Ultimatums

Chapter 7

At the end of the day, the Wizard's Chess score board went

HP: 11
RB: 7
A: 10

Regulus pouted at his defeat, but insisted it was too close for them to boast that they were better than him. After all, Avery was the one who said they had to play 30 instead of 15 games when his prospects of winning were lowering...

The kids' bellies were full from Kreacher's snacks he brought, their minds full from the events of the day and their hearts full from the warmth of having a new friend. They'd learnt that Avery had a few younger sisters, much too young for Hogwarts, and that even though he was the heir to the House, the girls were much more preferable.

Hermione smiled sadly when he said that, and inducted him into their Family Issues Club™️ .

Just as Hermione was readying to leave the boys' bedroom, an elegant rap on the door came.

"Yes?" Regulus called, standing up and moving to the door.

"Common Room. Now. And bring that Avery boy" Andromeda said sternly, and the 1st Years heard her run down the stairs in a very unAndromedaish way.

Regulus and Hermione exchanged looks before turning to Avery and pulled him up from the floor.

"Brace yourself" muttered Regulus, and they walked down to the Common Room.
Bellatrix was sitting by the fire, the flames dancing in her eyes and her grin just a bit manic. Narcissa was running fingers through her hair over her shoulder, her beautiful features an impassive mask, and Andromeda sat crossly with her arms folded.

After a few moments of eyeing each other up, Bellatrix clapped her hands. "The amnesty has broken already Nita? So exciting, love. Oooh my hands are itching to curse someone already!"

"Bellatrix! This is serious. Those boys are nasty, and now not only are Reggie and Nita on their target, but this boy is too! Where is your sensibility?" Andromeda snapped.

Narcissa broke her silence "What exactly happened Avery? Why were my cousins forced to save you?" she raised a perfect eyebrow at the boy and swept her eyes over him, already looking for weaknesses.

Avery gulped under the gaze of the stunning witch and said "I was talking to my cousin Antonin, and they came up behind me when I was on my way back to the Common Room. Lifted me in the air. The blood was rushing to my head when Potter came and helped me. I'll have to thank that Evans too..."

"So it was unprovoked?" Bellatrix was practically beaming.

"Yeah. I believe Potter said he was trying to 'scare the Dark Arts out of him'. Ridiculous" Regulus snarled, looking into an empty corner as if the Marauders were there and he was pulverising them with laser eyes.

Bellatrix cackled. "Scare the Arts away? I'm sorry but it gets more and more obvious you were adopted by the Potters every day Nita. How stupid is your brother?"

Hermione looked slightly uncomfortable. She knew her brother no longer openly cared about her anymore, but inside she still held onto the memory of Jamey before he started Hogwarts. And she didn't know whether he deserved her sticking up for him. So she just sat there and let Bellatrix speak awfully about her brother, with the odd nod of agreement from Andromeda. Narcissa however, watched the three first years intensely.

"You didn't do this on purpose did you?" she asked Hermione quietly, so only the two of them could hear.

"No, but I don't want to retaliate against my brother yet. I don't have the heart for it. Plus us Slytherins can be so vindictive..."

Narcissa nodded "I'll speak to my sisters. But if those lions target Reg then I can't stand in the way. And I suppose the Blacks are taking in Avery too?"