The Contract

Chapter 142

"Here," Rodolphus said, passing his husband a cup of coffee, he looked like he could use it. He'd returned through the Floo pale, shaken and extremely quiet. It was not like him whatsoever; Sirius was bull-headed stubborn and opinionated. He liked to be heard put it that way. As if he had to shout his opinion to the world because it wasn't listening. The only thing that stopped him outright panicking was the lack of shaking, a sure sign of the use of Cruciatus curse. Their Lord didn't use it often anymore except for real bad screw ups. Still, it had been his first thought seeing him coming through the Floo over two hours ago. "Are you ready to talk yet?" he'd asked for a few moments to think, and he had granted his husband that. Not that he'd be able to get anything out of him before he was good and ready anyways. He was deeply curious though.

Sirius accepted the cup, smiling, although it came out more of a grimace. His gaze turned back to Harry and the twins. They were drawing and doodling on the floor, crayons, felt tip pens, pens, inks and stamps strewn everywhere above a large piece of parchment and colouring in books. It was the most peaceful he'd ever seen Harry. The most carefree.

"Are you hurt?" Rodolphus asked, his concern evident in his tone, even if he had kept it hidden, not wishing to alarm the twins or even Harry at that. Not that Harry would have been dramatic about it, he reckoned that Harry understood their Lord the best out of them all.

"Oh, no, not like that," Sirius emphatically shook his head, "Just a bit of a mess up here," index finger pointing towards his mind. His entire world had shifted on its' axis, and he wasn't sure how to deal with it. The bitter anger and disappointment he still felt at his best friends lingering like a gaping wound incapable of healing. He feared he may be stuck this way, and it wasn't what he wanted, he didn't want to be angry at them for Merlin's sake.

"I don't understand," Rodolphus confessed, and he didn't. "What exactly were you doing?" cupping his hands around the warm cup of coffee. Very conscious of where the twins were, children should never be made aware of dangers, anger or stressful situations not unless it would deeply impact them. Children wouldn't be fearful or stressed, it could affect their magic, their growth, and children were so good at picking up clues around adults.

Sirius sighed, unable to keep silent any longer, through torturing himself. He shuffled closer to his husband, and leant his head closer to his so that they may converse without other ears hearing. "The ritual that Harry used to bring your mum- "

"Mother," Rodolphus couldn't help but comment, mum was far too plebian a word, he'd never use that term for his mother.

Sirius huffed out a little laugh, "Fine, your mother, I had asked Harry earlier you know, why he hadn't tried to do the same with his parents..."

Rodolphus' eyebrows rose, interest rising with it, listening intently.

"It turns out Harry had actually tried to summon them, you know," Sirius sighed, brushing his hand through his hair tiredly. "When he told me...I couldn't believe it, I mean, come on, they were my best friends, but I knew Harry would never lie."

"About what exactly? Trying to summon them?" Rodolphus questioned perplexed, not quite able to keep up with Sirius' process, he wasn't exactly the best of wizards when it came to telling takes. Well, unless you asked about his time at Hogwarts.

"That they wouldn't answer him if he called them," Sirius clarified, "I um...might have, almost, sort of, nearly pissed Aurelius' off. Don't worry, it's fine, I promise."

Rodolphus was not appeased by his promise! What on earth had he done to piss off the Dark Lord? Was he utterly mad? He knew who he was for Merlin's sake, and had since the beginning to the surprise of them all.