HP - Shadow Monarch!

Chapter 120 - Dinner at Black Manor 03.

[Chapter Size: 1900 Words.]

Third Person POV

London.

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The Black family was acting somewhat strange that night. The matriarch had announced that a special guest, who had just closed a major deal involving the most important shop they had for sale, would be joining them.

With the entire family gathered, the tension was palpable after this announcement; after all, there was much at stake.

Bernart and Astraea had three sons, all boys: Black III, Orion, and Alphard. Two of them were still alive, while the youngest had passed away over ten years ago along with his wife, Druella of the Rosier family. Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa were still young when their parents died.

The parents of Sirius and Regulus, the oldest and heirs of the family, were also present: Orion Black and Walburga Black, née Black, sat beside their youngest son, the pride of the family. Sirius, however, was no longer part of the family circle; he had been cast out and found refuge with the Potters.

Alphard Black, Astraea's middle son, and his wife, Cassiopeia Black (OC), née Burke, were there with their only son, Paris, seated beside him at the table.

The Black family had always been quite strict, speaking only when necessary and using few words. But that night, the atmosphere was different. The news of the shop's sale had stirred interest among many; while some were curious about who had bought it, others seemed dissatisfied with how events had unfolded.

"Mother, how could you do such a thing? We had an agreement with the Nott family! What's going to happen to our situation now?" the eldest son, Orion, exclaimed, displeased with the situation. "You simply accepted a buyer after already negotiating with them?"

"It's business, my son. Business. After all, this buyer offered more money than the Nott family had negotiated with us. So, there's nothing we can do," Astraea replied firmly. "Besides, we finalized everything this afternoon; we no longer own that shop..." she stated the obvious.

Apart from Astraea, only Paris, Bellatrix, and a suspicious Regulus had any idea who was behind the purchase. The rest of the family remained surprised, as they had only arrived that evening, while their grandmother's guest stayed in his room, reading Salazar's book.

Just as Alphard was about to ask who the buyer was, the door opened, and Severus Snape entered calmly in ordinary clothes. While everyone began to react upon seeing him, Astraea tried to maintain a respectful demeanor.

Snape grew more intriguing to her with each passing moment. Besides the respect his presence commanded, he now seemed to exude a status far greater than they could have imagined. Astraea, known for her pride in her status and the purity of her lineage, saw before her a young man who, despite not yet finishing Hogwarts, had already faced dark wizards, was the mysterious alchemist, and had the favor of the Gringotts bank managers and their healers—a nearly unthinkable feat. He was too dangerous and seemed destined to occupy high positions in the magical world. Even so, she recalled the threatening look that thing had cast inside the boy's mind, a reminder that he was even more than her eyes perceived, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Who is that?" Cassiopeia, mother of Paris, asked, looking at Astraea with a frown.

"Severus?" Andromeda was the first to stand up, astonished, not expecting to see him there, while Narcissa seemed equally stunned.

"Wait... Severus? Severus Snape?" Regulus's father asked, turning to Alphard. "Is he the one who struck your son?" He raised his voice, creating a tense atmosphere at the table.