March 30th, 1978
When was Harry Potter born ? Corvus thought, his expressions visibly irritated.
It seems that with every passing day, my mother is turning into something unrecognizable. My father is no better. They talk about killing the way normal people talk about buying groceries.
No hesitation. No weight.
At the rate things are going, by the time Voldemort finally dies, whatever remains of House Lestrange, its resources, reputation, and political capital, will be ashes. And I will still be a schoolboy, too young to stop it.
No, I cannot afford to remain weak.
I must be powerful.
Magically powerful.
Financially powerful.
Influential powerful.
I must build not just to survive, but to endure.
That means preparation must start now.
I need to expand my warging capabilities. If I can spy, gather information, and quietly pass it along, at least Aunt Andromeda will know that someone on this side of the family is still sane. And Nymphadora…I found her, cool and funny in the show. At least in this life, I have one. I can't let anything happen to them.
But I must be careful.
What if Voldemort doesn't die the first time?
If that happens, I will be trapped in a nightmare with no exit, riddled with consequences I cannot yet count.
And then there is Regulus Black.
My godfather.
Can I save him? If I intercept him early, hide him, prevent his death… he would be invaluable. Not just emotionally, but politically. Strategically. Regulus alive could stabilize House Black and, by extension, help preserve House Lestrange.
But changing the timeline carries risk.
Too much interference invites collapse.
Too little changes nothing.
The balance is… delicate.
A myriad of thoughts plagued Corvus's mind as he paced his room. Rook watched him silently from the perch near the window, pale eyes following his movements with quiet intelligence.
Then, suddenly—
Plop.
"Young Master," Cherry said, startling him. "Mistress asked Cherry to give Young Master this."
Corvus stilled. Curiosity overtook irritation.
Cherry handed him a small box and disappeared just as quickly.
Inside was a folded piece of parchment.
A letter. I'll read it later, he thought.
Beneath it lay a gold chain, set with a rectangular purple diamond. Exquisite. Even to his untrained senses, it thrummed faintly with magic.
He unfolded the letter.
Happy birthday, my marvelous star!
Seven years already. It feels like yesterday you lay quietly in my arms, your tiny fingers tangled in my curls as you giggled without a care in the world.
You have always been quieter. Brighter. Different. And I am proud of you for it.
I have sent you a small gift. A pendant, to remember me by. It will help clear your mind, alert you if someone attempts Mind Arts against you, and when you wish it, it will soften your presence, dull your footsteps, and keep you unseen.
Remember this, my star: the world is not kind to those who are exceptional. It envies them. Fears them. Tries to shape them into something smaller. Something obedient.
Observe before you act.
Listen before you speak.
And never reveal all that you are capable of, not even to those who claim to love you.
Keep your trump cards hidden.
And Remember,
No matter where you are.
No matter where you go.
No matter what you become.
No matter what I become.
I will always love you.
With love,
Bellatrix Black Lestrange
So… she hadn't forgotten his birthday after all.
Corvus's eyes lingered on the letter, narrowing slightly as he noticed something he had missed before. A faint smudge in the ink. Small. Almost careless.
No. Not careless.
She was crying, he realized.
Was this what people called a tsundere? Someone who couldn't say what they felt directly, who hid affection behind sharp edges and half-spoken warnings? Or was it something else entirely? Something heavier. Something she herself didn't fully understand anymore.
A small smile tugged at his lips at first.
Then it faded.
He read the letter again, slower this time, each line weighed more carefully than before. The affection was there, unmistakable. But so were the warnings. The paranoia. The preparation for a world that demanded secrecy even from one's own child.
What happened to you, Mother? he wondered silently.
Carefully, almost reverently, he folded the letter and put it away. Then he clasped the chain around his neck. The purple caught the light, glowing softly against his skin. If his eyes had been the same shade, it might have looked almost mystical.
May like be Targaryans, Corvus thought in amusement
He studied his reflection once more, expression thoughtful, guarded.
Then, in a voice meant only for himself, he spoke inside his mind.
"Siri… can you scan this locket?"
Siri: I detect multiple enchantments on this locket. However, I do not have the capability to differentiate enchantments, as that knowledge has neither been learned by you nor added to my database. I do not detect any negative energy from the locket. There is a sixty percent chance it is safe for usage.
Corvus frowned slightly. "Does that mean I have to learn about enchantments myself in order for you to assist me with detection and differentiation? Is that correct?"
Siri: Yes, Host.
Corvus did not reply. He stared at the mirror while holding the locket. After a moment, a slight smile appeared on his lips, and he whispered, "Thank you, Mother…"
Slowly, the smile faded. In its place came resolve. His eyes brimmed with determination and calculation instead of the momentary softness they had held before.
"Let's go ahead with the implementation of the templates and affinities, shall we?" Corvus said. "But before that, tell me honestly. Is it expected to be painful?"
Siri: I am not aware of your pain threshold, Host, so I cannot answer that. However, as a precaution, you may bite down on a rope and ensure the room is silenced.
Corvus nodded. "Good point… Cherry."
Plop.
"Yes, Young Master?" Cherry chirped.
"Cherry, get me a rope suitable for biting, and isolate the sound of this room so that no noise escapes."
Cherry looked at him in surprise, then curiosity flickered across her face. Without another word, she vanished and returned moments later with a rope. She snapped her fingers, and a sound barrier settled over the room.
"Cherry did it, Young Master."
Corvus looked at her sincerely. "What would I do without you, Cherry? You're my lifesaver. And my friend."
Cherry gasped.
"Master considers Cherry a friend? Cherry is undeserving! Cherry must punish herself!"
"Oy, oy, stop," Corvus said quickly. "Do you want to insult me by demeaning my friendship? Are you saying I don't deserve your friendship?"
Cherry froze.
"Cherry would never dare, Master. Cherry thinks Master is too kind. Cherry is unworthy."
"I found you worthy," Corvus replied firmly. "So you are worthy."
Cherry began to cry, half sobbing, half wiping her nose with whatever rag she was wearing. "Cherry is very happy… Cherry is worthy…"
Corvus found the display deeply unhygienic but chose not to say anything, fearing she would start crying again and beating herself up.
After Cherry left, Corvus went silently to the bathroom. He sat on the floor, bit down on the rope, and pressed Yes to accept the Novice gifts.
At first, nothing happened.
Then a rush of blood surged to his head, making him dizzy. It was followed by intense itching across his arms, feet, and back. Corvus did not move. It felt as if ants were crawling beneath his skin.
Then came the pain.
It began between his eyes, spreading across his head, into his ears, and behind his eyes. Slowly, it subsided, only to return again, this time in rhythmic waves that originated from his spine and radiated through the rest of his body.
Corvus had started the assimilation sitting upright. When the process ended, he was found curled on the bathroom floor, writhing. He forced himself to rise. The tiles beneath him were smeared with blood and bile, and during the process, he had lost control of his bladder as well.
Looking into the mirror, Corvus saw streaks of blood running down from his eyes. The blood had mixed with black residue, forming dark brown lines across his face and body. His eyes, once black, now bore the Sharingan, but only one tomoe. Before he could think of anything.
Dizziness struck him again.
"Cherry," he croaked.
Plop.
The house-elf froze in shock at the sight of him.
"It… it worked," Corvus whispered. "Please. Clean me up. And don't tell anyone."
Cherry moved instantly, magic flowing as she steadied him, cleaned the blood, the floor, the mess. Corvus didn't have the strength to stand.
As his vision dimmed, one thought anchored him.
This was only the beginning.