House of Caliban

Chapter 21

The dungeon of Caliban Castle was freezing cold and smelled of mildew and dust.

Haylan hadn't gotten around to updating the dungeons yet, not expecting to need to use them so soon. The dungeon walls had seen centuries of prisoners and the magic in the air seemed to behave similarly to having dementors around. Death magic lay thick in the air exuding unease.

Having Dumbledore as Haylan's first prisoner was immensely satisfying.

"Oh Dumbledore! Rise and Shine Asshole!" Haylan called out in a cheery tone as he entered the dungeons. Bellatrix and Sirius stood close to Haylan acting as unofficial guards since Haylan was having the Romanian Aurors stay outside while he spoke to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore stood in the middle of one of the few cells where the stasis spell hadn't crumbled during the years the castle was abandoned. Dumbledore's garishly bright robes really looked out of place in the damp gray stone cell. The old man's eyes no longer twinkled and he wasn't trying to hide behind the mask of a 'friendly old man'. The hard cold look on Dumbledore's face was probably the most authentic expression anyone had seen on the man in a long time.

"Release me." Dumbledore dared to order causing Haylan to laugh at the man.

"Mmm nope. Not after you and your lackeys tried to kill me last night." Haylan smirked before conjuring a small throne to sit on in front of Dumbledore's cell.

Haylan wore all black today to match his crown which he did wear down to the dungeons to make a statement. Sirius had also talked Haylan into wearing some black eyeliner to make his eyes stand out more. His bright red hair was pulled back in intricate braids giving the illusion of short hair.

Haylan looked dangerous and Sirius was sure when Blaise flooed over later that he would have to catch the boy when he fainted.

"The British Ministry of Magic and the ICW will not tolerate you holding me hostage boy." Dumbledore tried to threaten. Haylan just smiled more.

"I have two letters. One from the British Ministry declaring you a persona non grata in the U.K. both muggle and wizarding. The other is from the ICW requesting a meeting to hear what punishment I will lay out for you and your order for being traitors to the crown."

"Liar!" Dumbledore shouted, stepping closer to the metal bars holding him in and suppressing his magic.

"I would stand down if I were you Dumbledore. Don't make this harder than it needs to be." Sirius quietly advised the old man, drawing Dumbledore's attention to him.

"What would Harry think of you standing behind this tyrant Sirius? You would turn your back on the order, your friends, everything that they stood for?! Where are your Gryffindor morals?" Dumbledore targeting Sirius now, a frightening gleam in his eyes.

"My morals died when you got my godson killed, and you and your lot betrayed me first when you believed I would dare get Lily and Jamie killed. If Harry was here I am sure he would understand. Harry was a good and reasonable kid. He would not appreciate your manipulations, Headmaster." Sirius was steady in his tone and resolve. With the help of healing Haylan forced him through, Sirius found it much easier to not rise to Dumbledore's taunts as he once might have done.

Sirius' calm and sanity just enraged the Headmaster more. Dumbledore had worked hard to make sure the man received very little treatment to recover from his years in Azkaban. But now here the man stood looking very much like the Heir of the House of Black.

"What should I do to you Dumbledore? Any ideas? You are clearly a threat who doesn't know how to shut up, sit down, and stay in his place. As capable as I am, I would rather not continue to worry my betrothed with the continued threats on my life. You have also refused to disband your little club of pests." Haylan drawled to drag Dumbledore's attention away from his godfather. Dumbledore didn't deserve to be speaking his old name, especially to try to manipulate Sirius.