Chapter 35
NARCISSA BLACK
The Summer Break had been unlike anything they had experienced before. The tension that had once lingered in the background had now seeped into their daily lives, and everyone was wondering just what the future may hold.
The Ministry was preparing itself for war, and it was a near consensus that the Dark Lord had no other choice but to step into the light. She and Andromeda had made a gamble when they had written to their grandfather about the annulment of their own betrothals, for if it ever came out that the entire ploy was their idea, their lives might very well be over.
Given how her father had been spluttering and raging, it was obvious that their grandfather had taken their advice, for just a day after their arrival, he had come into their room and threatened them that the Dark Lord himself brokered their matches with Lestrange and Malfoy, and that no matter what happens, he would not let them come into jeopardy.
It was a direct threat, upon which Andromeda had begun making her preparations for their eventual departure, and Narcissa had done so as well, as she prepared herself for the eventuality that her home would no longer be hers.
It was a damning thought, but one that she had begun to accept some months ago, and she had long decided that she would not leave herself at the mercy of someone like Malfoy.
So, she was somewhat ready when their grandfather summoned them to his home one morning. The letter had mentioned them both, and she could see her father's and her mother's glare as both she and Andromeda walked up to the floo as their father came and stepped into their world.
"Do not forget my words," he repeated angrily.
"My father is an old man. His words mean nothing. I am your father, and if you wish to carry my name, then you will do exactly as I say," he warned angrily, as their mother came and pulled him back.
"They know, Cygnus," she whispered calmly, and it was a blessing that their grandfather had locked the floo, making it impossible for uninvited guests and family members to visit their ancestral home.
And now, despite being a scion of House Black, their father could not enter his ancestral home unless he sought permission.
Neither her nor Andromeda said anything as they walked into the floo and picked up a handful of powder.
"Grimmauld Place..."
"Grimmauld Place..."
A green fire surrounded them both as their feet hit the ground once more, and they found themselves in their ancestral home.
After the gathering, their grandfather had kicked out everyone from the place, including both his sons, and now he stayed there alone with their grandmother. The place was as it had been months ago, and just as they stepped out of the floo, they saw their grandmother walk into the Hall with a warm smile on her face.
"Andromeda, Narcissa, how have you been?" she asked softly as they both returned the greeting and as she led them to the sofas.
"We have been fine, thank you for inviting us," her sister answered as tea and biscuits were served, and she did not miss how there was still no sign of their grandfather.
"I would do so more frequently, but I do not want to impose on your time," and Melania Black was old and sweet. She had married their grandfather when they both were students at Hogwarts, and it was one of the few successful pureblood marriages they had seen.
The woman did not usually involve herself in the politics surrounding their family, and was happy to live her life peacefully away from them all.
"Where is grandfather?" The words slipped out of her mouth because of nervousness, as the woman's face stiffened.
"He will call on you as soon as he is done making prepa...." and before she could finish, they heard the pop of a House Elf, as Kreacher appeared in the corner.
"The Master will see you now," he said, looking at them both, and their grandmother nodded as they both rose from the sofas.
"Good luck," she said, and Andromeda led the way to their grandfather's solar. She had given a small knock when a voice beckoned them to come inside.
"Come in," and both of them walked into the solar and found him sitting in his chair. They quietly walked up to him and murmured a polite greeting.
His grey eyes were trained on them both, and for the first few minutes, he did not say anything before he moved first as he slid two folders forward towards them.
"I must say I was quite surprised when I received your letters," the aged man began, as he motioned for them to sit down.
"But the surprise was short-lived after I did some probing of my own," and that sent a shiver down her spine as she realised that he might have figured out the truth, and if the way her sister stilled was anything to go by, she feared the same.
"I may have grown old, but I am no fool. The only reason one asks to break a betrothal is if they have another in their mind, though I was a bit surprised by your choices," and so he knew.
"Ted Tonks and Alder Evans," he said, taking their names as he leaned back, and there was disapproval in his tone. As Narcissa closed her eyes, a sense of defeat and hopelessness began to bubble inside her.
"Do you disapprove?" Andromeda asked, and she gathered the courage to raise her eyes as their grandfather's eyes shifted between them.
"I do," and the answer was shot and succinct, with no hesitation.
"But the question is, does that change anything?" he asked, as the tension became palpable, and Andromeda was the first to shake her head.
"No," she answered resolutely.
"It does not," and then his eyes met hers.
"She is right," she answered herself.
"It does not," and their grandfather did not speak up for seconds after that.
"It will not be an easy life. You shall lose your name, your wealth, your influence. You will live in fear, with prejudice hanging over your head. Do you really think you are ready for that?" and they nodded in unison.
"We are," and he shook his head.
"You are not!" he replied angrily.
"Instead, I offer you this. I shall stay your father's hand, and find you suitable pureblood matches myself. Dorea's got a nephew or two, and I know of a few other decent boys as well. Let go of this momentary infatuation, and you shall forever enjoy the name and influence of the 'Black' family name," and the offer was genuine and good, but they had made their minds up.
"We have made our mind," she answered, as the aged man's lips thinned.
"That damned stubbornness. But who am I to complain?" he said as he turned away from them.
"Then know this, that if you go through with your plans, then you shall forever forfeit the name Black, and all that comes with it. You will become a pariah in your own world," he warned them of the consequences of their decision.
"We know," Andromeda answered.
"But we have made our choice, and all that we ask is that you do not try to stop us," she spoke softly, and the man gave a deep sigh.
"I did not intervene when your sister attached herself to that damned half-blood, and just like her, I will not interfere in your life choices," he warned them, and that was as formal a blessing as they were ever going to get.
"Thank you...."
"You can have Kreacher bring over your luggage....."
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ALDER EVANS
The McKinnons had been extremely gracious in hosting his family, and he could not be any more grateful to his friend and her entire family for this favor.
"Thank you for this," he thanked her again, as they walked around the gardens after a rather sumptuous meal.
"You don't need to say those words every time we walk around, McKinnon teased, and Lily was back at the manse helping with the dishes, a duty which Marlene was always happy to pass on.
"Still, you have no idea what you have done for me," and he had raged at Susan and her brother for their mistake, and they had been somewhat remorseful over their actions, but had assured him that there would be no leak from the Ministry, something that he doubted highly.
"I have done nothing, you wouldn't have done so for me," she iterated, as she pulled back her hair and gave him a sweet enough smile.
"Still, grandfather is pretty impressed with you, and he is rarely, if ever, impressed by anyone," Marlene added, and Arthur McKinnon had been a breath of fresh air. The man seemed terse and strict at first glance, yet he was filled with knowledge and anecdotes, and Alder had spent the entire summer under his tutelage, learning all he could from a man who had seen it all, from war to rebellions.
He had taught him much about wards, a discipline which had been ignored to this day. He had also given him quite a few tips regarding duelling, though even he had been impressed by what he had managed to achieve in that regard.
"He even asked me if you were seeing someone," and he did a split take at those words as McKinnon snickered from his side.
"Oh," and he did not know what to say to that.
"What did you say?" he asked, and she shrugged.
"I told him the truth, that you already have someone special in your heart. Though he did mention that nothing is certain until the vows are said," and imagining him saying those words made him shudder, as Marlene laughed at his side.
"Do I need to watch what I eat or drink from now on?" he joked, and Marlene shrugged.
"You might have to. I might just take his advice and slip you a potion," she mentioned with a raised brow.
"Damn it. Now I have to watch my back against you and the Dark Lord," and Marlene's eyes narrowed.
"You are comparing me to the Dark Lord," she asked threateningly.
"How could he ever compare to you?" and for that, he received a sharp slap on his shoulder, as they came and plopped down under a tree and soaked in the calm of the night.
"Still, it has been quite some time since the manor has housed guests. It's good to have you and your family here," and he could only nod at that.
"Have you thought of a solution for when School starts?" and he would have liked to be more confident, but he had done all he could.
"I have been working on that all Summer," and he had mastered quite a few wards, and had even set up quite a few around his House, but a part of him also knew that in the face of the might and wrath of Voldemort, they would be as useless as tissue paper.
"But you don't think it will be enough?" Marlene guessed from his expressions, and he nodded.
"I doubt so," and so he had to think of another solution.
"I am thinking of sending them abroad," and he had yet to breach the subject with his father, and knew that it would not be easy, but he could think of no easier solution.
"Will they agree?" she asked.
"I can only hope so," he whispered, as doubt once more crept into his heart as he wondered if he had done the right thing.
"Still, you shou...." yet before she could say anything more, suddenly they felt a ripple in the skies as Alder found his heart sinking.
"What was that?" Marlene whispered, it was someting, for once again he felt the very ground shake as cracks began to appear in the skies, or more accurately in the wards surrounding the McKinnon House.
"Someone's attacking the wards," and he had read enough about it to know what it was, and he could think of only one group mad enough to do so. And just as the cracks began to widen, he saw dark clouds begin to appear in the skies, as dark, shadowy figures began to fly around the House, as he realised that the Death Eaters were here.
"It's them! It's the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters," he told Marlene, who paled at his words.
"We need to go and call the Aurors," and he doubted that the floo would work for now, and so while he ran towards the House, he whipped out his wand and cast his patronus.
"Expecto Patrnum!" and the raven shot out of his wand and flew beside him as Marlene frowned.
"Attack at the McKinnon Mansion! Send Help immediately!" and with that message, the Raven flew away, as Marlene asked.
"What was that?" she asked.
"A messenger patronus! It will go straight to Edgar Bones and deliver him the message," and they ran into the House and saw that everyone was panicking.
"Marlene!" her mother rushed towards her, as she wrapped her arms around her lovingly.
"They have blocked the floo," her father shouted from the other room.
"What are we going to do?" Mrs McKinnon asked, and Lily and his own parents were standing there as well as the Manse shook once more, as another layer of wards fell away.
"We fight," he said, resolutely shocking everyone.
"I have sent a message to Bones, and I am sure that he will be here soon with his Aurors. All we have to do is hold them back until they come," he answered, and Arthur McKinnon was the one who nodded.
"The boy is right! We have no choice but to fight now," and with that, the decision was made.
"Lily, Marlene, and Mrs McKinnon, you should take my parents and go to the training room. It has its own set of wards, and is perhaps the safest place in the House right now," and Lily and Marlene were quick to argue.
"But we want to help..."
"That is helping!" Arthur McKinnon added strongly as he took out his own wand.
"Me, Alder, and Ethan will hold them back until help arrives," and at that, his gaze met theirs.
"I believe war is upon us..."
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