COUP ďÉtat

Conversations

Rabastan strode into the Peverall castle hall.

While those who sat on the wizengmot were away, he figured that he could get the ingredients for the ritual that the Dark Lady wanted to perform. He had been lucky that he had gotten all the things on the list. But approaching her was not something he wanted to do.

'What if she is busy and I disturb her? She is a dark lady after all. She might get angry and curse me. And she certainly is quite powerful. No, it is better to place it somewhere else.'

Just as he was about to leave it on the table in the living room of her suit, he heard a voice calling him out.

He turned to find Neville, Hermione, Luna and George standing there. Neville came forward and asked- "Was there something you needed, Rabastan?"

They looked at them questioningly. Even if they were surrounded by people they had decided to trust, they still considered the Cassiopeia's safety their primary duty.

Now, Rabastan was by no means a coward, but he knew his limits. He was one of the best duelists in the Dark Lord's army, but he would absolutely not be able to defeat all five at once, one of who had already defeated Bellatrix. And they were older to him by almost a decade.
"I...I just, I just came here to give all the ingredients for the ritual. I hope I have not disturbed anything important?" Rabastan asked hesitantly.

Luna saw him fidgeting and understood what was going on in his mind.
She smiled and said- "No, you have not disturbed anyone. In fact, Cassiopeia is not even here. We were sitting with the kids and all those who stayed. Come join us."

Rabastan saw no point in denying it, so he went with them inside.

On the bed, Gemini, Draco, Neville, Callindora Tonks and Cassiopeia were playing with their toys. They were surrounded by Augusta, Narcissa, Alice, Remus, Andromeda, Bellatrix and Ted. All looked up when he entered.

Bellatrix grinned at him and said- "Rab, just look how adorable, little Gemini is."

At her name, Gemini looked at Bella and said- "I not wittle Bella."

Alice cooed at the child. Rabastan went and picked her up.

"Of course, princess. You are not little." He said with pride and kissed the child's forehead. He put her back again.

One thing was sure. Both girls would be adored and spoiled by all the men in the family. After all they deserved it.

"They will grow up to be absolute heartbreakers. We have our work cut for us. We cannot let boys approach them." Ted said.

George laughed. "The boys approaching them are not the worry. You should worry about their soulmates. Cassiopeia might the Dark Lord at fourteen, but Draco will grow up them. The males' possessiveness will keep the others away, but who will keep away their soulmates? Especially when Draco will be living in the dorms with them. And as the Slytherin dorms, there are no separate areas for males and females."

All the non-Slytherins looked at the Slytherins for conformation. Narcissa nodded.

Rabastan looked at the five in tension. "So what should we do? The Dark Lord might understand if we ask him to consider, but what about Draco and Gemini? And their stupid teenager hormones?" All of them looked horrified.

Hermione looked thoughtful. "You could send both the girls to Durmstrang. Lady Malfoy would not agree to send Draco so far. So why not the girls? And some distance might do them good. Too much closeness is also not beneficial."

Bellatrix nodded. "Yes that can be done. But Durmstrang has a feature. One does not have to take one complete year to pass the year. So they can complete their year earlier and then join Hogwarts. Maybe from the fifth year. If possible. The main problem is the age of thirteen and fourteen. After that they would have to as it is start their courtship and magical contracts have special requirements. So we mention a few restraining clauses in Gemini and Draco's contract."

Augusta said- "Yes that seems the correct thing to do. We can do the same for Neville and Callindora. Callindora can also go to Durmstarng. Also I don't thing adding such clauses to Cassiopeia's contract would be good. It would be good to antagonize him. Also the Tom Riddle I remember was a firm believer of old fashioned ways. So I don't thing would try anything untoward."

Everyone agreed with the wise sentiments in her words.

In the dueling room, twenty highest grade dummies were set at highest power and speed.

As soon the spells started coming, Cassiopeia, who was standing in the center, started her own firing. Twisting and twirling, she was like river water in the mountains, flowing in her mighty glory in great speed and power. It took her twenty minutes to completely obliterate the dummies.

As soon as she stopped, she heard clapping. She turned slowly, already knowing who they were.

Arcturus had been looking for his great grand-niece.
Orion and Rudolf were accompanying him. When he heard the sound of spell damage coming from the duelling arena, he decided to check.

What he saw was something he would not forget even his death. The sheer beauty Cassiopeia presented was astounding.

Orion and Rudolf were no different. It was their years as pureblood heads that they did not loose control and had their mouths hanging, but it was a close thing.

Cassiopeia inclined her head, "Great grandfather, grandfather, Lord Lestrange." She should have bowed before the head of her family, but because she too was Lady Black, she didn't.

"You were brilliant, child. It has been long that I have seen such good casting. Last I had seen something close to it was when Orion had turned twenty and Tom Riddle had been using the dueling room in the Black castle." Arcturus said.

"Thank you, Great grandfather. Not to appear rude, what were you doing on this side of the castle?" Cassiopeia enquired.

"Both Orion and Rudolf feel that Knights should meet tonight and discuss everything. We wanted your permission to leave the castle and also ask if you wanted to tell them anything."

Cassiopeia led them to the nearest sitting room. When they were seated, she said- "There is nothing special to say. Just get their secrecy oaths. Other that that, feel free to tell them anything. Also, you all don't need to take my permission to leave the castle. You are not prisoners. But today, do join us for dinner feast."

"Feast?" Rudolf asked.

Cassiopeia smirked. "Yes after all, our people will walk free today."

All the looked at her shocked. 'How could she be so sure of that?'

She almost rolled her eyes at their thoughts. 'Why did people always underestimate her? She was a Dark Lady for Morgana's sake. Now, that was a bit narcissist of her. Swearing her own title.'

She shook her head and said- "Have some faith in me. Everything will be alright. Do come tonight."

All three took their leave.