was send to Azakaban no long after me. Got caught while torturing the Longbottoms thinking they knew how to bring their bully of master as you call him."

"Well, it doesn't left a lot of option, does it? And no, he's not raised with the Malfoy brat. So it only left the only sane cousin who married for love thus assuring a good environment and family affection."

"Andromeda..."

 

In early evening, five pops signaling magic apparition echoed in a muggle area.

They were grouped before a normal house that didn't display any wealth. It had two stories and the light were turn on on both rooms of the ground floor. The window must be protected by some spell because nothing could be seen. Before they could approach, the door opened and the sound of clatter from the kitchen could be heard meaning the family was going to eat dinner soon. The light flow out but no one got out due to a crash and pitiful swearwords that followed suit.

"Don't worry, I got that, Dora! You better go or you're going to be late," came a young voice.

"Thanks, Reggie, you're the best! I really can't miss a special training with the Moody!"

"Don't call me that!"

"Bye, Reggie, bye mom and dad!"

A chorus of goodbye answered the pink hair woman who cleared the way to take off in the alley opposite to the group who used the fact the door was still opened to be invited. But the young dark boy who was about to close the door watched them warily as they approached in their poised and proud stance.

"Hello, dear, would you call the owner of the house for us?" Lucretia kneeled to talk on his level. "We'd like to have a chat with her."

"The owner of the house is a man, would you like me to call for him?"

"No thanks," Arcturus spoke up and looked straight into the boy's eyes. "Call for Andromeda, she's the one we'd like to talk to."

Regulus, and it could only be him as he looked exactly at the youngest Black at eleven, looked quietly at his estranged grandfather before sneakily glancing the elf behind all those adults legs and nodded.

"Please give me a moment." 

He vanished behind the door without closing it but didn't say anything audible to the group before someone else came to the door. Needless to say, Andromeda Tonks was shocked to see so many familiar face after so long. Though, once recognizing aun Lucretia, she came to an understanding and let them in wordlessly.

"Regulus, how about you help Teddy in the kitchen? Take Kreacher with you now that he's back."

Regulus watched the elf skedadle from behind the guests to settle beside him meekly and looked at each new faces before nodding and doing as told quietly. No one could tore their eyes from his back, even when he disappeared behind the kitchen's door. Only then did they allow Andromeda, the blood-traitor that dishonoured their name and purist ideology for love, to lead them to the dinning room.

"Well, it's been a long time since I last saw any of you. I would have offered you some drinks but I fear you'll reject because it's from some dirty mudblood."

"You're right in your assumption, we're not here for frivolity," Arcturus took the lead once again in a stern voice.

Both he and the two other members of Black ignored Sirius when he muttered 'speak for yourself'.

"So straight to the business. Fine with me. But first, Sirius, I'm glad that your name got cleared out. I always knew you would never do something like that."

"Thanks, Andy, you're the true one."

"Now, yes, Regulus is Sirius' brother, uncle Arcturus' grandson, aunt Cassiopeia's cousin twice removed and, of course, aunt Lucretia's nephew that you have let me raise at the end of the war."

"You knew the reason."

"I do, and thankfully, Nymphadora was already at age to understand responsability and to take care of someone else. Despite her clumsiness."

"Wonder where it comes from."

"If you want to be rude, you can't leave, uncle Arcturus. I do not have time for this, my family and I are ready for dinner."

"Very well, I shall restrain on my...commentary about your relation. Is Regulus your regular eleven years old, right now?"

"Twele years old. And yes, as much as his body showed. No lingering scar from his former childhood, no tattoo made during his former teens and no memories of this time either."

"So he's basically reborn and got to live a new life?" Cassiopeia summarized.

"As he deserved."

"True," Sirius immediately took his favorite cousin's side. "If Regulus' really gonna take the Black's mantle, he should do it with a whole new experience and redress the name with a different reputation instead of the Black craziness."

"Who said he will be the heir? He's twelve but he does go to Hogwarts? Does he even have magic?"

At Andromeda's silence, her audience let their shock showed.

"He's perhaps a late bloomer? I mean, maybe the elf's magic did something like it changed his physical form?" Lucretia tried to find a reason.

"As if slowing his growth? Or reverse it? Or whatever it did? If it's just slowing it down, it's still alright, right, Arcturus?"

The patriarch narrowed his eyes at Andromeda but wasn't actually looking at her. He let a few moment of silence passed and Andromeda eventually shrugged.

"It's not like I ever hide anything from him. He asked me questions after realizing that the whole family could do magic, though not doing any accidental magic himself, but he brew potions if it's anything."

"So could squibs," Arcturus snapped more rigid than expected.

The silence hung between them before Andromeda shrugged again. "He could ride a broom, he did it once in secret but I surprised him trying Nymphadora's last Cleansweep."

"Is he as good as seeker's supposed to be?" Sirius asked avidly, remembering their school years and how his brother was in Slytherin Quidditch team.

"I guess? I'm not really into Quidditch, or flying for that matter."

"What about school? Are you telling me he's enrolled into a, a muggle school?" Arcturus all but spitted the words.

"Indeed. Year 7 of the local comprehensive school. It's the closest so Teddy or I could pick him up easily."

"Was Kreacher alright with that? For his deep encrased education from Walburga."

"He made a huge scene, calling me names too, but my house, my rules. And if he wanted to serve his beloved master, he will listen his guardian."

"So why isn't he going to Hogwarts? If he does have magic."

"If you want to talk about technicalities, he's historically 30, so Regulus Arcturus Black doesn't need to go to Hogwarts again. We didn't thought about purchasing a wand to text if he really does have magic and try to enroll him in another wizard school because we wanted him close to us, to assure his security, since there were rumors that the dark wizard could be back. We wanted him to have a peaceful life and loving family who he can count on when he need help, something he didn't get from his 18 years of another life."

"Funny you say that. Because there's chance he will be back. The dark mage, that is, hopefully not Regulus' former life."

"What? Why would you say that?"

Lucretia was about to call for Kreacher when the door of the kitchen opened and Regulus came in, looking for the guests.

"Andy, dad wants to know if our guests will be staying for dinner so he could adjust the portion."

"That's a generous offer, but we won't be staying and bothering you for long. We just need some more time with Andromeda and we'll be gone."

"But back again so we could to get to know you better, won't we father?"

A second and Arcturus nodded stiffly. "Of course, you'll be seeing us for quite a lot in the near future, we shall mend our grandparent-grandchil relationship."

Regulus looked shocked at that and looked at Andromeda for confirmation, who nodded seriously.

"Regulus, meet your grandfather on the father side, Arcturus Black who you share your middle name. This is Lucretia Prewett, you paternal aunt. Cassiopeia Black, your mother's side grand-aunt. And Sirius, your brother."

"My brother?"

"Yes, due reasons he will explain you, he wasn't reachable for the past decade, but he wishes to rekindle to you if you will. For all of them."

Too stunned, the boy could only nodd before being shooed back to the kitchen where he's requested to send the elf for them. Kreacher popped in, trembling a little. But one clack from the Black's patriarch and the elf pulled out the locket again. Andromeda recoiled, as if burnt as if the dark aura of the artefact.

"What is this?"

"A dear horcrux made by dark mage, in the process to be destroyed by Regulus but he got turn into an infant before he could."

Andromeda made a strangle noise.

"Even you know about it, Andy? Is it that bad?"

"You would have known if you were a little more interested of the Black education. And it's more than bad. The fact this artefact was in function means that the dark wizard could come back anytime thanks to his devoted followers."

"Who all cowered away either because of fear or because they lost faith. But that's not the worse, I believe there're more than this one."

"Why? What makes you think that?"

"The nature of the artefact. This not your usual locket, this one belonged to the late Salazar Slytherin, yes, the founder of Hogwarts and where all of us were sorted."

Sirius snikered, understanding how he wasn't even included.

"And since he dared used Slytherin's heirloom from the history, he probably did it with the others founders heirloom?"

"More than probable. He's quite the greedy man. So we have to look for Hufflepuff's cup, Ravenclaw's diadem and Gryffindor's sword."

"Would he have bother with the sword? Wasn't the rivalry between the two houses since the dawn of time?"

"We cannot overlook any hints just because of rumors, Sirius. Now, there's not a lot of way to destroy horcrux, but we do know that Basilisk's poison could get rid quickly or we could cast fiendfyre."

"If we know how to control the fire, that is."

"Again, you would be included if you have follow the lessons."

Sirius turned a shocked look to his cousin who looked pained, though she only knew about the theory too, having failed the one time she tried.

"How do we procceed? Do we hire someone to find all those heirloom?"

"Of course, we have more money than not to pay them. Let's each publish an ask for lost item in the Daily Prophet, our Black's name could attract quite the sycophant."

"Or con that want to swindle you and succeed thanks your age and rumored madness."

"They may try to defend against our reknown dark arts. We shall also spy on these followers to see if they knew anything."

"I doubt it could come up with anything. The creation of horcrux is horrific in itself, other than our family, none were versed enough in the art to know anything."

"Still worth a try. Maybe Cygnus could even be useful and look into the Lestranges, as the British branch is definitely extinct."

"You want to rip him out of the little possession he has."

Arcturus waved away Cassiopeia's comment and nodded his head to Andromeda before departing by the muggle way at the same time Edward Tonks was coming from the kitchen. His cousin rolled her eyes before following suit through the door as the house was bewitched with anti-transplanage spell. For security. Lucretia waited for Regulus who was arriving behind his guardian.

"Hey, Regulus, you may not remember but I was your first guardian when Kreacher rescued you."

"Yes, aunt Lu."

"That's me, I'm glad to see you're alright. I will leave you with Sirius who I think would probably stay there instead of the first choice. See you shortly."

Now left with only the Tonkses and Sirius no last name, they all felt the hunger now that the meal was ready. Sirius looked a little uneasy, balancing on one foot to another, Ted came to his rescue.

"Sirius! I'm glad to see you're free! I read the deserved trial on the news and Dromeda and I were waiting for you to drop by. And from what Kreacher told Regulus, I knew that you would stay."

"Thanks, Ted. That means a lot, and thank you for all you did for Reggie."

"Don't call me that," said Reggie bristled.

Sirius ruffled his perfect hair and the two found back their old brotherhood, despite the 20 years of age gap. They started eating then, the Black descendants trying to recover everything after they went adrift. After that, Sirius was invited to sleep there as long as he needed with Andromeda providing all help needed so he could go back to society like a functional human.

Once Regulus went to bed early because they were on school night, Sirius asked Andromeda about him.

"I noticed he call you Andy but Ted dad."

"As I said, I never hide anything from him, including his heritage but omitting the name as he also keep up with the wizarding world and the Black would show up, or worse when he looked into the books. And, well, after he learned that I was actually his cousin, he must have figured that I was pressured to raise him and somehow...he distanced himself."

"You did mother us quite a lot. I guess you were always meant to be a caretaker."

"I really hope you're right. Well, let's get you a nice sleep so you can find back your good-look."

"Hey, I resent that! I'm still good-looking!"

"Not after ten years in Azkaban, no."

 

It took some days for the other Black to contact them again.

By now, Sirius got used of the Tonkses' schedules. Andromeda would stay at home and brew and sell potions to make a living, Ted would leave by early morning for his shift at St. Mungo in the Janus Thickey ward while Nymphadora "Tonks/Dora" would take off for the ministry and Regulus went to school by foot. Sirius was appointed to pick up his brother so they could have time to get to know each other better.

During that period, he used the money he inherited from uncle Alphard and got himself a wand (with a few comment from Ollivander that he refused to respond by anything) and a motorbike like the one he used to own and gift to Hagrid so the half-giant could take an infant Harry to a safe place. The transport tasted like freedom and although Regulus didn't think the same, the ride became their new routine.

Through Regulus, he learned about muggle customs a lot and even tried to get used on his own sometimes. And because he just got out of prison, his brother suggested he go see a muggle mind-healer during the time he's not brewing potion with his cousin to earn pocket money and not survive through other people's money and before picking him up. Thanks to that, he got to think about his godson, who was studying at Hogwarts in this very instant, and plan their first meeting.

A month later, mid-October, they received a letter from Cassiopeia. The news were a mixte of emotions as Lucretia came to deliver it herself, having dropped by a lot since. Sometimes, Ignatus came with her and it was nice to interact with a pureblood without actually having to act like one, not that he was a blood-traitor but he didn't have any prejudice, besides the man did take care of Regulus for two years and considered as his own. That time, he didn't make the trip, which was better.

First, through Daily Prophet with the article written by Rita Skeeter for more sensation, there was only one found. And not even one of the founders' heirloom. It was a ring belonging to the last Gaunt, Marvolo of his name. Because it was best to look into the founders' descendants if one wished to get a hand of inheritance. Of course, the Blacks weren't stupid enough to say they were looking for the heirloom, but the dealer called Mundungus Fletcher knew about these kinds of item. Anyway, he only retraced Slytherin's descendant, the Gaunts with the line extinct when the last heir, Morfin, got imprisoned in Azkaban in 1920s, but with the ring hidden in their shack at Little Hangleton.

But after looking into the place, they learned that the closest village was Little Hangleton where the family got killed Riddle by Morfin himself in 1940s. Which didn't add up as he was imprisoned at this time, according to the ministry's records. Lucretia then remembered the name Riddle, there was a gifted kid by this name during her school year, Tom Riddle, who was two years younger than her. In her last year, Riddle helped Hogwarts found the culprit who opened Salazar's Chamber of Secret, Rubeus Hagrid who got expelled in consequence. From there, Lucretia presumed Riddle was the heir of Slytherin and so the dark wizard himself.

Sirius almost laughed himself to death learning you-know-who's real identity. So a half-blood, huh?

Second, with the spying (making Kreacher asked around to the other house elves), they got hinted of two others horcruxes, and only one was a heirloom. They also lerned that lord Nott was also in the same school year than Tom Riddle and started following his supremacist ideology since then. Despite being the oldest followers, he knew nothing of any heirloom. Anyway, one horcruxes was given to Bellatrix Lestrange and that where Cygnus Black play his part in retrieving item from the Lestrange's vault, because he was the only antescedant, the goblin accepted but only for one item because they're the creators of the gold anyway. Being versed in dark arts, Cygnus got Hufflepuff's cup in no time. For the other, house elf Dobby from Malfoy house did an incredible job just in the name of wizarding world's savior. He stole the diary his master was keeping but also fearing and gave it to Kreacher, making him promise to come in help to the savior's if need arise. Kreacher had to to get rid of the clingy and emotional elf.

Sirius restrained his second manic laugh, the-one-you-must-not-named had a diary? Made it kinda childish.

Third, no news of the diadem.

They had a fair assumption to think it's at Hogwarts. And that's where the letter turned out worrying.

Arcturus Black's health was declining. Probably due to the constant presence of the horcruxes, that had risen to four, despite only having a glimpse before Kreacher hid them to Grimmauld Place. Resulting in the writing of the will. A wild guess that it was all handed down to Regulus, including the ancestral home, who will become the lord at his death. The shocking part was that, due to being physically and mentally underage, Sirius will act as regent till his brother's in age. And that, when Regulus made his appearance in the magical world, he better pretended to be Sirius' son.

It all lead to the last part of the letter which was a plan to visit Hogwarts to look for the last two (hopefully) heirlooms and how to get in. If all the other Blacks had known a secret passage in, Sirius had created a magic map with his bests friends and knew about seven. Not that he will tell them that, or even have the map as proof, so he kept quiet and watched Andromeda exchanging with the others, despite herself not actually part of the Black anymore.

By the end of the month, they had decide to just request a visit to Hogwarts Board of Governor, giving a tips to Lucius Malfoy especially. It just so happened the granted date was the day following Halloween and that an almost disaster happened there.

Kreacher told them that a troll was introduced last evening. Everything turned out alright, the headmaster got rid of it, but the elves were all talking about how the savior calmed the situation with his magics words alone. Harry Potter sure was someone.

It did the trick for Sirius and he insisted to tag along.

Nevermind that would be his first time back in the magical world after ten years of silence. Or that it would be the first meeting with his godson Harry.

Sirius had to see with his own two eyes the person who helped him out of Azkaban by convicting Pettigrew for him.