Noble House of Black

Chapter Seven

Over the years, even after Regulus joined us at Hogwarts, I had made sure to not really get involved in my brothers lives. Sirius had spent the last four years in Hogwarts becoming close friends with Remus, James, and Peter while playing pranks between classes and quidditch.

Regulus had grown close to Barty Crouch Jr and Evan Rosier.

Though he had also joined the Slytherin quidditch team as the seeker in his second year.

The only type of interaction that I had with their friends was to warn them of what would happen if they betrayed or hurt my brothers. Sirius had been annoyed at me for doing so while Regulus had only beamed since he knew it meant I cared.

That it ended up with Barty and Evan's both looking at me with a type of hero worship, well, that hadn't been a part of my plans. Not in the slightest in fact.

Eris found the whole thing amusing as did Anthony.

Not that either would ever tease me about it too much.

But all of this meant I was aware of how my brother's would react to our mother's death.

"Did you do it?" asked Sirius later that night after the gala was fully over and everyone had gone home once more. "Be honest with me."

"No," I answered honestly since I hadn't been the one to slip the poison to our mother nor would it show up on any medical results either, "I wasn't the one who killed mother."

The question he should have asked, was if I was aware our mother would die tonight.

But there was more truth to the fact that Sirius knew me almost as well as I knew him, making his shoulders slump as he watched me. Though in the end he didn't say much else besides pulling me into a tight hug and whispering his thanks before leaving.

He would never have reported me even if I had been the one to confess to murder.

Our bond as siblings had been repaired and strengthened over the last three years.

Meaning he'd cover for me till the very end if need be.

"Many will suspect you," mused Rodolphus leaving me unperturbed that he had remained and snuck into my bedroom. "Though that isn't what I wish to discuss with you right now."

"As I have nothing to hide," I began smoothly while moving to sit at my vanity while facing him as he leaned against the bedpost, "you can ask me what you wish to."

"Why was Lord Voldemort inside your bedroom?" inquired Rodolphus just as easily while his arms remained crossed in front of his chest. "I've only felt his magic ripple like that when he is interested in something to a degree that it seems an obsession."

Part of me wasn't even surprised that he had paid such close attention to Marvolo.

He had informed me the second he had joined Marvolo with his father back during my second year at Hogwarts. After that he kept me informed of what was talked about and who else had joined or seemed interested in joining with Marvolo.

This meant I had also became aware of Bellatrix joining and her obsession growing with Marvolo as time moved forward. Not that he seemed to return it even as he trained her personally.

His actions had caused her obsession to grow though.

"He was interested in the 'show'," I answered with a light hum before offering Rodolphus my hairbrush, while placing the flower Marvolo left me onto the vanity top, making him chuckle but move forward to accept it and begin brushing my hair. "We both knew it was only a matter of time before I drew his attention."

In truth, I didn't keep secrets from Rodolphus.

He was to be my husband after all.

Our vows we had chosen would also make sure that he couldn't betray me.

"Will you join him?" asked Rodolphus, hands now running through my hair and braiding it into a loose braid down my back. "Though I believe I already know your answer to that."

"He didn't ask me to join him," I mused with another hum before pulling away from Rodolphus and sending a look towards where he stood. "For now, it would be best if you head home."

Rodolphus didn't refute my words, only offered me a sly smirk before apparating out of my room and back to his manor. He had been given access to part of the wards that would allow entrance to the manor here, aside from that he couldn't access the wards themselves.

Even once we were married, he still wouldn't gain access or control of them.

Before going to bed, I read over the letter Marvolo left me, a letter filled with questions and mentions of what books to read to learn more magic. Part of me couldn't help but be surprised.

Mainly since I hadn't figured that was what he would have wanted to discuss.

Though the questions of my standing in politics was to be expected.

~ Time Skip: Fifth Year ~

Peter Pettigrew was one person I wasn't sure I could trust in any sense of the word.

Even if I wasn't on Dumbledore's side, I still couldn't condone betrayal in any form. Especially considering the brotherly bond that Sirius stated he held with the other.

Which was why I had Kreacher keeping an eye on the boy without being noticed.

"Snape seems to be growing more tense as the years go by," mused Evan as Regulus, Barty, and he joined Eris, Anthony, and myself at the Ravenclaw table. "How much you want to bet that sometime soon he will explode and ruin his friendship with Evans."

"It doesn't help that Potter continues to try to win Evans over," added Barty with a shake of his head while accepting the plate Regulus handed over. "I mean really, everyone knows she finds him annoying due to his pranks against Slytherin."

"Though no one can also deny the interest she shows either," scoffed Eris with a slight sneer being sent towards Lily Evans who was speaking with Marlene McKinnon. "She got lucky when the House of McKinnon agreed to sponsor her after first year."

She had taken my advice seriously and became good friends with Marlene who was the only Heir to the McKinnon House which was also an Ancient and Noble House. Because of that none of the other pure-blood's would dare to treat her horribly as they did other muggleborn's.

Not that there wasn't tension due to her retorts sent toward Sirius and James.

The only reason none retaliated against her for them was because I had made sure to make them aware of what would happen if they did. Neither of the boys were hurt nor cared too deeply about them, so no one else would be allowed to either.

Before anything else could be added an owl landed before me with a sealed letter.

"Excuse me," I sighed out while getting up with the letter in hand even as I caught Sirius and Regulus' eyes making them also join me towards the doors. "It seems that there is to be a Family Meeting held over Andromeda Black."

She had originally been the one engaged to Rodolphus, who would be replaced with Bellatrix once she ran off with Ted Tonks. Now, in this world she had been engaged to Lucius Malfoy.

I already figured that Narcissa will be the one offered instead now.

"She should have taken you up on your offer," muttered Regulus with a shake of his head while we headed towards Slughorn's office since he allowed certain students to use his fireplace to floo home if needed. "Instead, we now have to deal with a broken marriage contract."

Even more so considering it was with the Malfoy family who had gained great favor lately.

Really, I had already told the older woman that I would help her gain permission to marry Ted Tonks if she would just be patient. Instead, she chose to run off and leave us with this mess.

I'd like to see her pay for this.