Sirius POV
The fire in the manor's great hall crackled, as everyone we trusted who wasn't out gathering supplies sat around the table or as close to everyone as I could stand under one roof. Regulus, Remus, Lucius and Narcissa, Augusta who was perched like a hawk, Amelia Bones with that monocle of hers glinting. Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel sat side by side, ageless and watchful, while Newt Scamander had his knees practically tucked to his chest, half hidden behind a tea tray. Andromeda and Ted were murmuring in low voices near Dora, who had gone with pink hair tonight, probably just to annoy her mother.
I shoved my hands through my hair and leaned on the table. "Alright. Let's not waste any more breath than necessary. Draco came to Cinthy and Neville with something. I'm not gonna lie it's pretty bad, It's about Theodore Nott Jr. He's being beaten bloody by his father, apparently it's been going on for years and it's only getting worse."
A ripple went around the table. No one looked surprised though, too many of us had grown up with that sort of rot. But the weight of it still pressed like a bad curse.
"Cinthy, Draco, and Neville don't want to leave Theo behind to face that bastard alone after we leave." I slammed my palm flat. "And if I'm being honest neither do I."
Amelia was the first to speak, her tone as sharp as ever. "If you want me to push it legally, I can start paperwork. Family Services, welfare checks, sealed reports..."
"No," I cut her off, shaking my head. "You and I both know the Ministry won't lift a bloody quill against Nott. He's a Pureblood Lord with a war chest full of corrupt gold, and enough old favors to choke a dragon. He'll bury it before the ink's dry and he'll still be in that house with Theo screaming under his roof."
Amelia's lips tightened, but she didn't argue. She knew I was right.
"Now that we all know the ministry is useless in this case," I went on. "we can move on. We're not waiting for parchment pushers. We'll handle it ourselves."
Regulus folded his arms, his voice even but sharp. "This is still a line I'm not sure we should cross right before we leave Sirius."
"Everything's a bloody line, Reg," I shot back. "Question is which side do you stand on. Me for example, I stand on the side where kids don't get left with monsters."
Lucius shifted in his seat his pale eyes narrowing. "You mean to steal him?"
"No," I said flatly. "I mean to free him. We get Nott Sr. out of the way and let Theo stand as Lord Nott. Then he packs the vaults, the libraries, the heirlooms, whatever's worth saving from his dying family legacy, and comes with us. Clean slate, full inheritance, and no chains around his throat."
Amelia tapped her monocle, thoughtful now. "If you could find proof of his abuse or worse..."
Lucius gave a humorless laugh. "Proof? You don't need proof. You need opportunity and money in the right persons hands. Nott has more skeletons than this manor's bloody walls. Gambling debts, shady curses, Dark artifacts hoarded where even the Dark Lord wouldn't tread. If you want him in Azkaban, all you need is the right push."
Narcissa's eyes glinted. "And the right witnesses."
I leaned forward, voice low. "Then that's the play. We don't just snatch Theo in the night. We take his father off the board. Azkaban does the dirty work, and Theo walks out the front door as heir with his head high."
Remus rubbed his temple, then nodded slowly. "It's cleaner than any snatch-and-grab. Leaves Theo with power instead of making him a runaway."
Newt cleared his throat from his corner. "And if Nott Senior resists?"
I bared my teeth. "Then we make sure he doesn't walk away from the duel."
The table went quiet at that, but no one argued.
I took a breath, forcing my temper down. "Theo's not the only one, is he?" I turned to Lucius. "You knew of his situation even before Draco brought it up to Cinthy and Neville. So who else from your former colleges has a penchant for child abuse?"
Lucius hesitated, then exhaled, shoulders sharp under his robes. "There are others. Not many, I assure you but there are enough of them. Families that worshipped the Dark Lord and used their children as pawns. Some are cowed too deep to move. Others might welcome a chance to breathe free, especially after the mark disappeared."
"Then we don't stop at Theo," I said. "We do this for every kid worth saving."
My gaze slid to Regulus. "And I want Severus in on this. He's got eyes on every student in that castle. If anyone knows who's being chewed up and spit out by 'old family honor,' it's him. He'll know which ones have fight left in them."
Augusta's cane thudded against the floor. "About time someone stopped wringing their hands. If we're building a new world, then let's not build it on the backs of broken children."
Nicolas gave a long, slow nod. "Atlantis was always meant as a refuge. Perhaps this is part of its call."
Perenelle murmured something in French, her gaze fixed on me. I didn't need the translation. I knew that look. It was the same one Mum (Mrs. Potter) used to wear when James, Remus and I came home bruised and tried to laugh it off.
I dragged in a breath and said, "Alright then. Here's the plan. We dig up enough dirt on Nott to hand him straight to Azkaban. We do it quiet, we do it smart, and the moment the gates shut behind him, Theo inherits. He packs up whatever he wants to keep, and we fold him into our line. Then we move down the list. Any other kids like him, we do the same. No one gets left behind to rot."
Remus leaned back, his voice steady. "And when the Ministry comes sniffing after?"
"They won't find us," I said. "We'll be long gone. Atlantis will keep us safe from their games, and if any fool tries to follow, the city will eat them alive."
I looked around the table. All those faces, all those old names, watching me with something raw in their eyes. Hope and fury mixed together with a flicker of what family was supposed to mean.
"Right then," I said, rolling my shoulders, the old grin tugging at my mouth despite everything. "Let's go dig up secrets and free some kids."