Harry nodded gratefully but said nothing. "I considered adding more gold to it, but knowing the type of person you are I imagine you would have returned it" Arcturus deduced as he took a seat.
"More than likely" Harry agreed.
"I thought as much" the older man observed. "Usually I would find myself feeling very burdened being in the debt of another, but with you it seems to not bother me at all".
"Because you're not in my debt, I did what I did because it was the right thing to do, not for you or your family to owe me anything" Harry pointed out.
Arcturus nodded and smirked.
"You may not see it as a debt, but I do" he revealed. "I've been wracking my brain and thinking of how I can make it up to you and the answer is simple, I can't" he sighed. Harry frowned slightly but waited for the man to continue.
"You saved my family how it is now and most of the next generation" Arcturus began again, deathly serious. "They are my only Granddaughters and you gave them back a freedom that should never have been taken from them" he continued. "I only have two things in the world that I can give you that will begin to atone for that" he declared genuinely.
Harry swallowed at how grave the conversation had begun.
"I think I know why you came back now" Arcturus deduced. "And I can help you" he added.
He reached into a pocket and removed a small leather book which he enlarged, turning it into a large tome.
"Firstly, this is the knowledge of the Black family magic" he explained. "You have Black blood in you somewhere so you can learn it, use it well" he instructed as he placed the book on the bedside table. "Of course, you must keep it to yourself" Arcturus added firmly.
Harry nodded his agreement.
"Secondly and most importantly, I offer you this" Arcturus spoke again offering the teen his hand which Harry accepted.
The pair shook hands and Arcturus nodded before continuing.
"That was not a handshake of appreciation, but a handshake of equality" he informed him. "One of brotherhood and one of a promise" he elaborated. "That means that you now have my word that I will help you in any way that you need in what it is you face" he finished.
Harry nodded.
"Thank you Lord Black" he intoned gratefully.
Arcturus smiled. "We are equals now" he reminded the teen. "You do not bow to me and you may call me Arcturus, you have earned that right" he praised.
"I appreciate it all Arcturus" Harry replied sincerely.
Arcturus nodded and grinned.
"Get well soon" he offered. "Until next time, Harry" he bade the teen farewell.
Harry watched as the man left the room feeling completely surprised by what had just occurred.
He didn't know all that much about Arcturus Black, but he knew that he had just made a very powerful ally for sure.
Tom Marvolo Riddle looked upon his subordinates impassively, though he was completely seething within. The fools had had cost him his best wand in their most recent blunder and now he was completely out of patience with them all, now someone had to be punished, they had to learn that incompetence on such a level would not be tolerated.
He simply could not understand how things could have gone so wrong. He had his suspicions of course, but he wanted to hear the explanation for himself. He needed to know how something that could be considered a minor problem had escalated into what had come to pass.
FLASHBACK
After apparating away from Grimmauld Place, the Dark Lord entered the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade to wait for the other three men to conclude their business with the Black family; the three young girls would be a welcome addition to his ranks and the funds his cause would receive because of the arrangement even more so. He ordered a large glass of red Rioja, a drink he had become very fond of in times of relaxation, and made his way to a private room that he had requested earlier in the day, where he sat and sipped the full bodied wine.
It was around thirty minutes later that he heard the loud voices of his associate in the hallway and immediately noted the dissatisfied look each wore as they entered the room. Clearly all three me were rather furious.
"Am I to assume that your negotiations did not end favourably" he inquired.
"You could say that" Randolph spat.
Seeing that Lestrange was too angry to be coherent, Riddle looked towards Abraxus Malfoy, imploring him to explain.
"It seems that the young Mr. Potter has taken it upon himself to intervene" the blonde man drawled distastefully. The Dark Lord took another sip of his drink before gently placing the glass on the table and narrowed his eyes, thinking deeply.
"The little bastard will die for this, Dolohov will see to it" Lestrange declared angrily.
"Mr. Lestrange, I would not underestimate Mr. Potter, there's something about the boy that is rather unsettling" Voldemort warned.
"He's an interfering little prick" Yaxley concluded bitterly.
"But he is also very talented and powerful, that I have no doubt of" Voldemort mused aloud.
"He's a bloody sixteen year old kid" Yaxley pointed out.
"And yet he has some of the best occlumency skills I have come across" Voldemort stated knowingly. "If he has put that much effort into an obscure branch of magic then imagine how much effort he has put in with his wand" he implored. "He has already proven himself beyond both of your sons and you have been tutoring them since they could walk" he added, staring at Randolph with a stern expression.
The man simply growled and trembled with repressed rage.
"Go and get some air" Voldemort instructed the man. "Antonin will be here shortly, bring him to me".
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