NOVEL NEXT Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Amends!
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It was refreshing, Aries noted, to see someone else on the receiving end of his aunt's anger. Sirius though was stuck between wanting to defend his friend and not receive the same ire James did.
"Now Sirius, where were we?"
"Quidditch," the auror croaked out.
"Ah yes, Quidditch. Were you at the World Cup?"
"Yes," Sirius said as recovered. "The game was brilliant though the show afterwards gave me a right headache."
"Yeah, thank Merlin we were gone by then." Aries said. "Krum wanted to get drunk immediately. The party at his parent's house was massive, you would've thought Bulgaria had won."
"You're close to Krum?"
"Yeah, he's like an older brother honestly."
Aries and Sirius talked for another hour, Cassiopeia adding a comment here or there. Telling his uncle about some of the more relaxed pranking that Haydn had helped him with had been a great choice, as it caused Sirius to recount many stories of his exploits.
Soon the conversation turned back to Quidditch and the obsessing of Tables.
Puddlemere and the Harriers were both in contention for their league titles and his uncle was very interested in seeing how the Germans played Quidditch.
"It's decided then," Aries said and the happiness he felt was genuine. "We'll attend the Harriers game on the thirtieth of December. I hope you realize that New Years in Berlin tend to be a riot."
"I think I know how to handle a party." Sirius said with swagger. "Have you considered playing professionally? Or even try for international play one day?"
"I'd like to." The answer was honest. His plans would take priority of course, but after a few years of successful dark lording, who was going to stop him from playing some Quidditch?
It was a valuable magical tradition after all. It would be necessary for him to support its continuation. "I just don't know whether I'd play for England or Germany. They're both home for me."
"Germany of course." Cassiopeia said with a rare smile, though he could tell she disapproved of the sport as a career choice for him.
"Our time is nearly up Sirius and I have something that needs to be addressed. Your seat on the Wizengamot."
"What about it?" The auror had tensed up considerably.
"As Aries stated in his interview no one has spoken for House Black without being a Black in its history until you took over. That cannot be allowed to continue."
"I will not force you to attend those meetings yourself. But you will call for the House of Black to abstain from all votes until a proper proxy has been chosen, or you take over the role yourself."
"Now see here-"
"Now see here nothing." Aries interrupted. Sirius looked at him with surprise. "Our House has traditions. You have forsaken many of them Uncle but this one crosses a line. You've allowed Dumbledore to control our voice for fifteen years, and if you wish to seek amends with me and Aunt Cassi then this is a necessity."
"Fine." Sirius relented after a few moments. "But I want something in return."
"Name it."
"You have to come live with me this summer. At least for a week or two. I can show you around England and the like."
Aries made eye contact with Cassiopeia and he could feel her worry through his Legilimency, but she consented, and the agreement was made. It was a small concession, but the reward was worth it.
….
Aries did not realize that his path toward the library after dinner would take him pass the second-floor girl's lavatory again, but once he was there he could not refuse the temptation to return.
Myrtle was nowhere to be seen and so he slowly approached the snake engraved sink.
He cast a Notice-Me-Not Charm and a strong compulsion charm that would send anyone short of Dumbledore anywhere but inside the bathroom.
It did not take long before he was once again in the Chamber of Secrets. Salmissra had shed her skin which was no surprise, he knew something had been able to control her two years ago.
Aunt Cassiopeia had researched frantically both during and after the incident, but never discovered who had managed it.
His aunt had strictly forbidden him from intervening, but when he had heard reports of them trying to find the beast to slay it he knew had to act.
Hades had brought him back to the Chamber in the middle of a spring night. Salmissra had answered his call and the phoenix transported them deep into the magical mountains of Germany, into a secluded spot Aries had found the previous summer.
The great Basilisk was there to this day, protected by every charm and curse Aries knew, despite the many claims that the beast had been slain.
The study was as Aries had left it eight years ago, though dust had somehow covered everything again.
He vanished it with a wave of his hand and moved to the bookshelf. Unbeknownst to him, a pair of dark brown eyes followed him as he moved.
They studied him for quiet awhile, as if judging the Heir of Slytherin.
"It's good to see you again." Aries sprang into action and turned to the sound of the voice, wand in hand and a spell already on his lips. He expected to be attacked, but nearly dropped his wand in shock.
There in the frame, examining a small black snake that slithered up his arm, was the moving portrait of Salazar Slytherin.
"Welcome back Aries Orion Black, Heir of Slytherin."
….
"Lord Slytherin?" Aries could not believe it. The portrait of his ancestor moved! Suddenly he was seven-years-old again, silently begging the portrait to come alive, to tell him of his lineage.
"No, I'm just some random portrait in Salazar Slytherin's secret study." Salazar drawled. "Honestly you're acting like the last one that came here. If I had realized my Heirs would be unintelligent maybe I would've reconsidered that marriage contract."
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