Chapter 41: Harry Gaunt - Chapter 41
Bellatrix stood with Harry by the window in the hospital wing. The sky was grey outside as raindrops pattered down. It was always raining, at least in her mind. "Harry," she said quietly to him. "I never asked you, but what did my father say?"
She'd heard screams. But it didn't bother her, she trusted Harry as he ran a hand through his messy hair. "Very little," he said ponderously. "Even in his mind, what he had I already knew." He shrugged.
Tom's plans were very simple, yet effective given what Harry knew of the future. He'd already won over the Lords and their Ladies, so now, came everyone else. Yet Harry was curious to see how attacking mudblood's could achieve that, but each to their own he supposed. "Though, there was one thing."
Harry flicked his attention away from the window. They were alone in the ward, Madam Pomphrey had moved Arcturus to the private room beside her office.
"What was it?" asked Bellatrix.
"He plans to kill Sirius," sighed Harry. "But in a duel that would grant him Lordship should he win."
"That's absurd." Bellatrix hissed. "Sirius would never agree-" She stopped, then winced. "-we'll need keep my father locked up."
Harry nodded. At least until Sirius got himself settled. Her father's plan was certainly far-fetched but not impossible should Sirius willingly agree to such terms. Which he could, as Lord Black he could give it to whomever he pleased within the family. That's why Orion, Sirius's father had been skipped, too under the thumb of a certain woman.
"They'll come for him eventually," said Harry as the rain picked up against the glass. "Grimmauld Place isn't safe should Tom come knocking."
"The man from the letter?" asked Bellatrix. "That's him isn't it." Harry had never told her his real name. "It's much better than his other one, the French one. Hardly appropriate for a British Dark Lord."
Harry sniggered. He quite agreed. "He's full of pomp and false pride," he said scathingly. "Yet he's already lost who he truly is. He's like an anagram now, all mixed up." Harry shook his head. Bellatrix joined him as he walked to the beds lined up in rows within the ward.
"What about your house?" posed Bellatrix as they sat on an empty bed. "Could he find that?"
It was close as well. Bellatrix knew the area.
"Maybe." Harry fell back upon the bed. "But if Arcturus could, which I know he did, then we should expect that he can."
"Damn…" Bellatrix grumbled as she flopped beside him. "We've got a few months till Christmas, we can stay if we need to." She turned on her side. Harry put his arm around her. "Maybe we could find somewhere else, somewhere safe."
Bellatrix didn't mean for Harry to buy a mansion in the woods or anything. She just meant a home for her and Cissy, somewhere where even Phyllida could come and stay. They'd need it one day, Bellatrix could feel it as Harry turned as well. "We can go anywhere," he whispered softly. "In fact, there's a spot I keep going back to no matter how hard I try. We can build something there before the muggles do."
A house atop a hill in Little Whinging. It sounded nice.
"Why do you keep going there?" asked Bellatrix curiously. "It's just a forest. There's nothing there." She tried to see it in his eyes before Harry could look away. "You don't have to tell me."
She found his hand and fiddled with his fingers, giggling at Harry's laugh. He liked when she did that, nobody had ever cared about him as much as she did. "I'll tell you. But you must promise not to tell a soul."
"Of course, you know I won't." Bellatrix wiggled closer to him. "Tell me." She searched his face. "Were you born there?"
"In the forest?" Harry shook his head. Bellatrix poked him. "I was born in Godric's Hollow," he said. "Not that anyone will remember. The same too with Little Whinging, funny how long ago it seems."
Harry didn't know if this counted as lying or as self-preservation. But as Bellatrix reached her hand to his face, touching him gently. Harry didn't care. She already knew that he wouldn't tell her everything.
"I've heard of Godric's Hollow," she said with a stroking finger across his chin. "It has a long history of powerful families, though if Gaunt is among them, I do not know." She'd like to visit one day, but she didn't say it. "You lived in a forest?" she said instead. "What on earth were you thinking Harry."
She tugged lightly on his hair, hating the thought of it as he playfully wrestled her off.
"I wasn't that young," he assured, massaging his head while Bellatrix took to trailing kisses along his cheek. "I was 15 when I left."
She wasn't listening anymore; and nor could Harry pay attention as her hands came to his neck. He kissed her back, her hair coming undone as she climbed on top of him. "We are not-" She said between kisses. "-living in a forest."
Harry slipped his hand up her dress. She'd worn tights again. "I'll-" He was beginning to think that doing this here was a bad idea. "-look into it."
But Bellatrix was all over him. She certainly hadn't noticed as Cissy stood near the door, having rounded the corner a few moments ago.
She watched in wonder. "Bellatrix?" She wasn't sure whether to look away or not. "Umm… Dumbledore's coming." Cissy decided on a glance as Bellatrix frantically slipped off of a befuddled Harry. He looked completely out of it, Cissy blushed a little.
"Cissy- oh, I am sorry-" Bellatrix straightened herself out as she walked over. "Are you alright?"
"I should be asking you that," returned Cissy a little testily. "But you appear quite fine, I worried for nothing then."
She heard Harry chuckle as he stayed put on the bed. He'd let Bellatrix explain before while he calmed himself down. But then Dumbledore swept in, towing Sirius just behind.
The Headmaster looked at the three of them. "Mr Gaunt, Ms Black." He nodded to them both. Sirius looked puzzled.
Harry stood up and addressed him directly. "Heir Black, if I might have a moment of your time," requested Harry. He gestured towards the room far behind him. "Right away please."
Sirius became even more puzzled as Dumbledore seemed to cotton on. "Perhaps this might be discussed at another time, Sirius is-"
"This is not your business, Headmaster." Bellatrix said as she stepped towards Sirius. "Now come Sirius, this is important." She tugged him along by his arm as Cissy followed. "Good day, Headmaster."
Harry waited for them to go. Bellatrix had it handled as she took them through the door to where Arcturus slept.
Dumbledore seemed far from impressed. He scowled at Harry. "He's too young," he said finally when Harry didn't leave. "And Lord Black isn't dead."
"It's not up to us," said Harry simply. He took a step in the aisle. "House Black runs their own affairs. I trust you will remember that."
He turned away and towards the room, leaving Dumbledore behind to watch his back. He hadn't forgotten what Harry had said to him, to just leave it to him and everything would be fine. "Hmph."
But Dumbledore couldn't do that. Tom was already at the proverbial door and when he knocked, Dumbledore would not under any circumstances, leave Harry to answer it alone.
He'd waited too long to act, it was time for the Order to rise up as Dumbledore turned away.
~~~~~~~
"Bellatrix? What's going on?" Sirius didn't like being dragged along like this as they arrived within a simple room. "Wha-" He stopped. Dumbledore hadn't told him this. "Arcturus?"
"Yes." Bellatrix walked them to the furthest bed. It was by a window at the end, yet little light came through as clouds stormed over. "See what we've been dealing with," added Bellatrix.
Arcturus looked cold in his bed.
"How did this happen?" panicked Sirius, looking down at the man who'd taught him politics and how to play chess. "Where's Gaunt?"
Sirius turned back around.
"He's coming." Bellatrix stepped back beside Cissy, who looked heartbroken at the sight. "And don't give me that look. Harry's not to blame, he saved us."
Sirius scowled. He'd be the judge of that as Harry came in and closed the door. "Heir Black, thank you." Harry put aside what Sirius had once been to him, he had to be present in the here and now as he arrived before him. "Do you know why we're here?"
Harry hoped he did. Arcturus should have prepared for a day like this.
"Why are you here," stated Sirius. "You're not of House Black. It should be Orion, my father who-"
Harry shook his head. "You cannot not be unaware of what is happening in our world," said Harry. "You know what House Black has become involved in. Particularly Cygnus, and your mother."
Sirius took a breath, one of anger. "You dare…" He shifted squarely to Harry. "I don't believe that. You're lying, they would never raise a hand against their own family, our Lord."
"Then why are we here?" said Harry simply. "Do you think Cygnus is locked in the dungeons at Grimmauld Place for no reason? Do you Arcturus is here, poisoned, for no reason?" Harry looked into Sirius's eyes. "Because they were told to Sirius. The same man who heads the Pureblood Movement your mother so adores, told them to remove Arcturus. I was there, so was Bellatrix."
Harry reached into his pocket, watched by all three. Sirius widened his eyes. "Where did you get that…" He whispered at the sight of the ring. "No, not me. I am not even 17 yet!"
Harry presented it to him. "It is yours Sirius-"
"Don't call me Sirius!" he bellowed. "Gaunt."
"Call me Harry." Harry said without anger. "We're allies after all." He smiled reassuringly at the frightened young man. "We'll be hear to help you, if you want, Bellatrix and I."
Cissy piped up. "Me too." She looked at Sirius kindly, she'd be scared too as Harry held the ring in his open palm. He offered it to Sirius.
Sirius stared at it. "I-I know how this works," he said quietly. "He told me. I've always known. I'll be responsible for everything. My mother, father, you…" He looked to his cousins. Bellatrix was holding Cissy's hand. "But I am not good enough. I don't compare."
Sirius stood up straight. He looked into Harry's eyes. "Just get rid of it," he pleaded. "I'd always planned to anyway…" He felt shame at the words he spoke, but could bring forth no others as Bellatrix shut her eyes.
She could understand Sirius's fear. "Sirius, you needn't think of what should do. Or Walburga might say or demand of you. Instead think only of what you could do." She stepped away from Cissy, joining Harry as they stood together. "You could do nothing as Lord Black, not a thing. Leave everything as it is and stay here, finish school, leave the Pureblood nonsense behind as you've always called it." Bellatrix laughed a bit. He'd always called it that, that's why his mother had been so…
Sirius looked at his feet.
"Do as you wish." Bellatrix believed in him. "But do it as Lord Black. It is yours Sirius, just as Arcturus wanted."
She nudged Harry with her elbow. He got the message as the ring floated from his palm, drifting through the air.
Sirius swallowed. He had to make a choice.
A few hours later…
Sirius was sat beside his Grandfather's bed, alone in the dimness of the room. There were only three other beds in here, all bigger and more luxurious than the others outside. He'd found a chair in the corner, and stayed right here.
"Grandfather… Arcturus…" Sirius held the ring in his hand. "I am not you. I am a Gryffindor, you said yourself all those years ago." He remembered the day he'd returned from Hogwarts. Arcturus had summoned him, spoken to him of his time at school.
At the time Sirius had thought him disappointed 'You're not me Sirius, you're a Gryffindor…' Sirius remembered his Grandfather's smile. 'And I am proud of you.'
Sirius clenched his teeth. He'd thought his words to be false, a joke just like his mother had said he'd become. A clown, coloured red and gold. She wasn't proud of him, she wasn't proud of anything but the blood within her veins.
"If I do this," he said as he looked towards his Grandfather's face. "And you wake up tomorrow, then I quit." Sirius nodded firmly to himself. "You'll always be Lord Black, you have been for over a hundred years."
The pressure Sirius had felt since being named Arcturus's heir. They had no idea. He didn't think anyone could understand it, especially not James whose father was barely into his 60s. If Sirius failed, he'd be the ruin of a house that had stood for millennia.
"Alright!" Sirius shouted as he handled the ring. "Stupid ring, stupid house!" He slipped it on. "Ha!"
He looked triumphant, nothing had changed. But in that moment. "B-bugger." He collapsed into his chair. He should have just tossed it out the window.
~~~~~~~
Harry took his time eying up the house elves in the kitchen as he chewed his sandwich. Bellatrix too was doing the same, each of them contemplating which would be suitable to abduct and bring home.
One for Grimmauld Place to take care of Cygnus. One for Harry's place near the square. "How big is the forest?" posed Bellatrix from beside him. "Enough for a manor?"
Harry hummed. "Possibly. Though I'd be keen to keep the forest. It helps the wards." He took another bite from his sandwich, wondering if whoever made it would like to leave. "I'd say about 6-8 bedrooms should be fine."
That would be more than enough.
"Perfect." Bellatrix stole an olive from his plate. "Wooden, or stone?"
"Stone."
She nodded happily. "I'll pick the furnishings."
"I want a duelling room." Harry stole a bit of her cheese. "And a greenhouse."
Bellatrix stole a piece of his fudge. "You know," she paused as he moved the packet away. "We've never spoken about… whether we'd be…" Bellatrix held onto her nerve, then lost it when Harry looked at her. "Never mind." She shouldn't ask about marriage. She enjoyed the fudge she'd stolen. "I want a big bed."
Harry coughed a little.
"Don't mind me," said Cissy dreamily from the other side of the table. "I think a big bed's a great idea." She'd been watching them the whole time, the fire just behind feeling warm against her back. "Will I get a room?" she asked.
"Of course," said Harry. "But it's more of a safe house than anything, we're still at Hogwarts." And at present, Grimmauld Place was secure. "It's not even built yet. We'll have to look into that."
Bellatrix nodded. There were probably specialist spells for house building, something she'd hardly looked into before. "Do you think Sirius will take it?" It's been hours now."
Something should have happened by now.
"I don't know," said Harry disappointedly. "But I hope so. We did say not to throw the ring out the window."
"He had better not," scowled Bellatrix. "We should go back soon, just in case."
Cissy sighed. "I love it here. Sirius is fine, he'll do the right thing." She always saw the best in people, and her cousin was no exception. "He'll be sitting there now, probably arguing with himself over what to do."
Harry smiled, but didn't comment. "Maybe we should-"
"Ah!" Bellatrix hopped to her feet. "C-cissy?"
Cissy rubbed her head. She looked up, they smiled.
Harry blinked at them. "Bellatrix? What's wrong?"
"He's done it!" Bellatrix cheered. "YES!"
Cissy could feel it too. She smiled as Bellatrix smothered Harry with playful kisses. "Come on, we better go find him."
Cissy led the way. Everything had changed now.
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