Saving the Blacks

Chapter 11

Carina

It takes a week to set up the meeting and my magic is progressively becoming more on edge. No matter how much I tell myself that I am safe I still find myself jumping at loud noises and checking around corners before exposing myself. I have been working with Regulus and Sirius on stretching their magic to scan a room. While it helps Regulus with his ability it also makes me feel better that they will at least know if danger is around. We have also started the exercises my grandmother suggested. I can already see the confidence boost in Regulus who is choosing to stand next to his brother more than hiding behind him. Taking a deep breath and calming myself as much as I can, I step through the floo into the Black manor. An elf leads me to the sitting room, and I see Bellatrix is sitting on the couch with Druella. She stands and comes over to me.

"Do you know what this is about?" She whispers and I smirk.

"You are going to be pleased, I promise."

"I heard my mother mention marriage contract. I don't want to marry a random person." She groans.

"What about someone you already like?" I ask, my smirk widening. Her eyes widen before she glares.

"You better not be joking." I just shrug and chuckle as I dodge her hit.

"Girls behave." Druella reprimands but I catch her small smile. I take my seat and we talk about different things while we wait for the men. Cygnus enters the room, and we grow quiet.

"Bellatrix the contract has been signed and you are to marry Rodolphus Lestrange after you graduate." Cygnus says and Bella's eyes light up.

"I take it you are pleased." Her mother says smiling.

"Most pleased." She says lighter than I have ever heard her before.

"Now we have spoken with lord Lestrange, and he has agreed to the terms required to hear what you have to say Carina. I will give you a moment to prepare and then we will meet in the sitting room to go over everything." Cygnus says and I nod. Bella looks between us but doesn't question it. As she goes to stand and follow her mother, I stop her.

"Bella whatever you hear know that it isn't set in stone and that I don't hold you accountable for any of it." I say begging her with my eyes to understand .

"You are family Car." She says and I sigh before we walk to the room.

Bellatrix

I walk into the room trying to figure out what Carina meant. While I didn't trust her when I first met her, I now see her as family. I knew there was more to her. The adults didn't meet with a child multiple times unless it was important. I smile when I see Rodolphus sitting with his father. We had been secretly dating for a year and I spent many nights worrying over how we could convince our parents to allow us to marry. I had heard my father mention many different guys, but none had been him. I wonder if Carina had influenced this. I don't know how she would have known but if she did then I will forever be in her debt.

"Now that everyone is settled, and vows have been taken, I will start by truly introducing myself. I am Carina Black. Daughter of Jasmine Winters and Sirius Black. I was born July 3rd, 1980." Carina says and my eyes widen. I knew I had seen her eyes somewhere.

"You expect me to believe such a thing." Lord Lestrange scoffs. Lord Black grabs her grimoire and opens it to the first page that is magically engraved when it is given. I see the date it was given and know there is no way to fake that.

"What does this have to do with us?" Lord Lestrange asks, and I can tell he is starting to believe her.

"I did a ritual to go back in time to prevent the fall of the wizarding world. When I left there were only a handful of safe places left. Muggles had wiped most of us out. Our government had already fallen before the reveal to muggles and Britain stands no chance. Voldemort and Dumbledore destroy our world long before the muggles ever become aware." When she says Voldemort, I freeze. My father had met him a few times and I had heard his praise in school. Rodolphus and I had planned to join his cause after school.