Walking through the newly renovated corridors of Hogwarts with his clothes stained with blood, wherever he went, the crowd made way for him, almost as if they were paving the path for their king.
After participating in such a high-level battle, everyone realized that only a similar power, like Asterion, could help them, not just them but the entire country. Without beings like Asterion, all of England and the United Kingdom was no different from a child in the face of Special Grade Wizards.
As Asterion was about to descend the stairs and head towards the Slytherin Common Room, he saw someone he did not want to see at that moment. Mainly because he couldn't control his magical energy as before, not when his magical reserves had almost tripled.
Rose's incredibly blue eyes fell for a moment on Asterion's shadow; she was puzzled not to see the adorable hundred-eyed dog.
"Where is Baskerville?" she asked, approaching him, not caring about the putrid blood on his clothes.
Backing away from the sudden approach of the white-haired girl, Asterion turned and descended the stairs to the dungeons, but not before answering Rose's question.
"I killed him." With cold and indifferent words, he disappeared down the staircase.
Rose stopped and widened her eyes upon hearing this. She looked at the place where Asterion disappeared and bit her lips in frustration. She felt the distance between her and her cousin had increased.
Baskerville's sudden death also left her shocked; the adorable dog was something she liked, especially for the loyalty she felt from him. She also knew that Asterion loved the hundred-eyed dog as well, so hearing that he killed him shook her mind.
Looking deeply at the stairs, Rose took a deep breath to calm herself and walked away; she was late for the private lessons she was having with Dumbledore.
-
Inside the Slytherin Common Room.
Asterion sat on the couch and looked at the ceiling, not caring about his bloodstained clothes.
"Wine, Baskerville." He said while extending his hand, but only silence answered him.
"That's right, he can't serve me anymore." Asterion murmured to himself. "I killed him."
Looking at his own hands, he continued to murmur to himself. "Maybe Salazar wasn't so wrong, after all. We are the same."
Suddenly, he heard a female voice next to him.
"You look tired, Heir Black."
Looking to the side, Asterion saw a vaguely familiar face.
"You really look like Cissy," he murmured.
Dorea frowned, hearing the intimate nickname for her mother. She clenched her fists and looked at Asterion with a touch of anger. Then, she relaxed her fists and let out a sigh filled with frustration and anger.
"How is my mother, Heir Black?" she asked after a brief silence.
"Relieved to be out of a marriage with the trash that is your father." Narrowing his eyes, he looked at the teenager beside him and responded casually, not caring about disparaging a father in front of his daughter.
"I see." Dorea lowered her head and murmured, lost in thought.
"May I ask something personal, Dorea? You can decline if you feel uncomfortable." Asterion asked, surprising Dorea.
"Feel free to ask, Heir Black," she replied with a calm expression.
"Why did you and Draco never care about Cissy?"
Dorea remained silent, as if considering his words, before finally responding, "Partly because of our father and maybe out of fear."
Asterion wasn't surprised by Lucius's involvement, but the fear genuinely surprised him.
"Why would you be afraid of your own mother?" Asterion asked curiously.
After hesitating for a long time, she answered in a somewhat trembling tone, "We were four years old, Draco and I wanted to sleep in her bed, but we saw something that still sends shivers down my spine."
"She opened her mouth and devoured that grotesque cursed spirit." Dorea hugged herself as if trying to warm up.
"That scene is etched in my mind. From that day on, every time I looked at my mother or when she approached me, my mind went back to that scene, and I saw her as a monster with cold, emotionless eyes. Sometimes I wondered if one day she would devour me as she did that cursed spirit." She finished with a slightly trembling and tearful voice.
Asterion listened to everything in silence.
"Manipulation of Cursed Spirits, the Simplified Innate Technique of the Black House, involves exorcising the cursed spirit and swallowing it to control it. You probably know this." He said to Dorea, who nodded silently.
"After being exorcised, the cursed spirit transforms into a blue orb in our hands, and then we swallow it. The taste…" Asterion paused, choosing his words carefully before continuing, "It's the worst taste you can imagine, like an old rag soaked in feces and anything disgusting you can think of."
His words made Dorea's eyes widen in complete disbelief.
Unfazed by Dorea's wide-eyed reaction, Asterion continued.
"Day after day, night after night, we exorcise and consume cursed spirits, the filthiest things to ever walk the surface of this planet."
"This affects our minds, makes us colder and unable to show many emotions. That's the price of gaining such power. But I'm sure nothing hurt Narcissa more than seeing her children afraid of her." His cold and indifferent voice struck Dorea like thunder.
"I know it must have been a traumatic scene to witness at such a young age, but give your mother a chance, because she's suffering more than you can imagine." Leaving these words, Asterion climbed the stairs and headed towards the boys' dormitory.
Drained on the sofa, Dorea stared at the ceiling and remained in complete silence.
"Mother."
-
In Asterion's room, he could be seen unbuttoning his shirt while looking at himself in the mirror. His eyes were red, exhausted, and cold.
He grabbed a wine bottle from the table beside him and drank directly from it, but before he could finish all the alcohol, his hand started to spasm, making it impossible for him to control his fingers.
Asterion watched in silence as his fingers twitched in all possible directions. The bottle slipped from his hand, shattered into pieces on the floor, spilling the purplish liquid everywhere.
Gripping his wrist tightly, Asterion clenched his teeth and stifled a pained groan as an overwhelming pain coursed through his body, reminding him of Salazar's surgery.
Falling to his knees, he breathed heavily as his hands gradually returned to normal and the pain subsided over time.
Asterion knew this was the price for gaining unnatural power.
A black pentagram appeared in his eyes, and Asterion looked at himself.
A hologram of his own body appeared in his mind, with several red areas indicating where he was injured.
It was not surprising, given that even his soul had been opened. It was normal to have any aftereffects from a surgery. His had just begun to appear and would likely become more painful over time.
But Asterion estimated that potions would alleviate the aftereffects, possibly even neutralize them.
Rising from the floor, he could still see slight spasms occurring in various parts of his body.
"I need to return to the Black Mansion, not just for the potions lost with Baskerville's death, but also to start preparing for Voldemort's official return." Asterion murmured to himself as he finished unbuttoning his shirt.
--------------------
Author's thoughts: Asterion will not be Nerfed, the Sequelae are just to say that choices have consequences for the protagonist to grow more mentally and mature.
Support me to write more and read chapters ahead of all regular readers!
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Next Chapter: Chapter 85 - Civil War (1), 86 - Civil War (2), 87 - Civil War (3), 88 - Civil War (4), 89 - Civil War (5), Chapter 90 - Civil War (6), Chapter 91 - Battlefield (1), Chapter 92 - Battlefield (2), Chapter 93 – Conflicts on the Battlefield (1), Chapter 94 – Conflicts on the Battlefield (2), Chapter 95 - The War Intensifies (1), Chapter 96 - The War Intensifies (2), Chapter 97 - The Death of Voldemort (1), Chapter 98 - The Death of Voldemort (2) And end of the first volume.
Next Chapter Second Volume: Chapter 99 – Decision (1), Chapter 100 – Decision (2), Chapter 101 – Decision (3), Chapter 102 - The Black Sisters (1), Chapter 103 - The Black Sisters (2), Chapter 104 - Rose's Past (1), Chapter 105 - Arrival of Country Representatives (1).
Entering the Black Mansion, Asterion walked into the living room. Next to the fireplace, he found Arcturus, the Head of the Black House, seated in an armchair while reading his newspaper. Unlike his usual elegant attire, he was dressed in comfortable, loose clothing, something Asterion never thought he would see Arcturus wear.
Looking around, the entire living room seemed the same as when he left, with one exception. The animated portrait of his grandmother, Walburga, was above the fireplace.
"Welcome back, Asterion." Without lifting his head to look at his great-grandson, Arcturus continued reading with a calm and indifferent expression. A cigar, releasing a thin stream of smoke, rested between his lips.
It seemed the old patriarch had returned to his old smoking habits.
"My lovely grandson!" The animated portrait, of course, noticed his arrival, facing the door as it did.
"It's good to see you still so lively, grandmother." Handing his coat to Kreacher, who stood nearby, Asterion loosened his tie and spoke as he sat on the sofa.
"How was Hogwarts?" Walburga asked, her voice full of happiness at speaking with her grandson again. She seemed like a normal, concerned grandmother if not for her extreme racism, rivaling or surpassing that of Hitler.
"It was…" Asterion pondered for a moment and concluded with a single word, "enlightening."
Shifting his focus from the newspaper, Arcturus's gaze fell upon his great-grandson. A satisfied smile appeared on his lips. Holding the cigar between his fingers, he flicked the ash into the ashtray and spoke, "I see you've matured, not as arrogant as before."
Asterion did not respond and instead redirected the question back to him.
"Any movement within the Pureblood Faction?"
It was almost certain that after escaping, Voldemort would regroup with his old fanatical followers. This was inevitable, but it also meant a civil war was about to erupt within the Noble Faction.
Arcturus narrowed his eyes, looking at his great-grandson and wondering how Asterion had learned this without him sending a letter.
"Voldemort is back, at least a part of him." Sensing his doubts, Asterion didn't hide it and said it directly.
Arcturus's eyes grew cold upon hearing his words. Now he understood why people were restless. The monster that had terrorized England thirteen years ago had returned from the dead!
Everything made sense now. Before, he was puzzled by the agitation, after all, his great-grandson was the only Special Grade Wizard in the Pureblood Faction, the only one who could stand against the most powerful wizard in the world and his successor, Rose Potter, another Special Grade Witch.
Unlike the Light Faction, there was no possibility of two lions occupying the same mountain in the Pureblood Faction. Especially since Voldemort had killed Regulus, his son and Asterion's father.
"What do you plan to do?" Arcturus straightened in his chair and asked, his relaxed aura completely vanishing, replaced by the aura of a man nearing a century in age.
"Kill." Asterion uttered a single word, his red eyes glowing with a black pentagram. "A massacre. Treason must be met with the highest penalty, DEATH."
Arcturus was satisfied with the response. Hesitation meant weakness, and weakness translated to death!
Suddenly, Arcturus noticed the black pentagram in his great-grandson's red eyes. "What happened to your eyes?"
"Power." He continued. "Power enough to make Dumbledore hesitate to attack me."
Arcturus and Walburga in the portrait couldn't help but widen their eyes. Asterion's words implied that he could fight and even defeat Albus Dumbledore, the Strongest Wizard in the World.
"What did you do?" Unlike Walburga, who couldn't be happier and prouder, Arcturus frowned deeply. If there was one thing he knew about the world, it was that there was always a price for power.
"What was necessary." Asterion didn't explain and had no intention of doing so.
His words made Arcturus even more concerned. He got up from his chair and walked over to his great-grandson.
Standing in front of him, he gripped the boy's shoulders and looked deeply into his red eyes.
"Asterion, this isn't a game. You've gained a power you shouldn't have. There is always a price for power." Arcturus spoke, his voice tinged with worry and anxiety.
Of course, Asterion knew that the surgery he underwent would leave lasting effects on his body, mind, and soul. It was the price for gaining such immense power in such a short time, but in his view, the benefits far outweighed the disadvantages.
"I'm fully aware, Lord Black." Removing Arcturus's hands from his shoulders, Asterion spoke, his face remaining indifferent. Though Arcturus's concern warmed him, he understood that, above all, actions had consequences.
Arcturus himself had taught him this when they first met.
Seeing this, Arcturus only let out a weary sigh and sat down next to his great-grandson.
"You're as stubborn as a bull, just like your father," he said, his voice helpless.
Walburga couldn't help but worry, but she said nothing. She could see that her grandson was quite independent when it came to himself.
"Where is Bella?" Feeling the atmosphere a bit heavy, Asterion changed the subject.
"Humph!" At the mention of his great-niece, Arcturus snorted coldly. "The girl disappeared a week ago and hasn't returned. She's probably with Voldemort at this moment."
Asterion nodded, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. He didn't think Bellatrix had betrayed them. The woman might be insane, but she was loyal to the family above all else, unlike his uncle, Sirius.
Asterion remembered something and called out loudly, "Kreacher!"
Instantly, a house-elf in old, worn clothes appeared before Asterion.
"I hear your call, Lord Asterion," he said, bowing humbly. His raspy, aged voice was somewhat uncomfortable to listen to.
"Did Bellatrix leave anything with you before she left?" Asterion asked.
"Yes, Lord Asterion. Lady Bellatrix left a box with Kreacher and ordered Kreacher to give it only if you asked," the house-elf said, gripping his own ears tightly, almost as if he wanted to tear them off.
"Bring it to me." Asterion ordered under the surprised eyes of Arcturus.
"Yes, my master." Kreacher disappeared the next moment.
A few moments later, Kreacher returned, holding a wooden box in his hands.
Taking the box, Asterion opened it and saw a jeweled golden cup.
The Cup of Helga Hufflepuff!
"With this, there are four," Asterion murmured, closing the box.
He already possessed the Locket of Salazar Slytherin, the Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw, the Cup of Helga Hufflepuff, and the Ring of Marvolo Gaunt.
Three were missing: the snake Nagini, the Diary, and Rose Potter herself.
Though he didn't consider the latter a concern, he doubted that Rose would fail to notice a fragment of soul in her own body.
-----------------------------------
Support me to write more and read chapters ahead of all regular readers!
P-atreon.com/HPSCB
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
Next Chapter: 86 - Civil War (2), 87 - Civil War (3), 88 - Civil War (4), 89 - Civil War (5), Chapter 90 - Civil War (6), Chapter 91 - Battlefield (1), Chapter 92 - Battlefield (2), Chapter 93 – Conflicts on the Battlefield (1), Chapter 94 – Conflicts on the Battlefield (2), Chapter 95 - The War Intensifies (1), Chapter 96 - The War Intensifies (2), Chapter 97 - The Death of Voldemort (1), Chapter 98 - The Death of Voldemort (2) And end of the first volume.
Next Chapter Second Volume: Chapter 99 – Decision (1), Chapter 100 – Decision (2), Chapter 101 – Decision (3), Chapter 102 - The Black Sisters (1), Chapter 103 - The Black Sisters (2), Chapter 104 - Rose's Past (1), Chapter 105 - Arrival of Country Representatives (1).
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