The Slytherin King

10

"I want her expelled," Lucius stated immediately. 

"I cannot possibly expel her simply because you demand it," Albus stated calmly. 

"I come not as an uncle but as a representative of the School Governors. I have all eleven other signatures with mine."

Albus hated that he had to go along and expel the child. She was once a key part of his plans, but it could not be helped...

 Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was pissed. Livid. Furious. However, you wish to put it. All his plans were thwarted thus far.

So, how does he deal with it? Does he take a few deep breaths and continue on? Does he take a moment to think clearly? To plan around the obstacle?

Nope. He throws a tantrum like a baby.

Truly, it amuses the portraits in the Headmaster's office to no end that his plan, the same plan that has taken decades to perfect, is failing. The boy finds out his heritage. The Lestranges are getting a trial soon. The boy is in Slytherin. The Malfoys have custody of him. The youngest male, Ronald Weasley, refuses to continue with the plans. Apparently, the child has nine houses he is the Heir to. He looked at the letter Ronald tried sending to Arthur once more.

Dad,

Listen. I need you to read this completely. Dumbledore, Mum, Ginny, Granger, and I have been plotting against a boy named Cepheus Lestrange. You would know him as Harry Potter.

As far as I know, Dumbledore stole him on August 1st, 1981, and gave him to the Potters. They did an illegal blood adoption. However, he found out about his heritage before Hogwarts at some point.

He is the Heir to:

The Ancient and Noble House of Potter

The Ancient and Most Noble House of Peverall

The Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Gryffindor

The Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Ravenclaw

The Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Le Fay

The Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Emrys

The Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black

The Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Lestrange

The Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Crouch.

Dad, you need to stop Mum. Lestrange has threatened a house feud. I know we can't afford to do that, so I will distance myself from it all, I swear! Just make sure Mum and Ginny do the same.

I'm sorry that I kept this from you. I should have done something sooner or told you sooner, at least. But I was greedy.

However, family comes first and foremost with me. So, in order to protect my family, I sent this warning. I have no doubt Lestrange will act on his threat.

Love,
Ron

Thankfully for Albus, Molly got to the letter first. They just had till the end of term to figure out how to keep the boy's mouth shut. Arthur may be a soft wizard, but he knew that if Arthur Weasley found out, all hell could break loose. That man was a Gryffindor for a reason. The man even married the Prewett Twins. Albus knew no matter what potions or spells Arthur was on...he would protect his kids. If that meant divorcing Molly to stop a House Feud, then he would. Yet there was no marriage to divorce from, which would have been dangerous if he had found out.

Ultimately, the anticipated day arrived. In mid-April 1992, Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and Rabastan Lestrange, in conjunction with Barty Crouch Jr., were to undergo formal trials. Lucius, Corvus, Augusta Longbottom, and Barty Senior were excluded from voting due to a conflict of interest. Consequently, the three gentlemen and one lady observed from a designated area as Bellatrix was summoned for her trial.

She was in Azkaban Prison robes, disheveled curly hair, and she looked terribly thin. Her grey eyes were dull. Looking at his daughter-in-law broke Corvus. This was not the same woman who stood up to him during the Betrothal contract meeting. This was a woman with very little hope.

"Let us begin," said Chief Warlock Dumbledore. "Trial for Bellatrix Druella Lestrange née Black. The date is April 15th, 1992. Lawyer Abbott, you have been given the floor for your opening statement."

A man in black robes and dragon-hide boots stood with a nod. He looked to the Wizengamot confidently and proudly.

"People of the Wizengamot, my client was not given a true trial. How can we truly know if she was indeed guilty? Many of you also attended Hogwarts with Mrs. Lestrange. Her friendship with Frank and Alice Longbottom was well known. Do you truly believe she would harm her friends? Her son, Heir Cepheus Rodolphus Lestrange, was found in August of 1991. The Goblins of Gringotts did a blood test for Birth Certificate, Inheritance, and past health. When it got to his Mother, Bellatrix Lestrange, it stated her status as Alive and Wrongfully Imprisoned." Abbott made sure to emphasize the last two words. "Blood does not lie, and neither does anything with the Gringotts seal. That is all."

He sat down next to his client with a neutral face. Inside, he was smirking. He could see the wheels turning. Everyone looked in their packets for the child's birth certificate, and sure enough, they would see the status for the Lestranges and Barty Jr.

Hours past. One by one, lawyer Abbott gained freedom for Bellatrix Druella Lestrange, née Black; Rodolphus Corvus Lestrange; Rabastan Alexander Lestrange; and Bartemius Caspar Crouch Junior. If he smirked at Albus Dumbledore's glare, well. Who could blame him? This would go as a strike on the old man as he was apparently the one to alert Aurors.

"We.." mumbled Bellatrix softly as she sat in the bed within Malfoy Manor.

Narcissa Malfoy immediately took charge of her sister, brothers-in-law, and Barty. Senior, of course, didn't put up a fight. She put Bella and Rodo in the same bed and room, which was directly across from their son's. Rabastan was next to Cepheus and Barty across from Rabastan. They were on bed rest for at least a month and a half. They would be on nutrition potions for at least six months. Each had to start with small amounts of food, so six small meals throughout the day. They also had a mind healer visit every other day to help with the Dementor damage.

"We are free..." Bella exclaimed as though she could hardly accept it. "We'll finally meet our baby when he returns home."

"Yes, we will," said Rodolphus happily as he held his locket in his hand.

Back in the Personal Quarters of Severus Snape were himself, Cepheus, and Draco. They had been waiting all day for any news to reach them. Hours of anxiety before Lucius Malfoy came in through the floo.

"So?.." asked Cepheus, his eyes flashing with worry.

"They are home and healing, Cepheus," assured Lucius, smiling with a small 'oomph' as his nephew hugged him tightly.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!"

He was about to visit his parents, and after almost 11 years, he would see them again!