What would happen if there was a slight change in the family tapestry of The Most Ancient and Noble House of Black?
Specifically, four years before the birth of a certain Sirius Orion Black III, a little baby girl was welcomed into the world.
She wa...
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-----------------------> THE MALFOY MANOR PARLOUR had been converted to a war-room. Lord Malfoy, who had been woken up with the sobering potion forced down his throat, was highly confused. He was also the designated scribe. Lord Malfoy was unhappy with both occurrences, and that made Lord Black as happy as he could be with his home burnt down.
Sure, the Blacks held many estates under their name that they could have gone into, but it was the little things that counted to soothe the inextinguishable wildfire that broke out in the stomach's of the Blacks, regardless of whether they'd been born or married into the family. It was still an insult, still a crime, still outrageous, still fuel for their vengeance.
Lady Fortuna, depicted blind, held a scale to weigh justice. If the ashes of the Planetarium filled one side, Voldemort's blood, life, magic and soul would fill the other. Nothing less.
"Get your leg off the table, boy!" Abraxas barked out to Sirius.
Sirius raised an eyebrow and pulled his other leg onto the tea table in front of the sofa.
Before Abraxas could shout, Melania said, "Really, Abraxas? Our house got burnt down and you're prioritising this?"
"Yes," answered Abraxas, tone clipped. "You all have a hundred other houses, you know."
"And you know how much this one means to us." Melania's eyes flashed and she stretched her legs onto the table, daring Abraxas to say something. "How about I burn down Malfoy Manor so you understand?"
"The peacocks," said Abraxas weakly, "can't fend for themselves. You probably shouldn't."
"The peacocks can fly away," said Lyra, her voice quiet. "They're fast. My snakes can't—couldn't."
Silence conquered once again.
Irma broke it, turning to Lyra. "You mentioned, earlier, you were planning something against the Dark Lord. What was it?"
"A bill," Lyra answered eventually, fists curled on her lap. "Through Regulus and the support of Uncle Charlus, Dennis' father and a few others, I was going to pass a bill that would trap the Dark Lord. I got a little caught up informing Regulus, however, with the wedding and everything."
"Explain the bill."
Lyra did. When she was done, Orion looked mildly proud and Walburga was impressed.
"You wanted to trap him with nowhere to go," gathered Pollux, grimacing. "You forgot, Lyra, that cornered animals attack."
"Or burn down houses," added Melania and Lyra's nails dug into her skin hard enough to bleed.
Lucius quickly uncurled her fists, weaving his fingers into hers and squeezing, braving the pain of her nails into his palm with occasional winces.
Arcturus, who had briefly stepped out to fire-call Lucretia using her last-known location and inform her of the situation, strolled in, seating himself on the arm-rest of his wife's sofa. He'd been reluctant to cut his daughter and son-in-law's bizarre back-packing trip across Europe, an adventure they'd engaged in after returning from a world cruise, short, but Lucretia had grown up in the Planetarium just like Orion and himself had. She deserved to know. "Lucretia says she'll be here in a bit," he informed the rest of his family. "Ignatius and she have to sort out their hotel bills first. Add her to the wards?" The last question was directed at Abraxas, who nodded, pulling out his wand and doing so.
