Chapter 25
ALDER EVANS
The Longbottom manor was as large as a castle, and for good reason. The place had been a castle before, and yet the Longbottoms were as compact as a family could be. Currently the castle was occupied by but a few old servants, that cared for the estate, Augusta Longbottom and Frank Longbottom.
Frank had lost both his parents a few years ago to some esoteric disease, and so silence and pain had lingered in the Longbottom manor ever since. But no more.
For now, the castle was filled with the giggling of young girls, and the constant coming and going of designers, and jewellers, and guests. Alice and their family had come to live with the Longbottoms for some time as well, and the two families planned on spending their Christmas together.
Lily had little time for him, as she was busy with Alice helping her with the preparations, while Alder and the boys mostly spent their days playing Quidditch, or duelling if they so dared.
Most of it was harmless fun, as they tore into their old friend and senior for his nuptials. James and Sirius had been invited as well, yet the two of them had yet to come, making it so that only Alder, Ted and Frank were together, though others would be joining them soon enough.
Ever since his defeat at the Hands of the Six Slytherins, Alder had been contemplating much about the reasons behind his failure and what he might do to rectify it. In the end, the answer he had reached was experience and instinct.
He could proudly boast that there was hardly anyone in Hogwarts who could use magic as he did, and yet despite all that he had lost. Yes, he was numerically outnumbered but still, he should have been able to take out the Snakes despite everything.
Yet he had lost.
And now, he moved slightly as Frank's spell whipped past his ear, as he transfigured the ground under his feet into quicksand, taking him by surprise. But Frank was not a student.
He was an Auror, and the balding boy did not waste a second, as his body popped away as he blocked his next attacks with a simple Protego, deflecting back the barrage towards him.
POP!
Alder, heard the pop of apparation from his right, and was quick to raised a shield to protect himself from the disarming spell, as he used his hand to cast a spell.
"Protego," and chanting the name gave him some advantage when he was casting without his wand, and he heard Frank click his tongue, as he rolled to the side avoid his own spell.
"Damn you, and your wandless casting," the Pure Blood Auror cursed, as he launched his own barrage of attacks.
"Expelliarms, Relashio, Difindo," and the spell chain gave Frank little time to counter, as he cast defensive spells one after another, and yet he could sense that the man had a trick hidden up his sleeve.
"LUMOS!" suddenly he cast, and the bright light stung his eyes, and this was his own trick that was being used against him, and before letting his spell tear him apart, Alder chose to apparate away, and felt his body squeeze through the air.
And he appeared behind Frank, who turned towards him as he heard the pop.
"Protego," he was quick to react, showing his honed skills yet he had made the wrong choice as Alder used one of his own little inventions.
"Sectus," and his tongue slurred as he whispered those words, as the spell simply passed through his shield, much to Frank's surprise and hit him in the chest sending him tumbling back, but drawing no blood.
Disoriented and troubled, the Auror could do little to avoid his next disarming spell, and soon enough his ash wand came into his hands, as the Auror rolled on the ground.
"Damn," he cursed as groaned as Alder walked up to the boy amidst cheers from Ted.
"I told you," he said, as Alder helped up the senior, who was gracious enough to take his hand.
"You have become even more of a menace," Frank Longbottom complimented, and this was their fifth bout in as many days, and his first clean victory.
"You should really consider becoming an Auror," Frank suggested, and that was on his plans.
"No," Ted was quick to cut in.
"He should become a duellist. He would be a champion before he is twenty, and would be rolling in Galleons," and a career as a duellist was definately more lucrative financially, if one was successful.
"You could win," Frank agreed, as Alder passed him back his wand.
"I am still considering my options," he answered cryptically, and he truly was not yet sure of what he wanted to do with his life. All of his plans began and ended with Voldmeort, and until he had taken care of the Dark Lord, he felt as if he could not quite think of himself just so.
"Indeed," and this time another voice cut from the side, and they all turned to see Lily, McKinnon and Alice coming up to them.
Alice was younger than Frank by some years, and the sweet girl smiled as she gave him a nod.
"Thank you for sparing my future husband," and then those eyes turned towards Frank, as she added softly.
"And you just made me lose ten galleons," and Frank made a face as McKinnon clapped his siter's hand.
"Damn! How can I ever make up for that," he asked, and Alice smiled.
"I don't know. There are few guests that have come to congratulate us. You could help me deal with them," and the Longbottoms were an old family, while Alice was a first gen pure blood, and was not much fond of extended families and traditions.
"Of course," Frank agreed, and the two sauntered away leaving the four of them alone.
"Duty Calls," Frank said, as Ted rolled his eyes.
"More like wife calls," Ted teased, as he turned towards his sister.
"Anything from James? When are he and Sirius coming?" he asked, taking her by surprise.
"Tommorow, but its the third time you have asked me about James why?" she asked.
"Nothing important," he lied, and she did not believe that.
"No. That is a lie," and she began to push, and him and Ted exchanged glances for he had the same interest.
"We just want to talk with Sirius...." and Lily frowned.
"Why?" she asked.
"We just want to talk to him," Ted added, and he decided to turn towards McKinnon who had grown awfully quiet in during their conversation.
"Do you want to duel?" he asked her taking her by surprise.
"What?" she asked, rattled.
"I asked if you wanted to duel," he said moving the conversation along.
"Sure," she agreed, and it had been some time since they had duelled one another, and they took their stances and began a duel that was far tamer in comparison to the one he had had earlier.
They were busy with that when Alice came calling for them.
"Come, its time for lunch," she began, and the four of them came in, only to see Frank shaking hands with someone.
"AHH! These are my friends from school," Frank began, as he introduce them.
"This is Ted, Lily, and you must already know McKinnon," he said, and Alder was behind them and yet much to everyone's surprise, the man already knew of him.
"And you must be Alder Evans," he said offering his hand, and as Alder took the hand he looked at the man curiously, dissecting his blue eyes and dirty brown hair, which seemed somewhat familiar.
His face was squarish, much like the girl he had met a few weeks ago at school.
"Bones," the words skipped out of his mouth, as the man smiled.
"Indeed, I was told you were rather smart," he began, as Frank blinked owlishly.
"You know of him?" he asked.
"Only through reputation. A stellar reputation if I say so myself," he added, as Alder smiled.
"I believe Amelia made a mention of him," Ted cut in, as Edgar Bones nodded.
"She did indeed, and she believes that we should hire you as an instructor at the DMLE," and he had no idea that the Bones girl thought so highly of him.
"Well, you could. He is a fifth year and still managed to defeat him," Alice teased her husband, who smiled skittishly.
"Is that so?" Edgar asked turning towards Frank who nodded.
"He is a menace," he added, as Edgar excuses.
"Well, we might just have to see if you are not just making excuses," he teased, and Edgar Bones was the deputy head of the DMLE and his secret accomplice in his plot against Lucius and his ilk.
"Are you sure you won't stay for lunch?" and Bones shook his head.
"Maybe later. I have a lot of work piled up at the office, and with you on holiday I don't have anyone to pile it up on," and the duo chuckled, as he made to leave though not before stopping at the door.
"And Mr. Evans," he called out.
"Yes," he began.
"If you did indeed defeat Captain Longbottom, I just might call on you at the academy," he added, shocking everyone in the room.
"For a few lessons, at first of course. I will write to you about the dates," and Alder did not know what to say.
"I will be looking forward to it," he said, and with that the man headed to the floo, and took a handful of Powder.
"Ministry of Magic," and the green fire carried him away, as Lily chose to break the silence.
"What the hell was that?" she asked.
"That was your brother getting recruited by the Deputy Head of the DMLE..."
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NARCISSA BLACK
Half Breed.
That was what his father called the so called Dark Lord, and the sheer tension in the room was palpable.
Narcissa could easily venture that none here thought that Sirius would show up to the meeting, and the mere thought of Dorea Black attending this family gathering would not have even crossed anyone's mind.
Yet she was here. The infamous Dorea Black, a woman who had broken the political divides, and had married Charlus Potter, going against the wishes of both families. Their marriage had been a scandal that had shaken their entire society, and yet time had a way of burying old tales, and it had been years since someone had taken that name in these Halls.
But now she sat there, beside her grandfather as her father and Aunt glared at her, while their grandfather insulted the most feared wizard of Great Britain without any care.
"I turn my sights away from this family for a few years. A few years and this is what you make of us," Arcturus Black was filled with rage, and his sons and family could do little as they grit their teeth and held their tongues.
"You enslave yourselves to an up-jumped half breed," and again it was that word.
Half-Breed. And she could not make sense of it, and yet she was too afraid to speak up.
"Do not speak of him that way," and it was her sister who chose to speak up, as her father chose to add quietly.
"If your insolence reaches his ears, it will destroy everything that we have done to raise our family's standing," but Arcturus Black was not in a forgiving.
"I will call him for what he is. An upjumped Half-breed who has blinded you all with his power and antics. He is a conman, and you lot have let him fool you," and it finally clicked together.
He was calling the Dark Lord a Half Breed. Lord Voldemort was a half blood.
"He is the most powerful wizard ever," her father argued, before he turned to the rest of the table.
"And yet he hides in the shadows," and this time it was Dorea Black who spoke, her voice cold and aloof, as she leaned back in the chair and raised a brow.
"Powerful, you say and yet he lacks the courage to use even his real name. He relies on the likes of your daughter, and her fellows to spread his fear as he tries to push forward his agenda," and she made a face, as her father's fists balled up, the anger from the humiliation still simmering inside.
"Even Grindelwald was better than this," and Walburga Black chose to chime in.
"Do not compare him to that man. Grindelwald was a failure, but Lord Voldemort is the most powerful wizard of the century. There is no comparison between them," and her grandfather spoke up from his seat as he looked down at her aunt.
"Use his real name, Walburga. Have the courage for that. You know who he really is," and she refused to back down.
"He is the man who will rid out society of those wretched Mud Bloods and half bloods. His own legacy matters little as long as he serves our purpose," and he scoffed.
"Then him do that on his own. For from this day forwards, the most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black will sever all support for this Dark Lord and his aspirations," and the shock was palpable.
"You cannot do that! I have made promises and given my word," her father rose to his feet.
"Then you better fulfill them on your own, for no single knut will go to his cause from the Black vaults," and at that he turned towards her and Andromeda.
"As for the betrothals that you made at his directions. I will annul them both..." and she felt her heart jump at those words, before her aunt's shrill voice tore through the air.
"You cannot do that!" and her grandfather's patience had run out.
"And why can't I do that?" he asked, and it was her father who answered.
"Because we have already signed the documents. Breaking the betrothal would see us forfeit the dowry amount to the Two Houses," and the room turned quiet at that, as her grandfather's face flushed.
"You fool!" and it was Dorea Black who chastised her father, who looked triumphant as he stood way.
"What have you done!" and he shrugged, as both her and Andy paled.
"We did what was best for House Bla..."
"Don't you dare finish that sentence!" her grandfather raged, before he raged as a spell whizzed past her aunt's ears.
"YOU FOOL!" and he began to cough up blood, as their grandmother rushed to her husband.
"Arcturus, calm yourself!" but he was too angry to listen to her pleadings as he gazed at her father and aunt.
"I should kill you both and rid this family of your curse," and Lord Orion spoke up.
"Please father, see reason..."
"SHUT UP!" and he was labouring to breathe.
"You FOOL! ALL OF YOU!" he whispered, as he gazed at the table as a sense of defeat and peril laced her heart.
"There is nothing you can do now father. it is best that you accept the new direction for House Black, and let us carry forth its name," her father spoke, mockingly as he stood in his place.
"I would rather die than see this House go to you and your lot," and with that, he looked at the other end of the table, where Sirius sat stiffly, just beside his brother.
"I did not want to do this just yet, but you have left me no choice..." and with that, he pointed towards Sirius with a shaking hand.
"From this day onwards," and she could see the realization dawn on Aunt Walburga's face as he finished his words.
"NOOO! I WON'T STAND FOR I..."
"You shall be the heir apparent to House Black..." and with that, he fell to the side, as everyone rushed to him.
"Grandfather!" "Father..."
"Brother..."
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