The Contract

Chapter 82

"It would appear that Nymphadora Tonks, an Auror, was arrested in connection to what happened to Harry." Lord Slytherin commented, informing the brothers and Sirius Black what had happened when they were away. "Not just arrested, charged and convicted, she signed a confession." A subtle but noticeable anger in his voice.

"What? No! Why?" Sirius' neck snapped up so fast it creaked in protest. "Why would she..." he had never met the witch, he'd turned his back on all his family, even Andromeda, who had consequently turned her back on the rest of the Black's too, after she was disowned for marrying a Muggle Born. He'd heard of her though, bright, bubbly, Metamorphamagus, the first one with Black blood in so very long, his father and grandfather would have had her back in the family in a heartbeat with such gifts. Who was he kidding, nothing would have outweighed her lesser blood, at least he didn't think so.

"Take a deep calming breath and count to ten like Miriam told you," Rodolphus told Sirius quietly. "The Aurors in the Order broke the law frequently, but to kidnap attempts? That's either new or something they've been doing all along and we had no idea?" a pensive look on his face.

"They were my friends," Sirius said, an angry pained grimace on his features, "They gave their lives to save people, to do what they thought was the right thing." Having to forcefully remind himself that they hadn't been willing participants, they'd been under the Imperius curse for Merlin's sake. They weren't to blame any more than he was for what Pettigrew had done.

"Does that mean, Mr. Black, that you no longer believe it was the right thing?" Lord Slytherin questioned, with deceptive mildness. Watching in interest, Black was of average intelligence, but rather inventive, an inventiveness that was bordering on genius actually. He was still rather quick to temper though, but that was Black's for you.

Luckily, the information about the Horcrux's wasn't information Black was privy to. He'd literally been about to take out his wand and Obliviate Black, having no choice he would not bring danger to Harry, the horcrux or his new life. Fortunately, Black's conclusion had been a rather bland but usable conclusion. He assumed it was residue of 'Dark Magic' left over from the attack. Also, assuming that was why the scar was still there despite all methods they had of removing such scars. Everyone knew scars made from Dark Magic didn't fade. They let him believe he was probably correct, and he would talk to Harry about it upon his wakening.

Part of him was insulted that they had a way of dealing with the horcrux and he couldn't find one. Then again, he'd always, always known that other parts of the world didn't care about what 'grade' magic had been cast to. They weren't graded, magic, spells etc...weren't graded around the world just Britain. There was no such thing as 'light magic' or neutral or 'dark magic'. He had a lot of books from abroad, but he wasn't stupid enough to think he'd read everything.

"The war wasn't the most important thing," Sirius said, staring at his godson, "I wish we had just up and ran. Went abroad and stated all over again...would have been the best thing. If they knew the things Dumbledore would have done to their son..." he choked out, they would have run fast and far.

"A lot of people did," Corvus agreed, sipping from his cup, his hand in Harry's stroking his hand with his thumb absently. "As much as you might dislike it, everyone had a reason for believing in the war. Luckily for us all, it is over, we must move on...from the mouth of the babes."

Sirius chuckled wetly, "Young, stupid and different back then, Harry said to me," fully agreeing with Harry, able to see it thanks to Miriam, Harry and life in general. Not in those actual words, more succinctly put, he was extremely well spoken for a lad of thirteen.

"Magical blood is magical blood, there are ways to deal with Muggle borns coming into our world. A way to get them to learn and be educated in our ways, so that our traditions do not become obsolete, and all it took was a few classes, to my immense pride and surprise they're expressing desires to participate in the pagan traditions." Headmaster Slytherin confessed, and not just the Slytherin's who were used to celebrating before coming to Hogwarts either, although he honestly wouldn't be surprised should they have been the one to start the ball rolling that was slowly becoming an avalanche.