Frigus . Sirius Black (Mortem BOOK 2)

chapter fifty-one

December 6th, 1979 - Knockturn Alley  

Castiel Winchester was a free man once more, and he loved it. He had spent the last few days recovering from Azkaban in the comfort of his manor, the one he was supposed to be staying contained in. The charms were easy enough to break, they always had been for him, and after Luke Greengrass had supplied him with enough potions, the effect of the dementors had more or less vanished from his appearance. 

Holding a wand for the first time in four years had been incredible. It wasn't as good of a fit as his original one was, but soon enough he would be strong enough to perform wandless magic once more. He could already feel the magic in his veins, dormant for too many years, soar once more. 

He was free. His daughter had failed. He was free. 

As soon as he had woken up that morning, he could feel that the potions had worked. He was strong enough to get out of bed, he knew what he had to do, "You look better this morning," spoke his wife, Emmeline

"I feel better this morning," smirked the man, "Freedom suits both of us," 

"The Dark Lord has requested our presence tonight at Malfoy manor. I would wipe that smirk off my face if I were you," retorted the woman 

"Watch how you speak to your husband," 

Emmeline, who had seemingly forgotten where she stood in respect to her husband while imprisoned, bowed her head ever-so-slightly, "What will you do today?" she asked 

"I think it's time to revisit Knockturn. The world knows I'm back, time to return to some of my old connections," 

Now, it is important to note that while the two were rotting away in the wizarding prison, they had no way of knowing what their daughter was up to. They knew nothing of Nephera's accomplishes, nothing of just how much the world was terrified of her. They didn't even know she had supposedly died and came back to life, which is why her father was so surprised at what happened next. 

The second his feet touched down in Knockturn Alley, he opened his eyes to the familiar street and a smirk etched onto his face, he was back. However, that smirk fell very quickly when he saw shopkeepers close the blinds and lock their doors every time he tried to approach their shops. His eyebrows furrowed in question, he was Castiel fucking Winchester, a legend in these parts. Hell, the reason why most of these shops were still open today was that he had funded them in their early days. Eventually, he came across one of his oldest associates, Lionell Trush, the owner of a shop dealing in different kinds of blood, meant to be used in rituals and potions, "Lionell," he announced, walking inside 

The man's reaction was far different than what he had imagined, "Out!" bellowed Trush, "Out this instant!" 

"How dare you speak to me that way! Need I remind you who helped you open this place, who your first and best customer has always been?" rebutted Castiel 

The shopkeeper raised his wand against him, "I haven't forgotten, which is why I give you this warning," he spat, "You've been gone too long, old man, things have changed, and far be it me to go against them," 

"If it gold you are after-" tried Nephera's father, still confused 

"What I am after is staying alive!" Tush had approached him now and was hastily pushing him out of the shop using magic 

Castiel was shocked, so shocked that the next sentence barely registered in his mind, "I will not be the idiot that puts himself on Nephera Winchester's hit list voluntarily!" snarled his old associate, before slamming the door in his face 

The confusion, as well as the fact that he was not back to his full potential, meant that Castiel wasn't able to fight against the spell pushing him out of the shop, although he didn't care much. Not when that name was uttered.