TEMPUS MORTIS

Chapter 06. Twisted master of shadows.

The screen displayed a date: 1991. Then, a dining hall appeared, with Carina entering and telling one of her house-elves that it was time for breakfast. She took her seat at the head of the table and began her day reading The Daily Prophet.

"Like a proper pureblood lady," Sirius commented, amused.

"Did you see that dining room? It's magnificent," Marlene said to her friends.

"You look older, but with a charisma all your own, Carina," Euphemia remarked proudly.

"Thank you, Mother," Carina replied.

"Good morning, dear," Walburga said, entering the dining hall and taking a seat.

"Hello, Wally. I hope you slept well; the others shouldn't be long" Carina said, putting away the newspaper.

"Your relationship with my mother worries me more and more," Sirius said.

"Indeed, I think it puzzles all of us," added Regulus.

Walburga simply looked at them without saying a word.

"How is your father, dear?" Walburga asked.

"Well, I sent him on some missions rather simple for someone of his level. I don't think he'll be long, especially considering what's coming. But you know what they say: peace never lasts" Carina responded nonchalantly.

"It's remarkable how little she seems to care," Severus whispered to Regulus, who merely nodded.

"It's clear you don't worry about how long your father takes, but from the furrow in your brow, I see you're concerned about what's coming" Walburga commented.

"They certainly seem close" said Barty.

"Carina would do something very significant for my mother, because she has never been like that" stated Regulus.

"We've been living together too long for anything to escape you. The children are already 11 years old; the little peace we've had will end soon, and we'll enter Dumbledore's playing field, which I don't like one bit" Carina said, letting out a slight sigh.

"They seem to have a close, almost mother-daughter relationship" Bellatrix commented.

"They must have been through many things together; otherwise, I can't explain it" added Rodolphus.

"Yeah, but we knew this would happen sooner or later" Sirius said, entering the dining room and joining the conversation.

"Wasn't Sirius in Azkaban?" Narcissa asked.

"Considering that Carina got her father out of prison, I wouldn't be surprised if in the future she did the same for Sirius" Lucius remarked.

"But what would Sirius have done to get himself imprisoned?" Remus asked, worried.

"Hello, Siri. How did you sleep?" Carina asked.

"Fine, sis. Nothing compared to my Azkaban suite, but I can't complain" Sirius replied sarcastically, sitting down for breakfast.

"Well, it's clear that Sirius and my sister are closer in the future," James affirmed.

"Sometimes I don't get your humor, son" Walburga said.

"Mother, have you never heard it's better to laugh than cry? Exactly. By the way, where's the incompetent that i call brother?" Sirius asked.

Sirius looked curiously at the screen; he hadn't thought things could get any worse than they already were.